Qantas is going places, plus the future of travel is here

The national carrier has launched direct flights to Shanghai, with Perth to Paris route coming soon.

The flying kangaroo is making news: having resumed direct flights to China (between Sydney and Shanghai) for the first time in three years, Qantas is about to launch a nonstop route between Paris and Perth. Taking off in July 2024, the flights will be right in time for the Paris Olympics and European summer.

Meanwhile, closer to home New Caledonia's national airline Aircalin is about to launch direct flights between Melbourne and Noumea from December 8. Where will you go first? qantas.com; aircalin.com

Read more on Explore:

Yes, it's that time of the year - from respected travel publications to reputable tour operators, everyone is looking into the crystal ball to find out the adventures that await us in 2024. Mongolia, India and Morocco feature in the top three spots among Lonely Planet's most-desired places to visit next year, while Spain, Patagonia (in Argentina and Chile) and Greenland appear in the guidebook's most sustainable destinations for 2024. And when it comes to trends, Explore Worldwide's Annual Global Travel Trends Report has the lowdown. Transformational trips, to places such as Camino de Santiago, are at the top of the list, with trends such as "rebound of Asia" and "e-bike revolution" also gaining momentum. lonelyplanet.com; exploreworldwide.com.au