Summer means long days, beach outings and lively nights, but when the heat makes it unbearable to even venture outside, create your own slice of paradise in the comfort of your home. With the festive season around the corner and no sign of the cost-of-living crisis slowing down, turn your balcony into a vibrant destination for leisurely catch-ups over home-cooked spreads and refreshing tipples. With the help of Weber, we've pulled together five ways to elevate your outdoor living space, so you can while away the hot summer days without working up a sweat. The Weber Lumin A good barbecue is a quintessential summer experience, but it's often too tricky to turn that dream into a reality when you're stuck on an apartment balcony. Legendary barbecue brand Weber has you covered with the Lumin — a compact electric barbecue designed to be set up in smaller spaces. Don't let its size or lack of gas fool you. The multi-functional Lumin packs a punch and is able to deliver a range of cooking methods, from grilling to steaming and smoking. Simply plug the barbecue into any electrical outlet and you're ready to don your apron, crack open a cold one and get barbecuing. Pillow Loungers If you're living in the vicinity of the city, it's unlikely that you'll have space for anything bigger than a single recliner (if you're lucky). But you can still bring the beach to your balcony with Business & Pleasure Co's pillow loungers. Crafted from UV and weather-resistant Pleasuretex fabric, the Reclining Pillow Lounger boasts five adjustable settings and is easily transportable for any picnic, pool or beach needs. If you have a little more room to play with, the Modular Pillow Stack is the versatile hero to solve all your outdoor comfort needs. Arrange the pillows to suit any occasion, whether it's a cosy sofa, reading nook, sun-bathing deck or additional seating for guests. Both loungers come in a variety of sunny colours to bring a dash of Euro summer to your home and can be folded flat for storage. Cocktail Trolley Between cooking and lounging, you won't want to make the long trek back into your apartment for drinks. Round out your outdoor set-up with a cocktail trolley, which can double as storage, a counter for meal prep or a display shelf. Brighten up your aperitivo hour with Fenton & Fenton's all-weather aluminium and powder-coated outdoor bar cart, or keep things fresh with the Heller Alfresco Cooler from Temple & Webster. The latter comes complete with an 80-litre capacity for ice and drinks, as well as a drainage plug and tube for easy cleaning. To really impress your guests, we'd even recommend grilling or smoking fruit on your Lumin to create a seasonal cocktail with a smoky twist. Outdoor Rugs An outdoor rug might seem counterintuitive, but Ruggable's garden and patio rugs are a colourful way to tie your space together. The outdoor range is stain, water, fade, mould and mildew-resistant. The best part? Your rug can be thrown into the washing machine when it inevitably gets a little dirty. Whether you're looking to create a Mediterranean escape, jungle oasis or coastal haven, there's a print and style to suit every aesthetic. Greenery Experience the great outdoors, no matter your outdoor dimensions. Make even the smallest balcony feel ever-so-slightly bigger with some lush greenery. Don't have any semblance of a green thumb? Opt for artificial plants, like these click-and-fix artificial turf tiles from IKEA, luxe faux botanicals from Pottery Barn, or smaller hanging plants from The Plants Project. You won't ever have to worry about killing a fiddle leaf again. Find out more about the Lumin at the Weber website.
Brisbane is best known for its glorious sunny days and blue skies, so when it rains, we can be caught off-guard — even with storms and wet weather a regular part of spring and summer. But when the heavens do open, this shouldn't be an excuse to hide in bed under your doona all day. Thankfully, our city is teeming with wet weather-friendly activities, so don't let a bit of drizzle keep you from making the most of Brisbane. Here are some ideas to keep you entertained and sufficiently dry before you consider hiding under your doona forever — binge-watching streaming not included. [caption id="attachment_694672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] Hole Up in a Cosy Bar — and Do More Than Just Drink At the first sign of threatening weather, gather your best group of drinking buddies and head straight for your local watering hole. Nab a cosy corner, order a few rounds and stay put until the skies clear. Quality booze, food and friends are really all you need, but to take your rainy day pub game up a notch, choose a bar with something to do other than just sit and drink. Mini golf awaits at Holey Moley's CBD, Fortitude Valley, Chermside and Mt Gravatt spots. Or, you can fling electronic darts at Oche. Plus, there's plenty of games at bars-slash-arcades Netherworld, B. Lucky and Archie Brothers. Hurling hatchets is even on offer at Maniax, while Hijinx Hotel at Chermside and Mt Gravatt will get you sleuthing — and endless hours of rain-less fun are guaranteed. [caption id="attachment_820625" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloë Callistemon[/caption] Get Cultured in a Nice Dry Gallery A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to finally catch that exhibition you've been meaning to see. Escape the elements and step into a haven of vibrant and colourful artworks that will surely take your mind off the wild weather. Some of our go-to inner Brisbane galleries include Artisan, Milani Gallery, Jan Murphy Gallery and the Institute of Modern Art — and the South Bank double that is the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery, of course. Spend all day browsing the talent and leave with some newfound inspiration to pick up a paintbrush. Or, if you're eager to marvel at a museum's wares, rather than a gallery's, check out the latest displays at the Queensland Museum. Snuggle Into a Cinema Seat Is there anything better on a rainy day than snuggling up to watch a movie, popcorn in one hand and a glass of wine in the other? The next time it starts to drizzle, swap your streaming queue for a new release at one of Brisbane's best cinemas — whether a new flick is on the agenda, or a retro one. The art deco stylings and warm atmosphere of New Farm Cinemas make it the perfect place to while away a rainy afternoon, beginning with a drink before enjoying an movie on the big screen — and both the CBD-located Elizabeth Picture Palace and the inner west's Red Hill Cinemas from the same folks are worth a visit too. Still on that side of town, Cinebar's cosy Rosalie surroundings make big films feel boutique. Brisbane is the only place in Australia with an Angelika Film Centre — and, with every seat a recliner, you kick back no matter what movie you're keen on. Also among the city's best moviegoing spots: Newmarket's Readings, Coorparoo's Dendy, and Palace's Barracks and James Street venues. Curl Up in a Cafe One of the best places to be on a rainy day is in a window seat at a cosy cafe, where you can watch the rain from a safe, dry distance. Add a cup of steaming coffee (or a glass of wine), a hearty meal and a good book, and you're all set for a delightful day indoors. With Brisbane's cafe scene constantly expanding, there's no shortage of options to choose from. Key requirements include lots of natural lighting, a chilled-out soundtrack and friendly staff. If they're also serving all-day breakfast, you know you've found a winner. And if the vibe is just right, like at moody all-day spot Bar Miette, Picnic's Camp Hill and West End locations, restaurant-meets-garden shop The Green, Lune Croissanterie's first-ever Brisbane site, Doughcraft in Bowen Hills and Mary Street, and perennial favourite Morning After, there's nothing better for a drizzly day. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day Treating yourself every now and then is essential for your health, so use the next rainy day as an excuse to sneak off to the spa for a little dose of zen. Relax and rejuvenate with a facial and massage, or even rope your significant other in for a couple's treatment. Brisbanites looking for spa experiences can pick from The Bathhouse Albion, Contro Wellness, Away Spa at W Brisbane, The Healing Stone at South Bank and Kailo Wellness Medispa at Fortitude Valley — and that's just for starters. Nothing is more luxurious than spending the day wrapped up in a robe, with cucumbers on eyes to complete the experience, of course. For more, check out our full guide to the city's extraordinary spa spots to fill the wet, miserable hours. [caption id="attachment_920953" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeff Busby[/caption] Make a Date with the Theatre There's a certain element of romance to the theatre, which always seems to heighten on a drizzly night. The next time it's forecast to rain, book tickets to a show and you'll see what we mean. Whether you prefer the classics or are a fan of more contemporary productions, there's bound to be a theatre in Brisbane with shows suited to your tastes. Our favourites include Queensland Theatre, La Boite and Brisbane Arts Theatre, plus whatever's playing at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and the Judith Wright Arts Centre — but they're not the only places worth visiting. Check out Concrete Playground's events guide for what's on this week. Be a Big Kidult Don't let the rain put a dampener on your spirit. Take a break from your busy week of adulting and let your inner kid run wild for a day with some of the best kidult activities in Brisbane. Surely you can't resist a friendly game of laser tag at nostalgic favourite Laserforce or a visit to Timezone that will inevitably stir up some nostalgia (yep, Timezone still exists at Garden City, Indooroopilly and Springfield). Or, you can bring your Mario Kart skills into real life at Slideways. Another way to spend a day inside: trying to sleuth your way out of an escape room. Brisbane has a few options, including Escape Hunt at West End and Arcadium Adventures in Spring Hill. Take a Class If you've been meaning to pick up a new skill for a while — and you didn't perfect everything you hoped to during various lockdowns — a dreary day is your chance to make it happen. Finally learn how to cook your dream dish at Newstead's Golden Pig, get your creative juices flowing with a drink in hand at Cork & Chroma, add some pottery to your life at Mas & Miek Ceramic House or get floral at Soul Pantry. Fancy revamping your exercise routine instead? Get stretchy at Stretch Yoga or hit the skating rink at Rollerfit. Your rainy day activity may even breed a lifelong hobby. Top image: Markus Ravik.
Vacationing closer to home shouldn't mean settling for unimaginative getaways. Australia has its own collection of holiday paradises, stunning sights and supreme vacation vibes without the long-haul flight — including the lush hinterland region of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, sitting around 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Here, you'll find cosy couples' cabins, treehouse hideaways and stunning rural retreats, all perfectly located to the area's famed nature walks, hinterland villages and sandy beaches. We've done the hard work for you and pulled together a list of the most stunning Sunshine Coast hinterland stays you can book right now. Pick a winner, pack your bags and get ready to recharge those batteries with a blissed-out rainforest retreat. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly-Stays in Queensland The Best Places to Go Glamping in Queensland The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Island Stays in Queensland 629 Balmoral Ridge, Balmoral Ridge Stay on top of the world at this stunning ridgetop retreat, complete with epic views and a roomy deck from which to soak it all in. From $690 a night, sleeps four. Blue Summit Cottages Luxury Escape, Witta Boasting a fireplace, living room spa and sweeping views across the treetops, this self-contained cottage makes for an idyllic couples' escape. From $414 a night, sleeps two. Pencil Creek Cottage, Mapleton Break from reality at this charming couples' cottage, set among the leafy surrounds of Mapleton. Log fire, four-poster bed and peaceful deck, all included. From $297 a night, sleeps two. Cuddle Cottage, Montville This picture-perfect cottage for two comes kitted out with a romantic loft bedroom, plus a sunny terrace for afternoon cocktails with a view. From $195 a night, sleeps two. The Farm on Razorback Ridge, Montville A lofty retreat set on ten hectares of farmland and rainforest. Enjoy sunny days splashing in the pool and nights unwinding by the fire. From $1146 a night, sleeps ten. Bird Song Valley, Montville Experience your own slice of hinterland paradise at this breezy revamped Queenslander, complete with crisp styling, wraparound verandahs and a luxurious master tub. From $375 a night, sleeps six. Couples Spa Suite Retreat, Montville Unwind and reconnect in this luxury honeymoon suite. The balcony spa bath, bio-fuel fireplace and treetop views are getaway goals. From $350 a night, sleeps four. Treetops Seaview, Montville With its breathtaking outlook, this private treetop hideaway feels worlds away from reality. Lounge on the sun-drenched deck, or soak up epic views in the spa. From $512 a night, sleeps two. Cobhearthome, Maleny Tread lightly with a stay at this award-winning Mediterranean-style eco-cottage, decked out with colourful murals and boasting views across lush green rainforest. How much? From $230 a night, sleeps four. The Wilds Container Home, Dulong This converted shipping container home is an architectural delight, enveloped by nature. Enjoy a stylish hideaway, with luxe features and a private, leafy setting. From $330 a night, sleeps two. Treehaus, Valdora Tranquility meets style at this breezy nature retreat. Unwind with the help of luxurious linens, a blissful courtyard garden and a toasty fire pit. From $180 a night, sleeps four. The Bower Couples' Cabin, Wootha Surrounded by rainforest, this charming timber cabin makes for a romantic hideout year-round. Snuggle fireside, unwind in the claw-foot tub, or laze by the shared pool. From $165 a night, sleeps two. All images courtesy of Airbnb. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
For most, thinking about surrealism means imagining melted clocks, sky-high elephants, cloud-filled eyes and giant apples. Thanks to Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, they're some of the art movement's most-enduring images. While Australia is no stranger to exhibitions about the former, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is currently hosting the nation's first-ever retrospective dedicated to the latter, complete with some of the Belgian artist's best-known pieces. Magritte opened on Saturday, October 26, 2024 as part of the 2024–25 Sydney International Art Series, and runs until Sunday, February 9, 2025 as a Harbour City exclusive. If you're keen to peruse this stunning collection of the surrealist's work, you'll need to see it in the New South Wales capital. More than 100 pieces feature, with 80-plus of them paintings — and if you need proof of why he's considered one of the most-influential figures in 20th-century surrealism, it's all over AGNSW's walls. Stare at The False Mirror at Magritte, for instance, and you'll see an instantly recognisable masterwork that's as dreamy as art gets — all while the masterpiece of a painting from 1929 peers right back. One of Magritte's most-famous creations, it features a massive eye looking at the viewer, while also filled with a cloudy blue sky. It's an unforgettable work, and it's one of the stars of AGNSW's exhibition. Another striking painting that can be gazed upon currently in Sydney: Golconda, Magritte's 1953 work that brings two other pieces of popular culture to mind. Just try not to think about Mary Poppins and The Weather Girls' song 'It's Raining Men' while you feast your eyes on the sight of bowler hat-wearing men streaming down from the heavens. Then there's 1952's The Listening Room (La Chambre d'Écoute), which shows an oversized apple, its green flesh filling an entire room. Fruit might be a regular still-life subject, but there's nothing standard about Magritte's use of apples throughout his art. Like bowler hats, they're among his favourite motifs. Archival materials, photographs and films also feature, in a showcase that's filled with the expected highlights — 1928's The Lovers, 1933's The Human Condition, 1947's The Liberator, 1951's The Kiss and 1954's The Dominion of Light among them — but also probes deeper than the works that everyone immediately knows by sight. Visitors embark on a chronological journey through Magritte's career, starting with his avant-garde early efforts in the 20s, then covering four decades from there. "Many years in the making and drawing upon our unsurpassed international network of collaborative partners, Magritte considers the towering artist's innovative contributions to the broader surrealism movement, while also highlighting the uniqueness and individuality of his artistic vision," explained Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Dr Michael Brand, when Magritte opened in October. "Fundamental to this exhibition is our anticipation to share not only the well-known paintings you would expect to see in a Magritte retrospective but also to shine a light on some surprising aspects of his artistic output, particularly from the period when the artist, working from occupied Belgium during and immediately after the Second World War, created some of the most intriguing and subversive paintings of his career," Brand continued. "Magritte was ahead of his time. He saw himself as a 'painter of ideas' and his legacy extends far beyond the world of art. Today we find his work echoed in diverse creative fields, from fiction and philosophy to cinema and advertising. We can imagine his delight at the ways in which his images continue to circulate and take on new meanings in the 21st century," added Nicholas Chambers, the exhibition's curator as well as Art Gallery of New South Wales' Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary International Art. [caption id="attachment_959955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] René Magritte 'Golconda (Golconde)' 1953, oil on canvas, 80 x 100.3 cm, The Menil Collection, Houston, V 414 © Copyright Agency, Sydney 2024, photo: Paul Hester.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_959956" align="alignnone" width="1920"] René Magritte 'The listening room (La chambre d'écoute)' 1952, oil on canvas, 45.2 x 55.2 cm, The Menil Collection, Houston, gift of Fariha Friedrich, 1991-53 DJ © Copyright Agency, Sydney 2024, photo: Adam Baker.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_959954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] René Magritte 'The false mirror (Le faux miroir)' 1929, oil on canvas, 54 x 80.9 cm, Museum of Modern Art, New York, 133.1936 © Copyright Agency, Sydney 2024, photo © The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence 2024.[/caption] Magritte is on display at Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery Road, Sydney, until Sunday, February 9, 2025. Head to the gallery website for tickets and further details. Installation images: installation of the Magritte exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 26 October 2024 – 9 February 2025, artworks © Copyright Agency, Sydney 2024, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mim Stirling.
