New luxury Maldives resort and easier Tibetan travel China has eased its restrictions on tourism in Tibet, which should make it easier for travellers to visit picture-perfect destinations like Cholo and Kangchung Peak. An overwater villa at Maalifushi resort in The Maldives. COMO Hotels will open the doors to its newest resort in the Maldives in October, while Tibetan travel will be easier now that the government has eased restrictions. Maldives luxury A LUXURIOUS resort will open on a private island in the Maldives in October. COMO Hotels and Resorts will open Maalifushi by COMO on an 8ha island in the southerly Thaa Atoll as a sister property to Cocoa Island by COMO, further north in the South MalI atoll. The 66-room property will be the first luxury resort in Thaa Atoll, neighboured by a string of uninhabited islands that can be booked for castaway picnics and romantic private dining. See comohotels.com/maalifushi Tibet's doors open TRAVELLERS will find it easier to visit Tibet following the easing of travel restrictions by the Chinese government. Under the changes there is no longer a minimum number of travellers required per nationality within a tour group. There are no longer any restrictions on the size of the group of travellers, but passengers entering Tibet must be travelling with a tour operator recognised by the Tibetan Tourism Administration and be travelling on that operator's official tour. Helen Wong, founder and managing director of China specialist Helen Wong's Tours, said the timing couldn't have been better as her company has now entered the New Zealand market. "We will now see Australians able to travel with the Kiwis to Tibet," she said. Dark side TASMANIA'S controversial Museum of Old and New Art (MoNA) is introducing a new winter festival this year. Dark Mofo - dubbed the darker sister to MONA's summer MOFO event - will include a large-scale public art program and exhibition in Hobart, a Winter Feast at Princes Wharf No.1, art installations throughout the city, a music program, film program as well as food and wine. Martha Wainwright will perform at the event from June 13 to 23. See darkmofo.net.au Go with the Flow SNOW lovers can get their annual pre-season fix of adrenalin when the latest Warren Miller film tours Australia from May 22. Resorts in Colorado, California, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Alaska and Austria feature in this year's movie, Flow State. The film stars celebrated athletes including Colby West, Chris Davenport, Jess McMillan and David Wise, while Warren Miller regular Chris Anthony tries his luck on some 70-year-old ski equipment. For dates see warrenmiller.com.au Pulled into shape PULLMAN Sydney Hyde Park has unveiled a multimillion-dollar refurbishment with a modern lobby and a new-look executive lounge with views over the park and city skyline. The 5-star hotel also has a new Connectivity Lounge offering free Wi-Fi and a range of business services and a sleek new bar. All 22 floors have been refurbished with new carpet, artistic bed heads, glass work desks, chairs and artistic lighting. Rates start from $279 a room, a night. See pullmanhotels.com Follow @Angela_Saurine on Twitter