Australia began welcoming its first tourists back on February 21, after two years of lockdowns and closed borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Travellers wanting to enter the country can do so from any country provided they are fully vaccinated and provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours before departure. International bookings to Australia increased 93 per cent after the country announced its reopening date, according to Travelport data. Travellers are also more likely to stay in Australia for longer, with an average of 32 days in comparison to the pre-pandemic average of 22 days. So what’s new in Australia? In preparation for the new wave of international travellers, Tourism Australia launched a A$40 million (US$28.8 million) advertising campaign earlier in February. Its theme: “Don’t Go Small. Go Australia.” Qantas, Australia’s national airline , is in the middle of restarting or adding six international routes connecting places such as Sydney to Dallas, in the United States, and Brisbane to Singapore, anticipating a strong comeback in air travel to the country. While air travel and land tourism are picking up in Australia, travellers wanting to explore the continent via cruise ship will have to wait at least until after April 17. The country recently extended its ban on cruise ships, which was due to expire on February 17, for an extra two months due to pandemic concerns. Sydney dining scene is buzzing again, though Chinatown’s ‘on life support’ New accommodation has opened in Australia in the past two years. In New South Wales , the Tawillah Milton Luxury Retreat by South Coast Experiences offers a secluded retreat experience for two, ideal for travellers wanting to remain physically distanced during their stay in the region. A new city escape in Newcastle, Crystalbrook Kingsley, offers a sustainable hotel experience in Australia’s seventh-largest city. In the country’s Northern Territory , new developments include Litchfield Hideaway’s third cabin, made entirely from shipping containers; an off-the-grid style retreat, it’s a sustainable and private way to experience the bushland. The luxury Finniss River Lodge is expected to open this spring, in the Northern Territory. In Tasmania , Marriott’s The Luxury Collection has opened The Tasman, in the island’s capital city, Hobart. In a building dating back to the late 1800s, The Tasman is a luxurious retreat in the heart of the city. Aimed at guests who’d like to camp in Queensland and experience Indigenous cultures, the Talaroo Hot Springs is owned by the Ewamian people and reopens in April. In South Australia, new accommodation includes Eco Eyre, environmentally friendly eco-pods in Port Gibbon, and Sequoia Adelaide Hills, an adults-only sustainable lodge that offers excursions such as helicopter tours and bush treks. In Victoria , guests can stay at the new ultra-modern coastal cabins of Five Acres. One of a number of new touring options is the Kakadu Cultural Experience tour, in the Northern Territory. Hosted by Kakadu Air and in partnership with Indigenous tour operators, the tour includes a helicopter flight along the scenic Kakadu escarpment, a 90-minute cruise along the East Alligator River, a visit to the Aboriginal rock art galleries at Ubirr and a lunch featuring local ingredients. Travellers will learn about the local Bininj/Mungguy people and witness ancient human art along the tour.