The motivation behind BY.ARTISANS isn't simply to add a new tipple to everyone's must-sip list, even if that is the aim of every distillery. For this West End-based brand, getting attention on Queensland-born artistry and Sunshine State-made products is a key reason for being. Tempting eyes towards its soon-to-open Jane Street flagship won't be hard — the slick, sleek, minimalist-leaning venue, which favours natural tones with pops of greenery and silver distilling equipment around the place, instantly stands out. "The name BY.ARTISANS reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, shining a light on the artistry and dedication behind every creation," explains Co-Founder Ginn Lai. "There are no shortcuts — each product is hand-made in small batches with carefully sourced ingredients and a focus on quality." "We wanted to create a space that challenges the preconceptions of a distillery, and offers something new and unexpected," added fellow Co-Founder and Brand Director Alexander Lotersztain said. BY.ARTISANS is launching its distillery on Thursday, November 28, 2024 — and it isn't just somewhere where spirits are made and drunk. Also part of the setup: a cafe that'll serve a curated range of food and a creative haven, where tasting rooms and the bar sit beside an event space, a retail space and room for workshops. "We have created a retreat that embraces the community, emphasises the space's multi-functionality, and is warm and welcoming during the day and at night," continues Lotersztain about an address that mirrors the pared-back aesthetics of the brand's Signature Gin, which comes in a eye-catching white bottle. "The retail space, too, has a curated selection of amazing homewares and objects from local artists and designers." As for the Signature Gin, a small-batch drop that goes heavy on native botanicals, it's been crafted under the guidance of BY.ARTISANS's third Co-Founder Alexander Bell, who is also the resident Master Distiller — and a chemical engineer. Expect to taste lemon myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, lavender, wattleseed and eucalyptus, all in a tipple made in a still designed to be one of the country's most energy-efficient by Bell. "This is a first-of-its-kind distillation system, capable of producing not only spirits but also a diverse range of essential oils and hydrosols from local botanicals," he notes. "What sets our distillery apart is its versatility. We use the same equipment to produce spirits of exceptional quality as we do to craft lifestyle products such as bespoke soaps, candles and natural dye merchandise — all while minimising our energy and resource use." Find BY.ARTISANS at 99 Jane Street, West End, from Thursday, November 28, 2024 — open 10am–late Thursday–Sunday. Head to the distillery's website for more information. Images: Florian Groehn.
In Blur: To the End, headlining London's famous Wembley Stadium is the pinnacle of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree's careers so far. For two nights in July 2023, the Britpop band played their biggest-ever gigs to a crowd of 150,000 — shows that had been a dream not just since the group initially formed in 1988, but when high-school friends Albarn and Coxon watched 1985's iconic Live Aid concert on TV. Blur enjoyed no shortage of highlights in 35 years beforehand, of course; thinking about British music in the 90s means thinking about the foursome instantly. Still, in the latest documentary to turn the camera their way, which is playing big screens in Australia thanks to the 2024 British Film Festival, there's no doubting what standing on Wembley's stage at this point in their journeys, after reinventions, hiatuses, reunions, solo projects and more, means to the band. If the feeling that's written across Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree's faces when To the End finishes could be summed up by a snippet from one of their songs, the "woo hoo!" chorus from 1997 hit 'Song 2' would actually work nicely. That sensation — that immense emotional reaction, too — is evident not only in the intimate doco from Transgressive record label co-founder, filmmaker and lifelong Blur fan Toby L, however. It's also clear in accompanying concert film Blur: Live From Wembley Stadium, which captures the first night's show in like-you're-there detail (including largely sticking close to the band, so that viewers can truly witness what the gig means to them as they work through a two-hour set filled with everything from 'Popscene', 'Girls & Boys', 'Parklife' and 'Country House' to 'This Is a Low', 'To the End', 'Tender', 'The Universal' and 'The Narcissist'). Asked about what that pure joy was like to witness — Albarn comments in the film that the moment was as good as it gets — Toby L stresses how it genuinely did feel like the pinnacle for the band. "I can honestly say yes. And I know that if all four of them were asked that question, they would all agree. Which is amazing, because what must be it like to be at this point in your lives where you feel you've done one of your best albums, and you've done your best and biggest gigs?" he tells Concrete Playground. "I think just on a completely subconscious level for any performer, even if they pretend they don't want to get to that level, I think there's that sense of attainment and achievement that is the zenith of possibility. To not only play it, but to headline it and sell it out, I think it is the bucket list for every artist, potentially, that wants to get to a certain level." "And the feeling in the stadium both nights was so electric. I've been through a lot of big gigs and a lot of stadiums and a lot of festival shows, and they're always fun but, truthfully, sometimes the scale is just hard to make it feel personal and intimate. But somehow those gigs were. And anyone that was there — people that work in the music industry, everyone has recounted how something happened that was next-level in terms of the emotional connection," Toby L continues. "So yeah, it really was what the film portrays, that sense of it being a bit magic, and Damon being quite rarely open about the fact it's kind of the pinnacle, that was the truth. And I feel honoured and privileged to have been part of that in a small way." [caption id="attachment_980200" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Bastienne-Lewis[/caption] Toby L's own Blur journey also began decades back, as a fan since he was a kid. He has an early tie to Wembley, too, but at the indoor Wembley Arena, which sits next to the stadium. In the 90s, he saw his first-ever live gig at the venue — and yes, at that show when he was at age of ten, he was watching Blur. From his mid-teens, a career linked to music beckoned. He's blogged, founded music sites, organised live events, hosted TV, started his label 20 years back, and directed Olivia Rodrigo's Sour Prom, Rihanna's 777, Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22 and more. Collaborations Albarn and Coxon first came through Transgressive, before he heard word about Blur's Wembley Stadium shows. That connection didn't mean that Toby L was a sure thing behind the camera when the idea of immortalising the gigs arose. His plan was always exactly what audiences can experience now, though: the full concert experience in one film — plus the path to it, through Blur reuniting in Albarn's country house in Devon to make their first album in eight years, then doing warm-up gigs, playing other festival sets and finally hitting Wembley, in another. The latter eschews the biodoc treatment for the here and now, for four men musing on their twists and turns together and apart, and for diving into friendship and mortality as well. Live From Wembley Stadium and To the End make a helluva pair, which Melburnians can see in a double feature at The Astor Theatre for one night only. How did the band respond to the two-movie plan? How did Toby L carve out a space for To the End when past documentaries such as No Distance Left to Run and Blur: New World Towers exist? How open were Albarn and company to such a close-up approach? We also chatted with the filmmaker about the above — as well as how being a fan shaped his role as a director, ensuring that the concert film felt equally intimate, and the longevity of both Blur and Oasis. ("Let's put it this way: I think Blur were my first band, and working with Liam was also a completely wonderful experience. Totally different. But a wonderful thing," he advises.) On the Pitch to Make Two Films About Blur's Wembley Gigs — and the Band's Reaction "It all stemmed back from me discovering about the gigs on the d-low, as it were. I was with Damon talking about a completely different project, and Wembley came up in discussion. I think he might have cheekily brought it up with that cheeky glint in his eye and his shining gold tooth, probably he was quite excited about the surprise element of it about to hit the newswires. I'd already done some filming with Damon around his second solo album, so he knew that I was in that world slightly. I think I probably quite embarrassingly and tritely said 'I'd love to throw my hat in', quite literally that basic. And I remember him just saying cryptically, both supportively but then also very vaguely, 'I would like that, too'. Then that was it. It wasn't spoken about for with him probably for another six months, during which time I felt that that was enough latitude for me to put a treatment together of what I would do with the documentary and the concert film. The original treatment and proposal that I put together, which was the written treatment, it was quite extensive, it was quite specific, and it stipulated that I felt there were two films. I felt that people would want to see a concert film, almost eternally as an evergreen Blur piece of memorabilia or document of that moment. But then I felt there was an opportunity for a wider story, hence the documentary, which was about getting older and growing up, and reconciling friendship, and mortality, and I guess some deeper human themes. And I just thought that'd be interesting to transpose into the situation Blur were finding themselves in, where they were getting back together for the first time in almost a decade, and they were that much older and about to undertake their biggest challenge yet, which was their biggest-ever gig. So it felt like to me there was a really cool story there that wasn't necessarily predicated on 'and then this album came out in this year, and then they had this fight with Oasis' and all the shit that most people can find on a Wikipedia page. So that was the premise of it, really. It was that — and then me waiting for months and hearing nothing. I thought I might have disgraced myself or embarrassed myself. Then suddenly, quite out of nowhere, I had a breakfast with the band's manager. I thought she was going to let me down because I hadn't heard anything. We're talking about other things and other projects, and then about an hour and a half into two-and-a-half hour breakfast, that's when she dropped the bombshell that they'd gone through the treatments and they thought mine was the strongest, regardless of relationships, which was really flattering. Then I had to have a meeting with all four of them the following week or so to convince them I could do it. Ten days later, we were filming in Devon." On Making To the End to Complement, Not Repeat, Past Documentaries About Blur "In a weird way, there was a relief that No Distance Left to Run had come out. Because that film did the job of 'if you don't know who Blur are or even if you do, here's their story'. It was the legacy story, if you will. It talks the viewer beautifully through how they came to be, and some career highs and lows, and key eras in their career, and the initial downfall. I thought that film did that job, so it was a relief that I didn't have to retread that old ground. But the one thing I felt that was completely up for opportunity was 'where are Blur at now?'. They're mid-to-late 50s, they're about to do, again, genuinely their biggest-ever gigs. There's nothing bigger than doing Wembley Stadium, in a way. So it just felt like this was a pivotal moment to reflect on their present state of being rather than reflecting on their career as a whole. Inevitably there are moments and flashbacks to their career, but really it's all in the context of the here and now. And I guess I wanted to do a bit more of a philosophical, emotional character portrait of the four of them, which I felt hadn't necessarily been done in the other documentaries. The other documentaries, even though this has a specific journey of sorts, they had more of a clear function than an emotional character study. Ultimately, I was lucky that the band were up for going there. Because I could have had this in my head and then, understandably, they might have been like 'fuck off, that's a bit personal'. Thankfully, they didn't respond that way. They understood what the essence of the project was — that my intent wasn't to expose them or show them up, it was to unveil a perspective that many people don't often see in a stadium band, which is the vulnerability and the drive and the motivation behind what it takes to be that kind of individual. And also what it takes to maintain a relationship after such a long time, which isn't easy. A lot of people have this entitlement that bands can and should live forever but, I don't know about you, how would you like it if you were stuffed in a tour bus for years on end even with your closest friends or family, and being forced to smile for the media and perform on no sleep? I think it's going to drive anyone a bit bananas. So I think that's kind of where I was coming from with the project. I was wanting to show something that could create a real bridge between the viewer and the subject, and hopefully a totem of empathy in this fractured age of ours." On the Band's Openness to To the End's Intimate Approach "We all agreed that was the way it was going to be best. That was the way I portrayed it in my treatment, and that was the way they were comfortable with it being captured. I think they had maybe moments before where they've been filmed for other projects and television, where they were just a bit — they're at this point in their career where they don't need to do this, right. It's like they don't need to do any of it. Their career is set. They don't necessarily need to reunite at all. They don't necessarily need to come back with a great album. They don't even necessarily need to make a documentary of any of that activity. But the reason they're doing it is because they want to, and they feel that there's a purpose to it. So equally the filmmaking had to have that element to it. It needed to not be interruptive to the point that the band couldn't do what they needed to do. And it needed to be an honest portrayal and a mirror to their activities. I actually think that's way more interesting than 'let's get the lighting up, let's sit them down, let's ask them the same questions — oh, retake that answer because we didn't get audio'. I just think it's so much more exciting to be in the present. It's technically quite a hard thing to do as a documentary crew because on the one hand, you're trying to be invisible and fly-on-the-wall — but then on the other, you need to also make sure you're guiding the viewer at points so it doesn't just feel like complete empty, vapid voyeurism with no purpose. So it's this tightrope you're walking between being sensitive to what's going on, but then also making sure that you're getting the insights that will contextualise the moment in real time. It's a tough thing to get right, and there are many famous examples of filmmakers being barked out by artists to 'get the eff out of the dressing room'. And that's always the risk, that you go too far or, equally the other way, you don't go far enough and then you haven't really got much to work with. Thankfully, the band were open to that way of working, and I think it's hopefully to the film's credit that the viewer gets that level of intimacy and access that is probably increasingly uncommon in these sorts of projects." On How Seeing Blur at Age Ten and Being a Fan Since Childhood Shaped Directing Two Films About the Band "I think being a fan is really useful, actually, because you just got that knowledge. It's quite an embarrassing, hilarious thing to say, but occasionally there'd be moments where they're trying to recount a song title from 1992 that was the B-side to a single — and being a massive nerd, you can go 'oh, was it this one?'. And then they all look at you and go 'yes, that's what it was'. And the irony is, apart from being vaguely helpful in moments like that, there's also just that sense of trust. You're not there to do a hatchet job. You're not there to trip them up. You're not there to be secretly a dissenting voice that's trying to throw them down. You are a fan. So you're coming at it from a pure place. So then the challenge becomes, in terms of credible filmmaking and documentary-making, how do you straddle that fandom with telling the truth and making sure you're being as objective as any one person can be objective? So that then is probably the other tightrope to walk, ensuring that your enthusiasm and your passion and your love for your subjects doesn't contaminate the need to extract truth, and to make sure that there's an honesty to the whole thing. Because otherwise it could just fall into being sycophancy or just a PR puff piece. And that was another thing we said when we all got together, that we hated documentaries that were too clean and too 'and isn't life perfect'. To that end, I think I really made sure that the enthusiasm of being a fan of the band didn't cloud my judgment. And hopefully anyone that watches it will agree that it's rare to see a band this vulnerable on-camera of their level, and so hopefully people will appreciate the fact that this is definitely a real account of who they are." On Finding Intimacy in Live From Wembley Stadium, Too, to Convey the Experience of Being There to Cinema Audiences "I love the way that you picked up on that approach because that was definitely, again, conscious. I just thought that the worst way to capture this gig was going to make it just be 'look, it's the Wembley Stadium gig, let's have fucking loads of wides and let's make it just look big, and yeah!'. It just felt naff. I also just feel that the art of Blur live is the emotion and the chaos, and then countered by the beauty and the ballads, so the only way to really portray that for me is to have cameras quite close to them. The idea of just dotting the cameras at some distance — obviously we've got lots of dynamic shots at various ranges in the stadium, but most of the cameras, over 50 percent of them, are just in and around the stage, and all on the audience, really close-up on the audience. Because I just thought the story is going to be on stage and the story's going to be in the moshpit. That's going to be where this magic happens. And yeah, we're going to have some big shots at the stadium, yada yada yada, but that stuff's fairly generic to me. You could put those in any concert film of any stadium shoot and it could just apply to stock footage for any artist. But the bit that was special for me was going to be the reactions of the band playing this environment and the excitement of it all — and, again, the audience and their adulation for the moment." On Where You Land on What Gives a Band Longevity When You've Made Films About Both Blur and Oasis "I think obviously it's the songs. I think songs have to permeate not just in the era in which they're conceived, but most truthfully resonate with periods beyond that. A great folk song that was written probably in the 1700s or whatever travels around the hills and finds its way to become a traditional song all around the world, and then eventually becomes blues music. Good songs travel and they last, and I think songwriting is at the core. I think then beyond that, obviously the performance of the song, the recording and the way in which it becomes indelibly linked to people's lives. If you capture the zeitgeist, which both Blur and Oasis did, as examples, it brings people back that were there first time round — or even people that weren't there, they feel that essence of connectivity and culture just resonate in the chords and in the performances and in the vocals. And that's what is effectively bottling magic. That's what music is, it's trying to find magic and it's bottling it, really, either in performance or in recording. Both bands just had that essence of reality. They came at writing and culture in completely different ways, but totally valid respective ways. And they just endured. I know for a fact that you could play most Blur songs to a small child and they're going to enjoy them because the melodies are good. And then most adults are going to connect to them because the themes lyrically still resonate to this day. The album Modern Life Is Rubbish by Blur, that could have been released last week, sadly. And that's ultimately what makes great art: stumbling across something that in the moment feels real, but then for decades onwards still manages to resonate. That's the art of it all, really: trying to find something eternal in the moment. " On What You Learn About Blur When You're Making Not Just One But Two Documentaries About Them "I think you learn that everyone, even if we've all got our own personalities, our own characteristics, we're all kind of the same person really. We all have our own needs and vulnerabilities, and strengths and weaknesses, and really that's what binds us all as a human race. And that's why I think it's so harrowing, the state of the world that we find ourselves in right now. Because I think that there are forces that are trying to falsely attribute disparity to our state of being, when actually we're all fucking similar and that's what we should be focusing on, our common ground, not our points of distinction. I think what I learned was that the fallibility and the brilliance in them is eminently what unites us all. It's kind of in all of us and in all of them. So in that way, it was very grounding. As the ten-year-old fan, what did I learn? I just learned that my favourite band were a great band to get behind. They were really complex in many ways, in terms of their unique quirks and things. They were very, very entertaining and very funny. They were very sweet and emotional people. And, ultimately, there's no other band like them to go on the stage. They really tear it up in a way that I don't think anyone before or since them has been able to do. And so for me, what I learned was, yeah, it was a great band to fall in love with at the age of eight years old or whatever it was." The 2024 British Film Festival tours Australia in November and December, wrapping up on Sunday, December 8. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. Both Blur: To the End and Blur: Live From Wembley Stadium are playing at the festival's stops across the country, with the Blur double feature showing at Melbourne's Astor Theatre on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Images: Altitude.
