Wanting a little romantic indulgence? Make a bee-line straight for Onsen Hot Pools where there aren't even the words to describe how heavenly it is. Located just ten minutes from Queenstown, perched on the cliffs within a stunning mountain range, this onsen gives you a chance to soak in the breathtaking scenery while you soak in warm 38-degree waters. As you recline in the cedar pool with your choice of tipple, the retractable roof will open up to reveal cascading views across the Shotover River by day or the mesmerising star-filled sky by night. It's the epitome of relaxation. Each pool room can accommodate up to four adults, so you can share with family and friends or keep it strictly 'lovers only', just you and bae. For extra indulgence, book in for an onsite massage. We suggest the 120-minute experience which includes a massage and facial followed by herbal teas and raw-pressed refreshments in the lounge. Go on, you deserve it.
Twelve months after State of Grace served its last drinks on Collins Street, shutting up shop along with its secret cellar bar Fall From Grace, the city hot-spot has made a triumphant return. Resurrected in style — and this time sporting a new King Street address — the well-loved venue has made one hell of a comeback. Here, old-world decor meets contemporary flair with a touch of the experimental. Mirrors, marble and chandeliers abound through both the European-style restaurant at street level and the hidden drinking den tucked below. Like the original, the latter is accessed through a bookshelf, though it's swapped the soaring ceilings for an intimate den, scattered with lounges and vintage knick-knacks. From the kitchen comes a share-friendly, modern Australian offering with a European edge. It's a modern take on bistro fare, sporting dishes like Aylesbury duck breast with crispy duck leg, rhubarb and freekah ($36); gnocchi with sage and black garlic purée ($28); and scallops teamed with apple, black pudding and candied bacon ($23). An extensive selection of grazing bites is sure to prove a hit with the after-work crowds, featuring bites like freshly shucked oysters ($5 each), prawn and prosciutto croquettes ($14), and a chicken liver pâté matched with jammy orange curd and brioche ($17). Behind the bar, classic cocktails sit alongside clever signatures, like the Little Hell ($19) — a blend of gin, Campari, apple and blood orange with a hint of rosemary — a Charged Negroni ($24), with dark rum and coffee, and the Saving Grace ($19), a salted caramel-spiked espresso martini. Late last year, the newly reopened (and relocated) State of Grace added to Melbourne's burgeoning rooftop bar scene, launching its own sky-high drinking hole. With impressive views across the city, the rooftop is serving up a succinct lineup of snacks — including grilled haloumi, chicken liver pâté and cured meats — and classic and untraditional pizzas (think cheeseburger and fried chicken toppings for the latter).
For a country that's girt by sea, as our national anthem reminds us, Australia has become rather obsessed with waves of the artificial kind in the past few years. Melbourne has its own Urbnsurf surf park, Sydney is set to score one this year, and the brand is looking to set up shop in Brisbane and Perth as well — while Melbourne also boasts a theme park with a wave pool, and other different man-made spots have also been earmarked for Sydney's north and the Gold Coast. Oh, and Kelly Slater is meant to be opening a surf ranch on the Sunshine Coast, too. Indeed, "who needs real beaches?" seems to be the current line of thinking — and it's also behind Surf Lakes, a regional Queensland surf park that's been up and running for a few years, but only for testing. Now the operation has been given the go-ahead to develop its Yeppoon site by both the Queensland Government and the Livingston Shire Council, which puts it on-track to add facilities for the public. Yes, that means that within 12–18 months, it'll ideally be welcoming in anyone and everyone to live out their Point Break dreams beyond the ocean. The Capricorn Coast venue was built as a prototype facility designed to give a new kind of technology a whirl, and uses a central mechanism that sends waves from the middle of its 200-metre by 150-metre lake towards the edge. With the water lapping over eight distinctive breaks, it produces more than 2000 surfable waves per hour, including some measuring more than two metres in height. When it launched in Yeppoon, Surf Lakes also had some high-profile support, with Aussie surfers Mark Occhilupo and Barton Lynch the park's two ambassadors. But opening to the public was always floated as part of the venue's overall mission — and, depending on timing when it does open its doors to everyone, it might make it the first operational surf lake in the world. Wannabe Johnny Utahs (because we all want to be Keanu, admit it) can expect a spot that'll cater for beginners and pros alike, covering folks who've never hopped on a board before — including via learn-to-surf lessons — plus those well-experienced at hanging ten. The site is also set to include shops, places to nab food and drinks, and other outdoor and fitness activities around the lake. And, for those making the trip north for a holiday, there'll be glamping-style accommodation as well. Announcing the news, Surf Lakes International Chief Executive Officer Aaron Trevis said "our long-term aim has always been to take our wave-making technology to the world, allowing people from all walks of life to be able to experience the joys of a surfing life in a safe environment. We hope the Yeppoon site can be one of, if not the first Surf Lake open to the public." Surf Lakes is aiming to open its Yeppoon site at 662 Yeppoon Road, Mulara to the public within 12–18 months — we'll update you with further details when they're announced, and you can head to the company's website for more information in the interim.
