Lego Camera is a 3-Megapixel camera made entirely out of its namesake. It is a new go-to gadget for any shelf that’s looking a little bare and any hands that are feeling a little bored because, being Lego, you can add extra pieces to build a totally customised camera. Fortunately, it can't be pulled apart, which means you won’t find yourself scrambling on all fours looking for that missing piece. The camera, available online at Urban Outfitters, has pretty simple features: fixed focus, digital zoom, in-built flash and a 1.5 inch colour-screen with memory to store 8 shots. This may be marketed to the younger generation, but for those who never outgrew their childhood Lego fixation to operate this is certainly a fun option. [Via Desktop Mag]
It might be a movie about a faux romance, but Anyone But You hasn't faked its setting. In the upcoming rom-com, which has a date with cinemas on Boxing Day, Sydney Sweeney (Reality) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) play a couple pretending that they're in love — but as most of the just-dropped full trailer shows, there's no shams about the Sydney location. When Sweeney was in Sydney at a Sydney Swans game earlier in 2023, it wasn't just because she was playing the Sydney version of Pokémon and catching them all. Rather, the Euphoria and The White Lotus star was filming this movie. And, from both the first teaser and the latest sneak peek, this film clearly falls into a specific category of Aussie-made flicks: pictures shot Down Under that can't stop reminding viewers that they were made Down Under (see also: fellow future release The Fall Guy, which will arrive in 2024). [caption id="attachment_926799" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney star in ANYONE BUT YOU.[/caption] Multiple shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House feature heavily amid the banter-heavy glimpses at Anyone But You's stars. In fact, the Opera House even shows up in the background as Bea and Ben are having a Titanic moment on a boat. Anyone But You's setup: Sweeney's Bea had a great first date with Powell's Ben; however, then everything turned sour. Now they're at the same destination wedding and pretence becomes their solution. Anyone But You is directed and co-written by Will Gluck, who has both Easy A and Friends with Benefits on his resume, then the vastly dissimilar Annie and the two Peter Rabbit movies. On-screen, as well as Sweeney, Powell and a whole lot of Sydney — the city — Alexandra Shipp (Barbie), GaTa (Dave), Dermot Mulroney (Secret Invasion), Bryan Brown (C*A*U*G*H*T) and Rachel Griffiths (Total Control) also feature. Check out the full trailer for Anyone But You below: Anyone But You opens in cinemas Down Under on December 26, 2023.
While travelling far away for a vacation may seem tempting, there's no reason not to embrace all those primo travel destinations located right here in Victoria. And, if sun, sand and water are top of your post-lockdown holiday wish list, you don't need to look any further than the popular coastal stretch of East Gippsland. Just three hours east of Melbourne, this regional gem is primed for that warm weather getaway you've been dreaming of, filled with idyllic waterfront retreats offering the ultimate antidote to city life. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up 10 of the most blissful waterfront stays you can book in East Gippsland. Pick a favourite, pack those fishing rods and lock in some much-needed time lakeside. Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites in Victoria The Best Pet-Friendly Stays in Victoria The Best Places to Stay Along the Great Ocean Road The Oar House, Metung Surrounded by breathtaking nature, this coastal-chic stay is picture-pefect. Enjoy the sunny deck, pet-friendly yard and private walkway down to the beach. From $322 a night, sleeps six. Locanda, Paynesville Perched right on the canal, this roomy retreat boasts its own jetty, modern features throughout and some primo outdoor living spaces overlooking the water. From $259 a night, sleeps seven. Lakescapes, Metung At this high-set coastal escape, you're in for blissful 180-degree lake views. The minimal cottage comes complete with an expansive deck for those sunset cocktails. From $205 a night, sleeps four. Captain's Hideaway, Paynesville A modern coastal getaway, overlooking the bay. This pet-friendly beach house features all the amenities you could desire, plus generous outdoor living and yard. From $357 a night, sleeps ten. Anchored, Paynesville Sleek and spacious, this waterfront beauty is sure to impress. Enjoy light-filled open-plan living, jetty access, and a stunning canal-side deck and barbecue. From $786 a night, sleeps ten. Amazing Views, Metung This revamped beach cottage will delight you with its water views, leafy setting and modern fit-out, all located just across the road from the jetty. From $250 a night, sleeps seven. The View at Captain's Cove, Paynesville Find this modern self-contained townhouse perched right on the canal, offering a blissful outlook, primo location and smart coastal styling throughout. From $289 a night, sleeps six. The Loft, Paynesville A modern waterfront gem, complete with private jetty and pool. Expect generous, bright living areas, with space to sleep the whole gang. From $325 a night, sleeps ten. Mallacoota Magic, Mallacoota Enjoy a well deserved recharge on this three acre property overlooking Mallacoota Inlet. The cozy cottage includes an outdoor campfire, deep tub and incredible views. From $440 a night, sleeps four. Teulu House, Nungurner Based on an eastern European courtyard style, this modern lakeside ranch provides sufficient seclusion while offering a stunning view the Gippsland Lakes. From $235 a night, sleeps four. 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.
What looks like it takes its design cues from The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shining's Overlook Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory? What gives the escape-room concept a game-fuelled twist and drips with nostalgia as well? What also combines all of the above with booze for the ultimate in kidulting fun? And, what marks the latest Queensland venue for Funlab, the company behind Strike, Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons? Actually, another question: what's now open in Surfers Paradise, and wants you to play and sip your way through it over summer? The answer: Hijinx Hotel, Funlab's adult-focused twist on sleuthing your way through various spaces with a beverage or several in your hand. Instead of escaping here, patrons here hit up challenges. Making its Queensland debut on the Gold Coast first opening in Sydney midyear, the new venue spans ten game rooms filled with entertaining things to do. That includes a ball toss room, one dedicated to television, another that's all about basketball and yet another that's devoted to Rubik's cubes. Basically, the whole concept is a bar decked out like a hotel, but getting attendees to complete challenges rather than get a-slumbering in its various spaces. It also gleans inspiration from all those supremely Instagrammable pop-up installations that include ball pits, but this one is sticking around southeast Queensland permanently. And, it boasts bars for cocktail-drinking opportunities, nods to New York hotels in its facade, and just generally overflows with homages to movies and board games from the 80s and 90s. Shaking off your regular routine is clearly the name of the game here, and partying like you would've before you were old enough to drink alcohol — but with the hard stuff definitely on offer. That all starts when you enter via the faux hotel lobby bar, which is full of colour and surrealist touches. Instead of merely checking in, though, that's where you'll find cocktails. As for the not-quite-hotel rooms themselves, you gain access by heading to reception t0 pick up a swipe card. As well as the aforementioned activities, Sydney faves such as the Adore-a-ball, Scrambled, Threenicorn and candy ball pit rooms have been replicated in Surfers. And, yes, the Big-style piano room with a giant keyboard across the floor is included here as well. Opening on Friday, December 9, Hijinx Hotel has company at its Piazza on the Boulevard home, underneath Cali Beach on Elkhorn Ave in Surfers Paradise, as part of a 3279-square-metre precinct with a capacity for 410 guests. Fellow Funlab brands Holey Moley and Archie Brothers have also opened their doors, for tapping around 18 pop culture-themed greens and getting a sideshow experience. In total, the entire space — encompassing Hijinx Hotel, Holey Moley and Archie Brothers — features 72 arcade machines, six bowling lanes, ten game rooms and 18 holes of golf. Also a highlight: those three bars serving up creative cocktails, and breaking up all that kidulting. Find Hijinx Hotel — and Archie Brothers and Holey Moley — at 21a Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise. For further information in the interim, keep an eye on the Hijinx Hotel website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Zenniesha Butts / Funlab.
To put it mildly, it's been a challenging year so far. And though the effects of the first half of 2020 can be felt in almost every corner of the world, small businesses are especially feeling the toll. Which is why investing your hard-earned dollars in local businesses across Australia is a great way to put your money to good use and spend consciously. To help you do just that, we've teamed up with Square to bring you a list of local businesses across Australia that can deliver ethically sourced coffee, a new leafy housemate or a cake to cheer up a friend. Square has the tools to help businesses, even when business is not running as usual, like contactless payment systems and online stores with pickup, delivery and shipping services. So, whether you choose to shop online, pop into these small businesses, or buy a voucher for a future trip, you'll be spending your money wisely and keeping the little guys in business at the same time. BUY GREEN BABIES FROM THE PLANT SOCIETY Set up by Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith in Melbourne in 2016, The Plant Society has you covered for all things green whether you live near one of its stores or not. If you're in Melbourne and Sydney, its Collingwood and Paddington stores have an extensive range of plants — from swiss cheese vines to chinese money and fruit salad plants — as well as handmade ceramics, homewares, planter kits, candles and plenty of gardening gear. But, no matter where you live, you can browse its online store to shop for ceramic planters, keep cups, plants, seeds and candles to brighten up your living space. Plus, to help deliver your goods to you safely, The Plant Society offers free delivery for all purchases over $150. You can also buy gift vouchers from $30, if you'd like to spend now to support the small business in the future. [caption id="attachment_758750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Dungan[/caption] STOCK UP ON VINO AND FROMAGE FROM THE CHEESE & WINE CO If you're a fan of wine, cheese and intimate date nights, and live in Sydney, you should pay The Cheese & Wine Co in Neutral Bay a visit. The small wine bar features a consistent rotation of the best local and international wines and cheeses, along with charcuterie and antipasto platters. The bar is open for 90-minute seatings for tapas-style dishes, accompanied with stellar drops of wine. Practising social distancing, The Cheese & Wine Co is limiting its capacity right now, so it's best to book online beforehand, and its also open for walk-ins for breakfast and lunch sittings. If you live locally, can also purchase a takeaway bottle of wine by ordering online and picking up in store. HAVE CAKE DELIVERED FROM KOI DESSERT BAR You may be familiar with the name Reynold Poernomo from MasterChef. Before he was winning hearts on national TV, he and his family created KOI Dessert Bar in Chippendale. The laneway dessert bar offers a range of savoury snacks and desserts — think pie tee tart, pumpkin with mascarpone and a guava and green apple meteor. If you're in Sydney, you can book a four-course dessert tasting menu from $95 per person, Sunday to Thursday. Or, for at-home indulgence, you can choose from a rotation of smaller desserts and cakes to take away. Visit KOI's Cake Shop for mascarpone tiramisu, passion colada and pear mousse, or a larger celebration cake, such as strawberry lychee, nomtella or mango yuzu ($55–160). Delivery stretches to Sydney's eastern suburbs, inner west, north shore and CBD, or you can select scheduled pickup at its Chippendale or Ryde stores. SEND BAKED GOODIES FROM FALCO Falco is a small-batch bakery in Melbourne's inner north that boasts a range of baked goods alongside coffee that's been roasted just around the corner. The bakery specialises in traditional methods with innovative twists; its sourdoughs range from oat porridge and toasted sesame to a classic wholemeal. For something a bit sweeter, it's hard to go past its peanut butter and miso cookies, cardamom buns, fruit danishes and jalapeño and cheddar croissants ($4–5). During lockdown, the bakery has daily pre-order and delivery options, too, making it easier and safer to get your baked goods if you're staying at home. Not in Melbourne? Send a gift to a friend, such as the Falco tote ($20) and a bag of single origin ground coffee ($19) within three kilometres of the Collingwood store. HAVE FRESH GROUND COFFEE DELIVERED FROM MARKET LANE Market Lane is a much-adored Melbourne coffee roastery and retailer. The folks here source beans from across the globe and then roast them in small batches in Brunswick East. The beans are then distributed to seven stores across the city, from Prahran to Brunswick East and through the city's CBD. If you're not Melbourne-based, or prefer to brew at home, you can purchase espresso or filter beans from the roastery's online store and enjoy free standard shipping Australia wide on all purchases over $30. There's also a fortnightly subscription (from $20), meaning you'll never run out of coffee again without having to leave your house. Planning ahead? Market Lane has a range ready for Father's Day (September 6), too, including pour over kits, a heavy duty apron, coffee subscriptions and gift vouchers. [caption id="attachment_716231" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] ORDER VINYL FROM COTTONMOUTH RECORDS If you're a fan of good booze and even better tunes, you'll love what Cottonmouth Records has on offer. The record store and bar, located in Sydney's Enmore, is where you can pull up a pew and sip on a pale ale, XPA or IPA as you peruse the stacks of vinyl records surrounding the bar's walls. Here you'll find black gold from the likes of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Beastie Boys, Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz, 2Pac and the Spice Girls, among many, many others. Not in Sydney? You can browse Cottonmouth's online record store where it sells an extensive selection of records from Blondie to Zappa, and everything between. Records start from $20, and shipping is calculated according to distance from Sydney. [caption id="attachment_741542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Shiff[/caption] BUY A GIFT CARD FROM HENRY LEE BARBERSHOP Collingwood's Henry Lee Barbershop may have its physical doors closed due to Melbourne's lockdown, but its online shop is very much still open for business — and you don't have to live in Melbourne to support this small business. Online, you'll find everything from hydrating and volume shampoo and conditioner to miracle treatment, wax, oil and hair putty by Australian brands Eleven, Fatboy and The Groomed Man. While you're there, you can also grab yourself or a mate a gift card (starting from $50) for when the barbershop reopens — after all, we'll all need a little TLC come September. To truly show your local love on your sleeve, you can order some of the barbershop's merch, too, including Henry Lee logo tees from $40. Find out how Square is supporting small businesses with the tools they need to grow, here.
There's no shortage of Aussies trying to become global social media stars. If that's your goal too, a first-of-its-kind experience will give your influencing career a significant boost, as Australia's first TikTok content house launches in Adelaide. Known as The Party Games House, this $10 million beachfront mansion in Moana is officially on the lookout for five more influencers keen to live, create and party for free for a minimum of seven days up to two months. The brainchild of Adelaide-based entrepreneur Shane Yeend, a self-made multimillionaire who made his fortune in party games, this extravagant property already has its first tenant, Frida Khalife, a 23-year-old real estate and hospitality worker from Adelaide. With the decision still to be made on who else will be moving into this luxe home, there's still time for influencers of all stripes to submit their applications. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime," says Yeend. "We are looking for Australia's next social superstars. Huge global names like Alex Warren and Addison Rae began in content houses just like this one, and now they have billions of views, brand deals, and are selling out arenas. We believe we will find the next generation of stars right here in Australia." It's not Yeend's first venture into viral escapades. He got his start in 2001 — before most even understood the concept — by creating the official Big Brother Board Game. Becoming an overnight hit, pallets of board games were craned over the Big Brother house wall for housemates to autograph. Now Yeend is returning to the world of virality, this time targeting the Gen Z wave of influencers. "In 2026, anyone with a social media presence should be able to make $1 million a year from social commerce. There's no better time or place to get started than the Games House this summer," says Yeend. Set against the backdrop of Moana Beach, the lucky few who call The Party Games House home will have access to a private chef, a massive pool and a dedicated production team, ensuring each TikTok post does massive numbers. Best of all, influencers living in the house retain full ownership of their channels and commercial activity, with any deals made during their stay theirs to keep. Applications to live in The Party Games House are now open. Head to the website for more information. Images: Benjamin Liew.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations, giving you inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we set the compass to regional New South Wales and take a trip to the Hunter Valley for an idyllic countryside escape at Wallaringa Farm. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Ever dream of leaving it all behind? Maybe escaping to a nice farm somewhere, surrounded by breathtaking panoramic views of rolling hills and a picturesque countryside backdrop. Spending your evenings relaxing with a glass of wine as you watch the sunset over the horizon, before settling by the fire pit for a romantic evening of star gazing, free from the stress and light pollution of the city. Wallaringa Farm turns this dream into a reality. Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, this beautifully restored three-bedroom farmhouse seamlessly blends modern comforts with rustic farmhouse charm, making it an ideal destination for families, friends or a romantic escape. Located on 750 acres of a working cattle farm and surrounded by some of the most stunning natural scenery Australia has to offer, the farm exudes tranquillity — perfect for anyone looking to unwind and reconnect with nature. THE ROOMS The spacious rooms are designed with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring a comfortable and cosy stay. The master bedroom features an ensuite, while each room is equipped with comfy bedding — two rooms feature an extra-large double bed, and one room has two bunk beds, while the air-conditioned interior provides respite on warmer days. However, the true highlight is the verandah with its comfortable deck chairs, offering breathtaking sunset views and a perfect spot to sip morning coffee or an evening beer. FOOD AND DRINK One of the best things about the Hunter Valley is its food and wine, so you're in for a treat as Wallaringa Farm is the perfect spot to indulge in local delights. First off, you'll be treated to a complimentary bottle of Boydell's wine upon arrival (perfectly enjoyed on the verandah as the sun sets). A tempting selection of local jams and honey also awaits. The property also includes a fully equipped chef's kitchen, allowing guests to prepare meals using locally sourced produce (or you could just make toast with some of the local jam, we won't judge). And for the times you don't feel like cooking, why not embrace the opportunity to explore the nearby towns of Dungog and Paterson for a taste of delicious Hunter Valley cuisine? THE LOCAL AREA The Hunter Valley is your oyster, and Wallaringa Farm is your perfect base camp to explore… that oyster. Dip your toes (or jump right in) in the Allyn River's cool waters — the hidden oasis of Ladies Well is a particularly nice swimming spot. You'll come out feeling refreshed and revitalised — that water is something special, or perhaps it's just the breathtaking location that makes it feel so, surrounded by large granite boulders and lush rainforest at the foothills of the World Heritage Barrington Tops National Park. For the history buffs out there (or anyone seeking some old town charm), the towns of Dungog and Paterson are a good shout, with their grand colonial buildings and charming markets. So whether you want to explore the beautiful wine region, go for a nice bushwalk, or immerse yourself in the charm of old country pubs, the area surrounding Wallaringa will have something for you. THE EXTRAS Set your out-of-office, pack those bags, leave the city stress behind, and head to Wallaringa Farm for a countryside escape. Aside from its storybook setting and charming farmhouse, Wallaringa Farm stands out with its commitment to nature and adventure. The farm's owners have a genuine love for nature and have crafted a peaceful haven for others to share in this passion, so if relaxing by the rustic fire pit under the starry night sky sounds like your idea of a good time, look no further. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Images: Alex Jack Photography