The Gold Coast has Cucina Vivo. Sydney is home to Cucina Porto. Now, Brisbane boasts Cucina Regina. The chain of authentic-style Italian restaurants sits inside The Star's various locations, serving up classic dishes and drinks in old school-leaning surroundings. In the River City, the new riverside Queen's Wharf precinct is now your destination when the hankering hits for hand-stretched pizzas, homemade pasta, panna cotta from the dessert trolley, and negronis and limoncello sours. Brisbanites have been looking forward to Cucina Regina since October 2023, when it was initially revealed that it'd join the $3.6-billion CBD spot that took almost a decade to come to fruition. Several of The Star's eateries in other cities have made the jump to the Queensland capital, including cocktail bar Cherry and Japanese fine-diner Sokyo — adding to a precinct that also features Luke Nguyen's reimagined Fat Noodle, the new LiveWire and Black Hide's latest guise, all three of which have moved over from the old Treasury. At the 160-seat Cucina Regina — which is part of The Terrace, the riverfront space at the end of the Neville Bonner Bridge before visitors get to The Star Brisbane — the menu isn't just about Italian food; it's about comforting Italian fare. Trattorias are a big influence on the restaurant's look, feel and menu, with Australian design studio Tom Mark Henry in charge of the neutral-heavy fitout (which covers an 18-person private-dining space as well) and Italian-born Chef Davide Incardona overseeing the kitchen as Executive Chef. Whether you're tucking into puffed pizza bread as a starter, stone-baked prosciutto- or garlic prawn-laden slices, a 40-day dry-aged scotch rib fillet or the Brisbane menu must-have that is Moreton Bay bugs, you'll likely be enjoying something from the woodfired grill. Other options include calamari, burrata, bruschetta and arancini among the smaller bites; rigatoni carbonara, spiced Italian sausage ragu, and salted ricotta and roasted pumpkin agnolotti from the pasta picks; veal scallopini, the house speciality; and a 1.1-kilogram t-bone steak in the bistecca alla fiorentina. And for dessert? Tiramisu, Nutella pizza, a choice of lemon or chocolate cannoli, lemon sorbet and affogatos are among the choices. A banquet menu for four people, costing $89 and featuring ten dishes, is on offer if you're known to have trouble deciding on what to eat. For just a bite with a drink, there's also the snack range. Among the beverages, Italian wine gets its time to shine, naturally, while spritzes both boozy and alcohol-free equally tempt tastebuds — and classic cocktails are available upon request. "It is an honour to call Cucina Regina my culinary home and create wonderful occasions that are reminiscent of my childhood," said Incardona. "To be able to offer a place of warmth and wonder where locals and visitors can make memories surrounded by Italian flavour, loved ones and friends is truly unique." Among Queen's Wharf's dining and drinking destinations, Cucina Regina also joins the Vietnamese- and Thai-leaning Lúc Lắc, the Latin American-inspired Azteca, plus Cicada Blu, Babblers and Aloria up on the 100-metre-high Sky Deck. Find Cucina Regina at Queen's Wharf, level four, 33 William Street, Brisbane City, from Friday, November 15, 2024 — open for lunch from 11am–3pm Wednesday–Sunday and dinner from 5pm–late daily. Head to the venue's website for more details.
Art exhibitions are fleeting, gracing walls and halls for just days, weeks or months at a time, then moving elsewhere or never being seen again. The Lume, Melbourne's multi-sensory digital art gallery, is also set to be a brief addition to Australia's cultural scene. The venue opened in 2021, and has now announced that it will shut its doors in 2026, after deciding not to extend its lease at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Whether you're an art lover based in the Victorian capital or elsewhere around the country, you've now got just over a year — before January 2026 — to head by. Until early December 2024, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius is filling The Lume with a tribute to the iconic artist. Then, come Boxing Day 2024, the site is bringing back its Vincent van Gogh exhibition, complete with The Starry Night projected large, taking over an entire room; the immersive Sunflower room, where golden petals stretch as far as the eye can see; an immersive cafe inspired by the artist's Café Terrace at Night; and more. "The Lume Melbourne's lease at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was up for renewal in January 2026, and we have made the decision to not extend the lease beyond that time. This decision, made in alignment with our parent company Grande Experiences, reflects our ambition to explore new directions and technologies that build on our success here in Melbourne," said the team behind the gallery in a statement. "Since opening in November 2021, The Lume Melbourne has become a beloved cultural destination, inviting audiences to experience art in an inclusive, accessible and engaging way. We are incredibly proud of what's been achieved over the past three years." "Looking forward, The Lume is excited to embrace new technologies that deepen connections with our audiences and will transform the way visitors engage with art and culture. This evolution will guide us toward opportunities best suited to support these creative possibilities," the crew continued. "We look forward to an unforgettable final year at MCEC and to sharing this exciting new chapter of The Lume as we continue to push the boundaries of how technology can bring art and culture to life." When it initially opened, The Lume launched with its immersive van Gogh showcase — making the exhibition's return a full-circle moment. Also wowing audiences at the gallery: a celebration of Monet and his contemporaries, a huge showcase dedicated to First Nations artists and, since early 2024, all things da Vinci. The Lume Melbourne is set to close at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, in January 2026. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius displays until Sunday, December 8, 2024. Van Gogh at The Lume opens on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further information. Images: Morgan Sette / Miles Noel Photography / Grande Experiences.
A shiny gold $2 coin doesn't buy much in 2024, but it'll get you a day of splashing around, cooling down and enjoying a swim when summer arrives in Brisbane. From December 2023–February 2024, Brisbane City Council introduced the $2 Summer Dips initiative, which cut the entry cost into the River City's public pools to a discounted price. As promised earlier this year, the scheme is returning for the summer of 2024–25. In a sultry locale such as Brisbane, a place where winter weather lasts for approximately a week each year, letting everyone take a soak in public pools for less than the cost of a coffee — less than the cost of almost everything — was always going to be a success. During $2 Summer Dips' debut season, more than 660,000 Brisbanites took advantage of it, with over 88,000 of those folks heading to Newmarket's pool alone — increasing its summer attendance by 85 percent from 2022–23. [caption id="attachment_943868" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cieran Murphy[/caption] The initiative will again run for the entire three months of summer, so from Sunday, December 1, 2024–Friday, February 28, 2025, slashing the entry fee at all 22 of Brisbane City Council's public pools. Love swimming laps? Prefer a leisurely wade as your favourite way to cool down? Does nothing could say summer to you quite like hanging out poolside? Whichever category fits, you'll be able to live the pool life for cheap once more. And yes, having a splash will only cost you $2, with that discounted price applying to everyone, adults and kids alike. The reduced rate covers every single day across the period, including all of the Christmas and New Year public holidays. [caption id="attachment_904761" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] There's no other catches — including no limit on how many times you can take advantage of the deal. Fancy going for a swim at your local every day during summer? Working your way around Brisbane's public pools, diving into a different one daily? Both are options. Across the summer of 2023–24, Jindalee, Carole Park and the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre also saw a doubling of attendance rates — and entry numbers across the full 22 pools overall doubled in the month of December alone. [caption id="attachment_904760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Brisbane City Council's public pools include Centenary Pool, Spring Hill Baths and the Valley Pool, plus Musgrave Park Swimming Centre, the Colmslie Aquatic Centre in Morningside, Ithaca Pool in Paddington, Dunlop Park Memorial Swimming Pool in Corinda and Hibiscus Sports Complex Pool in Upper Mount Gravatt. Chermside Pool, Bellbowrie Pool and Manly Pool are all covered as well, as are Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming Pool, Mt Gravatt East Swimming Pool and Sandgate Aquatic Centre — and more. [caption id="attachment_973605" align="alignnone" width="1920"] John Robert McPherson_Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_777649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] [caption id="attachment_741063" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cieran Murphy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_777652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_777650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Brisbane City Council's $2 Summer Dips program returns from Sunday, December 1, 2024–Friday, February 28, 2025. To find out more, head to the council website — and to find your closest public pool, also head to the council website. Check out our list of the best outdoor swimming pools in Brisbane for 2024.
When Victoria's March long weekend arrives each year, festivalgoers have two reasons to head out of town — or head to the state from interstate — for a few days of tunes. Both are beloved parts of the cultural calendar. Both are such a hit that you need to enter a ballot to get tickets. And just as Golden Plains has already done, Pitch Music & Arts is announcing it 2025 details. Everyone should make the trip to the Grampians at least once, and here's as ace an excuse to do so as any: the return of the much-loved camping festival, which will host its eighth edition, taking over Moyston again. There's no lineup just yet — it drops on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 — but the 2025 dates have been locked in. The long-running celebration unleashes its fun across the Grampian Plains, with next years' festivities happening from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11. Not only will its three stages play host to a sparkling lineup of local and international musical talent, as always, but the tunes will be backed by a hefty program of interactive art and installations. Basically, no matter who makes it onto the bill, attendees are in for a very big, very busy four days. Joy Orbison's 'flight fm' and 'better' have been used in teaser videos for 2025's fest so far, so that could be a lineup hint. 2024's roster featured Gerd Janson, I Hate Models, Job Jobse, Spray, XCLUB, Bambonou, Chippy Nonstop, Narciss, Mac Declos, Sedef Adasï and Hasvat Informant, among others, if you're wondering which type of electronic acts that Pitch usually welcomes. The ticket ballot is currently open — and is a necessity after the last three festivals all sold out — ahead of the program reveal; however, you can get excited now about a bigger Pitch One stage, Pitch Black getting a revamp and the Resident Advisor stage's red orb being part of the fun again. In between all the dance-floor sessions and arty things, festivalgoers will again be able to make themselves at home in the Pitch Pavilion, which is where yoga classes, meditation and sound baths usually help patrons unwind. The local-focused Club Serra will be new in 2025, championing homegrown talent. Pitch Music & Arts will return to Moyston from Friday, March 7–Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Head to the festival's website for further details, or to enter the ballot. The lineup will drop on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with tickets sale details announced then as well. Top Images: Duncographic, William Hamilton Coates, Max Roux and Ashlea Caygill.
Add Shane Delia to the list of high-profile culinary figures setting up shop in Queensland, with the Melbourne-based chef and restaurateur announcing his first move north — and debut restaurant in Brisbane — with a 2025 opening slated. His new eatery doesn't yet have a name, but it will follow in the footsteps Guy Grossi's Settimo, Adrian Richardson's BŌS, and Andrew McConnell's Supernormal and Bar Miette when it launches at the Thomas Dixon Centre, Queensland Ballet's West End base. When Delia's newcomer joins Delia Group's roster of venues alongside the Victorian capital's Maha, Maha North, Maha East and Jayda, diners can expect Delia's focus on Middle Eastern flavours and rich, bold, spice-fuelled dishes — plus an evolving menu. The venture is a partnership with Queensland Ballet, with Delia Group taming up with the former's hospitality partner VenuesLive. "I'm excited to be launching a restaurant in Brisbane. It's long been a desire of mine to open a venue in this city — what is continually proving to be a vibrant new culinary destination in Australia," said Delia, announcing the news. "I look forward to bringing my passion for bold flavours, rich spices and diverse culinary traditions to Brisbane, crafting an experience that complements Queensland Ballet's artistic excellence." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shane Delia (@shanedelia) In an Instagram story, Delia also noted that the restaurant has been in the works for a year, and this'll be his first signature restaurant outside of Melbourne, with more details to be unveiled in the coming months. There's no exact opening date yet, either; however, the plan is for the eatery to anchor the Thomas Dixon Centre's dining options, not only adding to the performing arts precinct but helping it become a new arts and hospitality hub. [caption id="attachment_893063" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maha North, Pete Dillon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_972449" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maha East[/caption] Find Shane Delia's currently unnamed Brisbane restaurant at the Thomas Dixon Centre, 406 Montague Road, West End, sometime in 2025 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. Keep an eye on the Delia Group website for more details in the interim. Top image: Angharad Gladding.
