One of the top ways to treat yourself is to check into one of the most luxe hotels in Brisbane. At these joints, you get a little bit of everything (or even a whole lot of everything). You get fresh plush sheets (this may seem basic, but god, we all know how good this feels), room service you can eat in bed, pampering packages at spas, pools with epic views and just about anything else your lavish self desires. Brisbane is packed with five-star hotels and brilliant boutique stays that will help you live your best life. So check out our guide to the best hotels in Brisbane, perfect for those after a luxury staycation or out-of-town visitors needing a base for exploring the city. Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites Near Brisbane The Best Dog-Friendly Accommodations in Queensland The Best Day Spas in Brisbane
Burwood East might not be the first place that comes to mind when talking about the most sustainability-focused and forward-thinking architectural projects in Melbourne. But, the re-opened Acre is looking to change that. After a few COVID-induced opening and capacity hiccups, Acre is now home to a functional, sprawling 2500-square-metre rooftop farm and two eateries, situated at the top of Burwood Brickworks. The crown of the unassuming suburban shopping centre, Acre boasts working bee hives, worm farms, a quail coop, gardens, herbs and vegetables. There are future plans for a sky-high chicken hutch, too. Boasting both the Glasshouse cafe and Farmhouse restaurant, the majority of fresh produce is grown on-site and supplemented with ethically-sourced produce. The evening menu at Farmhouse is focused on showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Expect a light, house made ricotta with charred zucchini and asparagus; or a local snapper crudo with watermelon three ways to start. Mains tend towards a pesto casarecce with fresh tomatoes and pangrattato, and a tender braised lamb neck served with a summer green salsa. The lineup at Glasshouse cafe ranges from smoked salmon on warm rye, chicken wings and toasted vegetarian paninis. If you're wondering how they're cultivating a flourishing space atop a shopping centre — green thumbs, take notes. The natural soil created from clay, sand, coconut fibre and compost is specially-engineered as a sustainable and lightweight product to accommodate for rooftop weight restrictions. Quite adorably, quails are raised for their eggs only and are fed beans, peas, melon pulp, leafy greens, oats and barley. On particularly sunny days, the birdies are given water misters and ice to keep cool. The Acre team also hosts events, weddings, tours, workshops and cooking classes. You can keep an eye on the latest events and activities coming up via their Instagram. Farmhouse restaurant is open for dinner Thursday–Saturday from 5.30pm–9pm and Sunday from 11.30am–3pm. Glasshouse cafe is open Monday–Sunday from 8.30am–4pm.
A long weekend spent scoffing cheese and vino sounds like a very good long weekend indeed. And that's exactly what you're in for when Grazeland hosts its Cheese & Wine Festival from Friday, June 10–Sunday, June 12. The Spotswood food precinct has invited its vendors to whip up a stack of cheesy new offerings especially for the food festival, to be served alongside its usual dizzying array of global eats and drinks. There'll be a separate dedicated Cheese and Wine zone, too. Look forward to sating your fiercest cheese cravings with bites like creamy gnocchi cooked in a cheese wheel, savoury crepes, gozleme, loaded fries topped with lashings of truffle cheese, and ricotta-stuffed cannoli. Someone's even doing dishes of caciocavallo cheese that's been melted over coals and then slathered over garlic bread. What's more, you'll be able to pair your dairy-driven feast with a special curation of wine that's set to include plenty of award-winners; from the Grant Burge Meshach shiraz, to the Arras Grand Vintage cool climate sparkling out of Tassie. [caption id="attachment_845962" align="alignnone" width="1920"] I in the Sky Productions[/caption] Top Image: Grazeland vendor Frencheese.
For the last decade or so, Luke Cornish, aka ELK, has been taking his street art into the gallery to great acclaim. For his latest exhibition, entitled Zero To The Left, Cornish was inspired by a recent journey to war-torn Syria, where he taught art to the local children and hoped to provide a positive impact to those caught in the middle of a terrible conflict. Producing lifelike works using stencils, aerosol paint and sublimation prints, Cornish shows the endless destruction and daily struggles of those living with an uncertain future. Cornish is one of Australia's most acclaimed street artists routinely completing large-scale works and exhibits. Back in 2012, Cornish was the first stencil artist to be a finalist in the Archibald Prize — Australia's most prestigious portrait award — with his multi-layered portrait of the ever-popular Father Bob Maguire and has since continued to show his art extensively around Australia and the world. Zero To The Left is on display at Metro Gallery from Monday, July 10 until Saturday, August 5. In addition, Father Bob Maguire will join Cornish for a free talk at Metro Gallery on Saturday, July 15 at noon.
With the impact of COVID-19 continuing to be felt worldwide — including in Australia, where mass gatherings of over 500 people will be banned from Monday, March 16 — everyone could use a little light in their lives at present. It won't be coming from the usually radiant Vivid Sydney, however, with with luminous annual festival cancelling its 2020 event. In a short statement, the festival advised that "unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people". On Facebook, it provided further details, explaining that "the decision to cancel was not taken lightly. Vivid Sydney must follow the advice of health officials to ensure the health and safety of attendees and everyone involved with the event". https://www.facebook.com/vividsydney/posts/10157962724233397?__xts__[0]=68.ARDCG3xavDcAqXRBAMsOQFLAELmPpU30KHOxyVUHdZu89RSXER3aX4D_3zDac5pbbNJl2ZTc_VaqfYBHQYNSiDtRBAUl28cnDPxalb0vo7lHb9UB8aNWiuTYoISPxaze2CONivIjqSCbEkHHseUClqUPfeEIXcv7Q30mBjMhERyy_eDWaXZhMGiEBrJ3TKXs8LpKZxmKEFNPTzijXwphkPsnYnbncLeJq42WBnYHuMClxpyYjJ-2FDUiweW4A-NokSf41hQacoQCUdBhzgAbXSrKx4ydI1kNRXQ_u6ny9g5npB7qpXBU2uJdKSuWGgWHAC9iQzufm7x38A&__tn__=-R The 2020 event was slated to take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13, and had already announced its first headliner for the year: US neo-soul singer and poet Jill Scott. Vivid was due to release its full lineup of gigs, installations, light shows and other cultural events this month. Last year, the event attracted more than two million attendees, so its cancellation in the current circumstances doesn't come as a surprise — especially as other events are doing the same both locally and globally. Vivid joins a growing list of scrapped events and closed venues, with large swathes of cinemas shutting across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and theme parks doing the same in Asia, Europe and the US as well. We've also seen the cancellation of Texan music and film festival South by Southwest and postponement of Coachella. More locally, both the Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tasmania's Dark Mofo and the Sydney Royal Easter Show have all been cancelled. Vivid Live 2020 will no longer take place from Friday, May 22–Saturday, June 13. For more information, visit the event's website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Hamilton Lund.
Size might not always matter, but when it comes to a sun-drenched rooftop? Well, that's when that saying about bigger being better most certainly rings true. And Melbourne's CBD is about to score a sizeable sky-high destination that's on track to be its biggest rooftop bar yet. The crew behind barbecue joint Fancy Hanks and openair upstairs sibling Good Heavens first revealed their expansion plans for the two Bourke Street venues back in late 2021, after acquiring multiple levels of the site next door. On the cards: a tripling of Good Heavens' sky-high footprint, a refreshed look for the space, and the addition of new bar and pub Springrock downstairs in the former Grand Trailer Park Taverna digs. While the project has been met with delays across the past 12 months, the build is now underway — and the team's dropped a few more details as to what we can look forward to when it's all done and dusted. [caption id="attachment_890060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Patrick and Kent Bell, by Eugene Hyland[/caption] Slated to open in June is Good Heavens' new and improved rooftop, occupying a record-breaking monster of a space above the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets. Under its next guise, executed by Ewert Leaf, the venue's set to embrace a modernised 70s look, sporting a central al fresco fireplace and brutalist-inspired bar façade. As hinted last year, an expanded bar offering will include up to 40 taps, celebrating beer, spritzes and cocktails for all palates. Good Heavens will remain open as normal while the works continue. The wait will be slightly longer for the next phase of the expansion, Springrock, which is set to launch towards the end of the year. Here, the owners are out to offer a destination dedicated to "uncomplicated fun" — a casual, unpretentious pub-style haunt that'll have a 3am license, footy on the big screens and live tunes playing until late. Springrock's menu will take some cues from the taverns of NYC, while also taking advantage of Fancy Hanks' impressive smoker. It's a playful, creative lineup set to feature the likes of crab cake sandwiches, hotdog beef tartare, chicken nuggets paired with Yarra Valley caviar, and a nod to the age-old favourite banana split. Local wines and a hefty range of Long Island iced tea varieties will headline the drinks list. In the meantime, Fancy Hanks is kicking on as usual. Once the whole project is complete, the three venues will work as separate haunts, although you'll be able to easily hop between them all. [caption id="attachment_635010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fancy Hanks[/caption] The next phase of Good Heavens will open at Level 2, 79 Bourke Street, Melbourne, from June. Springrock is set to open in late 2023. Top image: Chip Mooney.
When Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Victoria's current lockdown wouldn't be lifting this week — as initially expected when it was extended back in mid-August — it was hardly surprising news. That revelation was short on detail; however, the Premier has has just announced today, Wednesday, September 1, that current stay-at-home conditions will now continue in Melbourne until on or around Thursday, September 23. Yes, that means that the city will have spent more than a month and a half in its sixth lockdown by that date. And if you're wondering why that date is just an estimation, that's because the Victorian Government is linking it to vaccination rates — specifically, the date that 70 percent of the state's residents have had their first COVID-19 jab. Also, regional Victoria is also currently under stay-at-home rules as well, and lockdown is continuing there for the time being, too. That said, the Premier advised that it's possible regional parts of the state will be able to loosen some lockdown rules as early as next week — so, the week beginning Monday, September 6 — depending on case numbers. If that proves possible, further details will be announced next week. Announcing the news today — a day that marked Victoria's largest new locally acquired COVID-19 case number tally for a single day this year, with 120 people identified with the coronavirus in the 24 hours to midnight last night — Premier Andrews said "we will not see these case numbers go down. They are going to go up. The question is: by how many and how fast?" He continued: "what we are all doing — the government, the public health team, nurses, doctors, people working in laboratories and testing clinics, people giving jabs, all of us as Victorians following the rules — all of us are trying to manage two peaks: the peak of those who are vaccinated, and the peak of those who get infected with this Delta variant. What we must do is suppress case numbers sufficient to buy us time, to buy us time, to get people vaccinated." On the advice of the Chief Health Officer, Victoria's lockdown will be extended to slow the spread and keep Victorians safe. Due to the level of community transmission and number of unlinked cases, almost all restrictions will remain in place. pic.twitter.com/Gr3IG7N4b5 — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) September 1, 2021 That said, while current lockdown rules will continue in Melbourne for around the next three weeks, the Premier also revealed that some very minor changes will come into effect this week. So, from 11.59pm on Thursday, September 2, playgrounds will be allowed to reopen, but only for children under 12 accompanied by one parent or carer, and with QR codes required for checking in. Any adults at playgrounds with kids also won't be allowed to take off their masks to eat or drink. Also, caring for children at home via babysitters will be expanded to include school-aged children, but only if both parents are authorised workers. Otherwise, the current stay-at-home rules remain in place until that 70-percent first dose mark is reached. So, Victorian residents are still only permitted to leave home for five reasons: shopping for what you need, when you need it; caregiving and compassionate reasons; essential work or permitted eduction that can't be done from home; exercise; and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Also remaining in place for now: the 9pm–5am curfew, the five-kilometre rule for leaving the house, permits to go out for authorised work, the two-hour and two-person exercise limit, and the ban on both private and public gatherings. While you can't have any visitors enter your home in general, there are single bubbles, and intimate partner visits are allowed. So, if you live alone, you can form a bubble with another person or see your other half. Also, masks are mandatory everywhere outside of your home, and can't be removed outdoors to drink alcohol. Weddings aren't permitted, and most venues, retail stores and businesses must still stay closed — with hospitality venues doing takeaways only, but supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies permitted to open. On or around Thursday, September 23, when the 70-percent first-dose vaccination target is reached, a few significant changes will kick in, including expanding the travel radius to ten kilometres, and allowing outdoor exercise for three hours. Victoria first went into this lockdown at the beginning of August — just nine days after the previous lockdown ended — and has seen the stay-at-home rules extended not once but twice before now, and the nighttime curfew implemented as well. In regional Victoria, the rest of the state started this lockdown with Greater Melbourne, then was released early just a few days later, and then re-entered lockdown in the middle of August. As always, Victorians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — it keeps being updated as more locations are identified. For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website. And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Victorians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise. Melbourne will remain under the current lockdown rules until 70 percent of the state has received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to be on or around Thursday, September 23. Rules in regional Victoria may ease earlier, however, and may happen as early as sometime in the week beginning Monday, September 6 — with further details to be announced if that proves the case. For more information about the rules in place at the moment, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
That pup of yours (or that pup you've been thinking about getting) could soon score a whole bunch of new places to sniff, socialise and play, with the Victorian Government announcing plans to create five new off-leash dog parks and 13 new 'pocket parks' in Melbourne. The new green spaces are included in the second round of the Government's $154 million Suburban Parks Program, which will see a total of 6500 hectares of new parkland, walking trails and bike trails, as well as a number of pocket parks and off-leash dog parks, created across the city. The first round of the program, which was announced in 2020, initially included nine new spaces for pooches and 15 areas for humans throughout the city — with those numbers then boosted by 17 across the state, as also announced last year. Victorian Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio revealed plans for the next batch of parks today, Sunday, January 24, saying: "the pandemic has brought into sharp focus the importance of open green space close to home, and these new parks will deliver just that." No opening dates have been given for the parks just announced in the program's second round; however, the five dog parks will be located in Elwood, Ringwood North, Balwyn North, Mitcham and Essendon West. The pocket parks will be popping up in Prahran, Eltham, Montmorency, Oakleigh South, Footscray, Dandenong, Glenroy, North Melbourne, Frankston, Sunshine North, Notting Hill, Moonee Ponds and St Albans. According to the Government, the locations have been chosen based on accessibility by public transport, road or walking and biking trails. When they open, the pocket parks will feature areas for community events, seating, play areas, shaded areas, drinking fountains, landscaping and greenery — obviously — while two- and four-legged visitors to the purpose-built dog parks will find seating, designated play areas, rockeries and agility equipment. For more information about Melbourne's new pocket and off-leash dog parks, head to the Victorian Government website.