It was already apparent from afar, which is where Australians watched all things SXSW from before 2023. Now that the tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival has expanded Down Under, it's even more evident: this is one enormous event. How big? The inaugural SXSW Sydney spanned more than 700 speakers and talents, covered in excess of 300 sessions and hosted over 300 gigs across 25 venues. 2024's follow-up might just top those numbers, announcing another 500-plus additions to a lineup that even now hasn't revealed a third of the full program yet. This is the second round of speakers and sessions named for SXSW Sydney 2024 so far, after this year's first lineup details were revealed back in May (and after it was announced in late 2023 that the event would return for a second year, too). Like the initial program drop ahead of the fest's seven-day run between Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20, this one features a bit of everything. On the list: folks who'll be getting talking, additions to the music roster, flicks that'll be hitting the big screen and studios that'll be showcasing their games, for starters. That aforementioned 500-plus figure includes speakers, screenings, artists, workshops, games and experiences, meaning that there's already a reason on the program for everyone to head along. At the SXSW Sydney Conference, benefiting from the response to the fest's Session Selects — where the public both submits and then votes on what they'd to see at SXSW — additions among the topics range from advances in medicine, how biotech will change our lives, and the threat of deepfakes and fake news through to odd spots in the cosmos, the power of dressing, trend analysis and companion robots. If you're interested in learning more about how tech can make a social impact, milk, AI and intimacy, neurotechnology, smart cities and constantly being watched, that's all on the bill as well. So is a session on brand trust with Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider (but there's no word yet if there'll be a sausage sizzle involved). For those keen on hitting as many gigs as possible, the SXSW Sydney Music Festival has added 60-plus artists. Accordingly, when you're not catching Voice of Baceprot, the first Indonesian band to take to the stage at Glastonbury, you can check out artists from Australia, Colombia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and the UK — such as Phoebe Rings, I'mdifficult, Clara Benin, The Grogans, JESHI, The Buoys, Mincy, RINSE, Mulga Bore Hard Rock, ixaras and Death of Heather. Screen obsessives who also love tunes, or vice versa, can look forward to the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival playing a heap of music-related films. Documentary The Most Australian Band Ever! about the Hard-Ons sits on the lineup alongside S/He Is Still Her/e: The Official Genesis P-Orridge, which is executive produced by Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace — and also Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara, about thrash metal in the Māori language. The fest will also show music videos, such as 'U Should Not Be Doing That' from Amyl and The Sniffers, 'See You Tomorrow' from BAD // DREEMS and 'Settle Petal' from The Buoys. Or, if you're eager to get nostalgic and maybe crave a slice or several with your SXSW movie date, there's Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts. The latest documentary from Barbecue and We Don't Deserve Dogs' Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker, who are no strangers to SXSW in Austin, it sees the Australian-born, Brooklyn-based duo explore the US today through former Pizza Hut buildings. At the SXSW Sydney Games Festival, studios from 16 different countries are now on the program — and, beginning with HORSES, Wild Bastards and Fishbowl, so is half of the Games Festival Showcase. Also, the Games Investment Forum will include Raw Fury, Null Games, Team17, Whitethorn Games, Playside Publishing, Critical Reflex, Astra Logical Games, Landfall Games, PQube, Headup Games, UltraPlayers, Fellow Traveller and WINGS Interactive among its publishers and funding bodies. Given that the 2024 program already boasts Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, TikTok marketing head Sofia Hernandez, Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon, human rights lawyer and barrister Jennifer Robinson, cricketer David Warner, Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid, Def Jam-signed Australian talent SAHXL, a game about turning fruit into your own menu and a short film about a housewife trying to get a free pizza, plus plenty more, it's worth saying it again: SXSW is massive, including in Sydney. If you missed it, 2023's inaugural SXSW Sydney welcomed everyone from Black Mirror's Charlie Brooker and Chance The Rapper to Future Today Institute founder and CEO Amy Webb and Nicole Kidman to its stages. In the process, and via not just its talks but also its concerts, films, TV shows and games as, it notched up 287,014 attendances from 97,462 unique attendees. Those figures came from 34,975 total tickets, with folks from 41 countries heading along to 1178 sessions. SXSW Sydney 2024 will run from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Images: Jami Joy, Ian Laidlaw, Jess Gleeson, Katje Ford and Paul McMillan.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are various interstate border restrictions in place. Up-to-date information on restrictions are available at your state's health websites (click through for NSW, Victoria and Queensland). Of course, even border closures don't mean you can't start dreaming — bookmark this for when you can explore freely once again. It's not exactly news that connecting with nature has all sorts of benefits for your wellbeing. And, given what we've been through over the past year and a bit, there's probably never been a better time to get out and explore the natural beauty of our great land. One solution: pack your tent and sleeping bag, and embark on a multi-day hike. However, leaving the city behind doesn't mean you have to forgo every creature comfort. The new Sonos Roam is designed to take your backcountry adventure to the next level. Sleek, drop-resistant and waterproof, this lightweight, technology-packed speaker slips straight into your swag so you can soundtrack your day, dawn till dusk. [caption id="attachment_812488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] COOLOOLA GREAT WALK, QUEENSLAND Set on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa North Shore and Rainbow Beach, the Cooloola Great Walk spans the entire Cooloola Recreation Area and its wonderful landscapes. With the trek's total distance clocking in at 102 kilometres, you're going to need to set aside around five days to journey from end to end. But this strenuous hike is more than worth it, as you wind through lush rainforests, coastal woodlands and the stunning Carlo Sandblow. With the region's heathlands coming to life with spring wildflowers between August and October, now is the perfect time to start planning. [caption id="attachment_812482" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] YURAYGIR COASTAL WALK, NEW SOUTH WALES Linking a myriad of beaches, sandy tracks, lagoons and rocky outcrops, the Yuraygir Coastal Walk is ideal for those who want to fully appreciate Australia's rugged coastline. Stretching for 65 kilometres and considered around a four- to five-day hike, emu footprint signposts guide the way as you travel from the surfing hotspot of Angourie (pictured above) to the sleepy village of Red Rock, located about 40 kilometres from Coffs Harbour. As well as stunning coastal views for the duration of the hike, you'll also encounter endless opportunities to chill on the beach and listen to tunes in peaceful solitude. Head there between May and November and you'll likely see whales embarking on their annual migration. [caption id="attachment_812474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] TWELVE APOSTLES LODGE WALK, VICTORIA Don't want to embark on a hike that's going to leave you physically exhausted? The Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk is designed to keep you in luxurious comfort as you complete a 40-kilometre trek through the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks. Rather than struggling with your tent poles in the cold, you'll be whisked away at the end of each day to a private eco-lodge situated on Johanna Beach. You and your fellow hikers will feast on a sumptuous meal prepared by the live-in chefs, before enjoying a glass of wine in the spa, where you'll rejuvenate your weary legs in style. [caption id="attachment_812490" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] GOLD COAST HINTERLAND GREAT WALK, QUEENSLAND Stretching 54 kilometres from the tiny town of O'Reilly to the Springbrook Plateau, the Gold Coast Hinterland Walk is a stellar way to spend three days off the beaten track. Leaving from the renowned O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat — where we recommend spending a comfy night before you hit the trails. On the hike, you'll explore the species-rich Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area of Lamington and Springbrook Plateaus via the scenic Numinbah Valley, as well as the ancient volcanic landscape of the Tweed Volcano which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range. Upon delving back into the rainforest, you'll be guided into Springbrook via a network of tranquil streams and waterfalls. Celebrate your journey by uncorking a bottle at one of the nearby wineries. [caption id="attachment_812483" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] GIBRALTAR-WASHPOOL WORLD HERITAGE WALK, NEW SOUTH WALES Get amongst New South Wales' Northern Tablelands by completing a challenging 45-kilometre loop that links the Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. With around three full days needed to finish the journey, there's no need to rush your way through eucalyptus forests, granite tors and impressive falls. You're going to want some waterproof footwear as there are marshy streams and hidden waterfalls to navigate throughout the hike. Make sure you also pack some binoculars, as the region is also known for its endangered bird species. [caption id="attachment_812489" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] K'GARI (FRASER ISLAND) GREAT WALK, QUEENSLAND Multi-day hikes don't come much more scenic than this 90-kilometre journey across K'gari (Fraser Island). With the full distance taking most people around six to eight days, this relatively relaxed trek exploring the world's largest sand island is punctuated by overnight stops at many of its most beautiful sites, including Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby and Wanggoolba Creek. You'll want to stay alert as things do get pretty remote when you head deep inside inland tropical rainforests before you eventually return to the pristine coastline at Dilli Village. Along the way, though, you'll be rewarded with incredible scenery and ever-changing landscapes including coastal heathland, mangrove forest, woodland and rainforest along the way. [caption id="attachment_812480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Don Fuchs; Destination NSW[/caption] NEW ENGLAND WILDERNESS WALK, NEW SOUTH WALES Consider yourself a serious hiker? The New England Wilderness Walk might just be the challenge you've been waiting for. Although it's only 33 kilometres in length, it's regarded as one of the toughest hikes in the region due to its rough, unmarked track, and quad-burning gradient. Best completed across three days, you'll descend over 1000 metres from the lofty New England Tableland down towards the edge of the Bellinger River. Along the way, you'll make several river crossings and wander through long-abandoned farms and stock houses. If you're feeling extra adventurous, you can extend your trek and canoe or kayak down the river from Cool Creek Crossing. [caption id="attachment_812473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] WALLABY TRACK, VICTORIA Rolling countryside, volcanic hills, built heritage and mineral spas — the 52-kilometre Wallaby Track will definitely not bore you. Beginning in artist Norman Lindsay's hometown of Creswick and ending at Lake Daylesford, this three-day hike takes in a variety of terrain and elevations. Make your way through imposing forest and airy farmland, before walking next to an abandoned 19th-century railway track, which is still the longest timber track in the state. The home stretch sees a gradual uphill give way to a sharp descent and then a tough ascent, before you reach the blissful Lake Daylesford. Extend your stay and unwind in one of the restorative mineral spas in the area. Find out more about the new Sonos Roam at the official website. Need some tunes to soundtrack your stroll? Check out the all-Aussie playlist, curated by Concrete Playground, below: Top image: Destination NSW
From web searches and browsers to email and document storage, Google has its fingers in plenty of different online pies. Many of its services have become such a part of our daily lives that we no longer give them much thought, but every now and then the company has fun with one of its platforms — bringing Pac-Man, Mario Kart and Where's Waldo? to Google Maps, for example. Earlier this year, in its latest entertaining attempt to direct everyone towards a specific product, Google brought back another retro title — combining Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? with Google Earth. Sparking immediate flashbacks to the best parts of primary school, the game sent users searching for the titular red-clad international thief as part of a jaunt called The Crown Jewels Caper. And now you can do so all over again, thanks to two new games: Tutankhamun's Mask and Recover the Keys to the Kremlin. As always, something valuable has been stolen and its your job to find it. After the first game, however, you're not hunting down Sandiego. Instead, you're working with the now-reformed ex-thief to solve cases. In Tutankhamun's Mask, you're tasked with tracking down master climber Le Chevre, who has stolen the titular artifact. And in Recover the Keys to the Kremlin, master origamist Paperstar is the target, absconding with another treasure. Anyone keen to play simply needs to head to the Google Earth app on Android or iOs, or visit the desktop version in chrome, and look for the Pegman icon. From there, it's time to start sleuthing — by hopping between countries, visiting landmarks, talking to locals and sorting through clues such as "I heard she exchanged all of her money for yen", "all I know is that he said he wanted to buy a bagel with a schmear" and "the person you were looking for was here, and she wanted a ton of olive oil". In the process, you'll put your world trivia knowledge to the test and get a hefty dose of nostalgia. Now that all three games have been released, that's it for the Carmen Sandiego-Google Earth collaboration. Of course, this trio of time-fillers aren't going anywhere, so you can spend as much time as you like playing gumshoe and reliving your childhood across the series. Or, there's always Netflix's Carmen Sandiego, a new animated series following the beloved character (as voiced by Gina Rodriguez). Check out trailers for both new games below, and visit Google Earth's Tutankhamun's Mask and Recover the Keys to the Kremlin entry points to start playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwohVk2TyaQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLCAeVF39H4 Via Google Earth.
Cosy up by the fire sipping Margaret River cabernet at Empire Retreat and Spa or embrace Sydney’s industrial past at 1888 Hotel. Either way, you’ll be chasing away winter blues and indulging at each of these top ten Mr & Mrs Smith hotels in Australia and New Zealand. Stay three nights (or more) to save 30 percent on stays until the end of September — but get in quick; these exclusive offers must be booked by July 31. Hotel Hotel, Canberra Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin in the cultural heart of Canberra, Hotel Hotel is the designer pad you’ve always wanted — on a greater scale. Out of the 68 individually styled rooms, the Meandering Rooms are by far the biggest and best, with a tub for two and double rain showers. Housed in the Nishi Building in NewActon, the hotel is part of a new development that combines contemporary art, landscaped gardens and the bespoke modern living that’s becoming popular in Australia. The courtyard cinema is closed in winter, but don’t fret: you can still get your arthouse cinematic fix at Palace Electric, just downstairs. Spicers Vineyards Estate, Hunter Valley A tapestry of vines and veggie patches surrounds this handsome hotel in the Hunter Valley. Spicers Vineyards Estate is just two hours from Sydney and draws on its location to provide you with a romantic, culinary-themed getaway. Here, fresh regional produce teamed with the latest vintages (featuring grapes harvested from the estate’s vines) will have you mellow in no time. An added bonus is Spa Anise, where you can replenish mind, body and soul with organic honey-and-cocoa treatments or hot-stone massages. Ground-floor King Spa Rooms open onto an inviting verandah: first-floor rooms will earn you views all the way to the Brokenback Mountain Range. For cosy nights by the fire, opt for a Luxury Spa Suite. QT Gold Coast Bright pops of colour and retro furniture complete the Miami-esque feel at QT Gold Coast. Just a stone’s throw away from Surfers Paradise beach, you can soak up some sun and set yourself free from the weight of those winter woollies. Sample international cuisine at Bazaar, the hotel’s restaurant, styled with a bustling marketplace in mind. All rooms are fun and flirty with bonus DIY lemonade kits, but the QT King Ocean View rooms take the cake with seascape vistas and surfer-spotting potential. The Gold Coast is known for being a party playground, so join in the fun at the hotel’s bar, Stingray, where cocktails flow in an industrial-chic setting. Eveningwear is a must when the sun goes down: no board shorts allowed. The Prince Hotel, Melbourne Situated in the vibrant St Kilda precinct in Melbourne, The Prince Hotel is an edgy designer’s dream. Its modern, contemporary rooms feature timber floors, artfully placed throws and stand-alone bath tubs for peaceful soaks. You’ll get 30 percent off the Boutique and Deluxe rooms here, so take those savings and sample some of the fantastic restaurants that St Kilda has to offer. Stroll past nearby Acland Street for delectable treats at Monarch Cakes or sample the menu at the hotel’s restaurant, Circa, which champions seasonal eating using the freshest produce from Victorian and Australian farmers. If you fall in love with any of the artworks adorning the walls, you might be able to take them home (for a price, of course). The walls, curated by Utopian Slumps’ Melissa Loughnan, allow art to be seen in a more social, everyday environment. Spicers Peak Lodge, Qld A mountain retreat on the Scenic Rim of Queensland, Spicers Peak Lodge is a place where you can surround yourself in nature without sacrificing luxurious comforts. Set on a 9000-acre cattle station, the hotel has bushwalking and mountain bike trails for adventurous types and gourmet picnics on offer too. Five of the seven luxury lodge suites have warming stone fireplaces, perfect to snuggle by on a winter’s eve. The earthy, natural tones are calming and fuss-free, drawing you outwards to the natural beauty of the area. Dining at the lodge is a must. The cuisine highlights seasonal and organic produce, including honey, which stars in delicacies such as the chocolate, caramel popcorn and honeycomb dessert. Empire Retreat and Spa, WA A relaxing oasis among the southern wilderness of Western Australia, Empire Retreat and Spa combines a level of luxury and seclusion among the gum trees. The retreat’s villas and suites are set in and around a restored farmhouse — once the owner’s family home. Both rustic and modern interiors work well with timber and natural stone accents that celebrate the beauty of the surrounding native bushland. The main house has an open fireplace, timber decking and a secluded Jacuzzi and sauna for extra entertainment. Some of the nation’s best cabernets and pristine beaches can be found in this pocket of the west, so it’s well worth hiring a car to explore. The Spire, Queenstown The Spire is an urban hideaway in the midst of Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand's South Island. Interiors of dark wood and rich, candy-apple red highlight create rooms that are inviting sanctuaries away from wintry winds. Room six has an exclusive view of the spire that the hotel is named after, but all have stone-clad fireplaces and private balconies. Sip a cocktail while enjoying some Mediterranean- and European Alps-inspired tapas at No5 Church Lane, the hotel’s laidback lounge bar, or venture to the waterfront for some of the freshest seafood Queenstown has to offer. The hotel is more than happy to arrange some adrenaline-pumping activities such as bungee-jumping or jet-boating, but a simple hike and picnic lunch is also on the menu. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, NZ Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand is a pristine natural wonder. Rolling green hills stretch from The Farm at Cape Kidnappers all the way to the churning water’s edge. A par-71 golf course is on hand, along with 180-degree views of the spectacular Pacific Ocean. A luxurious barn-like conversion worthy of a Grand Designs feature, the Owner’s Cottage has added seclusion away from the main lodge, a large stone fireplace and an open kitchen for entertaining. Tawny interiors throughout add to the farmhouse style, and invoke a homey, welcoming environment. The lodge even has its own winery located in the Gimblett Gravels region, with regular wine tastings. There’s an onsite pastry chef and a new vegetable garden that provides head chef James Honore with fresh produce to accompany the locally sourced meats and seafood. 1888 Hotel, Sydney An eclectic industrial conversion, 1888 Hotel turns Sydney’s past into a stylish inner-city hangout. In a prime location for visiting Sydney’s famous harbour and the captivating Powerhouse Museum, this historic wool store offers a vibrant resting place that moulds together the best of days gone by and modern Australian design. Three-metre-high ceilings and original wooden beams are featured throughout rooms, and the Attic room has a sun-kissed patio and sociable lounge for entertaining. A philosophy of simplicity encompasses the menu at 1888 Eatery & Bar, where meals celebrate wholesome and sustainably sourced ingredients. There’s also a monthly photography competition for all you avid Instagrammers, so don’t forget to tag the hotel in any snaps as it could win you a free night’s stay. Islington Hotel, Tasmania A Regency house situated just outside of Hobart in Tasmania, Islington Hotel sports views of Mount Wellington and hosts manicured gardens. A sustainability motto that will knock your socks off, paired with an 80 percent organic decree, sets this hotel above the rest with its eco-friendly practices. The moreish dishes at the hotel’s restaurant — such as maple-and-whisky-glazed pork loin and Tasmanian wallaby shank — are definitely set to spoil. Rooms in the old house are generous and elegant with bespoke bedding and contemporary artworks from the owner’s worldwide travels adorning walls. This is the perfect getaway for curling up by the outdoor open fire and settling in with a good book while sipping on some of the hotel’s swill-worthy wines. Browse all Smith’s winter warmer offers or see all available hotel offers online. Contact our expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627 for further details on the hotels and their deals.
Bracken Ridge Tavern has finally reopened after a mammoth $10 million renovation. This major transformation ushers in a new era for Brisbane's Northside hospitality, with the venue now primed for all-day socialising and dining for families, friends and groups. The Tavern is run by second-generation owners and operators, publicans Chad and Elisabeth White, who both left corporate careers to continue the family legacy. The pub has been a cornerstone of the region's hospitality for almost five decades. "Bracken Ridge Tavern has always been part of the community's fabric, but we wanted to create a place that evolves with it," says Chad. Elisabeth adds, "We've created a space where local families, long-time customers and new faces can come together to eat, drink, connect and celebrate, whatever the reason, whatever the time of day, all under one roof." As the doors swing open, the first stage of the facelift has been unveiled, revealing a new Italian eatery, Two Wise Guys, a reimagined steakhouse, Panama Jacks, a bustling laneway that connects the indoor and outdoor spaces, a refurbished games room, the Laneway Cafe, and a garden terrace, perfect for families, which includes a kids' playroom and grassed areas. At a later date, the second stage of the renovation will introduce The Captain's Sports Bar to the buzzing precinct. Two Wise Guys is an ode to Chad and Elisabeth's grandfathers, which served freshly sliced meats, crisp pizzas and fresh pastas. "Two Wise Guys is a love letter to our grandfathers, who were humble men, believing the best meals start in the soil and end at the table, surrounded by friends and family. We wanted to honour their stories through food made with heart, using the best local produce and Italian know-how." Elisabeth says they wanted to design a venue that suits each moment of the day, from a morning coffee to a long lunch, to catching up over the footy with mates, or even celebrating a special occasion. The renovation comes at just the right time, as Brisbane's Northside is experiencing a surge in locals seeking more exciting and elevated hospitality experiences. "Now is the time to raise the bar. People want spaces that feel special, yet familiar, with great food, great company and a sense of community at the core," says Chad. Images: Supplied.