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? So asked the much-memed question of 2023, as no one could avoid. With Gladiator II reaching cinemas to give 2024 one of its big blockbusters for the year, another query, also Roman Empire-related, springs to mind: how often do you think about Ridley Scott's 2000 epic Gladiator — the film that won five Oscars, including Best Actor for Russell Crowe as general-turned-arena combatant Maximus — whenever you're thinking about the Roman Empire? The first Gladiator is that influential. For more than two decades since its release, the swords- and sandals-heavy movie has proven an enduring pop-culture touchstone when it comes to contemplating its specific chapter of history through a Hollywood lens, and just in epic cinema overall. Are we not entertained? Audiences the world over were at the turn of the century, so it has never been surprising that talk of a follow-up has been buzzing since 2001. How a second feature would play out has shifted, changed and evolved several times since — Nick Cave even wrote a script — but the film that's transporting viewers back to the Colosseum still boasts exactly what it always needed: the now-octogenarian Scott at the helm. Audiences should be thankful that the iconic Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise filmmaker has added another Gladiator flick to his resume, returning to one of his hits again as he last did with the Alien realm with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant (and that he's continuing to be prolific, helming his fourth film of the 2020s after The Last Duel , House of Gucci and Napoleon). Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers), Connie Nielsen (Origin) and Fred Hechinger (Thelma), three of Gladiator II's stars, aren't just grateful that Scott is behind the camera on the film; speaking with Concrete Playground when they were in Australia for the movie's premiere in Sydney, the trio couldn't have been more inspired by their time working with the director. "Basically I want to be like Ridley when I grow up. That's the root of it for me," Mescal shared with us. Nielsen described returning to one of Scott's sets, and stepping back into the Colosseum in particular, as feeling "like I was coming home". And Hechinger summed up the enthusiastic trio's communal sentiments about collaborating with the filmmaker, when asked what they had each learned from him at the end of our chat — which sparked eager answers. "I know this was your last question and you had a minute, but clearly if you asked this at the beginning of the interview, we could have talked the entire interview for five months about all the things that we learned from him." [caption id="attachment_979923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures[/caption] As Lucius, Mescal is Gladiator II's focal point, with the Aftersun Oscar-nominee, plus The Lost Daughter, Carmen and Foe talent, leading his first Tinseltown blockbuster just four years after the Irish actor became a global obsession courtesy of Normal People. He slides into Crowe's (The Exorcism) shoes in terms of starring in a Gladiator picture, and also into Spencer Treat Clark's (Salem's Lot), who portrayed the same character as a boy in the first film. Lucius' path is familiar, too, taking him from military command to slavery and fighting for his life in front of Roman crowds. As Gladiator viewers know, his mother, aka Nielsen's Lucilla, has seen this situation occur before as well — but this time, it's Hechinger and Joseph Quinn (A Quiet Place: Day One) as sibling Emperors Caracalla and Geta who are lording over the empire, rather than Joaquin Phoenix (Joker: Folie à Deux) as her brother Commodus. Scott's knack for casting remains exceptional with Gladiator II, which also boasts Pedro Pascal (Drive-Away Dolls) as Roman general Marcus Acacius and Denzel Washington as power broker Macrinus. Mescal ensures that Lucius is a determined, devoted and unflinching leader, whether he's literally guiding an army or battling as a gladiator — and also warm, vulnerable and open. Nielsen, who has featured in everything from the Wonder Woman films and Nymphomaniac to TV's Boss and The Following between stints as Lucilla, keeps unpacking how women, even those seen to have some influence and status, can sometimes only be permitted to inhabit a certain space in their worlds. And for The White Lotus, Fear Street and Pam & Tommy alum Hechinger, playing Caracalla means being hedonistic, ruthless, reckless, power-hungry and blood-thirsty opposite not only Quinn but also Caracalla's pet monkey Dundus. With Mescal, Nielsen and Hechinger, we also discussed the present-tense nature of Scott's sets, finding space for Lucilla's political instincts, stepping beyond Crowe's shadow and turning in unpredictable performances — alongside unpacking male psychology, Gladiator II's rallying against the control of the one percent and the devil-may-care abuse of power, and more. On What Nielsen Was Most Excited About in Returning to the World of Gladiator After More Than Two Decades Connie: "The fact that this is a mature woman of experience and of intellectual weight. You don't see many women like that in the theatre kind of ever. And so the way they wrote her, they really made her, yes, the heart and the big mother in the film, but they also made so much space for her political instinct and also for her dreams. You don't really see that much, and so it was very exciting to see and expand on a woman that I played as a young girl." On Mescal Always Being in the Moment Despite the Pressures and Responsibilities of Following in Russell Crowe's Footsteps Paul: "You feel a sense of pressure and responsibility with every single film that you ever make — this being different in the sense that Gladiator, the first Gladiator, is absolutely adored, as it should be. Russell is absolutely adored for that performance, as he should be. But the idea of legacy or pressure is a fundamental problem — it's directly in conflict with trying to carve out your own performance. You can't really lean into it all that much, because the words used to describe the first one and Russell are applied over time, and with the act of making the film — Gladiator II or any film — it has to be utterly present-tense. You have to go to work and build it beat by beat, block by block, day by day. And Ridley's sets are wonderfully, wonderfully present-tense. There's no time to breathe or think about the past or think about the future. You are carving out your own plot of land and desperately trying to protect it." On How Hechinger Crafted a Hedonistic, Ruthless, Reckless and Utterly Unpredictable Character Like Caracalla — and One of a Pair Fred: "I think you want a genuine feeling of danger and ..." Connie: "Unpredictability." Fred: "... Unpredictability. I guess it's a little bit of a conundrum. How do you craft unpredictability? But I think you have to put so many things in there that you can find how to get out of your own way, or at least you have enough tools and elements that you not only surprise others but yourself. What Paul is speaking to in terms of Ridley's set is a true gift in that regard. He's building an environment that is utterly convincing, and also hurtles forward whether you interact with it or not. So the urgency and the full-body need to be heard, and to carve some space, as Paul was telling you about, I think really mixes with my character and all the characters in the film. You have to reckon with the space and there's no shortcut for you. You realise on other sets how many shortcuts are built in, and sometimes the disservice to the work that that does. I think, in this case, there's a real challenge every day — and that as an actor is a gift, because if you're playing someone who's impulsive and dangerous, the environment matches that level of danger and sense of possibility." Connie: "And also Fred, you weren't getting any rehearsals, really." Fred: "Yeah, there is no rehearsal. I mean, Ridley doesn't do rehearsals." Connie: "So you guys basically had to make up a lot of choices prior to even coming to set." Fred: "Joe Quinn and I did work closely on certain aspects of their brotherhood. There's a quality to their relationship that is a double act — at least in public they are. And so some of those Colosseum days felt like we were preparing for the Colosseum. We were preparing for a public thing. We're thinking 'how do we as a duo speak to Rome today?'. And so that it mirrored the story in a lot of ways there. And then I would say that the private side of them, that dynamic was something that was less prepared and spoken about with Joe — but implicitly by not talking about it, we were sort of secretly preparing the opposite side of it, in terms of the public and the private of their relationship." Connie:" I think for the rest of us, who were sitting around and watching them start up this whatever dog-and-pony show you guys are doing that day, I was like 'that is so cool'. It was really cool for us to watch. You guys had really worked hard to get things ready and I just love that. It's so professional." Fred: "Thank you, it means a lot." On What It Feels Like to Step Into Scott's Colosseum — for the First Time and When You're Returning Connie: "For me, it was so strange. It really felt like I was coming home. I know this place — what is it called, the prodigal daughter, returning to daddy's home?" Fred: "I felt — I think I said this to you in person — I felt that Connie was such a leader to all of us. I do remember this first days when you were talking about the experience of returning to the Colosseum, what the Colosseum was like then versus now. It not only made us feel more comfortable as people on the set, it also was really intelligent in terms of continuing to build the world for us. I think it was really creatively generous and additive." Connie: "Well, also because the first Colosseum was kind of like golden and bronzey just very sort of sun-drenched and gorgeous. And this one had a lot of red and black, and a lot of soot, a lot of homeless people at the arches outside of it. There was just a completely different set this time. And so it was both home, but it was also very clear that Ridley had told the story that 18 years had passed since we last left the Colosseum in Gladiator. And that was just very impressive for me to watch how all of the tools that he as a master plays on. And no one tells you. You have to really look. And when you're looking, you realise 'oh my god, he's playing on that and that thing', and it's like he's this master weaver." Paul: "100 percent." Fred: "I really think it's the time. It's the end of an empire. It's where greed goes to die. My first conversation with Janty Yates, our costume designer, I said to her 'I want Caracella to feel like rotting gold'. And when you looked around ..." Paul: "It felt that way." Connie: "It was rot everywhere. Social rot." Fred: "Yeah." On Mescal's Determination to Unpack Male Psychology in His Roles — and to Find Warmth, Vulnerability and Openness While Playing a Gladiator Paul: "I think it's this whole conversation about actors being transformative, which I think is so important, but it's also like if you look at painters that you really admire or any other form of artist, there is a template in the form that we admire about, say, van Gogh or Vermeer or something like that. We're not asking them to change their style every time. Acting is slightly different if you're wanting to play different characters, but there is something that I'm drawn to in terms of the complexities of male psychology. Like, what is it about the way that we think is as young men in the world? That ultimately feels like, when I'm acting, that's my job to kind of allow an audience into to our psychology. And I think when you're playing somebody who is brutalised and uses violence as a weapon in order to survive, that's one thing, but I think that you would grow tired of that as an audience if that was two-and-a-half hours of somebody expressing their life through violence. And I'm glad that you referenced that there is vulnerability there, because all of that anger isn't a means of being — it's a symptom that is built from the hurt that he's experienced. And also it's a fun lens to get to play with. Like, how are you trying to let that version of the vulnerability creep through? So I think the kind of performance style that I'm interested in, both in doing and watching, is not when you hit an audience over the head — you're trying to slowly invite them in to be suspicious or curious about what's going on underneath the surface for every character I play, and it was no different with Lucius." On Whether Gladiator II's Class Clashes Make It Feel Like a Movie for the Moment Connie: "I think it's more subtle than that. I think I can understand why there is this experience of it, because we inevitably mirror ourselves in the stories that we watch. I also know that for sure this was part of what Ridley was playing on but. But as always with Ridley, it's very subtle. I think that this is universal. It doesn't just belong to this moment. It belongs throughout history, that we consistently have to work at achieving that balance. I think maybe when I was younger, when I was like 20, 30, even 40, I still believed that we were moving towards universal democracy. When Tiananmen happened, I thought …" Paul: "That's surely going to be a moment." Connie: "For sure, that's going to be freedom for so many people. And then now we're in the position that you don't feel like we're consistently moving towards that universal freedom. And I would even say that international rule of law has really taken a step back over the last five, six years, seven years. And so I think that it's understandable that people read into it. But I do think it's subtle and I also don't think it's the main cause of the film." Paul: "I agree." On What Mescal, Nielsen and Hechinger Learned From Working with Ridley Scott Paul: "The thing that always strikes me about Ridley is if Ridley decided to never make a film again, he will go down as one of the greatest. But the thing that has struck me on a daily basis is that he could be so entitled as a man and a director, and he's one of the least-entitled people I know. His appetite for work ..." Connie: "Is total." Paul: "... is total. And I think as much as I have enjoyed everybody else that I've worked with, it's something that myself and everybody else included would probably say — that everybody else's work ethic pales in comparison to what he brings just innately as a human being. So to get to watch that from somebody in their 80s is exactly what I would dream of having when I'm — basically I want to be like Ridley when I grow up. That's the root of it for me." Connie: "For me, I look at him as a teacher at all times. I remember on the first film, I came on set in England, we were shooting the Germania battle, and I walk on set and I'm seeing 3000 soldiers on this giant open field that has literally been created by cutting and burning trees. Of course, completely sustainably. And I asked him 'but how are you going to make sure that the audience understands that Russell is coming from behind the enemy lines? How are you going to make sure they understand that?'. And then he was just like 'alright, let me show you'. And he just showed me how all of the battle cameras were turning from left towards right. And then he said 'with all of these cameras where I am filming Russell galloping behind the lines, I am sending that camera from right to left. Intrinsically people will understand that this is what's happening'. He also just drew up a diagram in three seconds and described exactly what it would look like from cut to cut to cut, like that, off the bat. When we were on stage at a screening in London just a few days ago, he started describing how he was building, for example, an action sequence that involved baboons. And the way in which he described his choices, going from 'oh, I once met that one little baboon and that baboon had alopecia' — and the creativity of his brain, and then followed by his ability to then create a way of doing it, which literally did not exist probably technically before. But he's leaning on the amazing people that he hires, and who are able to read into what he's trying to create. Then he is able to describe probably better than anyone what it is that he wants. He's able to say to me 'say that line' and I say it. And he's like 'no, not like that. Give me another line'. I'll come up with another line, and he's like 'no, too much description. Go there. Say it this way'. I'll come up with a line where, I'll go for that third time or fourth time, it'll be the right line. 'Okay, keep that line'. You just are willing to bend over backwards for him and come up with 20 different lines. I'll have written out literally 20 different versions of what I'm trying to say, and he will tell me which one that will work, and he will then, with the greatest respect, incorporate it." Fred: "His work ethic is an expression of his infinite love of cinema and the collaborative act of movie-making. I just think seeing Ridley on a film set is like is like seeing the most-perfect combination of the two." Connie: "He's like a conductor." Fred: "He shares his love in the most-infectious way. And it's funny because I know this was your last question and you had a minute, but clearly if you asked this at the beginning of the interview, we could have talked the entire interview ..." Connie: "Yep." Paul: "Just like that." Fred: "... for five months about all the things that we learned from him. He teaches a million things every day and the things that he teaches you, sometimes he doesn't even need to tell you. They're just happening. He lives through action." Connie: "But also he's amazing at actually directing without judging, which is a unique difference. He's not judging what you're doing." Fred: "Yeah." Connie: "He's directing from this open space." Fred: "Conducting." Gladiator II opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Images: © 2024 Paramount Pictures.
If the sun is shining and you're in the vicinity of one of these leafy parks in Brisbane, then your senses will be overwhelmed with the telltale signs of barbecuing and picnicking. Your eyes will spy people sitting on the grass, your ears will hear the distinctive sound of happy chatter, your skin will feel the warm glow streaming down from above and your nose will be filled with the scent of tasty fare. Yep, there's nothing better than an afternoon of eating, drinking and being merry in one of the city's green spaces — particularly if you're in one where you can actually have a beverage. You may not know this, but there are only four areas within Brissie parks that allow alcohol to be consumed. There's a couple of rules, too: anyone keen on an outdoor tipple must also be consuming a substantial meal at the same time, and you can only enjoy your time outside between 10am–8pm. With all of that in mind, here's the quintet of spots just waiting for you to take a picnic basket and a few bevs to in Brisbane. Recommended reads: The Best Walks in and Around Brisbane The Best Beer Gardens in Brisbane The Best Beaches in Brisbane The Best Rooftop Bars in Brisbane [caption id="attachment_918854" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Davies[/caption] Roma Street Parkland Celebration Lawn When it comes to this popular section of one of Brisbane's most popular inner-city parks, the name says it all, really. If you want to spend some time eating outside while also consuming a few drinks to mark the occasion, then you're going to want to head to the Roma Street Parkland Celebration Lawn. This is where most of the park's major events are held, so you might find some festivities taking place on the lawn when you arrive. That said, with such a huge stretch of grass to sit on — plus artwork, a living mural and a dramatic water wall to look at — you're definitely going to have some company whenever you stop by; but hey, isn't that what a picnic in the great outdoors is all about? [caption id="attachment_918865" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lenny K Photography via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Lake Precinct How do you make a picnic even better? And no, we're not just talking about going to a Brisbane park where you can BYO booze. Combine your eating and drinking with a killer view, and you'll never want to go indoors ever again. Because one alcohol-friendly area isn't enough in a 16-hectare space like Roma Street Parkland, its Lake Precinct is its second spot that allows a tipple or two with food — all while roving your eyes over the watery haven that is the massive central lake, of course. You'll be so relaxed watching the ducks swim by, you'll forget that you're actually in the middle of the CBD. Now, that's the life. [caption id="attachment_877232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jennifer Dudley Nicholson[/caption] South Bank Parklands River Quay Green If you haven't already guessed by now, the folks responsible for naming the various spaces in Brissie's parks really like to let everyone know just what they'll find. At the South Bank Parklands River Quay Green, you get two things: a gorgeous riverside spot with a city view to match and some lush, lush greenery to sit on. Sadly, you'll have to stay away from the redeveloped, futuristic-looking playground, as it's only for kids aged 15 and under. That doesn't mean that there's no outdoorsy fun to be had here though, thanks to its close proximity to Streets Beach and the boat pool. [caption id="attachment_918857" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Davies[/caption] Picnic Island Green A whole island just for picnics? We'd like to say "yes, really", but this is more a "well, kind of" affair. South Bank Parklands' Picnic Island isn't actually a land mass surrounded by water, as anyone who has been to South Bank before knows, but it is a space dedicated to feasting, knocking back a few beers and enjoying Brisbane's (usually) glorious weather. Don't worry: even if the sky opens here, the barbecues are undercover — and they're free. We recommend having your own sausage sizzle with a few drinks in hand, lazing about on the grass and even indulging in some inner-city wildlife-spotting thanks to the surrounding foliage and the neighbouring fish-filled pond.
One of the top ways to treat yourself is to check into one of the best hotels in Melbourne for a few nights. At these joints, you get a little bit of everything (or even a whole lot of everything). Expect fresh plush sheets (this may seem basic, but god we all know how good this feels), room service that you can eat in bed, pampering packages at spas, pools with epic views and just about anything else your luxurious self desires. And Melbourne is packed full of five-star hotels and brilliant boutique stays that will help you live your best life. So check out our guide to the very best hotels in Melbourne, perfect for those after a luxury staycation or out-of-town visitors in need of a base for exploring the city. Recommended reads: The Best Day Spas in Melbourne The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia The Best Places to Go Glamping in Victoria The Best Dog-Friendly Accommodations in Victoria
On- and off-screen, Bluey is inseparable from Brisbane. For its setting, the hit animated series takes inspiration from the Queensland capital. It also hails from a studio based in the River City. The Heeler home resembles Brissie's Queenslanders. And back in 2022 when a replica of the Bluey house popped up temporarily, of course it happened in Brisbane. It makes sense, then, that you can now step inside the famous Brisbane series at the new Bluey's World experience in Brissie. Announced in 2023 and open since early November 2024, the attraction will get you walking around life-sized sets that recreate the beloved family-friendly show. Yes, the Heeler house and yard are part of the setup — for real life. Yes, you can expect to hear "wackadoo!" more than once while you're there. Movie World might've badged itself as Hollywood on the Gold Coast, but it's no longer the only big tourist hotspot giving visitors to southeast Queensland — and locals as well — a chance to explore their on-screen favourites IRL. An immersive installation sprawling across 4000 square metres, Bluey's World features the Heelers' living room, playroom, kitchen, backyard (poinciana tree included) and more. Alongside bringing the global TV sensation's sets into reality, it also boasts familiar interactive games such as Keepy Uppy and Magic Xylophone, plus other activities for both kids and adults. Maybe you'll be accompanying your own little ones, or your nieces and nephews. Perhaps you know that appreciating the adorable Aussie show about a family of blue heelers isn't just for children. Either way, this new addition to Northshore Pavilion in Northshore Brisbane is big — literally thanks to its sizeable floor plan. And yes, as seen in the series, you can arrive via CityCat. Visitors should plan to spend 70 minutes bounding through the experience — and will also find an indoor playground that nods to Bluey's Brisbane neighbourhood, plus spring rolls and pizza on offer at the cafe. There's a soundscape to match, plus a gift shop. For big Bluey birthday celebrations, the site is hosting parties as well. Bluey's World is exclusive to Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction to fans not only locally and nationally but worldwide. Unsurprisingly, that's a big part of the push from both the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are supporting the BBC Studios- and HVK Productions-produced experience. Find Bluey's World at Northshore Pavilion, 281 MacArthur Avenue, Northshore Brisbane — head to the attraction's website for more information and tickets.
