Straight to your inbox
Shutterstock image: Noctiluca scintillans in Taiwan
You've seen the photos. These picture perfect shots of night swimming where your friends are bathing in what looks like an other-worldly neon glow. That's called bioluminescence, and now you can swim in it too.
Bioluminescence in its simplest form is when a living organism emits light. Think of a glowworm and you're there.
That means bioluminescence in the ocean isn't actually caused by the water alone. It's the result of tiny plankton (bioluminescent phytoplankton) in the ocean in droves producing little beams of light for themselves.
Interestingly, bioluminescence in the ocean was documented by Charles Darwin, who described it in his journal after seeing it while sailing on a ship during one of his expeditions. Darwin described it as a 'wonderful and most beautiful spectacle' as the ocean 'glowed with a pale light'.
Bioluminescent algae -- aka Noctiluca (or Sea Sparkle) -- is another related phenomenon.
There are four beaches, bays and bodies of water you can experience bioluminescence around the world:
• Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico
• Sam-Mun-Tsai Beach, Hong Kong
• Mission Bay, San Diego
• Toyama Bay, Japan
Search for a preferred airline, hotel chain, destination or type of deal you're looking for.
Flight Centre - International
Hong Kong flights from $629 return
Valid for travel from 28 January - 15 August 2020 with Singapore Airlines. Sample fare is from Perth.
Last verified
Deal ends
Flight Centre - International
Canada flights from $1,399 return
Valid for travel from 18 April - 25 June 2020 with Air New Zealand. Sample fare is Brisbane-Vancouver.
Last verified
Deal ends
Flight Centre - International
Argentina flights from $1,199 return
Valid for travel from 15 April - 28 June 2020 with Air New Zealand. Sample fare is Brisbane-Buenos Aires.
Last verified
Deal ends
Skiddoo
International flights from $232 return
Valid for travel between October - November 2019 and February - June 2019. Sample fare is Perth-Bali. Destinations include Hong Kong, Bali, Colombo, London, Barcelona, San Francisco, Ho Chi Minh and more.
Last verified
Deal ends
Qatar Airways
Istanbul flight from $570
Valid for travel until 31 December 2020. Sample fare departs from Melbourne with Qatar Airways. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
CruiseAway
Australia: 7-night cruise from $852
Valid for travel on select dates between September 2019 - October 2020 with Pacific Dawn. Includes meals. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Luxury Escapes
Thailand: 8-nights stay
Valid for booking until 30 October 2020. Includes daily buffet breakfast at Átrio Restaurant for 2. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Uniworld
Vienna: 10% off 8-day cruise
Valid for travel on April - October 2020. Includes 3 meals daily. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Insight Vacations
10% Early payment discount
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include USA, Canada, Europe and Britain. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Cudo
China: 10-day tour + return flights from $949
Valid for travel on select dates in March - November 2020. Includes daily breakfast and select meals. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Qatar Airways
Africa flights from $1,129 return
Valid for travel on select dates in 2019-2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Cape Town. Destinations include Zanzibar, Seychelles, Tunis, Lagos, Algiers, Marrakech and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Qatar Airways
Europe flights from $1,069 return
Valid for travel on select dates in 2019-2020. Sample fare is Perth-Dublin. Destinations include London, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Dusit Hotels
Up to 20% off advance bookings
Valid for stays on select 2019-2020 dates across China, Kenya, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, USA and more. Discount applies when you book in advance on dusit.com. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Expedia.com.au
New York flights from $1,045 return
Valid for travel from March - May 2019 with China Eastern. Sample fare is from Melbourne.