Through our travel booking website Concrete Playground Trips, you can book unforgettable travel packages, exclusive accommodation deals and a whole series of experiences and tours. For this particular article, we're focusing on Australian adventure trips that are currently available on CP Trips for travellers who are keen to get out in nature and go exploring. These packages will take you swimming under remote waterfalls, hiking to breathtaking vistas and cycling from vineyard to vineyard. Book any of these deals to experience some of Australia's greatest sites in style, taking your holiday to the next level. QUEENSLAND [caption id="attachment_891464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guillaume Marques (unsplash)[/caption] KAYAK, SANDBOARD AND SNORKEL AT MORETON ISLAND Travel to Moreton Island from either Brisbane or the Gold Coast for a full day of fun in the sun. Your guide takes you by 4WD along the sands to the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, where you'll see incredible coral reefs on snorkel and kayak outings. You'll also go inland for an exhilarating sandboarding experience on the famous massive sand dunes. This action-packed tour also includes a lunch on the beach and time to soak up the scenery of Moreton Island, the third largest sand island in the world. BOOK IT NOW. ROCK CLIMBING IN BRISBANE AFTER DARK The Kangaroo Point cliff face is a unique sight in the heart of Brisbane. For this experience, you'll climb the urban cliffs while they are lit up in the evening, looking out at Brisbane's glimmering skyline and serpentine river. And thanks to the different climbing routes, it doesn't matter what your experience level is. Beginners to total pros can enjoy this three-hour adventure. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lacie Slezak (Unsplash)[/caption] OVERNIGHT TWEED COAST CAMPING AND SURFING GETAWAY This Tweed Coast overnight surfing getaway provides a two-day surf camp experience as you discover this world famous section of the Australian coast. Surf all day, make some new mates, spend the night camping, and enjoy provided meals including a beachside barbecue. Select your pickup location when booking; several locations are available from Brisbane to Gold Coast and Byron Bay. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frankie Dixon (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY 4WD TOUR AROUND K'GARI (FRASER ISLAND) This is a proper Queensland bucket list experience for lovers of the outdoors. On this trip, you'll explore both coasts of the world's largest sand island on one eco-adventure. Start your getaway in style with a pre-night stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort. Relax on island time and enjoy full access to the resort facilities before you spend two days driving around K'gari's crystal-blue lakes, wild rainforests, hidden stretches of coast and cameo appearances from the island's wild dingo population. And if you want to charter your own yacht around the island (with your own skipper) then check out this luxury tour. BOOK IT NOW. VICTORIA CYCLING TOUR AROUND THE YARRA VALLEY WINE REGION This guided cycling trip will take you to several wineries in the Yarra Valley region, giving you the opportunity to taste some wine (in moderation, since you will be cycling on roads), tuck into some woodfired pizza for lunch and soak up the sights of this world-famous wine region. During the day, you'll cycle up to 20-kilometres — so prepare to get a bit active. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891472" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shawnn Tan (Unsplash)[/caption] TWO-DAY CAMPING AND SURFING TRIP ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD This small-group tour (of 10-15 people) will start from Melbourne and take you down to Victoria's dramatic Great Ocean Road. You'll stop off at beaches for surfing lessons and lunches before setting up base at a new campsite — staying in a spacious teepee-style tents built by the beach. The two guides will take you to all the best secret viewing spots for kangaroos, koalas and Australian native birds before you set your sights upon the Twelve Apostles. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_818655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julia Sansone[/caption] PRIVATE WILSON'S PROMONTORY HIKING TOUR FROM MELBOURNE Wilson's Prom is huge. It can be challenging to explore — especially if you don't have your own car. That's when a bespoke tour like this one is the perfect option. Your guide will take you on hikes to private beaches and sand dunes as well as epic summits with views across the whole region. You'll find some of the very best coastal views during this tour. And if you're looking for something a little more cost-effective, you can try this tour of Wilson's Prom. BOOK IT NOW. WHITE-WATER KAYAKING ADVENTURE ON THE YARRA RIVER Head to Wonga Park for a high-octane day trip just an hour or so out of Melbourne's CBD. You'll be geared up with life vests and helmets before jumping into a two-person inflatable kayak that will take you down the rolling rapids. Prepare to get soaked and have a good laugh. If you go in the wetter months, you're guaranteed even bigger rapids. BOOK IT NOW. WESTERN AUSTRALIA SUNRISE HIKE AND MEDITATION IN THE PERTH HILLS This one is for the morning people out there. Or those of us who wish we could be. Meet at Sullivan Rock carpark nice and early and follow the guide on a leisurely hike through jarrah and banksia forests before reaching the summit of St Vincent at sunrise. Find a spot on the large granite slopes overlooking the expansive Western Australian plains and let the first sunlight of the day wash over you during a guided meditation. It's an altogether unique and rejuvenating experience. BOOK IT NOW. QUAD BIKE AND SANDBOARDING EXPERIENCE This is a super fun way to explore Western Australia's Lancelin Sand Dunes. You'll ride quad bikes, get driven in dune buggies and go down massive dunes on sandboards with a bunch of other travellers. It's a great vantage point from which to see this part of the country, overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounding bushland. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_683983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] ROTTNEST ISLAND CYCLE, SNORKEL AND FERRY TRIP Getting to Rottnest Island is easy enough – just jump on the ferry from Perth. But once you get there, getting around to explore the best bits of this spectacular natural playground could require a little direction. That why this tour is so good. You'll get a bike for the arvo and ride around hidden beaches before snorkelling in calm pristine waters, marvelling at the bright coral and marine life. Alternatively, you can book this five-day Perth staycation that will take you to Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tobias Keller (Unsplash)[/caption] SIX-DAY COARAL COASTER FROM PERTH TO EXMOUTH (VIA NINGALOO REEF) Go on a proper Western Australia adventure during this week-long trip. With unspoilt beaches, deep red deserts and an abundance of wildlife, this will be an unforgettable Australian holiday. You'll also tick a bunch of spectacular destinations off your bucket list — including the Pinnacles, Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, Murchison Gorge, Kalbarri National Park, The Stromatolites at Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef. BOOK IT NOW. NEW SOUTH WALES UNDERWATER SCOOTER EXPERIENCE IN CLOVELLY This is a proper local Sydney experience set in the waters of beloved Clovelly Beach. You'll get to use an underwater scooter which is basically a small propellered device that you hold in your hands) that pulls you along underwater. Use this device to find the infamous blue groper or simply pretend you're chasing your favourite Bond villain for 90 minutes. Instructors will also be on hand to help you out. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_891481" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacques Bopp (Unsplash)[/caption] BLUE MOUNTAINS 4WD ADVENTURE If you've got a car and are willing to hike a little, you can see some spectacular parts of the Blue Mountains — but this trip takes you even deeper. Your driver will traverse rough roads to take you into rarely explored parts of the national park including exclusive access to private property in Capertee Valley and experience the epic views. It will also include a lunch in a cosy country pub. Winner. BOOK IT NOW. BATEMANS BAY OYSTER TASTING KAYAK TOUR Yup, you read that right. This trip combines oyster tasting with kayaking — think of it as a pub crawl, but on the water and with super fresh oysters. Paddle around local oyster farms along the Clyde River Estuary system in Batemans Bay with a guide, tasting some of the freshest molluscs you'll ever have the pleasure of eating. It's a whole lot of fun. And done in stunning surrounds. BOOK IT NOW. FULL-DAY CANYONING TRIP IN EMPRESS CANYON For the uninitiated, canyoning is a type of mountaineering that involves travelling into canyons in a variety of ways. And this trip ticks most of them off the list. The day will include abseiling down waterfalls, cliff jumping and bouldering. It has got to be one of the most thrilling ways to explore this rainforest in New South Wales. BOOK IT NOW. NORTHERN TERRITORY [caption id="attachment_840362" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Helen Orr for Tourism NT[/caption] KING'S CANYON HIKING TOUR King's Canyon, famously where the queens from Priscilla Queen of the Desert hiked in feather-clad bird outfits, is a big bucket list destination — not just for fans of the film. Located between between Alice Springs and Yulara, this has to be one of the very best places to go hiking in Australia. Walk along red rock cliffs, through maze-like gorges and around beautiful bushland. The views across the surrounding desert are also just next level. And this big day trip takes you to all the best bits. BOOK IT NOW. CHAMBER PILLAR AND RAINBOW VALLEY 4WD TRIP Go off-road during this full-day tour around the Rainbow Valley — a remote region in Australia's Red Centre. The small group 4WD experience takes you deep into the Red Centre's beautiful and remote sand hill country in comfort and style. You will discover the history of the early explorers, local First Nations culture and stories, the iconic Simpson Desert and stunning landscapes and rock formations. In between short hikes, you'll be driven around in an air-conditioned 4WD car to catch your breath and cool down. BOOK IT NOW. DAY TRIP TO LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK WATERFALLS If you've ever seen images of people jumping into spectacular natural waterholes and pools in a tourism ad for the Northern Territory, there's a very good chance the footage was shot at Litchfield National Park. Making a visit here is an experience we should all have at some point in our lives. And booking this package will get you right there. You'll be picked up from Darwin and transported to the famous Florence Falls for a day of exploring and swimming in extraordinary (croc-free) waters. BOOK IT NOW. TASMANIA [caption id="attachment_891488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Fotheringham (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY ACTIVE ADVENTURE FROM LAUNCESTON TO HOBART This trip explores some of Tassie's most scenic locations. Start your journey with a huge day out at Cradle Mountain World Heritage area, an area of immense grandeur with amazing walks and scenery. Travel onwards to Hobart via the Wineglass Bay lookout for some of the world's best coastal scenery. Keep your eyes open and your footsteps light to encounter the local animals in the wild. Lastly, walk amongst the history at the World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site and enjoy the action of a Tasmanian Devil feeding. It's an incredible way to experience Tasmania's vast natural landscape. BOOK IT NOW. SAILING TRIP IN HOBART'S BAY AND THE DERWENT RIVER During this experience, you'll be sailing in a Sydney to Hobart race maxi — really sailing. This isn't a champagne-and-sunset-dinner on a luxury yacht kind of experience. You'll be getting a workout as you cruise around Hobart's breathtakingly beautiful bay. You might see penguins, dolphins or seals (regular visitors) and sometimes even whales and orca. That is when you're not grinding the winches and taking a turn on the helm. End the experience with an altogether civilised afternoon tea in town. BOOK IT NOW. KAYAK IN THE TASMAN PENINSULA Get up-close and personal with the southern hemisphere's highest sea cliffs and resident Australian fur seals. At sea level you'll truly appreciate its scale, gazing up at 200-metre-high fluted rock formations, peering into natural sea caves, photographing the towering Candlestick, and searching for climbers on the Totem Pole — a sheer column famed amongst thrill-seeking rock climbers. BOOK IT NOW. BMX RIDE DOWN MOUNT WELLINGTON On this adventure, you'll ride a mountain bike down the foothills of Mount Wellington past bushland and wildlife as you feel the wind rushing through your hair. At the end of the ride, you'll be invited to join the guide at a local Hobart pub for a few beers and enjoy the unique opportunity to drink from the famous (to locals, at least) handlebar that holds a glass of beer. Look it up. BOOK IT NOW. SOUTH AUSTRALIA FARM FOR OYSTERS IN COFFIN BAY This is a great little experience to tag onto any trip along South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. You'll don some sexy looking waterproof overalls, wading in the water as you learn about oyster farming while tasting some of the freshest oysters you'll ever have — straight out of the clear blue waters. For more sightseeing, you can even take this longer boat tour around the oyster farm. BOOK IT NOW. KANGAROO ISLAND QUAD BIKE TOUR Explore an otherwise inaccessible part of Kangaroo Island on a guided ATV tour through open grassland, native bush and rocky terrain. Master the controls of your own bike as your group zooms past gorgeous scenery, and Australian wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas and more. For something a little different, check out the Sunset Safari, a more wildlife orientated tour which heads out just as more of the island's famous critters start to emerge for the evening. Or do you prefer two wheels? Try this cycling tour of the island instead. BOOK IT NOW. KAYAK TRIP IN A DOLPHIN SANCTUARY It's not every day that you get the opportunity to paddle your way down a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest creek with the opportunity to see dolphins along the way. But that's not all. You'll also be kayaking up close to shipwrecks and relics of a bygone era. It's a special experience that simply can't be replicated anywhere else. BOOK IT NOW. [caption id="attachment_883581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Skopal (Unsplash)[/caption] THREE-DAY ADVENTURE IN THE FLINDERS RANGES This is small group Eco tour of the famous Flinders Ranges gives guests the opportunity to see the incredible rock formation of Wilpena Pound and the Ranges themselves while learning about local Aboriginal culture. You'll search for the rare Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby, see an abundance of kangaroos, emus and wedge tailed eagles, visit ancient Aboriginal cave paintings, meet the locals and enjoy campfires and camp cooking. BOOK IT NOW. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
When June ticked over to July, Brisbane Good Food Month began for 2021. Brissie was also in lockdown at the time. That's not really how anyone wants a month-long celebration of all things culinary to kick off, but the food-focused event is now in full swing — and Brisbanites have a few extra reasons to head by. After a stint stuck at home, you're probably sick of your own cooking. After a difficult year or so for the hospitality industry, showing Brisbane restaurants and bars some extra love is definitely on the cards. There are plenty of ways to do just that this year — enough to make you feel spoiled for choice, in fact — so here are our picks of this year's appetising lineup.
Bondi is the unofficial capital city of the early birds. While most other Australians are snoozing their alarms or negotiating with their bus schedules, Bondi locals have already seen friends, exercised and devoured a healthy breakfast. It's honestly enviable. If you've got a Sydney trip planned soon (or are a local looking to shift your lifestyle to the early hours), we asked residents what the best sunrise activities in Bondi are. Before sunrise To get into the Bondi spirit, your alarm should go off at least an hour before the sun rises. Once you've woken up and are dressed in your best activewear, head to Bondi's premier pilates studio, Body by Berner. Founder Bernadette Sukkar has created a cult following for her tough (yet effective) pilates classes. Located on Campbell Parade, classes start from 5am, so you can get a head start on your day. Book in a Signature Bern class to really see what all of the hype is about. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bernadette Sukkar (@mrsbernadettesukkar) Once you've worked those muscles, walk down the street to the newly opened Common Supply for a quick coffee or smoothie. You can get one whipped up fresh or grab a pre-made option from the handy convenience-store-style fridges. The grab-and-go drinks and snacks are perfect for keeping your body fuelled ahead of the sunrise. View this post on Instagram A post shared by common supply (@commonsupplyau) During sunrise It's not a trip to Sydney without witnessing the sunrise over the famous beach. Plant yourself on a nearby grassy spot or on the sand and drink in a brand new day — Bondi style. When the sun rises, and the surfers begin to paddle into the water, embark on a walk down the coastline. The Bondi to Bronte walk is popular for a reason. Head down solo for some peace before the crowds descend, or meet a friend to catch up as the day begins. It takes roughly 30 minutes each way, making it an ideal activity before the morning gets too hot. If you're dressed for it, you could even enjoy a quick dip at Bronte to cool down on the other side. [caption id="attachment_1060961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Pesta Photography[/caption] After sunrise Between the pilates class and walking, you've most likely worked up an appetite. Luckily, Bondi is a mecca for fresh and delicious food options. Set just back from Bondi's shoreline, Kazzi Beach Greek serves healthy breakfast options. Select from its menu of fresh fruit bowls, breakfast wraps stacked with eggs, bacon and haloumi, and even Greek pastries. You can choose to dine in and rest those legs post-Bondi to Bronte walk, or grab another takeaway and enjoy Greek delicacies on the beach post-morning swim. Kazzi Beach Greek is also open for lunch and dinner if you're looking for a dining option when you're by the beach for sunset. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kazzi Beach Greek (@kazzibeachgreek) It's been a stacked morning of health and wellness so far. To wind down your post-sunrise Bondi experience, head to 38° The Bathouse. Also located on Campbell Parade, 38° The Bathouse is a wellness destination featuring magnesium spa pools, traditional and infrared saunas, a cold plunge, silent and sound sessions, and a lounge area to rest up. If you're really feeling luxe (when in Bondi, of course), 38° The Bathouse also offers massages. It's the ultimate way to round out a dreamy, health-focused morning in Sydney's Bondi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 38° The Bathhouse (@slowhousebondi) Image credit: Oliver Strewe/ Getty Images
Even under normal circumstances, heading to the UK to see a theatre show isn't in most folks' budgets. So, for years now, Britain's National Theatre has beamed its performances into cinemas around the world via a series called NT Live. Over the past 12 months, however, the theatre has adapted to the online realm — first putting a selection of recorded productions on its YouTube channel for everyone to view for free, and now launching its own streaming platform. Both initiatives have the same name — National Theatre at Home — but now, instead of waiting to see which play drops online each week, you can browse through a selection of shows whenever you like. The new streaming service does come with a fee, costing around AUD$18 (£9.98) per month or approximately AUD$184 (£99.98 per) year, but subscribers then have unlimited access. There's also a rental option, where you just pick whichever production you want to see and pay a one-off cost (from around AUD$13.50/£7.99) to watch within a 72-hour window. All of National Theatre at Home's catalogue consists of previously recorded productions — which means that you can get cosy on your lounge, put your feet up and pretend you're at the theatre watching some of the company's greatest hits. New shows are added monthly, with subscribers receiving early access to new additions, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses. At the time of writing, theatre fans can choose between the first-ever National Theatre Live broadcast, Phèdre with Helen Mirren; William Shakespeare's Coriolanus, starring Tom Hiddleston; and a London-set modern update of Federico García Lorca's Yerma with Billie Piper. Other titles include Medea with I May Destroy You's Michaela Coel — plus Julie, an updating of the play Miss Julie, starring Vanessa Kirby. And some works, such as Mosquitoes with Olivia Colman and a new Nigerian-set version of Chekhov's Three Sisters, are being released for the first time. On the technical side of things, you can stream National Theatre at Home via any web browser, or using Apple products (with iOS and tvOS), Google (through Android and Android TV), Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV. National Theatre's back catalogue is rather hefty — and star-studded, too. Accordingly, here's hoping that some of the company's absolute masterpieces also make the jump to the National Theatre at Home streaming platform in the future. Fingers crossed that its stripped-back version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as directed by Trainspotting and Yesterday's Danny Boyle, and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, is one of them — or its production of A Streetcar Named Desire with none other than Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois, alongside Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby. National Theatre at Home is now available online, with subscriptions costing around AUD$18 (£9.98) per month or approximately AUD$184 (£99.98 per) year. Top image: Coriolanus. Photo by Johan Persson.
It's time to get festive beneath one of Newstead's most striking features: the Gasometer. For two nights in 2024 — one in November, one in December — The Market Folk is taking over the eye-catching Gasworks space, bring a heap of stalls with it and helping you finish your Christmas shopping (because, let's face it, no one ever gets 100-percent of their gift buying done too far in advance). From 5–9pm on Saturday, November 30 and Saturday, December 14, the Gasworks Plaza precinct will be home to plenty of market stalls as the sun goes down, all brimming with items that'd make perfect presents (for your loved ones, and for yourself). [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] If you're wondering just what kinds of things you can expect to pick up, think fashion, art, homewares, ceramics and vintage goods — and plants as well — from 40-plus businesses. There'll be a particular focus on Brisbane creatives, too. So, you'll also be gifting them some Christmas cheer by supporting their hard work. These markets include live music on the lawn, plus bites and drinks from surrounding eateries and bars. And, they're also doggo-friendly. On the November date, you can also catch a free outdoor Christmas movie. [caption id="attachment_814294" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
It’s rarely socially acceptable to exchange sanity and bodily competence for loss of mind, spirit and dignity at the hands of copious amounts of alcohol. Birthdays, deaths, Breaking Bad finales, and Oktoberfest are just a few green cards – but only one calls for a fresh pressed pair of lederhosen to accompany. It’s Oktoberfest time again, and if you’ve successfully shaken last year’s hangover you’ve got no excuse but to join in the hoo-ha. Oktoberfest Brisbane will be Germaning up the RNA Showgrounds with traditional food, hand crafted beer, rock und roll, and we’ll mention the beer again for safe keeping. There are also plenty of family activities like a petting zoo, tasty gingerbread and traditional German dodgem cars, so don't be thinking this is strictly for the anti-AA; it's completely kid friendly. Brisbane’s Oktoberfest has been voted in the top 10 best outside of Germany, so stick local for this booze up day of cultural appreciation, and head to the RNA Showgrounds this, and/or next weekend, beer stein in hand.
When Australia has just thrown one of the world's biggest LGBTQIA+ parties, what comes next? Incorporating hits from 2023's Sydney WorldPride into 2024's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. For everyone who loved revelling on the sand at the fest's Bondi Beach Party, we come bearing excellent news: it'll be back next year for 15,000 attendees. Mardi Gras' full 2024 lineup spans 100-plus events across the Harbour City, taking place from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3. While 2023's iteration marked the 45th anniversary, don't go thinking that turning 46 isn't being taken just as seriously — all around the theme "our future". "For 45 years, the energy, vibrancy, and unity of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has made it a globally significant event. And each year, our commitment to bringing forth an even more fabulous celebration grows," said Sydney Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith. "In 2024, we embrace our roots and look forward with eager anticipation to our future. Our mission is clear: to echo the voices of our communities, to champion progress and instigate impactful change." "Beyond the individual events, and there are many, the 2024 festival underscores our commitment to inclusivity, unity and remembrance. The 2024 festival celebrates our past, our present and most crucially, the promising future we're building. Here's to another unforgettable Sydney Mardi Gras," continued Beckwith. As well as the return of Bondi Beach Party, Mardi Gras will also give Sydney WorldPride's Ultra Violet a second run, celebrating LGBTQIA+ women in an event that takes place as day turns to night at the National Art School. Similarly huge: a one-night-only special performance of musical & Juliet, which will occur just days after the production arrives for its Sydney season. Also on the lineup: the Welcome to Country via citywide event Festival First Light; floating venue Glass Island hosting trans and gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer; and Diamond Dance, which will mark Pollys Club's 60th year. Or, there's talks and ideas series Queer Futures, the Marks Park Dawn Sunrise Service of Reflection to honour 70s- and 90s-era victims of homophobic and transphobic violence, two-week fringe fest Oxtravaganza in Darlinghurst and the boozy Darlo Big Drag Brunch. Yes, the parade is back — so mark Saturday, March 2 in your diary and prepare for a big night with 200-plus floats on Oxford Street. Plus, Mardi Gras' premium parade viewing areas will feature again to help the hundreds of thousands of folks heading along get a prime view of the 12,000-plus marchers. Throw in the also-returning Mardi Gras Film Festival, Progress Pride Flag Raising, Fair Day, Paradiso Pool Party, Kaftana Pool Party, Laugh Out Proud and Sissy Ball — and Queer Art After Hours as well — and Sydney will be jam-packed with things to do and ways to celebrate, as it is during every Mardi Gras. Other highlights include a dance party at ivy Pool Club, SEA LIFE Aquarium hosting drag storytime and a queer formal, with more events still to be announced as Mardi Gras gets closer. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 will run from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Select images: Jeffrey Feng Photography, Lexy Potts
Spanish feasts are on the menu at Burnett Lane's newest restaurant — and it's serving up dishes all day long. A newcomer to the growing CBD roadway, El Matador serves Iberian-inspired breakfasts, plenty of tapas for lunch, dinner and everything in-between. And all come with drinks, naturally. Drop by first thing for Spanish tortillas with cheese and onion crisps; corn fritters paired with wood-roasted cherry tomatoes and smashed avocado; and coal-smoked king fish topped with shaved San Simon smoked cheese. If you're looking for something sweeter, you'll find house-baked traditional Spanish breads and pastries, such as traditional shortbread and chocolate and cinnamon meringues. Cava-filled bloody marys with paprika are also on the morning lineup, should you need something stronger than a coffee. For those heading along later in the day, expect a huge range of bite-sized selections — there's a sizeable tapas and pintxos menu, which spans everything from four types of shellfish with salmorejo, alioli and lemon; to sticky pork ribs with smoked paprika; three-cheese tarts with baby figs and honey; and Spanish favourite patatas bravas. Larger meals are also on offer, including a lamb shoulder that's smoked overnight and served with preserved lemon, sherry and rosemary, plus half a confit suckling pig that you have to order 24 hours in advance. With the bar designed around an open kitchen, jamón and other cured meats from the humidor are also a highlight, as well as six types of Spanish cheese. As for drinks, you can tuck into one of three sangria jugs to share, pick from classic cocktails, or opt for an array of Spanish, local and international wines and beers. Decked out with booths and banquettes, and capable of welcoming 80 patrons at once, El Matador is the latest venture from Leo Castelluccio, who's known from Melbourne venues Cato, Graffiti Club and Bakers Gallery. He's planning to further his expansion into Brisbane, too, with a cocktail and karaoke bar in the works directly across the lane. Find El Matador in Burnett Lane, behind 15 Adelaide Street, open Monday–Saturday from 7am–11pm.
Sculpture by the Sea kicked off its 22nd annual exhibition today — once again taking over the two-kilometre coastline from Sydney's Bondi to Tamarama Beach with many incredible sculptural feats. This year, you'll find 107 sculptures by artists from 21 countries globally. The works will be on display from October 18 through November 4, and it's all absolutely free. This year's highlights include a collaboration with China's leading art institute, the Central Academy of Art (CAFA), showcasing the works of eight alumni, all spread throughout the vast sculpture park. If you're looking to know more about the inspiration for the sculptures on display, you can grab a bean bag and hear directly from the artists every Saturday and Sunday. But, with so many sculptures to feast your eyes on, it can be overwhelming — and you want to make sure not to overlook the best of the bunch. Here are five sculptures to keep a look out for while you take that famed Sydney walk. [caption id="attachment_694145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van der Jagt[/caption] COOL SHIT: DAMIEN HIRST LOOKING FOR SHARKS UK artist Cool Shit (the nom de plume of David Glass) has created a large-scale inflatable snorkeler as a parody of artist Damien Hirst — it reference's Hirst's quest for the tiger shark that made him one of the most iconic postmodern British artists of his time. Hirst caught the shark off of Queensland's Hervey Bay back in the 1990s, preserved it with formaldehyde and sold it as a sculpture in 2004 for some $12 million. Glass' work is a comment on the commercialism of Hirst's work, titled The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, which Glass feels was more a hunt for millions than for art. The inflatable sculpture is mainly air and the outer sheath is made of hundreds of hand-painted fabrics. [caption id="attachment_694147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van der Jagt[/caption] BARBARA LICHA: CBD Made of stainless steel bars and galvanised wire and mesh, CBD is a striking representation of the Sydney city centre, created by Polish-born Aussie artist Barbara Licha. She aims to bring attention to the structural beauty of our city and how we are connected not just to others but also to the place we live. This sculpture is full of movement and uses geometrical shapes to depict this intersection between people and place. It explores architecture as more than just a means to building houses, towns and cities but also as a form of art that connects us to our surroundings. [caption id="attachment_694175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlotte Curd[/caption] MU BOYAN: HORIZON A three-metre-tall fleshy figure has really stolen the show this year as the most recognisable sculpture of the bunch. Mu Boyan's Horizon rests on the south Bondi headland at Marks Park and its towering stature is markedly contrasted by its peaceful pose. According to Boyan, the Buddha-like figure is an invitation to sit alongside it and empty your mind. A meditative force to be reckoned with, the sculpture is one-of-eight works in collaboration with Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts. [caption id="attachment_694174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] PENELOPE FORLANO: COUNTERPOINTS WA artist Penelope Forlano directly responded to the Bondi coastline in her sculpture Counterpoints, creating a work that is familiar yet contrasting to the natural surrounds. She began by focusing on the dynamic flow of the waves against the Hawkesbury sandstone — which once connected Australia to Antarctica 300-million years ago. The sculpture is reminiscent of both a water droplet and stone spearhead, the latter of which is meant to connect to nearby Aboriginal engravings. It is a shape that at once fits in and stands out, echoing both the enduring and ephemeral aspects of nature. [caption id="attachment_694168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] ALESSANDRA ROSSI: CAIRNS Referencing human-made piles of stones that have been created by cultures around the globe for centuries, Cairns uses opaque and mirrored perspex to reflect light on its surrounds. Visit it during different times of the day and you'll find yourself bathed in shimmering hues of red, pink, orange and blue. The impermanence of this light also helps convey a dichotomy between the temporary and the enduring, which is also reflected by the ocean — its ebbing waves and its surrounding solid rocks. The three pieces are by Italian artist Alessandra Rossi, who has also exhibited across Australia. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 4. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com. Top image: Trent van der Jagt
For as long as most Brisbanites can remember, the CBD's riverside stretch has been synonymous with bland buildings and an always-busy expressway — but that's changing. Popping up amid the hustle, bustle and boring concrete is the city's newest luxury hotel, W Brisbane is bringing a touch of ultra glam to the northern bank of the river. First announced last year as part of the chain's return to Australia, and originally set to launch in March, the hotel is now open on North Quay between the Victoria and Kurilpa bridges. The five-star spot boasts a view across the water to the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and the Gallery of Modern Art. And that's just the first of many features that might entice locals to book a staycation. Others include 312 designer rooms decked out with ten-gallon drum baths and in-suite cocktail stations, an onsite spa, and a fourth-level deck that includes an eye-catching pool, an adjacent bar and a barbecue area. While the overall look of the place takes inspiration from its location, with design agency Nic Graham & Associates working to the theme of "a river dreaming", W Brisbane's other main highlight actually springs from down south. As revealed a couple of months back, the hotel is home to Queensland's first Three Blue Ducks restaurant. A 150-seat space with views over the river, it'll serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with the kitchen overseen by chefs Mark LaBrooy, Darren Robertson and Andy Allen. On the menu: Ducks' signature dishes such as spanner crab scramble, old favourites including congee with pulled pork and hay smoked salmon kedgeree, and new additions like fermented chilli glazed chicken. Plus, as well as its hefty number of places to take a kip — including 28 suites, two extra-luxe spaces that've been dubbed "Wow Suites" and one "Extreme Wow Suite" — W Brisbane also features 1100 square metres of function space. Expect the hotel to become the city's new business go-to. And, of course, Brissie's new riverside hangout as well. Find W Brisbane at 81 North Quay, Brisbane. For more information about the hotel, or to make a reservation, visit the W Brisbane website. For further details about Three Blue Ducks, head to the restaurant's website.