One of 2024's cinema trends has a very specific number in mind: 45. It was four-and-a-half decades ago that the Mad Max franchise first rolled onto the big screen, with creator/writer/director George Miller bringing it back this year for its fifth instalment via Furiosa: A Mad Max Story. It was also 45 years ago that no one could hear you scream in space, as Ridley Scott's OG Alien advised — and it too has a new movie reaching silver screens in 2024. The latter: Alien: Romulus. While watching both the initial teaser and just-dropped full trailer for the latest entry in the franchise, can anyone hear your shouts? The answer to that question depends on where you are and who you're with, of course — we're presuming that you're not in space — but the sneak peeks themselves firmly aim to unsettle. Across the two glimpses, there's an eerie derelict space station, dark hallways aplenty, screaming and a heap of blood. There's also plenty of facehuggers, chestbursters and xenomorphs. Behind the lens, albeit producing rather than directing, Scott (Napoleon) remains involved. The seventh Alien film, and the ninth including the Alien vs Predator movies, Alien: Romulus arrives in August seven years since Alien: Covenant gave the seriesf its last entry. While Scott originated the space-thriller saga back in 1979, then returned to it with 2012's Prometheus and 2017's Alien: Covenant, now Evil Dead, Don't Breathe and The Girl in the Spider's Web filmmaker Fede Álvarez is on helming duties — clearly taking his cues from Scott's work, though, right down to specific mirrored shots. The setup: when space colonisers go a-scavenging through an abandoned space station, they get more than they bargained for. Given Álvarez's background in horror, it comes as no surprise that he's tapping into the genre for his Alien effort, just as Scott did with his. Álvarez also wrote the screenplay, reteaming with Rodo Sayagues, who he worked with on Evil Dead and Don't Breathe — and who directed Don't Breathe 2. Priscilla and Civil War's Cailee Spaeny leads the group of folks doing battle with vicious extra-terrestrials, starring alongside David Jonsson (Rye Lane), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (Madame Web), Spike Fearn (Aftersun) and feature first-timer Aileen Wu. Separate to Alien: Romulus, the Alien franchise is also expanding to TV, with a new series from Fargo's Noah Hawley in the works, as set three decades before the events of the first film. Featuring Sydney Chandler (Don't Worry Darling), Alex Lawther (Andor), Essie Davis (One Day) and Timothy Olyphant (Justified: City Primeval), it isn't expected until 2025. With all things Alien set to stalk across both the big and small screens over the next couple of years, staying away from this saga isn't in anyone's futures. Check out the full trailer for Alien: Romulus below: Alien: Romulus releases in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Images: courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Describing itself as a candy store but for herbs and spices, Gewürzhaus presents visitors with 350 single-origin spices, herbs, salts, peppers, teas and sugars imported from around the world. Located inside the CBD's Block Arcade, the shop also stocks more than 100 small-batch blends that are mixed and milled in-store on a weekly basis. From premium quality thyme to sage and tarragon, send your tastebuds into overdrive as your cooking will assuredly be taken to whole new levels following your visit. Images: Parker Blain.
Planning a Sydney getaway? Need an excuse for a trip to the Harbour City? How's chasing bliss at a new two-storey spa overlooking Darling Harbour for motivation? In January 2023, global hotel chain Sofitel will unveil a new addition to its Darling Harbour site: Sofitel Spa, which is being billed as a holistic retreat in the heart of the city. Overlooking the water and featuring an array of wellness treatments and spa facilities, it will join Sydney's existing impressive supply of luxe spa experiences. The spa will feature seven spacious treatment rooms, including two serene suites with soft timbers, alongside sandstone and marble finishes. Other elements include an infrared sauna, a meditation zone and relaxation deck that will sit on level four of the hotel. The spa will sit alongside the hotel's previously opened level-four infinity pool. The pool is heated year-round and offers guests the ability to enjoy a dip while soaking in panoramic views of Darling Harbour and the Sydney CBD skyline. "We have designed our new day spa to nurture and empower guests in their wellness journey, assisting them in identifying their needs and gently guiding them in accomplishing their own goals, whether that relates to fitness, stillness of the mind, replenishment with nutrition or achieving glowing skin," Director of Spa and Wellness Cecilia Ferreyra says. "Our aim is to create bespoke journeys for each of our guests which means all treatments are tailor-made, so guests walk out feeling the full benefits of being in our care." Traditional treatments like massages, facials, body wraps and exfoliation will all be available alongside more holistic half-day experiences that combine exercise, healthy eating, a variety of treatments and introspection. French beauty brand Biologique Recherche and fast-rising Australian company Waterlily have been enlisted to provide the spa with its cosmetic treatment products, each of which will be personalised to any one guest's needs. Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is located at 12 Darling Drive, Sydney. Sofitel Spa is set to open at the hotel in January 2023.
Even if you won’t be rolling in the Byron grass with Outkast and Lily Allen come July, you can still get a slice of Splendour action with Festival sideshows. At least 22 international acts will bring some love to Sydney and Melbourne, with a few going west-side for Perth-based fans. Tickets go on sale via Secret Sounds at 9am AEST on Friday, May 9. Here’s who’s going where. Melbournians will be able to catch up with London Grammar at the Festival Hall on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydneysiders at the Horden Pavilion, on Thursday, July 24. Their debut album, If You Wait, sauntered straight into the ARIA Charts at no.2 when released in September last year. The week following, Foster the People will make appearances at the Palais Theatre on Monday, July 28, and the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday, July 29. Since last visiting Antipodean shores for the Big Day Out 2012, they've been busy putting together new album Supermodel. English songwriter Ben Howard will be playing songs from his Mercury debut album Every Kingdom, as well as a few more recent creations at the Palais on Wednesday, July 30; the Enmore on Thursday, July 31; and the Astor (Perth) on Friday, July 25. And for a dose of Memphis soul and infectious Afro-beat, see Kelis in action at Melbourne's Prince Bandroom on Tuesday, July 22, and Sydney's HIFI on Wednesday, July 23. Meanwhile, London electro-pop darlings Metronomy will appear at Perth’s Astor Theatre on Wednesday, July 23, Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday, July 25, and Sydney’s Metro on Wednesday, July 28. They’re hitting Australia hot on the heels of playing Glastonbury and Primavera Sounds. Expect fresh yet timeless tunes from their Mercury Prize-nominated The English Riviera and new album Love Letters. There’ll also be guest appearances from Liverpool-based indie poppers Circa Waves, who’ll then play their own headline show on Tuesday, July 29, at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club. If you’re under 18, The Strypes will have you covered. They’re four Irish lads whose birth certificates prove they’re not yet legal, but they sound more like old guys who’ve been hanging out in blues-rock clubs for eons. They’ll be at Sydney’s Newtown Social Club on Wednesday, July 23, and Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club on Tuesday, July 22. Similarly bluesy and rock-driven are Nashville group The Wild Feathers. But they also throw a significant dash of folk into the mix. In fact, they recently played the ultimate in songwriter support gigs — Bob Dylan’s pre-show set. Catch them in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on Friday, July 25, and in Sydney at the Newtown Social Club on Saturday, July 26. Another folksy act is Seattle six-piece The Head and the Heart. One minute they were busking and playing open mics; the next, they were selling out San Francisco’s Fillmore and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman. They’ll be bringing their intelligent songwriting, sweet harmonies and minimalist percuth. For a more punksy take on rootsy music, check out NYC four-piece Skaters, who’ll be at the OAF on Thursday, July 24, and Melbourne’s The Corner on Saturday, July 26. Triple J recently named their debut full-length, Manhattan, album of the week. At the other end of the groove spectrum is collective Jungle, who are all about floating melodies and ethereal electronica. They’re heading our way after accompanying Haim across Europe, impressing crowds at SXSW and playing Fuji Rock. Catch them at The Corner, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 29, and the Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, on Wednesday, July 30. While we’re on the topic of the ethereal, Australian-turned-LA-resident Ry X will be travelling his homeland in two manifestations — as part of enigmatic trio The Acid and solo. See the former at Goodgod Small Club (Sydney) on Wednesday, July 23, and Northcote Social Club (Melbourne) on Thursday, July 24, and the latter at the Oxford Art Factory (Sydney) on Tuesday, July 29, and Howler (Melbourne) on Wednesday, July 30. Other sideshows to watch out for include Grouplove, The 1975, Sky Ferreira, Phantogram, Future Islands, Mikhael Paskalev, Asgeir, Darlia and Mas Ysa.
It's no secret that staying active — and comfortable — while pregnant can be a bit of a struggle. Lifestyle brand Active Truth knows this all too well — it's run by two Brisbane mums, Stevie Angel and Nadia Tucker, after all. They've created award-winning maternity activewear that you can wear all day, every day throughout your pregnancy. Supporting women of all shapes, sizes and pregnancy stages, these leggings come in sizes small through 3XL and can be worn through every trimester, as well as post-natal. The duo created a compression fabric that provides secure support and is especially designed to help ease some of the pains and strains experienced during pregnancy. The tights will stay in place throughout your workout, too, and the compression fit assists in reducing leg swelling and soreness to boot. Available in black, dark navy and leopard print, the leggings range in four lengths, from bike shorts to full leg. Plus Active Truth products even come with pockets, so you can leave the house with nothing but your phone. The waistband can be worn up as high rise or as hip huggers and is flexible to fit all mums. If you're pregnant — or hoping to be in the near future — you can jump online now and grab a pair with the brand currently running a 20 percent discount on all orders (just enter ATMAMA20 at checkout). Active Truth also offers free express shipping worldwide — and uses compostable packaging, no less. Active Truth is currently offering 20 percent off all orders (enter ATMAMA20 at checkout) and free express shipping. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Initially, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 was the most-anticipated new Australian movie of 2023. Now, it's taking that label for 2024 instead. After being postponed from its planned August 2023 release amid the current SAG-AFTRA strike, the Aussie film will hit cinemas in February 2024. Fans of Aussie mysteries, page-to-screen crime tales, Eric Bana (Dirty John) getting sleuthing and all things Aaron Falk, take note. The follow-up to 2021's The Dry, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is now slated to reach the big screen Down Under on Thursday, February 8, 2024. If you're keen to see the film as soon as possible, you'll have the chance a few days earlier, with advance screenings also locked in from Friday, February 2–Sunday, February 4. When Bana stepped into Falk's shoes in The Dry, more movies were always bound to follow. On the screen, the film became a massive Australian box-office hit in 2021 thanks to its twisty mystery, determined detective, stunning scenery and spectacular cast. It was capitalising, of course, on the story's proven success on the page. And, to the delight of movie producers and audiences, the beloved novel by author Jane Harper was just Falk's first appearance. Accordingly, throw that formula together again and you now have Force of Nature: The Dry 2. This second effort sees the core duo of Bana and writer/director Robert Connolly (Blueback) return, with the latter again investigating a case. This time, as both the movie's initial teaser and full trailer explore, Falk is looking into the disappearance of a hiker from a corporate retreat attended by five women. Alongside fellow federal agent Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie, Ruby's Choice), Falk heads deep into Victoria's mountain ranges to try to find the missing traveller — who also happens to be a whistle-blowing informant — alive. Also featuring in Force of Nature, which has a powerhouse list of Aussie talent just like its predecessor: Anna Torv (The Last of Us) as missing hiker Alice Russell, plus Deborra-Lee Furness (Jindabyne), Robin McLeavy (Homeland), Sisi Stringer (Mortal Kombat) and Lucy Ansell (Utopia). Richard Roxburgh (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe), Tony Briggs (Preppers) and Kenneth Radley (The Power of the Dog) pop up, too, while Jeremy Lindsay-Taylor (Heartbreak High) is back in the role of Erik Falk. Reteaming not just after The Dry, but also 2023 release Blueback, Connolly and Bana make quite the pair when it comes to Aussie crime cinema — with Connolly the producer of one of the best local crime movies ever made, aka 1998's unnerving The Boys, and Bana famously the star of the similarly excellent Chopper. Fans of Harper's work also have The Survivors to look forward to, but on the small screen. It's heading to Netflix from the pages of the author's text of the same name, and isn't linked to The Dry or Force of Nature. Here, the Tasmanian-set story follows families still coping with the loss caused by a massive storm in their seaside town 15 years earlier, then faced with a new murder. Check out the full trailer for Force of Nature: The Dry 2 below: Force of Nature: The Dry 2 will release in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on Thursday, February 8, 2024, with advance screenings from Friday, February 2–Sunday, February 4. Read our full review of The Dry. Images: Narelle Portanier.
Whether you think that David Brent was awful, awkward or a bit of both, Britain doesn't have a monopoly on cringeworthy bosses. Accordingly, after the original UK version of The Office proved a huge hit two decades ago, more versions of the workplace comedy were always going to follow around the world. The American series became even more popular, and everywhere from Canada, France and Germany to Israel, India and Poland have similarly given the idea a go. Next stop: Down Under, thanks to the just-announced The Office Australia. This'll be the 13th international take on the show, and it's coming to Prime Video sometime in 2024. Yes, the fact that it has Australia in the title is already a bit clumsy. Clearly, the Aussie spinoff gets the brief. Move over Brent, and also Michael Scott — it's now Hannah Howard's turn to become the manager no one wants but everyone has worked for. Played by actor and comedian Felicity Ward (Wakefield), she'll oversee a packaging company called Flinley Craddick. And, when she receives news that head office is shutting down her branch — with everyone working from home instead — she's determined to keep her team together. Obviously, that won't go smoothly, or there'd be no sitcom antics to be had in The Office Australia. Joining Ward is a hefty cast spanning Edith Poor (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Steen Raskopoulos (The Duchess), Shari Sebbens (Preppers), Josh Thomson (Young Rock), Jonny Brugh (What We Do in the Shadows), Pallavi Sharda (The Twelve), Susan Ling Young (Barons), Raj Labade (Back of the Net), Lucy Schmit and Firass Dirani (House Husbands). The Office Australia's eight-episode first season will shoot in Sydney from June, then stream globally next year, with an exact launch date yet to be revealed. Whenever it arrives, surely a stapler is going in some jelly again. This'll mark the first woman-led version of the franchise, with The Office Australia also featuring an impressive roster of female talent off-camera, including lead setup director and executive producer Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers), plus head writer and executive producer Julie De Fina (Aftertaste). There's no trailer yet for The Office Australia, but you can check out clips from the UK and US versions below: The Office Australia will stream via Prime Video sometime in 2024 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when one is announced.
