Missed out on staying in a replica of the Bluey house when it was temporarily up for rent in Brisbane? The home of Australia's family-friendly animated phenomenon is now welcoming a Bluey attraction so that you can experience the global hit for real life. Set to open in August 2024, Bluey's World will get you walking around life-sized sets that recreate the beloved series — whether you're taking your nieces and nephews along, or know that appreciating the Aussie show about a family of blue heelers isn't just for kids. When Airbnb listed its Bluey abode in 2022, the response was massive. Expect the reaction to Bluey's World to be the same. Opening at Northshore Pavilion in Northshore Hamilton, the space itself will be sizeable, spanning across 4000 square metres. Bluey and Bingo's bedroom, the family's living room and kitchen, the poinciana tree in the backyard: they'll all be a part of the experience. So will hearing "wackadoo!" constantly, we expect. Visitors will also find a playground and a cafe onsite, with interactive play a focus, taking cues from Bluey episodes in the process. There'll also be a soundscape to match, plus a gift shop, all in a purpose-built venue. And, for big Bluey birthday celebrations, the site will host parties as well. Bluey's World will be exclusive to Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction to fans not only locally and nationally but worldwide. Unsurprisingly, that's a big part of the push from both the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are supporting the BBC Studios- and HVK Productions-produced experience. "Our government has backed Bluey from the very beginning. Brisbane is at Bluey's core and now the show is a global sensation, we want to invite fans from around the world to come and experience Bluey's home," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. "Queensland is a world-class place to live and play and I truly believe that is a big part of why Bluey has captured fans around the world," the Premier continued. "Bluey is a homegrown Brisbane superstar who has captured the imagination of families worldwide. With an audience that spans more than 60 countries, Bluey's World is a unique and significant tourism offering that will draw people to our city from around the globe while giving residents more to see and do here in Brisbane," added Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Bluey's World will open at Northshore Pavilion, Northshore Hamilton, Brisbane in August 2024 — head to the attraction's website for more information and to join the ticket waitlist.
Spooky season has returned, a time of ghosts and ghouls, flirting with lolly-based diabetes and getting into the spirit by bingeing all things horror. Generally the impulse is to line up a movie marathon of monsters and murderers, but why not mix a little interactivity into your goosebump-inducing genre consumption this year? With horror being such a beloved creative territory there's a boundless wealth of frightening indie games around, but to help you dip your toe into the terrifying here's a list of six (aka 1/111th of the spookiest number possible) to try… if you dare. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF3ZIJccpj8[/embed] MUNDAUN Folk horror is not a genre that shows up much in the gaming world which seems to have an overwhelming preference for sci-fi scares and general supernatural gore. Swiss developers Hidden Fields decided to buck trends with Mundaun, a first-person exploration game rendered in hand-pencilled fashion. You play as Curdin, a man visiting a small village in the alpine foothills to pay his post-funeral respects to his grandfather after the old man perished in a barn fire. Only problem is, grandpa's grave is empty. As you delve into the mystery of what happened to gramps, you uncover a historical deal made under the duress of war that has cursed the village, and it's up to you to do something about it by poking around the town of Mundaun and its surrounds, speaking with its inhabitants, and indulging in some light puzzle solving. There's a pinch of survival horror mixed in too, so you'll need to manage limited ammo and weapons to deal with a variety of enemies, from animated straw men to undead soldiers. The game's striking aesthetic lends an uneasy air that feeds excellently into the surreal, foreboding setting, steeped in a confluence of Christianity and Paganism. There's nothing else quite like it, so make sure you play with the lights off for the best experience. Spookiness Rating: 7/10 Available on: PC, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/S/X, Nintendo Switch [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBuh9afznMg[/embed] YUPPIE PSYCHO If you've ever drawn a salary as a corporate wage slave, Yuppie Psycho is going to speak to you on another level. This survival horror game, developed by French/Spanish team Baroque Decay, puts you in the shoes of Brian Pasternack, a nervous young man on his first day at Sintracorp. His job? Kill the witch that has cursed the company for years. You'll spend your time roaming the 10 floors of the company's headquarters, rendered in gloriously retro pixel art. Almost from the get-go, it's clear that something is deeply, deeply wrong. Most of your coworkers are slack jawed and dead eyed, responding with gibberish when you try to talk to them. Someone keeps painting messages on the wall in blood. There's a cemetery in the woods on the 8th floor, and a spider monster in the archives. Alongside all of this standard horror, the game deftly mixes in the anxiety and imposter syndrome that accompanies starting a new job, as well as the existential despair that comes from mandatory motivational meetings, dealing with the spectrum of irritating co-workers and navigating the forced, two-faced jollity of a professional environment. With multiple endings based on choices you make, and even two vastly different paths to get to the end, it's a game you can pick up and play again and again. Spookiness Rating: 6/10 Available on: PC/Mac, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/S/X, Nintendo Switch [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe4gVfZ1Q2I[/embed] WORLD OF HORROR 'A little bit of HP Lovecraft, a little bit of Junji Ito' is a great recipe for the vibe of a horror game. WORLD OF HORROR by Polish solo dev panstasz takes place at the cusp of the apocalypse. The Old Gods are awakening, panic and madness are spreading, and monsters are stalking the streets of Shiokawa, the small Japanese town where the action takes place. The primary thrust of the game sees you investigating a series of strange occurrences. It's a roguelike, so the changing raft of cases means no two runs are exactly the same which gives the game great replayability. The turn-based combat leans towards the challenging side (hey, no one said the end of the world would be easy), but an RPG-esque upgrade system will help ease the stress of late-stage runs — provided you make smart choices. Plus it's primarily an adventure game, so if you fear fast-twitch gameplay there's nothing to worry about here... beyond everything else happening. The Junji Ito inspiration comes through heavily in the lineup of monsters, mirroring the manga artist's off-putting creations in throwback 1-bit graphics that look like they came straight off the page. Fans of Japanese horror will definitely want to give this one a whirl. Spookiness Rating: 9/10 Available on: PC/Mac, Console release coming October 26th [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naCeKfdPbTs[/embed] CRITTERS FOR SALE Critters For Sale is weird, man. No other way to put it. Created by solo developer Sonoshee, this blend of point-and-click adventure and visual novel is a heady, paranoid time, as compelling as it is mildly repulsive. Play through five nonlinear short stories linked by broad themes of good vs evil, time travel and black magic, with woozy, grainy 1-bit graphics that help to heighten the general feelings of discomfort and discombobulation. Some feature multiple endings based on choices you make, which encourages multiple playthroughs supported by quality-of-life features that skip you to key story points so you don't have to start at the beginning every time. Others hide secrets that will only make sense once you've explored all the stories. Each tale comes from the perspective of a different character, so you're never quite able to find a stable narrative footing as you navigate between them, boosting your sense of unease. It's a highly-advanced horror game that bucks the modern trend of blood and brutality for an ineffable surrealism, leaving an impression on you long after you've completed its twisted paths. The faint-of-heart need not apply. Spookiness Rating: 9/10 Available on: PC [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrRWb7tFxR8[/embed] DREDGE Oceans are terrifying. Out where the water is an almost-black blue, where anything could be lurking below... that's nightmare territory. This is the niche in which Dredge, by New Zealand's Black Salt Games, floats. You're a nameless fisherman, freshly arrived to the island town of Greater Marrow after a shipwreck left you with no memories. The mayor gives you a boat and a job as the community angler and off you go to complete missions for a variety of characters, some with more sinister motives than others. The crux of the game is its day/night cycle. When the sun is up, you can roam the waves with relative impunity. Once the dark arrives your panic metre starts to fill, which can lead to reality-altering hallucinations and death if you push your luck. That's not to mention the sea monsters that inhabit the archipelagos you'll visit, which will have you navigating coastlines in frenzied fear, searching for escape. Mix all the above with a raft of compelling gameplay mechanics, such as a variety of fishing mini-games, the Tetris-like cargo management system and 128 different types of fish to catch and catalogue, and you've got an experience will truly hook you in. Spookiness Raiting: 6/10 Available on: PC, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/S/X, Nintendo Switch [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI9zBBTyX-E[/embed] LITTLE NIGHTMARES II The decision to include a sequel over the original game took a lot of soul searching. But ultimately, since the focus here is spooks and scares, Little Nightmares II takes the cake (it's also technically a prequel, but let's not get bogged down in details here). Developed by Swedish team Tarsier Studios, Little Nightmares II is a 2.5D puzzle platformer that is packed with peril. You're Mono, a young boy in a paper bag mask who, along with a mysterious young girl as a sidekick, must make your way through the decrepit, dank Pale City to uncover what lies inside the Signal Tower at its heart. Along the way you'll have a lot to deal with, such as the television-addicted inhabitants who fly into an incoherent rage if you sever their connection to the cathode ray tube. The strength of the game lies in its set pieces, each of which is a polished jewel of terror. Talk to anyone who has played Little Nightmares II previously and they can wax lyrical about the School, the Hospital, or the end sequence, which features a twist that will slap a gasp out of you. The character design is also outstanding, with the adult inhabitants of the world represented as twisted grotesqueries, exactly what you'd expect from the point of view of a child. With a gameplay loop centred on dying, learning and dying again, and an atmosphere that will keep your anxiety levels at a roiling boil, Little Nightmares II is a key addition to the game library of any horror fan. Spookiness Rating: 8/10 Available on: PC, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One/S/X, Nintendo Switch
Whatever happens to Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega, Death of a Unicorn) at Nevermore Academy in the second season of the Netflix series that bears her name, she'll be back at school afterwards. Before the sophomore run of the streaming hit begins dropping episodes from August 2025 — splitting season two into two parts, with the first arriving on Wednesday, August 6, then the second batch on Wednesday, September 3 —Wednesday has already been renewed for season three. Of course, all things Addams Family have been delighting audiences for almost 90 years, with the first-ever cartoon panel featuring the creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky brood published in 1938. Following a lineup of other TV shows between the 60s and the 90s, as well as a range of films — live-action and animated alike in both cases — the first season of Netflix's take on the clan became and remains the most-viewed English-language series of all time on the streamer. As for when season three will hit and what's in store, details are unsurprisingly scarce given that season two hasn't yet premiered. "Our goal for season three is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can," Alfred Gough, one of the series' co-creators and showrunner alongside Miles Millar, told Netflix's Tudum. "We want to continue digging deeper into our characters while expanding the world of Nevermore and Wednesday, added Millar. "We will be seeing more Addams family members and learning more family secrets in season three." The pair, who also penned Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — and are clearly fond of working with the filmmaker, since he's also behind Wednesday, including as both a director and an executive producer — are already promising to expand the Addams crew in season two. Enter Joanna Lumley (Amandaland) as Hester Frump, Wednesday's grandmother, for instance. In the show's second season, its black-clad protagonist is back at Nevermore Academy and being heralded as a hero thanks to her efforts in season one. Wednesday is characteristically unimpressed by the attention, the trailers so far illustrate. Soon, her focus is elsewhere, however, thanks to a premonition of her roommate Enid (Emma Myers, A Minecraft Movie) coming to a grave end, with Wednesday determined to do whatever she can to stop that from happening. Steve Buscemi (The Studio), Billie Piper (Kaos) and Thandiwe Newton (Mufasa: The Lion King) are also among the series' new cast additions in season two, while Catherine Zeta-Jones (National Treasure: Edge of History), Luis Guzmán (Justified: City Primeval) and Isaac Ordonez (Color Box) are back as Morticia, Gomez and Pugsley — plus Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Dreamers) as Deputy Ritchie Santiago. Among its fresh faces, Evie Templeton (Criminal Record), Owen Painter (Tiny Beautiful Things), Noah B Taylor (Law & Order: Organised Crime), Frances O'Connor (The Twelve), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice), Heather Matarazzo (Paint) and Joonas Suotamo (The Acolyte) are also onboard — plus Christopher Lloyd (Hacks), following Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) among the stars of the 90s Addams Family films popping up in Wednesday. Fred Armisen (Fallout) remains Wednesday's take on Uncle Fester, though — one that Netflix is so keen on that there's been talk of a spinoff about the character. Check out the full trailer for Wednesday season two below: Wednesday season two arrives in two parts, with part one dropping on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and part two on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, both via Netflix. We'll update you with more details about season three when they're announced. Read our full review of Wednesday season one. Images: Helen Sloan and Jonathan Hession/Netflix © 2025.
If heading to the tuckshop was your favourite part of the school day, then Woolloongabba's newest cafe might inspire a few twinges of nostalgia. A kiosk-style spot at South City Square on Logan Road, Tuckshop Time is all about schoolyard-style snacks. That said, we're guessing that you didn't feast on Nutella mousse brownies, peanut butter waffles or stacked roast chicken baguettes when the bell rang back in the day. They're just some of the eatery's offerings, with vegetable-filled bowls, pizza rounders and cauliflower mac 'n' cheese also on the menu, plus vegan and gluten-friendly wares as well. Drinks-wise, patrons can sip on 'fruit cup' smoothies, fresh juice (not in popper form, though), beetroot and turmeric lattes, and coffees. The latest venture from Greg Mclean and Caity Jones, the forces behind Decisions Cafe on the Sunshine Coast eatery, Tuckshop Time also keeps school-like hours — it's open from 6am–6pm seven days a week, for both dining in and taking away. And, while you're harking back to recesses gone by, you'll do so on a vibrant patch of greenery, complete with chairs, garden views and cushions along the deck. There's also undercover seating for when the Brisbane heavens open, and dogs are welcome.
Winter has a tendency to increase appetites and leave us hankering for good food, good wine and good company (all in large quantities). Whether you're catching up with old friends, celebrating a special occasion or you're simply hungry enough to eat several plates of food in one sitting, the classic banquet is a fantastic option for those wanting to eat a lot of good food for a good price. And thanks to the Suncorp Platinum Credit Card*, you can earn points for every dollar you spend on everyday essentials like that birthday card you should probably get, that bouquet for mum or the dinner you're about to plan. Read on and add these five eateries with set menus to your list — bonus: each spot will cost you less than $100 a head.
There's no changing the iconic facade that surrounds the Fortitude Valley General Post Office building, which has stood on Ann Street since back in 1887. But when the venue known as GPO Hotel reopens its doors this winter after a massive makeover, Brisbanites can expect new spaces aplenty inside — including a Gatsby-themed lounge bar, a second bar called The Tax Office and a sprawling ground-floor restaurant filled with natural light. It was back in 2022 that Artesian Hospitality announced it was giving the locale a revamp behind its heritage-listed exterior, with more than $7 million set to flow into the renovations. Now, that figure has been upped to $9 million, all to help bring to life the GPO's new food- and drink-heavy guise. Clearly, it's a significant makeover for the 136-year-old site, which is targeting an early June opening for two of its spaces. The first is fittingly called The Gatsby, and it's a late-night cocktail and whisky bar that'll sit on the building's upper level. The vibe here will be luxe and upscale, as the name makes plain, including velvet booths, leather accents and brass features as part of the design. It'll also feature the building's original, now-restored 1887-era vault — and you'll be able to take private tours if that takes your fancy. "It feels like you're being thrown back into the soirees of the 1920s golden age — it's an incredibly unique venue, which will have exemplary service to match," says Alan Hunter. The sommelier and ex-General Manager at OTTO Brisbane is helping oversee the GPO's new guise, including TAMA, its contemporary dining venue. [caption id="attachment_896924" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gatsby[/caption] That restaurant will take over the site's ground level, offering diners a radiant experience thanks to the high ceilings and double-storey windows. There'll be stone and marble flooring, bursts of greenery and soft furnishings, too, while making use of the original beams and custom chandeliers. And in the kitchen: Executive Chef Richard Ousby, who'll use his experience overseas and locally to shape the restaurant's menu. "TAMA offers something for all occasions with an expansive ground floor restaurant and a mezzanine that can play host to private dining for 40 guests, and more intimate rooms for parties of six to eight," Ousby notes. [caption id="attachment_896918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TAMA[/caption] Hunter comes to the new GPO with plenty of accolades, including being named the Pol Roger 2013 Sommelier of the Year, and helping lead OTTO Brisbane to nabbing the Wine List of the Year award in the Good Food Guide in 2019. As for Brisbane local Ousby, he'll draw upon his time in England at Michelin three-star restaurant Waterside Inn, in Sydney at Sous Chef at Quay, and as Executive Chef of Stokehouse restaurants's in Melbourne and Brisbane. Both The Gatsby and TAMA are aiming for that June launch date, and will be joined by The Tax Office sometime afterwards. When it starts welcoming in patrons, it'll do so around an island bar with lounge-style seating — and it's being put forward as a go-to for post-work drinks and midweek dinners. [caption id="attachment_896926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tax Office[/caption] Outside, that Victorian Italianate facade has been preserved, as have the building's balconies, stairwells and ceilings (with heritage paint tones a big feature after a colour study). And back inside, the design pairs modern finishings with OG touches — so exposed beams and brick, plus fireplaces. The end product is the result of a collaboration between The Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Brisbane City Council, heritage architects, Zero9 Builders (The Dorsett Hotel, The Star, and Edwards and Co) and Space Cubed Design Studio (Donna Chang, Iris Rooftop and Boom Boom Room). "With a project of this magnitude, and a job requiring such impeccably high standards, we wanted to ensure every detail was carefully executed, from hand beaten copper detailing, one-off chandeliers to glass art installations," says Space Cubed Design Studio Director Arran Woollams. "It was recognised from inception that no expense would be spared to ensure the precinct was designed and constructed in line with the rising expectations of the Brisbane hospitality scene." [caption id="attachment_896919" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TAMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_896925" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Tax Office[/caption] GPO Hotel is located at 740 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, and will reopen sometime in winter 2023. We'll update you when Artesian Hospitality announces an exact launch date.
