Kris Higgins Travel

02/09/2026

Ever thought about seeing Canada by train?

And I don’t just mean getting from A to B. Canada has some incredible rail journeys where the train trip itself is a big part of the holiday.

There are two very different ways you can do it:

Rocky Mountaineer: Think big windows, beautiful food and some of the best scenery in the Canadian Rockies. The train travels during the day so you don’t miss those mountain views, with overnight stays in hotels along the way.

VIA Rail’s The Canadian: This one is for travellers who love the idea of a proper sleeper train journey. You can travel all the way between Vancouver and Toronto, crossing the Rockies, the Prairies and Ontario over four days and nights.

And you don’t have to make the whole holiday about the train.

You could add time in Vancouver, explore Banff and Lake Louise, stay in Jasper, hire a car for part of the trip or keep travelling across Canada. There are lots of ways we can piece it together.

My tip? Choose the train experience that suits how you like to travel first, then build your Canadian holiday around it.

If Canada is on your list, come and have a chat. This would be a pretty special way to see it.

25/08/2026

Did you know there are quite a few new and increased international flights out of Brisbane this year?

A few to have on your radar:

✈ China Eastern is now flying Brisbane to Shanghai daily, year-round.
✈ China Southern is flying Brisbane to Guangzhou twice daily.
✈ Jetstar now flies direct to Rarotonga three times a week. Cook Islands anyone?
✈ We’ve also got more flights across to New Zealand, including seasonal services to Queenstown.
✈ And from 25 October, Malaysia Airlines will fly Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur daily.

I love seeing more direct flights out of Brisbane. Less mucking around with connections is always a win, and more services give me more options to play with when I’m putting a trip together for you.

Sometimes a new route might even give you an idea for somewhere you hadn’t thought about going!

If you’ve got a holiday in mind, send me a message and we can see what options are available from Brisbane.

21/08/2026

15/08/2026

If I could pack a bag and head off tomorrow… I’d be going to Scotland.

I have relatives from Scotland, so there’s a family connection for me and I’d love to spend some proper time exploring the Highlands.

I’d time it to catch one of the Highland Games – traditional Scottish gatherings with caber tossing, Highland dancing, pipe bands and plenty of tartan.

And being an Outlander fan, I’d definitely fit in a tour of some of the filming locations from the historical drama. Castles, old villages and beautiful Scottish countryside – right up my alley.

Then I’d take my time driving through the Highlands, stopping in little towns and pubs, exploring a castle or two and enjoying some good Scottish food along the way.

My tip: If you want to experience the Highland Games, choose which one you’d like to attend first and plan your dates around it. Then we can build the rest of your Scottish adventure from there.

Now I just need to pack my bag!

05/08/2026

This week I was lucky enough to attend the South Pacific Tourism Exchange, hearing the latest updates from destinations across the region.

From Fiji Airways' expanding network and new services to New Caledonia, to fresh experiences in Samoa and Tonga, it was a great reminder that the South Pacific offers so much to offer.

If you're looking for holiday inspiration:

• New Caledonia – A short flight from Australia, combining French culture, spectacular lagoons and diverse landscapes, with new direct services making it even easier to visit.

• Samoa – Perfect for travellers looking for authentic Polynesian culture, incredible local cuisine, waterfalls and a relaxed island pace.

• Tonga – Known for its genuine cultural experiences, uncrowded islands and unforgettable whale encounters during the migration season.

• Fiji – A favourite for families, couples and adventure travellers, while also serving as a gateway to many of the South Pacific's island destinations.

We also learnt more about Loloma Hour, a Fiji initiative encouraging visitors to spend just one hour of their holiday giving back through activities such as reef restoration, mangrove planting, wildlife conservation or community projects. It's a simple idea that leaves a positive impact while helping preserve Fiji's natural beauty for future visitors.

If a South Pacific escape has been on your wish list, now might be the perfect time to start planning. Each island has its own personality, and I'd love to help you find the one that's right for you.