Find yourself surrounded by some of the world's brightest journalists at this year's Storyology, returning to Brisbane at the end of July. Brought to you by The Walkley Foundation, Australia's networking festival of media and storytelling welcomes Australian and international journalists who'll be leading talks and lectures on today's big questions around the forever-changing industry. The festival kicks off in Brisbane on Friday evening with a panel dubbed This Book Changed My Life. Adam Suckling from Copyright Agency will moderate as three storytellers discuss the nonfiction and fiction books that have most impacted their lives. Saturday will take a 'behind the news'-style approach to uncover what journalism looks like in 2018. First up, journalists and editors (plus one cartoonist) from the likes of Buzzfeed and Guardian Australia will lead an ethical discussion on reporting some of the year's biggest stories. At noon, photojournalist Nick Moir will share the storm-chasing stories behind dramatic weather shots, before a timely discussion at 1.30pm dubbed Power Shifts: Identity, Diversity, #Metoo. Four female journalists, led by ABC Regional Queensland editor Cathie Schnitzerling, will share insights on the 'Time's Up' movement, including how their newsrooms are approaching the ever-evolving coverage and the lasting impact on diversity. The day will wrap up with a session exploring why podcasts have become the medium-of-choice for sharing true crime stories and all nuances that play into this — from nailing the tone to reporting respectfully. Storyology 2018 will take place at Palace Cinema at the Barracks from Friday, July 27 to Saturday, July 28. See the full program of events and talks here. We also have five doubles passes to the full festival to giveaway. To enter, see details below. [competition]675850[/competition] Image: Tim Marshall.
It was true when Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope hit cinema screens more than four decades ago, and it's still true now. If there's one thing everyone knows about the sci-fi world created by George Lucas, it's that it doesn't unveil its secrets quickly. All of these years later, viewers are still watching the space opera saga's twists and turns in episodic big-screen instalments (and will soon be doing so on the small screen, too). If you've been keeping an eye out for news about Disney's new dedicated Star Wars theme park zones, it's been a somewhat similar process. Of course, the force is strong with this overall idea. Yes, we've definitely got a good feeling about it as well. Soon, Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida will both boast dedicated Star Wars-themed zones, called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. With the two set to open between the middle and the end of 2019, Disney has slowly been sharing a few more details about what fans can expect. Last year, boozy watering hole Oga's Cantina was announced. It'll be part of both spaces, bringing alcohol to the California park for the first time. Then, Star Wars aficionados learned about both Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The former will put you in the driver's seat of Han Solo's beloved ship, while the latter will see you caught in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Now, the company has started spilling the details on the outpost of Batuu, which is where Galaxy's Edge is set. It's a hive for smugglers and rogues (naturally), and it's where you'll be wandering around when you're not exclaiming "punch it" a whole heap, trying to become best buddies with a loveable wookiee and hopping onto a star destroyer. Specifically, visitors will be getting cosy in the Batuu village of Black Spire Outpost — and there's plenty to keep everyone occupied. If you're a hands-on type, you can construct your own R2-D2 or BB-8-style droids, which you can then take home with you. You'll also be able to build your own unique lightsaber, and take a few Jedi lessons so you know how to use it. Or, pick up Resistance or First Order supplies, or look for rare goods from a galaxy far, far away (if you haven't noticed, most of these attractions involve purchasing some merchandise or a keepsake, because of course they do). When you're not giving your Star Wars skills and your wallet a workout, you'll also be able to enjoy the finest spread that Black Spire Outpost has to offer. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo takes the form of a multi-purpose transport shuttle docked in a hangar, and is basically an intergalactic food truck, with 'Smoked Kaadu Ribs' (aka pork ribs) and 'Ithorian Garden Loaf' (aka a plant-based meatloaf alternative) on the menu. At Ronto Roasters, spit meats will be on cooked up on a recycled podracing engine, while Kat Saka's Kettle will sell street food snacks. And then there's the Milk Stand, the go-to place for both blue and green milk. Galaxy's Edge was first made public back in 2015, will span 14 acres at each site and will prove the biggest single-themed expansion the respective parks have ever seen. The guiding concept behind both spots is to "transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life." And, to give this interactive experience the requisite soundtrack, it'll also feature new Star Wars music by the man behind its iconic score, aka Oscar-winning composer John Williams. More details are certain to come to light before Galaxy's Edge opens, but expect both location to tie into all ten Star Wars movies to date and to feature an array of beloved characters roaming around. Eventually, visitors to Disney World will also be able to spend a night or several in an immersive Star Wars-themed hotel as well, although construction hasn't started yet and an opening date hasn't been announced either. That said, Disney recently revealed that a visit to the hotel will involve boarding a launch pod and taking part in "a fully-immersive, multi-day Star Wars adventure aboard a luxury starship", with high-end dining and cabins that apparently have a space view all part of your stay. Via Disney Theme Parks Blog. Images: Disney Theme Parks Blog.
On the page and on the screen, audiences know what's in store when Sydney-born and -based author Liane Moriarty's name is attached to a book or TV series. Domestic disharmony within comfortable communities fuels her tales, as do twisty mystery storylines. When they hit streaming, the shows based on her novels add in starry casts as well. Indeed, after Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, it might come as a shock that Nicole Kidman (Expats) is nowhere to be found in Apples Never Fall, which drops its seven episodes via Binge in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand from Thursday, March 14. The Australian actor will be back in another adaptation of Moriarty's tomes, also with a three-word title, with The Last Anniversary currently in the works. Fresh from an Oscar nomination for Nyad, Annette Bening is no mere stand-in right now. Where Kidman has co-starred with Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show), Laura Dern (The Son) and Alexander Skarsgård (Mr & Mrs Smith), and also Melissa McCarthy (The Little Mermaid), Michael Shannon (The Flash) and Luke Evans (Good Grief), Bening is joined by Sam Neill (The Twelve), Alison Brie (Somebody I Used to Know) and Jake Lacy (A Friend of the Family). If Lacy's involvement brings The White Lotus to mind, he's again at home playing affluent and arrogant — but no one is on holiday in Apples Never Fall. Rather, in West Palm Beach, the tennis-obsessed Delaney family finds their well-off existence shattered when matriarch Joy (Bening) goes missing, leaving just a banged-up and blood-splattered bicycle, a strewn-about basket of apples and her mobile phone behind. Her adult children Troy (Lacy), Amy (Brie), Logan (Conor Merrigan Turner, Thai Cave Rescue) and Brooke (Essie Randles, The Speedway Murders) are worried, while husband Stan (Neill) first advises that his spouse is merely ill, a choice that does nothing to stop suspicion rocketing his way. In addition to charting the search for Joy, the Queensland-shot Apples Never Fall bounces through ample backstory. After its introductory instalment, each episode focuses on one of the family; across them all, the timeline is split into "then" and "now". It soon becomes apparent that the doting Joy and determined Stan were talented players, then established the Delaney Tennis Academy when his aspirations were cruelled by injury, and she sidelined hers to support him and have their kids. The entire quartet of offspring all pursued the sport, too, but not to the glory that the quick-tempered Stan always wanted for the Delaney name. The closest that he got was via a former pupil (Giles Matthey, Invitation to Murder) who went on to win grand slams long after Stan was his coach. Only months before Joy's disappearance, the couple retired, an adjustment that neither is taking to blissfully. Credited more than once by her children with saving them, Joy believed that she'd be able to become an even bigger presence in their lives when she had an influx of spare time. None are overly obliging. Raking in cash as a venture capitalist, and also divorcing the wife that his family all adored, Troy is busy — plus simmering with years of anger over his strained relationship with his dad. The new age-leaning Amy is struggling to ascertain where she fits in, with a string of different jobs and courses to her name as she rents a sharehouse from a guy in his 20s (Nate Mann, Masters of the Air). Logan now prefers working at a marina and doing yoga to the Delaney obsession, yet can't bring himself to skip town away from his relatives with his partner (Pooja Shah, Escape the Night). And Brooke has a post-tennis physical therapy service that's lacking clients, and is also having doubts about marrying her restaurateur fiancée (Paula Andrea Placido, The L Word: Generation Q). Another person looms large over the narrative: Savannah (Georgia Flood, Blacklight), who graces the Delaneys' doorstep fleeing from domestic abuse, or so she claims. Seeking shelter for the night swiftly turns into virtually moving in. Joy loves her company but her brood is sceptical about the newcomer's motives. As a result, what's happened to Joy isn't the sole question lingering over Apples Never Fall. Neither is why Stan is being so cagey and erratic about where she is and what he knows. Both through Savannah's easy immersion into the family, and also when the four Delaney kids only realise over lunch that their mother might've vanished — coming to that conclusion because none have heard from her, after each of them ignored her most-recent calls — it also sparks queries about this supposedly close-knit clan's seemingly perfect facade. That's also Moriarty's remit, unpacking lives that appear idyllic, only to prove a stark reality that everyone should know: that absolutely no one's is. It's also a whodunnit staple, given that nothing exposes cracks and flaws within the bonds of blood like the possibility that a murder could've occurred from within. Apples Never Fall has the right title for that train of thought, thanks to the proverb that its moniker is taken from. The show isn't pointing its fingers at Joy's children, though, but delving into the idea that how we see and interact with the world ripples downwards through families. Although obvious, the concept underscores a series where baggage and its pain are as inescapable as balls flung from an automatic machine. That Apples Never Fall's opening episode features apples literally falling demonstrates its willingness to make easy, overt and predictable choices; it isn't plot or thematic surprises that make this engaging viewing, but the performances that go with them. While showrunner Melanie Marnich (A Murder at the End of the World) frequently sticks with tropes, and with exposition-delivering dialogue as well — especially from the two detectives (Hightown's Jeanine Serralles and Sweet Tooth's Dylan Thuraisingham) on the case — the portrayals that populate the series are layered and grounding. There's nothing that astonishes among the show's character types, either; however, Apples Never Fall is well-aware that tropes and archetypes become just that because they spring from truth over and over. Accordingly, as set within a Florida-residing clan where tennis has always dictated the pace, the latest Moriarty-based page-to-screen effort fills its frames with figures who make expected moves — unshakeably so — while also examining why that's the outcome. As the Gold Coast, Brisbane's Queensland Art Gallery and more stand in for America, the minutiae is equally familiar, spanning unfulfilled dreams, weighty pressures, nagging resentments and taking people for granted, alongside envy, infidelity, and endeavouring to forge a sense of identity beyond the notion enforced by birth or marriage. From Bening in exceptional form as a woman coming to terms with everything that she's sacrificed to fit wife and mother roles, Neill also digging through haunting regrets, and Brie and Lacy in particular fleshing out parts that could've remained one-note in other hands, this cast is up to the task of cutting to the heart of this tale and its crucial relationships, and of Moriarty's recurrent fixations. The title is right: these apples never fall far from the author's template, but Apples Never Fall still makes for intriguing and quickly bingeable viewing. Check out the trailer for Apples Never Fall below: Apples Never Fall streams via Binge in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand from Thursday, March 14. Images: Vince Valitutti and Jasin Boland/PEACOCK.
It's not taken long for Heaps Normal to feel at home in Australian drinking culture. The Sydney-based non-alcoholic brewer only debuted six years ago, but it's quickly cemented itself as one of the most popular brands for inclusive drinking. It's also not the sort of brand to rest on its laurels, as its latest innovation of non-alc beer that's tap-compatible proves. To celebrate this new frontier, Heaps Normal is partnering with over 30 pubs across the country to pour the new brew for free this Friday, March 27. Now, a tap-compatible beer may not sound like an innovation, but it is for the non-alcoholic kind. To summarise, beer taps are kept at a frosty temperature (because nobody likes a warm beer), but the lower density and sugar content of non-alcoholic beers typically causes them to freeze in these conditions. Heaps Normal has cracked the code for its brand-new draught, utilising a preservative-free approach of naturally derived fibre and the 100 percent malt body of the beer to prevent freezing inside the lines and protect the liquid from contamination. "A lot of non-alcs are thin and watery by necessity," said Heaps Normal's co-founder and chief product officer Ben Holdstock. "We've always brewed with body and balance in mind, and it turns out that approach was the key to making draught work." The revolution comes just in time for a broader shift in Aussie drinking culture, indicated by a 2024 study that revealed non-alcoholic beer popularity had risen to 10 percent of total beer sales in Australia, and that the global non-alcoholic beer market is due to hit $43 billion USD in value by next year. "Jumping from the fridge to the tap, and really nailing the most traditional of Aussie swill formats, is symbolic of how far the non-alc category has matured and developed. For knock-offs, mid-week sessions and everything in between, it's a new normal for the bar," says Heaps Normal co-founder and CEO Andy Miller. Now, after testing the beer at select pubs in Sydney and Melbourne, Heaps Normal's National Bar Shout will get pubs and bars pouring 3500 schooners of the good stuff for free, you just need to visit a participating venue between 5 and 7pm this Friday, March 27. See the full list of participating venues in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and ACT on the Heaps Normal website. Images: supplied Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
With gathering and venue restrictions in place following Victoria's recent almost two-week lockdown, and Greater Sydney and southeast Queensland both currently in lockdown, it's currently a tricky time to host Australia's biggest film festival. The Melbourne International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, August 5, and announced its full 2021 program back in mid-July; however, responding to the reality both in the city and nationwide at present, it's making some considerable changes to its format. In 2020, the event was forced to go digital due to the pandemic — a development that's part of this year's lineup, too, but in conjunction with physical screenings in Melbourne and Victorian cinemas. Initially, in-person sessions were set to span the festival's first week or so, before the event closed up online. Now, MIFF has announced that it's flipping that order and expanding its virtual component. Accordingly, for the full duration of the festival, MIFF will screen more than 90 features and a range of short films via its online platform MIFF Play. They'll be available to not only to Melbourne viewers, but to cinephiles Australia-wide, which'll make for handy viewing for those under stay-at-home conditions. Last year's jump to digital resulted in MIFF's biggest festival yet, audience-wise, in fact — and this year's online selection will now start the fest with 2021 Sundance hit CODA, a coming-of-age story about the daughter of adults who are deaf, which is also an English-language remake of French feature The Bélier Family. Which other movies will be added to the online lineup haven't yet been revealed, but MIFF has announced a number of new titles that'll screen in cinemas between Thursday, August 12–Sunday, August 22. That's when Melburnians will be able to see this year's Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or -winner Titane, which saw French filmmaker Julia Ducournau (Raw) become only the second female filmmaker to win the coveted prize. Also headed to MIFF straight from the prestigious fest: romantic-comedy The Worst Person in the World from director Joachim Trier (Thelma, Oslo, August 31st); JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass, a Donald Sutherland- and Whoopi Goldberg-narrated documentary from Oliver Stone; and Abdullah Mohammad Saad's Rehana Maryam Noor, the first film from Bangladesh to officially screen at Cannes. During the physical portion of the program, Leah Purcell's exceptional The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson will still take the opening night slot, just on Thursday, August 12. Due to gathering limits, MIFF will also screen the feature at a range of other venues, including The Astor Theatre, The Sun Theatre, Pentridge Cinema, Lido Cinema and CBD venues. The fest's already-announced lineup still remains in place, which means that Melburnians can also look forward to seeing Adam Driver-starring musical Annette; Memoria, which features Tilda Swinton in Cemetery of Splendour filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul's English-language debut; and Bergman Island, the Tim Roth and Mia Wasikowska-starring latest title from Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come). Other highlights include No Sudden Move, Steven Soderbergh's crime flick with Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro and Jon Hamm, and Pig, which sees Nicolas Cage play a truffle hunter (yes, really). The 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22 — screening online for the festival's entire duration, and playing at a variety of venues around Melbourne from Thursday, August 12–Sunday, August 22. For further details, visit the MIFF website.
Driving along the beautifully tree-lined Esher Street in Tarragindi, it comes as a pleasant surprise to find a big rustic chalkboard inviting you to the local cafe/deli. As you walk in, be instantly reminded of walking into your favourite aunty's house. You know, the aunty that bakes delicious treats, pinches your cheeks until they throb with pain, has her house filled with vintage wares and has enough stock in her pantry to survive a nuclear disaster? Yes, that one! Part deli, part cafe, part gift shop, the Italian inspired menu offers all day breakfast and made-in house cakes and biscuits. The locally roasted Veneziano coffee is hard evidence of owners who walk, talk and breathe coffee. Esher St Cafe is filled with vintage and upcycled furniture, but the real treat is sitting in the backyard booths, where you are able to really appreciate the beautiful Brisbane weather, yet somehow feel like you are soaking it in all by yourself. After consuming a cup of their fine caffeine brew, we opted for the corn fritters and the avocado smash with haloumi. No regrets there. Perfectly cooked fritters involved a crispy exterior and a warm, fluffy interior and finished with a dollop of organic sour cream are extremely satisfying on a cold winter's morning. After deciding to test the fullness of our stomachs, we couldn't resist a slice of the cake of the day. Local baker Nikki, proves that she means business with her orange and almond cake, ridiculously moist but not overpowered with sweetness. Making the most of local produce, there are few places in Brisbane that provide tailor made hamper service. Lucky for us, whatever your budget and/or food preferences the friendly staff here are able to put together a delicious picnic or gift hamper filled with gourmet goodies - perfect for any special occasion or a sit down feast at the many local parks. After all, as with any trip to your aunty's house, you can never walk away empty handed!
Celebrating July 4th in Australia by doing something other than watching aliens blow up the White House is one of those "any excuse for a party" type of deals. Sure, most of us don't actually need a reason for a shindig — but isn't eating, drinking and being merry that little bit more enjoyable when you've got an occasion to commemorate? If you answered yes, and you're fond of wings and whiskey, then Buffalo Bar's three-day Festival of the Free is definitely for you. And if you need something more to get you excited, then perhaps corn tossing, laneway tailgate-style shenanigans, a Lady Liberty food challenge and Seinfeld trivia will do the trick. Add live bands to the mix, and this American-themed extravaganza has everything from food to entertainment — and a Jack Daniel's pop-up bar as well. Plus, come Sunday, the fun keeps on keepin' on with a $65-per head, three-course Independence Day Feasting Package complete with Buffalo signature wings, smoked beef brisket and warm apple pie. Yum.
This addition to Northshore Hamilton is here for a good time — a saucy time, too — but not for a long time. Putting a patch of riverside space to use before it starts to become the Olympic Media Village for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, At the end of 2023, the Pink Flamingo Spiegeland opened its doors for a seven-year stay on Bincote Street. Get ready for spicy cabarets by the river, plus drinks, all in a custom-designed 400-seat pavilion. If you're a fan of risqué performances, then you might've enjoyed a show over beverages in The Pink Flamingo Spiegeclub in Broadbeach since 2019. Now, it's the River City's turn without hitting the highway. And if you're wondering what a spiegelclub is, it takes cues from both spiegeltents and cabaret clubs, combining the vibe of both. Fans of burlesque, comedy and cabaret — and acrobatics and drag, too — can soak in a production at a purpose-built site that unsurprisingly follows the Gold Coast venue's lead when it comes to its favourite colour: pink, of course, as befitting its name. Hosting eight performances a week, The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland pairs its performances with food and cocktails. And as for what you'll be watching, Suavé, La Teaze and Ripped are the resident productions. All three shows now playing Brisbane have previously graced the stage on the Goldie — and yes, Ripped is a male revue if you're keen on a Magic Mike-esque experience.