In news that everyone already knew, no one will be dancing in North Byron Parklands this winter, with Splendour in the Grass moving to November this year instead. Thanks to New South Wales' current COVID-19 outbreak, the lockdown to prevent its spread and the growing number of cases in other Australian states, no one will be making shapes in Sydney this July, either. That's when the fest was planning to host Splendour in the City, a nine-day Sydney pop-up slated for SITG's usual midwinter spot — but organisers have announced that the event has now been cancelled. In a statement on Monday, June 28, the festival's team pulled the plug on the mini fest, which was set to take place at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal from Saturday, July 10–Sunday, July 18. "With Greater Sydney currently in lockdown until 9 July and COVID-19 outbreaks now evolving in other states, it has become impossible to progress with plans to move artists and staff around the country, and also to build the event in Sydney," the Splendour crew noted. "Organisers also acknowledge the health and safety of staff, volunteers and ticketholders is the foremost consideration in line with the health advice from authorities." Splendour in the City has been completely cancelled, rather than rescheduled, too — a decision made due to "uncertainty around venue and artist availability in coming months, and IRL Splendour in the Grass scheduled for November." Ticketholders will start receiving refunds automatically via Moshtix from today, Tuesday, June 29. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) Splendour's virtual festival Splendour XR will still run online across the weekend of Saturday, July 24–Sunday, July 25 — and, at this stage, Splendour in the Grass itself is slated for Friday, November 19–Sunday, November 21. It's been a rough year or so for the music and events industry, for festivals in New South Wales and for Splendour. 2020's SITG was postponed from July until October, then completely scrapped. Also, plans to proceed in July 2021 as usual were pushed back, leading to the current November date. Splendour in the City was planning to host an array of beloved Australian artists such as SITG mainstays like Violent Soho, Illy, Vera Blue, Dune Rats and Tash Sultana, as well as two stacked nights of stand-up comedy and a whole heap of extras — all aiming to recreate as much of the OG Splendour experience as possible. If the full-sized Byron Bay edition of SITG goes ahead in November, it's set to do so with headliners Tyler, The Creator, The Strokes and Gorillaz; however, that's obviously all reliant upon COVID-19 restrictions allowing the event to take place. Splendour in the City will no longer run from Saturday, July 10–Sunday, July 18 at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal. Ticketholders will start receiving refunds automatically via Moshtix from Tuesday, June 29.
Last year, an unlikely duo gave Sydneysiders a sarnie worthy of their finest hangover. Now, it's coming back — and it'll be available Australia-wide. Two indulgent favourites, PappaRich and Belles Hot Chicken, are pooling their resources to create a Malaysian-style fried chicken sandwich of your dreams. On offer for both lunch and dinner, this spiced-up sandwich features Belles' signature fried chicken, plus Malaysian slaw with coconut vinegar and secret sauce, all between PappaRich's toasted Hainan-style sweet bread. Belles Hot Chicken chef Morgan McGlone is the man behind this creation, so you know it'll be damn tasty. It will be available from Monday, March 25 at all 30 PappaRich restaurants around the country. If you're in Sydney, that means you can grab one in Bankstown or on your lunch break at the express outlet inside Westfield in the city; in Melbourne, pop by Chadstone, Southern Cross or QV; and PappaRich in Wintergarden and Coorparoo Square will be selling them in Brisbane. There are a heap more locations though, so check the website if you're looking for one closer to you. The sandwich will be available for lunch and dinner from March 25 until May 15 at PappaRich locations across the country. Find more details on the Facebook event.
Since Dark MOFO first introduced House of Mirrors back in 2016, the installation has sat at the top of everyone's must-do list. Created by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, it's exactly what it sounds like: a walkthrough space filled with reflective surfaces that will not only strands you in a maze of your own image, but turns your likeness into a kaleidoscope. Is it fun, creepy or both? You be the judge. And if you missed out last time it came to town, don't worry. Eager Brisbanites will soon get another chance to wander through the disorienting, perception-altering, panic-inducing, optical illusion-based labyrinth for themselves. Trust Brisbane Festival to bring the attraction back to Queensland as part of its 2018 program. From September 8–29, the installation will take over part of the fest's Brisbane Arcadia space at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt for weeks of reflective roaming pleasure. The modern, minimalist twist on the fairground classic features 40 tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrors — with no added gimmicks, no special effects, no special lighting, no soundtrack or soundscape. Just imagine what all those shiny panes will look like in the brilliant Queensland sun. Our tip: wear sunglasses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roRK5Ca12qo
We love wine and we know you do too, and the quality and variety of wine being produced locally in Australia has, arguably, never been at a higher level. Now there's a new way to get your hands on delicious, drinkable, interesting drops made in our myriad wine regions — and you'll be buying direct from the source. iHeartWine is a new first-of-its-kind marketplace that connects winemakers and grape growers directly with the wine-loving public, which means you can shop bottles from Australia's best independent and boutique wineries without the markup you pay from a retailer, while putting the lion share of every sale directly back into the producer. Win-win. This idea for iHeartWine, which exists as an app, was conceived by wine writer and aficionado, Marc Malouf, as a way to support winemakers amid the knock-on effects of COVID and the tourism industry essentially bottoming out. Marc explains: "Hard working wineries who would usually be thriving from tourism, are struggling. Less people are able to visit, taste and buy wines from family-run wine producers … 2021 is set to be an abundant year for grape production and smaller winemakers need a channel to get their wine out there." The curation of the producers and winemakers included in iHeartWine's shop is very much informed by quality stuff that you can't just pluck off the shelves of your local bottle-o. "Every winery on iHeartWine makes wines from a place of truth, passion and obsession," says Marc Malouf. "These are the wineries and winemakers we should be paying attention to and celebrating... but they often suffer from the same fundamental flaw — they are somewhat invisible to wine drinkers. Unless you stumble across a wine on a restaurant list, or take a wrong turn on a trip through a wine region, chances are you will never come across these hidden gems and I think it's time we changed this." And as you load up your cart, you can feel good knowing that most of what you spend is going straight back to the producers. All wine sold on iHeartWine comes directly from the wineries themselves, which means the winery earns 90% from every bottle. We'll drink to that. The iHeartWine app is available for download here.
Having a drink with friends is such a simple act, but it hasn't been easy for Australians this year. During the country's periods of lockdown — including two for Victorians — clinking glasses with your mates was mostly vanquished to the realm of fantasy. So now that life is slowly returning to normal, we're betting that you're more than a little keen to gather the gang, pick up your preferred beverage and make the most of it. This year hasn't been smooth sailing for the folks who make your favourite drinks either, of course. But when you're saying cheers with your nearest and dearest, you can also say cheers to local standouts like 6Ft6, Billson's and 3 Ravens in the process. They're responsible for three of Victoria's most-loved tipples, and they have the votes to prove it as part of the BWS Local Luvvas initiative. Over the last few months, the bottle shop retailer asked Aussies to pick their top local drinks, in which the winners receive an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores. That's a big show of love in a year where everyone definitely needs it — and we've chatted to the talented teams behind the scenes at 6Ft6, Billson's and 3 Ravens to hear about their journeys. THE GEELONG WINERY ON AN EX-SHEEP FARM 6Ft6 prides itself on three things: its location, its varieties, and its talented viticulture and winemaking team. They're must-haves for every winery, but this Geelong vineyard boasts a particularly intriguing story behind the first two components on that list. Not only does it sprawl across an old run-down sheep farm in the Moorabool Valley, but it originally began with 90 acres of pinot noir — because when you know what you like to drink and where you'd like to drink it, you naturally go all in. That was back in 1982, when Austin's Wines was first established. It is now run by a second generation of family members, Scott and Belinda Austin, and counts 6Ft6 among its brands. Although many folks in the industry can make the same claim, Scott and Belinda are now living the dream. "We've always had a passion for drinking wine," Belinda explains, "and the love and learnings of growing and making wine has been a fascinating journey to be on". These days, Belinda isn't just passionate about sipping 6Ft6's tipples, but sharing them. "We love to spread a little cheer wherever we go, and this has been very relevant in 2020," she notes. That's an impressive attitude to have in this difficult year, especially one that has brought so many changes to the winery. "We have had to adapt in more ways than we could have imagined, from finding ways to make up for lost revenue for events and restaurant trade, to shifting to a digital focus in our marketing efforts," Belinda says. "The only thing that hasn't changed in 2020 is the grape-growing and winemaking process. We are glad something was predictable!" THE 155-YEAR-OLD BREWERY AND DISTILLERY USING ALPINE SPRING WATER Back in 1865, when English brewer George Billson founded the company that still bears his name, he couldn't have imagined what would follow. Established in Beechworth all those years ago purely to enable easy access to the town's alpine spring water — which it uses in its spirits, beers, cordials and sodas, as sourced from a 150-year-old red-brick well onsite — Billson's is now a must-visit regional destination. "Historically, our small business has relied almost solely on regional tourism," says director Nathan Cowan. That statement doesn't apply to 2020, though. "It's definitely been a challenging year for everyone," he notes. But local support has helped to keep Billson's afloat, and keep its team busy. "It's so awesome to see so many people supporting their local producers. We wouldn't be here without it," he says. "When people choose local, they are supporting far more than just the business. There are so many flow-on benefits to the entire community." When someone chooses Billson's spirits, they're choosing a tipple made by a company that's "completely captivated by the process of spirit-making," Cowan explains, describing the team's approach as "a mix between creative expression and science". Unsurprisingly, Billson's is committed to using local ingredients in that process, too. "We are passionate about showcasing our spectacular region," Cowan says. "Our talented team use as many fresh local ingredients as possible, and we are lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing growers." THE OLDEST INDEPENDENT BREWERY IN A BEER-LOVING CITY It might seem like a fool's errand, asking a Melburnian to pick their favourite local brew — and to select only one, too. When BWS did just that, however, the city showed its support for 3 Ravens. Founded in 2003, the Thornbury-based beer makers, bar and barrel room helped kickstart Australia's craft beer scene, and did the same in Melbourne as well. Sparked by "a love for more flavoursome European style ales at a time when Australian beer drinkers' options were a little lacklustre to say the least," as general manager Nathan Liascos explains, it's now the Victorian capital's oldest independent brewery. That isn't a status that the 3 Ravens team takes lightly. "Brewing good beer is relatively easy, but brewing excellent, award-winning beer requires a lot more attention to detail," he notes. "We're firm believers that even people who claim to not like beer can be won over by an excellent example of something that aligns with their tastes — and we feel like our job is done whenever we hear 'I don't usually like beer, but...'." When you love beer and you feel just as strongly about making it, singing your favourite brew's praises isn't a hard task. But 2020 has thrown more than a few challenges 3 Ravens' way, although Liascos is looking on the bright side. "There have been some positive outcomes that we've been able to celebrate this year so far, such as seeing increased public awareness and support of local and independent businesses, and an incredible level of ingenuity and adaptation to an increasingly challenging world," he says. "It's also been fun delivering to the locals and personally meeting the people that have been supporting us through these turbulent times." To find these or other Victorian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Perhaps nourished by the torrential rain Sydney has been experiencing, a Lego forest recently sprouted in Martin Place. Featuring big-kid versions of the tiny plastic trees and flower sets we played with as kids, the installation marks the first activity of this year's Lego Festival of Play. 15 of the large-scale tree and flower models dotted the concrete, creating bright splashes of color in our currently dreary grey city. Onlookers didn't let the weather get them down, grabbing umbrellas and rain boots to take a stroll through this whimsical forest. After all, you're never too old, and it's never too rainy, to get out there and play. The Lego forest will soon be on the move, to other to-be-disclosed locations throughout Australia.
Part of what makes travel so special is making friends with people from all over the globe. Yet staying in contact after you eventually return to the 'real world' is surprisingly rare. Think about the travel pals you follow: how many do you stay in contact with? It doesn't have to be this way. By putting yourself out there and going the extra mile, you can make these short but sweet connections into lifelong friends. This way, when you say 'keep in touch' as you leave for your next destination, it actually happens. Forging friendships on an epic adventure is easy when good experiences are had. Together with Intrepid Travel, we've curated this guide to making lifelong friendships while gallivanting across the globe. Put Yourself Out There You can't always expect friendship to find you. Instead, put in the effort to meet your fellow travellers and introduce yourself to your trip guide and other travellers in your group. You'll bond over new experiences and become closer with your group mates at food markets as you sample new foods. In rousing destinations like Cambodia, you'll find yourself surrounded by travellers from every corner of the globe at landmarks like Angkor Wat. Strike up a conversation with a friendly face; you might just become lifelong friends. Book a Group Tour Sure, taking an international adventure where every decision is made moment-to-moment is exciting. But sometimes, it's nice just to hang back and let someone else figure out the guesswork for you. This is where the beauty of group multi-day tours comes in. Best of all, these experiences are ideal for making friends, as you'll spend hours together roaming the sights and commuting between them. So, pass the time by getting to know each other. Before you know it, your travel bud becomes a close pal. Embrace the Unknown When you're travelling the world soaking up new experiences, finding a way to get out of your shell is essential. Although it might seem daunting at the time, saying yes when you're invited on an adventure by other travellers is the ideal way to form a tight bond. Similarly, inviting others to tag along when embarking on a trip is another way to kick-start friendships with those you meet on the road. In a vibrant country like Morocco, embracing the unknown is the best way to stave off culture shock. Bond Over Local Experiences The people you meet on your travels make some of the most striking memories. Although there's a good chance some just become hazy recollections from late nights on the town, others are a little more meaningful, especially when you connect over incredible experiences. For many, this means delving into local customs. Rather than sticking to what you know, exploring diverse food, art, and traditions means you level up your worldliness together. If you take a colourful journey to Mexico, getting your cultural fix is never far away. Stay in Touch Found a kindred soul on a trip to Turkey? Even the strongest connection won't last unless you commit to staying in touch. Once you're back home and the adventure is over, it's easy for real life to get in the way of lasting friendships. Fortunately, it's never been easier to keep in contact with your new friends. Add them on socials, tag them in pics and reminisce about the good times you shared. By keeping the group chat active, new adventures are bound to appear on the horizon. Plan Your Next Trip Don't wait for the next adventure to come to you. When you're looking to turn travel companions into forever friends, taking the initiative to keep everyone informed about your upcoming trips is the perfect way to organise an overdue meetup. Whether you've planned out a journey to the Southern Balkans or you've worked together with your pals to create an unforgettable itinerary, inviting travel friends near and far to join your adventure strengthens your bond and makes them companions for life. Get out, explore, dive into adventure and find your WOW with Intrepid Travel. Find out more on the website.