It added booze to bowling, turned mini-golf courses into bars, and gave mashing buttons and hitting the arcade an alcohol-fuelled makeover as well. That'd be Funlab — and, if you like indulging your inner kidult over a few drinks, odds are that you've hit up its venues such as Strike, Holey Moley, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, and B Lucky and Sons over the past few years. That's the company's remit, after all: taking the kinds of activities that you enjoyed back when you weren't old enough to knock back cocktails, then adding the hard stuff. And, that's exactly what it's doing at Hijinx Hotel, its next venture. No, you can't stay there — but the world-first concept will see you hanging out in a space that's been decked out like a hotel, and then solving mental and physical puzzles as you wander through it. Funlab has dubbed Hijinx Hotel a 'challenge room hotel'. So, each of its 15 rooms will be filled with challenges for you to work through — with points awarded for how well you do within four minutes. Some rooms will see you play Twister or The Floor is Lava. Others will be decked out like the Titanic. There's one called the cereal ball pool room as well, which sounds chaotic. Basically, if you're a bit of a sleuth or you're never known to turn down a dare, you'll be in luck. Set to open in Alexandria in Sydney on June 3, Hijinx Hotel aims to riff on the escape room concept — but serve up fun that's far less stressful. Design-wise, it will look still like a hotel, even if you can't slumber there. There'll be a faux hotel reception and all, and the venue will take its aesthetic cues from the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Based on the renders so far, there's also a bit of an Overlook Hotel vibe — but sorry, The Shining fans, this new hangout isn't meant to be sinister. And yes, obviously there's a bar. Actually, there'll be three. Exactly what'll be on the menu hasn't yet been revealed, but expect booze and bites to eat. Whether you're a Sydneysider now planning your next stint of kidulting or you live elsewhere and you're making plans for a trip to the Harbour City, Hijinx Hotel visitors will find the venue alongside a huge new Holey Moley that'll feature 27 holes — including some that are ten times the size of those at other spots. And if you're wondering exactly where both newcomers will sit, they're joining the location that currently boasts Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Usually, Funlab launches its new concepts in one city, then shares the love across other east coast capitals. So Melburnians and Brisbanites, cross your fingers that Hijinx Hotel will eventually pop up closer to home. Find Hijinx Hotel at 75 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria, Sydney, from June 3 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. For further information about Funlab, head to the company's website.
Move over Egypt: this summer, visiting the Australian Museum means venturing to South America. After dedicating the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 to blockbuster exhibition Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, the Sydney institution is wrapping up this year and starting 2025 with another massive must-see blast from the past. In an Aussie-exclusive season, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will display 134 priceless artefacts and head back over 3000 years. When it opens on Saturday, November 23, 2024, this historical showcase from Peru's Museo Larco and Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon will feature jewels, masks and other treasures, some of which have been found in royal tombs. As the name makes plain, gold is a focus. In fact, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru boasts the most-opulent collection of Andean gold that's ever left Peru. As well as peering at its items across the exhibition's six-month stay, attendees will be able to explore Machu Picchu via virtual reality — although that part comes at an extra fee. This highlight of the program is the first-ever VR 'fly-through' of the famous site, organisers advise, and will get Australian Museum visitors feeling like they've been transported both back in time and to the other side of the world via not just VR, but also 360-degree motion chairs and drone footage. "One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a top bucket-list destination for many Australians, and this exhibition will further inspire visitors with its state-of-the-art storytelling alongside treasures from these intriguing ancient empires," said Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay AO, announcing the exhibition. "I'm delighted that the Australian Museum will be hosting this exhibition highlighting the rich history and culture of ancient Peru, enabling the people of NSW and beyond to experience Machu Picchu and all our country has to offer," added Consul-General of Peru Mr José Alberto Ortiz. "Through the representation and interpretation of the myths and rituals of Andean civilisations and their rediscovery and reappraisal in the 21st century, it seems possible to reconstruct the foundational images of modern Peru." "I know the public will be captivated by our unique culture dating back more than 3000 years and will be fascinated by the stories of five empires which are still present in our country today," Ortiz continued. Sydney is just the fourth place in the world to welcome Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, after the exhibition's stops in Boca Raton in the US, Paris in France and Milan in Italy. Expect the Australian season to be busy, given the nation's love of historical exhibitions at the Australian Museum — breaking attendance records, Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, which was also produced by Neon Global, sold more than 508,000 tickets. Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru opens at the Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, from Saturday, November 23, 2024 — head to the exhibition website for further details, and tickets from Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Images: Neon Global.
If you're under the impression that Bundaberg is only good for sugarcane and rum, you're sorely mistaken. While it's true that the Bundaberg region is responsible for much of Australia's agricultural industry, in recent years the area's endless output of fresh produce has also led to a rise in local farm-to-table restaurants, with some of Australia's top cooking talent setting up shop in the area. Meanwhile, thanks to the region's prime position along Queensland's coastline, the area boasts a host of natural landmarks that comfortably go toe-to-toe with Australia's best-known destinations. It's also only a four-hour drive from Brisbane. Read on to find some of our favourite places to eat, drink and play in Bundaberg. [caption id="attachment_749802" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pocket Storehouse by Paul Beutel[/caption] EAT Bundaberg might still be a country town at heart, but it's got more than a few awesome dining experiences that give it a cosmopolitan touch. The Windmill Cafe Bargara is a must-visit stop when you're in the mood for some of the region's best coffee, which is made with fresh filtered rainwater. The menu offers all your favourite breakfast and lunch classics, alongside plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Plus, it has an in-house gelateria serving 25 sweet flavours that are best enjoyed on a stroll along the coastline. Back in Bundaberg city is another headline restaurant: Water Street Kitchen. Led by chef Alex Cameron and his partner Jen Cameron, the meals are delicately put together using ingredients produced on a range of local farms. Having initially run a successful catering company, the duo decided it was time to put a face to their creations, opening their cosy restaurant in 2017 and quickly becoming one of the city's most acclaimed fine-dining destinations. [caption id="attachment_752093" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Beutel[/caption] Once you start craving another coffee, Alowishus Delicious is a fine choice, having taken home top honours from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Countrywide Cafe of the Year awards. And when it's finally time to make dinner plans, head down to the H2O Restaurant & Bar. You'll find high-quality modern Australian dishes, with a striking view of the Burnett River to match. [caption id="attachment_749822" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kalki Moon by Paul Beutel[/caption] DRINK Bundaberg's reputation for rum certainly precedes it, but the Kalki Moon Distilling & Brewing Company has built its legacy within the world of gin. As the first Queensland distillery to win first prize for its London-style gin at the Australian Distilled Spirits Competition, Kalki Moon has also received a range of commendations from around the globe. Be sure to stop by the distillery's cellar door for a free guided tour and samples of its handcrafted tipples, and to pick up some souvenirs to take back home. Across town at the Ohana Cider House and Tropical Winery you'll discover some delightful drinks that wouldn't be out of place at any big-city bar. Having taken a holiday to Hawaii and fallen in love with the tropical climate, founders Zoe Young and Josh Phillips left behind their desk jobs in Perth to buy a piece of Bundaberg land, where they established their much-loved tropical winery. Since then, they've gone on to release ciders ranging from dry apple to pineapple and strawberry, as well as produce some of the region's top vino. Ohana Cider and Tropical Winery by Paul BeutelIf you can't wait to get your hands on some more Bundaberg-made wine, your next stop has to be the Hill of Promise Winery, located 40-minutes south of Bundaberg in the township of Childers. Here, winemaker Terry Byrne carries on the traditions of his Sicilian family, who moved to the region in the early 1900s, by making fortified reds to sparkling whites and Italian classics like limoncello. For an expertly made cocktail, Bert's is the place to be. Honouring the life of local aviator Bert Hinkler — who achieved a flurry of Australian flying records — the 1920s-themed bar ensures his pioneering spirit lives on. There are pizzas and share plates, plus a lengthy list of cocktails and aperitifs, including specialities like French pear martinis. [caption id="attachment_749819" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lady Musgrave Island[/caption] DO The Bundaberg region is alive with natural wonders that draw visitors from all over the world. One of the most unique is the Mon Repos Nightly Turtle Encounter, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that'll leave you feeling like David Attenborough in the making. During Bundaberg turtle season, which runs from November to March, you can experience turtle conservation first-hand on the only ranger-guided turtle encounter on the east coast. Between November and January, you can witness mother turtles emerge from the deep blue and make their way up the beach to nest under the moonlight. Later in the season (late-January to late-March), you'll be able to look on as adorable hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and scurry down to the beach. Next, dedicate some time to exploring the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Bundaberg is perfectly positioned at the first and most accessible point of the reef, and coral cays Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island are the best places to experience the pristine waters and diverse marine life that the region is famous for (and, no doubt, why you're there). To explore Lady Musgrave Island and spend a day snorkelling with turtles, manta rays, tropical fish and other sea life, book a day trip with Lady Musgrave Experience. Your day tour includes transportation on a luxury catamaran from the Bundaberg coast, plus morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. [caption id="attachment_749818" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lady Musgrave Island by Melissa Findley/Bundaberg Tourism[/caption] Just to the south is the picturesque Lady Elliot Island, which showcases some breathtakingly beautiful lagoons, as well as the last coral cay amid the Southern Great Barrier Reef. You can access the island for a day trip via a scenic flight with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort or, if you want to stay a little longer, book a night's stay in one of its cosy glamping tents. Naturally, it wouldn't be a trip to Bundaberg without a stop in at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. You'll get to roam the sprawling museum and learn the secrets behind what it takes to be a master blender. A visit to The Bundaberg Rum Distillery guides you through a state-of-the-art facility before you take a break at the bar. [caption id="attachment_749815" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bundaberg Rum Distillery[/caption] The Bundaberg Region has activities for outdoorsy types aplenty, there are endless hikes to embark upon within the Cania Gorge National Park and Mount Walsh National Park. For something with a little less action, the white-sand beaches of Elliot Heads are just 20 kilometres from Bundaberg city, making it the perfect spot to catch Queensland's famous sun. [caption id="attachment_749827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kellys Beach Resort[/caption] STAY Situated overlooking the black volcanic beaches of the Queensland coast, C Bargara Resort is a luxe stay for weekenders looking to make the most of their time in Bundaberg. The resort sports a collection of bright apartments and penthouses, plus a sleek swimming pool with a sundeck. For something more back-to-basics, Kellys Beach Resort's charming self-contained eco villas are set against a backdrop of tropical gardens, while there are also tennis courts, a spa and a sauna for maximum relaxation. Bundaberg has plenty of great camping spots, too. The Burrum Coast National Park showcases an oceanfront camping area along Kinkuna Beach, while the Cordalba National Park places you among some of the state's best hiking trails deep within the eucalypt woodland. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world. Top image: Lady Musgrave Island by Darren Jew/Tourism and Events Queensland.
If it involves design and creativity — whether as graphics and illustration, via filmmaking and animation, in photography and visual data, through writing and publishing, in products and advertising, or as part of spatial and motion design — odds are that you'll find it at Semi Permanent. The southern hemisphere's biggest and longest-running festival dedicated to all of the above, it brings together the brightest minds it can find to unpack its chosen topics. And, in 2023, it'll do just that in Sydney again. This fest has spanned more than 50 events in 13 cities with 800-plus speakers and over 300,000 attendees over its past two decades, and it's back this year as part of Vivid Sydney's lineup. Don't just wander around the Harbour City soaking in the lit-up gardens, gigs and Vivid's first-ever food fest come May and June — hit up Semi Permanent to ponder what goes into making Vivid so stunning, as well as the latest trends and themes in design and creativity overall. Taking place at Sydney's Carriageworks for three days between Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2, Semi Permanent 2023 features a stacked lineup of speakers, including Irish writer, academic and disability activist Sinéad Burke, who'll explore accessibility — and filmmaker and architect Liam Young, who focuses on the blurring boundaries between film, fiction, design, and storytelling, especially when it comes to musing on what cities will look like in the future. Plus, journalist, writer, artist and producer Mona Chalabi will dive into how data helps us understand the world, while Iranian American designer FISK founder Bijan Berahim is known for highlighting culture, community and commerce via art and design. Also on the bill: Vogue India's Head of Editorial Content Megha Kapoor, Indigital founder Mikaela Jade, Indigenous artist and poet Jazz Money, and artist, illustrator and animator Chris Yee. Film and TV designer and director Filipe Carvalho joins the international contingent, with the Australian Centre for Moving Image's Seb Chan, Gold Coast artist and screenwriter Samuel Leighton-Dore, motion graphics artist's Mikaela Stafford and photographer and performer Wani Toaishara helping fill out the local crew alongside artist and illustrator Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, designer and artist Evi. O and Semi Permanent 2023's host Namila Benson. That packed roster of talent will examine the theme of 'reformation', a particularly topical subject given the events of the past few years. "We thought the world would seek to build itself back as it was, but it's increasingly clear that our collective future cannot—nor should not—look anything like its past," notes Semi Permanent's Global Creative Director Mitchell Oakley Smith. "We live amidst a once-in-a-generation chance to write past wrongs, reform seemingly immutable practices, and redesign the world in a shape we'd like to see." As always, Semi Permanent will span keynote talks, panels, Q&As and workshops, as well as exhibitions, demonstrations and installations. This year, expect those sessions to touch upon futurism, feminism, First Nations culture and accessibility alongside sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, all while examining Web3's borderless promises, how remote work helps employees claim back their time, and the dismantling of industrial hierarchies and traditions. "In its place, something new is beginning to emerge: new creative languages, new ways to communicate, to create, organise, disrupt, rebuild. New ways to speak, hear, interpret, understand, and connect. Less barriers to entry, and more possibility for brilliance. With all the chips seemingly thrown in the air — which of these do we catch, and which do we let go?," says Oakley Smith. Semi Permanent 2023 will run from Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, Sydney. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Semi Permanent website.
