Before the coronavirus pandemic, many of us considered flying merely as a means of getting from point A to point B as rapidly as possible. However, in the face of global constraints, passengers have been wondering not just about exotic locations but also about the flying experience itself – from the rush of take-off to the unsurpassed vistas of the Earth from the cabin window. That is where "flights to nowhere" come into play — air travel is undertaken just for the voyage itself, rather than the destination. As evidence of how popular these flights are, a Qantas sightseeing flight to nowhere sold out in less than ten minutes, with passengers eager to take to the skies at a time when Australia has grounded practically all international flights at premium costs.

"This is perhaps the fastest-selling rip in Qantas history," airline CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement. "People certainly miss travel and the flying experience. If there is sufficient demand, we will surely consider expanding these scenic trips as we all wait for the borders to open." The seven-hour spectacular trip will make a big loop over Queensland and the Gold Coast, New South Wales, and the rural outback heartlands of the country. According to the Local Straits Times newspaper, the chances of getting Covid-19 aboard a plane are much less than you may think. Singapore Airlines is also apparently considering providing flights to nowhere from October.

Singapore Airlines' spokeswoman told CNN travel that the airline "is investigating several initiatives that would allow us to continue engaging customers and the general public. None of these proposals have been finalized as of yet."

The idea of a flight to nowhere could be controversial from an environmental standpoint. However, while there may be concerns about the unnecessary fuel consumption, new scientific research reveals that the chances of contracting Covid-19 aboard a flight are lower than you may assume, thanks to the air ventilation systems. Nonetheless, all airlines are complying with Covid-19 standards while flying scenic routes.

Well, on October 7, 2021, at 6:53 p.m. (Wednesday), the Australian flag carrier Qantas accomplished the world's longest passenger trip.The airline carried 107 passengers from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Darwin, Australia, covering 9,333 miles. The journey lasted 17 hours and 25 minutes and spanned Antarctica and the Pacific Ocean, lasted 17 hours and 25 minutes. According to Qantas, the aircraft was the company's first-ever non-stop flight between Buenos Aires and Darwin. It flew entirely in daylight over Antarctica, with temperatures as low as -75 degrees Celsius (-103 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to the airline, the flight also marks the first time an airplane has arrived in Darwin 'from every inhabited continent on earth" in a single year, all of which were flown by Qantas. "Qantas has always risen to the occasion, particularly when it comes to long-haul travel, and this trip is a fantastic example of our flight planning team's expertise and attention to detail," said Captain Alex Passerini, one of the four pilots on board. Long-haul flights are nothing new for Qantas. It flew a trial journey from New York to Sydney, Australia, in 2019 that lasted over 19 hours and covered more than 10,000 miles.

The flight was longer than the repatriation flight on Wednesday, although it did not transport paying passengers. Instead, it flew roughly 50 "guinea pigs" to see how humans performed in the air for an extended amount of time, disqualifying it from the title of "longest flight." Singapore Airlines now holds the record for the world's longest regularly scheduled passenger trip. An Airbus A350-900 traveled from Singapore to New York, covering over 9,500 miles in 18 hours. Avid fliers should recognize prominent Australian landmarks such as Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef from above.

The flight was conducted aboard a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, often used for transcontinental flights. The plane performed a low flyby over several prominent locations, including Uluru and Bondi Beach. Additionally, special onboard entertainment, including a surprise celebrity presenter, was present.

Due to travel restrictions, there are currently fewer flights to and from Australia, and Qantas' international fleet was previously grounded. Flight QF787 had been scheduled to depart Sydney Domestic Airport on October 10 and return seven hours later. The flight had 134 tickets available, ranging in price from AUD 787 to $3,787 (US$566 to $2,734). The Dreamliner is famed for its wide windows, which make sightseeing from 30,000 feet possible.

Victorian State authorities have set aside $5 million for the COVID-19 vaccination blitz on disabled residents. These residents will receive the vaccination jab in all vaccination centers that are run by the state -without being booked. In addition, the Victorian government will also launch ten vaccination hubs to catalyze the vaccination rates of disabled Victorians. The Victorian Minister for Disability, Luke Donnellan, said that vaccination rates for the disabled Victorians are still lower than that of the general public. However, the government hopes the vaccination campaign will increase the vaccination rates among these people living with disabilities.

Minister L. Donnellan also commented that by 30th September 2021, about 71% of Victoria's National Disability Insurance Scheme members with over sixteen years had received their first jab. This figure was a bit higher than 67% of the national average (but lower than 84% of the general population of Victoria). In fact, Mr. Donnellan confirmed that the vaccination rates among disabled Victorians are still lower than those of the general Victorian population. He also confirmed that the authorities are determined to increase these rates.

In addition, the Victorian government is creating more ambassadors for the COVID-19 vaccine by working alongside disabled people (hearing and autism). Martin K, a former travel writer involved in a terrible car accident that left him a quadriplegic, said that the people at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 are those living with disabilities. For this reason, he urged the government to heighten vaccination activities among the disabled.