It's no use hiding the fact that we like to eat out, and the beauty of the morning meal is it has no rules. Make-up-free is considered 'fresh' and unkempt hair is part of 'the look', thongs and singlets are both acceptable and yet Pawpaw Cafe boasts more class than The Chalk down the road. Logic, am I right? Whether you only drink barista made coffee, need a hangover pick-me-up or follow a Sunday morning tradition, Pawpaw is there offering sweet, savoury and everything in between, yet nothing mediocre. A classic choice on the breakfast dining scene Pawpaw Cafe has been frying, poaching, scrambling and baking eggs for just 18 months, but has cemented itself in the hearts of breakfast lovers. Open seven days, weekend mornings might find you queuing as the door - but we assure you it's worth it. With an all-day breakfast menu, as well supplementary lunch options and an ever-appealing specials board, Pawpaw is working a formula that has those on the market for more than an eggs benny returning for more. Choosing what to eat is like standing in the international airport and deciding which flight to get on. This round-the-world culinary experience offers up the likes of an Israeli breakfast with falafels and hummus, huevos rancheros with black beans and salsa, baked eggs with za'atar, Canadian-style waffles, and gnocci and burgers added for lunch. While it sounds like they might have too much on their plate, Pawpaw's strengths lie in their ability to put simple flavour combinations together to make fresh produce fine. For those feeling sweet, the pecan and almond toasted granola ($11.90) is a no-brainer. The in-house mix comes with a refreshing serve of yogurt and to-die-for-delicious spiced pear compote. On the savoury side, we tested the braised mushroom bruschetta ($13.9) and it did not disappoint. Sourdough stacked high with spinach, red pepper hummus and, of course, the divine white wine and herb braised mushrooms, topped off with crumbled feta. Pair your meal with an iced latte (they serve Campos coffee) and make the most of Pawpaw's laid back vibe, friendly service and breezy open cafe. We'll be heading back soon to try the quinoa and potato hash cakes, or perhaps go treat ourselves to waffles with bacon, caramelised banana and maple syrup.
No longer confined to children's birthday parties, bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle sources and blow-up labyrinths are currently hot property for adults (and their inner kids, of course). And the next blow-up event to hit Australia is big. Really big. Dubbed 'The Big Bounce Australia', it's an inflatable theme park made up of Guinness World Records-certified world's biggest bouncy castle, a 300-metre long obstacle course and a three-part space-themed wonderland. You're going to need a lot of red cordial to bounce your way through all of this. Set to hit Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in early 2020, The Big Bounce is open to both littl'uns and big'uns, but there are a heap of adults-only sessions, so you don't have to worry about dodging toddlers on your way through. Tickets for adults will set you back $55, which gives you a whole three hours in the park — you'll need it. Inside, you'll encounter the aforementioned bouncy castle — aptly named The World's Biggest Bounce House — covering a whopping 1500 square metres and, in some spots, reaching ten metres off the ground. In this house, you'll encounter a heap of slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops and (if you can believe it) a stage with DJs, confetti cannons and beach balls. Then, there's The Giant, with 50 inflatable obstacles, including giant red balls and a monster slide. [caption id="attachment_749668" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Bounce AirSpace[/caption] Before you hit the final, three-part section of the park, you may need to pause, down some red frogs and maybe even have a nap. Or not, you do only have three hours to explore it all. Next up, is AirSpace, where aliens, spaceships and moon craters collide with a five-lane slide, some more ball pits and an 18-metre-tall maze. Now, you'll certainly need a nap. This extremely OTT theme park is hitting Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse first (January 3–19), before heading to Sydney's St Ives Showground (January 24–February 9). After that, it'll head to Adelaide (February 14–March 1), Brisbane (March 6–22) and Perth (April 3–19) — locations haven't been announced for these ones yet, but we'll let you know when they are. Tickets for The Big Bounce Sydney and Melbourne are on sale now. We'll update you when the rest drop.
Melbourne is home to one of the best places in the world to have a drink in 2023, and the Victorian capital's Byrdi is back among the top 100 watering holes around the globe. Each year, The World's 50 Best Bars does exactly what its name says, picking the standout 50 bars on the planet — and 2023's top 50 will be announced on Tuesday, October 17 in Singapore. But this ranking doesn't stop at 50, which is where its annual The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist comes in. It's announced first, throwing some love at the next 50 venues worth checking out, and Byrdi is Australia's sole entry. [caption id="attachment_921791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] There's a touch of déjà vu about this news, because this exact thing also happened in 2021. So, once again, the La Trobe Street bar has scored some worldwide recognition and become the only Aussie joint to make this year's extended list ahead of the top 50 reveal. In 2022, Byrdi didn't feature in either the longlist or the top 50, with Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage and Sydney's Re featured in the former, and the Harbour City's Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK! in the latter. This year, Byrdi ranked 61st, down from its 56th placing in 2021. In 2020, it came in at 80th, after only opening in 2019. In its 2023 ranking, Luke Whearty's famed local cocktail haunt was applauded for being "seriously cool, coming complete with its own lab for creating bold new ingredients" and serving up "a damn good time". Its Jungle Byrd cocktail, which is made with Carolina Reaper chilli, bitters, lacto-fermented pineapple and Davidson plum, also earned a specific shoutout. [caption id="attachment_748361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] Byrdi was launched in 2019 by Whearty and co-founder Aki Nishikura, who were also behind Singapore's multi award-winning — and World's 50 Best Bars regular — Operation Dagger. You'll find the Melbourne favourite nestled within the CBD's Ella precinct, whipping up some truly exceptional, innovative drinks. It sits on 2023's The World's 50 Best Bars extended 51–100 longlist alongside watering holes from 33 other cities, including six from the US, plus five from both the UK and Singapore. Fourteen of this year's picks have made the list for the first time, such as the debut entries from Tulum, Guadalajara and Tirana. When the full list drops, here's hoping that Australia is well-represented. In addition to placing in the top 50 in 2022, Maybe Sammy took out 22nd place in 2021 and Cantina OK! came in at number 23. Melbourne's Above Board earned a spot at number 44 and the aforementioned Re placed, too. Watch this space — we'll run through the winners of the World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list when they're announced. [caption id="attachment_748365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kate Shanasy[/caption] For the full 51–100 list of the World's 50 Best Bars for 2023 (and past years' lists), see the website. The top 50 rankings will be revealed at 5.20pm AEDT on Tuesday, October 17 via Facebook and YouTube. Top image: Byrdi, Haydn Cattach.
What happens when you take the Australian teen series of the 90s and update it to the 2020s, all while riding a huge wave of nostalgia for all things stemming from three decades back? Even thanks to just the first part of that equation, every fan of beloved 1994–99 hit Heartbreak High could've told you that the end result would be a smash. And, streaming on Netflix since September, that's exactly how the ace new Heartbreak High revival has turned out — so much so that there's going to be a second season. No one has been saying "rack off" to the Sydney-set show's latest run, or its new batch of Hartley High teens, or their fresh dose of teen chaos. Not Aussie audiences, with the series sitting in Netflix's top ten TV shows in the country for the five weeks since its release. Not global viewers either, with Heartbreak High 2.0 also reaching the top ten in more than 43 countries, including in the US and across Europe, Africa and Asia — and spending three weeks in the global top ten, too. The streaming platform also advises that its subscribers clocked up 42.6 million hours watching Heartbreak High in three weeks. That's not bad for the latest high school-focused revival, doing what Beverly Hills, 90210 did, plus Saved by the Bell and Gossip Girl as well, but with a firmly Aussie spin. Unsurprisingly, Netflix has greenlit Heartbreak High for a second season, although exactly when it'll drop hasn't been revealed. Still, if you're keen to spend more time with Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect), Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman), Darren (screen first-timer James Majoos), Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud), Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), Malakai (Thomas, Troppo), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween), Ant (debutant Brodie Townsend), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC) and Missy (fellow newcomer Sherry-Lee Watson), start getting excited now. Season one started with Amerie becoming a pariah at Hartley after a big revelation — an "incest map" plotting out who's hooked up with who throughout the school — and also struggling with a sudden rift in her friendship with bestie Harper. Attempting to repair her reputation, she calls on help from her new pals Quinni and Darren, all while working through her crush on Dusty and developing feelings for Malakai. And that's just the start of Heartbreak High's 2022-set story so far. It was back in 2020 that Netflix initially announced that it was bringing the series back — and yes, it sure is a 2020s-era take on the Aussie classic. Adolescent chaos is still the main focus, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to consent, crime, drugs and police brutality. The original Heartbreak High was a massive deal, and was filled with now-familiar faces, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid, too. Check out the trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High season two doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The show's first season is available to stream now via Netflix. Read our full review.
Just months after one Melbourne proposal claimed to be constructing the country's tallest building, another towering skyscraper has popped up to snatch its lofty crown. The latest super-tall contender is the $2 billion Green Spine, with UN Studio and Cox Architecture emerging victorious in the international competition to design the new addition to Southbank, all for developer Beulah International. Winning out over five other shortlisted proposals, the 356.2-metre-high Green Spine is actually two cantilevered towers that sport a noticeable twist — that is, the structures both physically twist in their geometric design. Terracing and glass also feature prominently, as does greenery. Indeed, as well as plant-filled public spaces along the ground and stepped lower levels, the building will include a 'future botanic garden' at its peak, which will basically be a garden in the sky that's accessible to everyone. Before you start looking up, however, The Age reports that a building application hasn't yet been submitted for the mixed-use development, which plans to feature apartments, offices, a hotel, retail spaces, an entertainment centre, restaurants, bars, a BMW showroom, a school and even a cinema. If it does come to fruition, Green Spine could possibly eclipse the previously announced Magic, also in Melbourne, which will span between 330 and 362 metres. The city's current tallest building is the 297.3-metre tall Eureka Tower, however the 319-metre Australia 108 residential tower at Southbank is in progress, and the 323-metre-tall One Queensbridge tower is also slated for the Crown precinct. Around the rest of the country, the Gold Coast's Q1 presently reaches 332.5 metres, with the new 328m Orion Towers in Surfers Paradise in development.
Life hack: pretending that you're still on your best-ever Tokyo getaway (or the dream one you plan to go on when Japan fully reopens to international travel) is a perfectly acceptable way to get through the daily grind. Eating Pocky as a snack works. Hitting up your favourite ramen joint for lunch does, too. Going home to a few post-work cans of -196 — aka the premix from the makers of Strong Zero — definitely fits the bill as well. The ready-to-drink -196 launched in Australia in 2021, with a double lemon variety that you probably sipped ASAP — it sold out when it first arrived. What's better than one such tipple, which hails from Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory? Two, naturally. Prepare to start knocking back -196 in double grape, again blending shochu, vodka and soda — but with a whole lot of grape flavour. Wondering about the name? That's because the fruit for both varieties is frozen at -196 degrees Celsius, then crushed, powderised and infused with spirits. In Japan, Strong Zero comes in double grapefruit, double ume and double shekwasha, if you're holding out hope for more flavours in the future. For now, you'll be able to pick up -196's double grape variety from the end of October, available in bottle-os nationwide. Suntory's -196 double grape will hit bottle shops across Australia at the end of October.
Bringing together skilled orchestral musicians from across Australia, Alternative Symphony takes the same approach as Britain's acclaimed orchestral group No Strings Attached. And, for its next big shows, the troupe is set to perform the work of hip hop greats with a classical slant. At The Valley Drive In from 7pm on Saturday, December 19, the Alternative Symphony will give the hits of Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac the orchestral treatment, all while guest vocalists step in to reimagine verses. The rappers, considered two of the most significant and influential emcees of all time, were famously the focal points of the East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry — which spawned an endless supply of antagonistic diss tracks. At this one-off orchestral experience expect to hear hits like 'California Love', 'What's Beef?', 'Changes', 'Mo Money Mo Problems' and 'Thugz Mansion' played on violins and saxophones. The Alternative Symphony has previously tackled the songbooks of Dr. Dre and Daft Punk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wBTdfAkqGU An Orchestral Rendition of Biggie and 2Pac takes place from 7pm on Saturday, December 19 at The Valley Drive In — with tickets on sale now.
Back in 1999 and 2000, Baz Luhrmann's beloved movie musical Moulin Rouge! was filmed in Australia. Since 2021, the Tony-winning stage version of that hit feature has been doing the rounds of the country, too. And, in spectacular (spectacular) news, it's finally heading to Brisbane, marking the show's fourth Australian stop following its Aussie-premiere season in Melbourne, current Sydney run and upcoming Perth stint. This time, Brisbane's QPAC will stand in for the Montmartre Quarter of Paris — the backdrop for a heady romance between lovestruck young bohemian Christian and performer Satine, star of the legendary titular cabaret. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will spin that story in the Lyric Theatre from sometime in May 2023, with exact dates yet to be announced. And yes, it's set to be a huge year in the River City, and at the South Brisbane venue, giving both their next blockbuster production after Hamilton arrives just a few months earlier. When it was first announced back in 2016 that Moulin Rouge! was being turned into a stage musical, fans around the world thought the same thing in unison: the show must go on. Since then, the lavish production premiered in the US in 2018, then hit Broadway in 2019, and finally made its way Down Under in 2021. But if you're a Brisbanite, you've probably been wondering when it would bring its excitement our way — as well as its dazzling on-stage thrills, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the first-ever Aussie-produced show to win the Tony for Best Musical. As Luhrmann's award-winning, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor-starring movie — which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year — did before it, the stage musical is heavy not just on star-crossed romance, but with a loaded soundtrack that celebrates iconic tunes from across the past five decades. Indeed, Moulin Rouge! The Musical backs up those favourites with even more hit songs that have been released in the two decades since the movie premiered. The musical comes to Brisbane in the hands of production company Global Creatures. CEO and producer Carmen Pavlovic said that the organisation is "so proud to bring this spectacular show with an all-Australian cast to Brisbane in May 2023". "Brisbane audiences are always so wonderfully engaged, and we can't wait to see their reaction to this big, bold production that has been adored by audiences in Melbourne and Sydney. We look forward to seeing QPAC ready to rouge when the production arrives next year." Directed by Alex Timbers, the Australian production stars Alinta Chidzey as Satine, Des Flanagan as Christian, Simon Burke as club impresario Harold Zidler and Andrew Cook as The Duke — plus Tim Omaji as Toulouse-Lautrec and Ryan Gonzalez as Santiago, Montmartre's resident artistes; and Samantha Dodemaide as Nini, Olivia Vásquez as Arabia, Ruva Ngwenya as La Chocolat, and Christopher J Scalzo as Babydoll, aka the 'Lady M's'. Pre-sale tickets for the Brisbane season will be available from Monday, November 14, with general sales kicking off on Thursday, November 17. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will take over the Lyric Theatre after Hamilton, meaning that the latter definitely has to finish by May, even if its current March end date is extended — so don't throw away your shot to see that, either. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will hit QPAC, Grey Street, South Brisbane, from May 2023, with exact dates yet to be announced . For further details or to join the waitlist for tickets — with pre-sales from Monday, November 14 and general sales from Thursday, November 17 — head to the QPAC website. Images: Michelle Grace Hunder / Matthew Murphy.
