Canada

An Ode to Going Nowhere: The North American Train Trips Where the Origin is the Destination

If you’re lucky enough to live in a city or a country with a bustling rail network, chances are you’ve rarely thought of train travel as little more than a modern convenience (and certainly preferable to a bus). But the history of rail travel – both from a commercial and commuter level – is one…

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Air Transat Review: Flying Canada’s third largest airline from Toronto to Montreal

While most commonly used for Canadians looking to travel abroad, Air Transat do have a number of domestic services in a network dominated by the country’s two biggest airlines – Air Canada and Westjet. One route that just about all these airlines share is the quick hop from Toronto (either Billy Bishop or Pearson) to…

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How long are airport security wait times in Canada? This website will tell you!

With all the news about airport delays over the last year, you’ve probably been wondering how early you need get to the airport before your flight. For those travelling within Canada, here’s how to pre-determine at least some of the delays you might face. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CASTA) website reports on the…

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Toronto Pearson Delays: Flying to the USA with Air Canada – how early do you need to get to the airport?

It’s no secret that flying out of Toronto Pearson International is currently fraught with issues and delays. In fact, you may have seen the airport make headlines for having the most delays – affecting more than 50% of outbound flights – of any airport in the world. Simply put, due in large part to short…

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Dream Destinations: Hiking the picture perfect Joffre Lakes in British Columbia, Canada

You’d be forgiven for thinking the photo above is taken in the famed blue waters of Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta. It is, after all, one of Canada’s most photographed destinations. Alas, it is not alone in its regal beauty. Sitting three hours or so north of Vancouver, just past Whistler and Pemberton, the Joffre…

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Club Med to open its very first Canadian resort in Québec next week

Before the year is done and dusted, iconic luxury lifestyle brand Club Med will open its very first Canadian property, no doubt adding the country’s already solid portfolio of grand, enchanting ski resorts. Named Québec Charlevoix, positioned in the north of Québec, the new Club Med resort will soak up the area’s regional wonders and…

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Picasso follows Van Gogh as “Imagine Picasso: The Immersive Experience” arrives in Vancouver, Canada

Millions around the world have already experienced Imagine Van Gogh – a reimagining of the way we immerse ourselves in the pieces of an adored artist, usually limited by the finite nature of their work. 3.5 million tickets have been sold in North America alone, and the concept is currently in Brisbane as it tours Australia…

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Air Canada vs Westjet: What is pandemic travel like with Canada’s biggest airlines from Toronto to Vancouver (Updated)

In Toronto, after enduring the world’s longest continuous COVID-19 lockdown – accumulating almost 400 days by the time indoor dining restrictions came to an end earlier this month – we’re finally coming out of what we hope are the darkest days of the pandemic. Vaccination rates are approaching 80% – placing us amongst the most…

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Porter Airlines vs Air Canada: Flying to and from a reopened Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Earlier this month, Toronto’s central Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport re-opened for the first time to travellers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the airport’s primary commercial carriers, Porter Airlines, resumed domestic services. The airport – which I’ve previously called one of the world’s most convenient – is unique due to its location…

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5 trips to take out of Vancouver, BC this Summer

As Canadian Provinces open to domestic travellers once again – and even to their American neighbours to the south – we spent a week in the country’s western most Province, British Columbia, to get a taste of some of the activities that locals and visitors alike should take advantage of as Summer continues. Spend the…

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How Niagara Falls, Canada has adapted to Tourism in the age of Coronavirus

If you live and work in a destination considered a “tourist attraction”, 2020 has unquestionably been a difficult year for your city. With international air travel grinding to a halt and even domestic travel either discouraged or blocked by ever changing border rules, tourism sectors have seen unthinkable downturn. Some have had to shut their…

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Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Whistler, British Columbia

In between time spent on the towering twins of Whistler Blackcomb, one of the most exciting ski villages in the world gets much of its energy from its famed nightlife. Whistler, flooded with expats (mostly Aussies) addicted to the daily cycle of adventure and unwind, has built up a solid reputation for a modest but…

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Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup from Vancouver’s Trading Post Brewery

This one is for the cheese and beer lovers out there. Vancouver’s popular Trading Post brewery has crafted the unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable combination of beer and cheese into a soup. Featuring local ingredients from Birchwood Dairy’s cheddar cheese and cream, Johnston’s bacon and beer. The contrasting flavours are said to complement each other, creating a…

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The best ways to spend 24 Hours in Jasper, Alberta

The great Canadian Rockies are, rightfully, always found near the very top when adventurous travellers reveal their bucket list. Why? Well, exploring this immense and memorable part of the world is not just a true journey into powerful natural landscapes, but a path that might just redefine the way you think about travel and its…

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How to Plan a Canadian Ski Holiday on a Budget

Whether you are a seasoned pow chaser or beginner shredder, everyone knows Canadian snow is the absolute stuff of legend. For 5-6 months a year, soft, fluffy snow falls all across the province, and visitors from every corner of the globe flock for a piece of the action.  For folks on the other side of…

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Try the Best Beer in British Columbia on Brewers Row, Port Moody

