‘It’s the idea of how small we are’: The rise of astrotourism
By Various
SPOTLIGHT / STAR STRUCK
South Australia’s River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.Credit: Laszlo Bilki
Humans have been fascinated by, and connected to, the night sky and its stars for millennia, but that connection is fading. Due to light pollution, more than a third of the globe can no longer see the Milky Way, including 60 per cent of Europeans and nearly 80 per cent of North Americans. Most city-dwelling Australians can’t see it, either.
As a result, astrotourism is booming. To get their night-sky hit, people are flocking to Dark Sky Places, star- and moon-gazing events, astronomy tours, sky safaris and solar eclipse viewings. “Visiting places that enable you to reconnect with a natural night sky is becoming very attractive,” says Landon Bannister, president of Dark Sky Tasmania. “It’s a way of reconnecting to nature that
can be very humbling.”
The 200 protected Dark Sky Places globally are heaven for astrotourists. Australia and New Zealand have 14, including the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve in South Australia and Lake Tekapo on NZ’s South Island. And high-end sky experiences are on the rise. At the Grand Velas resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a star-gazing experience for two, complete with a bottle of Moët, costs $US650 (with suites starting at $US1200 a night).
Cost is immaterial to Bannister, who just wants future generations to be awed by the stars the way their ancestors were. “It’s the idea of how small we are in the universe,” he explains. “Your troubles seem a little less significant when you’re reminded just how vast our universe is.” Deborah Cooke
DRINK / HOME AND DRY
Riverina Gin is a small, family-owned distillery in Borambola, NSW. Credit: Matt Beaver
We’re no strangers to a half-decent drop of gin on the Upfront desk, and our favourite last year was Riverina Gin ($85), made by hand in Borambola, NSW, by young marrieds Tess and Jake Eaglesham (she’s Riverina-born and bred; he’s from the Scottish Highlands). Its ingredient list alone sounds like an ode to country – juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica, licorice and orris root, green cardamom – and when blended with locally grown, organic oranges, the result is a dry, delicately perfumed gin. Add a glug or two of cold tonic water and a slice of orange and you have a lovely, citrus-forward spark plug for the taste buds and an excellent thirst-slaker come sundown. We hear there’s some pretty good cellar-door action to be had if you pay Tess and Jake a visit, too. Cheers! Sharon Bradley
READ / MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Gifted paints a portrait of a troubled mother-daughter relationship.
Many of the Japanese novels that cut through in the English-language market have a whimsical tenderness about them. Think Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, The Kamogawa Food Detectives (Hisashi Kashiwai), Convenience Store Woman (Sayaka Murata) and Strange Weather in Tokyo (Hiromi Kawakami). But Suzumi Suzuki’s short novel, Gifted (Scribe, $28),
is a much darker read, with its unsentimental exploration of alienation, trauma and families. The story follows a woman working in Tokyo’s red-light district who must care for her dying mother. Some might find the distant dreaminess and repetitive details of the minutiae of everyday life vexing, but they build to paint a haunting picture of a woman on the precipice. It’s not an easy read, but it is a rewarding one. Melanie Kembrey
LISTEN / ME, MYSELF AND AI
Shellgame is a scary look into what the future of AI might hold.
We’re all aware of AI, but do we really understand how it works? Evan Ratliff is here to help in his latest podcast, Shell Game. As an investigative journalist and co-host of the now-defunct podcast Longform, he’s got game when it comes to immersive reporting, and this show is no exception. Ratliff creates an AI version of his voice, gives it his personal traits, links it to a ChatGPT program and lets it run wild. The resulting interactions with marketers and scammers veer between hilarious and freaky. And when “AI Evan” converses with other voicebots, things get a little frightening. As the line between real and artificial becomes increasingly blurred, Shell Game gives us glimpses into what this could mean for the future. Barry Divola
SHOP / CUPS OF LIFE
Five per cent of every Pargo purchase goes towards buying water-filtration systems for communities in need.
In a world of hyperbolic promises, it’s refreshing to receive a product that actually does what it says on the tin – which, in the case of these insulated, stainless-steel bottles and cups from Pargo, is keep hot things hot and cold things cold. We love the variety of colours and sizes available (750ml-1890ml for bottles, 240ml-360ml for cups; from $40) and the fact that an overlooked chai latte is still toasty after 90 minutes, but we’re fans of this brand for another reason, too: 5 per cent of every purchase buys water-filtration systems for communities in need of an improved water source. Fiji and Indonesia are currently receiving aid, while past projects include Uganda, the Philippines and a post-deluge Lismore. Next up, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Now that’s a promise we can get behind. Sharon Bradley
STAY / STAYING POWER
The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has undergone a $70 million refurbishment.
A little more than 20 years ago, PM John Howard stood inside the Wentworth Hotel, flanked by his family, and belted out Advance Australia Fair to celebrate his re-election. The scene wasn’t out of place for an iconic Sydney venue and once-premier destination for royals, rock stars and parochial politicians. Opened in 1966 by Qantas, it presented a big, brash national front. And while it still has an elevated air, a recent $70 million refurbishment to the five-star Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (from $495 a night) has adjusted the dials: think bronze and marble in the shared areas, plush fabrics, soft, sculptural forms in the intimate corners and an overall je ne sais quoi, starting with the staff (every one of whom offers a perfect “Bonjour!”). Hungry? Don’t miss the hospitality one-two punch in the lobby, starting at Bar Tilda – get the Wattleseed Old Fashioned – then luxe restaurant Tilda, where the snapper crudo is a standout. Konrad Marshall
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