With his first feature, Samoa-born, New Zealand-based writer/director Miki Magasiva is living the filmmaking dream, all by championing what's important in his culture. Tinā, about a grieving mother who takes a job at a private school after the Christchurch earthquakes change her life forever, premiered at the Hawai'i International Film Festival late in 2024. Just over six months later, it's a homegrown hit that's earned so much affection from audiences in Aotearoa that the picture is now one of the most-successful NZ films in history. Sitting in sixth place as at mid-April 2025, Tinā is behind only Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Boy, then The World's Fastest Indian, Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider. For the year so far overall, it's second to A Minecraft Movie at the New Zealand box office. Taking on her first lead role after decades as an actor — on-screen, see: The Market, One Thousand Ropes, The Changeover, Filthy Rich, The Breaker Upperers, The Justice of Bunny King, Our Flag Means Death, The Rule of Jenny Pen and more — Anapela Polataivao wasn't envisaging this reaction, after she initially came onboard Tinā to help with the movie's development process without knowing that Magasiva had plans for to star. "Let's just say I did not anticipate this kind of response," she tells Concrete Playground. "You do the work and then you walk away and hope for the best, but this has been a continual — the response has been incredible, and mainly from our people, who are so appreciative of the work. And also a lot of the comments also are about their pride in the work, and visibility and for them being seen in our stories. So that's a great compliment." Did Magasiva foresee that Tinā, which takes its title from "mother" in Samoan, would strike such a chord? "Yes and no," he advises. "We were confident we had an initial script that people would enjoy watching. And then once we did the first round of edits, we knew we were onto something good that people would want to go and watch. However, having said that, the eventual response that we've gotten so far has been far beyond what we expected." "Touching on what Bels has just said before, you make these films and then you think 'that's it, my job's done. I'll just send it off — and if people go watch it, great. And if people don't go watch it, well, that's fine, too. We can't help that.' But having people come up to us and talk about their experiences, transformational experiences with family members and themselves, having gone through watching the film, is just way beyond what we ever expected. And so it's just been this really massive surprise for us that we're just so overwhelmed by and thankful for." Screening in Australian cinemas since Thursday, May 1, following its NZ release on Thursday, February 27, Tinā's origins mirror plenty of other movies in one regard: art imitating life. That said, Magasiva combined inspiration from IRL choir contest The Big Sing, the New Zealand choral festival for high schools that's been running for over 30 years, with not only tapping into Samoan culture but paying tribute to both the importance of connection and the leadership role of mothers. Mareta Percival, the heartwarming film's fictional protagonist, dotes on her daughter when the feature begins, encouraging her to make the most of her singing talents. Then tragedy strikes. While grappling with her loss, substitute teaching at a wealthy school becomes a necessity — and starting a choir that croons Samoan tunes proves a much-needed move for Mareta and her new pupils alike, even if some in the privileged community that's barely letting her in are vocal in their opposition. Tinā sits on Magasiva's resume after decades in the business as well, including earning acclaim for his shorts — Rites of Courage arrived in 2005, then Uso in 2006 — and working in television. The Panthers, of which he helmed two episodes, was the first-ever New Zealand TV drama series to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. On We Are Still Here, an anthology feature directed by Indigenous filmmakers from New Zealand and Australia that opened the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, he was one of the behind-the-camera talents. His success with Tinā is far from overnight, then, but it might not have happened if he hadn't been so moved by online The Big Sing footage. With Magasiva and Polataivao, we also explored the journey from Tinā's first sparks to the tale that viewers are now being so touched by in cinemas — a story that puts the importance of moving forward collectively at its core; that is shaped by grief, and understands how mourning is so personal yet universal; and that also centres navigating cultural differences as a warm, hopeful film, while not shying away from the impact of attitudes of prejudice. And, we unpacked how Polataivo came to be its lead, what that achievement means to her, how Magasiva built Tinā's cast around its star and more. On Finding Inspiration for the Film in Online Footage of High School Choirs Miki: "It was hearing the choir performing. We grew up in churches, Samoan churches, listening to choirs, so we know it well. We have this sort nostalgic memory anytime we hear all of our old church choir songs. And so when I saw that, I was just so emotionally moved. I almost cried watching that video or that YouTube clip. I just thought that would make a great premise. I thought 'if I can just recreate some of the emotion that I'm feeling at the moment, I think we're on to something really special here' — and so I think luckily we've done a little bit of that." On the Path From Watching New Zealand's The Big Sing Competition to a Story About a Grieving Samoan Mother Getting a Job in a Private School in Post-Earthquake Christchurch Miki: "Well, it's a story process, much like you go through when you when you create stories. And what's always good is we had the end in mind, and so we wanted just to build towards that moment, that end. We were always working our way towards the end. So it's about 'who's the main character?'. And it's a drama, and so we try to create situations and journeys for her to get to that end — and put her into situations that challenge her, and put her into situations where she has relationships with others that really drives her towards the end there. And then when you're piercing these things together, you source techniques that you like yourself. There's a lot of comedy in the film, and so I wanted to infuse the storyline with a bit of comedy. And it seemed to work well, because it has this sort of mother-teacher relationship that I always find funny, and I think that that can be a really rich ground for comedy. Add into that a bit of emotion, add into that music, and then just drive the story towards the end — it's a really fun part of the process." On Polataivo's Initial Response to the Project — and Being Asked to Help Develop the Film Without Knowing That Magasiva Wanted Her to Play the Lead Anapela: "Yes, this guy — let's not go there." Miki: "I tricked her." Anapela: "He did. Because these things, I'm just so used to working as part of the team, being the assistant or coach or stuff like that. So when I come in to help, I don't have any other thoughts or any other preconceived anything. It's just like 'I'm going to help my friends'. So when these guys got the green light, and then I get the call saying 'hey, we had you in mind for it' — gosh, I was just like 'you little ...', all of the things. And then, of course, I think we did our first read — I had said yes after that, and then we did our first read where everyone was a mess and we were all in tears. And that's just when you know it's a family affair and it's going to work." On Polataivo Scoring Her First Lead Film Role After Decades as an Actor Anapela: "I think this is different. This was a different one, because it was more personal — so it wasn't like 'oh my goodness'; it was really like 'okay'. I didn't even think about being in the lead, either. I just felt like I was just part of the fabric of the story. There's so many moving parts. Yes, you may be driving the thing, but you understand, well I understand, you'll be able to play that — and to be helpful and to assist in the purpose of it. So it was not an 'oh my goodness' moment. It was an 'oh my gosh', because it's personal, it's family, and you just know. My partner would always say to me 'Bels, it's one shot, one shot for Miki, let's go' — with that tone. And I get it. It is. Any shot we get, it is a shot. And we don't take those things lightly, either. So we go and you pour all of yourself in there. And we do have a big sense of responsibility, as well, to continue." On the Importance of This Being a Movie About Community and About Moving Forward Collectively Miki: "It's everything. It is what we are to be Samoan or Pacific. It's just how we see the world. So right from the way we run our sets to the way we run our production, to the themes of our story, that's how we communicate — and that's how we see the world, and that's how we work. So it is everything to us. And so to have a film reflect those themes, it's really important and allows us to highlight our culture in a way to the world that communicates what it is like to be Samoan and what it is like to be a Pacific Islander, what it's like to live in New Zealand and Aotearoa. And I think a lot of communities around the world can resonate with that, can see something in that, that they connect with as well. So I think it's a very human condition." On Making the Specific and Personal Universal Through the Film's Story of Grief and Connection Anapela: "It's not a thing — it just is. It's only when we talk about these things and analyse, but they are just a way of being. It's like with Miki talking about in Samoan, we're talking at very young age about sharing, and also that you're not the most-important person in the line. If anything, you're the last, you're supposed to help. It's never ever about you. There's this quote that says 'I is we always in a Samoan village'. So it's that mentality. That's how we're born. We're born into religion. We're born into all these things that make us Samoan. That goes more into the nitty gritty of what it's like. But when you try to find all those nuances in her, to not only explore but to allow those things about her being Samoan to breathe on-screen, to bring life and to evoke — let's just say, some of the comments that I've read, and I know it's from non-Samoan viewers, are 'we get a window, we kind of understand now what that means to be a Samoan just through that story'." Miki: "And it is things that we think about when we're piercing it together as well, so that will be the heart of it. But we've tried to create a story that does feel universal, that everybody can connect with. So we're telling a story from a Pacific perspective, but we're telling a story that's a universal story. Those who go and watch the film will see that it's not all about just being a Pacific Islander. And we've had great success back home in New Zealand because the entire country has found something to connect with. And we've tried to build that into the story, when we pieced it all together — that it is about community and coming together, and cultural acceptance. A large part of our European community back home have connected with the film because it has those things in it, and it does deal with things that they can connect with and they find funny, and they can find some sort of connectivity back to how they grew up as well. So hopefully it is a universal story for everyone." On the Movie's Approach to Navigating Cultural Differences Miki: "I tried to put it this way: we're not trying to hide from our past, and we are saying that these things did happen — and actually continue to happen, let's face it. And we've dealt with a lot of that stuff both on the nose, both directly and a little bit more subtly in the film, too. But you have to have that backdrop to it. You have to have some sort of setup for the entire film to end up in a place that we hope everybody ends up, which is inclusiveness and working together and coming together despite our differences — that we can celebrate a culture and the richness of it, we can say that we have been through this and some of us continue to go through these, but we can work our way through it through cultural acceptance and working together as a community." On Building the Cast and the Choir Around Polataivo Miki: "It's an exciting part of it. So, all of our students had to sing in their auditions. They all sung songs to audition for it. We went through the natural casting process. But we got really lucky when we came across Antonia [Robinson, Mystic], who has a musical background herself. She's a great singer anyway. She sings in her real life. But she's also a wonderful actress. We absolutely love Antonia. She's very hard-working, she's super talented. We know she's going to go on to great stuff after this. And then we managed to also find and create students next to her, in Zac [O'Meagher, Uproar] and Talia [Pua, Happiness Is the Path] and Tania [Nolan, The Convert] who had their own unique traits that they could bring to the group as a whole. Outside of that, we also have lots of wonderful New Zealand actors in there. Beulah Koale [Next Goal Wins] is in there, and Nicole Whippy [Shortland Street] is in there. Jamie Irvine [Literally Dead] is in there." Anapela: "Alison Bruce [The Gone]." Miki: "Alison Bruce as well. So we've got all of these well-known and really experienced New Zealand actors that not only are around Bels, but also help support and stand next to Bels." Anapela: "And our guy from Perth." Miki: "And Dalip Sondhi [Better Man] as well, who I think is a wonderful Australian actor — from England originally as well, the UK. So it was just special to be able to build a cast to support that. And they were all just so wonderful and embracing the community spirit of what we were trying to create. They're all amazing in the film, so it's quite lucky — super lucky and grateful." Tinā opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and in New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
They just don't make circus shows like they used to. When it comes to internationally acclaimed contemporary circus company Pirates of the Carabina, their latest production FLOWN, and a tale that jumps behind the scenes of circus life, however, that proves to be a good thing. Indeed, this feat of comedic theatre — and of acrobats, aerialists, musicians and stuntmen, of course — is more than just eye-popping tricks, although there's plenty of those to wonder at. Come for the spinning, dangling and other chaos, stay for the ups and downs of the absurdity of an unparalleled physical art form.
Flipping through a newspaper, feeling the flimsy paper in your hands and finding your fingerprints smudged with ink might by a dying ritual; however The Wall Street Journal is hoping that people still want to take the time to sit, peruse and consume the news at a leisurely pace. Instead of hanging out at a cafe rifling through physical pages, readers can now enter an architect-designed virtual New York apartment to get their news fix thanks to the publication's just-launched VR news app. WSJ VR is the newspaper's new virtual reality app for Google's Daydream platform, ushering news junkies into a different kind of reading experience. Now available to download via Google Play, it allows users to view a wall filled with a live feed of breaking news, watch interactive 360-degree videos and see a visualisation of real-time market data, all in swanky digs designed by architecture firm Michaelis Boyd. Interactive storytelling is the WSJ's main focus, particularly allowing "the Journal's reporters and editors to take readers and viewers of our journalism anywhere in the world," said Andy Regal, WSJ's Global Head of Video, in a statement. Whether that's something anyone actually wants is yet to be seen, but it's certainly quite different to scrolling through newsfeeds on a smartphone screen. Users can do more than read, watch and see the news while they're using the app; they can also engage with the space — which is based on a mix of the firm's real-life residential projects — on a 360-degree axis. Accordingly, even if you're not keen on staying up-to-date on global events and financial developments in the most immersive way possible, the app also offers views of the New York City skyline — and it's cheaper than a plane ticket. Via Dezeen.
What does a group of pink guards do when they hit an Australian beach? That isn't likely to be a storyline in Squid Game when it returns for its second season on Boxing Day 2024, but we have been given the answer in the lead up to the show's much-anticipated comeback anyway. In Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024, St Kilda Beach welcomed 200 visitors, all kicking back on the sand — on towels, reading, sitting under umbrellas, throwing balls, flying kites and more — in eye-catching Squid Game attire. As announced on Monday, December 9, Netflix sent a continent of pink guards to the seaside patch of the Victorian capital to remind everyone that the show's second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. There wasn't a green tracksuit in sight, but there were plenty of jumpsuit- and mask-wearing folks enjoying a morning out. This isn't the first time that the streaming platform has brought the South Korean sensation Down Under. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although 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. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, 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. 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. Squid Game's pink guards took over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Head to Netflix's social media for more details. 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.
When Michael Crichton put pen to paper and conjured up a modern-day dinosaur-filled amusement park, he couldn't have known exactly what he'd done. The author easily imagined the story making its way to the big screen, because the Jurassic Park novel started out as a screenplay. He could've also perceived that a whole film and TV franchise could follow, and that folks would be quoting the movies for decades. And yet, we're guessing that he didn't predict the latest development: a recreation of the Jurassic World movies, which started with the fourth flick in the series back in 2015, made completely out of Lego. Jurassic World by Brickman first popped up in Melbourne in 2021, then Sydney in 2022. Next, Brisbanites will be able to wander through it, too — and peer at more than 50 dinosaurs, props and scenes from the Jurassic World movies that have all been fashioned out of the popular plastic bricks in the process. That'll all be on display at Queensland Museum from Friday, December 8, 2023–Sunday, July 14, 2024 as the exhibition keeps touring the country. More than six million Lego blocks have been used in Jurassic World by Brickman, each brick stacked together to create the four-metre-tall park gates, the lab where the dinosaurs are genetically engineered, those instantly recognisable jeeps, a heap of creatures and more. Welcome to... your Lego Jurassic World fantasy, basically. Lego dinosaurs are clearly the main attraction and, yes, this event is going big. There'll be a life-sized brachiosaurus that weighs more than two tonnes, a huge tyrannosaurus rex, two life-sized velociraptors (Blue and Delta), and everything from a stegosaurus to a triceratops, too. Plus, you'll see some prehistoric creatures in the baby dinosaur enclosure, encounter more on the loose and learn how to track them over the exhibition's recreation of Isla Nublar (while using your imagination a whole heap, obviously). If it all sounds rather sizeable, that's because Jurassic World by Brickman is the largest Lego exhibition in Australia. And if getting a closer look at Jurassic World sounds a little familiar, you might remember the non-Lego exhibition that hit Melbourne back in 2016 and the current showcase that's on display in Sydney right now. In Brisbane, Lego aficionados will also be able to get building while they're there, with 2.5 million bricks to play with. This'll be a family-friendly affair, so expect to have plenty of small dinosaur fans for company. Queensland Museum is having a dino-filled year given that it just said goodbye to Dinosaurs of Patagonia on Monday, October 2. Featuring fossils from 13 dinosaur species, that exhibition included the patagotitan, which was the largest-known land animal, reaching 37 metres in length and weighing 70 tonnes. It wasn't made out of Lego, though. Jurassic World by Brickman will display at Queensland Museum, corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Bank, South Brisbane, from Friday, December 8, 2023–Sunday, July 14, 2024 — with pre-sale tickets from Monday, October 16 and general sales from Monday, October 23. Head to the venue's website for further details. Images: Anna Kucera.