As the COVID-19 cases of infection and death continue to heighten in Victoria and the World at large, demonstrations against the COVID-19 regulations continue to increase. With many main stream media channels not covering the Australian COVID protests, rumours were circulating online of a media blackout of protests that seemed to last for months with what looks like tens of thousands of people involved. Over 200 protesters were arrested in Melbourne, an area that was also been declared a no-fly zone by the authorities. These demonstrations continued for many days whereby some police officers have been injured by projectiles thrown by demonstrators. Batteries, golf balls, and bottles are among the projectiles thrown to the police by demonstrators who are against the strictly imposed COVID-19 self-quarantine and stay-at-home regulations.

As the police expected more demonstrations, Ross Guenther, the Deputy Police Commissioner, added that some demonstrators' motives may be unclear. He also urged people not to visit Melbourne since the police are determined to use excessive force in an attempt to scatter and stop the demonstrators. The authorities and some union officials added that a few far-right groups and extremists had joined the demonstrations. Daniel Andrews, the state premier, said that some of the protestors claim to be members of the building industry. He also said some of the protestors are not builders- they are merely there to fight "instead of protesting."

Protests erupted even more after the authorities shut down construction sites that were not complying with COVID-19 rules and made the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for the construction workers. The protesters are said to have injured some police officers and damaged property worth lots of money. In addition, the media complained when Melbourne was declared a no-fly zone, a ban that was later lifted only for the media's helicopters. TV images showed the police dispersing demonstrators using foam baton rounds and capsicum spray.

Many demonstrators have refused to cooperate with reporters, claiming that they are broadcasting fake news. Most of the arrested protesters were fined AU$5,000 for breaching COVID-19 directives. Lockdown continued in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra following the Delta variant outbreak. This lockdown was the sixth for Victoria since the pandemic began.

Daily activities were anticipated to partially resume in Sydney and Melbourne by lifting some of the curbs if the population of the vaccinated adults hit 70%, which is expected by December 2021. The authorities promised to give further relaxation as the vaccination figure hits 80%. In the southeastern state of Victoria. 45% of residents aged over sixteen years are fully vaccinated, with only 54% of the same immunized in the state of New South Wales. Recently, Victoria recorded over six hundred new infections; this is a big rise this year. On the same day, New South Wales registered more than a thousand new infections. The total COVID-19 new infections cases stood at 90,300, with 1,186 deaths reported.

Ranked as the sixth largest country and the smallest continent in the world, Australia is strategically located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Sea. Australia is about 2000 miles south east of the Asian mainland and approximately 7000 miles to the south west of North America. The country boasts of numerous movie celebrities known locally and in the international arena. Read on to know some of the most celebrated front -of- camera Australian stars.

Hugh Jackman

Most celebrated globally for the Marvel antihero role in the movie Wolverine, Hugh Jackman's net worth currently stands at $46 million. Jackman was born in Sydney and has spent most of his time touring the globe. He earned his inaugural academy award and the coveted Golden Globe award with his most recent hit "Les Miserables." He has won accolades in film, musical theatre and television.

Cate Blanchett

Care Blanchett is probably one of the greatest actresses in Australia. She has won numerous awards both on screen and on stage. Notable works include three screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Award, two Academy Awards and three BAFTA Awards. She graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1992. After graduation, Blanchett began working in the theatre industry.

Her debut in theatre was in the film realm, opposite Glenn Close in the year 1977. As a top ranking female celebrity, Blanchett's current net worth stands at $17.2 million. American audiences fondly remembers her for her role as Galadriel in the movie "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit franchises." She has also featured in the films "Knight of Cups", "Five Armies", and Disney's Live Action fairy tale "Cinderella".

Russell Crowe

Born in New Zealand, Crowe is one of the most celebrated actors in Australia. He has played several roles in award winning movies. He began his acting career in the early 1990s. Before joining the acting industry, he was a member of different bands. His debut in acting came with the roles in the Sum of Us and Romper Stopper as well as in the American movie "The Quick and the Dead". He was widely celebrated for his role in "Gladiator" where he won an Academy Award. He also featured in "Man of Steel", "Les Miserables", "The Water Diviner" and "Fathers and Daughters." Crow is also a known philanthropist and has donated to several charitable firms, especially in the field of education.

Simon Baker

Baker is a native of Launceston, Tasmania. He started his career as a musician and featured in music videos such as Home and Away, Simon Baker- Denny, E street and Heartbreak High.

He made his debut in the movie industry by featuring in the award winning American movie "L.A. Confidential." He has also played a lead role as Patrick Jane on CBS's "The Mentalist." He was awarded a star because of his starring role in the movie, "Walk of Fantasy" in 2013.