For everyone who'll always love Dolly Parton, the icon herself has unveiled excellent news: she's turning her life story and unrivalled career into a musical, which will debut on Broadway in 2026. Parton is writing the new stage show's music and lyrics. She's also co-penning the book for the musical. Will she pop up during a performance? You'll have to head along to Hello, I'm Dolly to find out. If the production's name sounds familiar, then you truly are a Parton fan: it shares its moniker with her very first studio album, which was released in 1967. In the almost six decades since — a year short of it when Hello, I'm Dolly premieres, in fact — Parton has done everything from dominate country music and star on the big screen to read bedtime stories and donate money to COVID-19 research. Her music is also no stranger to Broadway thanks to 9 to 5: The Musical, as based on the 1980 film of the same name, which made its leap to theatre's most-famous district in 2009. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) "Hello, I'm Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage," said Parton in a statement about the musical. Dolly diehards, you now have this in common with the legend. "I've written many original songs for the show and included all your favourites in it as well. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll clap, you'll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol' Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don't miss it!" Parton continued. As well as composing the score and new songs for the show, and co-writing the book with Maria S Schlatter, Dolly is producing Hello, I'm Dolly with Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises. There's no word on an exact opening date as yet, or any casting details or touring plans after its Broadway run, but Parton just keeps pouring cups of ambition. And if you're now begging for the musical to please head Down Under, we understand. There's obviously no clips or imagery from Hello, I'm Dolly available yet, but check out the trailer for 9 to 5 — the film — below: Hello, I'm Dolly will premiere on Broadway in 2026. We'll update you with any details of a season Down Under if and when they're announced. Head to the musical's website for further details in the interim.
Across ten extremely amusing initial episodes in 2022, Loot had a message: billionaires shouldn't exist. So declared the show's resident cashed-up character, with Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) receiving $87 billion in her divorce from tech guru John Novak (Adam Scott, Madame Web), then spending most of the Apple TV+ sitcom's first season working out what to do with it (and also how to handle her newly single life in general). That she had a foundation to her name was virtually news to her. So was much about everything beyond the ultra-rich. And, she was hardly equipped for being on her own. But Loot's debut run came to an entertaining end with the big statement that it was always uttering not so quietly anyway. So what happens next, after one of the richest people in the world decides to give away all of her money? Cue season two of this ace workplace-set comedy from Wednesday, April 3. Created by former Parks and Recreation writers Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, in their second Rudolph-starring delight — 2018's Forever was the first — Loot splices together three popular on-screen realms as it loosely draws parallels with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his philanthropist ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. At her charity, as Molly's staff become the kind of friends that feel like family while doing their jobs, shows such as 30 Rock and Superstore (which Hubbard also has on his resume) score an obvious sibling. As its protagonist endeavours to do good, be better and discover what makes a meaningful life, The Good Place (which Yang also wrote for) and Forever get company. And in enjoying its eat-the-rich mode as well, it sits alongside Succession and The White Lotus, albeit while being far sillier. Nothing was broken about this mix and setup in season one, so there's no fixing required the second time around — just leaning in further and letting Loot's talented cast make the most of it. Co-starring alongside Rudolph: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (American Horror Story) as foundation head Sofia, Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island) as Molly's assistant Nicholas, Ron Funches (Good Burger 2) as her cousin Howard and Nat Faxon (Our Flag Means Death) as company accountant Arthur, plus Stephanie Styles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Meagen Fay (9-1-1) as the cheery Ainsley and hippie-ish Rhonda to round out the office gang. As motley crews dictate, everyone has a personality archetype. Sofia is dedicated and determined. Nicholas chases clout. Howard and Arthur both bring sweetness, the latter as a daggy dad who also becomes Molly's everyman love interest, for instance. Loot has a clear lead, but it also patently adores its ensemble; with this group, there's plenty to love. After Molly's huge announcement, she has downsized mansions in season two, while also grappling with John's rekindled romantic interest and trying to make good on her word — and to get her homelessness-tackling project Space for Everyone off the ground. Loot knows that the path back from such an extravagant existence isn't straightforward, though. Plenty of its humour comes from Molly attempting to do what she thinks is right, but being the type of out-of-touch that money literally buys. Still, she has a caring heart and noble intentions, which Loot always sees. This is a series that's teeming with designer attire, jet-setting, lavish spiritual retreats and opulent dream homes, and watches them gleam, yet is keenly aware that nothing sparkles as brightly as truly being yourself, learning what makes you feel fulfilled, real connection and genuine benevolence, all of which are priceless. It's hard to imagine anyone but Rudolph selling Loot as wholeheartedly, or ensuring that the concept hits its mark. It isn't a simple task, parodying the ridiculously affluent while humanising a lead character who can't remember anything but rolling in dosh — and also showing her well-to-do trappings without undercutting the show's eat-the-rich mantra by making her life, or even just the materialism, freedom and security of a an abundant bank balance, seem aspirational. By now, however, almost three decades since she made her screen debut and nearing a quarter century since her first Saturday Night Live days, it's been proven several times over that Rudolph can do everything. Playing Molly requires that flexibility, as honed so expertly in sketch comedy. It also hinges on Rudolph committing to being the joke again and again, while digging past satirising Molly to unearth the person beneath the billions. Put Loot's lead in any show or movie and it's worth watching (see also: everything from Away We Go, Bridesmaids, The Way Way Back and Sisters to Up All Night and Maya & Marty). That said, also harking back to her SNL stint, she's a spectacular team player even when giving a star turn, which this recognises. Yang and Hubbard have filled Loot's cast perfectly with actors who bounce off of Rudolph flawlessly, including in guest roles in season two. When Ana Gasteyer (American Auto), Rudolph's SNL co-star, pops up as another obscenely well-off ex-wife, audiences can be forgiven for wanting a spinoff that pushes them both to the fore. And when Benjamin Bratt (Poker Face) joins the series briefly, it's a sublime inclusion. For the show's regular ensemble, season two delivers more subplots and supporting-character arcs. Sofia gets a boyfriend (O-T Fagbenle, Secret Invasion), plus more time away from the job that she's devoted to. Nicholas dives into his cultural heritage, adopted upbringing and dating behaviour. Howard follows an opposing route to Molly, endeavouring to free himself from debt rather than giving away money, while also embracing a passion as a side hustle. Chemistry still lingers between Molly and Arnold, but no workplace sitcom lets romance come easily — and no series about a person bettering themselves, and also unearthing themselves in a midlife crisis, allows new love to blossom quickly, either. From Molly doing Vogue's 73 Questions and Taylor Swift obsessions becoming a plot point to runway appearances and weaving in a hilarious nod to a movie masterpiece, Loot isn't short on other reasons to get giggling — or other ways to flesh out Molly and the gang. Another pivotal element that it boasts in abundance: the potential to keep growing, especially as Molly's bank balance dwindles. Skewering levels of wealth that no one should have, and that only the one percent of the one percent can grasp, will never stop proving rich and necessary comic material. Loot has bite, laughs, thematic capital to keep building upon and a roster of talent making it one of Apple TV+'s comedy standouts. It was true in its first season and remains the case in its second: this is a series to invest in. Check out the trailer for Loot season two below: Loot streams via Apple TV+, with season two starting on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
The Heide Museum of Modern Art is one of Melbourne's most significant cultural institutions — with a history that dates back to 1934 and an exhibition program that often plays host to some of the biggest names in Australian art. Boasting 15 stunning acres in Bulleen, it's a prime spot for laidback weekend adventures. We suggest you spend a blissful Saturday out here, browsing the architecturally stunning galleries, exploring the mid-century Heide house, and cruising through the sculpture park while moseying among the lush green grounds. When lunchtime rolls around, be sure to hit Shannon Bennet's on-site Café Heide for some top-notch coffee and seasonal fare courtesy of the nearby kitchen garden.
They're called twin films: two movies with a similar idea that reach screens around the same time. Think Deep Impact and Armageddon, Dark City and The Matrix, and The Prestige and The Illusionist — plus The Raid and Dredd, Upgrade and Venom, and Skate Kitchen and Mid90s. Yes, the list goes on (and on and on). The same concept applies on the small screen, too, as two of 2020's new shows are demonstrating. Earlier in the year, Netflix debuted Space Force, which starred Steve Carell as a military man tasked with establishing the space-focused new branch of the US armed forces. Now, via US network Showtime — and streaming service Stan in Australia — Moonbase 8 is also trying to turn the quest to leave earth into a sitcom. Featuring Fred Armisen, John C Reilly and Tim Heidecker, and set to start dropping from Sunday, November 8, Moonbase 8 follows three men who are eager to take part in a lunar mission. Skip (Portlandia's Armisen), Rook (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'s Heidecker) and Cap (Reilly) are the epitome of enthusiastic, in fact, and they're doing their absolute best to complete their training at NASA's Moon Base Simulator in the desert in Winslow, Arizona. But whether they'll stay sane through the process is another matter entirely. The show's three stars also serve as Moonbase 8's executive producers, while the series is penned by Heidecker with Portlandia and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! writer — and Baskets creator — Jonathan Krisel. And, based on the just-dropped first trailer, the new comedy promises plenty of stir-crazy silliness between three characters living in close quarters — something immensely relatable in 2020, obviously. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KECl99n-DI0 Moonbase 8 starts streaming in Australia via Stan on Sunday, November 8. The New Zealand streaming date is yet to be confirmed — we'll update you with further details when they come to hand. Top image: Courtesy of A24 Films/SHOWTIME.
Here's the headlines: Drake is coming to Australia in 2025; it's his first trip this way since 2017; and you're now going to have 'Hotline Bling', 'Too Good', 'Passionfruit', 'Nice for What', 'In My Feelings', 'One Dance' and 'Laugh Now Cry Later' stuck in your head again. The Canadian artist is bringing his Anita Max Win tour Down Under, including to Melbourne in February. The five-time Grammy-winner is hitting the Victorian capital for four shows. Drake will play Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, February 9–Monday, February 10, as well as Wednesday, February 12–Thursday, February 13. The Degrassi: The Next Generation star last took to the stage in this neck of the woods on his Boy Meets World tour, which means that eight years have passed between those gigs and his 2025 visit. The platinum-selling singer is fresh off his 2023–24 It's All A Blur Tour, which saw him chalk up over 80 soldout shows in North America. On that prior trip, Drake had four studio albums to his name: 2010's Thank Me Later, 2011's Take Care, 2013's Nothing Was the Same and 2016's Views. He's doubled that since, so expect tunes from 2018's Scorpion, 2021's Certified Lover Boy, 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs, too. Images: The Come Up Show via Flickr.
Does this represent a work of genius, or has Frankenstein lost control of the monster? In the eyes of Harvey Moon, 'drawing machines' are fascinating, not only for the work they produce, but also for the processes involved in their acts of creation. 'That loss of communication and that failure for a machine to communicate properly is what I find exciting and the randomness in which it produces these results,' he told the creators' project last month. Made of motors and servomechanisms, Harvey's machines act according to algorithms. However, despite our expectations that robots follow logical sets of rules, the responses are not always reliable. Unpredictable artworks are often the result. With one particular machine, titled 'Bugs draw for me', Moon has taken the concept further, by adding a cricket to the mix. Yes, one of those lively, chirping, hopping creatures that you wouldn't invite to your picnic. As a camera records the insect's movements, the machine lays them down visually. Apart from enjoying the suspense involved, Moon has also developed an interest in what the machines reveal about human behaviour. 'It plays with a different way of producing work, where we don't have to rely on our own physical bodies to produce art,' he explains. 'We can extend our system beyond our own hands.' [via the creators' project]
If you find yourself thinking back on Law & Order re-runs, Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs or Heath Ledger's turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight, you're probably thinking about one particular type of scene. There's an art to a good on-screen interrogation — to seeing characters verbally spar back and forth, as one probes for answers and the other tries to avoid their questions — that's riveting when it's done well. It's also hilarious when it's done comedically (see Brooklyn Nine-Nine); however, nothing beats a grim, serious, eyes-blazing, nostril-flaring confrontation between a suspected criminal and a savvy detective who are both confined to the same small room. Netflix, in its seemingly never-ending quest to turn every single possible idea into highly binge-able streaming content, is taking this concept and running with it in its new anthology crime series Criminal. Love interrogations, but not so fussed about all the stuff around them? Then you'll want to glue your peepers to this newcomer when it arrives later this month, because it's all about heated chats in police interview suites. In fact, that's all it's about. Announced back in June, the streaming platform's latest show will tell a dozen different tales across just as many 45-minute episodes — spending three episodes each focusing on cases in France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. Criminal will also unfurl its tense arguments with some considerable star power, with David Tennant and Agent Carter's Hayley Atwell among the UK cast. You might also recognise Laurence Anyways' Nathalie Baye and The Unknown Girl's Jérémie Renier in the French instalments, plus Phoenix's Nina Hoss in the German episodes. Behind the scenes, the claustrophobic, cat-and-mouse-style program also boasts a heap of talent, which'll again vary from country to country. Killing Eve writer George Kay and She's Out Of My League director Jim Field Smith will oversee the whole thing, and take care of the British chapters, while The Returned and Spiral helmer Frederic Mermoud, Downfall's Oliver Hirschbiegel and Dark Impulse's Mariano Barroso will do the honours in France, Germany and Spain respectively. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAZac21Y9D8 Criminal will release on Netflix on September 20.
Whether you like it or not, summer's balmy weather is set to last a little bit longer this year, with most of Australia forecast to score a hotter-than-average autumn. Off the back of a record-breaking summer — with January the hottest month ever recorded in Australia — the good folk at the Bureau of Meteorology have released their climate outlook for the March to May period, revealing that most of the country is in for warmer days and stickier nights than we usually see at this time of year. Yep, the soupy weather is set to continue. In fact, if you call mainland Australia home, there's an 80 percent chance you'll experience autumn temperatures that are a whole lot warmer than the median. To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 24.2 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 29.1 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 24.5 for Brisbane. The BOM is forecasting that we'll see warmer than that across the three months. Unfortunately for farmers, large parts of the north are looking to struggle through drier-than-average autumns, too. The southern part of the country, however, is expected to cop the usual rainfall. Looking further into the year — and getting a touch technical — the BOM's senior hydrologist, Dr Robert Pipunic, says there's a 50 percent chance of El Niño forming over the next couple of months, which is double the normal risk this time of year. This means we could see warmer-than-average temperatures and low levels of rainfall continue into winter, too. If you'd like to know more about what exactly El Niño is, and how it impacts Australia, the BOM has a whole heap of fun facts over here. NSW folk survived their second-warmest autumn on record last year, with the statewide mean temperature clocking in at 1.88 degrees hotter than the average. And let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever. With another sweaty autumn on the way, 2019 looks well set to steal that title. Image: Mark Chew for Visit Victoria.
