National Bike Week, remote Madagascar, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Travel agenda

Where to go and what to know

Brisbane, Queensland, is a one-hop flight from the UK on a number of airlines (Getty)

1. Aussie dreams

Brisbane, Queensland, is a one-hop flight from the UK on a number of airlines – but only Etihad operates the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" on the longest stretch of the trip. Flights from the Abu Dhabi hub began this week, with connections from Edinburgh, Heathrow and Manchester.

etihad.com

2. Remote tour

Adventurous travellers can now visit a remote area of north-west Madagascar with Rainbow Tours. Its 12-day guided tour of Sahamalaza, a protected area that's home to endangered species such as the blue-eyed black lemur, costs from £3,550pp, with flights.

rainbowtours.co.uk

3. Milan moment

Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan has officially opened after an extensive restoration and refurbishment. The Belle Epoque façade has been returned to its former glory and a modern extension added. The designers behind the makeover have also curated a collection of more than 500 paintings, sculptures and photos dotted around the hotel.

excelsiorhotelgallia.com

4. Give it welly

A new exhibition about the Duke of Wellington opened yesterday at Walmer Castle in Kent, ahead of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June. English Heritage has re-created the room in which the Duke died in 1852, and displays in adjacent rooms explore his career and celebrity status. Entry £10.70.

english-heritage.org.uk

5. Ferry free

To celebrate National Bike Week, which runs 13-21 June, MyFerryLink between Dover and Calais is offering two weeks of free travel for cyclists. The offer starts today and is available on all sailings until 20 June, subject to availability. Call 0844 2482 100 to book.

myferrylink.com

6. Train gain

The branch from the main south of France railway line from Toulon to the resort of Hyères has been closed for almost a year, but reopens on 29 June with a much-improved service along the Côte d'Azur – including hourly trains to Marseille.

europeanrailtimetable.eu

7. All Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will tour UK theatres this summer, discussing his life with long-time friend and expedition partner Anton Bowring. The Life at the Limits tour starts in Birmingham on 29 June, with stops including Llandudno, Aberdeen, Sheffield and Reading, before the final night in Leamington Spa on 21 July.

speakersfromtheedge.com

8. On the case

Tripp has launched its new collection of summer luggage. Choose from the range of matching "Express" suitcases and holdalls, which come in bright prints such as poppies and leaves, or opt instead for a primary-coloured "Holiday" hard case. Prices start at £25 for a holdall and £49 for a medium-sized suitcase.

tripp.co.uk