Holidaymakers love staying in them. TV shows sing their praises. Everyone has wondered what their days would be like if they lived the tiny house life. Expect to explore that train of thought at the National Gallery of Victoria until April 2025, all thanks to the latest temporary addition outside the NGV International on St Kilda Road in Melbourne: Home Truth, the NGV's Architecture Commission for 2024. How big does the average Australian home need to be? How many tiny houses could fit in the space that a standard Aussie abode takes up? These mightn't be the normal questions that anyone tends to ponder when they visit an art gallery, but it's the query that Home Truth wants everyone to contemplate right now. First, you'll see and enter a standard-sized Aussie house. Inside, you'll then find an abode of much smaller size — and you'll notice the difference between the two. Each year, the NGV unveils a site-specific pop-up construction that experiments with design concepts while musing on subjects of public importance. This year's pick is a tiny house — which wouldn't sound out of the ordinary if it wasn't a pint-sized abode within the frame of the average Australian home, and if drawing attention to the contrast wasn't its aim. Created by Melbourne-based architecture and design studio Breathe, Home Truth continues the firm's focus on sustainable architecture that'll endure and has a purpose — and, since Wednesday, November 13, it's getting NGV visitors walking through a house-within-a-house labyrinth. The larger building represents the average 236-square-metre Australian residence. Nestled within it, the smaller-scale home is designed to spark conversations about alternative modes of housing. To get from one to the other, visitors enter via the larger house's garage door, then wander through rooms and hallways. When you reach the tinier home, you'll feel like you've hit the centre of a maze. Attendees will notice two different materials distinguishing each abode, too, with the bigger spot constructed from framing pine and the smaller house from the waste-made and silver-hued saveboard — offering up a comment on how homes are currently built in Australia as well. "Through its clever play on scale and materials, this thought-provoking work of architecture sparks a fascinating conversation about housing and sustainability in this country," explained NGV Director Tony Ellwood when he announced the 2024 Architecture Commission back in September . "Home Truth speculates that overconsumption of space and materials translates into ecological and social consequences — for both us and the planet. But importantly, it offers a provocative vision of a new way of thinking about building — seeing the value of living in spaces that are of smaller scale — a vision that prioritises people and planet," added Ewan McEoin, NGV's Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture. Home Truth follows 2023's stunning pick (This is) Air, a giant inflatable sphere that breathed, as created by Australian architect Nic Brunsdon with Sky Castle, Airship Orchestra, Cupid's Koi Garden and Lost Dogs' Disco' ENESS. The 14-metre-high piece did indeed expand with air, then release it — so, yes, it inhaled and exhaled all day — to get everyone thinking about humanity's need for and relationship to air, how essential it is, how dependent we all are upon the element, how finite it is and how its quality is being impacted. In the past, NGV's Architecture Commission has also seen a colourful mini Parthenon, a bright pink pool to wade through, a bamboo garden with its own deck and an unforgettable pink carwash pop up, all as part of an initiative that started in 2015. 'Home Truth' by Breathe is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until Sunday, April 27, 2025 — head to the NGV website for further details. Images: installation view of the 2024 NGV Architecture Commission: Home Truth by Breathe. on display from 13 November 2024 until April 2025 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Derek Swalwell.
In a year that's already seen The Zoo say goodbye (ahead of its space reopening as the new Crowbar), another go-to for Brisbane's music fans is also bidding farewell. A West End favourite for over a decade, record store Jet Black Cat Music is shutting up shop before 2024 is out. More than just a place to buy tunes, the Vulture Street venue has also hosted gigs and parties — and held its own music festival over at The Tivoli. Your last day to head by: Saturday, December 28, 2024, which gives you somewhere to splash your Christmas cash to send off this inner-city haunt. While its physical digs are closing, Jet Black Cat Music will live on, however, thankfully keeping its website up and running. The JBCM team announced the news on social media, noting that "we are shape-shifting, moving on from our bricks-and-mortar shop in West End, and taking on a few form as we continue to grow into our new life which is all about bringing great music and people together through touring and events". The statement continued: "Jet Black Cat Music on the corner of Thomas and Vulture streets in downtown West End has been the most wonderful and lengthy chapter of my life so far, WOW! The store has been a magical portal, we have hosted so many of my favourite artists such as Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon, Dick Diver, Twerps, Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Haley Heyndrickx, The Beth's, M Ward, Weyes Blood, Sharon Van Etten, Frankie Cosmos, Sampa The Great, Marlon Williams, Phantastic Ferniture, Toro Y Moi, Dry Cleaning, Charli xcx, Marina Allen, Christian Lee Hutson, Big Scary, Floodlights ... and opened up a pathway into promoting tours and presenting great shows in far and wide locations". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jet Black Cat Music (@jetblackcatmusic) Before settling into its current home, Jet Black Cat Music began its life at Davies Park Markets. It plans not only to remain online, but to also be part of "pop-ups, markets, festivals, listening parties and things that haven't even been dreamt up yet", the crew also revealed. January 2025 would've marked 14 years of JBCM on Vulture Street — and just as long of lengthy lines around the corner on Record Store Day, as well as spotting the store's black tote bags around town. Find Jet Black Cat Music at 72 Vulture Street, West End — open 9am–4pm Thursday–Saturday — until Saturday, December 28, 2024. The store will live on online; head to the Jet Black Cat Music website for more details. Top image: Google Maps.
It's easier than you think to find pockets of nature in Singapore's concrete jungle. Take a walk off the beaten path and discover some lesser-known places to get lost in Singapore's greenery. Whether you hop on a bike or venture out on foot, exploring Singapore's expansive outdoors doesn't have to cost you. We've teamed up with Singapore Tourism to showcase some of the Lion City's top outdoor trails and activities — all for free. Coast-to-Coast Trail The name gives it away, but this 36-kilometre track stretches across the whole island of Singapore, from the Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Rower's Bay Park in the north. The trail passes through 10 major checkpoints and takes about 11 hours to complete on foot, or three hours by bike. For this reason, it's recommended that you get an early start or divide up the trip across two days, so you can finish up in time for the sunset at Rower's Bay Park. Start off at the 90-hectare Jurong Lake Gardens, which boasts a Chinese and Japanese Garden, a freshwater swamp with various wildlife, water-sport facilities, an outdoor lap pool, a skate park with a bouldering wall, and a children's water playground. You can pick up a rental bike at the GoCycling outlet here, before returning it at Punggol Jetty towards the end of the trip. From Jurong Lake Gardens, you can trek on to Bukit Batok Nature Park and Hindhede Drive to reach Adam Road. Grab some much-needed fuel at the nearby Adam Road Food Centre and take a breather at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Rested and ready? The journey continues past Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, Luxus Hills Park and Sengkang Riverside Park. Make a pit-stop here to explore the man-made floating wetland, the elevated bridge across the river and over 20 species of fruit trees throughout the park — but you'll have to refrain from picking any fruit. You'll get to enjoy the views across the Jewel Bridge, Adventure Bridge and Kelong Bridge as you pass through Punggol Waterway Park, before you reach Coney Island Park and your final destination, Rower's Bay Park. Celebrate your achievement with spectacular sunset views from the waterside boardwalk or pavilion. [caption id="attachment_977504" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] East Coast Park With attractions like a water-sports centre, skatepark, yoga studio and beachfront bar, East Coast Park is a hub of activity for all ages. The seafront park and beach is spread across almost 15 kilometres, so you can enjoy a leisurely two-hour stroll or 30-minute cycle along the water. If you choose the latter, pick up a bike at GoCycling or Coastline Leisure. The dedicated bike lanes and flat terrain make cycling around the park a breeze. If you're feeling adventurous, you can bike to Marina Bay or head in the opposite direction, where you'll pass through the Jurassic Mile and end up at Changi Airport. If you've got tots in tow, there's no shortage of fun to keep them entertained. Kids can clamber up Singapore's tallest playground at Coastal PlayGrove; try windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding or laser sailing at the Aloha Seasports Centre (which opportunely has a beach bar for accompanying adults); or practise their tricks at one of Singapore's largest skateparks. You've also got plenty of options when all that action inevitably rouses your appetite. Grab some local cuisine at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village, enjoy a chilli crab at popular chains JUMBO Seafood and Long Beach Seafood, keep it simple with healthy cafe food at East Coast Commune, or tuck into some Italian fare at Fico. Rail Corridor This 24-kilometre track stretching from Tanjong Pajar in the south to Kranji in the north was formerly a railroad bearing trains to and from Malaysia. Since being revitalised in 2021, it has become a popular hiking trail that takes explorers through expanses of greenery, across restored bridges and alongside native flora and fauna. The trail is divided into North, Central and South sections, if you'd prefer to split up the journey. Due to its significance to local wildlife, parts of the Rail Corridor are not lit at night, so be sure to time your visit to end by sunset — the whole walk can be completed in less than six hours. In the central portion of the trek lies Bukit Timah Railway Station. The refurbished train station and staff quarters date back to 1932, and now house a gallery and café. As you continue further north, you'll come across the Bukit Timah Truss Bridge, before passing by the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve — home to the city's largest peak. For striking views, take some time out to admire the quarries at Rifle Range National Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park. Conveniently located about halfway through the Rail Corridor, the Rail Mall includes numerous eateries, so you can snag a much-needed feed and put your feet up before venturing on to the northern stretch. Book your Singapore holiday now with Flight Centre. Top images: Lim Wei Xiang, Marklin Ang. All images courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.
Brisbane likes to laugh. In 2024, when Brisbane Comedy Festival hosted 400 shows, more than 82,000 tickets were sold. The annual chucklefest broke records as a result, a feat that it'll be hoping to repeat when 2025's event gets the city giggling. Set to be on hand to help: Rhys Darby, Ross Noble, Nazeem Hussain, Melanie Bracewell, Jimeoin, Ray O'Leary, Luke Heggie, Becky Lucas, Bron Lewis and Sh!t-faced Shakespeare doing A Midsummer Night's Dream. 2025's BCF will mark the festival's 16th edition, taking place across Wednesday, April 23–Sunday, May 25 at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, Fortitude Music Hall and The Princess Theatre. The event drops its lineup in stages, so the just-announced names will have plenty of company — but the program is already off to a cracking start. Chris Parker, Guy Montgomery, Guy Williams, Laurence Mooney and Schalk Bezuidenhout are also on the bill so far, as is the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival Opening Gala. The latter will head to Fortitude Music Hall to kick off the fest will a bunch of comedians, featuring both Australian and international talents — with who'll be taking to the stage yet to be revealed. If you're new to Sh!t-faced Shakespeare, its name is as descriptive as it sounds, with one member of the troupe completely sloshed at each performance. "Our 2025 Festival is set to delight Brisbane comedy fans; this first announcement is just a taste of what's to come. Following 2024 being so well-attended, we've got a long list of amazing international, Australian and local artists and shows on the cards," said Brisbane Comedy Festival Director Phoebe Meredith, unveiling the initial lineup details. In past years, BCF has added more acts around a month after its first announcement, so watch this space to find out who else will be tickling your funny bone in 2025. The 2025 Brisbane Comedy Festival will take place across Wednesday, April 23–Sunday, May 25. For further details and tickets — with the first shows on sale from 10am AEST on Thursday, November 14 — head to the festival's website.
How better to temporarily break free from the everyday routine than by heading on a holiday escape somewhere worlds apart from your normal life? Imagine swapping life in the city for a few nights soaking up some spectacular coastline or enveloping yourself in lush rainforest. Well, if it's a unique getaway you're after, you'll find a smorgasbord of unconventional Airbnb stays dotted all across Australia. A Newport cabin floating on the water, a converted vintage bus nestled in the Tamar Valley and even a historic French provincial castle tower in Rutherglen are all options at your fingertips. Whether you're planning that ideal vacation, or still in the dreaming stages, here are ten of Australia's best Airbnb stays. Recommended reads: The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia The Best Glamping Sites in Australia The Best Islands to Visit in Australia The Best Beaches in Australia [caption id="attachment_774843" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] The Bus Hideaway, Tasmania This vintage bus has been retired from the roads, but it's living a pretty happy life reborn as a cosy getaway for two, moored on a remote farm in peaceful Tamar Valley bushland. It's an eco-friendly hideaway, crafted from lots of upcycled materials, heated by a cosy wood fire and stocked with organic, locally sourced goodies — right through to the luxurious linens on the comfy king-size bed. This little gem is kitted out with a full modern kitchen, proper gas-fuelled shower and a composting loo that won't have you feeling like you're roughing it too hard. And with zero wi-fi, it's the perfect excuse to unplug and unwind — the book collection, DVD player and acres of Tassie wilderness are sure to keep you happily entertained. From $220 a night, sleeps two. [caption id="attachment_774846" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] Dinky Di's Dugout, South Australia Ever wanted to indulge your inner earthworm with a subterranean stay? Best put Coober Pedy on your holiday radar. The South Australian town is famed both for its opal mining and its underground dwellings, built to withstand the area's scorching temperatures. And you can call one of these 'dugouts' home for a few nights — namely this two-bedroom, two-bathroom number that's carved into the earth just north of the town centre. It's got all the trimmings you'll need for a comfy cave getaway, with full kitchen, laundry and an outdoor barbecue area. This underground beauty even comes with a healthy dose of natural light, thanks to the windows set right across its front. From $185 a night, sleeps seven. The Salty Dog, New South Wales This floating cabin on the sea takes 'waterfront property' to a whole new level. Featured in countless Australian travel guides and even International publications, its easy to see why this boathouse is filed under unconventional. Found in Newport, this tiny home on the ocean features a combined kitchen and dining area as well as a cozy loft bedroom. Windows are a-plenty for splendid views of the marina, and emphasising that boat-on-the-water feeling. During your stay, make sure to stop by the beach - only a 20-minute walk from the cabin - or Newport's local businesses. And yes, they give you a boat so you can leave. From $635 a night. Sleeps two. [caption id="attachment_774851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] The Shed at Broger's End, New South Wales Occupying a quaint patch of green between the Kangaroo River and Brogers Creek in NSW's southern highlands, this former machinery shed has been given new life as a rustic country escape. And it's got unplugged group getaway written all over it. The low-footprint, sun-powered home features lots of recycled materials, boasting a sprawling but cosy living area with vintage furniture pieces throughout. And you'll find no shortage of nifty extras to help elevate your downtime here — think, woodfired pizza oven, firepit, expansive herb garden, onsite chooks laying fresh eggs for brekkie and even an outdoor bath for soaking under the stars. Hit the river for activities, or go wildlife-spotting on one of the many kilometres of nearby walking trails. From $550 a night, sleeps seven. [caption id="attachment_774853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] The Tower at Mount Ophir Estate, Victoria If you've ever fantasised about living it up in a fairytale castle, you can quit dreaming and lock in a stay at this 115-year-old French provincial-style tower, located at Mount Ophir Estate in the heart of Rutherglen winemaking country. As far as couples' escapes go, this one comes with a fairly exxy price tag — though it also boasts three separate levels, some truly gorgeous interiors, a library, and a lavish top-floor bedroom suite with 360-degree views. Breakfast is included with your stay — we get the feeling it'll be top-shelf — plus you've got access to the property's bikes whenever you're in the mood for some exploring. And of course, don't forget all those wineries right on the doorstep. From $518 a night, sleeps two. [caption id="attachment_774854" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Airbnb[/caption] Alikra Eco-Glamping Retreat, Victoria Tucked away among scenic Dandenong Ranges forest, this straw-bale yurt is the ultimate antidote to all that big city craziness, with space to sleep two nature-seekers and a unique design that keeps things comfy all year round. Hang out in the wilderness of this 40-acre property, revelling in nature, getting acquainted with the farm animals or just clocking in some off-grid time in this beautifully appointed former artist's studio. There's a firepit, a rustic outdoor kitchen and a light-filled bedroom stacked with soft furnishings collected from all across the country. Hiking trails abound in this pocket of Melbourne, though you'll also find a healthy stock of books and board games for cosy days spent lounging at base camp. From $295 a night, sleeps two. [caption id="attachment_774856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Airbnb[/caption] The Little Red Barn, Queensland Secure your own little patch of leafy, Noosa Hinterland wilderness with a stay in this cheerfully restored red timber barnhouse. With space to sleep seven, it's working a stylish old-meets-new fit-out, where timber floors and soaring vaulted ceilings complement plush white linens and contemporary bathroom features. Depending on the weather, you can snuggle up by the living room's fireplace, take a soak in the old-school claw-foot bath out on the deck, or unwind with a dip in the concrete water tank swimming pool overlooking the rolling green hills. Put this one on the list for your next group getaway — it's got a big, open living area, plus roomy wrap-around verandahs for those outdoor hangs. From $450 a night, sleeps seven. The Beach Dome, Queensland This quirky beachside dome has a look that's as cheery as its tropical Far North Queensland surrounds, nestled among palm trees just metres from the sands of Cairns' Trinity Beach. The self-contained, two-bedroom bubble is like a cool, coastal oasis, decked out in plenty of bright whites and upbeat pastel tones. Though it's compact, it's got space for four guests (plus an extra, if you use the rollout bed), a modern kitchen and bathroom, and even a cute front porch primed for afternoon wines overlooking the ocean. In addition to four other domes, the property's also home to its own pool, just in case you want to shake things up between beach sessions. From $130 a night, sleeps four. [caption id="attachment_786395" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arabella on Airbnb by Love Space Photography[/caption] Arabella, New South Wales Settled on a 140-acre property that looks straight out of a fairytale, this tiny home is for nature lovers and off-the-grid fanatics. And when we say off the grid, we mean it. No internet, reception, two kilometres off the main road and water from the natural spring nearby. This dwelling is an eco-experience in every sense of the term. However, as unconventional as the time home is on its own, the stand-alone one-way glass shower truly takes the cake. Soak in nature while soaking in the tub with 360 views of the gardens around the entirely-glass structure. While you're having your inevitable picnic in sprawling outdoors, be sure to try to spot the wild alpacas, kangaroos, and echidnas. From $445 a night, sleeps three. Stargazing Bubble 'Etoile', Victoria Sleep among the stars from the comfort of the indoors in this award-winning accommodation. Set atop the mountains overlooking the rolling hills and ocean below, this out-of-the-box retreat is made to bring stargazing to the next level, providing panoramic views of the night sky as well as a telescope and pair of binoculars. When you're not staring at the stars, the outdoor patio comes with deck chairs and a mini barbecue to use after a day of exploring. The interior of the bubble features a four-post queen bed with wrap-around privacy curtains, a lounge area, kitchenette, and a bluetooth speaker. Bubble acoustics are out of this world! A connecting bubble for the bathroom has all the amenities for a comfortable stay, and don't forget to look up in the shower to see a mini stargazing roof. From $795 a night, sleeps two. Images: courtesy of Airbnb. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
With its "funny Broadchurch" premise, Deadloch gave murder-mysteries The Kates treatment. In its first season, the Australian hit served up both crime drama and comedy, as well as a whip-smart subversion of the usual tales about detectives investigating a spate of killings, in one of the best new TV shows of 2023. No one familiar with Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan's past work could've expected anything different — and the pair delivered, so much so that a second season is on its way. Those prior shows? Before the pair got satirical with whodunnits — while also making a stellar whoddunit — McCartney and McLennan gave television cooking programs a spin, then morning TV. The Katering Show and Get Krack!n were the end results, and both remain as hilarious now as they each did when they debuted, as you can now see on The Kates' YouTube channel. Viewers have been able to enjoy The Katering Show online for years, but season one of Get Krack!n has just joined it. If you're still trying to fill the Deadloch-shaped hole in your viewing until more episodes arrive, this is the solution — whether or not you've already seen the hit series, which spoofs breakfast television in sharp and side-splitting fashion. While they didn't appear on-screen in Deadloch, McCartney and McLennan are front and centre in Get Krack!n as the titular show's hosts. For company, everyone from Sam Neill (Apples Never Fall), Hannah Gadsby (Sex Education), Miranda Tapsell (The Artful Dodger), Deborah Mailman (Last Days of the Space Age) and Aunty Donna (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) to Adam Briggs (Boy Swallows Universe), Celia Pacquola (Utopia), Nakkiah Lui (Preppers), Charlotte Nicdao (Mythic Quest) and Michelle Lim-Davidson (The Newsreader) pop up. "We can't wait to bring our topical, satirical satire Get Krack!n to the world. We think it will be just as relevant to audiences now as it was the day it was filmed ... seven years ago," said The Kates. The Northern Territory-set second season of Deadloch is shooting now, with Kate Box (Boy Swallows Universe), Madeleine Sami (Our Flag Means Death), Nina Oyama (Utopia) and Alicia Gardiner (The Clearing) all returning from season one. New to the series this time around: Luke Hemsworth (Next Goal Wins), Steve Bisley (Human Error), Shari Sebbens (The Moogai) and plenty more. Check out the first season-one episode of Get Krack!n below — and the entire season via The Kates' YouTube channel: Get Krack!n is available to stream via The Kates' YouTube channel.