Paul Allam and David McGuinness opened Bourke St Bakery in 2004 and worked their way into the heart of inner-Sydney with their quality handmade baked goods. This month they will extend their reach to the city’s outskirts with the launch of The Bread & Butter Project, the 'Makers of Bakers', a social enterprise designed to skill-up the disenfranchised and take the tastes of Bourke St to high-end provedores, restaurants and cafes — it's an old-fashioned everybody wins scheme. The project will be starting up at their Marrickville bakery with six refugees coming on board from greater Sydney for a 12-month paid traineeship in the art of making some of this city's best bread. On graduation the trainees will not only have experience working at a high-standard bakery but be armed with TAFE-accredited credentials for the jobs marketplace. All profits from the enterprise will be reinvested back into the program, which hopes to double its intake of future bakers next year. But it's not just goodwill that will keep the bitter taste in your mouth at bay; the bread range is available on their website, and with offerings like a white chia and goji berry semi-sourdough, this initiative looks set to follow in the success of its older siblings, Bourke St Bakery and Wilbur's Place eatery. Bread & Butter will soon be available at DJs Food Halls in Bondi Junction and the CBD, along with Thomas Dux Crows Nest and from the Sydney Food Connect Organic Fruit and Vegetable Delivery Service. Bread will also be available direct to the public through local markets — The Entertainment Quarter and The Sydney Morning Herald Grower's Market in Pyrmont — and at select restaurants and cafes.
For 22 years, BIGSOUND has highlighted Australia's music industry, getting power players sharing their experience and advice, championing up-and-coming talents, fostering crucial connections, and celebrating live tunes and the folks that make them happen in general. Here's a few other handy numbers for the music conference-slash-festival's upcoming 2023 run: four days, 18 venues, 141 artists and 300-plus showcases. Brisbanites and music obsessives, take note: the Sunshine State capital will be Australia's music haven between Tuesday, September 5–Friday, September 8. Earlier this year, BIGSOUND announced its first speakers, headlined ROC Nation's Omar Grant — who was once the road manager for Destiny's Child and now shares the President role at Jay-Z's entertainment agency. Now, it has dropped the full list of musicians that'll be getting behind a microphone. More than 1300 applications to hit BIGSOUND's stages were received for the 2023 event, but it's the festival team's job to whittle them down to the standouts. Among those making the bill: Brisbane's own Full Flower Moon Band, Zheani, Felivand and Baby Prince; Sydney's Moss and Little Green; Melbourne's PANIA, Moaning Lisa and The Slingers; Perth's DICE and Siobhan Cotchin; and Adelaide's Aleksiah and The Empty Threats. From New Zealand comes Reb Fountain and SWIDT, while Casey Mowry and MF Tomlinson are heading to Queensland from the UK. [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] The list goes on, complete with a significant focus on representation. Among 2023's talents, 27 percent identify as LGBTQIA+, 50 percent are female or gender non-conforming, and First Nations acts comprise 18 percent of the lineup. Indeed, 27 showcases will be devoted to Australia's Indigenous artists, including Miss Kaninna, Loren Ryan, Brady, The Merindas, J-MILLA, CLOE TERARE, Tjaka and Kobie Dee. Fancy checking out the most isolated heavy metal band in the world? That'd be Southeast Desert Metal, and they're also on the roster. [caption id="attachment_907800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] Top image: Jess Gleeson.
All across New South Wales, stages are being swept, setlists are being finalised, speakers are being stress tested, and crowds are gearing up — all for the long-awaited return of Great Southern Nights in 2025. Great Southern Nights sees well over 300 gigs taking place in major cities across the state — stretching from Byron Bay to Broken Hill and beyond. The Central Coast, just north of Sydney, is one of the festival's main regions. If you're planning to head up for a gig or if you happen to be in the area between Friday, March 21 and Sunday, April 6, we've teamed up with Great Southern Nights to tell you when and where the hottest gigs are taking place and where to catch your breath between them. The Lineup So who is actually on the lineup? The highlight acts start with The Rions, hitting the stage at The Sunken Monkey in Erina on Saturday, March 22. The next day, Australian Idol star Marcia Hines takes the spotlight at The Art House in Wyong, a fittingly flashy venue for such a star. Later on, the fun returns to Erina in the form of indie trio Telenova on Thursday, March 27. That's not all — next on the roster is the ARIA-nominated Ngaiire, who will make a memorable appearance across Lake Macquarie in Warner's Bay Theatre on Saturday, March 29. And among the final weekend roster are two examples of what Great Southern Night does best: homegrown talent. The Art House in Wyong will set the scene for Troy Cassar-Daley while 90's Aussie rock icons Baby Animals bring the noise to Doyalson RSL on Friday, April 4, and Melbourne rock trio The Grogans end things with a show at Drifter's Wharf, Gosford on Sunday, April 6. Local Eats and Treats The Central Coast is a big place, so there are plenty of fantastic bars, cafes and restaurants to discover all over. However, allow us to offer some suggestions and hints to get you started. If you're near Erina, seek out the fine flavours of the Tuscan countryside at La Gioia; get a cosy garden meal and a boutique gin cocktail at Bar Botanica; or enjoy drinks by night and coffee by day at the Tame Fox. In Wyong, one of the most popular spots for patrons of all ages is the historic Wyong Milk Factory — it boasts breakfast and lunch menus (the former available from 7.30am and the latter from 10.30am), a kid's play area, the secluded Holy Cow Bar and a range of local dairy-based products for sale. Another favourite is Woodblock Bar & Grill, which dishes out hefty plates of comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Otherwise, Terrigal boasts one of the highest concentrations of quality restaurants in the area and is definitely worth a visit during your stay. [caption id="attachment_920860" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Terrigal Ocean Tours[/caption] Things to Do and Places to See You'll need breaks between gigs of course, so where can you take some time off? The Central Coast is home to some of Mother Nature's most stunning and accessible sights spanning beaches, bushland and beyond. In addition to excellent dining options, Terrigal also stands out as one of Sydney's top seaside suburbs for visitors. Be it whale watching or a simple swim, this is one heck of a beach trip. Another divine coastal destination is Bouddi National Park, which traces the shoreline from Broken Bay to MacMasters Beach. Here, you can lace up the boots and hit a walking trail, pitch a tent and camp on one of its beaches and keep your eyes peeled for protected marine life, a shipwreck and more. Elsewhere, take a sunny boat tour on a working oyster farm (with tastings included) in Broken Bay, enjoy a close encounter with native wildlife at the free-range, heritage-listed Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary or spend two-and-a-half hours scrambling, climbing and bouncing through the tree canopy at Treetops Adventure Central Coast. [caption id="attachment_947613" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific[/caption] Where to Spend the Night Rest assured there are plenty of ideal overnight stays scattered around the Central Coast. If you're on a budget, the Pacific Highway offers motels aplenty, but if you're willing to splash a bit of cash, we have some suggestions. If you can't bear to part from the always-buzzing and beautiful Terrigal, Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific is your best bet. Just across the road from the water and with sunrise views to boot, it's one of the most luxurious stays in the area. With an onsite luxury restaurant, Meribella, offering breakfast, dinner and luxe set menus and the ground floor eatery Terrigal Beach House serving beers, snacks and seafood platters, you're certainly not going to leave hungry. Further north is another great pick that oozes luxury, Pullman Magenta Shores, resting between The Entrance and Soldier's Beach. This more secluded stay is easily accessed but further from any hustle and bustle, ideal for anyone seeking a bit of serenity. Though it's not far from the beach, Pullman Magenta Shores offers swimming, dining and relaxation en masse within its property. Rooms vary from villas to studios, and you'll have your pick of dining from two on-site venues for maximum convenience. If you want something a touch more rustic, the Central Coast is home to quite a few countryside stays in its western districts. Close to Wyong in the Yarramalong Valley is Lost Ranches Farmstay, a barn situated on 50 acres of historic farmland, perfect for larger groups who want to avoid staying within earshot of the action. Head out west even further, and you could end up glamping in Noonaweena to really get out into the wilderness of the Central Coast. Great Southern Nights is set to take over venues across NSW between Friday, March 21 and Sunday, April 6. Check out our gig guides for Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle or visit the website for more information.
Oh Christmas, what a time. A time for love, a time for giving, and of course, a time to lose your shit amongst the writhing throngs of desperate last-minute shoppers. Joy. Luckily for us, this year WineMarket have put together some pretty nifty packages, including a whole host of multi-bottle specials. Throw in easy-as-mince-pie one- or 1-2 day delivery on selected sets, and you really can get Christmas sorted this year, minus the stress plus a whole lot of delicious booze. Take the methode traditionelle Grandin Grande Reserve Brut NV, for example. These six tasty sparklings, made the same way as Champagne but with fruit from outside the region, come in at practically half the price of their French cousin. And, individually packaged in festive red metal presentation tubes, they’re right fancy too ($119.40 for six). Another great option to give is the six-pack of Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, again individually packaged so no need to wrap. Just in case you haven’t heard of Wynns, this yummy mellow-textured fruity number is crafted by award-winning winemaker Sue Hodder, from her 5-star James Halliday-rated winery ($191.40 for 12). But, if you really want to treat the vino connoisseur in the family, you can also secure a bottle of Penfolds Grange 2010, sporting accolade after accolade, for $639 (usually $785). But, if variety is the festive spice of your silly season, you’re covered with all manner of combos, including ten reds and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label ($99), 13-bottle stock-up essentials ($99) and a fabulously titled Impress the In-Laws package of award-winning, 90+ rated reds ($120). Cheers to that. WineMarket is offering a discount exclusively for Concrete Playground subscribers. Get $50 off orders over $120 (excluding freight) using the voucher code CONCRETEXMAS at the checkout. Hurry: offer ends 11.59PM 21/12/2014 (AEDT). Voucher can only be used once per customer. Excludes orders solely consisting of beer, champagne, cider or RTDs, and purchases from WineMarket must not be re–sold commercially. Not valid with any other promotion. Not redeemable for cash. WineMarket reserves the right to cancel orders made outside of these terms and conditions. Standard WineMarket T&Cs apply.
When the Mr Black Festival of the Espresso Martini first hit Melbourne in 2016, caffeinated cocktail lovers rejoiced — and forgot all about sleep for a few days. It's far from surprising that the fest is back for another round of chilled coffee and vodka. Best get some rest now because you won't in November. After last year's event expanded from one to three days due to demand, the 2017 iteration knows it'll need to spread out its buzzing boozy fun from the outset. Taking over North Melbourne's Meat Market from November 3 to 5, it'll serve up six different bar areas, a range of workshops and classes, food aplenty, live music from Australian musicians and, yes, the drink in question. Thanks to the fine folks at NSW cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur brand Mr Black, attendees can try espresso martinis topped with doughnuts, other variations on the tasty cocktail and even white russian slushies. A garden tiki bar and hidden speakeasy will also boast their own range of special tipples, while a gin and tonic bar will offer a reprieve from the coffee — if that's what you feel you need. Holgate Brewing's beer will also provide a non-espresso option. With Fancy Hank's, Zeus Street Greek Food, That Arancini Guy, Toasta & Co and Butter Mafia on food duties, there'll be a range of eats to help line the stomach (and soak up the caffeine). Tickets start at $30 + booking fee, with multiple sessions running each day. Entry includes a Mr Black tasting on arrival, and if you head along to the brunch slot from 10.30am until 2pm on November 4, you'll also get brunch and your first espresso martini included. The Mr Black Festival of the Espresso Martini takes place from November 3 to 5 at Meat Market, 5 Blackwood Street, Melbourne. For more information or to buy tickets, head to espressomartinifest.com.
Usually when a festival dedicated to espresso martinis pops up, it takes over one place. Such boozy fests only tend to run for a day or so, or a weekend, too. But one of Australia's big hospitality chains is ditching both of those norms, because this drink needs a whole week and more than 200 pubs countrywide to truly get buzzing. Who needs sleep when there's caffeinated cocktails to sip and celebrate? The event: ALH Hotels' Espresso Martini Festival, which'll take over venues in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory from Monday, March 13–Sunday, March 19. If you're wondering why, the reason is the same that most food- or drink-themed fests pop up. Yes, there's an occasion dedicated to the beverage in question, with World Espresso Martini Day upon us on Wednesday, March 15. For the week around the espresso martini-fuelled date, ALH Hotels will pour Grey Goose espresso martinis no matter what time you drop by. Fancy a pick-me-up over lunch? After-work bevvies with your colleagues? A cruisy weekend session giving you some extra perk? They're all options — just don't expect to be tired afterwards. Among the venues taking part in NSW, Sydneysiders can hit up the Summer Hill Hotel, Kirribilli Hotel, New Brighton Hotel, The Ranch and Harlequin Inn. Victoria's list spans Young and Jacksons, Moreland Hotel, Elsternwick Hotel, The Croxton and Balaclava Hotel, too. In Queensland, options include Breakfast Creek Hotel, Brunswick Hotel, Oxford 152, Indooroopilly Hotel, Stones Corner Hotel and the RE in Brisbane, plus spots both up and down the coast. The full list also features pubs in SA such as the Watermark Glenelg, Royal Oak and Esplanade Hotel; venues in WA, complete with Hyde Park, the Belgian Beer Cafe and the Albion Hotel; and four places in the NT. [caption id="attachment_870392" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Breakfast Creek Hotel, Andrew S (Flickr)[/caption] ALH Hotels' Espresso Martini Festival runs from Monday, March 13–Sunday, March 19 at venues around the country — head to the pub chain's website for the full list and further details.