01/08/2026

Need a little luxury in your life? I spent Tuesday evening learning more about Luxury Gold and Uniworld, and their new Cruise & Tour journeys for 2027 certainly live up to the name.

Imagine starting your holiday in the very best five-star hotels, heading off on curated tours in a small group, enjoying fabulous dining and experiences, with a Travel Concierge taking care of the details.

Then board one of Uniworld’s beautiful boutique river ships, unpack and settle in. Meals, premium wines and drinks, excursions and gratuities are included – and suite guests even have personal butler service.

Fun Fact: Uniworld was actually the first river cruise line to introduce butlers.

For 2027, some of the new Cruise & Tour options include:

• 19 days exploring Italy, including Venice, Florence and Rome
• 20 days through Spain and Portugal, including the Douro
• 17 days from Edinburgh to Paris, including a Seine River cruise

You get the best of both worlds – time exploring on land, followed by the slower pace of a river cruise, with all the details taken care of along the way.

My tip? If you’re travelling all that way, give yourself the time to really enjoy it. These longer trips let you see more without constantly packing and unpacking.

If a little luxury sounds good for 2027, come and have a chat. I have plenty more details!

29/07/2026

It was a great day at the Helloworld Travel Central QLD Expo in Rocky on Sunday!

We had a fantastic turnout, with even more people through the doors than last year. Thank you to everyone who dropped by to say hi – it was lovely to see so many familiar faces and meet some new ones too.

There was plenty happening throughout the day, with presentations, travel ideas, and some wonderful suppliers on hand to chat about everything from cruising and touring to rail and more.

And if something caught your eye on Sunday, many of the Expo deals are still available this week, so get in touch and we can have another look at your options.

23/07/2026

If you're heading overseas soon, here's a handy update for your trip home.

Australia is gradually replacing the paper Incoming Passenger Card with a digital Australia Travel Declaration.

The change is being rolled out in stages, so don't be surprised if your arrival process looks a little different depending on your airline or where you arrive. Some travellers will complete the declaration online, while others will still be given the paper card for now.

The customs and biosecurity questions haven't changed. It's simply a new way of providing the same information.

As always, if you're unsure what you'll need for your trip, just ask. I'm always happy to help.

21/07/2026

If you're in Rocky this Sunday, 26 July, come and say hello!

I'll be at the Helloworld Travel Central QLD Travel Expo at Rockhampton Leagues Club from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

If you've been thinking about a holiday, it's a great opportunity to chat with some of the people behind the destinations, cruise lines, tours and rail journeys you might be considering.

On the day you can:

• Meet a wide range of travel suppliers.
• Pick up ideas for your next holiday.
• Attend travel presentations throughout the morning.
• Ask questions and compare different travel options.
• Take advantage of Expo-only offers.
• Go in the draw to win a $1,000 Helloworld Travel voucher and other travel prizes.

Whether you've already got somewhere in mind or you're just looking for inspiration, I'd love to see you there.

You can register for your free ticket here: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/t6ef6j/rockhampton_travel_expo.aspx

15/07/2026

Think Thredbo is just for skiers? Think again.

There's plenty happening in the Snowy Mountains without ever clicking into a pair of skis.

You could:

• Ride Australia's only Alpine Coaster.
• Take the Merritts Gondola for lunch with mountain views.
• Join a Snowshoe Night Tour, complete with a sunset gondola ride, a walk under the stars and a hot chocolate.
• Watch the Saturday night Flare Run and Fireworks Spectacular.
• Enjoy live music and après events throughout the winter season.
• Stay somewhere a little different, from alpine lodges to luxury glamping and nearby farm stays.

A snow holiday doesn't have to be about skiing. It can be about good food, fresh mountain air, spectacular scenery and trying something completely different.

If you've always wanted to experience the snow but skiing isn't your thing, let's have a chat. I'd love to help you plan a Snowy Mountains escape that's just right for you.