As fans of whodunnits on the page, stage and screen know, anything can and often does go wrong in sleuthing tales. Usually, however, the antics remain in the story. That's not the case in The Play That Goes Wrong, as its title indicates — and as theatre audiences have enjoyed for over a decade, watching what happens when The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society endeavours to put on a murder-mystery, then chaos ensues. When the production premiered in 2012 in London, it not only proved a hit but won Best New Comedy at the Laurence Olivier Awards. It's also still treading the boards in the UK, making it West End's current longest-running comedy. For its first Broadway season, it also nabbed a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play. The Play That Goes Wrong has made its way Down Under before, too, but audiences will have another chance to catch it locally when it tours Australia again in 2025. Sydney Opera House is hosting the show's first — and longest — Aussie stop from Thursday, June 19–Sunday, August 3. After that, it'll play HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast from Wednesday, August 6–Sunday, August 10 and Empire Theatre in Toowoomba from Monday, August 11–Friday, August 15. Next, the production will head back to New South Wales with a stop from Tuesday, August 19–Sunday, August 31 at Civic Theatre in Newcastle, before hitting Victoria from Wednesday, September 3–Sunday, September 21 at Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. The plot: when The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society give the whodunnit genre a spin, telling the tale of a murder at a country manor and the quest to find the perpetrator, making it through the show becomes an accident-filled challenge. Since its debut over a decade ago, The Play That Goes Wrong has been seen by more than 4.2-million people worldwide — in 49 countries — and given 3500-plus performances at West End's Duchess Theatre alone. Another tidbit: also in West End, members of The Drama Society have been hit more than 125,545 times, sometimes by objects and sometimes by each other. The Play That Goes Wrong 2025 Australian Dates: Thursday, June 19–Sunday, August 3 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Wednesday, August 6–Sunday, August 10 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Monday, August 11–Friday, August 15 — Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Tuesday, August 19–Sunday, August 31 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle Wednesday, September 3–Sunday, September 21 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne The Play That Goes Wrong is touring Australia from June 2025 — head to the production's website for tickets and further details. Images: original West End cast, Robert Day.
Much has changed at Portside Wharf over its almost two-decade existence to date, but Byblós Brisbane has remained a constant. One of the River City's go-tos for Lebanese cuisine has been a mainstay of the waterside Hamilton precinct, whether you're keen on a meal or drinks. When it opened in 2006, it was also the first-ever eatery from brothers Adonis and Nehme Ghanem, the pair behind hospitality outfit — and the Bisou Bisou-, Iris Rooftop-, Blackbird Bar, Dining and Events-, Boom Boom Room-, Donna Chang- and Lúc Lắc-running — Ghanem Group. As new venues make their home at Portside, Byblós is remaining in place, but it's now sporting a revamped aesthetic and refreshed menu. As announced earlier in spring, the restaurant has undergone a renovation, and is now back up and running in its new redesigned guise just in time for summer party season. When a massive makeover was announced for Portside Wharf back in 2022, Brisbanites started getting excited about more dining options, new eateries and expanded outdoor seating — and since 2023, seafood restaurant Fosh, pastry haven Rise Bakery, ice cream spot Rosé Gelateria, grilled-skewer chain Birds Nest Yakitori, gastropub Portside Social, sports bar The Ballpark Portside and the burger-slinging Dumbo have all opened their doors already. The new-look Byblós joins them, 18 years after it first launched its Hamilton digs. Patrons will now find a new focus on contemporary Lebanese cuisine, plus a reimagined design. Indoors, expect an open dining and bar area, complete with dining booths and private nooks. If you're keen to eat and drink outside, you can now step through bi-fold glass sliding doors to the plant-filled waterside al fresco space, which has also been expanded and weather-proofed. Space Cubed Design Studio was on design duties, aiming to nod to Lebanese cuisine's past and present, including by incorporating tiles handcrafted in the venue's namesake city. Food-wise, patrons can tuck into a sharing-friendly menu influenced by a 2023 research trip to Lebanon, plus a new drinks range featuring cocktails such as Lebanese Lemonade (vodka, a whole lemon, mint, arak and maraschino) and Phoenician Sunset (Licor 43, strawberry liqueur, apple and strawberry), a hefty array of spirits and a wine cellar filled with drops from around the world. "What blew us away on our trip were the intense flavours — layers of aromatic spice, fresh herbs and smoky notes from the grill — and the food heritage that the locals are so proud of. Every meal took us on a journey," advises Ghanem Group Executive Chef Jake Nicolson. "We've added our own refined interpretation to classic dishes and will take guests on a culinary adventure of our own, not just through the food, but also through the interior design that includes culturally significant elements that hark back to the history of the ancient city of Byblós." New highlights span salmon kibbeh nayeh (which is made with raw salmon, burghal, cucumber, fresh mint, red onion and fresh saj) and eggplant fatteh (fried eggplant, cow's milk yogurt, fresh mint and toasted flatbread) among the small plates. Yes, the fan-favourite rakakat, aka fried filo pastries stuffed with mozzarella, feta, parsley and onion, remains on offer. For something more substantial, the wagyu skewers feature pomegranate, pickled red onion, wild thyme and chimichurri; the Brisbane Valley quail comes with orange blossom honey, sumac and parsley, as well as pine nuts and currants; and the slow-cooked lamb shoulder is paired with mixed nuts, currants and jus. Baklava cheesecake and Turkish delight pavlova are dessert standouts — and if you can't pick what to eat, that's where the banquet menu comes in. Find Byblós Brisbane at Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, open 11.30am–late Tuesday–Sunday. Head to the venue's website for more details.
In 2017, Australia scored a brand-new arts festival: Asia TOPA, aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, which fills Melbourne venues with a banquet of Asian arts and culture. Then came the early days of the pandemic, putting the event on hiatus since 2020. Thankfully, that gap is ending in 2025 — and bringing a lineup featuring 33 performances, 18 of which will make their world premiere, to locations across the Victorian capital. Asia TOPA is announcing its roster for Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 in stages, with its performance strand its headline program, as well as the first to unveil its details. One big highlight, which was revealed in October: KAGAMI, a mixed-reality concert experience that lets audiences watch a virtual avatar of the late, great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto at the piano. Making its southern-hemisphere premiere at the festival, the production sees attendees don headsets, enjoy ten original Sakamoto compositions and pay tribute to the music icon. KAGAMI heads Down Under after seasons in New York and UK, and also Singapore prior to Asia TOPA. [caption id="attachment_979460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tin Drum[/caption] Another of the fest's standouts was also unveiled before the full performance lineup drop — and it's another event with an interactive element. Home Bound by Daniel Kok and Luke George is asking a variety of Melbourne communities to come together to make a woven installation that'll transform Arts Centre Melbourne's forecourt. Whether you take part or not, the results will be a sight to see. Just announced in Asia TOPA's opening-night slot: Milestone from William Yang. As he'll also do at 2025's Sydney Festival, the now 80-year-old artist will reflect upon his life at the one-night-only event, with his photos and stories paired with a new score by Elena Kats-Chernin performed live on stage. In Melbourne, Milestone is headed to Hamer Hall — and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will also be part of the show. [caption id="attachment_979461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George Gittoes[/caption] Dance company Chunky Move joins the lineup with U>N>I>T>E>D, which will take to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl stage, feature techno beats inspired by Javanese trance and gamelan, and feature six dancers wearing exoskeleton costumes. At Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse, Yolŋu, Paiwan and Amis artists hailing from North East Arnhem Land and Taiwan will join forces for cross-cultural collaboration Gapu Ŋgupan (Chasing the Rainbow). And Chinese mourning rituals provide the spark for Mindy Meng Wang and Monica Lim's Opera for the Dead (祭歌) at Space 28 at the University of Melbourne. Patrons can also look forward to Ane Ta Abia, a choral concert featuring singers and musicians from Papua New Guinea and Australia; the tunes, lasers and projections of Oblation by Tamil Australian electronic composer Vijay Thillaimuthu; queer Indigenous arts collective FAFSWAG's dance piece SAUNIGA; and an ode to cute animals via theatremaker Ran Chen's Tiny, Fluffy, Sweet. Or, there's also the return of A Nightime Travesty after its YIRRAMBOI Festival 2023 sellout run, Yumi Umiumare's ButohBAR 番狂わせ OUT of ORDER II turning Abbotsford Convent into a nightclub and family-friendly puppet show Goldfish. [caption id="attachment_979462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cam Matheson[/caption] With the NGV about to go dotty for Yayoi Kusama — starting to already, in fact — for it summer blockbuster exhibition, Melanie Lane's Pulau (Island) is another of Asia TOPA's must-sees. Specifically commissioned for the festival, it's a site-specific response that'll be performed beneath Kusama's Dots Obsession installation, and it's only on the program for two days. "I hope this edition of Asia TOPA resounds with the resilience, joy and creativity of the artists from our region. We want the triennial to be a way for people to build new connections and imagine new futures," said Asia TOPA Creative Director Jeff Khan, announcing the performance strand program. "I hope you join us for this celebration of the inspiring artistry, ideas and possibilities that are so unique to Asia-Pacific art and culture." [caption id="attachment_979463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gianna Rizzo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chen Chou Chang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Pham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_979466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dewie Bukit[/caption] Asia TOPA 2025 runs from Thursday, February 20–Monday, March 10, 2025 at venues across Melbourne. Head to the festival's website for more details and tickets. Top image: Samuel James.
A dystopian favourite reaching its end, one of the best TV shows of the past few years, the greatest small-screen effort in this very galaxy, more chestbursting horror, Glen Powell: they're all coming to your streaming queue in 2025. As the new year approaches, the networks and platforms responsible for your television viewing are dropping sneak peeks at what's in store. Following HBO's teaser trailer, now arrives Disney+'s version. Add season six of The Handmaid's Tale, season four of The Bear, season two of Andor, new Alien TV series Alien: Earth and the Powell-starring Chad Powers to your must-see list, as they're all on the way. So are Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart, both from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Andor isn't the only Star Wars series highlighted, thanks to the Jude Law (Peter Pan & Wendy)-led Skeleton Crew. Elsewhere, season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians gets a look in as well — and there's more where it and all of the above shows came from. As is always the case with trailers that are about a channel or streaming service's entire upcoming slate rather than one specific show, nothing receives the indepth treatment in the just-dropped trailer — but The Handmaid's Tale still gets plenty of attention. Season six is the last season of the Elisabeth Moss (The Veil)-led series based on Margaret Atwood's book, but the author's The Testaments is next set to make the leap from the page to the screen. The Bear also features prominently. Disney+ and Hulu said "yes chef!" to the fourth season before season three even aired, and gives Jamie Lee Curtis (Borderlands) one of the key lines of the clip: "sometimes your work family is closer to you than your family family," she tells Ayo Edebiri's (Inside Out 2) Sydney. With Chad Powers, audiences get a glimpse at a series that enlists Powell as a quarterback who takes on a new persona — the titular character — to play for a struggling team. And in Alien: Earth, the sci-fi/horror saga started in 1979 by Ridley Scott's (Gladiator II) iconic film heads to our own pale blue dot, with Noah Hawley leading the charge behind the scenes after also doing the same on the Fargo TV series. Andor has debut new footage ahead of its return in April 2025, while release dates for everything else — release windows, even — are yet to be revealed. Also featured in the trailer: clips from season two of Goosebumps: The Vanishing, as well as the new Paradise and Good American Family. The first stars Sterling K Brown (American Fiction) and James Marsden (Unfrosted), while the second is led by Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy). Check out Disney+'s 2025 trailer below: The shows highlighted in Disney+ and Hulu's new trailer will arrive in 2025. We'll update you with more details when they're announced.