If you weren't in Federation Square for Australia's 1–0 World Cup defeat of Denmark, then you've seen the footage, with Melbourne's massive central space teeming with thousands of soccer fans. For the Socceroos' next game, with the squad advancing to the Round of 16, the Victorian Government has realised that even more folks will want to head out for the match. Accordingly, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that the game will also screen in two other big public spots. If you can't make it to Fed Square, make a date with either AAMI Park and Victoria Golf Club, with the match set to grace screens in both spaces. The game kicks off at 6am AEDT on Sunday, December 4, which clearly makes it perfect for catching at home from the comfort of your own couch; however, if you're keen to watch the must-win showdown alongside your fellow Melburnians, you now have a few options. I reckon we might need a bit more space than just Fed Square to watch the @Socceroos take on Argentina. So we're going to open up AAMI Park and put the game on the big screens. And it'll be completely free. pic.twitter.com/SSflcdQy60 — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) December 3, 2022 Entry to AAMI Park will be completely free, with gates opening at 5am and attendees able to sit in the stadium's grandstand seats to watch. Over at Victoria Golf Club in Cheltenham, the doors will open at 5.30am, with the World Cup match playing on the site's village big screen. Entry will only be free for the first 500 people through the gate, though, and cost $33 for adults after that — but tickets include staying all day, with the Australian Open golf tournament also on at venue. Fed Square is still a viewing option, of course. Also, elsewhere in the city, Victoria's landmark buildings will be lit up in green and gold from 8pm on Saturday through till dawn on Sunday to mark the game. [caption id="attachment_819702" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gary Houston, Wikimedia Commons[/caption] "This Sunday will see thousands of football fans again descend on Melbourne's CBD, so we're making more live sites available for football fans to watch the Socceroos' historic World Cup match against Argentina," said the Premier in a statement. "This is Australia's best-ever World Cup performance, and we're making sure as many people as possible can enjoy the action and cheer on our side as it takes the field in Qatar." "I encourage football fans to come down, soak the atmosphere and cheer on the Socceroos in a safe and respectful manner at the live sites." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Socceroos (@socceroos) Whether or not you usually have even a passing interest in soccer, you'll appreciate the sense of occasion. By emerging victorious over Denmark, the 2022 Socceroos are the most successful FIFA World Cup team to ever come out of this country, with two wins in the group stage. The team's move to the Round of 16 is just the second time ever Australia has managed that feat, after doing the same in 2006. And, if it beats heavyweights Argentina, it'll be the first time ever that the Socceroos have made the quarter finals. Australia take on Argentina at 6am AEDT on Sunday, December 4, with the match playing on the big screen at Federation Square, AAMI Park and Victoria Golf Club. For more information about the 2022 FIFA World Cup, head the tournament's website. For further details about the live sites at AAMI Park and Victoria Golf Club, check out the Victorian Government's website. Top image: Doozeydouche via Wikimedia Commons.
Just days out from taking to the stage together for the first time in more than a decade and a half, Oasis have given fans Down Under a gift: releasing more tickets for their spring 2025 shows in Australia. The Manchester-born band is kicking off their Oasis Live '25 tour in Cardiff, Wales on Friday, July 4, but have dates with Melbourne from the end of October and Sydney in November — and if you haven't already nabbed tix to those Aussie gigs, you've got another chance to get some. On sale now: tickets that were held for the production for Oasis' three Victorian and two New South Wales concerts. The group is playing Marvel Stadium in Melbourne across Friday, October 31–Saturday, November 1, then again on Tuesday, November 4. In Sydney, Liam and Noel Gallagher and company will hit up Accor Stadium on Friday, November 7–Saturday, November 8. [caption id="attachment_975640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Batiste Safont via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Given how popular these gigs were when they were announced in 2024 — so much so that extra concerts were quickly added, and Melbourne's shows were declared a major event, meaning that they'd fall under anti-scalping laws — getting in ASAP is recommended. This year marks 20 years since Oasis last toured Australia. There's comeback tours and then there's Britain's most-famous feuding siblings reuniting to bring one of the country's iconic groups back together live — aka the biggest story in music touring of the past year, since Liam and Noel announced in August 2024 that they were reforming the band, and also burying the hatchet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Nation Australia (@livenationaustralia) Initially, Oasis locked in a run of shows in the UK and Ireland. Then, they expanded their tour dates, also confirming visits to Canada and the US, plus Australia, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Oasis broke up in 2009, four years after their last Australian tour, and following seven albums from 1994's Definitely Maybe through to 2008's Dig Your Soul — and after drawing massive crowds to their live gigs along the way (see: documentary Oasis Knebworth 1996). If you're feeling supersonic about the group's reunion, you can likely expect to hear that track, plus everything from 'Live Forever', 'Cigarettes & Alcohol', 'Morning Glory' and 'Some Might Say' through to 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and 'Champagne Supernova' when they hit Australia. [caption id="attachment_975202" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simon Emmett[/caption] Oasis Live '25 Australian Dates Friday, October 31–Saturday, November 1 + Tuesday, November 4 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Friday, November 7–Saturday, November 8 — Accor Stadium, Sydney [caption id="attachment_975205" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oasis Knebworth 1996, Photo by Roberta Parkin/Redferns[/caption] Oasis are touring Australia in October and November 2025, with tickets on sale now. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Simon Emmett.
It's been five years since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs last album, and a few more than that since you belted out the lyrics to 'Gold Lion' in your high school bedroom or beat-down first car. Admit it: everyone wanted to be Karen O at some point in their lives. Now, this phenomenal queen of indie rock has once again proven how swoon-worthy she really is. Not only has she made a debut solo album full of lo-fi love tunes, she's previewing the entire thing online now ahead of its release. We're not going to be offended if you leave us now to listen to it. Streaming as part of NPR's First Listen program, the soon to be released Crush Songs is far from the indie anthems and general kickassery of her time as lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Instead, it draws heavily on the work she's done for film soundtracks in recent years. From the uplifting style of 'All is Love' in Where the Wild Things Are to the delicate ukelele-backed 'Moon Song' from Her, Karen O's solo work has drawn surprising comparisons to the likes of Juno-famous Kimya Dawson. Although this is the singer's first solo album, Crush Songs was actually recorded way back in 2006 and 2007. A deeply personal collection of stories, Karen O recorded these songs in private aside from her work with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Drawing on the album's appropriate name, the songs explore the singer's fears she'll never find love because she has too many crushes. Officially released on September 9 in the US, Crush Songs will also feature original drawings and hand-written lyrics from the legendary singer. Even if you're a die-hard fan of her work in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this is worth a listen. All in all, it's nice to know that even bona fide rock legends once scribbled people's names in little hand-drawn hearts. Via NPR. Stream the whole album here.
When Dexter wrapped up its blood-splattered run back in 2013, it left plenty of fans wanting more. By now, the fact that almost every beloved TV show arises from the dead at some point is hardly new news — see also: Gossip Girl, Saved By the Bell, Twin Peaks and the upcoming Sex and the City small-screen sequel series, just to name a few — but resurrecting television's mild-mannered forensics expert by day, serial killer by night feels particularly fitting. So, get ready to watch your way through Dexter: New Blood, which sees Michael C Hall (Shadowplay) return as Dexter Morgan. The series wouldn't be worth it without him, obviously. He leads a ten-episode limited series that's due to hit the US on Sunday, November 7 and then arrive Down Under via new streaming platform Paramount+, although exactly when it'll start streaming locally hasn't yet been revealed. Hall isn't the only familiar face making a comeback, either, with Jennifer Carpenter (Dragged Across Concrete) set to return as Dexter's sister Debra. If you're wondering how that works because you remember how the original series ended, the just-dropped full sneak peek for the Dexter revival gives a few more details. John Lithgow (Perry Mason) is also coming back as the Trinity Killer — presumably in flashbacks, given the character's fate the first time around. As both the show's first teaser trailer and this new glimpse demonstrate, eight years have passed when Dexter: New Blood kicks off, just as they have for audiences. Accordingly, the series finds its namesake living a quiet life in the small town of Iron Lake, New York, and trying to forgo his murderous urges. He's going by the name Jim Lindsay, which nods to author Jeff Lindsay, who penned the series of novels the show was initially based on — and he seems happy in his new life. But then Dexter's new hometown is rocked by unexpected events, and his old ways start calling again. As fans saw over and over in Dexter's original eight-season run, resisting picking up a knife isn't all that easy for the program's protagonist. Both trailers feature plenty of blades, all within its namesake's vicinity. And if you're wondering what else to expect, the cast also includes Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie's Love), Johnny Sequoyah (Believe), Jack Alcott (The Good Lord Bird) and Clancy Brown (Promising Young Woman). And, this new trailer comes with a big surprise at the end as well. Check out the latest Dexter: New Blood trailer below: Dexter: New Blood is set to stream in Australia via Paramount+. The new series will start airing in the US from Sunday, November 7; however, an exact streaming date Down Under hasn't been announced as yet — we'll update you when it is.
If your kind of heaven features soft, pillowy lobster rolls and floating clouds of peanut butter parfait, then you'll be happy to know that Andrew McConnell's long-awaited Supernormal (aka the only version of the afterlife we want to know about) is finally here. After the success of the restaurant's three month-long Fitzroy pop-up, Supernormal opens early next week at its brand new Flinders Lane site. A follow-up to McConnell's Golden Fields, which recently closed up shop in St Kilda to make way for the CBD venture, Supernormal will see a whole new McConnell-esque modern Asian fusion menu while keeping a few cult Golden Fields dishes (PB parfait included, phew). According to Good Food, you can expect to be chowing down on all the important (and on-trend) food groups, including pork belly, kimchi and steaming bowls of ramen. Supernormal makes it restaurant number five for McConnell, who already operates Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, The Builders Arms Hotel and the soon-to-be Luxembourg, which will take the place of Golden Fields on Fitzroy Street. Opening today in the dining epicentre of Flinders Lane, the restaurant looks decidedly more fun (and a little cheeky) with the use of super kawaii Pacman-like figures in their branding and the inclusion of karaoke — I repeat, karaoke — in their private dining room. Lobster rolls with a rendition of 'Wannabe'? Yes please. Meanwhile, the pre-opening pop-up seems to be a trend such among hyped venues. Chris Lucas's Kong has popped up at the city's Rue & Co ahead of its actual opening. Update 1 May: This article originally stated that Supernormal was opening April 30. That occasion has now been pushed back to early next week.
Overwater dining, meals and sips with a waterside view, taking dinner and drinks up a few levels: around Brisbane, none of these are new experiences. That said, grabbing a bite or a beverage at a restaurant that's not only perched over the water — ten metres above the Brisbane River, in fact — but is also part of one of the city's bridges is something that the Queensland capital has never seen before. Meet Stilts, which is now open on the Kangaroo Point Bridge. The modern-Australian eatery is not just Brisbane's first-ever restaurant on a bridge, but also Queensland's first of its kind — even if it's the second that hospitality company Tassis Group has launched with ties to the River city's newest river crossing. Mulga Bill's Kitchen & Bar, which is sat at the foot of the structure on the Alice Street side, opened before it. Where that venue is a casual all-day diner, Stilts is all about an elevated experience (including literally) in unique surroundings. "Stilts is more than just a restaurant — it's a destination in itself, where guests can experience firsthand the things that make our city so unique. I wanted to create a place where every last detail celebrated the spirit of our community, from the people, culture and lifestyle to our access to some absolutely incredible produce," said Tassis Group's Michael Tassis. "Not only is it raised to capture the stunning views, it's designed to share with loved ones, create memories, and to enjoy the best produce and talent Queensland has to offer." If the 100-seater restaurant's design looks familiar, that's because it takes inspiration from a Sunshine State staple: Queenslander homes. Of course, most such structures around Brisbane don't boast a 180-degree vantage peering out over the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Brisbane City Botanical Gardens, including through floor-to-ceiling windows. Also key elements of Stilts: an alfresco balcony, a casual bar area and an indoor dining room that allows ample light in, as well as a 12-person private dining room. Under Head Chef Dan Hernandez (formerly of fellow Tassis venture Fosh, and also ex-Restaurant Dan Arnold and Agnes), the Queensland-focused menu starts with beef tartare in cannelloni shells and potato pavé, serves up caviar three ways — in blinis and beef tartlets among them — and then spans everything from Australian wagyu dumplings and Moreton Bay bug linguine to pistachio gelato and yuzu curd. If you're keen on a surf-and-turf option, Stilts' version features 28-day aged sirloin and swordfish steak, and will set you back $135. Diners can also treat themselves to angus and wagyu steaks from the grill, charcoal or miso-yuzo glazed lobster, and a wagyu tasting experience with three cuts of meat. For those feeling spoiled for choice, three different banquets will make your picks for you, ranging from $155–240 in price — the latter with the three caviar options. Drinks-wise, more than 180 drops are on the wine list, alongside beer, spirits and non-boozy sips. As well as Mulga Bill's, Stilts joins Tassis Group's growing lineup of Brisbane restaurants; see also: Opa Bar + Mezze, Yamas Greek + Drink, Massimo Restaurant and Bar, Longwang, Fatcow on James St, Fosh Portside, Rich & Rare, Pompette and Dark Shepherd. Find Stilts Dining at 147E Alice Street, Brisbane CBD, on the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge — open from 11am–9.30am Sunday–Thursday and 11am–10pm Friday–Saturday. Head to the venue's website for more details. Images: Allo Creative / Markus Ravik / Brisbane City Council.