These dream-like pictures look as though they could be from the set of Inception, but they're actually screenshots from Google Earth. Artist Clement Valla zooms into Google Earth at certain angles to reveal a surrealist vision of our world, capturing the images he finds. The only editing effects applied by the artist are basic color adjustments and cropping. A particular penchant for bridges and roads has resulted in an extraordinary collection of screenshots. “I am collecting these new typologies as a means of conservation – as Google Earth improves its 3D models, its terrain, and its satellite imagery, these strange, surrealist depictions of our built environment and its relation to the natural landscape will disappear in favor of better illusionistic imagery. However, I think these strange mappings of the 2-dimensional and the 3-dimensional provide us with fabulous forms that are purely the result of algorithmic processes and not of human aesthetic decision making. They are artifacts worth preserving.” [Via PSFK]
The mercury is soaring, cold and cloudy days have become a distant memory and enjoying a few hours of sunlight after knock-off time is a daily occurrence. Yes, it's summer — which means that soaking in Australia's sultry weather is the number-one pastime across the nation. Well, that and finding something refreshing to drink on those hot days and nights when you're hanging with your mates and having a fiesta. Enter spritzes. They're light, they couldn't pair better with our climate and they have long been a warm-weather favourite. Feel like you've tried every type of spritz there is, though? Don't want to simply serve the same old drinks to your friends next time you're kicking back by the barbecue or pool? That's where the tequila versions come in — and they're sure to get the party going at any at-home do. We've teamed up with top-notch tequila brand — and, fun fact, Matthew McConaughey's go-to agave juice — Jose Cuervo to bring you four incredibly easy spritz recipes to add to your must-drink list. THE CUERVO SPRITZ Serves one Sometimes, you don't need a complicated recipe — you just need a tasty beverage. This zesty spritz is big on fruit flavours, but still impossible to get wrong. Ingredients 30ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 20ml lychee liqueur 10ml lemon juice 15ml simple syrup 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters 120ml soda water 1 mint sprig (optional) Method Add ice to a tall glass, then fill with Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, lychee liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura orange bitters and soda water. To finish, garnish with a mint sprig. THE TEQUILA BUCK Serves one Every buck cocktail features two key ingredients: ginger beer and something citrusy. This version also adds tequila, plus raspberry cordial or grenadine and aromatic bitters for a rosy-hued tipple. Ingredients 45ml Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado 15ml raspberry cordial or grenadine 20ml lime juice 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters 120ml ginger beer 1 lime wedge or candied ginger (optional) Method Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado, raspberry cordial or grenadine, lime juice and Angostura aromatic bitters. Shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into a wine glass and top with ginger beer. Then, garnish with lime wedge or candied ginger. Or, you could just watch this quick how-to video below. https://youtu.be/lxpNiYKB514 ELDERFLOWER T'N'T Serves one Tequila pairs mighty well with tonic, as this take on an old favourite shows. You'll also enjoy the distinctive taste of elderflower here, so you won't confuse this for any other spritz. Ingredients 30ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 20ml elderflower liqueur 10ml lime juice 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters 120ml tonic 1 cucumber slice (optional) Method Fill a wine glass with ice, then add Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, Angostura orange bitters and tonic. Stir, but only briefly, then top with a cucumber slice as a garnish. SPARKLING MARGARITA Serves one A margarita, but make it sparkling? This spritz is as simple and straightforward as it sounds. It's also a perfect go-to for when you only have a few ingredients on hand. Ingredients 45ml Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado 120ml lemon soda 1 lemon wedge (optional) Method Fill a wine glass with ice, add Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado and top with lemon soda, then garnish with a lemon wedge. See? Simple. Find more Jose Cuervo cocktail recipes by visiting the brand's website.
With its golden beaches, lush rainforests and abundant green valleys, North Coast NSW has all the tools to recharge the weariest of souls — or those just in dire need of a holiday. It's also home to some of the state's most renowned producers, who are busily pumping out wine, beer and spirits — which you can sample at cellar doors aplenty — as well as award-winning eateries serving up excellent local produce in stunning locales. So you can make the most out of your next North Coast NSW trip, we've done the hard yards and planned out four adventure-packed holidays. And right now, you can score $100 off select North Coast NSW accommodation when you book through Trip.com. [caption id="attachment_856861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO PORT MACQUARIE TO MEET WILDLIFE AND RIDE WAVES When you're in Port Macquarie, whichever direction you point your compass towards you'll find entrancing rainforests and beaches backing onto sprawling national parks. After touchdown at the city's conveniently located airport, secure a rental vehicle and scoot over to the coast to explore the rainforest canopy and sheltered coastline of Sea Acres National Park. You're bound to spot an ark of critters including goannas, diamond pythons, brush turkeys and even a koala or two. Then, take a free self-guided tour of the Koala Hospital for more cuddly sightings and greater insight into the lives of these beloved marsupials. Motor an hour up the coast to find a marine menagerie in Hat Head National Park. Korogoro Creek is a pristine snorkelling spot where you can spy hermit crabs, flat head, mullet and octopus below the water line, while whales and dolphins might occasionally surface through the waves, too. You'll find excellent surf breaks for experienced riders just south at Crescent Head. And if you're a beginner? Learn to tackle the region's famous tubes with On Point Surf School. After a day on the water, you'll likely need to refuel — venture inland to Bago Maze and Winery to enjoy a wine tasting paired with local cheese and charcuterie before meandering through the venue's carefully sculpted lilly pilly hedge maze. A stay on the Hastings River at Rydges Port Macquarie provides plush interiors with water views, as well as easy access to some of the city's best dining options. Tuck into fresh seafood at The Stunned Mullet or Bills Fishhouse and Bar, which both showcase seasonal local produce. Ensure you leave enough room for dessert, with the creamy artisan scoops at Blue Cow Gelato a tip-top option. [caption id="attachment_856161" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Opal Cove Resort Coffs Harbour, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO COFFS HARBOUR TO EXPLORE ANCIENT RAINFORESTS AND REMOTE COASTLINES Alight the plane at Coffs Harbour Airport with your adventure shoes at the ready. In classic Aussie family holiday tradition, you'll need to kick things off with a choccy-covered banana and a quick round of laser tag at the Big Banana. Then, unwind in the spacious suites at Opal Cove Resort. This expansive seaside venue provides everything you need to relax and recharge, from a sauna and spa to a fully equipped gym and an arcade games room. Start your grand expedition into the great outdoors by ambling through national parks and nature reserves along the Solitary Islands coastal walk. Those tackling the full 60-kilometre trail will move from windswept headlands to undisturbed beaches and lush rainforest paths over three or four days of hiking and camping (depending on your pace). There are also plenty of day-trip opportunities, with spots for ocean fishing, swimming and picnicking. For even loftier views, head to Sealy Lookout (Niigi Niigi) and walk along the Forest Sky Pier which dramatically juts out over the canopy of Orara East State Forest. To put the stunning view into historical context, join a Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience tour and learn about the cultural practices and stories of Traditional Owners, the Gumbaynggirr people. If that's still not enough nature for you, head an hour out of Coffs to the otherworldly Dorrigo National Park, where you can walk among 600-year-old trees in the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest. The small township of Bellingen is a perfect pit stop on the scenic drive here along Waterfall Way. Savour a lunch of shared plates in the artfully restored church that houses Cedar Bar & Kitchen, or stop in at Black Bear Cafe for a quick coffee in the heart of town. [caption id="attachment_856170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angourie, Destination NSW[/caption] FLY INTO BALLINA FOR A SURFING AND PADDLING SAFARI Flights landing at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport are often packed with holidaymakers headed for Byron Bay's star-studded beaches. But if you're keen to take the road (slightly) less travelled — that offer equally glorious seaside adventures — head 90 minutes south to the relaxed township of Yamba. Along the route, stop in at Razorback Lookout in Evans Head for spectacular sightlines up the coast before exploring the varied landscapes of Bundjalung National Park. Pack a hiking lunch and walk the ten-kilometre Jerusalem Creek loop, or book a rejuvenating forest bathing tour, which involves Japanese-inspired mindfulness movements honouring different natural elements, with Iluka Nature and Soul at Woody Head campground. Make Yamba Sun Motel your base once you reach town. The comfortable rooms come in a number of configurations and can accommodate both couples and larger families. The Sun also places you in the heart of this close-knit community, with beaches, friendly cafes and local attractions all within walking distance. Start your day with an Allpress Espresso coffee from eclectic local fave Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store, or tuck into a hearty Turkish-inspired breakfast at the charming Beachwood Cafe. Get active on the water with a Yamba Kayak tour, and paddle around the islands and mangrove mazes of the Clarence River. Or, wetsuit up and tackle the Angourie Point surf break. Even if you're not confident on a board, you'd be remiss not to catch the dramatic right-handers roll in at this renowned spot from the safety of the sand. [caption id="attachment_856169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fingal Head, David Kirkland[/caption] FLY INTO THE GOLD COAST AND HEAD SOUTH TO CHASE WATERFALLS AND LOCAL FEASTS After touchdown, find yourself some wheels and scoot over the border to explore the nearby NSW coastline. Head southward and you'll immediately hit the Tweed Shire. Here, you'll find fine-dining spots hidden among rolling green valleys, myriad beaches to suit towel-snoozers and wave-riders alike, picturesque cruises along the Tweed River and plenty of cultural experiences to fill up your holiday itinerary. Be sure not to miss the Tweed Regional Gallery and Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, before visiting the seemingly never-ending sandy expanse of Dreamtime Beach. For liquid sustenance, head to the cellar door at Husk Distillers, home of the chameleon-like Ink Gin. Then enjoy the hearty fare served up at Potager — much of what you taste in your miso pumpkin and potato gnocchi with coconut ricotta and warrigal greens has been plucked directly from the onsite garden. Less than an hour on the road and you'll be in the heart of Byron Bay. Set yourself up at the glamorously renovated Byron Springs beach house, tucked away on a palm-lined cul-de-sac with easy access to sprawling Tallow Beach and Arakwal National Park. If you can tear yourself away from the hotel's sun-drenched therapy pool, book a tour with Trip.com to uncover natural gems and native refreshments. The Chasing Waterfalls tour will ferry you between glistening cascades, quiet bushlands and rarely visited swimming holes, while the Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session will introduce you to locally concocted craft beers and fragrant spirits. With $100 off select North Coast NSW accommodation via Trip.com until June 21, now is the ideal time to explore all that the region has to offer. Top images: Destination NSW
A visit to Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast doesn't usually involve frolicking through giant dandelions as they sway in the sea breeze, watching huge coins glisten by the shore, walking through a towering plastic archway or spying an old truck on the sand. For ten days come spring 2024, however, it will. Each year for 22 years now, Swell Sculpture Festival fills a one-kilometre stretch of the coastline with massive artworks — and the aforementioned pieces are just some of this year's highlights. Hit the beach and you'll also spot a tribute to jellyfish, an interactive cube that's inspired by mix-and-match picture books and features Australian native species, multicoloured scarves, fungi furniture and even the GC itself (well, a likeness of it) buried under sand. The list of works goes on, including a large sweet myrtle flower, Aussie blowflies, a sea dragon, breathing exhaust pipes and a sandstone sphere. Some pay tribute to southeast Queensland history. Many explore humanity's impact on the earth. Others honour Australia's First Peoples. There'll be more than 60 pieces in total, all dotted along the sand between Friday, September 6–Sunday, September 15 — with each one putting the regular sandcastles that you might spot on any beach to shame. If this seems like the kind of event that not only engages the crowds of people who hit up Currumbin each spring, but also inspires them, that's because it is. 2024's Swell Sculpture Festival has broken its own record for the most artists involved, eclipsing 350 — with 250 local, interstate and international talents contributing to the sculptures. "Last year we had over 290 artists collaborating and working across Swell — and this year we have over 350 artists, including 250 sculptors working with artists in the main exhibition, which is an unprecedented number," explains Swell Sculpture Festival Co-Founder and Artistic Director Natasha Edwards. "This is an increase of more than 20 percent, with a focus on collaborations this year, bringing more people together to work harmoniously and achieve a common goal of fostering connections, inspiring contemplation and promoting positive change through the language of sculpture," Edwards continues. "Many of the sculptures have an environmental theme, encouraging visitors to step outside their comfort zone and confront the realistic threat our earth is facing in a thought-provoking and gentle way." When they craft the fest's eye-catching sights, Swell's roster of artists use everything from concrete, stainless steel, copper, bronze, wood, glass, plastic and natural fibres to fibreglass, bamboo, wire, silk, stone and aluminium — and plenty of other materials. The many ways that different folks can fashion these substances into new pieces of arts is also among the event's takeaway musings. 2024's festival wants to get patrons engaging more than just their eyes, too, starting with a kayak listening experience on Currumbin Creek. Swell also spans a beachside fringe fest, guided walks, a bar, yoga among the sculptures, tai chi, pilates, drawing sessions, other art and craft classes, a silent disco under the stars, a sing-along and more. Swell Sculpture Festival 2024 runs from Friday, September 6–Sunday, September 15 at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. For further information, head to the event's website. Images: Leximagery and Ravel.