Among the many ways to decide which wine next swirls around your glass, then across your tastebuds, Australia's Young Gun of Wine stands out. Since 2007, the awards have thrown some love at up-and-coming wine labels and winemakers across the nation, and not just because they make top-notch vino. These accolades take into account the whole story behind their tipples of choice each year — and 2024 now has its top 50. "Every year, we're seeing new ideas from the emerging talent, and they're shaping the environment that we get to enjoy. It's also not just about the products — it's the learnings that peers can take from their adventurous winemaking. It's also how they're presenting, labelling and talking about their work — how they're connecting with wine professionals and consumers," said Rory Kent, who founded YGOW, about 2024's picks. "That's why, uniquely and since day one, the wines for the Young Gun of Wine Awards are not tasted blind. These awards are as much about vision and leadership as they are about the quality of wine in the glass." 2024's top 50 spans drops from around most of Australia. Victoria is home to more spots on the list than anywhere else with 20, followed by South Australia with 17. New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory account for six wine labels and winemakers, Western Australia for four and Tasmania for three. The range also goes big on new names, which covers half of the finalists. This is the 18th year that YGOW has taken place, with the top 50 just one element. Now that Kent and his fellow 2024 judges — Jeremy Shiell from Winespeake, winemaker Meg Brodtmann, wine critic Nick Stock, Atlas Vinifera's Abby Moret and Orbis Wines' — have shared their favourites, winners of the accolades' six annual trophies will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 18. [caption id="attachment_681000" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] The Young Gun of Wine is the overall prize, while the Winemaker's Choice is a peer-chosen gong, Best New Act goes to a first-time finalist, Danger Zone to a boundary-pushing wine product, and The Vigneron to makers who show love in tending to their land and vines. The People's Choice award is self-explanatory, and currently open for votes until Tuesday, June 18. [caption id="attachment_773167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Young Gun of Wine 2024 Top 50: New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory: Agitate (Andrew Ling) Aristotelis Ke Anthoula (Tony Zafirakos and Maddison Park-Neilson) Intrepidus Wines (Chrissie Smith) Linear Wines (Nathan Brown) M&J Becker Wines (Meagan and James Becker) Sabi Wabi (Peta Kotz) South Australia: Agricola (Callum Powell) Alpha Box and Dice (Sam Berketa) Cape Jaffa Wines (Giulia Fiorovic and Federico Pezzino) Curator Wine Co (Daniel Zolotarev) Guthrie (Hugh Guthrie) J & S Fielke (Jemma and Steven Fielke) Jean Bouteille Wines (Jean-Baptiste Courdesses) Kenny Wine (Andrew Kenny) Mountadam (Caitlin Brown) Parley Wine (Melissa Woods and Sarah Feehan) Poppelvej (Uffe Deichmann) Saltfleet Wines (Kyle Egel and Jonny Cook) Scanlon Wines (Harry Scanlon) Turon Wines (Turon White) Wangolina (Anita Goode) Worlds Apart Wines (Louis Schofield) XO Wine Co (Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann) Tasmania: Aunt Alice (Alice Davidson) Marco Lubiana (Marco Lubiana) Utzinger Wines (Matthias Utzinger) Victoria: Alessandro Stefani (Alessandro Stefani) Alkimi Wines (Stuart Dudine) Allevare (Lucy Kendall and Alysha Moscatt) ECK Wines (Emily Kinsman) Gum Wine (George McCullough) Honky Chateau (Chris Ryan) Jones Winery & Vineyard — J6 Wines (Benjamin Jones) Juliard Wines (Jules Morey and Bernard Morey) Little Frances (Erin Frances Pooley) Mac Forbes Wines (Hannah Maltby) Meredith Wines (Ben Luker) Mise En Place Wines (Doug Lilburne) Musical Folk (James Becker) Nomads Garden (Ben Dahlenburg) Patch Wines (Matt Talbot) Port Phillip Estate (Tim Perrin) Portsea Estate (Matt Lugg and Will Ross) Scion (Rowly Milhinch) Tillie J Wines (Tillie Johnston) Werkstatt Wine (Bridget Mac) Western Australia: Fervor (Callum Garland) Chalari Wines (Alexi Christidis) Mon Tout (Nic Bowen and Richard Burch) Vallée du Venom (Rhys and Emma Parker) For more information about Young Gun of Wine, head to the awards' website. 2024's winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 18.
The National Gallery of Victoria's revolving door of blockbuster exhibitions shows no sign of slowing, with an exceptional meeting of creative minds next set to grace its halls. Running from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8 as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the NGV will play host to world-premiere exhibition Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi. This major showcase is set to feature more than 100 works by the famed French painter, seen through a fresh lens as accompanied by contemporary scenography by internationally renowned architect and designer Mahdavi. Originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic did its thing, the highly anticipated exhibition has been curated in conjunction with Paris' Musée d'Orsay — home to the world's largest collection of Bonnard works. [caption id="attachment_890701" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'The dining room in the country', 1913, Pierre Bonnard. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The John R. Van Derlip Fund.[/caption] An icon of late 19th and early 20th century art, and a good mate of Henri Matisse, Bonnard is known for his colourful, textural depictions of French life, offering stylised yet subtle glimpses of intimate domestic scenes, urban backdrops and natural landscapes. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi will showcase a hefty collection of the artist's own paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and other decorative objects, alongside works from his contemporaries — including Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton and cinematic pioneers the Lumière brothers. [caption id="attachment_890702" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'The window', 1925, Pierre Bonnard. Tate, London. Presented by Lord Ivor Spencer Churchill through the Contemporary Art Society, 1930.[/caption] Considered one of the world's most influential architects, multi-award-winning Mahdavi has been commissioned to help bring the historic pieces to life via her scenography, tasked with creating a setting that complements Bonnard's signature use of colour and light. "Monsieur Bonnard and I share the same passion: colour," Mahdavi explains of the exhibition. "I love his subjective perception of colour — the way he transforms the intimacy of everyday life into something sublime." Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi will include numerous pieces on loan from the Musée d'Orsay, as well as other museums and private collections in Europe, Australia and the USA. They'll be joined by significant works from the NGV's own collection, including Bonnard's 1900 painting La Sieste (Siesta). [caption id="attachment_890703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Siesta (La Sieste)', 1900, Pierre Bonnard. National Gallery of Victoria, Felton Bequest, 1949.[/caption] 'Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi' will run at the NGV International from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. For more information, see the venue's website. Top image: 'Coffee', 1915, Pierre Bonnard. Tate, London. Presented by Sir Michael Sadler through the NACF, 1941.
When Whitney Houston sang 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', the world believed her. It wasn't just the energetic beat or joyous tone that struck a chord, but the dynamic power of Houston's voice. Her prowess wasn't new news — released in 1987, the track was the first single from her second album, and became her fourth consecutive number one single in the US. And yet, when she trilled so explosively about finding someone to dance with, she seemed like a woman who not only wanted to share her life with that one special person, but also wanted to share her talent with the entire planet. With Whitney, director Kevin Macdonald tests that theory. Giving the pop superstar the same probing treatment that has driven his previous movies about Bob Marley, artist Cai Guo-Qiang and fellow documentarian Errol Morris, among others, the filmmaker behind Touching the Void, State of Play and Black Sea explores the what, how and why of Houston's life in a thoughtful and solemn fashion. What did she want out of her career? How did she try to achieve it? Why did her story turn out the way it did? They're the questions at the heart of this birth-to-death portrait, all examining the tragic tale of someone who sang like no one else, crooned hits that were heard around the globe and broke music records, but was rarely able to be herself. If you're already a fan, you'll know the minutiae. Even if you're not, you'll still be aware of Houston's substance abuse issues, and the way that her life came to an end. Macdonald combines candid interviews with Houston's loved ones — including her gospel singer mother Cissy Houston and her ex-husband Bobby Brown — with archival footage, performance clips, family photos, recording demos and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the movie's eponymous figure. Of course, it's not only Houston's specific tale that feels familiar, but the fact that this narrative has played out with plenty of other famous folks of late. Recent documentaries about Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain relayed very similar details, and Whitney: Can I Be Me? tread very similar ground just last year, albeit relying more heavily on backstage footage and focusing more firmly on Houston's relationship with friend Robyn Crawford. Whitney mightn't tell viewers much that's new; however it assembles its various pieces with a force on par with Houston's roaring voice. The editing on display in the film's contextual montages — which weave together ads and events from the time, Houston's work, and intimate photographs — sets a swift pace that never lets up, as Macdonald squeezes as much as he can into the documentary's two-hour running time. There are gaps, with Brown refusing to talk about drug use, and only some parts of Houston's career getting in-depth attention. There are also splashes of particularly incisive, penetrating insight, including a dissection of the impact of race and class. And there's one huge, heartbreaking revelation, although the way it's treated as a third-act twist sits cheaply and uncomfortably. Throughout it all, there's Houston herself. As the rise-and-fall music biopic genre understands all too well, there's no substitute for letting a film's subject prove their merits in their own way, with their own voice and in their own words. In Whitney, it's seeing Houston perform that shapes the documentary's sorrowful melody — and, expressly, seeing her shows evolve over the years. First, she's a bright-eyed teenager making her first TV appearance. Soon, she's the most famous singer in the world, unleashing her distinctive take on 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the 1991 Super Bowl. Later, she's an object of derision during her final tour, which caused walkouts when she came to Brisbane, as the movie shows. Out of all of the above, it's her 1983 rendition of 'Home' on The Merv Griffin Show that echoes throughout the doco, so much so that Macdonald uses it to bookend the picture. With Houston radiant in a purple dress but shining brighter out of sheer talent, the clip perfectly embodies the film's message: that she simply wanted to sing, dance and soar, but couldn't chase away her demons as she chased her dreams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU2g2w70kG0
What do perusing the inaugural SXSW Sydney conference program and scrolling through Netflix have in common? Artificial intelligence, cybernetics, tech-enhanced dating, social media's ups and downs, science fiction-esque healthcare applications, digital afterlives and interactive gaming all feature in both — and the list goes on. On the streaming platform, you'll find the above in Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror. Since starting with a squeal in 2011, the British anthology series has become pop culture's go-to place for futuristic visions dripping with unease. It ponders what might come, often with prophetic insight, and imagines how humanity's use of any given gadget or advancement will bring out our worst impulses. No one is going home from SXSW Sydney with nightmares, of course. Still, it couldn't be a better place for the creator of Black Mirror to dive into the latest in tech and future innovations. He's one of the keynote speakers at the first-ever SXSW outside of Austin, Texas since it was founded in 1987, getting chatting in an interview-style discussion about his hit series, its ideas and what fascinates him about technology. "Luckily I don't have to deliver a speech," he tells Concrete Playground after freshly arriving in Sydney. "When you say 'keynote speaker', I always get a stab of fear like an anxiety dream where you haven't done your homework, because I have not prepared a speech. So I'm just going to answer questions as off the cuff as I can." [caption id="attachment_922397" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney[/caption] From the moment that Brooker was added to the SXSW Sydney lineup, joining a bill that also features Chance The Rapper celebrating 50 years of hip hop and Future Today Institute CEO Amy Webb musing on tomorrow's possibilities — plus literally hundreds of other speakers and sessions — the two seemed a dream pairing. Somehow, this is the first time that Brooker and SXSW have connected at all. "I've not been to South by Southwest in the States. I've not been there, and I've never been to Sydney before, either," he explains. "So these are two firsts for me happening concurrently, so that's very exciting, and I'm intrigued to see what it's all about." As well as Brooker's in-conversation session on Wednesday, October 18, SXSW Sydney is about everything from streaming algorithms to simulations. True crime features on the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival lineup, too — but no, even with the two clearly sharing plenty of fields of interest, the event isn't happening inside the latest and sixth season of Black Mirror that arrived this past June. [caption id="attachment_917938" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] What should get fans of Brooker's work particularly buzzing is his SXSW Sydney plans beyond regaling an audience. On the list for the former video gaming journalist, satirist, Wipe franchise host, creator of both Big Brother-but-zombies gem Dead Set and the Cunk mockumentaries, and the reason that Netflix also has choose-your-own-adventure-style interactive short Cat Burglar in its catalogue: "digging into obviously the screen side of things, and also the video games and technology side of things". Will the next season of Black Mirror find its basis in SXSW Sydney's talks upon talks? Will Sydney inspire a new Philomena Cunk instalment after this year's Cunk on Earth? And how does someone navigate a tech, innovation, ideas, music, screen and gaming conference when they gave the world a series that's become synonymous with tech anxiety? As Brooker soaked in the Harbour City's weather — "it seems like there's about ten times the amount of light here, whereas in Britain it always feels a bit like it's on eco-saving mode" — he told us about all of the above, plus marvelling at getting to talk to anyone about Black Mirror, being mistaken for being anti-technology and his dream to make a Black Mirror game. [caption id="attachment_922398" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney[/caption] ON DISCUSSING BLACK MIRROR AT SXSW — AND STILL MARVELLING AT THE SHOW'S IMPACT Ask Brooker if he ever imagined that Black Mirror would bring him to SXSW's stage and he's emphatic that it didn't even cross his mind. "I didn't conceive that I would be talking to anyone about it other than myself, so I'm amazed and delighted that I can talk to anyone about the show. I wouldn't have foreseen it at all," he advises. "Our first episode, the story of that is quite divisive. Certainly way back yonder when doing the very first episodes of the very first series, at that point I thought 'wow, this is never going to…'. I just, in my head, assumed it would only ever be of interest colloquially in Britain." "It's been astonishing that the show has travelled, as they say, or it's got legs or whatever you want — global reach, whatever you call it. That is constantly startling to me." "I've come here to Sydney, so I'm on the other side of the world from where I normally am. I don't often go out of London, basically. I'm a writer, so I spend most of my time sitting typing in in West London. And so I have to occasionally check myself. I think it's weird I've flown all the way to Sydney, Australia, and I can talk to people who've heard of the show. That's quite odd — that does my head in." ON BLACK MIRROR BECOMING SHORTHAND FOR TECH ANXIETIES, DYSTOPIA AND NIGHTMARES It's inspired by The Twilight Zone. It surveys the tech landscape. It's famed for predicting everything from Prime Minister pig scandals to social currency systems. And it features a spectacular cast, with Daniel Kaluuya (Nope), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Sarah Snook (Succession), Andrew Scott (Fleabag), Annie Murphy (Schitt's Creek), Salma Hayek (Magic Mike's Last Dance), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Breaking Bad co-stars Aaron Paul and Jesse Plemons, and Miley Cyrus are just some of its stars. Black Mirror isn't just a series that the entire world knows about, though. It has become a term itself. That too isn't something that Brooker ever anticipated. "It is weird. It's an odd thing to have done. I remember the first time I really thought 'ohh okay, this has entered common vernacular in ways beyond the reach of the show itself'. I think it was in 2016 that somebody said, 'hey, did you see Hillary Clinton just referred to something as being a bit Black Mirror?'. And I thought 'oh my god, that's a bit Black Mirror in itself'." "So it's weird. Actually, the only aspect of that I find frustrating is when people assume I'm going to be anti-tech or that I'm some Luddite who thinks we should smash all computers up with his shoe, because I'm actually quite pro-technology. It would be the worst job if you hated technology, doing Black Mirror, because a lot of it involves thinking about product design of some gizmo or other that someone's going to use to wreck their own life. What it's showing is that it's human foibles that are the problem, not the amazing tool that is technology in and of itself." "So that's the only aspect I find frightening. That said, I love it if people are going say, 'oh, that's a bit Black Mirror' about some new Samsung fridge that comes out that sings to you every time you pour milk from it. That's all free publicity for me." ON POTENTIALLY FINDING NEW BLACK MIRROR OR PHILOMENA CUNK IDEAS AT SXSW SYDNEY Anyone who's ever watched Black Mirror is always wondering what's coming next, whether the series is dropping an interactive film such as 2019's Bandersnatch or years have passed between seasons (four from 2019's fifth season to 2023's sixth, for instance). If you've seen Cunk on Earth and its predecessors Cunk on Shakespeare, Cunk on Christmas and Cunk on Britain, the same train of thought applies. Perhaps SXSW Sydney might inspire the next chapter in both Brooker-created shows. "I was thinking we should send Cunk here, because we're always looking for nice filming locations, apart from anything else. And I know Diane [Morgan, who has played Philomena Cunk since 2013–15's Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe] hates it when it's cold. That's her main complaint — she doesn't like being anywhere cold." "Hopefully I'll go home with a head full of all sorts of things. It's interesting because, like I say, it's a new experience for me being here — and then we're also we're going to travel a bit over the next week." "I'm looking forward to digging into the video games and VR side of things that are going on the South by Southwest, partly because I used to be a video games journalist — so I'm also very interested in all of that as well." ON EXPLORING INTERACTIVE AND GAMIFIED STORYTELLING WITH BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH — AND THE DREAM OF MAKING A BLACK MIRROR GAME A series about technological possibilities, Black Mirror fills its frames with new gadgets and inventions — and new evolutions of today's tech as well. As Black Mirror: Bandersnatch showed when it had audiences pushing buttons to guide a gaming programmer through his decisions, Brooker's hit also likes tinkering with its own technology. He'd like to do more. "I'd love to do a sort of full-bore video game, as it were. With Bandersnatch, actually the original design was even more explicitly game-y than the finished thing ended up being. There were going to be achievements you could unlock, and stuff like this. And it was structured a bit more like an escape room puzzle that you had to solve," he explains. [caption id="attachment_922399" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kevin Lake[/caption] "It feels like it's a very different skill set. I think the most-impressive video games that I encounter tend to be, when they tell a story, they tell it in a way that you couldn't do in any other medium. So I'm thinking of games like Lucas Pope — he did a game called Papers, Please and a game called Return of the Obra Dinn." "Those are both fascinating and very different, but really interesting forms of storytelling. I think all scriptwriters should sit down with those games and see how they tell a story in a very deceptive way — they're puzzles, but they tell quite complex stories." "I'm in awe of that sort of thing. I don't think I probably have the skillset to be able to think that way. But I'd love to see a full a full-blown Black Mirror video game. That'd be great." Charlie Brooker in Conversation takes place at SXSW Sydney at 1pm on Wednesday, October 18 in the Pyrmont Theatre at ICC Sydney, 14 Darling Drive, Sydney. SXSW Sydney runs from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, and SXSW Sydney Screen Festival from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Black Mirror streams via Netflix. Read our review of season six. Cunk on Earth also streams via Netflix. Read our review. Top image: Netflix.
If you had plans to see Childish Gambino in Australia and New Zealand in 2025, you were likely paying close attention when he announced in early October that he was cancelling the remainder of his North American tour, and also his UK and European dates. A trip Down Under was meant to follow, and wasn't scrapped at the time; however, it's officially no longer going ahead. There'll be no summertime magic after all, then, after the musician that you also know as Donald Glover first announced four Australian shows for 2025, then expanded his local dates before general ticket sales even started. For the rapper, hip hop talent and Mr & Mrs Smith actor, this was set to be his first trip to these shores since 2019. Dates at Auckland's Spark Arena in January, then at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and RAC Arena in Perth are all now cancelled. When Gambino's shows elsewhere were scraped, he advised on social media that he'd been "to the hospital in Houston to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent" after a show in New Orleans. "After being assessed, it became clear I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the US tour in the time asked. As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal," the statement continued. "My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously. With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the North American tour and the UK and European dates. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase." [caption id="attachment_955315" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eli Watson via Flickr.[/caption] This situation might sound familiar. When Gambino last headed this way — complete with a headline spot at Splendour in the Grass — it was after initially announcing a 2018 Australian tour, then cancelling it due to an ongoing injury. Before that, he performed at Falls Festival in 2016. Gambino mightn't have been on Aussie stages for a spell — and still won't be anytime soon — but Glover had the final two seasons of Atlanta, both in 2022, reach screens since he was last Down Under. Voice work on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, producing TV series Swarm, the aforementioned Mr & Mrs Smith: they've all joined his resume as well. He'll also be heard as Simba again in Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to 2019's photorealistic version of The Lion King, before 2024 is out. [caption id="attachment_955317" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eli Watson via Flickr.[/caption] Childish Gambino 'The New World' Tour 2025 Australia and New Zealand Dates Tuesday, January 28 — Spark Arena, Auckland — CANCELLED Saturday, February 1 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane — CANCELLED Tuesday, February 4–Wednesday, February 5 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney — CANCELLED Friday, February 7–Saturday, February 8 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne — CANCELLED Tuesday, February 11 — RAC Arena, Perth — CANCELLED Childish Gambino is no longer touring Australia and New Zealand in January and February 2025. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas via Flickr.
For residents of Brisbane, southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales, the week commencing Monday, March 3, 2025 is starting with a key piece of advice: stay safe and dry. The Bureau of Meteorology has advised that Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to impact the area, including potentially making landfall near the Sunshine State capital. Wet, windy and wild weather is expected from Bundaberg down to the Gold Coast and into the Northern Rivers, complete with daily rainfall totals up to 600 millimetres — and authorities are telling residents to prepare now. As at 4am AEST, Tropical Cyclone Alfred is around 465 kilometres northeast of Brisbane and 410 kilometres east northeast of Maroochydore, but the Category 2 storm is due to head south, then west. First, on Monday it is predicted to keep travelling southeast, away from Queensland's coastline, the Bureau advised in a morning update. Come Tuesday, however, it'll shift, coming back towards the southern Queensland coast. ⚠️Issued 4:51am AEST Monday 3 March 2025⚠️ 🌀The latest track map for Tropical #CycloneAlfred is available. Regardless of the track Alfred takes, severe coastal hazards are likely for southern #Qld and north-east #NSW. Track Map & Cyclone Bulletin: https://t.co/OGEZjBtOPJ pic.twitter.com/hhckFxyQtj — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 2, 2025 While updates will keep being issued, the forecast for Brisbane and the Gold Coast for Thursday, March 6 already notes "cyclone possible" on the BOM website. The Bureau presently notes that "heavy to locally intense rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Wednesday as Alfred approaches the coast" — and that the regions should all be on flood watch. "We are seeing sustained winds near the centre of the cyclone of 95 kilometres an hour and wind gusts to 130 kilometres an hour," Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How also advised. "It is moving in a southeasterly direction at around 13 kilometres an hour, sort of about a running pace, moving down towards the southeast." On Sunday, March 2, Brisbane City Council issued a weather alert communicating that Alfred "will potentially produce damaging or destructive wind gusts and isolated heavy rainfall which may cause flash flooding, from late Wednesday through until the weekend", and urged Brisbanites to "make all necessary preparations for possible severe weather impacts". On the list: clearing yards and gutters, securing loose items outside and trimming tree branches. The BCC website has a guide for being prepared for an emergency that's worth bookmarking. Also on Sunday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli held a press conference about the storm, revealing that waves in some parts of the state — in the Wide Bay area — were already hitting 14 metres due to the cyclone. He also said that an official Tropical Cyclone warning was likely in the coming days. It has been 35 years since Cyclone Nancy threatened Brisbane. Back in 2019, Cyclone Oma also sat off the coast. While the River City mightn't seem like cyclone territory, the 1893 and 1974 floods were the result of cyclonic weather systems — and the latter was caused by a slow-moving cyclone. The Bureau's Brissie forecasts predict possible showers on Monday, a shower or two on Tuesday, wind and showers on Wednesday, all with temperature maximums of 31, 30 and 28 — and with winds up to 90 kilometres an hour on Wednesday. Thursday's prediction is currently "very high chance of rain" plus "the chance of a thunderstorm" and "destructive wind gusts exceeding 130 kilometres an hour possible depending on movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Alfred". From there, wind and heavy rain is expected on Friday, then showers across the weekend. Your plans for the week obviously might change due to the weather situation. Already, the AFL has flagged that it's keeping an eye out given that the first game of the 2025 season, with premiers Brisbane facing Geelong, is scheduled to take place at the Gabba on Thursday night. The Bureau of Meteorology will continue to update its warnings and maps regularly — visit its website for further details and updates.