Last verified
Deal ends
Expedia.com.au
Up to 14% off Italy hotels
Valid for travel on select dates. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Flight Centre - International
Asia flights from $499 return
Valid for travel on select dates. Sample fare is Perth-Singapore. Destinations include Tokyo and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
P&O Cruises
Get drinks packages with Australia cruises
Valid for travel on select dates. Includes premium beverage package, soft drinks package and more. Departures include Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Trip.com
Extra $30 off flights
Valid for travel on select dates. Discount applies when you book with UnionPay. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Skyscanner
Europe flights from $803 return
Valid for travel on select dates in 2020. Sample fare is Sydney-Athens. Destinations include London, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
TFE Hotels
15% off hotels with code + late check-out
Valid for stays on select dates at Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
TFE Hotels
Up to 30% off hotels with code
Valid for stays at Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Flinders for 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Flight Centre - Holidays
Fiji: 6-night hotel stay + vehicle transfers from $869
Valid for travel between October 2019 - June 2020. Includes accommodation at the 4.5 star Warwick Fiji, daily buffet breakfast, vehicle transfers from Nadi Airport to Coral Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Cudo
Cairns: 3-night stay from $399
Valid for travel until 9 August 2020. Includes accommodation at Great Barrier Reef, daily buffet breakfast and $50 resort credit. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Cudo
Eastern Creek Go Kart experiences from $25
Valid for a 15 or 30-minute go karting experience at Eastern Creek Karts. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
CruiseAway
Up to $1,000 air credit with Holland America
Valid on select 2019 and 2020 sailings. Destinations include New Zealand, Australia, Northern Europe, South Pacific and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Contiki
Up to 10% off Japan tours
Valid for 2020 and 2021 departures. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Flight Centre - Holidays
Thailand: 5-night Sunsuri Phuket + return flights from $999
Valid for travel between 20 August 2019 - 30 June 2020. Includes daily buffet breakfast, hotel accommodation, return flights from Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Book FHR
Up to 20% off site-wide
Valid for travel on select dates. Discount applies to airport hotels, parking and lounges. Destinations include Newcastle, Manchester, Gatwick and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Rail Europe
Up to 90% off German rail passes
Valid for travel on select dates in 2019 - 2020. Destinations include Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hannover, Cologne and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
EasyRentCars.com
Up to $50 off your first car rental
Discount applies to prepay bookings. Destinations include Africa, Asia, South America and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Nexus Holidays
$1,000 off 24-day Asia getaway + flights
Valid for travel on select dates in 2019 - 2020. Destinations include Japan, China, Taiwan and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Nexus Holidays
Up to $300 off India tours
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include New Delhi, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombo and more. Includes hotel accommodation, daily meals and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Nexus Holidays
Up to $500 off USA & Canada tours
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Alaska, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Luxury Escapes
Barossa Valley: 2-night romantic getaway + flights from $881
Valid for travel until 30 June 2020. Includes accommodation at Abbotsford Country House, return flights from Sydney, daily breakfast, bottle of local wine and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Luxury Escapes
Hobart: 2-night stay + flights from $757
Valid for travel until 31 May 2020. Includes accommodation at Moss Hotel, return flights from Sydney, bottle of Tasmanian wine and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Luxury Escapes
Surfers Paradise: 3-night stay + flights from $925
Valid for travel until 30 June 2020. Includes accommodation at Hilton, return flights, daily breakfast, $100 credit, 25% off spa treatments and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Nexus Holidays
Up to $2,000 off Europe tours
Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, France, Portugal and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
Virgin Australia
Up to 10% off fares with code
Valid for travel until on select dates. Includes 10% discount on elevate, getaway, freedom and business fares across Australia, Bali, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Port Moresby or Pacific Islands. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Coupon code ends
Cudo
Myanmar: 3-night stay from $389
Valid for bookings until 23 September 2020. Includes hotel stay in Sofitel with daily buffet breakfast and one buffet dinner for two. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Deal ends
CruiseAway
Up to 46% off Celebrity cruises
Valid for travel on select 2020 dates. Destinations include Mediterranean Sea, Southern Europe, Pacific, Hawaii, Canada, USA East Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 2019 | 15% off hotels with code + late check-out | SEA**** |
| 18 Sep 2019 | Up to 30% off hotels with code | DIR**** |
| 12 Sep 2019 | Up to 20% off site-wide | SAV**** |
| 17 Sep 2019 | Up to 10% off fares with code | HNV**** |
| 16 Sep 2019 | $15 off tickets with code | 15R**** |
All the flight, hotel, vacation and cruise packages available online.
Find the lowest rates on rooms by comparing top booking sites.
Search for your next flight at the right price.
Compare coverage from Australian insurance providers.