Humid nights, the constant humming of cicadas, sunny mornings and an afternoon southerly – it can only mean one thing – summer has arrived. To make the most of the warmer months, stocking up with all the products to survive and thrive is crucial. Or, given that summer in Australia is also the Christmas (and party) season, some of these goodies could also make the perfect summer gifts. Luckily, Amazon has heaps of cool stuff perfect for summer break. Here are some of our top choices. 1. Pool Torpedo We're sorry to break it to you, but whoever didn't have one of these as a kid was missing out. But it's never too late. The Triggerfish Torpedo is the pool toy of all pool toys, designed for an underwater shootout or dodge-the-torpedo, you're bound to have endless hours of fun with this little thing. Plus, it will quite literally last forever. 2. Sand-Free Beach Towel If you've been living under a rock, allow us to introduce the latest craze – sandless beach towels. If there is one thing we don't love about the beach, it's the fact that the sand gets everywhere, and somehow, you can never seem to get it all out of your towel, no matter how ferocious you shake. This sand-free towel from BonGu is extra-large, super soft, won't fade and is made from eco-friendly material. With a range of colourful designs, it also makes for a pretty snazzy beach accessory. Plus, it comes with a travel bag, so you can easily store it away when you're not using it. 3. Underwater Camera The AKASO Brave 4 Action Camera is one of the ultimate summer gifts for those who spend most of their summer in the water. With this little thing, you can still get all the good shots without worrying about getting your camera getting wet. Don't be fooled, the quality is as good as any other camera. It features ultra HD 4K 30fps and 2K 30fps video recording, 20MP. It's a great gift for your friends or family who love diving, surfing and snorkelling, or even for yourself. 4. Aperol Spritz 4 Pack Everyone's favourite summer drink, stocking up the fridge with Aperol Spritz's for summer is basically a rite of passage at this point. Perfect for summer gifts or those days you are short on time or are too busy lazing at the beach, this Ready-to-Serve pack of 4 is our go-to. Just as good as mixing an Aperol Spritz yourself, enjoy the blend straight from the bottle. 5. Snorkel For those who seek adventure, this snorkel from Yakiter is a good accessory to keep in the car for those unexpected moments when you come across the perfect spot. With a single-layer lens, panoramic view and tempered glass with anti-fog treatment, you will never miss a beat. The comfortable design and flexible breath tube also means it's super easy to breathe and drain, so you can focus on the fish. 6. Bucket hat We're all for a fun bucket hat no matter the season and come summer; you can never have too many hats. A fun summer gift or a playful addition to your hat collection, the Taidor Cotton Bucket Hat comes in a range of funky designs, and it's reversible, so you can switch it up depending on how you're feeling. The 100 per cent cotton material means the hats are lightweight and breathable (perfect for hot days.) 7. Picnic Basket Not your everyday picnic basket, the Hap Tim Wicker Picnic Basket Set comes with everything you need just in time for picnic season. In the wicker basket, you will find a foldable picnic table, an insulated cooler bag, two sets of cutlery, two plastic wine glasses, a bottle opener, and salt and pepper shakers. It's cute and it's practical, what more could you want? It even comes gift-wrapped with ribbons – it's simply screaming to be one of those special summer gifts. Or, if you love it too much, keep it for yourself – we don't blame you. 8. Beach Umbrella There's nothing worse than that fresh winter-skin-summer burn. The best way to avoid it? The AMMSUN Boho Outdoor Umbrella is the way to go. With a simple boho design and cute tassels, it makes the perfect, practical and aesthetic beach or backyard accessory. The canopy provides UPF50+ protection and will block over 98% of UV rays, keeping you cool and protected. Plus, a steel pole means this thing won't go blowing away when that southerly comes around. 9. Neck Fan Sometimes, it's just too hot to leave the comfort of the fan or air-con. But, for those days you can't get away with staying at home, we've got the next best thing – the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan. Simply place it around your neck and enjoy a contrast, hands-free fanning of air so you can get along with your day. It will run for over four hours, depending on the speed, and it's quiet enough to hear your own breath. With the hot summer that's been predicted, we will definitely be grabbing one of these. 10. Wine Cooler When it comes to summer gifts, you can't get much better than this. Forget wine buckets. The Huski Wine Cooler is bound to be one of our most-used summer goodies. This stainless steel gadget keeps your wine chilled for up to six hours and the adjustable height means it fits most wine or champagne bottles. Plus, a flexible-lock expandable design means your bottle will stay firmly in place while pouring. Perfect for any occasion, and as we all know, there's nothing worse than warm wine. Images: Supplied by Amazon. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, Concrete Playground may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site.
From 2025, what will Burleigh Heads have in common with Los Angeles, New York, Cannes, Bordeaux, Ibiza, Singapore, Seoul and Hong Kong? As Miami, Doha and Mexico City boast, too, it'll become home to a Mondrian hotel. Alongside fellow upcoming openings in Tulum and Dubai, the LA-born chain is launching its first-ever Australian outpost, heading to a breezy patch of the Gold Coast. For vacationers, the brand's debut Aussie site will feature 208 hotel rooms — some suites, some studios, some two- and three-bedroom beach houses. Also available for travellers: the venue's Sky House at its apex. Mondrian Gold Coast will also include residential apartments, however, if you're cashed up and looking for luxe new digs. Mondrian calls its hotels creative hives — and values its guests not just swanning in and feeling like they could be anywhere in the world, but becoming immersed in their surroundings. The 24-floor Burleigh Heads address will boast views that do plenty of heavy lifting in that regard; if you're not peering at the pine tree-lined beach, you'll have hinterland vistas. "Australia has long been a strategic focus for Mondrian's growth, and the Gold Coast was a focal point thanks to its phenomenal natural setting, rich cultural landscape and vibrant social scene," said Mondrian Hotels & Residences's Brand Chief Operating Officer Chadi Farhat. "Over the last couple of years, we have seen a rising demand for lifestyle brands, where locals and international guests are looking for authentic, creative and immersive experiences — all the hallmarks of the Mondrian brand. It felt a natural choice to bring Mondrian to the Gold Coast and we believe it will resonate strongly with the local market and lend something entirely new to the hospitality space," Farhat continued. Art, architecture, design and culture are also at the forefront of the chain's approach, with Mondrian Gold Coast skewing sleek courtesy of Australian architects Fraser & Partners and Studio Carter — the latter taking cues from the sand and pandanus shrubs for the hotel's textures and tones. Architecture and design practice Alexander &Co joins in with the as-yet-unnamed ground-floor restaurant, which will be just one of the location's spots to eat. Here, think: a space that sprawls both inside and out, complete with a sunny terrace. Up on the third floor, visitors will be able to eat with a vantage over the ocean, or enjoy kicking back at the hotel's pool club. While there's no menu details as yet, local produce will take the spotlight on the menus across the site. And for relaxing, the hotel will also feature a wellness space and sp. For partying, there'll be an events space as well. Find Mondrian Gold Coast at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, from sometime in 2025 — and head to the hotel's website for more information.
A holiday at a luxurious resort in Thailand is usually relaxing. For Walton Goggins (Fallout), Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Jason Isaacs (The Crowded Room), Michelle Monaghan (MaXXXine), Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale), Parker Posey (Mr & Mrs Smith) and more in The White Lotus season three, however, getaway bliss might prove elusive. In 2025, TV viewers will find out what the hit anthology series has in store for its latest batch of travellers. Fancy a sneak peek now? HBO has dropped a new teaser trailer for its upcoming slate. The latest glimpse at what the US network has on the way covers a heap of series, so The White Lotus season three only features briefly. But Goggins peers at the sights, Bibb and Monaghan mosey through a crowd, and Posey and returning cast member Natasha Rothwell (How to Die Alone) also pop up, while Lisa from BLACKPINK welcomes guests. Exactly when The White Lotus returns hasn't been revealed as yet, other than sometime in 2025. Also arriving next year, and also debuting never-before-seen footage in the clip: IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, season four of Hacks, season two of The Rehearsal, a new show led by Bottoms and Saturday Night's Rachel Sennott, two-part documentary Pee-Wee as Himself, The Righteous Gemstones season four, Peacemaker season two, The Pitt with ER veteran Noah Wyle, Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)-led FBI series Task and Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) comedy The Chair Company. The second season of The Last of Us, new Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, season three of And Just Like That... and season three of The Gilded Age also feature in the trailer, albeit without any new material, with each series joining the list for 2025. You can spot scenes from Dune: Prophecy, season three of The Sex Lives of College Girls, the animated Creature Commandos and limited series Get Millie Black, too, each of which are 2024 releases. From 2025's lineup, newcomer Duster with Lost's Josh Holloway and season two of Conan O'Brien Must Go score a look as well. Where Australians will be watching all of the above is yet to be revealed, however, given that HBO has confirmed that its own streaming service Max will launch here sometime in the first half of 2025. Watch HBO's new 2024–25 roundup trailer below: The shows highlighted in HBO's new trailer will arrive across the end of 2024 and in 2025. At present, the bulk of the network's programs stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
For a few winter weeks in 2025, Middle-earth is coming to the Gold Coast, but not exactly as everyone knows it. What happens when one of the most-beloved fantasy tales adds singing and dancing? Prepare to find out at The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. The stage production layers tunes into JRR Tolkien's iconic story, including as its hobbits go on perilous adventures, and it has just locked in the only Queensland stop on its upcoming Australian tour. A Sydney season was announced back in August, with news arriving in October that Melbourne and Perth will also be enjoying a musical LoTR journey. Now comes confirmation of southeast Queensland's turn — only at HOTA, Home of the Arts from Friday, July 4–Sunday, July 20. On screens big and small for decades so far (and into the future, with more TV episodes and movies on the way), hobbits have trekked, ate second breakfasts and attempted to project precious jewellery. Onstage Down Under in 2025, they'll also be marking an eleventy-first birthday, receiving a gold ring, taking a quest to Mordor and attempting to fight evil in The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale. The Harbour City season at the State Theatre comes first, followed by a stop at Crown Theatre in Western Australia from March, then a Victorian stint at Comedy Theatre that starts in April — before the Sunshine State joins in. Dating back to 2006, just after the original live-action movie trilogy, this stage musical was revived in the UK in 2023, opened in the US in July 2024 and will hit New Zealand this November before crossing the ditch. Your guides for the show are the hobbits, of course, as Frodo and company celebrate Bilbo Baggins, then depart The Shire upon a life-changing journey. Thanks to Tolkien, what occurs from there has enthralled audiences for 70 years now, with The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers initially hitting bookshelves in 1954. There's been no shortage of ways to indulge your Lord of the Rings love since Peter Jackson's features — including his Hobbit trilogy — helped fan the flames of pop culture's affection for Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry and the franchise's many non-underground-dwelling characters. Cinema marathons, visiting the Hobbiton movie set, staying there overnight, hitting up pop-up hobbit houses, sipping hobbit-themed beer: they've all been on the agenda. Only The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is combining all things LoTR with tunes and dancing, however, in a show that sports a book and lyrics by from Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Matilda the Musical, Groundhog Day the Musical), plus original music by Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner AR Rahman, folk band Värttinä from Finland and Matilda the Musical alum Christopher Nightingale. The Australian cast has also been announced, including Rarmian Newton as Frodo Baggins, Wern Mak as Samwise Gamgee, Jeremi Campese as Merry and Hannah Buckley as Pippin. Laurence Boxhall is playing Gollum, Andrew Broadbent steps into Elrond's shoes and Terence Crawford is Gandalf — with Rohan Campbell as Boromir, Stefanie Caccamo as Arwen, Rob Mallett as Strider, Connor Morel as Gimli, Conor Neylon as Legolas, Jemma Rix as Galadriel, Ian Stenlake as Saruman and Ruby Clark as Rosie, too. The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale Australian Dates 2025 From Tuesday, January 7 — State Theatre, Sydney From Wednesday, March 19 — Crown Theatre, Perth From Monday, April 21 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne From Friday, July 4–Sunday, July 20 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast The Lord of the Rings — A Musical Tale is touring Australia from January 2025. Head to the production's website for further details and to sign up for the ticket waitlist. Images: Liz Lauren.
When decorations surround you everywhere you look, carols (and Mariah Carey and Wham!) are the standard soundtrack no matter where you happen to be and tinsel keeps glittering in your line of sight, festive season can feel like an all-encompassing maze of merriment. Head to South Bank from mid-December 2024 and you'll experience that sensation at its most literal. In an all-ages-friendly addition to Brisbane CBD's usual end-of-year shenanigans, the riverside precinct is hosting a Christmas maze, where you'll get wandering and get into the spirit of the season all at once. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around town already, but that'll ramp up from Friday, November 22 through till the end of January 2025. Brisbane City's festive fun for this year also features a free light and sound experience at Queen's Wharf, markets, an openair cinema by the water, carols, parades, tiny doors and more, mixing new ways to get jolly with old favourites. With the maze, a variety of experiences will be on offer right up until Friday, January 31, 2025 in South Bank Piazza, changing depending on whether you have kids in tow or are excited about kidulting. While that's a fresh addition to the lineup of Christmas events, South Bank will also welcome back its popular openair Christmas cinema from Saturday, December 14–Sunday, December 22, and its Christmas markets on Little Stanley Street from Friday, December 13–Sunday, December 22. Across Saturday, December 14–Sunday, December 22, the nightly parade will mosey down Little Stanley Street, too, and carols will be sung on South Bank's Riverside Green. Festive-themed performers are set to do the rounds of the precinct as well, photos will be available with Santa and Mrs Claus — by the beach — and there'll also be Christmas workshops for both kids and adults (think: making cookies, wreaths and decorations, for starters). This year's Christmas in Brisbane celebrations will kick off at Roma Street Parkland, however, with the return of The Enchanted Garden with its lights, lasers and soundscape. Before November is out, King George Square's Christmas tree will also be lit. Then, once December kicks in, it's time for the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols at Riverstage — with a satellite event at Victoria Park / Barrambin — and lights decking out City Hall. The BrisStyle twilight Christmas market is also back. Queen Street Mall's portion of the lineup includes pop-up performances, Uptown's windows will get a makeover for the occasion and, as for the tiny doors, they're all handmade and will be scattered throughout the city from Sunday, December 1–Tuesday, December 24, ready for you to find and marvel at their cuteness. For its first year in existence, Queen's Wharf's contribution to the joy comes courtesy of Sono Lumo — Festive Nights of Sound & Light. Expect an audiovisual show to dazzle the city at dusk across ten nights between Wednesday, December 4–Sunday, December 15 (except for Monday, December 9–Tuesday, December 10), accompanied by DJs and live performances. Brisbane City Council's 2024 Christmas program will take over the Brisbane CBD from Friday, November 22, 2024–Friday, January 31, 2025. Head to the Visit Brisbane website for further details.
Your phone doesn't always need to be glued to your hand, but that's often easier said than done. Your nights out don't need photographic evidence to prove that they occurred, but that's also rarely the case anymore. This Never Happened is rallying against that status quo, however, via the Lane 8's record label's dance parties. The distraction-free This Never Happens Presents gigs first arrived in Australia in 2023 — and in 2025, they're returning for two more evenings of shenanigans without phones and cameras. Pics or it didn't happen? Not here. You won't have a screen in your hand — or face. You won't be swiping, texting or doing anything else with the gadget that we're all addicted to, either. Attendees will have their phones taped upon arrival, because these dance music get-togethers are all about connecting IRL and in the moment. [caption id="attachment_979217" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megan Burch[/caption] French house producer Massane and Dublin-based DJ EMBRZ are headlining the two parties, with support from Samantha Loveridge — following in the footsteps of Le Youth, Sultan & Shepard and PARIS in 2023. Whatever their sets bring, you'll just have to rely upon your noggin to remember all of the highlights afterwards. This Never Happens Presents' 2025 shindigs will first hit 170 Russell in Melbourne on Friday, January 17, then move to Sydney's Liberty Hall on Saturday, January 18. While Brisbane was included in 2023, that's sadly not the case this time around. When it last made the trip Down Under, This Never Happened held its first shows in this part of the world, after launching in 2016, signing artists who've toured with producer and DJ Lane 8, and initially hosting parties in 2017 and 2019 elsewhere around the globe. Clearly, its Aussie visit was a hit, hence the return tour. In 2025, Massane and Embrz will also be making their Australian debuts. This Never Happened Presents 2025 Dates Friday, January 17 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Saturday, January 18 — Liberty Hall, Sydney This Never Happened Presents 2025 Lineup Massane EMBRZ Samantha Loveridge This Never Happened Presents hits Melbourne and Sydney in January 2025, with ticket pre-sales from 11am AEDT on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 and general sales from 11am AEDT on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Megan Burch.