Is the 21st century Middle-earth's golden age? For viewers, that keeps proving the case. The 00s had barely begun when The Lord of the Rings franchise started its journey to becoming one of the global box office's biggest-ever film sagas — it currently ranks 12th — by first arriving between 2001–2003 as Peter Jackson's initial trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's beloved and iconic fantasy novels. After The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King met such adoring cinema audiences and earned accolades, of course The Hobbit next made the leap to the silver screen under Jackson's direction, from 2012–2014 and again as a trio of flicks. A decade has now passed since An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies as 2024 wraps up. The lack of Middle-earth at the movies also comes to an end via The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Jackson has focused on documentaries since The Hobbit films, courtesy of the First World War-centric They Shall Not Grow Old, plus TV series The Beatles: Get Back and accompanying movie The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Concert. Since becoming almost as synonymous with all things LoTR as the author who created it, however, he's still attached to the saga. In the live-action realm, planned Andy Serkis (Venom: The Last Dance)-directed and -starring 2026 release The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum boasts Jackson as a producer. First, though, he has executive-produced The War of the Rohirrim, the franchise's new anime instalment. One of his greatest choices from The Two Towers and The Return of the King still echoes here, too, and literally, with Miranda Otto reprising her role as Éowyn. The 21st century's original LoTR pictures were a massive deal everywhere, but the wealth of Australian actors among the cast didn't go unnoticed across the ditch from where New Zealand's green hills earned their most-famous movie use yet. While Otto, David Wenham (Fake), Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer) and Hugo Weaving (How to Make Gravy) weren't strangers to the screen by any means at the time, The Lord of the Rings remains one of the projects that they'll each forever be known for. Playing elves, Blanchett and Weaving were each able to return for The Hobbit flicks, but popping up at different times in the saga isn't as easy when you're portraying a human. In Otto's case, The War of the Rohirrim has found a way to bring her back as Éowyn. Like streaming series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but unrelated to it, the new film is set before the events of the LoTR movies, but is told as a tale relayed by Rohan's best-known noblewoman and shieldmaiden. Imagine Éowyn "coming back and telling this story to her children"; that's what Otto did, she tells Concrete Playground. The narrative that the character unfurls from 183 years prior to her time has another Rohan heroine at its centre, explaining why she's someone that Middle-earth's kingdom of men, as well as its famed horsemen, should champion — even if her deeds don't furnish Rohan's songs and haven't been mentioned to audiences before. Héra (Gaia Wise, A Walk in the Woods) is the daughter of king Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox, Succession), whose reign and house are threatened by a marriage proposal. When Wulf's (Luke Pasqualino, Rivals) hand in matrimony is rejected, so sparks the battle that gives filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama's entry into the LoTR franchise its moniker. With episodes of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Star Wars: Visions, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 on his resume, Kamiyama is well-versed at stepping into existing and already-adored worlds, and at giving them the anime treatment — a task that awaited with The War of the Rohirrim, and that the director handles with ease. That said, in connecting a tale that wouldn't be so resonant if viewers weren't familiar with Éowyn paving the way in the saga first with its on-screen past, Otto's voicework couldn't be a more crucial part of the movie. Returning to the role, she understands how the pair are mirrored, and also Éowyn's impact on the page and on the screen so far. "This character was really significant to a lot women growing up," she notes. Reteaming Otto with Philippa Boyens — who shared a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar with Jackson and Fran Walsh for The Return of the King, then penned the story for The War of the Rohirrim's script and also produces the new film — the latest LoTR movie adds to a busy few years for an actor who last graced cinemas in 2023 hit Talk to Me. On the small screen, she's also brought her talents to everything from Wellmania and Koala Man to The Clearing, Ladies in Black and Thou Shalt Not Steal of late, expanding a filmography that has taken her through War of the Worlds, Cashmere Mafia, Blessed, South Solitary, I, Frankenstein, The Homesman, Rake, The Daughter, Homeland, 24: Legacy, Annabelle: Creation, Downhill, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, True Colours, Fires and more in the past two decades. We also chatted with Otto about what excited her about a Lord of the Rings comeback, reprising the role solely as a voice actor and the responsibility of portraying Éowyn — as well as whether the diversity of parts that she's been enjoying was the original dream back in her pre-The Two Towers days in The Last Days of Chez Nous, The Nostradamus Kid, Love Serenade, The Well, Doing Time for Patsy Cline, What Lies Beneath and Human Nature, plus what she makes of her journey across her career so far. On What Excited Otto About Returning to the World of The Lord of the Rings, and to Playing Éowyn, But This Time in an Animated Film "I was really excited by the idea that it was anime. I thought it was so interesting to go back into this world of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien and tell the story as an anime, and all the things that that gives you licence to do. The films have always done so well over there, and I feel like there's something in Japanese mythology that really has some kinship with Tolkien's mythology in some ways. So it just sounded like a great fit. And the idea of coming back as a narrator was really lovely. It made utter sense to me the way that Philippa put it forward to me when she wrote to me about doing it. I could understand the concept, that it was Éowyn coming back and telling this story to her children. I just really liked that idea." On How Otto Approaches Not Only Reprising the Role of Éowyn, But Solely Doing So as a Voice Actor "The first time I came back to do the recording was, I think, in 2022, and I'd just had COVID and my voice was croaky — and I thought 'oh they'll like it, because I sound kind of husky and deep and mature'. And then they were disappointed because they wanted me to have the same voice. They really very much wanted to hear the Éowyn voice from 20 years ago. So when we came to do the second recording in Wellington, it was great to actually be in the studio with Philippa and with Kenji, and to actually get to see more of the film. And I worked with Roisin [Carty, The Agency] again, who had done a lot of the dialect work on the original films. So that was a great way of really fully getting back into the character. And just being back in Wellington, and being back with a lot of the same people, really took me back to that feeling of Middle-earth." On Whether Returning to Éowyn Was Something That Otto Could Imagine Two Decades Ago When She First Played the Part "It's just amazing — you think 'my gosh, that much time has passed, wow'. No, I never. I very much knew when we made the films, I remember the first time coming over and seeing some of the footage, and going to the costume fittings and seeing the footage, I remember that night I did not sleep because I was so excited to be a part of it. I felt like I knew in that moment that these films would last a really long time, and it's exciting as an actor to be a part of something that will actually last for people. But I never thought at the time about being able to come back in any way. I know when they made The Hobbit, many of the Elvish characters got to come back. But me being a mere human, I wasn't involved in that story. So I never envisaged that I would get the call, but it was very lovely." On Héra's Story Following in Éowyn's Footsteps, Even If the New Tale Is Set Before the Original Films "I think it's really lovely that there's that mirroring of those two characters. To me, it also felt like in Lord of the Rings, Éowyn holds this legacy of the women of Rohan, the shieldmaidens. And she speaks about the women of Rohan, and you get a sense that there's this this lineage of women who have come before her, the people she looked up to and formed her. So when you go into this film, you get to see the women that she admired. She is telling the story because she admires Héra and finds Héra inspirational, and so it's really lovely to get a sense of that history." On Otto's History of Playing Influential Women Beyond Éowyn "I think it's the way the interesting roles have come my way. I think I just gravitate to women like that. It's really to do with the writing of the character, and whether it speaks to me — like sometimes I can read something and think 'that's really good, but I don't have any emotional connection to it' or 'I haven't got that spark'. In a rational sense, I know it's really good, it's probably going to be a great project, but I just don't have that launch point within myself in my gut that tells me 'I want to do this'. So I think I just respond to what's on the page. I don't make tactical choices of thinking 'I need to play influential women' — it's more just that I'm drawn to those characters. They're interesting to me." On the Sense of Responsibility That Comes with Playing Éowyn "It does come with responsibility. When you're a returning to a film, I think you have the responsibility, you're carrying the mantle of the history of those trilogies into this film. And I certainly feel when I meet people who are huge fans of film, that this character was really significant to a lot women growing up. Really, really significant, Éowyn's story. And I'm just the person holding that role. The character was written by Tolkien, invented by Tolkien and brought to the screen by Peter Jackson, and I'm just the conduit of it. But it is a responsibility when I meet people to understand their stories and how significant Éowyn was to them." [caption id="attachment_983393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thou Shalt Not Steal[/caption] On Whether the Diversity of Otto's Roles From the Past Few Years, Including Talk to Me, The Clearing, Thou Shalt Not Steal and Ladies in Black, Was What She Hoped for When She Was Starting Out "I definitely hoped that I didn't get stuck in the girlfriend roles. I sensed, in the scripts I would read along the way, there was a lot of female roles where you were just the girlfriend and they didn't have a lot of character written on the page. I prefer playing characters that are strongly written on the page, that I can leave myself and become someone else. And it's not just relying on my personality — that I can be somebody else. So I definitely didn't want to, from the beginning, be typecast into any particular thing. I really didn't want to be boxed in. And that's probably why I do tend to choose really different things, because I just don't want to be in any kind of cage, I guess." On What Otto Makes of Her Journey as an Actor So Far, Including Returning to Lord of the Rings "I feel really lucky. I have to say, Lord of the Rings was a really significant part of my career because I think it's given me that longevity in some ways. To have been a part of something that was so beloved has definitely helped my career. I feel really lucky that that I'm working, and that I still get to work with really interesting people. I've worked with a lot of younger, like first-, second-time directors in recent years, which has been really great. I feel really blessed. It's been really nice coming back to Australia, where I've felt like I've been able to jump around and do lots of different things. I've felt like in recent years in Australia, in film and particularly in television, there's a lot of different genres happening now, a lot of different styles, which has been so great and so inspiring to see. Dylan's [River, Robbie Hood] work in Thou Shalt Not Steal is so different to Gracie's [Otto, Seriously Red] work in Ladies in Black, and they're so different to Danny and Michael's [Philippou] work in Talk to Me. So it's just been really nice to work with all those different energies, I think." The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
When the end of July hits, the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games will kick off, with the finest athletes from Commonwealth countries competing to take home shiny medals. That's all well and good and interesting; however, we've found a much cuter display of sportsmanship that's also popping up this July. At 1pm on Thursday, July 21, viewers can watch four adorable guide-dogs-to-be participating in their very own Puppy Games. Yep, that's a thing and we're definitely here for it. If it sounds familiar, that's because it has been held for the past two years, too — but clearly this is the kind of adorable event that needs to be held annually. Once again, the folks at Seeing Eye Dogs have teamed up The Petbarn Foundation to host the canine-centric games — and, this year, with pet food brand Royal Canin as well. The results will be streaming on a device near you via the event's website. No matter where you're located in Australia, it sounds like perfect lunchtime viewing. How do the Puppy Games work, you might be asking? The event will see young trainee guide dogs Sandler, Tambo, Rani and Tom tackle a series of skill-testing challenges, with their every move captured on camera. They'll be helped through their tasks by their trainers — Abi, Jack, Lina and Paige, respectively. Accordingly, you can watch the young pups hurtle through a time trial, take on a 'puppy patience' food bowl challenge and battle it out for glory in the 'dogstacle distraction course'. And they are very much just pups — Tambo and Tom are the youngest at 11 weeks old, while Rani is the comparative veteran of the competitors at 15 weeks old. The project aims to support fundraising efforts for the annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, of course, but also promises a much-needed boost of dopamine and general happy feels all round. Viewers can donate to the cause by hitting the link on the event's website. This year, the appeal is shooting for a goal of $1 million to help cover the costs of breeding, training and caring for at least 20 Seeing Eye Dogs. Can't make Thursday's viewing? Fear not, the full event will be up on YouTube to rewatch any time you need a mood boost. The 2022 Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs Puppy Games will stream via the event's website from 1pm on Thursday, July 21.
Florentijn Hofman has transformed France's Loire River into a giant bathtub with his enormous rubber duck sculpture. The duck floats from city to city, nodding its cute yellow head at passersby. Before beginning its trek down the Loire, the duck has brought nostalgic smiles to the faces of witnesses worldwide; it may just be impossible not to smile at this strikingly out-of-place, yet adorable creation. Dutch artist Hofman is renowned for his tongue-in-cheek pieces, including a memorable party-hat-sporting frog perched on the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe, Japan in 2011. The duck sculpture, constructed of rubber-coated PVC atop a pontoon with a generator, measures at 25 metres high, and 25 metres across. Here's to hoping on of our favourite childhood bath time companions will make a splash in Australasia soon.
Situated on the banks of the Murray River, Tocumwal is the ideal destination for an outdoorsy getaway. With virtually endless opportunities for fishing, camping and hiking in the surrounding areas, you can spend your days bouncing between the riverside beaches or seeing the fascinating landscape from high above. With the help of Wild Turkey, we've selected a series of activities that'll take your visit to this lush Riverina district to the next level, whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure or a bit of both. [caption id="attachment_843939" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elliot Kramer[/caption] GO BEACH HOPPING The Murray River flows right through the heart of Tocumwal, and 24 riverside beaches within close proximity to town ensure you can make the most of every sunny day. With this stretch of Australia's longest river lined with shady red gums and native bushland, there's a quiet patch of shoreline with your name on it. For instance, Tocumwal Beach, Apex Beach and Finley Beach are all within a quick drive of one another. If you don't mind a quick drive, Bouchiers Beach and Smithers Beach are also top-notch options. No matter which beach you like the look of, the water is perfect for swimming and kayaking. [caption id="attachment_843057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Blackburn - Visit Victoria[/caption] SEE THE SIGHTS FROM ABOVE Take flight above the countryside with Sport Aviation, one of the top attractions in Tocumwal. Courageous passengers can experience heart-pumping flights in both gliders and light sports aircraft, whether you're just looking for a thrill or keen to learn the basics of piloting. Leaving from the runway located just outside town, you'll soar high above the rolling hills and sprawling river system with an expert guide. Traversing across the landscape, these nimble aircraft provide a striking bird's-eye view, ensuring you have the best possible vantage point to soak up the scenery. [caption id="attachment_843062" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flicker (bkstreets49)[/caption] EXPLORE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION HISTORY It doesn't take long to wander from one end of Tocumwal to the other, but this historic part of the world is overflowing with fascinating history everywhere you look. Once you've touched down after your glider flight, you can head next door to the Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Museum — once home to Australia's largest RAAF base — to learn about the town's wartime legacy. If you prefer trains to planes, the Tocumwal Railway Heritage Museum presents fascinating photos and railway memorabilia dating back to 1908. Meanwhile, Chrysties Classics and Collectibles Museum (pictured above) offers an eclectic mix of classic cars, tractors and vintage machinery that showcases the region's extensive farming legacy. [caption id="attachment_843066" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] HIT THE GREENS Handy with a set of clubs? Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club is the ideal place to practise your swing, with not one but two 18-hole courses — and regular tournaments — revealing how you measure up. With the club also boasting a driving range, a chipping green and two putting greens, budding Shooter McGavins will find themselves in heaven. If you're new to golf, head to Finley Golf Club, around 20 kilometres outside of Tocumwal. With no bunkers or hills to worry about on this course, beginners can let loose on the fairways as much as they like. And with daily tee times available for non-members, getting involved couldn't be easier. Nearby Cobram, meanwhile, is home to one of the Murray's premier golf destinations. The Cobram Barooga Golf Club (pictured above) boasts 36 championship-level holes on which to test your skills, as well as lush lawn bowls greens, a full-service clubhouse and even a mini-golf course (that recently hosted the Australian Mini Golf Open) on its expansive grounds dotted with beautiful native flora and fauna. [caption id="attachment_843056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Godfrey - Visit Victoria[/caption] GET OUTDOORS Tocumwal is the perfect place from which to set off on an outdoor adventure, with Barmah National Park recognised as particularly special for bushwalking and horse riding. Home to the world's largest river red gum forest, the expansive park also boasts stunning wetlands that provide critical habitat for over 200 bird species. Closer to town, you're welcome to admire the alluring Murray River from the shoreline, but it's even better when you hire a boat and drift along the waterway instead. With the area renowned among anglers in search of cod, perch and trout, it's the ideal way to find a quiet place to drop a line and spend a lazy day enjoying the calm waters of the mighty Murray. Find out more about Wild Turkey's Discovery Series at the website. Top image: Emily Godfrey, Visit Victoria
How many ways can Melbourne go dotty for Yayoi Kusama? Everyone is about to find out. The National Gallery of Victoria's big summer 2024–25 exhibition is dedicated to the Japanese artist, complete with a five-metre-tall dot-covered Dancing Pumpkin sculpture in NGV International's Federation Court, plus a world record-breaking number of infinity rooms and other immersive installations, many featuring spots. There'll be polka dots inside and out around the venue, including on the plane trees on St Kilda Road. On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 — in the lead up to the exhibition's run from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025 — the NGV has unveiled the beginnings of Kusama's latest artwork. A version of Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees is being staged in Melbourne, with more than 60 trees outside the gallery having their trunks covered in pink-and-white polka-dotted material. The first row has been completed, which anyone in the vicinity can now check out — and by early in the week commencing Monday, December 2, 2024, all four lanes of St Kilda Road in front of the NGV will be brightly wrapped. With over 180 works set to feature, in what'll be the largest Kusama retrospective that Australia has ever seen — as well as one of the most-comprehensive retrospectives devoted to the artist to be staged globally, not to mention the closest that you'll get to experiencing her Tokyo museum without leaving the country — stepping foot inside the NGV will still be mandatory for art lovers. But Kusama is also livening up the road for everyone to enjoy all day and all night long. In the past, including when Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees debuted at the Kirishima Open Air Museum in Japan in 2002, a red-and-white colour scheme has been used; however, Melbourne has scored its own bold-pink iteration. Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees is obviously free to view, joining several other artworks that won't cost anyone a cent to see during the exhibition. The aforementioned Dancing Pumpkin is already on display. NGV International's glass waterwall is also going pink, but with black rather than white dots. Kusama's new version of Narcissus Garden, which dates back to 1966 and will feature 1400 30-centimetre-diameter silver balls this time around, is set sit in front of the waterwall and in parts of Federation Court. Plus, the yellow-and-black spheres of Dots Obsession will hang over the Great Hall. Then there's the artist's sticker-fuelled, all-ages-friendly The Obliteration Room, where audiences young and old pop coloured dots everywhere — 'obliterating', as Kusama calls it — to cover an apartment interior that's completely white otherwise. Overall, Yayoi Kusama will step through the 95-year-old artist's eight decades of making art via a thematic chronology. Some pieces hail from her childhood. Some are recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s; plenty from the past four decades: they'll all appear. [caption id="attachment_950480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Yayoi Kusama's Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees, 2002/2024, on display along St Kilda Road, Melbourne for the National Gallery of Victoria's Yayoi Kusama exhibition until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photo: Tobias Titz.
The Autark Home redefines waterfront living. Passivhaus, an independent research institute, has built an eco-friendly floating houseboat. The houseboat is highly energy-efficient, runs completely on solar power and is ten times more energy efficient than the average house. The Autark Home is currently flaoting in Maastricht, Netherlands. Designed by Pieter Kromwijk, the prototype has gained popularity because of its ultra-low energy consumption. There are plans to produce more Autark Homes to meet the demand of willing buyers.