Since Netflix officially launched in Australia back in 2015, their buffet of streaming movies and TV shows has lacked one thing: new original local content. Indeed, it took more than two years for the popular SVOD platform to finally announce that they're making their first Aussie series — and, if the Australian government has anything to do with it, there'll be much more where that came from. During a government enquiry into the sustainability of the film and television industry, Department of Communications content head Carolyn Patteson revealed that the department is looking into quotas for Aussie content on streaming platforms. "We recognise that the system we currently have in place is probably not contemporary for our environment, and what we're really starting to grapple with is the online space," she advised. Just how much Australian programming could be required is yet to be discussed; however, under similar quotas for TV networks, local commercial free-to-air television stations must show a minimum of 55 per cent on their main channels between 6am and midnight. Further sub-quotas apply to Australian drama, documentary and kids' programs. A similar idea has been floated in Europe, with a figure of 20 per cent suggested. In the interim, in addition to their recently announced supernatural crime drama series Tidelands, Netflix has also co-commissioned new comedy series The Letdown with the ABC — their third local collaboration after the second season of Glitch and Monkey Magic reboot The Legend Of Monkey. Over at Stan, No Activity and Wolf Creek have flown the flag for local content on the Australian platform so far, with four new shows currently in the works, as well as feature film The Second. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Whether you're in lockdown, working from home, social distancing in general or just in need of a pick-me-up, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past 18 months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Over the last year or so, Melbourne's zoos have live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong — and the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas, and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary went with a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has kept growing, too, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. Melbourne Zoo set up this webcam last year, actually, when it was trained on the venue's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. Now, it's still capturing the little cuties — and their parents — via two cameras. The word you're looking for? "Awwwwwwww," obviously. The pups were born in February last year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopards and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdF25b1tv1g THE NEST Before watching The Nest, you mightn't have imagined Jude Law playing Mad Men's Don Draper. He didn't, of course. But this new 80s-set psychological thriller about a corroding marriage brings that idea to mind, because it too follows a man who spends his days selling a dream, thinks he can talk and charm his way into anything, and may have unleashed his biggest spin upon himself. More often than not, Law's character here has used his charisma to get whatever he wants, and to evade whichever sticky personal and professional situations he's plunged himself into. Indeed, stock trader Rory O'Hara slides easily into Law's list of suave on-screen roles, alongside the likes of The Talented Mr Ripley and Alfie. But there's also a tinge of desperation to his arrogance, as the actor showcased well in miniseries The Third Day. A Brit who relocated to New York and married horse trainer Allison (Carrie Coon, Widows), Rory looks the picture of Reagan-era affluence but, when he suddenly wants to return to London to chase new work opportunities, the cracks in his facade start widening. As directed with a heightened sense of dread by Martha Marcy May Marlene filmmaker Sean Durkin, The Nest busts open those fractures, with Allison, her teenage daughter Sam (Oona Roche, Morning Wars) and her son Ben (Charlie Shotwell, The Nightingale) all weathering the repercussions. While it's obvious from the outset that trouble is afoot, Durkin isn't in any rush to unleash The Nest's full nightmare. He wants his viewers to linger in it, because his characters must. Allison is forced to live with the knowledge that little is right, but the way she chain-smokes hurriedly illustrates that she also knows how far her fortunes could fall. Every move Rory makes is driven by his need to paint a gleaming portrait of himself, and he knows that it's a reverse Dorian Gray situation: the shinier and flashier he makes everything seem to anyone who'll listen, the more he rots inside. Durkin doesn't just rely upon an exacting pace and a festering mood of gloom, though. Reuniting with cinematographer Mátyás Erdély (Son of Saul) after 2013 miniseries Southcliffe, he gives every second of The Nest an eerie look — whether staying a few beats longer than normal on its opening shot, lensing vast rooms to emphasise their emptiness, repeatedly peering at the film's characters through glass or breaking out the most gradual of zooms. All that tension and unease conveys not only Rory and Allison's domestic discontent, but also the false promises of chasing capitalism-driven fantasies. And, with Coon as essential as Law and Durkin, it drives an excellent thriller that knows how how gut-wrenching it feels to realise that the life you don't even love is a sham. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZg2iEf-fTA EARWIG AND THE WITCH If you wanted to use Studio Ghibli's name as an adjective, it could mean many things, including beautiful, playful, moving, heartwarming, thoughtful and bittersweet. Thanks to the delightful combination of these traits in the company's work to-date, everyone knows a Ghibli film when they see it, as has proven the case for almost four decades. But, seven years after When Marnie Was There — and five years since French co-production The Red Turtle — the Japanese animation house has released a movie that doesn't slide instantly into its gorgeous and affecting catalogue. The studio's first film made solely using computer-generated 3D animation, Earwig and the Witch immediately stands out thanks to its plastic-looking visuals. That smooth, glossy imagery is impossible not to notice. It feels generic, and that sensation lingers. Indeed, almost everything in this slight, bright, likeable but rarely memorable addition to Studio Ghibli's filmography also earns the same description. And, despite focusing on a determined young girl, featuring a witch, and even including a talking cat and other helpful tiny critters, Earwig and the Witch rarely works Ghibli's usual magic. A by-the-numbers movie from the company is still better than many other family-friendly features — and this is average rather than awful, too — but the animated effort makes its audience work to uncover its modest charms. In a thinly plotted picture that tries to tick off as many of the studio's known traits as possible — and also endeavours to squeeze Ghibli's sensibilities into the broader anime mould, all while appealing more firmly to children than adults — viewers first meet Earwig (Kokoro Hirasawa) as a baby. After trying to shake off the dozen other witches chasing them along a highway during the opening scene of this Gorō Miyazaki (Tales from Earthsea, From Up on Poppy Hill)-directed film, her mother (Sherina Munaf) leaves her on an orphanage's doorstep, promising to return after her never-explained troubles subside. Ten years later, Earwig still roams the facility's halls. She brags to her offsider Custard (Yusei Saito) that she knows how to get its staff and its residents to bend to her will, and to whip up shepherd's pie on demand. And, she actively doesn't want to be adopted by the couples who stop by looking to expand their families. But when Earwig is chosen by witch Bella Yaga (Shinobu Terajima) and sorcerer The Mandrake (Etsushi Toyokawa), she has no option but to relocate to their enchanted cottage. Bella Yaga doesn't want a daughter, however. Instead, as based on the novel by Howl's Moving Castle author Diana Wynne Jones, the witch is in need of an assistant to cook, clean and crush rat bones for her spells. Seeing a chance to learn magic herself, though, Earwig isn't willing to acquiesce easily. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8t4VuMb__E WILD MOUNTAIN THYME It doesn't happen every week, thankfully, but every now and then a movie proves so ridiculous that it's impossible to forget. Some films overtly strive for silliness from the start, while others become ludicrous slowly and/or unintentionally — and Wild Mountain Thyme falls into the latter category. For most of its duration, this rom-com is somehow both bland and over the top. It sticks to a formulaic setup that takes a few cues from Romeo and Juliet, brings in neighbouring Irish farmers instead, and demonstrates zero reason for its central couple to remain apart. It does all of the above while throwing in so many shots of green Irish fields, you'd be forgiven for expecting to spy a sea of four-leaf clovers. And, it tasks Christopher Walken with narrating the feature with a terrible accent, and uses his first line to tell us that his character is telling this tale from beyond the grave. Again and again, Wild Mountain Thyme makes you question why its cast are involved, and wonder what Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan and Jon Hamm could've been doing instead. All those observations keep applying as its minutes drag by, too. But then comes a reveal that's as absurd as everything that Cats managed to serve up, and as unnecessary as well. Writer/director John Patrick Shanley won an Oscar for penning the script for Nicolas Cage and Cher-starring romantic comedy Moonstruck, which wasn't afraid to march to its own beat; however, there's no precedent for his latest movie's big leap. Worlds away from A Quiet Place's horrors — but perhaps not far enough from the Fifty Shades franchise's messiness — Blunt and Dornan play Rosemary Muldoon and Anthony Reilly. The pair have lived side by side all of their lives, and she has always had a crush on him, but nothing more than awkward friendship has ever arisen. Soon, though, something else upsets their patch of turf. As made clear in the opening narration, Anthony's father Tony (Walken, still having a bad run after The War with Grandpa) might not be long for this world. In his waning days, he's not convinced that his son has what it takes to keep working the land, so he's contemplating giving everything to his American nephew (Hamm, Richard Jewell) instead. Cast Blunt, Dornan and Hamm in the same rom-com, and there's obviously going to be a love triangle. At least Hamm doesn't have to put on a bad accent. There's a lyrical feel to the way Wild Mountain Thyme regards life, love and the land, but that's one of the very rare bright spots in a movie that only seems capable of operating in the lowest or highest of gears. It also features perhaps the least believable day-trip from Ireland to New York and back, but, if nothing else, it showcases Shanley's versatility — because last time he wrote and directed a movie based on his own play, as he does here, it was vastly dissimilar, four-time Oscar-nominated drama Doubt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZqVPMNgwP8 WILD THINGS There's much that's confronting in Sally Ingleton's Wild Things, including everything that the activists in its frames are fighting for. As long as the response to global warming remains woefully inadequate, it should feel distressing whenever you're reminded how the planet is changing, how quickly, what's at stake and what could be in store — even in a documentary that champions everyone who is doing everything they can to try to bring about much-needed action. But it's the torrent of anger directed at protestors at Queensland's Adani mine site that makes an immediate impact from Wild Things' array of footage. While the expletives shouted barely register, the tone behind them certainly does. So too does the sight of the same screaming semi-trailer driver inching his bulky truck closer and closer towards the standing activists, and yelling that he's doing it because he's got a job to do. Comparing his ire and threats with the signs held peacefully by the crowd, and the calm explanations from attendees about why they've taken up the cause, certainly sends a message. The earth is burning, and many who work in industries that exacerbate the planet's precarious state are simply burning with rage at anyone attempting to make a difference, rather than doing something to help face the situation themselves. Joining TV docos Australia's Great Flood and Acid Ocean among the environmentally focused works on her resume, Ingleton's film also joins a growing list of features about climate change. And, specifically, it sits among a subset of the eco-conscious genre that's only going to keep adding to its numbers: movies about activists. Where 2020's I Am Greta showed the battle from Greta Thunberg's perspective, including the toll it can take, Wild Things splits its focus between several groups on our own home soil. School kids who help plan giant marches and demand meetings with politicians, doctors willing to camp in trees to try to stop logging, grandmothers hoping to leave the world intact for their families, communities who've sprung up around their shared cause — they all earn Ingleton's attention. Along the way, the documentary also weaves in a history of Australia's environmental protests, calls upon ample footage of both past and present activities in action, and pays careful attention to the country's scenic landscape. Indeed, in terms of style, Wild Things sticks to a familiar template, as its heavy use of talking-head interviews demonstrates. But the power of the stories it's telling and the movement they belong to don't need slick packaging; these tales, this topic and the passion of those striving to bring about real efforts to combat the planet's warming resonate more than enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx8l_Hhm2Oo WRONG TURN Horror films may routinely tally up a hefty body count, but franchises in the genre rarely stay dead for long. The latest to return after a hiatus: Wrong Turn. Like the most recent Halloween movie, it keeps things simple by taking the same name as the original film in its series. Unlike that excellent addition to an entertaining saga, however, Wrong Turn circa 2021 is a reboot. The same broad concept carries over, but it's given new faces and a slight twist. So, once again, a group that doesn't usually hail from rural Virginia heads that way, only for its members to find themselves at the mercy of the locals. This time, it's Jen Shaw (Charlotte Vega, Warrior Nun), her boyfriend Darius Clemens (Adain Bradley, Riverdale), and their pals Milla (Emma Dumont, The Gifted), Adam (Dylan McTee, Roswell, New Mexico), Gary (Vardaan Arora, Blindspot) and Luis (Adrian Favela, Booksmart) who've made the trip, with plans to spend a couple of days hiking the Appalachian Trail. They're warned to stick to the official track by everyone in town, but shrug off those cautions when Darius suggests a scenic detour. And, they're soon doing more than just walking, with a community of mountain-dwellers who call themselves The Foundation crossing their paths — and showing their displeasure about the outsiders encroaching on their home. It's a credit to screenwriter Alan McElroy, who also penned the original 2003 Wrong Turn, that the series' seventh instalment doesn't stick as faithfully to its predecessor as it could've. That said, his script can't manage to successfully balance its nods to the franchise's slasher formula and its eagerness to cut into creepy cult territory — supplementing one set of horror tropes with another, basically — or to supply its cast with anything other than boilerplate dialogue. The film also stays in obvious terrain by painting its enthusiastic young hikers as a snapshot of liberal America, exposing their prejudices against small-town folks, then pitting them against the skull-wearing, vengeance-happy Appalachian inhabitants. The situation is never as simplistic as hipsters versus hicks, thankfully, but the movie isn't interested in diving particularly deep either. Director Mike P Nelson (The Domestics) and his crew do relish each and every savage trap set in the woods, as well as the minutiae of The Foundation's insular base, though. Indeed, while the feature's physical horrors prove engaging-enough at best, it frequently seems as if the filmmaker — and the film overall, in fact — would much rather focus on bloody kills and creepy decor, instead of paying lip service to bigger ideas. Nonetheless, although seven years elapsed between 2014's Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort and this average-at-best flick, don't be surprised if more now follow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdppl5Fnmys THE FOOD CLUB Since 2011, whenever a film follows a mature-aged group of travellers while they go on vacation to forget their daily woes, it earns comparisons to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its 2015 sequel. But another movie also casts a shadow over The Food Club, with its tale of three women holidaying in Italy and endeavouring to confront their romantic struggles in the process often reminiscent of the cringe-worthy trip to Abu Dhabi in the awful Sex and the City 2. That resemblance doesn't do this new Danish comedy any favours. Thankfully, The Food Club also bears a likeness to every other movie that's charted the new lease on life gained during a getaway, because most features in this category routinely prove that generic. The long list spans everything from How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Under the Tuscan Sun to Eat, Pray, Love and Made in Italy, and the feeling that if you've seen one then you've seen them all doesn't subside here. In the hands of director Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg (One-Two-Three Now!) and screenwriter Anne-Marie Olesen (Scandinavian TV series Black Widows), the combination of amorous entanglements, existential malaise and a scenic setting plays out as it usually does. It's Christmas Eve when Marie (Kirsten Olesen, Wild Witch) learns that her life is about to fall apart, after her husband Henrik (Peter Hesse Overgaard, The Legacy) tells her that he's seeing another woman. Their children and grandchildren have just gifted them a week in Italy to learn to cook the country's delicious dishes, however, and she's not willing to see that go to waste even in her anger and pain. So, when she passes on the present to her lifelong best friends Berling (Stina Ekblad, Thicker Than Water) and Vanja (Kirsten Lehfeldt, Equinox), they're thrilled — but they insist that Marie still goes with them. At first, she's barely interested in her surroundings or the food, preferring to compose text messages to Henrik instead, but the change of scenery and facing a few hard truths alters her outlook, and Berling and Vanja's as well. The Food Club is as predictable as it sounds, and it's scripted with zero surprises and plenty of time for the genre's cliches, but the film's three leading ladies do everything they can with their stock-standard parts. It's always obvious that Olesen's Marie will reassess her willingness to be at Henrik's beck and call, that Ekblad's no-nonsense Berling is hiding her self-doubts behind her overly libidinous facade, and that Lehfeldt's bereaved Vanja will learn how to move on from her loss, of course, but the three actors bring texture to their roles that isn't abundant in the straightforward script. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26; and December 3, December 10, December 17, December 26; and January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon, Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour, Happiest Season, The Prom, Sound of Metal, The Witches, The Midnight Sky, The Furnace, Wonder Woman 1984, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World and High Ground.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix, fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll, chocolate fudge and bubble tea gelato. Most recently, it made Biscoff, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Kisses varieties, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from another beloved foodstuff — in case you can't choose between tracking down and devouring some Caramilk chocolate or licking your way through a few scoops of ice cream. Yes, that very combination is now on the menu, with Caramilk Hokey Pokey-inspired gelato earning the honours as Gelatissimo's January flavour of the month. Now on sale, it starts with caramelised white chocolate gelato — which is then topped with hazelnut and peanut toffee pieces. If you're only just learning about Caramilk Hokey Pokey bars, that's because they haven't been easy to come by in Australia — but now you can try the next best thing in ice cream form. At Gelatissimo, the new gelato flavour will only be available for the month of January at all stores Australia-wide, and only while stocks last. That includes via delivered take-home packs via services such as UberEats, Deliveroo and DoorDash. Gelatissimo's Caramilk Hokey Pokey gelato is available from all stores nationwide for the month of January.