Any well-informed beer enthusiast who finds themselves in Vancouver or surrounds absolutely must not leave without a visit to Port Moody, BC, a relaxed area laden with lakes, lush mountains and young families walking their dogs. Located 20 minutes outside of Vancouver by public transit, the main street truly comes into its own in the…

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11 of the most incredible things to see in the Canadian Rockies

Want to experience something truly surreal? We’re talking genuinely life-affirming, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping sights that will forever be etched into your memory. See everything you possibly can in the Canadian Rockies. Hike it, drive it, sit on a solitary pier tearing up at the profound beauty of it all; fear this immense pocket of untamed nature…

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Aussies Abroad: DZ Deathrays, Hockey Dad & Horror My Friend to tour Canada (and Milwaukee) together in December

In what must be the most epic Australian rock triple header to ever hit Canada (and Milwaukee), DZ Deathrays, Hockey Dad and Horror My Friend are joining forces to tour the country this December. For DZ Deathrays, the tour comes off the back of their current Australian tour, which sees them touring with Polish Club,…

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Aussies Abroad: Kim Churchill launches massive Forgetting Canadian tour through November

Aussie singer/songwriter Kim Churchill is no stranger to Canada – in fact the brand new EP Forgetting, which he released last week, was recorded there. And this week he’s landed back in the great north to celebrate the new album, with a run of shows that will take him across the entire country through November,…

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What to expect from Elton John’s Australian Tour? We caught his final ever show in Toronto to find out.

It’s not long now until the legendary Elton John returns for Australia for what he promises to be the last time, in his swan song, “Farewell, Yellow Brick Road” tour. It’ll see him take in a mountain of dates across several months – with both major city and regional appearances. So what do Australian fans…

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Live Review: Noah Gundersen proves a talent beyond his years at spellbinding Toronto Lover show

It’s been 7 years since I last saw Seattle based singer/songwriter Noah Gundersen. Then, he had a lot less tattoos. Me, a lot less facial hair. In that time he’s gone on to release four more albums and work with Glorietta. His latest, Lover, hit our headphones at the end of August. It’s a stunning record that deserves to…

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Cornucopia: In Whistler, we found one of the world’s best food festivals

Next month Whistler Village will once again kick off one of the world’s greatest ski seasons, but in the lead up to that, it’ll transform into a veritable oasis of food and wine, highlighting the many fine restaurants and bars that make up British Columbia’s adventure capital in new and interesting ways. Each November, this…

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Flight Comparison: Air North or Air Canada – who should you fly with to the Yukon in Canada’s North?

Not to be confused with the airline of the same name from Australia’s Top End, Canadian airline Air North has been taking passengers to the Provence of Yukon since 1977, first as a Charter airline and then servicing passengers from the 1980s. This month I flew with them for the first time, travelling on a…

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Travelling around Canada by train isn’t just a beautiful experience – it can also be cost effective luxury

You may have heard over the years of the expensive nature of travelling around Canada, especially by plane. It’s a country where internal flights are almost entirely serviced by two airlines – Air Canada and Westjet – both of whom have a mixed reputation, especially when it comes to their ticket prices. And these are…

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Riding the Confederation Line: Where to visit on Ottawa, Ontario’s new Light Rail

This weekend, after six years of construction, Canada’s capital Ottawa welcomes a new light rail line to its city – the Confederation Line. With 13 stations (a combination of under and above ground), the 12.5 km rail network will connect the city to its O-Train LRT like never before. And it’s just the start of…

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Cheateau Victoria Review: Supremely convenient for British Columbia’s stunning capital

Quaint, friendly and absolutely delicious. There are many ways to describe the historic British Columbian capital of Victoria, a small city with a very big heart. It’s often referred to as the highlight on any Canadian itinerary – it’s certainly one of mine – and anyone would surely agree once they walk the serene Ogden…

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Live Review: The Smashing Pumpkins cover “Old Town Road” (sort of) as they shine on tour with Noel Gallagher

A surprising mix of artists descended on the Budweiser Stage in Toronto tonight, with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds shortly into their set when I arrived, after an earlier set from openers AFI. What does link these acts though are ever growing, rabid fanbases. You mat not feel like you’ve heard much new music from these…

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Flight Review: Delta & Westjet from JFK to Prince Edward Island via Toronto’s Pearson International

Transiting from a domestic to an international flight at Toronto’s Pearson International, as we’ve talked about in the past, can prove to be a bit of a nightmare. But how does it compare when you’ve got to connect from international to domestic? You may not have to clear US customs post security, but you still…

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Hotel Review: The Burrard is a retro-chic revitalised motel in Vancouver’s City Centre

Saying a hotel had a “motel vibe” used to be a dirty word, but now it’s a bit chic, with clever hoteliers renovating outdated accommodation options into hotels bursting with sophistication and modern comforts – all with a touch of nostalgia. One such hotel is The Burrard, located less than 15 minutes walk from Vancouver…

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The Oswego Hotel Review: Cosy boutique apartments in Victoria BC

As one of the top rated boutique hotels in Victoria, British Columbia, The Oswego Hotel gets by beautifully on the simple pillars of good hospitality, great guest rooms, and excellent food and wine. Although you’d expect nothing less; as BC’s capital and one of the most pleasant small cities in the world (something that’s been…

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