Does Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) only have one more mission left in him? The title for the eighth Mission: Impossible film might just point in that direction. Viewers won't know until the movie hits cinemas in 2025, but the flick that was initially called Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two is now named Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: spending until May wondering if audiences are about to see the last of Ethan Hunt. It was back in 2023 when Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One hit cinemas and left viewers wanting more, by design: when it wrapped up its 163 minutes of espionage antics, everyone already knew that a second part was on its way. Originally, the latter was meant to arrive in June 2024, less than a year after the first film. But amid Hollywood's strikes last year, the film was pushed back almost 12 months. Its release date Down Under: Thursday, May 22, 2025. It was also rumoured at the time that the movie would get a new moniker, so The Final Reckoning isn't a surprise in that regard. But the 'final' part of the title — and a just-dropped trailer that focuses on how every step leads you down a specific path, complete with the tagline "every choice has led to this" — wasn't as expected. "I need you to trust me one last time," Cruise also utters. The film's first teaser trailer traverses everywhere from snow and sky-high heights to under the sea and frozen in ice — and, as always, features plenty of Cruise running. Story details are sparse, however, but of course the film's star is seen hanging off of a plane. Viewers can expect world-hopping intrigue, explosions, chases and fights, though, as regularly occurs when Ethan Hunt and his Impossible Missions Force team return. Also back: a cast including Simon Pegg (The Boys), Ving Rhames (The Wild Robot) and Hayley Atwell (Heartstopper), Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon), Esai Morales (Crescent City), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Henry Czerny (Zombie Town), Angela Bassett (9-1-1) and Shea Whigham (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) — and, behind the camera, director Christopher McQuarrie helms again after doing the same on Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible — Fallout and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. On-screen, Holt McCallany (The Lincoln Lawyer), Janet McTeer (The Old Man), Nick Offerman (Civil War) and Hannah Waddingham (The Fall Guy) feature as well. Check out the first teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning below: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Read our review of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. Images: Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
With warm weather fast approaching, now is the perfect time to plan your next getaway out of the city. These 16 Victorian stays all radiate tranquil energy, so you can escape the city for a holiday surrounded by vast fields, leafy bushland or lush rainforests. Recommended reads: The Best Hotels in Melbourne The Best Glamping Sites in Victoria The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels, B&Bs and Self-Contained Getaways in Victoria The Best Places to Stay on the Great Ocean Road Luxury Spa Cabin, Wilsons Promontory Located in the expansive Wilsons Promontory National Park, this deluxe cabin offers the opportunity to catch Aurora Australis if you're lucky, as well as a range of wildlife including koalas, alpacas and whales at the nearby beach. From $344 a night, sleeps two. Manta Ray One, Skenes Creek With stunning ocean views from its floor-to-ceiling windows, this unique property radiates sun and summer all year round. Wake to the sights and sounds of the beach before walking down for a morning dip. From $403 a night, sleeps seven. Wild Orchard Cottage, Olinda Hidden within the Dandenong Ranges, this private cottage may look quirky from the outside, but it houses a lush renovated living space and a cosy fireplace. From $350 a night, sleeps two. Lake View Private Retreat, Port Fairy Yambuk Located next to Lake Yambuk and its neighbouring beach, this homely stay promises serenity and relaxation. Keep an eye out for the local peacock who is known to come and visit the property. From $210 a night, sleeps four. Spring House, Apollo Bay Here, as the living room opens onto the deck, you're in for stunning natural ocean views. Feel the sea breeze as you relax in this one-bedroom pavilion-style home located southwest of Melbourne, just outside Great Otway National Park. From $425 a night, sleeps two. Jeraboam Eco Lodge, Moyston This environmentally friendly house in the Grampians National Park exists off-the-grid, aiming to be completely self-sufficient in energy and water. Feel good about your sustainable holiday whilst enjoying tranquil bushwalks and visits to the nearby wineries. From $140 a night, sleeps six. The Newstead Haven, Newstead Unwind in this cosy, private country home under the stars. The property's seclusion provides breathtaking views of the Milky Way. From $220 a night, sleeps six. Romantic Studio Cottage, Bright This unique two-storey cabin is engulfed in greenery from every side. Primed for relaxation, it even has an in-bedroom spa bath looking out over the trees. From $254 a night, sleeps two. Rivernook Cottage, Johanna A classic coastal Australian home with modern furnishings, ocean views and a heated indoor swimming pool. From $374 a night, sleeps four. Tranquil Getaway, Yea Designed and built by a local architect, this quaint cabin looks out over the area's reserves and mountain ranges. Bask in the serenity with the convenience of still only being a 15-minute walk from town. From $259 a night, sleeps two. Avalon House, Harrietville Featuring original timber wall panelling dating back to 1889, this beautifully-restored cabin is charming, pet-friendly and rich in historic detail. From $207 a night, sleeps two. Studio Apartment, Saint Andrews Beach Find the perfect balance of fun and relaxing at this peaceful private studio located close to a beach, brewery, wineries and several golf courses. From $165 a night, sleeps two. Coorabell, Mount Dandenong A comfy converted barn set amongst the trees. Relax in this peaceful space complete with a log fire and a spa bath looking out onto the bushland. From $450 a night, sleeps two. The Farm on One Tree Hill, Smiths Gully This stylish, modern two-storey cabin is set on 18 acres of kangaroo, horse and goat-filled fields. The pet-friendly property is located by the Yarra Valley wine region, near Kinglake Mountain Ranges and just 50 minutes from Melbourne Airport. From $230 a night, sleeps four. Avalon Spa Villa, Elevated Plains With both an indoor and an outdoor spa (that's right, two spas) overlooking lush bushland, this villa is primed for a romantic weekend of relaxation. From $260 a night, sleeps two. Cottage by the Lake, Cobaw Surrounded by lakes and gardens, this cottage sits on 50 acres of bucolic farmland. You'll feel like you're in a children's book as you cruise out onto the water in the rowboats supplied with the house. From $300 a night, sleeps eight. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: Airbnb
Halloween has been and gone for 2024, but Australia isn't done with peering at pumpkins yet. One of the most stunning sights to see in the country right now, and on an ongoing basis, is a giant gourd that stands five metres tall. The fact that it's yellow and black, and also covered in polka dots, explains why this is such a spectacular piece of art: it's one of Yayoi Kusama's famous pumpkin sculptures. Back in April, Melbourne's NGV International promised that the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025 would be filled with spots and gourds when it announced Yayoi Kusama, its big summer blockbuster exhibition. Featuring 180-plus works from the Japanese artist, the retrospective opens on Sunday, December 15, displaying until Monday, April 21. Ahead of that launch, however, Dancing Pumpkin has already arrived — and been unveiled for gallery visitors to enjoy. Open to the public since Saturday, November 8, 2024 in NGV International's Federation Court, the 2020 piece is making its Australian debut. Until now, only two editions of it had been seen anywhere on the planet, initially in 2021 at the New York Botanical Garden and then in 2022–3 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. Yayoi Kusama itself is also a first, as a world-premiere that Aussie art lovers can only check out in the Victorian capital. Gourds and dots are among Kusama's trademarks, with Dancing Pumpkin combining the two in one of her biggest pumpkin sculptures of her career. Its towering height and legs in various poses — hence the name — means that visitors literally look up at the artwork. You can also wander beneath it. While checking out not just Dancing Pumpkin but the Yayoi Kusama exhibition overall is a summer must, the former is sticking around, with the piece acquired by the NGV. "We're delighted to unveil Yayoi Kusama's breathtaking Dancing Pumpkin sculpture ahead of our major exhibition surveying the artist's groundbreaking career. The newly acquired work, supported through the generosity of the Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund, will leave a defining impact on the NGV Collection and will be available for all Victorians to enjoy for many years to come," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM. When we say that this Kusama showcase, is big, we mean it. While the Japanese artist's work is no stranger to Aussie shores — and was the focus of a comprehensive showcase at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art back in 2017–18 — NGV International's ode to the iconic talent is the largest that the country has ever seen. Among its highlights is another of Kusama's usual fascinations: kaleidoscopic reflections. Visitors will also be able to scope out the world-premiere showing of a brand-new infinity mirror. The NGV has curated Yayoi Kusama with input from Kusama, with the end result stepping through the 95-year-old artist's eight decades of making art via a thematic chronology. Some pieces hail from her childhood. Some are recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s: they'll all appear. Half of the exhibition is devoted to the past four decades — so, pumpkins galore; giant paintings; and an impressive and expansive range of room installations, complete with her very first infinity room from 1965, plus creative interpretations since from the 80s onwards. Again, this is a hefty exhibition. It's one of the most-comprehensive Kusama retrospectives ever staged globally (and the closest that you'll get to experiencing her Tokyo museum without leaving Australia). Basically, wherever you look across NGV International's ground level, Kusama works will be waiting, spanning paintings, installations, sketches, drawings, collages and sculptures, as well as videos and clothing. For the first time in the country, 2019's THE HOPE OF THE POLKA DOTS BURIED IN INFINITY WILL ETERNALLY COVER THE UNIVERSE will unleash its six-metre-high tentacles — as also speckled with yellow-and-black polka dots. One section of the gallery will replicate Kusama's New York studio. Over 20 experimental fashion designs by the artist will also demand attention. Infinity Net paintings from the 50s and 60s, Accumulation sculptures and textiles from the 60s and 70s, and a Kusama for Kids offshoot with all-ages interactivity (fingers crossed for an obliteration room) are also on their way. Almost six decades since first debuting at 1966's Venice Biennale — unofficially — Narcissus Garden will be a part of Yayoi Kusama, too, in a new version made of 1400 30-centimetre-diameter stainless silver balls. Now that's how you open an exhibition, as this will. NGV's Waterwall is also scoring a Kusama artwork specific to the space, while the Great Hall will be filled with the giant balloons of Dots Obsession floating overhead. [caption id="attachment_950480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Dancing Pumpkin is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until Monday, April 21, 2025. Yayoi Kusama runs from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Yayoi Kusama's Dancing Pumpkin 2020 now on display for the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV International, Melbourne until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
A big windy river that stretches the length of the city. A coastline that, while it isn't located among all the hustle and bustle, is still a definite part of this town of ours. When it comes to hanging out in, on top of or near the water in Brissie, they're the main choices — and whether you opt for a leg of the Brisbane River, or make the trip to either north or east to various foreshore spots, there's plenty to keep you occupied while you're there. Perhaps you're a wanderer who enjoys meandering at your own pace with a scenic view. Maybe you're certain that any beverage or bite to eat goes down better when you can feel the river or sea breeze against your skin. Or, you could like getting active on the water itself, but in a creative fashion. Whichever category you fall into, we've picked the best ways to make the most of your chosen body of H20 in Brisbane. Head to a Waterside (or Overwater) Cafe, Restaurant, Bar or Brewery Just a few short years ago, Brisbane didn't have any bars perched over the water. That's no longer the case thanks to Mr Percival's. The River City only had two big central waterside precincts where you could eat, drink and hang out, too, and now — with Howard Smith Wharves and Queen's Wharf joining South Bank and Eagle Street — it has four. Brissie didn't boast a riverside brewery to its name either, but Felons Brewing Co and BrewDog both have that covered. You can spot the trend here, of course, because this town isn't short on places to satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst by the water. And while riverside haunts have been popping up with frequency of late, the idea is hardly new. Newstead, Hamilton and Kangaroo Point have been home to waterside cafes, restaurants and bars for decades as well, for instance. Back at HSW, there's a new wave of must-visit joints near the water: upstairs hangouts at Stanley and Yoko Dining, aka Stan's and B-SIDE, with one taking inspiration from Hong Kong and the other from Tokyo. [caption id="attachment_807855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms[/caption] Here a Picnic Boat for You, Your Date, Mates and Dog Picnicking by the water in Brisbane is a tried-and-tested way to spend an afternoon — and it's featured on this list a bit further down. But you can also picnic on top of the water, all thanks to Denmark-born company GoBoat, which is sailing its 18-feet-long, dog-friendly vessels from Breakfast Creek. The company is all about making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, and its Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence — making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. Each GoBoat boasts a central picnic table with room for eight people (and all the necessary snacks and booze). And they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will start at around $10 per person, per hour. [caption id="attachment_711839" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Paul Giggle/Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Pair a Stroll or Cycle with a Watery View Some folks prefer putting one foot in front of the other and seeing just where that takes them. Others like to sit on top of two wheels and start pedalling. Whichever one suits you best, if you live in Brisbane, you aren't lacking in options — but we all know that the riverside and oceanside options sit at the top of the list. For walkers, you can pick between the Brisbane Riverwalk from New Farm to the city, South Bank's path between its pools and the Old Brown Snake down to Kangaroo Point, heading up and over the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges (aka the Gateway Motorway), or picking either the Wynnum–Manly or Sandgate–Shorncliffe regions. If you're a cyclist, you can also choose all of the above — you'll just speed along them more quickly. Eat Seafood by the Sea Sure, you've been on a pub crawl — but have you been on a fish 'n' chip crawl right next to the water? We're guessing that you haven't, but it's one of those simple ideas that's both brilliant and oh-so-easy to execute, because it just involves taking advantage of the abundance of greasy spoons along in the Wynnum–Manly or Sandgate–Shorncliffe areas. We'll give you two options, too: you can either order something from each place you pass as you walk along the relevant seaside region, or you can come back at regular intervals to sample a new eatery. Head north and you'll be hitting up the likes of Fish on Flinders, Sandgate Fishmonger and Doug's Seafood Cafe, while in the southeast you can expect to Finn's Fish House, Baywatch Cafe and Sea Vibes Manly. Take a Kayak Tour By now, you've definitely realised that Brisbane is a town with options. In almost every instance, you can select your favourite watery or water-adjacent pastime and then pick a heap of places to indulge in your chosen activity. Kayaking is no different. Riverlife at Kangaroo Point will let you get paddling through the CBD and seeing the inner city in a completely different way, but that's merely the most central and best-known choice. You can also kayak at Enoggera Reservoir and, although the hire hut is currently temporarily closed, go across to Bribie Island as well. The list goes on, and spans professional tours and just hiring a kayak, hopping inside and making your own way at your own leisure. Picnic in a Waterside Park The weather is glorious. Your basket is packed with homemade salads, a big stack of cheese or the finest sandwiches your local deli can make. The lawn games are at the ready. A relaxing picnic is just moments away — and yes, because this is Brisbane, it's easy to add a glistening view to your outdoor meal. Brissie is home to quite the array of places that fit the bill. Whether you're keen to recline by the snaking Brisbane River or eager to sit seaside, there's somewhere to go. You can try all the usual picnic spots, including the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, New Farm Park, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank. Or, if you've whiled away more than one afternoon at all of the obvious locations, you can also make a beeline to other great waterside picnic places that you might not have visited. [caption id="attachment_703976" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Throw a Line Over a Pier Never thought of yourself as the fishing type? Hear us out. It's a peaceful and relaxing excuse to stare at the water, and to think about absolutely nothing other than whether you might've felt some tension on your line, the crispness of the sea air and just how gorgeous the ocean looks. In other words, it's a mindfulness bonanza — and there's no better place in Brisbane to get casting than one of the city's piers and jetties. The big places to head, aka Shorncliffe Pier and Wynnum Jetty, are popular spots for very good reasons. But if you'd rather stick closer to the city, you'll also find a small platform jutting off of the Colmslie Recreation Reserve in Morningside, too (which isn't too far from Brissie's secret beach, actually). [caption id="attachment_754201" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Cruise Along — Via CityCat or While Eating and Drinking If you were visiting Brisbane and you wanted to see the sights, you'd probably opt for one of the most obvious choices there is. Getting on a CityCat might seem oh-so straightforward, but it really does offer you quite the impressive and extensive glimpse of the city, especially if you make the full journey from Northshore Hamilton to St Lucia. You can even take your pooch with you. Also, until February 2025, your trip will only cost you 50 cents. If you're enthusiastic about the cruising idea but you'd like to up the ante, you have options as well. There's River City Cruises, which runs multiple tours daily — plus party boat Yot Club, although you'll need to keep an eye on its seasons, because it's Brissie dates tend to change. Learn How to Sail or Windsurf Hopping on a seafaring vessel and letting someone else do all the hard work for you is one option for cruising along the water in and around Brisbane. If you're quite fond of jumping on a boat — or a yacht for that matter — you can always learn a new skill and take sailing lessons, too. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron puts on a heap of classes to show you the ropes (and to make sure you know how to use any ropes necessary while you're sailing, of course). This one is a bit of an investment in terms of time and cash; however, that's not the only way you can expand your horizon at the Manly-based organisation. It'll also teach you how to windsurf, should regular ol' standing on a board and pretending you're Keanu Reeves in Point Break just not be enough. [caption id="attachment_643649" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council via Flickr[/caption] Splash Around in a Man-Made Waterside Pool Brisbane isn't a beach city, but venture out of the CBD, away from the shadows of tall buildings and past the suburban sprawl, and you can find the holy grail of outdoor pools. Yes, if you head east until you can't go any further, you'll find a fine example of a man-made area filled from the sea and replenished by the tide. Built during the 1930s depression as part of the Unemployment Relief System, the Wynnum Wading Pool is the ideal place to enjoy the warm weather with an ocean view. Of course, if you're happy splashing around by the river instead, there's always Streets Beach at South Bank Parklands as well. And, also on our pools list: Settlement Cove Lagoon at Redcliffe, which overlooks Moreton Bay. Top image: Riverlife.