Bringing the beloved Mattel doll to cinemas in live-action for the first time, Barbie wasn't specifically made for concert screenings. But with a soundtrack filled with Oscar-winning and -nominated tunes, as well as tracks by Dua Lipa, Haim, Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, Pink Pantheress and more, it's certain to prove quite the treat when the film returns to the big screen in Melbourne with a live orchestra playing its music. Yes, Greta Gerwig's (Little Women) take on the iconic toy is returning for another movie date, this time with Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?', the Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy)-crooned 'I'm Just Ken' and more performed by the orchestra as audiences watch — all thanks to Symphonic Cinema Presents. In Melbourne, you'll be heading to Plenary Theatre at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Expect Kenergy aplenty. It's a Barbie bonanza in the city of late, given that it is also currently playing host to the Malibu Barbie Cafe's first-ever Australian appearance until the end of summer. As viewers already know from the Margot Robbie (Asteroid City)-starring flick, Barbie can be anything. Although screenings of the film can't be President, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a diplomat and a Supreme Court justice, or a mermaid, doctor, lawyer and Pulitzer-winner, they can take many guises, such as movie-and-music events like this.
There are plenty of reasons to look forward to a new month, but Lune Croissanterie's changing specials menu just might be the tastiest. Each time the calendar flips over, the cult-favourite bakery whips up a new batch of treats — such as lamington cruffins, one of its January specials; and bolognese and bechamel-filled lasagne pastries, a highlight from its June range. When July ticks over, the croissant haven's range is set to be just as tasty — especially if you like beloved desserts that have been turned into other sweet treats. Call them mashups, call them hybrids, call them the Frankenstein's monsters of baked goods: they all fit. On the July menu: Iced Vovo cruffins and tiramisu pastries. The words you're looking for? Yum and yum. They're both exactly what they sound like, with the first stuffing a cruffin with coconut custard and raspberry jam, dipping it in raspberry glaze, sprinkling coconut on top and adding another button of jam as well — and the second turning the pudding into a pastry with coffee soaked house-made savoiardi and coffee caramel, plus a ruffle of mascarpone cream and a dusting of Mork chocolate powder. Both of those dishes are available at Lune's Fitzroy store in Melbourne, as well as at its South Brisbane digs in Brisbane — and you can order them online in Brissie, too. The Sunshine State capital gets another mashup gem as well: apple crumble danishes, which are filled with jazz apple jam and whiskey crème, then finished with brown butter crumble and toffee apple glaze. The July specials list also boasts a twice-baked marble pain au chocolat, which returns after proving a hit in Melbourne last year. It'll be on offer at Fitzroy, Melbourne CBD, South Brisbane and online in Brisbane only. And, there's a vegetarian version of Lune's pepperoni pizza escargot, again in all venues. Brissie also scores Lune's carrot cake, if you're somehow still hungry. Lune's July specials menu runs from Friday, July 1–Sunday, July 31, with different specials on offer at Fitzroy and the CBD in Melbourne, and South Brisbane in Brisbane. In Brisbane only, you can also order them online.
The big names on QAGOMA's 2025 program read like an art lover's dream dinner-party list: who wouldn't want to spend time with Olafur Eliasson, Yayoi Kusama, Archie Moore and Patricia Piccinini? Brisbanites and folks visiting from out of town can do just that with their artwork, at least, whether exploring an Australian-exclusive exhibition dedicated to the Icelandic Danish artist who once built an indoor riverbed inside the Gallery of Modern Art or seeing Indigenous Aussie talent Moore's history-making Venice Biennale Golden Lion-winning kith and kin. No strangers to the River City, Kusama and Piccinini will have pieces featured in a showcase called Wonderstruck. For locals, the 2025 lineup reads like a list of reasons to make regular dates with GOMA and Queensland Art Gallery. If you're elsewhere in Australia, consider it motivation to holiday in the Sunshine State several times. The year's program has already begun, of course, thanks to The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. On display until the end of April, it boasts 500 works by 70 artists and collectives — and as each APT is when it fills QAGOMA every three years, it's a sight to behold. [caption id="attachment_992350" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Olafur Eliasson / Denmark b.1967 / Riverbed (installation view, GOMA) 2014 / Water, rock (volcanic stones [blue basalt, basalt, lava], other stones, gravel, sand), wood, steel, plastic sheeting, hose, pumps / Dimensions variable / Purchased 2021. The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust Collection: The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Charitable Trust, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © 2014 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: N Harth © QAGOMA.[/caption]From December, Eliasson will help GOMA end 2025 — and then take 2026 almost to its midpoint — with an exhibition that'll explore three decades of his career complete with rocky landscapes, Lego cities and optical puzzles. Yes, the wonderfully immersive, aforementioned Riverbed will be back. So too will The Cubic Structural Evolution Project, which is where everyone's favourite toy bricks come in, getting gallery patrons playing with it all a part of the piece. Thanks to Beauty, visitors will see a rainbow in a veil of mist as well — and via Your Psychoacoustic Light Ensemble, audio waves will become visual. [caption id="attachment_992353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Olafur Eliasson / Denmark b.1967 / Beauty 1993 / Installation view: Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy, 2022 / Spotlight, water, nozzles, wood, hose, pump / Dimensions variable / Courtesy: The artist; neugerriemschneider, Berlin; and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York/Los Angeles / © 1993 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: Ela Bialkowska, OKNOstudio.[/caption] "Olafur Eliasson's artworks suggest new ways of seeing and experiencing. His practice, spanning diverse installations and other works, invites reflection on our relationships — with ourselves, the environment, culture, and society," said QAGOMA Director Chris Saines "The exhibition will feature a range of artworks, many never before seen in Australia, and will include two new site-specific installations created especially for our expansive galleries." [caption id="attachment_950473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama. The obliteration room 2002–present. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Between APT11 and Olafur Eliasson, Wonderstruck will take over GOMA from late June–early October — and as the name makes plain, this 100-plus-artwork collection from 70-plus artists is all about awe and wonder. The full list of pieces that'll be included hasn't yet been revealed, nor has the roster of talents involved, but the wearable sculptures of HEARD from Nick Cave (the American artist, not the Australian musician) will be among them. Also, get ready to pop stickers everywhere, because so will the return of Kusama's The Obliteration Room. From late September — a month later than initially announced — Moore's kith and Kin will make its Australian debut. When the First Nations artist earned Australia the top gong at the Olympics of the art world for the first time ever, he did so with an exhibition curated by QAGOMA's Ellie Buttrose, and with a date with Brisbane locked in for this year. Gifted to the galleries permanently, the piece didn't just make history with its Venice Biennale accolade. A hand-drawn genealogical chart that spans back 65,000 years, it also chronicles it. [caption id="attachment_951573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archie Moore / kith and kin 2024 / Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024 / Photographer Andrea Rossetti / © the artist / Images courtesy of the artist and The Commercial.[/caption] Similarly on the way to South Brisbane before 2026 hits: marru | the unseen visible, which showcases works by Danie Mellor; Great and Small, heroing the role of animals in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture; and a dive into the space where devotional imagery and pop culture cross paths via The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture, with oleographs by Raja Ravi Varma at its centre, but works by Natee Utarit and Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan also featuring. Pieces by artists such as Kenneth Macqueen, Vida Lahey, William Bustard, Gwendolyn Grant, Joe Rootsey and Sidney Nolan will be a part of Under a Modern Sun: Art in Queensland 1930s–1950s. Tony Albert, Michael Cook, Brenda L Croft, Destiny Deacon, Fiona Foley, Genevieve Grieves, Tracey Moffat, Michael Riley, Darren Siwes, Leah King Smith and Christian Thompson are among the talents set to be in the spotlight via Snap Blak: Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Photography From the Collection. And Queensland's Pat Hoffie will display a range of works on paper in I have loved/I love/I will love. [caption id="attachment_992351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danie Mellor / Ngadjon-jii/Mamu peoples / Australia b.1971 / Dark star waterfall (still) 2023–24 / Digital projection / Courtesy: The artist / © Danie Mellor.[/caption] Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art 2025 Program Until Sunday, April 27, 2025 — The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art Saturday, March 15–Sunday, August 3, 2025 — Danie Mellor: marru | the unseen visible Saturday, June 21, 2025–Monday, May 3, 2027 — Great and Small Saturday, June 21, 2025 –Monday, October 5, 2026 — The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture Saturday, June 28–Monday, October 6, 2025 — Wonderstruck Saturday, August 16, 2025–Monday, January 26, 2026 — Under a Modern Sun: Art in Queensland 1930s–1950s Saturday, August 30, 2025–Sunday, September 13, 2026 — Snap Blak: Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Photography From the Collection Saturday, August 30, 2025– Sunday, February 1, 2026 — Pat Hoffie: I have loved/I love/I will love Saturday, September 27, 2025–Sunday, October 18, 2026 — Archie Moore: kith and kin Saturday, September 27, 2025–Sunday, October 18, 2026 — Inscribing a Life Saturday, October 4, 2025–Sunday, March 1, 2026 — Contraptions Saturday, December 6, 2025–Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Olafur Eliasson [caption id="attachment_992352" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Riley / Kamilaroi/Wiradjuri peoples / Australia 1960– 2004 / cloud (portfolio) (detail) 2000 / Inkjet print on banner paper / Ten sheets: various dimensions / Purchased 2002 / Collection: QAGOMA, Brisbane / © Michael Riley Estate.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_951569" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archie Moore / kith and kin 2024 / Australia Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2024 / Photographer Andrea Rossetti / © the artist / Images courtesy of the artist and The Commercial.[/caption] For more information about Queensland Art Gallery's 2025 exhibitions, plus Australian Cinémathèque's 2025 lineup — all of which will occur at Stanley Place, South Brisbane — visit the venue's website. Top image: Olafur Eliasson / Denmark b.1967 / Your psychoacoustic light ensemble (installation view, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, 2024) 2024 / Spotlight, glass lens, mirror foil, tripod, transducer, embedded computer system / Dimensions variable / Courtesy: The artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York / © 2024 Olafur Eliasson / Photograph: Pierre Le Hors.
Let's face it: plastic is a major problem. A petroleum-based, entirely man-made substance, plastic is the super-villain extraordinaire in the fight against pollution. Despite our recycling efforts, a lot of plastic tends to end up in the ocean, causing enormous wastelands such as the Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific where plastic to marine life ratios have reached 6:1. You'd think by now we'd have come up with an alternative. In 2009, Coca Cola released a sustainable plastic bottle of which a ground-breaking 30% was made with raw bio materials. Not good enough for PepsiCo, who announced yesterday the successful development of a 100% plant-based bottle. The prototype is made of switch grass, pine bark and corn husks, and the company plans to use orange peel, oat hulls and potato in future versions. The bottle retains a similar molecular structure to plastic, meaning it looks and feels the same – minus the environmental impact. It's a major step forward in the future of sustainable packaging. Pepsi plans to test the logistics of mass-producing the bottle in 2012, and if all goes well they'll make the switch. Let's hope they share the idea so the phase-out of plastic production can begin. [Via Fast Company]
If there's something Melbournians have in common, it's coffee (and cocktails). Merging the worlds of caffeine and booze, Patricia Coffee Brewers, Grada and Tarts Anon are teaming up for a one-night-only event featuring cocktails conceptualised by Grada's co-creator Darren Leaney (ex-Capitano/Aru, current Caretaker's Cottage). Patricia Coffee Brewers, known for its quaint hole-in-the-wall aesthetic, will transform into a bar for the night. A variety of cocktails – think Espresso Martini, Pina-Colada, Manhattan and Old Fashioned – will feature Grada's locally-produced single-farm coffee along with modern modifications. Don't worry: desserts make an appearance as well, thanks to Tarts Anon, who have crafted a Grada Hazelnut tart made of shortcrust pastry, hazelnut caramel, Grada crème diplomat, caramelised choux pastry, and hazelnut and Grada financier cake. Spotlighting more coffee offerings, Stella, Grada's sister company, will also make a small menu of espresso and filter coffees available at the event. This day-to-night transformation event, dubbed 'Stella By Day, Grada By Night,' promises an immersive coffee experience. Stella By Day, Grada By Night will take place at Patricia Coffee Brewers on Thursday, April 11 from 5–9pm. Tickets are priced at $25, which will get you a cocktail of your choice and a slice of tart.
When Sydney scored an expansive coastal walk spanning from Bondi to Manly, it was a huge addition to the city, particularly if you like putting one foot in front of the other while soaking in stellar waterside sights. Soon, you'll have another option, too: a new 91-kilometre shared — and continuous — pathway running from the Sydney Opera House to Parramatta. The idea was first proposed by The McKell Institute, a think tank aligned with Labor, back in 2020. The same year, it was adopted by by then-New South Wales Treasurer and now-Premier Dominic Perrottet, with $500,000 funded in the 2020-21 NSW budget to explore moving ahead. Now, current Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes have confirmed that the walkway is in the works — and yes, it's as huge as it sounds. The NSW Government will put $60 million towards the pathway, which has been dubbed the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, and will be able to be used by both pedestrians and cyclists. It'll start by the harbour and end at Parramatta Park — or vice versa, depending on which direction you're heading. In the process, it'll become one of the city's longest transport connections, spanning a whopping 18 suburbs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob Stokes MP (@robstokesmp) Some existing pathways will be included in the overall track, but others will need to be built. Indeed, part of the funds will go towards working out how to make currently inaccessible foreshore sections accessible. That new stack of cash for the Foreshore Link will be committed in the 2022-23 budget, although exactly when you'll be able to get moseying hasn't yet been revealed. Also included in that $60 million: design work, building on the initial feasibility study and prioritising works in consultation with councils. Whenever it comes to fruition, stunning views will be a big feature, naturally. "This pathway will take in some of our most spectacular sights and unlock the incredible lifestyle and accessibility opportunities the route offers for the benefit of locals and visitors," said Kean, announcing the news. "Since 1811. our city's prosperity has been propelled by road and rail connections between the settlements of Sydney and Parramatta. This new connection will allow walking and cycling trips to proliferate, making lives easier, healthier and more enjoyable for locals, commuters and visitors for centuries to come," added Stokes. For more information about the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, head to the NSW Government website.
