Whether you're in inner-city London or the wilds of Africa, an Aussie twang won't be out of place. International travel has never been so popular for Australians, but traditional travel agents and package tours have lost relevance. Intrepid is a sustainable, independent alternative to the tour market.

Auschwitz, Alcatraz, Chernobyl – these are the chosen destinations of thousands of modern holidaymakers. More than 14 million people have visited Ground Zero since September 2011. But is this darker side of tourism an education for the living or a way to profit from the dead?

Scaring people is big business, with horrors making up all of the ten most profitable films from the last five years. But what creates those heart-in-mouth moments? Keith Bound, who studies the psychophysiological responses to suspense, explains to Canvas8 what gets us on the edge of our seats.

Nearly $1 trillion was spent on luxury experiences in 2012, with travel and hotels accounting for half that figure. National Geographic hopes to appeal to the world-class traveller with its Unique Lodges of the World, but how can it convince HNWIs to ignore the breadth of choices online?