Why drink a regular beer when you can enjoy a beverage that glows in the dark? And why scour the shops for bottled varieties when you can make your own bright bioluminescent tipples? They're the questions former NASA biologist Josiah Zayner will get you pondering when you discover his latest illuminating product. After leaving the American space agency to start his own company, The Odin, he has created a fluorescent yeast kit that will add a glow to your home brewing endeavours — or perhaps inspire you to start. The key ingredient is called the Green Fluorescent Protein, or GFP, that actually originally comes from a jellyfish. With the Engineer Any Yeast to Fluoresce kit, you'll actually make your own yeast that contains the protein, which will then glow when exposed to a black light. Technically, thanks to some concerns by the US Food and Drug Administration, it's being sold for educational purposes — but Zayner does intend for it to be used for brewing beer. The Odin has a full statement about any safety concerns on the company's website. The good news is that the kit ships internationally, so you really can make your glow-in-the-dark beer dreams a reality. The not-so-good news — if you're low on cash and time, that is — is that it costs US$199 and requires ten hours of effort over the course of two days to get to the ready-to-brew stage. Luminous beer might light up your next drinking session, but it isn't something you can make lightly, it seems. For more information about the Engineer Any Yeast to Fluoresce kit, visit The Odin's website. Via Eater. Image via The Odin.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in July, but KFC wants you to celebrate the festive season midyear not once but twice. First, it's dropping a heap of deals for the next month. Then, it's sending three groups to the Colonel's Lodge in August, where getting into the yuletide spirit with plenty of chicken while holidaying for two nights in the Blue Mountains is on the menu. The fast-food chain has previously slipped into the Christmas in July mood with ugly sweaters for humans and pets alike, which are back for another year alongside seasonal socks, hoodies, bucket hats and more. If you have some of those in your wardrobe or you buy them now, you know what to wear if you score one of the trips to the brand's latest pop-up. Whatever you don, the three winners will be heading to a wood-panelled mansion filled with red-and-white theming aplenty, a whole lot of KFC merchandise and also Christmas wares, with up to three mates. While you're there, you'll enjoy full KFC catering up to $2000 per day. Not in New South Wales but love the Colonel's finest? The prize also spans economy flights from your nearest capital city to Sydney. For people already in NSW, you might receive transport from your home to the Blue Mountains, but that's up to KFC's discretion. Three draws are taking place, each for those who hit up the KFC app to spend $30 or more on the chain's Christmas in July deals, which run from Monday, July 1–Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The first period covers purchases from Monday, July 1–Sunday, July 14, and will be drawn on Monday, July 15 for a stay between Thursday, August 1–Saturday, August 3. The second period covers eating KFC between Monday, July 15–Sunday, July 21, for a draw on Monday, July 22 and a stay between Saturday, August 3–Monday, August 5. And the third will reward those getting some finger-lickin'-good chicken between Monday, July 22–Wednesday, July 31, as then drawn on Thursday, August 1 for a stay from Monday, August 5–Wednesday, August 7. The deals that'll help you become eligible for winning a Colonel's Lodge getaway include half-price zingers on Monday, July 1, then the likes of nine pieces of original recipe for $9.95, $1 regular chips and $10 tenders. A different special will land each day. KFC fans will know that this kind of pop-up isn't a surprise for a brand that's also done 11-course fine-dining degustations, Peking Duk-led festivals, a nightclub, weddings, cocktails, a crispery that double-breaded and fried everything, and a soothing playlist of chicken frying and gravy simmering — which is genuinely relaxing — in the past. KFC's Christmas July deals run from Monday, July 1–Wednesday, July 31, 2024, with spending $30 or more via the KFC app getting you an entry to stay at the Colonel's Lodge. Winners will need to take their trips in August. Head to the brand's website for more details.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch did it. Kimmy vs The Reverend, You vs Wild and Cat Burglar, too. With these four titles and more, Netflix has actively embraced interactive content in recent years. Choose Your Own Adventure books have a lot to answer for, clearly, with being able to select your way through streaming picks — making choices about what happens next within a movie or show, that is, rather than simply deciding what to watch — popping up often enough that it's now just another viewing option. But only the streaming platform's new heist thriller series Kaleidoscope boasts 40,320 different ways to dive in. Here, that vast array of choices is indeed a gimmick, giving a familiar robbery narrative shiny packaging. Picking a route through Kaleidoscope's eight instalments is also automated, at least if you do what Netflix tells you. When each subscriber presses play on the series for the first time, they're given one of seven colour-coded instalments at random. From there, viewers move onto one of six chapters, any of which could roll next, and so on. The only inbuilt rule: White: The Heist, as the episode that shows the heist itself is called, always screens last. That whittles down the options to 5040, which is still a hefty number. Created by author and screenwriter Eric Garcia, whose novel Matchstick Men previously slipped him into the world of grifters — and was turned into a Nicolas Cage-starring film — Kaleidoscope also allows Netflix customers to make their episode choices manually. Whether you stick to the random order the platform throws your way or genuinely choose your own adventure, however, the result is identical. One narrative, eight chapters, thousands of outcomes: that's the show from a storytelling standpoint, with the plot itself remaining unchanged. Does one's interpretation of Kaleidoscope and perspective on its characters differ depending on which order you see its instalments? That's the aim, but the playful series proves ridiculously easy to binge no matter how you move through its Green, Blue, Violet, Red, Pink, Orange and Yellow chapters. Wherever viewers hop in, a crew of thieves awaits, all attempting to bust into an underground vault packed with $7 billion in bonds in the middle of a massive hurricane. Doing the pilfering: veteran criminal Leo Pap (Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul), his lawyer and longtime friend Ava Mercer (Paz Vega, 13 Minutes) and smuggler Stan Loomis (Peter Mark Kendall, Top Gun: Maverick), plus chemistry wiz Judy Goodwin (Rosaline Elbay, Ramy), her safe-cracker husband Bob (Jai Courtney, The Suicide Squad) and driver RJ Acosta Jr (Jordan Mendoza, ZIWE). Their target: SLS, a New York corporate security outfit run by Roger Salas (Rufus Sewell, Old). Kaleidoscope also throws SLS employee Hannah Kim (Tati Gabrielle, Uncharted), her sister and roommate Liz (Soojeong Son, Servant), and FBI agents Nazan Abbasi (Niousha Noor, The Accidental Wolf) and Samuel Toby (Bubba Weiler, Dopesick) into the mix — because family ties and law enforcement are heist genre staples. Anyone who has ever seen a film or show about stealing a big score already knows the drill, and Garcia and his team of fellow writers know it. Accordingly, of course the safe is ultra-secure, and extremely difficult to both get to and break into. Of course the job is also tied to an act of revenge, too. Also, of course Kaleidoscope slots into the eat-the-rich fold that Netflix also worked so well with Squid Game. And, while he doesn't play a fast-food shop owner who's secretly a drug kingpin, of course thinking about Esposito's time on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul comes quickly as well. Past secrets, new rivalries, love triangles, close calls with pursuing cops, everything that can go wrong definitely going wrong: they all have a part, predictably so even amid all the shuffling. The just-keep-pressing-play hook comes from the overall puzzle, though, which is what Kaleidoscope's delivery gimmick serves up. Non-linear storytelling always involves sleuthing for clues and putting together pieces, which is why the heist genre loves it. It's also why, in these whodunnit-saturated times — Netflix did just gift the world Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, after all, and has another on its way) — this series goes all in. Consequently, Kaleidoscope's audience is instantly keen to know how everything fits together, sifting through each episode for clues and details alike as the show flits between timeframes. With the entire narrative spanning a quarter-century, chapters jump between 24 years, seven years, six weeks, three weeks and five days before the heist, plus the morning after and six months later. Although each instalment is tied to a hue, only Green — which perhaps makes the best entry point — lets its eponymous colour shine visually. That's disappointing albeit unsurprising; Kaleidoscope is slickly shot, but happy sticking to an aesthetic formula. The scrambled storytelling and Esposito do plenty of heavy lifting, and overtly; thankfully, the latter alone always makes for engaging viewing. Playing determined, authoritative but also vulnerable, it's hardly astonishing that the five-time Emmy-nominee is the standout among the cast. Similarly expected: that Courtney comes across as gratingly cartoonish. That said, that's just how one of Kaleidoscope's rotations pans out. Perhaps the other 40,319 (or 5039) treat the bluster-fuelled Bob more kindly — shifting perceptions on heroes and villains, and mysteries and revelations, is all part of the gimmick. That makes an interesting thought experiment, but maybe don't go thinking about how Netflix's algorithm is dictating each viewing path through Kaleidoscope, likely to keep everyone hooked based on their past watchlist, even if it works. Check out the trailer for Kaleidoscope below: Kaleidoscope streams via Netflix. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, overcoming the language barrier isn't as difficult as it used to be. Forget phrasebooks — if you've got a smartphone, these days you're usually covered. Not all translation apps are created equal, however. In fact, only one promises real-time translation of both words and voice in 90 different languages. The free piece of software destined to find a home on every traveller's device of choice is DoTalk, an Australian-made invention aiming to make the process of making friends overseas even easier. And asking for directions, ordering a drink, trying to work out the local public transport system, asking for directions again (we all get lost while venturing far and wide, admit it) — plus all of the other routine holiday situations that involve human interaction. Available now for both iOS and Android, DoTalk offers users two options: translating via text, which is great if you're emailing or trying to read a sign; and translating live voice conversations, which is ace in plenty of other scenarios. For a fee, it can also handle group chats with up to 10 participants, even in multiple languages. As for just where it'll come in handy, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French and Indonesian currently rank among the app's most popular languages; however you'll also find everything from Albanian to Zulu on offer."Our goal with DoTalk was to create a free, fun and easy-to-use app which provides an open forum for people to easily connect and communicate, regardless of language barriers or location and without delay," says founder Reno Nicastro. For more information about DoTalk, visit their website.
You could say life has been somewhat colourless over the past couple of years thanks to a pesky thing called a pandemic. That may be a touch melodramatic, but you catch our drift. With summer on the horizon, we're itching for days at the beach, road trips with mates and kicking back with our families and loved ones. Bliss. Here to inject a big dose of colour into the months ahead is Aussie artist Mulga (AKA Joel Moore), whose super-fun designs radiate summer vibes. Recently, the Sydney-based muralist and illustrator teamed up with go-to outdoor retailer Kathmandu for a limited-edition collection of beach essentials. To celebrate the new range, we chatted to Mulga to get a sense of what it's like to be in his brightly hued, quirky character-filled world — plus what he's got planned over summer. Then, you can head to our competition to go in the running to win some of the next-level beach gear. MULGA THE LATE BLOOMER First up, Mulga wasn't always creating art; he only picked up the practice in 2012. "I worked in financial planning. I realised I didn't like that," hey says. Once he got serious about his art, though, he didn't look back. He began painting murals — which he still loves doing — then expanded to making his own products such as printed tees, boardies, totes, art prints and oh-so-COVID-appropriate face masks. He's also a big fan of brand collaborations, which has seen his work pop up in Sydney streets, on buses, across swimming costumes and even on Maxibon wrappers. In his art, you'll find a lot of bearded dudes and chiller animal characters — think koalas holding surfboards, sunglasses-clad chickens and cockatoos eating ice cream. One of the first animals he got into painting was gorillas after a visit to Taronga Zoo, which has become a motif in his years-long practice. "I use lots of bright colours and try to inject a little bit of humour into my creations." HIS VISUAL CATCHCRY Looking at Mulga's work, it's clear that laidback summer vibes are Mulga's visual catchcry. "I love summer and the beach and surfing and my love for that just flows out through my art," he says. It makes sense, considering he's an avid surfer: "One of my dreams is to spend a year on a tropical island doing nothing but surfing and making art." Why summer specifically? "It's a time of summer holidays and Christmas and pool parties. What's not to love?" The man's got a point. And when the mercury's soaring, he'll be at the beach with his kids, getting an ice cream, cruising around on a boat and "chilling in the hammock under a palm tree". HIS LATEST COLLAB So, it makes sense that his collab with Kathmandu is all about making the most of sunny days at the beach. The range combines Mulga's signature bright, quirky prints and patterns with Kathmandu's functional designs. "I did my thing which is making funky artworks and Kathmandu did their thing which is making quality products, and the result is funky quality products." There are t-shirts, sand-proof towels, water bottles, camping chairs, sun shelters and beach umbrellas — all of which will take your summer adventures to the next level. "The beach tent is pretty rad." Mulga says. "I'm looking forward to the moment when I go to the beach and see someone with the Mulga x Kathmandu tent. I'll stroll by and say 'nice tent'." Check out the full Kathmandu x Mulga beach collection on the Kathmandu website. Keen to score beach gear for free? Enter our competition to go in the running to win a sweet Kathmandu x Mulga prize pack before November 14.
Warehouse parties are great. Secret Mexican holiday-inspired, neon-drenched, immersive warehouse experiences are even better. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. promises to be one heck of a Burning Man-channeling spectacle you'll want to lock down tickets for — on sale this Saturday, August 15 at 12.30pm. And with the demand already high, this event is expected to sell out within hours, so your crew had better be ready. For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring, in secret locations within each city. Expect interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians — including one big ol' festival favourite headliner. The lineup will be released closer to the day, so stay tuned. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticket holders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at it's best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Get ready to nab a ticket and start preparing your best Dia de los Muertos outfit. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Tickets are $75 and go on sale here on Saturday 15 August at 12.30pm and are expected to sell out super fast. Don't stall on this one, it'll be the death of you.
Indonesian cuisine fans (and Chinese, Hakkanese and Timorese, too), there's a new go-to place in town. Setting up shop on Clayfield's Sandgate Road, Mamaku Kitchen likes its meals traditional and multicultural. Oh, and delicious, of course. There's a reason that the hole-in-the-wall BYO eatery and takeaway joint takes its name from the phrase 'my mother', with home-style cooking inspired by owner and chef Mie Mie's family heritage on offer in abundance. Sure, you've probably had rendang ayam, mie goreng, nasi goreng and laksa before. But, we're betting that you haven't had them this jam-packed with the kind of flavour that can only come from a certain clichéd secret ingredient. Yes, we're talking about love — and given that everything is made on-site and in-house, Mamaku clearly oozes affection. As you sit within its bright, white walls and consume its spicy, slow-cooked dishes, that's the same emotion the restaurant is bound to inspire. Well that, and making Indonesian-style fare one of your new favourite foods. Images: Hennessytrill
Brisbanites already know the joys of living in the River City, and now the rest of the world is catching up. In 2023, the Queensland capital keeps being named among the globe's top places, first thanks to TIME magazine, then scoring the only Australian place to stay on the first-ever World's Best's 50 Hotels list and now getting the tick of approval from Frommer's. The travel guide publisher has unveiled its 'Best Places to Go in 2024' rundown, which isn't ranked but does compile Frommer's top spots to put on your itinerary next year. "This year, Frommer's selections for the 'Best Places to Go' combine our growing hunger for fresh discovery, balanced with a rising need for affordability and accessibility. Frommer's authors, researchers and staffers around the globe have selected destinations that shine in our time and are expecting rising fortunes in 2024," the publisher advised. "Whether it's forging new inroads to previously isolated attractions, marking milestones in sustainability or cultural heritage, or basking in a previously denied spotlight, each destination on our Best Places to Go list could play a pivotal role in our shifting travel sensibilities in 2024." Why yes, #Brisbane DID make our list of the top places on the planet to visit in 2024. Here's why: https://t.co/WTtkE3e1I7 pic.twitter.com/ESX5PzzMjP — Frommer's (@Frommers) October 25, 2023 Fifteen places have received the nod, with Brisbane the only Australian location on the list. It's named second in a selection that the publisher notes is "in no particular order". The city earned some love partly for converting "the river into a world-class asset, devising new ways to go over, under and around the waterway — and show it off at new entertainment districts with dazzling views". Also mentioned: everything from the upcoming Queen's Wharf precinct to the existing Howard Smith Wharves, and also K'gari and Minjerribah. And yes, the fact that Brisbane is hosting the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games gets a shoutout as well. "Brisbane's reputation as a generic Aussie backwater is over. It belongs to the world now," Frommer's also states. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been quick to celebrate the latest global tick of approval for the River City. "Brisbane residents already know our city is the best place in the world to live and now the world knows it's Australia's best place to visit," said the Mayor. "People are flocking to Brisbane in record numbers to live so it's no surprise our city is being recognised as a world-class destination to visit too." "Brisbane's suburbs are great places to live and our city's incredible climate and world-class destinations like South Bank and Howard Smith Wharves are capturing hearts across the world. Our river city is on an incredible trajectory and this is just further recognition that Brisbane just keeps getting better." Brisbane's company among Frommer's 15 picks for 2024 includes The Cook Islands, Seville in Spain, Dresden and Chemnitz in Germany, Guanajuato in Mexico, Scotland's islands, Nepal, Prince Edward Island in Canada and Panama City, Panama. America is well represented thanks to the state of Kentucky, Santa Fe in New Mexico, the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, Glendale in Arizona, Utqiagvik in Alaska and Maui in Hawaii. For the full Frommer's Best Places to Go in 2024 list, head to the publication's website.
