The Northern Territory is banking on people in the southern states making a desperate bid for freedom this winter.
The NT’s latest marketing campaign is pointing out with a heavy hand that warm weather starts early in the territory and it’s possible to ditch a tough season and make your way north for a ‘summer’ holiday.
The campaign is advising Australians to “start summer early” in the off-peak shoulder season.
As anyone who has suffered through a tropical wet season – who knew so much sweat could come from every pore of your body – pushing tourists through the area before the rains start is a smart tactic, certainly if you want any repeat business.
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And let’s face it, the NT is big, you can even avoid the wet season by travelling to the red centre instead. The annual rainfall at Uluru is 300mm, compared to Darwin with an average 1711mm, most of that in the wet season.
The campaign takes the form of a fake blockbuster movie trailer complete with an earnest voiceover and juxtaposes the NT’s stunning scenery against some pretty ordinary written reviews in a dry form of Aussie humour.
The ad will be running across cinema, TV, digital and outdoor advertising and will use real-time weather comparisons.
Read: Five Australian lakes worth travelling to
Heathrow delays
Talking about escaping the southern hemisphere winter, don’t expect to find much joy travelling to Great Britain.
We’ve all seen the mountains of lost luggage across the media and Heathrow Airport is not mucking about sorting out the drama.
The airport announced this week it has capped the number of passengers it will process to 100,000 a week due to the issues it is having with lost luggage, delayed departures and last-minute cancellations.
Read: Here’s what you should always pack in your cabin bag
According to Heathrow’s own statistics, before the pandemic it processed more than 200,000 travellers a day. The restrictions are expected to remain in place well into September.
The Australian government website smartraveller.com.au is advising travellers to contact their airline to confirm flights, ensure your travel insurance covers you for flight cancellations, be prepared for long wait times at the airport and have contingency plans in place if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
It’s also a good idea not to cram all your plans close to arrival or departure times. If you are travelling for a significant event such as a wedding, try and make sure you arrive or leave several days before the designated day to avoid disappointment.
The only shining light is Heathrow’s ePassport lanes will accept Australian ePassports so at least in theory that should streamline the process a tad.
Are you planning a European holiday? Tell us how you are preparing for delays in the comment section below.
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