SXSW is taking over Sydney between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. It's the first time that the world-renowned music, film, tech and gaming conference has left the US — and it has a jam-packed eight-day program in store. Included on the lineup is a slate of over 700 speakers, who will be appearing on talks and panels during the festival's massive conference. You can browse the full schedule at the SXSW Sydney website, but it's pretty overwhelming with plenty of not-to-be-missed sessions popping up each and every day. In order to help you plan out your fest, we've compiled our picks for the cream of the crop — ten absolute must-catch conference sessions at SXSW Sydney 2023. Our recommendations include looks at Australia's arts and culinary scenes, big-name creatives sitting down for exclusive chats, and even a panel that we've pulled together ourselves pondering the future of journalism and digital learning. APPETITE FOR DISTRACTION: YOUTH, INFORMATION AND THE DIGITAL AGE Gone are the days of "I read an article about". Gone are even the days of "actually, I just saw the headline". We're now well and truly in the age of "I watched a TikTok". The way that we absorb information is constantly changing, and right now video is ruling — especially among gen z and millennials. Concrete Playground's very own SXSW Sydney panel is looking at just this, pulling together a group of video-first creatives to discuss how young people are consuming info in the digital age. The panel will feature Pedestrian.TV's Issy Phillips to discuss news and journalism in the era of short-form video; astrophysicist and scientific communicator Kirsten Banks to chat about the role of TikTok, Reels and YouTube in sparking people's love in all things space; and Concrete Playground's very own Ben Hansen to talk about how we're searching for recommendations and deciding how to fill our calendar in 2023. Catch Appetite for Distraction: Youth Information and the Digital Age at 2pm on Wednesday, October 18 at Room E3.9, ICC Sydney. [caption id="attachment_917272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony Quintano via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP FEATURING CHANCE THE RAPPER "As we celebrate 50 years of hip hop in 2023, I'm reminded of the transformative power this culture has had, not just on the world stage, but on the streets of Chicago's South Side," said Chance The Rapper, announcing his SXSW Sydney appearance. The three-time Grammy winner is appearing on the event's lineup to discuss the global impact of the genre five decades after DJ Kool Herc first isolated percussion breaks, then repeated them — and made history. "Chance The Rapper is renowned for both his chart topping and community advocacy. There's few out there like him, who take what they've made and use it to build the dreams of others," noted SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. The conversation should be top of the must-see list for all hip hop heads and music lovers in general. It also stands as the marquee session in a program full of hip hop — including other panels like Hip Hop How a Generation Is Changing the World, films like OneFour: Against All Odds, and boundary-pushing sets from rappers Redveil, Barkaa, Zion Garcia and Flyanna Boss. Catch 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop ft. Chance the Rapper at 1pm on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_856346" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Boud[/caption] THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY — MICHAEL CASSEL AM AND KIP WILLIAMS IN CONVERSATION After selling out multiple Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland runs, and before it hits the UK's West End with an iteration starring Succession's Sarah Snook, Sydney Theatre Company's The Picture of Dorian Gray is being dissected at SXSW Sydney. Premiering in Sydney in 2020, this take on the tale uses video and theatre to get its star playing 26 characters. In the Australian runs, Eryn Jean Norvill has done the honours, and brilliantly, with Snook following in the actor's footsteps abroad. Renowned producer Michael Cassel AM will sit down with Sydney Theatre Company's Artistic Director Kip Williams to discuss the imaginative, groundbreaking and thought-provoking stage show. Developed right here in Australia by a local creative team during the pandemic, the The Picture of Dorian Gray is a real success story for Australia's arts scene — and this is your chance to take a look under the hood and hear what's next for the production. Catch The Picture of Dorian Gray — Michael Cassel AM and Kip Williams at 4pm on Tuesday, October 17 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_820444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nine Perfect Strangers, Vince Valitutti/Hulu[/caption] A SPOTLIGHT ON BLOSSOM FILMS In a late addition to the SXSW Sydney program, Australian icon Nicole Kidman is joining the event. Adding one of the nation's most famous acting names at home and in America to perhaps the biggest tech, innovation, screen, music, games and culture festival that Australia has ever seen is fitting. 2023 marks 40 years since Kidman starred in BMX Bandits, but that's not why she'll be taking to the SXSW Sydney stage as part of its massive speaker lineup. Instead, she'll be chatting with her producing partner Per Saari about her production company Blossom Films. On its resume: the Nickers-starring Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and Rabbit Hole, as well as this year's Elizabeth Olsen (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)-led Love & Death. Catch A Spotlight on Blossom Films on at 11am on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. DERRICK GEE — HOW TO TALK MUSIC (ON THE INTERNET) You may have come across the soothing tones of Derrick Gee's voice on your TikTok or Instagram feeds chatting about Erika De Casier, audio equipment or the international influence of yacht rock. If you haven't, this is your sign to get lost in his videos right now. Gee will be hitting the SXSW Sydney stage to discuss the wonders of discussing music on the world wide web. Sometimes music feels like this indescribable thing, but other times genres feel like they've been talked to death; however, Gee has a distinct way of finding the story and the humanity in the music he chats about. This is a must-see session whether you're a band or promoter looking to change up how you communicate your music online, a lover of all things sound or just like Derrick Gee's videos. Catch Derrick Gee — How to Talk Music (On the Internet) at 11.30am on Friday, October 20 at The Guthrie Theatre, UTS Building 6. INDIGENOUS COLLABORATION: MAKING FILMS THAT HEAL Māoriland Film Festival, the world's largest Indigenous film festival, joins the SXSW Sydney lineup in conjunction with UNESCO Wellington City of Film with a panel featuring award-winning talent from across the film industry. The focus: discussing Indigenous collaboration, plus creating films that facilitate change, and help the audience and the filmmakers heal. On the panel: writer and director Chantelle Murray (My Name is Mudju, Elvis, Thor: Love and Thunder); Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows, Moana Reo Māori, Talk to Me), the first Indigenous woman to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar; Māoriland Film Festival Director and producer Libby Hakaraia; and independent film and television producer, director, writer and presenter Tainui Stephens. Catch Indigenous Collaboration: Making Films That Heal at 3.30pm on Monday, October 16 at Cinema Theatre, UTS Building 6. BETTER THAN YESTERDAY WITH OSHER GÜNSBERG TV personality and author Osher Günsberg is bringing two live episodes of his podcast Better Than Yesterday to SXSW Sydney. The man of many talents — including the host of Australian Idol and The Bachelor, creator of the satirical news parody NTNNNN: Night Time News Network Nightly News and narrator of Bondi Rescue — will take to the stage for two long-form interviews about how we can work towards a brighter tomorrow. The first, on Wednesday, October 18, will be with psychotherapist and holistic counsellor Diane Young. Günsberg and Young will discuss the ramifications of addiction — however, they'll do so with the hope of creating a constructive conversation that will leave the audience feeling "better than yesterday". The following day, Günsberg will sit down with activist, politician and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett. The conversation will traverse Garrett's storied career and also see the musician announce a brand new musical project. Catch Better Than Yesterday with Osher Günsberg at 10am on Wednesday, October 18 and 10am on Thursday, October 19 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_917939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] CHARLIE BROOKER IN CONVERSATION If you're a bit wary of technology's ever-growing influence in humanity's daily lives — be it artificial intelligence, streaming algorithms, social media, drones, augmented reality or online dating, to name just a few examples — then Charlie Brooker and Black Mirror might be one of the reasons. Since 2011, they've been spinning dystopian nightmares about what might happen as tech evolves. In plenty of cases, they've been satirising and interrogating innovations we use today, and what their next step might be. Yes, that makes Brooker the perfect speaker to get chatting at SXSW Sydney. "Black Mirror consistently leads the cultural conversation on what we face in the now or may confront in our future, offering a chance for reflection and change. Charlie embodies what attendees can expect from SXSW Sydney: creativity and innovation," says SXSW Sydney Managing Director Colin Daniels. Catch Charlie Brooker in Conversation at 1pm on Wednesday, October 18 — check the website for venue details. [caption id="attachment_759108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF CHINATOWN? Sydney's Chinatown finds itself in an interesting situation. In some ways, it's continuing to thrive, with the streets packed every Friday night and a fleet of new venues arriving post-lockdown. At the same time, urban sprawl, the cost of living and changing migration patterns have seen the city's Asian diaspora move out to the suburbs more and more. Moderated by Soul of Chinatown's Eddie Ma, this panel will break down where Chinatown is now and what's to come for the bustling inner-city district. The roster of experts joining Ma includes acclaimed chef and Chinatown resident Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms. G's, MuMu), property developer and Chinatown advocate Brad Chan, and award-winning architect Qianyi Lim. Catch What Is The Future of Chinatown? at 10am on Wednesday, October 18 at Theatrette, Powerhouse Museum. HORROR & AUDIENCE: WHY WE LOVE TO BE TERRIFIED Whether you love them, hate them or love to hate them, people flock to horror movies — and thanks to studios like A24 and an exciting batch of homegrown horror filmmakers, the genre is having a real moment right now. This panel features four leading voices in horror movies, discussing why they find the genre enthralling, the art of horror storytelling and where the spookiest of films are heading. Daley Pearson leads the lineup of speakers, bringing experience from his eclectic career to the stage, including executive producing Bluey, creating the concept for Danny and Michael Philippou's Talk to Me and playing Thor's roommate Darryl on Team Thor and Team Daryl. Joining Pearson will be Wyrmwood director Kiah Roache-Turner, filmmaker Natalie Erika James (Relic) and Causeway Films producer Samantha Jennings (Talk to Me, You Won't Be Alone, Of An Age). Catch Horror & Audience: Why We Love to Be Terrified at 2pm on Thursday, October 19 at Cinema Theatre, UTS Building 6. SXSW Sydney runs from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Top image: Brittany Hallberg.
Whenever projectors have whirred in 2023, it has sometimes been thanks to seasoned filmmakers at the top of their games. Whenever silver screens have come alive with new sound-and-vision delights, it's sometimes been due to new voices making glorious debuts, too. Both are hallmarks of an exceptional year at the movies, as the 15 best films of 2023 show — because when beloved greats are delivering the goods and the next generations are making instant masterpieces, the state of cinema as an artform is glowing. The one caveat to the above, and a reminder that's worth repeating each and every year: thanks to the hundreds of titles that make their way to picture palaces across each annual calendar, there's no such thing as a bad 12 months of films. Still, each year's crop is boasts its own wonders, surprises and thrills — and 2023 was no different. Not all movies can be stunners, of course, but this year brought electrifying takes on Frankenstein, plus both Martin Scorsese and Hayao Miyazaki's new masterpieces, swooning love stories, blasts into the past, haunting documentaries and pink-hued playtimes our way. They're all among our 15 best films of 2023 — and most unforgettable — complete with excellent company. POOR THINGS Richly striking feats of cinema by Yorgos Lanthimos aren't scarce. Sublime performances by Emma Stone are hardly infrequent. Screen takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein couldn't be more constant. For Lanthimos, see: Dogtooth and Alps in the Greek Weird Wave filmmaker's native language, plus The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Favourite since he started helming movies in English. With Stone, examples abound in her Best Actress Oscar for La La Land, supporting nominations before and after for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and Lanthimos' aforementioned regal satire, and twin 2024 Golden Globe nods for their latest collaboration as well as TV's The Curse. And as for the best gothic-horror story there is, not to mention one of the most influential sci-fi stories ever, the evidence is everywhere from traditional adaptations to debts owed as widely as The Rocky Horror Show and M3GAN. Combining the three results in a rarity, however: a jewel of a pastel-, jewel- and bodily fluid-toned feminist Frankenstein-esque fairy tale that's a stunning creation, as zapped to life with Lanthimos' inimitable flair, a mischievous air, Stone at her most extraordinary and empowerment blazing like a lightning bolt. With cascading black hair, an inquisitive stare, incessant frankness and jolting physical mannerisms, Poor Things' star is Bella Baxter in this adaptation of Alasdair Grey's award-winning 1992 novel by Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara (The Great). Among the reasons that the movie and its lead portrayal are so singular: as a character with a woman's body revived with a baby's brain, Stone plays someone from infancy to adulthood, all with the astonishingly exact mindset and mannerisms to match, and while making every move, choice and feeling as organic as birth, living and death. In this fantastical steampunk vision of Victorian-era Europe, London-based Scottish doctor Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe, Asteroid City) is Bella's maker. Even if she didn't call him God, he's been playing it. But curiosity, the quest for agency and independence, horniness and a lust for adventure all beckon his creation on a radical, rebellious, gorgeously rendered, gloriously funny and generously insightful odyssey. So, Godwin tries to marry Bella off to medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef, Ramy), only for her to discover masturbation and sex, and run off to the continent with caddish lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). Read our full review. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon quickly. Death comes to Killers of the Flower Moon often. While Martin Scorsese will later briefly fill the film's frames with a fiery orange vision — with what almost appears to be a lake of flames deep in oil country, as dotted with silhouettes of men — death blazes through his 26th feature from the moment that the picture starts rolling. Adapted from journalist David Grann's 2017 non-fiction novel Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, with the filmmaker himself and Dune's Eric Roth penning the screenplay, this is a masterpiece of a movie about a heartbreakingly horrible spate of deaths sparked by pure and unapologetic greed and persecution a century back. Scorsese's two favourite actors in Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up) and Robert De Niro (Amsterdam) are its stars, alongside hopefully his next go-to in Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs), but murder and genocide are as much at this bold and brilliant, epic yet intimate, ambitious and absorbing film's centre — all in a tale that's devastatingly true. As Mollie Kyle, a member of the Osage Nation in Grey Horse, Oklahoma, incomparable Certain Women standout Gladstone talks through some of the movie's homicides early. Before her character meets DiCaprio's World War I veteran Ernest Burkhart — nephew to De Niro's cattle rancher and self-proclaimed 'king of the Osage' William King Hale — she notes that several Indigenous Americans that have been killed, with Mollie mentioning a mere few to meet untimely ends. There's nothing easy about this list, nor is there meant to be. Some are found dead, others seen laid out for their eternal rest, and each one delivers a difficult image. But a gun fired at a young mother pushing a pram inspires a shock befitting a horror film. The genre fits here, in its way, as do many others as Killers of the Flower Moon follows Burkhart's arrival in town, his deeds under his uncle's guidance, his romance with Mollie and the tragedies that keep springing: American crime saga, aka the realm that Scorsese has virtually made his own, as well as romance, relationship drama, western, true crime and crime procedural. Read our full review, and our interview with Martin Scorsese. PAST LIVES Call it fate, call it destiny, call it deeply feeling like you were always meant to cross paths with someone: in Korean, that sensation is in-yeon. Partway through Past Lives, aspiring writer Nora (Greta Lee, Russian Doll) explains the concept to fellow scribe Arthur (John Magaro, Showing Up) like she knows it deep in her bones, because both she and the audience are well-aware that she does. That's what writer/director Celine Song's sublime feature debut is about from its first frames to its last. With Arthur, Nora jokes that in-yeon is something that Koreans talk about when they're trying to seduce someone. There's truth to her words, because she'll end up married to him. But with her childhood crush Hae Sung (Teo Yoo, Decision to Leave), who she last saw at the age of 12 because her family then moved from Seoul to Toronto, in-yeon explains everything. It sums up their firm connection as kids, the instant spark that ignites when they reunite in their 20s via emails and Skype calls, and the complicated emotions that swell when they're finally in the same place together again after decades — even with Arthur in the picture as well. Song also emigrated to Canada with her parents as a pre-teen, but achieves that always-sought-after feat: making a movie that feels so intimately specific to its characters, and yet resonates so heartily and universally. Each time that Nora and Hae Sung slide back into each other's lives, it feels like no time has passed, but that doesn't smooth their way forward. Crafted to resemble slipping into a memory, complete with lingering looks and a transportingly evocative score, this feature knows every emotion that arises when you need someone and vice versa, but life has other plans. It feels the weight of the roads not taken, even when you're happy with the route you're on. It's a film about details — spying them everywhere, in Nora and Hae Sung's lives and their faces, while recognising how the best people in anyone's orbits spot them as well. Lee, Yoo and Magaro are each magnetic and magnificent, as is everything about this sensitive, blisteringly honest and intimately complex masterpiece. And, in one specific shot, waiting for a car has never felt so loaded and conflicted. Read our full review, and our interview with Celine Song. AFTERSUN The simplest things in life can be the most revealing, whether it's a question asked of a father by a child, an exercise routine obeyed almost mindlessly or a man stopping to smoke someone else's old cigarette while wandering through a holiday town alone at night. The astonishing feature debut by Scottish writer/director Charlotte Wells, Aftersun is about the simple things. Following the about-to-turn-31 Calum (Paul Mescal, Foe) and his daughter Sophie (debutant Frankie Corio) on vacation in Turkey in the late 90s, it includes all of the above simple things, plus more. It tracks, then, that this coming-of-age story on three levels — of an 11-year-old flirting with adolescence, a dad struggling with his place in the world, and an adult woman with her own wife and family grappling with a life-changing experience from her childhood — is always a movie of deep, devastating and revealing complexity. Earning the internet's Normal People-starring boyfriend a Best Actor Oscar nomination, and deservedly so, Aftersun is a reflective, ruminative portrait of heartbreak. It's a quest to find meaning in sorrow and pain, too, and in processing the past. Wells has crafted a chronicle of interrogating, contextualising, reframing and dwelling in memories; an examination of leaving and belonging; and an unpacking of the complicated truths that a kid can't see about a parent until they're old enough to be that parent. Breaking up Calum and Sophie's sun-dappled coastal holiday with the older Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall, Vox Lux) watching camcorder footage from the trip, sifting through her recollections and dancing it out under a nightclub's strobing lights in her imagination, this is also a stunning realisation that we'll always read everything we can into a loved one's actions with the benefit of hindsight, but all we ever truly have is the sensation that lingers in our hearts and heads. Understanding why the adult Sophie is scouring VHS tapes and her mind's eye for far more than mere nostalgia involves doing what everyone on a resort getaway does: hanging out. Aftersun spends much of its time in the simple holiday moments, including by the pool, at dinner, singing karaoke, day tripping, and in Sophie and Calum's room — and lets these ordinary, everyday occurrences, and the details that flow from them, confess everything they can. Read our full review, and our interview with Charlotte Wells. OPPENHEIMER Cast Cillian Murphy and a filmmaker falls in love. Danny Boyle did with 28 Days Later and Sunshine, then Christopher Nolan followed with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception and Dunkirk. There's an arresting, haunting, seeps-under-your-skin soulfulness about the Irish actor, never more so than when he was wandering solo through the empty zombie-ravaged streets in his big-screen big break, then hurtling towards the sun in an underrated sci-fi gem, both for Boyle, and now playing "the father of atomic bomb" in Nolan's epic biopic Oppenheimer. Flirting with the end of the world, or just one person's end, clearly suits Murphy. Here he is in a mind-blower as the destroyer of worlds — almost, perhaps actually — and so much of this can't-look-away three-hour stunner dwells in his expressive eyes. As J Robert Oppenheimer, those peepers see purpose and possibility. They spot quantum mechanics' promise, and the whole universe lurking within that branch of physics. They ultimately spy the consequences, too, of bringing the Manhattan Project successfully to fruition during World War II. Dr Strangelove's full title could never apply to Oppenheimer, nor to its eponymous figure; neither learn to stop worrying and love the bomb. The theoretical physicist responsible for the creation of nuclear weapons did enjoy building it in Nolan's account, Murphy's telltale eyes gleaming as Oppy watches research become reality — but then darkening as he gleans what that reality means. Directing, writing and adapting the 2005 biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin, Nolan charts the before and after. He probes the fission and fusion of the situation in intercut parts, the first in colour, the second in black and white. In the former, all paths lead to the history-changing Trinity test on July 16, 1945 in the New Mexico desert. In the latter, a mushroom cloud balloons through Oppenheimer's life as he perceives what the gadget, as it's called in its development stages, has unleashed. Read our full review. EO David Attenborough's nature documentaries are acclaimed and beloved viewing, including when they're recreating dinosaurs. Family-friendly fare adores cute critters, especially if they're talking as in The Lion King and Paddington movies. The horror genre also loves pushing animals to the front, with The Birds and Jaws among its unsettling masterpieces. Earth's creatures great and small are all around us on-screen, and also off — but in EO, a donkey drama by Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski (11 Minutes), humanity barely cares. The people in this Oscar-nominated mule musing might watch movies about pets and beasts. They may have actively shared parts of their own lives existence the animal kingdom; some, albeit only a rare few, do attempt exactly that with this flick's grey-haired, white-spotted, wide-eyed namesake. But one of the tragedies at the heart of this adventure is also just a plain fact of life on this pale blue dot while homo sapiens reign supreme: that animals are everywhere all the time but hardly anyone notices. EO notices. Making his first film in seven years, and co-writing with his wife and producer Ewa Piaskowska (Essential Killing), Skolimowski demands that his audience pays attention. This is both an episodic slice-of-life portrait of EO the donkey's days and a glimpse of the world from his perspective — sometimes, the glowing and gorgeous cinematography by Michal Dymek (Wolf) takes in the Sardinian creature in all his braying, trotting, carrot-eating glory; sometimes, it takes on 'donkey vision', which is just as mesmerising to look at. Skolimowski gets inspiration from Robert Bresson's 1966 feature Au Hasard Balthazar, too, a movie that also follows the life of a hoofed, long-eared mammal. Like that French great, EO sees hardship much too often for its titular creature; however, even at its most heartbreaking, it also spies an innate, immutable circle of life. Read our full review. CLOSE When Léo (debutant Eden Dambrine) and Rémi (fellow first-timer Gustav De Waele) dash the carefree dash of youth in Close's early moments, rushing from a dark bunker out into the sunshine — from rocks and forest to a bloom-filled field ablaze with colour, too — this immediately evocative Belgian drama runs joyously with them. Girl writer/director Lukas Dhont starts his sophomore feature with a tremendous moment, one that's arresting to look at and to experience. The petals pop; the camera tracks, rushes and flies; the two 13-year-olds are as exuberant and at ease as they're ever likely to be in their lives. They're sprinting because they're happy and playing, and because summer in their village — and on Léo's parents' flower farm — is theirs for the revelling in. They don't and can't realise it because no kid does, but they're also bolting from the bliss that is their visibly contented childhood to the tussles and emotions of being a teenager. Close's title does indeed apply to its two main figures; when it comes to adolescent friendships, they couldn't be tighter. As expressed in revelatory performances by Dambrine and De Waele, each of whom are genuine acting discoveries — Dhont spotted the former on a train from Antwerp to Ghent — these boys have an innocent intimate affinity closer than blood. They're euphoric with and in each other's company, and the feature plays like that's how it has always been between the two. They've also never queried or overthought what their connection means. Before high school commences, Close shows the slumber parties, and the shared hopes and dreams. It sits in on family dinners, demonstrating the ease with which each is a part of the other's broader lives amid both sets of mums and dads; Léo's are Nathalie (Léa Drucker, Custody) and Yves (Marc Weiss, Esprits de famille), Rémi's are Sophie (Émilie Dequenne, An Ordinary Man) and Peter (Kevin Janssens, Two Summers). The film adores their rapport like a summer day adores the breeze, and conveys it meticulously and movingly. Then, when girls in Léo and Rémi's grade ask if the two are a couple, it shows the heartache and heartbreak of a boyhood bond dissolving. Read our full review. ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED With photographer Nan Goldin at its centre, the latest documentary by Citizenfour Oscar-winner Laura Poitras is a film about many things, to deeply stunning and moving effect. In this Oscar-nominated movie's compilation of Goldin's acclaimed snaps, archival footage, current interviews, and past and present activism, a world of stories flicker — all linked to Goldin, but all also linking universally. The artist's bold work, especially chronicling LGBTQIA+ subcultures and the 80s HIV/AIDS crisis, frequently and naturally gets the spotlight. Her complicated family history, which spans heartbreaking loss, haunts the doco as it haunts its subject. The rollercoaster ride that Goldin's life has taken, including in forging her career, supporting her photos, understanding who she is and navigating an array of personal relationships, cascades through, too. And, so do her efforts to counter the opioid epidemic by bringing one of the forces behind it to public justice. Revealing state secrets doesn't sit at the core of the tale here, unlike Citizenfour and Poitras' 2016 film Risk — one about Edward Snowden, the other Julian Assange — but everything leads to the documentary's titular six words: All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. They gain meaning in a report spied late about the mental health of Goldin's older sister Barbara, who committed suicide at the age of 18 when Goldin was 11, and who Goldin contends was just an "angry and sexual" young woman in the 60s with repressed parents. A psychiatrist uses the eponymous phrase to describe what Barbara sees and, tellingly, it could be used to do the same with anyone. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is, in part, a rebuke of the idea that a teenager with desires and emotions is a problem, and also a statement that that's who we all are, just to varying levels of societal acceptance. The film is also a testament that, for better and for worse, all the beauty and the bloodshed we all witness and endure is what shapes us. Read our full review. THE BOY AND THE HERON For much of the six years that a new Hayao Miyazaki movie has been on the way, little was known except that the legendary Japanese animator was breaking his retirement after 2013's The Wind Rises. But there was a tentative title: How Do You Live?. While that isn't the name that the film's English-language release sports, both the moniker — which remains in Japan — and the nebulousness otherwise help sum up the gorgeous and staggering The Boy and the Heron. They also apply to the Studio Ghibli's co-founder's filmography overall. When a director and screenwriter escapes into imaginative realms as much as Miyazaki does, thrusting young characters still defining who they are away from everything they know into strange and surreal worlds, they ask how people exist, weather the chaos and trauma that's whisked their way, and bounce between whatever normality they're lucky to cling to and life's relentless uncertainties and heartbreaks. Miyazaki has long pondered how to navigate the fact that so little while we breathe proves a constant, and gets The Boy and the Heron spirited away by the same train of thought while climbing a tower of deeply resonant feelings. How Do You Live? is also a 1937 book by Genzaburo Yoshino, which Miyazaki was given by his mother as a child, and also earns a mention in his 12th feature. The Boy and the Heron isn't an adaptation; rather, it's a musing on that query that's the product of a great artist looking back at his life and achievements, plus his losses. The official blurb uses the term "semi-autobiographical fantasy", an elegant way to describe a movie that feels so authentic, and so tied to its creator, even though he can't have charted his current protagonist's exact path. Parts of the story are drawn from his youth, but it wouldn't likely surprise any Studio Ghibli fan if Miyazaki had magically had his Chihiro, Mei and Satsuki, or Howl moment, somehow living an adventure from Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro or Howl's Moving Castle. What definitely won't astonish anyone is that grappling with conjuring up these rich worlds and processing reality is far from simple, even for someone of Miyazaki's indisputable creative genius. Read our full review. SALTBURN Sharp, savage and skewering, plus twisted in narrative and the incisive use of genre tropes alike: as a filmmaker, Emerald Fennell certainly has a type. With the Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman and now Saltburn, the Barbie and The Crown actor-turned-writer/director takes aim, blazes away giddily and blasts apart everything that she can. When she made a blisteringly memorable feature debut behind the lens — giving audiences one of 2021's's best Down Under releases, in fact, and deservingly earning a place among the Academy Awards' rare female Best Director nominees in the process — she honed in on the absolute worst that a patriarchal society affords women. Now, after also pointing out the protection provided to the wealthy in that first effort as a helmer, Fennell has class warfare so firmly in her gaze that Saltburn is named after a sprawling English manor. With both flicks, the end result is daringly unforgettable. This pair of pictures would make a killer double, too, although they enjoy neighbouring estates rather than frolic across the same exact turf. On her leaps from one side of the camera to the other, Fennell also keeps filling her features with such spectacular casts that other filmmakers might hope to fall into her good graces to bask in their glow — a fate that sits at the heart of Saltburn, albeit beyond the movie world. Fresh from nabbing his own Oscar nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin, Barry Keoghan adds yet another beguiling and astonishing performance to a resume that's virtually collecting them (see also: The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dunkirk, American Animals, The Green Knight and Calm with Horses), proving mesmerisingly slippery as scholarship student Oliver Quick. Usually standing in his sights, Euphoria's Jacob Elordi perfects the part of Felix Catton, aka that effortlessly charismatic friend that everyone wishes they could spend all of their time with. And as Felix's mother Elspeth, father Sir James and "poor dear" family pal Pamela, Rosamund Pike (The Wheel of Time), Richard E Grant (Persuasion) and Carey Mulligan (Fennell's Promising Young Woman star, also an Academy Award nominee for her work) couldn't give more delicious line readings or portraits of the insular but shambolic well-to-do. Read our full review. BARBIE No one plays with a Barbie too hard when the Mattel product is fresh out of the box. As that new doll smell lingers, and the toy's synthetic limbs gleam and locks glisten, so does a child's sense of wonder. The more that the world-famous mass-produced figurine is trotted through DreamHouses, slipped into convertibles and decked out in different outfits, though — then given non-standard makeovers — the more that playing with the plastic fashion model becomes fantastical. Like globally beloved item, like live-action movie bearing its name. Barbie, the film, starts with glowing aesthetic perfection. It's almost instantly a pink-hued paradise for the eyes, and it's also a cleverly funny flick from its 2001: A Space Odyssey-riffing outset. The longer that it continues, however, the harder and wilder that Lady Bird and Little Women director Greta Gerwig goes, as does her Babylon and Amsterdam star lead-slash-producer Margot Robbie as Barbie. In Barbie's Barbie Land, life is utopian. Robbie's Stereotypical Barbie and her fellow dolls (including The Gray Man's Ryan Gosling as Stereotypical Ken) genuinely believe that their rosy beachside suburban excellence is infectious, too. And, they're certain that this female-championing realm — and the Barbies being female champions of all skills, talents and appearances — has changed the real world inhabited by humans. But there's a Weird Barbie living in a misshapen abode. While she isn't Barbie's villain, not for a second, her nonconformist look and attitude says everything about Barbie at its most delightful. Sporting cropped hair, a scribbled-on face and legs akimbo, she's brought to life by Saturday Night Live great Kate McKinnon having a blast, and explained as the outcome of a kid somewhere playing too eagerly. Meet Gerwig's spirit animal; when she lets Weird Barbie's vibe rain down like a shower of glitter, covering everything and everyone in sight both in Barbie Land and in reality, the always-intelligent, amusing and dazzling Barbie is at its brightest and most brilliant. Read our full review, and Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Issa Rae and America Ferrara chatting about the film. SAINT OMER In 2016, a French documentarian with Senegalese heritage attended the trial of a Senegalese French PhD student who confessed to killing her 15-month-old daughter, who was fathered by a white partner, by leaving her on the beach to the mercy of the waves at Berck-sur-Mer. The filmmaker was fixated. She describes it as an "unspeakable obsession". She was haunted by questions about motherhood, too — her mum's and her own, given that she was a young mother herself as she sat in the courtroom. That story is the story of how Saint Omer came to be, and also almost exactly the tale that the piercing drama tells. In her first narrative film after docos We and La Permanence, writer/director Alice Diop focuses on a French author and literature professor with a Senegalese background who bears witness to a trial with the same details, also of a Senegalese French woman, for the same crime. Saint Omer's protagonist shares other traits with Diop as she observes, too, and watches and listens to research a book. A director riffing on their own experience isn't novel, but Saint Omer is strikingly intimate and authentic because it's the embodiment of empathy in an innately difficult situation. It shows what it means to feel for someone else, including someone who has admitted to a shocking crime, and has been made because Diop went through that far-from-straightforward process and was galvanised to keep grappling with it. What a deeply emotional movie this 2022 Venice International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winning feature is, understandably and unsurprisingly. What a heartbreaking and harrowing work it proves as well. Saint Omer is also an astoundingly multilayered excavation of being in a country but never being seen as truly part it, and what that does to someone's sense of self, all through Fabienne Kabou's complicated reality and Laurence Coly's (Guslagie Malanda, My Friend Victoria) fictionalised scenario. Read our full review. WOMEN TALKING Get Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand and more exceptional women in a room, point a camera their way, let the talk flow: Sarah Polley's Women Talking does just that, and this year's Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar-winner is phenomenal. The actor-turned-filmmaker's fourth effort behind the lens after 2006's Away From Her, 2011's Take This Waltz and 2012's Stories We Tell does plenty more, but its basic setup is as straightforward as its title states. Adapted from Miriam Toews' 2018 novel of the same name, this isn't a simple or easy film, however. That book and this feature draw on events in a Bolivian Mennonite colony from 2005–9, where a spate of mass druggings and rapes of women and girls were reported at the hands of some of the group's men. In a patriarchal faith and society, women talking about their experiences is a rebellious, revolutionary act anyway — and talking about what comes next is just as charged. "The elders told us that it was the work of ghosts, or Satan, or that we were lying to get attention, or that it was an act of wild female imagination." That's teenage narrator Autje's (debutant Kate Hallett) explanation for how such assaults could occur and continue, as offered in Women Talking's sombre opening voiceover. Writing and helming, Polley declares her feature "an act of female imagination" as well, as Toews did on the page, but the truth in the movie's words is both lingering and haunting. While the film anchors its dramas in a specific year, 2010, it's purposefully vague on any details that could ground it in one place. Set within a community where modern technology is banned and horse-drawn buggies are the only form of transport, it's a work of fiction inspired by reality, rather than a recreation. Whether you're aware of the true tale behind the book going in or not, this deeply powerful and affecting picture speaks to how women have long been treated in a male-dominated world at large — and what's so often left unsaid, too. Read our full review. ASTEROID CITY In 1954, one of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest thrillers peeked through a rear window. In Wes Anderson's highly stylised, symmetrical and colour-saturated vision of 1955 in Asteroid City, a romance springs almost solely through two fellow holes in the wall. Sitting behind one is actor Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson, Black Widow), who visibly recalls Marilyn Monroe. Peering through the opposing space is newly widowed war photographer Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), who takes more than a few cues from James Dean. The time isn't just 1955 in the filmmaker's latest stellar masterpiece, but September that year, a month that would end with Dean's death in a car crash. Racing through the movie's eponymous setting — an 87-person slice of post-war midwest Americana with a landscape straight out of a western, the genre that was enjoying its golden age at the time — are cops and robbers speeding and careening in their vehicles. Meticulousness layered upon meticulousness has gleamed like the sun across Anderson's repertoire since 1996's Bottle Rocket launched the writer/director's distinctive aesthetic flair; "Anderson-esque" has long become a term. Helming his 11th feature with Asteroid City, he's as fastidious and methodical in his details upon details as ever — more so, given that each successive movie keeps feeling like Anderson at his most Anderson — but all of those 50s pop-culture shoutouts aren't merely film-loving, winking-and-nodding quirks. Within this picture's world, as based on a story conjured up with Roman Coppola (The French Dispatch), Asteroid City isn't actually a picture. "It is an imaginary drama created expressly for the purposes of this broadcast. The characters are fictional, the text hypothetical, the events an apocryphal fabrication," a Playhouse 90-style host (Bryan Cranston, Better Call Saul) informs. So, it's a fake play turned into a play for a TV presentation, behind-the-scenes glimpses and all. There Anderson is, being his usual ornate and intricate self, and finding multiple manners to explore art, authenticity, and the emotions found in and processed through works of creativity. Read our full review. LIMBO When Ivan Sen sent a police detective chasing a murdered girl and a missing woman in the Australian outback in 2013's Mystery Road and its 2016 sequel Goldstone, he saw the country's dusty, rust-hued expanse in sun-bleached and eye-scorching colour. In the process, the writer, director, co-producer, cinematographer, editor and composer used his first two Aussie noir films and their immaculately shot sights to call attention to how the nation treats people of colour — historically since its colonial days and still now well over two centuries later. Seven years after the last Jay Swan movie, following a period that's seen that character make the leap to the small screen in three television seasons, Sen is back with a disappearance, a cop, all that inimitable terrain and the crimes against its Indigenous inhabitants that nothing can hide. Amid evident similarities, there's a plethora of differences between the Mystery Road franchise and Limbo; however, one of its simplest is also one of its most glaring and powerful: shooting Australia's ochre-toned landscape in black and white. Limbo's setting: Coober Pedy, the globally famous "opal capital of the world" that's known for its underground dwellings beneath the blazing South Australian earth, but reimagined as the fictional locale that shares the film's name — a place unmistakably sporting an otherworldly topography dotted by dugouts to avoid the baking heat, and that hasn't been able to overcome the murder of a local Indigenous girl two decades earlier. The title is symbolic several times over, including to the visiting Travis Hurley (Simon Baker, Blaze), whose first task upon arrival is checking into his subterranean hotel, rolling up his sleeves and indulging his heroin addiction. Later, he'll be told that he looks more like a drug dealer than a police officer — but, long before then, it's obvious that his line of work and the sorrows he surveys along the way have kept him hovering in a void. While he'll also unburden a few biographical details about mistakes made and regrets held before the film comes to an end, such as while talking to the missing Charlotte Hayes' brother Charlie (Rob Collins, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) and sister Emma (Natasha Wanganeen, The Survival of Kindness), this tattooed cop with wings inked onto his back is already in limbo before he's literally in Limbo talking. Read our full review, and our interview with Ivan Sen and Simon Baker. Looking for more viewing highlights? We also rounded up another 15 exceptional flicks that hardly anyone saw in cinemas this year — plus the 15 best straight-to-streaming movies, 15 best new TV series of 2023, another 15 excellent new TV shows of 2023 that you might've missed and the 15 best returning shows as well. And, we've kept a running list of must-stream TV from across the year, complete with full reviews. Also, you can check out our regular rundown of film and TV streaming recommendations, which is updated monthly.t you might've missed.
After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular, better known as GABS, returns to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for the second time on Saturday, June 12. After humble beginnings in Melbourne a decade ago, it has now expanded to cover four cities in two countries, and is rightfully considered by most as the best craft beer and cider festival in the Asia Pacific region. Once again the fest will wrangle up the best breweries from the region, and offer up hundreds of brews — which includes more than 100 exclusive festival beers and ciders. These exclusive and often wacky specialty brews are created just for the event and are generally the festival's main draw, giving attendees the rare chance to try brand-spanking new beers while meeting the brewers behind them. Expect collaborations with everyone from coffee roasters and tea houses to gin and whisky distillers. In previous years, brews have also been made with biscuit makers and even an American barbecue smokehouse — so expect plenty of experimental tastes, too. Apart from beer, the event also plays host to a silent disco, live tunes, cornhole, table tennis and giant Jenga, as well as wandering performances and local food stalls.
When Studio Ghibli opened its own theme park outside of Tokyo at the beginning of November, it took a leaf out of Disney's book, gifting the world the new happiest place on earth. Now, it's actually joining forces with the Mouse House on a surprise collaboration. If you've ever wondered what the cutest figure in a galaxy far, far away might look like if it was given the hand-drawn Ghibli treatment — complete with Spirited Away's susuwatari in tow — then wonder no more, because short film Zen — Grogu and Dust Bunnies has the answers. Two pop culture favourites, one epic collaboration, and your delightful weekend viewing all sorted: that's the recipe here. Zen — Grogu and Dust Bunnies will drop on Saturday, November 12 in the US — which usually means 6pm AEST/7pm AEDT in Australia and 9pm in New Zealand — all to celebrate three years since The Mandalorian first hit screens. pic.twitter.com/RZ74q04w7J — スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) November 10, 2022 pic.twitter.com/31jDkRIXTL — スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) November 11, 2022 The just-announced news comes after a few days of teasing on social media, including Studio Ghibli posting a short video featuring both the Lucasfilm and Ghibli logos — and another image featuring a statue of Baby Yoda, aka Grogu, with Studio Ghibli icon and founder Hayao Miyazaki in the background. Zen — Grogu and Dust Bunnies hails from director Katsuya Kondo (an animator on Earwig and the Witch, When Marnie Was There, The Wind Rises and more), and will feature music by Oscar- and Emmy-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian). Further details, other than the fact that you'll need to head to Disney's streaming service Disney+ to see it, haven't been revealed. The anniversary also marks three years of Disney+ itself, and the short precedes the long-awaited third season of The Mandalorian — which dropped a trailer back in September, but won't hit streaming until sometime in 2023. Of course, Andor is filling the Star Wars TV gap quite nicely in the interim — and now Zen — Grogu and Dust Bunnies, aka a dream team-up, will help as well. Discover Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies, a hand-drawn animation by Studio Ghibli, is streaming tomorrow on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/ODqHrgIwnB — Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) November 12, 2022 Zen — Grogu and Dust Bunnies will be available to stream via Disney+ from Saturday, November 12.
If you're of an age to remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats because you will seriously enjoy this shindig — yep, it's a So Fresh Party. The nostalgic party to end all nostalgic parties is coming to The Foundry on June 9, and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2000-2009 vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed.' Entry will set you back $10 on the door or $12.75 including booking fee if you grab one of the limited early bird tickets currently on sale, and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably.