Nicole Kidman

Kidman was born in Hawaii and returned to Sydney when she was just three years old. She dropped out of school at a tender age of 16 to pursue a career in acting. She was married to Tom Cruise, an American actor. Nicole and Cruise divorced ten years into their marriage. Currently, she is married to an Australian musician, Keith Urban. She was thrown into the limelight after featuring in the Australian holiday favorite, "Bush Christmas" in the 80s. This was followed by her roles in BMX Bandits and Vietnam.

Her first major movie in USA was "Dead Calm" in 1989. She got her first major award by starring in "To Die First" in 1995 and won the Golden Globe Award. In 2005 she was nominated for her first Oscar. In 2002, Nicole Kidman became the first Australian actress to win the prestigious Oscar Award for her role in the movie "Hours." She has also featured in "Before I Go to Sleep", "Queen of the Desert", and "Paddington."

Chris Hemsworth

One of the youngest celebrated actors from Australia, Chris Hemsworth was born in Melbourne. He married the actress Elsa Patacky and the couple is blessed with three children. Chris earned the name "Thor" from "Marvel's Cinematic World" and has also featured in the Australian Soap Opera, "Home and Away." He made the first Hollywood appearance in 2009 featuring in "the Star Trek." He has also starred in "the Avengers," the cult hit "Cabin in the Woods," "Snow White" and "the Huntsman", as well as the Ron Howard-directed "Rush.

Australia is bountiful with awe-inspiring unique geographical phenomena. The country is well known for its vibrancy in natural beauty and a unique culture and history. So, take a look at what awaits you in this country full of wonderful possibilities.

The Australian Alps' Unique Natural Environment

The distinctive and spectacular Australian Alps stretches over 1.6 million hectares in eleven national parks. The area extends across the New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. In a country that is mostly dry, flat and hot, the high altitude peaks, alpine and submarine environment and glacial lakes are a rare sight to behold. The Australian Alps consist of numerous mountain environments and a wide range of plant communities. The plants range from snow gum woodlands to fern-filled forests. There are also open expanses of alpine meadows, dotted in summer and autumn with beautiful wildflowers.

Australia's Weird But Wonderful Wildlife

The continent is home to some of the world's cutest animals such as the kangaroo, wombat and koala. Australia also prides itself in rather unusual looking creatures found only in that country. A selfie with cuddly marsupials like quokkas, koalas and wombats are only possible in the island country. You can savor a rare wild moment with the frill-necked lizards only found in the warm tropical climate of Northern Australia. However, the habitat destruction continues to contribute to the declining numbers of this rare species of lizards. Like thorny devil's, the frill-necked lizards have an extraordinary ability to change color depending on their environment.

Australia's platypuses are another rare species of animals. The animals are known for their thick brown fur, soft bills, and front webbed paws. Male platypuses have a poisonous deadly spur, located right inside their hind legs. The animals spend a better part of the day in a burrow; they're mostly active in the mornings and late in the evenings. They have the uncanny ability to stay inside the water for long and use the cheek for food storage. Available data states that platypuses are currently not endangered though their existence depends on healthy water ways.

Australia: Home to the Pink Lake Hillier

The naturally occurring pink lake is situated on the Middle Island, the largest island in the Recherché Archipelago in Western Australia. The archipelago is part of the nature reserve and is recognized as one of Australia's wilderness areas. Tourists travel from different parts of the world to witness the peculiar allure of Lake Hillier. The pink color of the waters remains a mystery; the natural phenomenon has no proven scientific explanation. Unlike other pink lakes, Lake Hillier maintains its color throughout the year. Another interesting fact about the lake is that the closer you get to it the more translucent the water is. And even when you remove the water from the lake and bottle it, it retains its pink color.

Lake Hillier is naturally shallow with its shoreline covered in salt crust deposits; this makes the surrounding environment ten times saltier than the adjacent ocean. Discussions are rife on whether people should be allowed to swim in the saline pink waters of the lake. However the high saline condition of the lake makes swimming very uncomfortable. The lake is also quite shallow in nature and its shoreline is covered in salt crust deposits; this creates an environment that is ten times saltier than the nearby ocean. Although the lake is not open to public swimming due to the inaccessibility of the area, it is believed that this lake would be perfectly safe to swim in.

The Blue Mountains and Bungle Range

Located about 2 hours from the Sydney Central Business District, this mountain escarpment is a true awe of colors. Here you'll enjoy the beauty of the natural environment; green eucalyptus forest gives way to the prestigious red stone covered in the shimmering haze that tints the landscape blue. Indeed, the Blue Mountains provide some of the best tourist attractions in Australia: the Three Sisters, Echo Point, and the Great Dividing Range.

The Bungle Range is located in the Purnululu National Park in the Kimberly region of Western Australia. It's covered in condensed sandstone range and rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding plains. Also found here are some fascinating geographical features including the orange and black sandstone domes, tropical pools, dramatic gorges and caves that provide homes for unique mammals and wildlife.