Eye-catching and thought-provoking art has once again descended upon Sydney's coastline, with the 23rd Sculpture by the Sea exhibition kicking off today. Stretching along two kilometres from Bondi to Tamarama Beach, you'll find 111 sculptures from 19 countries. The exhibition is free, and you can catch it from October 24 through November 10. This year, you'll find sculptures by ten Czech and Slovak artists marking the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a series of protests that led to the fall of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia, and the collaborative Succah by the Sea, which sets out to re-imagine the Jewish Festival of Succot. You'll also be able to hear directly from the artists every Saturday and Sunday. Among the 100-plus incredible installations, and the 450,000 people expected to visit the spectacle over the 18-day exhibition, it can be tricky to know where to look. And, considering this might be the last year Sculpture by the Sea is held in Bondi, it would be tragic if you missed any of the best pieces. Here are our pick for this year's highlights. [caption id="attachment_747672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] WANG KAIFANG: THE STATUE OF MAD LIBERTY Made of 24-karat gold (and copper and stainless steel, but that's not quite as fancy), Chinese artist Wang Kaifang's The Statue of Mad Liberty reflects the chaotic nature of the modern world. The distorted figure represents the way freedom fills us with joy, before the panic sets in. It is meant to encompass all that goes into society, humanity, science and art. The swirling gold piece sits well among the artist's numerous previous works — Kaifang is considered one of China's most influential cross-disciplinary artists, and while his portfolio covers everything from architecture and fashion, through to painting and photography, shimmering metallics and abstract shapes are recurring motifs. [caption id="attachment_747796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] ANGELA FEMIA, CAROLYN HUNTER, PAULINE PLUMB AND CRISTINA HARRIS: OUT OF REACH This is an artwork you could easily miss or dismiss as part of the scenery on a particularly bright day, but we think it's one you should keep an eye out for. A team of four local artists — all graduates of the Sydney College of the Arts and regular collaborators — is responsible for these quaint ceramic houses, nestled among the rocks alongside the trail. The tiny white homes of all different shapes and sizes were inspired by the current nationwide angst about the unattainability of the Australian Dream — something a lot of millennials can certainly relate to. Artists Angela Femia, Carolyn Hunter, Pauline Plumb and Cristina Harris created Out of Reach as a playful take on the pursuit of that white picket fence. [caption id="attachment_747676" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JOEL ADLER: VIEWFINDER Emerging Sydney designer Joel Adler wants you to look a little closer at the undercurrents and the impacts of constantly demanding more. From its spot on a cliff by Marks Park, Viewfinder reflects the whirling waves below using a toughened double-sided glass mirror, like a periscope. The weighted sculpture is made from weathered steel, creating a rather aesthetically pleasing contrast between the rust orange of the structure and the ocean blue beyond. The sculpture allows you to see parts of the waves below that you can't usually see from the path, which the artist hopes will make you consider the possibilities created by new perspectives and how we view our relationship with the land. [caption id="attachment_747679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] JIAO XINGTAO: YELLOW AND GREEN Another installation that hits close to home is Jiao Xingtao's two-piece Yellow (2015) and Green (2012). While these sculptures are made from painted fibreglass, its easy to see why his work is known for being hyperrealistic — the tears, scrunches and ripples of discarded packaging are carefully replicated. Even for art novices, the screwed up packets of Wrigley's Doublemint and Juicy Fruit gum are a clear commentary on waste and consumerism. If you want to check out more of his work, Xingtao is currently exhibiting as part of White Rabbit Gallery's tenth birthday retrospective Then — here are our picks for that one, too. [caption id="attachment_747680" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] LUKÁŠ RITTSTEIN AND BARBORA SLAPETOVA: BIRD OF PARADISE A large steel bird, bright and vibrant, emerges from a car in a symbol of purity and an optimistic outlook for the future, from Czech artists Lukáš Rittstein and Barbora Slapetova. A melding of the technological and the natural world, Bird of Paradise and its brights colours are meant to make you want to dance, love and search for something new. This striking piece is part of a showcase of ten Czech and Slovak artists exhibiting at this year's event, in honour of the 30 years that have passed since the Velvet Revolution (known as the Gentle Revolution to the Slovaks), which saw the end of more than four decades of totalitarian communist oppression of Czechoslovakia. [caption id="attachment_747764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clyde Yee[/caption] MORGAN JONES: THE SUN ALSO RISES New Zealand sculptor Morgan Jones is the recipient of the $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award for his piece The Sun Also Rises — so it's kind of a big deal. Made from weathering steel, the work is representative of the circular inevitability of our existence, designed to restate its rhythms. In that vein, Jones has referenced a quote from the book of Ecclesiastes, one of the books of the Old Testament, for the sculpture's title: "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down. And hastens to the place where it arose." It seems fitting to take it all in as the sun rises over the sea. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 10. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com. Top images: Trent van der Jagt.
In A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet stepped into Bob Dylan's shoes in the 60s and charted his rise to fame. A trip to the past and aspiring to greatness is also on the actor's agenda in his next film. Instead of folk music, Marty Supreme's eponymous figure is passionate about ping-pong — and he's certain that it's going to be the next big thing. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm telling you: this game, it fills stadiums overseas. And it's only a matter of time before I'm staring at you from the cover of a Wheaties box," Marty advises in the A24 movie's just-dropped teaser trailer. Welcome to your first sneak peek at the second of two features that are filling a very specific niche: 2025 releases (in the US, at least) directed by a Safdie brother solo and focusing on sports. Josh Safdie helms Marty Supreme. His Daddy Longlegs, Lenny Cooke, Heaven Knows What, Good Time and Uncut Gems co-directing sibling Bennie has The Smashing Machine on the way, starring Dwayne Johnson's (Red One) as IRL MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Could 2025 nominee Chalamet and Johnson find themselves going head to head come awards season for different Safdie films? That's firmly a possibility. As Marty Supreme's Marty Mauser, Chalamet's task (or obligation, as his character puts it) is chasing the dream that is ping-pong success — for himself and for the game his loves, which no one else seems convinced of in the 50s-set flick's first sneak peek. Gwyneth Paltrow (The Politician) pops up in the Marty Supreme trailer as a famous movie star, while the eclectic cast also includes fellow actors Fran Drescher (A Tooth Fairy Tale) and Odessa A'zion (Until Dawn), rap star Tyler, The Creator, filmmaker Abel Ferrara (Turn in the Wound) and magician Penn Jillette. In America, Chalamet's latest film is a Christmas treat, releasing on Thursday, December 25. That's two years in a row that the merriest day of the year and Chalamet have gone hand in hand in the US, as A Complete Unknown also dropped on the same date. When Marty Supreme will hit cinemas Down Under hasn't yet been revealed. Josh Safdie co-wrote the movie with Heaven Knows What, Good Time and Uncut Gems co-screenwriter Ronald Bronstein, and helms a feature on his lonesome for the first time since 2008's The Pleasure of Being Robbed. Check out the first teaser trailer for Marty Supreme below: Marty Supreme releases in US cinemas on Thursday, December 25, 2025 — we'll update you on Down Under release details when they're announced.
Since hitting Broadway five years ago, notching up 11 Tony Awards, nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and just becoming an all-round pop culture phenomenon, Hamilton was always going to make the leap to cinemas. So, it's no wonder Disney has leapt at the opportunity, bringing Lin-Manuel Miranda's historical hip hop musical to the big screen in late 2021 — albeit via a filmed version of the stage production, rather than a traditional stage-to-screen adaptation. Miranda has talked about turning his acclaimed show into a movie, and apparently the first draft of a script has been written, but while a film version of his earlier musical In the Heights will reach cinemas in mid-2020, a feature adaptation of Hamilton isn't happening just yet. Everyone still wants to see the tale of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton on the big screen, though — if you haven't been lucky enough to catch the popular musical in New York, as it toured the US or on London's West End, then you probably just want to see it, period — so this "live capture" version is here to fill the gap. Shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway back in 2016, this cinematic screening of Hamilton is still a big deal. Actually, given the fact that it features the original Broadway cast — including Miranda in the eponymous role — it's a huge deal. Everyone who missed out on the opportunity to see the musical's initial run live will be able to do the next best thing, with Hamilton jumping on the popular trend of screening filmed versions of plays and musicals in cinemas. https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/1224377343126462466 As noted in Disney's US press release, only American and Canadian seasons have been announced so far, kicking off from October 15 in 2021— but with something as huge as Hamilton, it's safe to assume that these "live capture" screenings will make their way Down Under as well. The stage production finally arrives in Australia in March 2021, so if you miss out on tickets (or can't afford to buy them) this could be a nice consolation prize. In addition to Miranda — who stars, and wrote the musical's music, lyrics and book — this filmed version of the production features Daveed Diggs (Velvet Buzzsaw) as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Leslie Odom Jr. (Murder on the Orient Express) as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson (When They See Us) as George Washington, Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) as King George, Renee Elise Goldsberry (The House with a Clock in Its Walls) as Angelica Schuyler and Phillipa Soo (the Broadway version of Amelie) as Eliza Hamilton. Hamilton will screen in US cinemas from October 15, 2021 — we'll update you with a local release date if and when a Down Under run is announced. Via Variety. Top image: Hamilton, Broadway. Photo by Joan Marcus.
It's always a good idea to wear sneakers when you're walking around a gallery, but they're the only kicks that'll do when Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street arrives Down Under. First staged by The Design Museum in London, this exhibition pays tribute to the footwear's origins and evolution — through sports to fashion, surveying iconic brands and names, and obviously touching upon basketballers Chuck Taylor and Michael Jordan's relationships with the shoes. In total, more than 200 sneakers will be on display during Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street's Australian-premiere and Australian-exclusive season at the Gold Coast's HOTA Gallery. The six-level spot will give over its walls and halls to shoes, shoes and more shoes over the summer of 2023–24, starting on on Saturday, November 25, and marking the site's first major design exhibition since opening in 2021. While a hefty amount of trainers will feature, the entire showcase will span 400-plus items. The other objects at Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street include photos, videos, posters, artworks and process material, all helping to explore the journey that the footwear style has taken in its design and culturally. Expect to learn more about sneakers that were initially made specifically for getting sweaty, which is where the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and Nike Airs come in (and, with the latter, to add to a year that's already seen the movie Air step through the story behind them). Also set to feature: the shoes that've become cultural symbols (such as the Vans Half Cab and Reebok InstaPump Fury), future advancements in making kicks (as seen with Biorealize for Puma) and big-name collaborations (Jordan, of course, plus Run-DMC and more). Attendees will also check out sneakers that've made a splash on the runway (Comme des Carçons and A-Cold-Wall*, for instance), find out more about plant-based sneakers (such as Veja and Native Shoes) and customisable kicks (as Helen Kirkum and Alexander Taylor are doing), and dive into celebrity endorsements (Travis Scott with Nike, Pharell for Adidas and the like). Laid out in chapters called 'STYLE' and 'PERFORMANCE', the exhibition's first part goes big on aesthetics and its second on the act of making the best trainers — covering Chuck Taylor's basketball clinics, sneaker culture in New York City and everything that's happened since. "Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street reveals the role young people from diverse backgrounds have played in making individual sneakers into style icons and in driving an industry now worth billions," notes Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street Curator Ligaya Salazar. "The exhibition also gives behind-the-scenes insight into new upcycling and sustainable design practices, unseen prototypes predicting the future of performance design, and streetwear and fashion collaborations that changed the face of the industry." "As an active city with a vibrant street culture and enthusiasm for fashion, summer on the Gold Coast is the perfect time and place to celebrate the iconic footwear phenomenon. We are thrilled to be presenting this internationally acclaimed exhibition exclusively in Australia," added HOTA's Interim CEO Mik Auckland. Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street is the Gold Coast venue's second huge Australian-exclusive in 2023, following Pop Masters: Art From the Mugrabi Collection, New York and its focus on Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring from February–June. Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street will open on Saturday, November 25 at HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast — head to the exhibition's website for further details and tickets. Images: Ed Reeve, Design Museum London.
When Sex and the City scored a sequel series back in 2021, it let fans of the HBO hit reunite with its beloved New York-based characters; however, not everyone was present and accounted for. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all returned, as did many of the men in their lives. But Kim Cattrall has been sitting out And Just Like That... — until season two arrives this winter. Variety reports that Samantha Jones is a part of the show's new batch of episodes, albeit just in a cameo. Cattrall (How I Met Your Father) will only be in one scene, chatting with Carrie (Parker, Hocus Pocus 2). And, it's believed that she shot her contribution solo, without interacting with her longterm co-stars. [caption id="attachment_791681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sex and the City[/caption] As well as dropping that news, And Just Like That... has just released its full trailer for season two. Unsurprisingly, there's no sign of Cattrall. But the sneak peek does explain why John Corbett (To All the Boys: Always and Forever) is reprising his role as Aidan Shaw, adding to the series' parade of Sex and the City faces. Cosmos at the ready, obviously. Your next excuse to sip vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice will arrive from Thursday, June 22 on Binge in Australia and Friday, June 23 on Neon in New Zealand. If you've spent any part of the past two-and-a-half decades dreaming about being a fabulously dressed Big Apple writer who seems to do very little work but can still afford a fantasy wardrobe — or if you've just filled it drinking a lot of pink-coloured cocktails — then you'll already be excited. And, you'll know that when the first season of And Just Like That... arrived, it did so 17 years after Sex and the City wrapped up its HBO run. Two years later, the show will explore more of Carrie, Miranda (Nixon, The Gilded Age) and Charlotte's (Davis, Deadly Illusions) lives and friendships in their 50s, when things are even more complicated than they were two decades ago. Season two will also feature Sara Ramírez (Madam Secretary), Sarita Choudhury (Ramy), Nicole Ari Parker (Chicago PD), Karen Pittman (The Morning Show), Mario Cantone (Better Things), David Eigenberg (Chicago Fire), Evan Handler (Power), Christopher Jackson (Space Oddity), Niall Cunningham (Poker Face), Cathy Ang (My Best Friend's Exorcism) and Alexa Swinton (Old), all similarly returning from season one. A reminder: due to Kim Cattrall's absence so far, And Just Like That... has been badged as a "new chapter' in the Sex and the City story, rather than an additional season of the existing 1998–2004 program. Parker, Davis and Nixon are also executive producers on And Just Like That..., alongside Michael Patrick King, who worked as a writer, director and executive producer on the original (and on the two terrible 2008 and 2010 Sex and the City movies). Check out the full trailer for And Just Like That..., season two below: And Just Like That... season two will start streaming via Binge in Australia from Thursday, June 22 — and from Friday, June 23 on Neon in New Zealand. Images: HBO.