Whether you're in full lockdown mode, are only leaving the house to buy groceries or still have to venture out regularly because you can't work from home, no one is moseying far in these COVID-19 times. Everyone wants to, though. That's just human nature. Even if you're a homebody whose idea of a perfect vacation is getting cosy on the couch with your partner and your streaming queue, we're betting you're currently craving something — anything — to look at beyond your own four walls. Being cooped up in the house and experiencing a hefty dose of wanderlust go hand-in-hand, unsurprisingly — and you can cope in two ways. If you're itching to travel the globe the second you're able to, you can spend all your new spare time planning the trips you'll take when you can finally leave isolation behind. Or, if you're happy to simply pretend that you're somewhere far, far away, you can enter the world of travel live streams. You've virtually toured museums, galleries and landmarks already. Now it's time to while away as many minutes, hours or days as you like staring at a live webcam feed that's capturing life in another country right at this moment. Maybe you want to see what's going on in some of the places you've already been to. Perhaps you're keen to view stunning sights that you've always wanted to visit. Either way, here are seven travel live streams that you can watch from your couch at this very instant. A hint: pop one on in the background while you're working from home, and your day will instantly seem brighter. Also, a word of warning: they're rather addictive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwriDd8STdI&feature=emb_logo THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, CHURCHILL, CANADA The northern lights, aka aurora borealis, are one of the world's great natural wonders — the type of phenomenon that you need to see with your own eyes to truly appreciate. Caused by solar winds, the lights beam an array of colours across the evening sky, emitting a show that luminous events like Vivid only wish they could emulate. And, for everyone who needs that kind of magic in their lives at the moment, they're being live-streamed via Explore.org's dedicated webcam. You'll obviously need to tune in at the right time; however the middle of the night in Churchill, Canada (where the camera is stationed) coincides with late afternoon Down Under. And, even when you can't glimpse the main attraction, you can still peer at a scenic sky above an expanse of snow, all on the other side of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpZAez2oYsA CANAL OF CANNAREGIO AND PONTE DELLE GUGLIE, VENICE, ITALY Perhaps it's the centuries-old architecture. Maybe it's the glistening water. Or, it could be the entire idea of a city built on a group of 118 small islands, all separated by canals and linked by bridges. Whichever one fits, Venice boasts a particular kind of magic — and, in good news, that remains the case if you're watching on via live stream. Peering at the Ponte delle Guglie over the Canal of Cannaregio, the webcam setup at Hotel Filù is one of the best. Also, while you're viewing, you'll be doing so from a camera inside a building that dates back to the 800s. Those interested in more of Venice's distinctive sights can choose from a range of other cams, too, including a rolling live feed that switches between various scenic vantages. SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE CROSSING, TOKYO, JAPAN It has been featured in everything from Lost in Translation to Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift — and, during normal circumstances, it's one of the busiest places in one of the busiest cities in the world. That'd be Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, where hordes of people usually cross the intersection all day, everyday. Whether you've been to Tokyo plenty of times or you've always wanted to take a trip, this bustling site is on everyone's must-visit list. For now, though, you can simply watch. Shibuya Community News' web cam peers down at the four-way crossing non-stop, as the few folks who are still out and about in Tokyo go about their business. If you've ever walked across the road yourself, the sparse sight is quite surreal. If you haven't yet had the chance, get ready to start people-watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnNrd-VjLsQ WAIMEA BAY, HAWAII, USA Who doesn't wish that, right about now, they were sunbathing on a beach with nothing but sunscreen, sand and the crash of the waves to worry about? We all know the feeling — and while Australia's beaches have been closing over the past few weeks, all in an effort to enforce the country's current social-distancing requirements, you can check out Hawaii's Waimea Bay instead. If you find looking at the surf and listening to the roar of the ocean soothing at the best of times, you'll undoubtedly feel the same in today's far-from-usual predicament. This is a live stream you'll want to turn the volume up for, too, so you can make the very most of every sound from the scenic O'ahu spot. THE EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS, FRANCE Live stream network Earthcam.com has access to cameras in a huge number of places; however there's nothing quite like staring at one of the world's most famous tourist attractions while you're sat on your couch. If you time your peek just right — aka, you have a look when it's evening in Paris but daytime Down Under — you'll see the Eiffel Tower lit up against the night sky, perhaps even with the moon in the background, too. And, if you'd like to see how the iconic structure looks at various times of the day and under different conditions, you can scroll through the site's extensive image gallery, checking out how the tower appeared over the past hours, days, weeks and months. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA, USA There's no shortage of magnificent natural land formations to see in California's Yosemite National Park. While no one can lock their peepers on them in person at present, anyone eager to get a glimpse can still do so online. And, thanks to Yosemite Conservancy and the US National Park Service, there are multiple options — peering at multiple sights, too. If it's a live webcam feed you're after, then take a gander at Yosemite Falls, one of the world's tallest waterfalls. Watching water stream down from almost 740 metres up is quite the vision to behold. For those who'd rather peer at the Yosemite High Sierra, the Badger Ski Pass Area or Half Dome, or vicariously live out their Free Solo dreams at El Capitan, you can do so via static live images that refresh every 60 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zUmDtZAd28&feature=emb_logo LOCH NESS, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND You could spend your days in isolation learning a few new skills, catching up on a heap of movies, watching everything from theatre to opera, getting your sweat on and cooking up a storm. Or, you could keep your eyes peeled for a famous critter: the Loch Ness Monster. Thanks to the Nessie on the Net live stream, a webcam is trained at the body of water in the Scottish Highlands all day and night. If anyone is ever going to spot the creature — if it does even exist — now seems like the perfect time for it. You'll want to check out the stream when it's daytime in Scotland, otherwise you'll just see darkness. And, monster or no monster, the lake and the surrounding countryside still looks idyllic either way. Top image: Shibuya scramble crossing, Benh Lieu Song via Wikimedia Commons.
You'll find Cloudland draped in vines, flowing water and ambient lights in the heart of the Valley. Recently, its rooftop offering, Valley Hops Brewing, has stolen the show. But spend a little time downstairs and you'll quickly be reminded why Cloudland is one of Brisbane's longest-standing venues. [caption id="attachment_1047665" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cloudland[/caption] You now have a weekly excuse to visit with the launch of Cumulus Thursdays. Each Thursday, from 9pm until late, the sophisticated yet lively sound experience brings together Brisbane's best musicians in Cloudland's house band, Cumulus. This thing runs until late, so expect a sound that melds together heavy boogie, soul, disco and house funk. This is real live music, too. Live hands, no presets and seriously deep bass. [caption id="attachment_1047664" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cloudland[/caption] Once the band wraps, DJ Two Dee takes over and brings their renowned disco, soul and house ambience to the decks late into the night. Come in early before the band starts to grab a booth in the leafy bar and take advantage of the Thursday special. You can pick up one of Cloudland's pizzas or pastas with a drink for just $30. Dinner and a show, sorted. Find out more about Cumulus Live at Cloudland's website.
If an early 20th-century Jewish immigrant found himself walking around in 2019, what would he think of the world? That question comes with a flipside, of course, because it's equally valid to wonder how today's folks would react in response. With Seth Rogen starring as a ditch-digging, rat-catching new arrival from Eastern Europe to Brooklyn, these are a couple of the queries pondered by An American Pickle. It's the latest in a long line of comedies that trifle with time while doubling as time capsules, and it falls firmly from a familiar mould. Some such flicks send teens to the past via Deloreans and phone booths, as seen in the Back to the Future and Bill & Ted franchises. Others focus on people from another era grappling with modern living, as the likes of Encino Man and Blast From the Past demonstrated. Yes, these concepts were particularly popular in the 80s and 90s — but no matter when they flicker across our screens, they do two things: serve up a snapshot of the attitudes and norms prevalent when they're made, and explore how current perspectives intersect with those gone by. That's true of An American Pickle, and overtly so, with seeing, examining and giggling at the contrast between century-old ways and contemporary ideas a considerable part of the film. Not only that, but this Simon Rich-penned adaptation of his own short story Sell Out does all of the above broadly and blatantly — pointing out that big, bushy beards have become hipster beacons, for example, and that much has progressed since the 1900s. Consequently, there's no avoiding just how slight An American Pickle is. Its protagonist might fall into a vat of brine, get sealed in, then emerge in a new millennium, but this movie isn't diving deep. Thankfully, mixed up with all the obvious jokes are two thoughtful performances, both by Rogen, that help the film interrogate the push and pull between the past and the present in a moving fashion. Rogen plays Herschel Greenbaum, a new arrival to US with his wife Sarah (Succession's Sarah Snook), after the pair leave their home of Schlupsk to escape Russian Cossacks and chase a better life. Rogen also steps into the shoes of app developer Ben Greenbaum, Herschel's great-grandson and only living descendant when he awakens in his preserved (and presumably extra salty) state. The two men are the same age, and look alike. That said, they sport differences beyond Herschel's facial hair and Ben's technological know-how. It's the usual generational divide, as instantly recognisable to everyone watching. The elder Greenbaum is devoted to his family and faith, and is horrified that his sole remaining relative doesn't appear as fussed about either, while Ben gets increasingly frustrated with his great-grandpa's know-it-all-approach, bluntness and incessant meddling. Rich gives the two men more reasons to argue, and for Ben to start plotting Herschel's downfall. An app that rates companies on their ethics, an artisanal pickle business that becomes a viral hit and a towering billboard for vodka all factor into their feud. So too does Ben's willingness to capitalise upon Herschel's inherent ignorance of 21st-century minutiae, and the proud and stubborn Herschel's insistence upon staying set in his ways. The details are almost superfluous and, as the narrative keeps picking low-hanging comic fruit, they feel that way in the movie as well. Herschel upends Ben's business plans with some unethical behaviour, and Ben tricks Herschel into spouting his dated and offensive opinions on social media, but there's never any doubt that it'll all eventually work out. As a result, even though An American Pickle delivers plenty of conflict, there's no real drama here — and no real investment in Herschel and Ben's spat. Instead, the movie deploys over-the-top clashes in the service of clearcut gags and satirical observations, and to drum up easy laughs. Well that, and a product placement-driven fondness for Soda Stream that's the one thing Herschel and Ben always agree on. But, despite how straightforward it all proves, the film still boasts heart, sweetness, and an understanding of how the past always leaves an imprint, the future needn't fastidiously be chained to tradition, and that everything old and all things new have a symbiotic relationship. Yes, watching Rogen battle with himself manages to convey those notions. Luckily, too, given that the latest feature from The FP's Brandon Trost is rather standard otherwise. Generally, everything about An American Pickle takes the expected option — including switching aspect ratios to distinguish between 1919 and 2019, and using varying colour palettes to differentiate between Eastern Europe and America — but that description doesn't fit Rogen. If you've seen him in everything from Freaks and Geeks and Knocked Up to the Bad Neighbours movies and Long Shot, you've probably started predicting how he plays his parts here. And yet Herschel and Ben feel grounded and textured in a way that little else in this flick does. Rogen offers up two convincingly melancholy visions of two men cartoonishly wrapped up in their own needs and ideas, and his dual performances are consistently anchored in relatable emotions instead of merely self-evident jokes. And, in an affable but also mostly forgettable film, he's the only aspect that doesn't feel like it's been pulled straight from a jar that's been sitting on the shelf for quite some time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2dsAGvGy0 Top image: Hopper Stone. © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
For viewers, three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix hit. For Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte), the same amount of time has elapsed in the show's storyline. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns on Boxing Day 2024 — but only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. "We are not trying to harm you. We are presenting you with an opportunity," the guards tell the latest batch of contestants battling it out for 45.6 billion won in the series' just-released full season-two trailer. Another pivotal line in the latest sneak peek: "the game will not end unless the world changes". Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and its finishing off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. These games don't stop, clearly, even after three years. As the show's protagonist dons his green tracksuit once more, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. Squid Game was such a huge success in its first season that Netflix confirmed at the beginning of 2022 that more was on the way, and also released a teaser trailer for it the same year, before announcing its new cast members in 2023 — and then unveiled a first brief snippet of Squid Game season two in a broader trailer for Netflix's slate for 2024, as it releases every 12 months. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. If you somehow missed all things Squid Game when it premiered, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. As a result, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. Check out the full trailer for Squid Game season below: Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: No Ju-han/Netflix © 2024.
When the Ekka was cancelled for the second year in a row in 2021, no one got to throw a ball in a clown's mouth. Hopping on rides, seeing fireworks and browsing for showbags were all scrapped, too. That's obviously no fun at all; however, for the farmers who were due to exhibit at Brisbane's annual show, the impact cut far deeper. So, in response, an idea was born: the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. It first appeared twice in 2021, encouraging Brisbanites to head south, hop between properties and enjoy local wares. And, although the Ekka occurred in 2022, the trail returned then as well. In 2023, it's making another comeback, too — on Sunday, April 2 and Saturday, August 26. Fancy throwing a little love towards the Scenic Rim's primary producers? Keen on a day out of town? Farmers in the region will be rolling out the welcome mat from 9am–3pm on both days. Follow the itineraries and you'll be hitting up at least 25 spots — such as Towri Sheep Cheeses, complete with cuddles with lambs; Tommerup's Dairy Farm, with artisanal dairy products on offer; Scenic Rim Brewery, where there'll be tastings; and Elderflower Farm, possibly including picking flowers depending on the season. That's just a taste of the list of producers involved — and if you'd like to get up close to some camels and alpacas while you're in that part of southeast Queensland, that's usually on the cards, too. Most of the trail's stops are dog-friendly, and bringing your esky to fill with produce is highly recommended.
It's hard to ignore the glistening sails of the Sydney Opera House or the star-studded sands of Bondi Beach when compiling a bucket list of must-visit sites in New South Wales. But these beloved icons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to jaw-dropping landmarks in the state. Whether carved by hand or etched out by the elements over millennia, there is a bounty of awe-inspiring sites across NSW. A trip to these destinations could see you trekking through the desert or meditating in secluded gardens, so match your adventure to your mood and map out a mission to these ten glorious landmarks.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas in some parts of the country. After numerous periods spent empty during the pandemic, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, picture palaces in many Australian regions are back in business — including both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. THE QUIET GIRL When Normal People became the streaming sensation of the pandemic's early days, it made stars out of leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and swiftly sparked another Sally Rooney adaptation from much of the same behind-the-scenes team. It wouldn't have been the hit it was if it hadn't proven an exercise in peering deeply, thoughtfully, lovingly and carefully, though, with that sensation stemming as much from its look as its emotion-swelling story. It should come as no surprise, then, that cinematographer Kate McCullough works the same magic on The Quiet Girl, a Gaelic-language coming-of-age film that sees the world as only a lonely, innocent, often-ignored child can. This devastatingly moving and beautiful movie also spies the pain and hardship that shapes its titular figure's world — and yes, it does so softly and with restraint, just like its titular figure, but that doesn't make the feelings it swirls up any less immense. McCullough is just one of The Quiet Girl's key names; filmmaker Colm Bairéad, a feature first-timer who directs and adapts Claire Keegan's novella Foster, is another. His movie wouldn't be the deeply affecting affair it is without its vivid and painterly imagery — but it also wouldn't be the same without the helmer and scribe's delicate touch, which the 1981-set tale he's telling not only needs but demands. His focus: that soft-spoken nine-year-old, Cáit (newcomer Catherine Clinch), who has spent her life so far as no one's priority. With her mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh, Shadow Dancer) pregnant again, her father (Michael Patric, Smother) happiest drinking, gambling and womanising, and her siblings boisterously bouncing around their rural Irish home, she's accustomed to blending in and even hiding out. Then, for the summer, she's sent to her mum's older cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley, Extra Ordinary) and her dairy farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett, Dating Amber). Now the only child among doting guardians, she's no less hushed, but she's also loved and cared for as she's never been before. Clinch is another of The Quiet Girl's crucial figures, courtesy of a downright exceptional and star-making performance. If you were to discover that she was a quiet girl off-screen, too, you'd instantly believe it — that's how profoundly naturalistic she is. Finding a young talent to convey so much internalised, engrained sorrow, then to slowly blossom when fondness comes her way, isn't just a case of finding a well-behaved child who welcomes the camera's presence. Clinch makes Cáit's isolation and sadness feel palpable, and largely does so without words: again, this is The Quiet Girl in name and nature alike. She makes the comfort and acceptance that her character enjoys with the instantly tender Eibhlín feel just as real, and kicks into another still-composed but also visibly appreciative gear as a bond forms with the tight-lipped Seán. Pivotally, Clinch plays Cáit like she's the only lonely girl in Ireland, but also like she's every lonely and mostly silent girl that's ever called that or any country home. That astonishing performance, and the empathetic and absorbed gaze that beams it into the film's frames, tap into the lingering truth at the heart of this soulful picture: that overlooked and disregarded girls such as Cáit rarely receive this kind of notice on- or off-screen. The warm way that the movie surveys her life, and is truly willing to see it, is never anything less than an act of redress — and, even with dialogue sparse, The Quiet Girl screams that fact loudly. It gives the same treatment to loss, which is an unshakeable force in Eibhlín and Seán's home despite remaining unspoken. "There are no secrets in this house," Eibhlín tells Cáit, but that doesn't mean that the type of pain that defies speech doesn't haunt the place, as it does the lives lived in it. Grief, too, is usually pushed aside, but The Quiet Girl sees how it persists, dwells and gnaws even when — especially when — no one is talking about it. Read our full review. FLUX GOURMET Flickering across a cinema screen, even the greatest of movies only inherently activate two senses: sight and hearing. Audiences can feel the seats they nestle into in their favourite picture palaces, and savour both the scent and flavour of popcorn while they watch, but no one can touch, taste or smell films themselves as they're playing — even if adding scratch-and-sniff aromas to the experience has become a cult-favourite gimmick. British director Peter Strickland knows all of the above. And, he hasn't ever released a feature in Smell-o-Vision, Smell-O-Rama or Odorama. But his work still conjures up sensations that viewers know they can't genuinely be having, such as running your fingers over an alluring dress with In Fabric, detecting the flutter of insect wings against your skin via The Duke of Burgundy and, courtesy of his latest movie Flux Gourmet, relishing the fragrances and tastes whipped up by a culinary collective that turns cooking and eating into performance art. If you've seen his features before, Flux Gourmet instantly sounds like something that only Strickland could make — and from its first frame till its last, it proves that with every moment. While spinning this innately sensory tale, which he both helmed and penned, it does indeed literally sound like something that only Strickland could've come up with, in fact. As the acoustics-focused Berberian Sound Studio demonstrated, the filmmaker's audioscapes are always a thing of wonder, too. His movies may manage to magically engage senses that cinema's sound-and-vision combination intrinsically shouldn't, but they also make the utmost use of every echo. The same applies to each image; unsurprisingly due to his strong and distinctive sense of style and mood, everything about Flux Gourmet looks and feels like pure Strickland. His films can't actually be injected into anyone's veins, but the director's devotees will instantly want this delirious farce pumping through their system. The setting: The Sonic Catering Institute, a conservatory specialising in blending sound and cuisine, as its name makes plain. The "institute devoted to culinary and alimentary performance" is overseen by the couture-coveting Jan Stevens (Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones), and regularly welcomes in different groups to undertake residencies. Those visiting artists collaborate, percolate and come up with eye-catching blends of food, bodies and creativity. Hosting OTT dinners, role-playing a trip to the supermarket, getting scatalogical and turning a live colonoscopy into a show: they're just some of the menu items that Jan's latest guests cook up. In Elle di Elle (Strickland regular Fatma Mohamed), Lamina Propria (Ariane Labed, The Souvenir: Part II) and Billy Rubin's (Asa Butterfield, Sex Education) case, however, that unique kind of kitchen virtuosity only springs when they're not broiling in messy bickering. Chaos bubbles through and troubles the trio's troupe, who stir up mayhem among themselves as heartily as any chef stirs their dishes. But Elle, Lamina and Billy aren't the Institute's only current visitors. Watching and chronicling is journalist Stones (Makis Papadimitriou, Beckett), who is also suffering from gastrointestinal struggles that he worries might be something more. As his subjects keep riffing on the human digestive system, or trying to, he can't control his own. Endeavouring to withhold his flatulence 24/7 is his constant struggle. Somehow, keeping a straight face as everything gets absurd around him is a far easier task, but Flux Gourmet's viewers shouldn't want to share that achievement with him; this purposefully strange, silly and surreal film is far too deliciously hilarious. Read our full review. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in Australian cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30; and July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28; August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25; and September 1. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Mothering Sunday, Jurassic World Dominion, A Hero, Benediction, Lightyear, Men, Elvis, Lost Illusions, Nude Tuesday, Ali & Ava, Thor: Love and Thunder, Compartment No. 6, Sundown, The Gray Man, The Phantom of the Open, The Black Phone, Where the Crawdads Sing, Official Competition, The Forgiven, Full Time, Murder Party, Bullet Train, Nope, The Princess, 6 Festivals, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Crimes of the Future, Bosch & Rockit, Fire of Love, Beast, Blaze, Hit the Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing and Orphan: First Kill.
Back in 2015, when word arrived that the Flinders Street Station Ballroom would be brought back to life after three decades of sitting dormant, no one could've imagined the wonders that it has gone on to hold. Skywhale artist Patricia Piccinini filled it with twisted flowers and otherworldly creatures. Street-art legend Rone decked it out with a new immersive artwork. For RISING 2025, now an art exhibition that's also a nine-hole mini-golf course is temporarily moving in. When it takes over Melbourne each winter, RISING is always all about giving the Victorian capital — and Australia — brand-new experiences. As popular as putt putt is around the country, Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf is definitely a unique addition to the major annual arts festival's 2025 lineup. The event has enlisted female-identifying and gender-diverse artists to design mini-golf holes at the Flinders Street Station Ballroom, and is inviting RISING attendees — plus anyone in Melbourne for a couple of months after the festival — to get swinging at the three-month-long pop-up. While RISING itself will run from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 in 2025, Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf will kick off on the fest's opening day but keep letting folks get putting until Sunday, August 31. When you're tap, tap, tapping, you'll be navigating greens designed by Kajillionaire filmmaker and All Fours writer Miranda July, Australian artists Kaylene Whiskey and Nabilah Nordin, Japan's Saeborg, the United Kingdom's Delaine Le Bas, and Indonesia's Natasha Tontey. Expect surreal, mindbending creations — whether July is riffing on her latest book's name with an 'all fores' setup, Whiskey is merging pop culture and Anangu traditions, latex creatures are a feature courtesy of Saeborg or Le Bas is working in embroidery, to name just a few of the details set to star. Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf is RISING 2025's first program announcement — and if you're keen to find out what else is in store, the full roster arrives in March. For this certain highlight of the fest, as well as a mini golf-meets-art mashup, there'll also be a Swingers Clubhouse, aka a pop-up Archie Rose Distilling Co bar, for when you're done swinging. As for what inspired the piece, "the history of mini golf is surprisingly subversive and sits at the heart of this project," explains RISING Senior Curator Grace Herbert, who developed Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf. "It's been incredible to see how each artist has taken this on. Alongside playing mini golf and experiencing the artworks, you might have your fortune told, travel to desert country, become a human-animal hybrid or even find yourself singing along to Dolly Parton." "RISING is about creating collective experiences and Swingers continues that tradition. Bringing such unique artistic minds into the creation of a nine-hole course is a literal game-changer. I can't wait to see audiences step up and take their shot," added RISING Co-Artistic Directors Hannah Fox and Gideon Obarzanek. RISING 2025 runs from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 across Melbourne — and Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf will run from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, August 31, extending past the festival. Head to the event's website for further information. Images: Eugene Hyland.
In preparation for the release of her super-hyped, internet-breaking personal memoir Not That Kind of Girl, your spirit animal Lena Dunham has created a 12-part web series. Taking the whole 'voice of her generation' thing to its logical conclusion, Dunham poses as an agony aunt for people's personal and relationship problems and dishes out some stellar advice. Namely, don't date garbage men and don't yell 'vagina' in inappropriate public places (at home is obviously fine). Though Dunham has worked hard to differentiate herself from her on-air persona Hannah Horvath, it's interesting to note the similarities. For all her faults, the narcissistic Girls character is at least a feminist and a thinker. Here's how the two compare: Takeaway advice: Wear booty shorts and rock on with your bad self. Takeaway advice: Don't bother counting almonds, love your size and rock it in a romper. Takeaway advice: Don't waste time with bad friends. Takeaway advice: Don't fuck garbage people (or something like that). Takeaway advice: The personal is political. Write about whatever you want. Takeaway advice: Ask for help. Mental illness is just as serious as any other disease. Takeaway advice: Bullies are just sad ol' meanies. Takeaway advice: Eating your own stockings doesn't necessarily lead to lots of orgasms. Takeaway advice: Sometimes people just aren't right for each other. Takeaway advice: We're all going to die and Lena Dunham's life is much better than yours. Takeaway advice: We can all be successful, just make a fatty to-do list and hit that shit hard. Takeaway advice: Screaming 'vagina' in a chocolate store is apparently a bad thing. Not That Kind of Girl is released in the US on September 30. Expect overanalysed excerpts on Gawker not long after that.
