Travel Alerts: Pop-up burgers, puppet magic and wellness escapes

Puppets take over Brisbane

Brisbane is preparing to host an experience visitors will not find anywhere else. Opening on September 11, Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company arrives at QAGOMA as a world-exclusive exhibition developed in partnership with The Jim Henson Company. Visitors can explore original puppets, costumes, props, production materials and rarely seen archival treasures from beloved classics including The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.

Curated by the gallery team, the exhibition celebrates the creative legacy behind some of entertainment’s most recognisable characters while revealing how these imaginative worlds came to life. qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibition/make-believe-magic-the-worlds-of-the-jim-henson-company

Singapore Airlines’ delivery service

Singapore Airlines is marking 50 years of flying to New Zealand with a campaign that puts family reunions at the centre of travel. The new New Zealanderlivery Service invites Kiwis to nominate themselves to be “delivered” to loved ones overseas, whether that’s a sibling in London, a friend in Sydney or a daughter in Switzerland. Twenty lucky winners will receive free return flights to reconnect in person.

After entering, applicants get a personalised link to send to their person overseas, who can then “order” the delivery and track its progress. Entries close on August 15 at newzealandeliveryservice.co.nz.

Tasmania hits pause

Launceston is dedicating 10 days to slowing down this winter. Unwind, the city’s first dedicated wellness festival, runs August 13 to 23 across venues throughout the CBD and Inveresk. The programme spans over 40 events covering movement, mindfulness, creativity, food and community, with activities ranging from yoga, qigong and meditation to pottery, writing workshops, silent book clubs, harvest markets and sunset river cruises.

Visitors can mix free, ticketed and walk-in experiences, creating their own itinerary rather than following a fixed schedule. Local businesses also join the festival with wellness, beauty and dining offers. It’s a low-key way to build a Tasmanian winter break around actual rest rather than another packed sightseeing schedule. launcestoncentral.com.au/unwind

Auckland Museum’s wild encounters

Auckland Museum is bringing its natural science galleries to life with a family experience that blends wildlife, storytelling and hands-on exploration. Walk on the Wild Side: Gallery Encounters returns on Saturdays and Sundays from August 8 to 23, with sessions running 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm in the Weird and Wonderful Gallery.

Included with museum entry, the programme features larger-than-life wildlife enthusiasts who roam the galleries sharing fascinating, funny and unexpected stories about the animals on display. Children are encouraged to photograph their favourite creatures, drawing inspiration from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, while discovering more about the natural world. aucklandmuseum.com/visit/whats-on/kids-and-family/walk-on-the-wild-side-gallery-encounters