Frozen has done it. Beauty and the Beast and Shrek, too. The Lion King is set to again in 2026. We're talking about animated movies making the leap from the screen to the stage Down Under, as another childhood favourite will before 2025 is out. With Anastasia, Russian history first inspired a 90s hit, which then became a Broadway stage production since 2017. When the musical treads the boards in Melbourne from December, it'll mark the show's Australian debut. The Victorian capital's Regent Theatre will host Anastasia's Aussie premiere, but it isn't the only venue — or city — that'll welcome the production. So far, John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia have also locked in seasons in Perth and Sydney, the former from March 2026 at Crown Theatre and the latter from April 2026 at the Lyric Theatre. At each stop, the Tony-nominated musical will unveil an all-ages-friendly tale inspired by Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov during the Russian Revolution, as the 1997 movie also charted. Accordingly, accompanied by songs such as 'Journey to the Past' and 'Once Upon a December' — both from the big-screen release — theatregoers can get ready to spend time with a young woman named Anya on her journey to discover her past, and to unearth a story that some in the narrative don't want revealed. Audiences have writer Terrence McNally and songwriting team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens to thank for Anastasia's existence as a stage musical — and between its Broadway run and its Aussie stint, Anastasia has also toured North America, and hit the stage in Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. "The legend of Anastasia has intrigued the world for many years and I've been wanting to bring this musical to Australia since it premiered on Broadway in 2017. It's a story full of mystery and romance with a magnificent score that I know Australia is going to fall in love with," said producer John Frost AM. "Opera Australia is thrilled to be once again partnering with John Frost to bring another world-class musical to Australian theatres. We expect the glorious music, spectacle and intrigue of Anastasia will captivate audiences around the country," added Opera Australia's Acting CEO Simon Militano. Anastasia Australian Dates From December 2025 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne From March 2026 — Crown Theatre, Perth From April 2026 — Lyric Theatre, Sydney Anastasia will premiere in Australia in Melbourne from December 2025, then head to Perth from March 2026, then Sydney from April 2026. Head to the musical's website for more details, and to join the waitlist for tickets. Images: Roy Beusker.
Grampians Grape Escape — one of the longest-running food and wine festivals in Australia — is always a great excuse to escape the city for the weekend. And this year, it needs you more than ever. Local businesses in the Grampians have been struggling to recover following recent bushfires, with visitor numbers taking a hit over what was an uncertain summer. Grape Escape is an excellent chance for you to show the western Victorian region some much-needed love — while, of course, sipping your way through delicious wines, feasting on sensational local produce and catching some cracking live music. More than 30 wineries are joining the party, from the well-known Mount Langi Ghiran to boutique labels like Clayfield and Black & Ginger. Plus, regional produce will be well represented by Grampians Olive Co, toasties by Tim Bones of Ballarat, Schulz Organics Dairy and loads of others. You can even get in on the action at a pickling workshop with Grampians Vinegar and The Pickle Project, or catch a cooking demonstration from MasterChef Australia alumni Justine Schofield and Dani Venn. Live music will soundtrack your drops and bites throughout all three days. Listen out for catchy original tunes from singer-songwriter Bel Kil, who grew up on a farm in the Northern Grampians, the dextrous guitar playing and powerful voice of Warrnambool's Flynn Gurry, and party-starting blues-roots rock by Smoke Stack Rhino from the Yarra Valley.
Give your Easter a lift this year with a Piccolina Gelateria Uovo di Pasqua Easter egg. While we're not so precious as to turn our noses up at standard, mass-produced milk chocolate creations, these gelato-filled treats have returned to elevate this favourite holiday tradition. Riffing on Italian-style Easter eggs, which are often elaborately decorated or filled with edible surprises or small toys, Piccolina is filling each egg with its legendary gelato. The creations offer an Aussie-inspired twist on the age-old treat, with three nostalgic flavours designed to get your tastebuds moving and shaking. So, what flavours are on offer? The Milo Egg features rich Milo gelato dotted with crunchy homemade Milo rocks and a Milo ganache centre. Coated in smooth milk chocolate and topped with a white chocolate drizzle, this creation will have you reminiscing about devouring spoonfuls of Milo straight from the tin. There's also a Rocky Road Egg, packed with milk chocolate gelato which is layered with homemade raspberry jellies, raspberry marshmallow and toasted peanuts. Featuring a milk chocolate ganache centre, coated in dark chocolate and topped with a pink chocolate drizzle, this classic confectionery has been reimagined for your Easter pleasure. Finally, Piccolina's Golden Gaytime Egg sets its sights on redefining an Australian icon. Here, honeycomb gelato is elevated with chocolate malt crumble and infused with a caramel ganache centre before being coated with caramelised white chocolate and topped with a dark chocolate drizzle. Expect this fascinating take on a cherished taste and texture to evoke more than a few childhood memories. "Easter is about nostalgia, but it's also about wonder," says Piccolina Gelateria founder, Sandra Foti. "We wanted to create something that feels familiar, but is also like nothing you've ever tasted before." Keen to get your hands on these Uovo di Pasqua before Easter arrives? Piccolina Gelateria's Easter collection is available at all locations, from Collingwood to Chadstone, for $39 each. Yet with these handcrafted delights only available for a limited time, placing an order ahead of the holiday is the best way to avoid missing out. Piccolina Gelateria's limited-edition Uovo di Pasqua Easter eggs are now available for online pre-order and in-store purchase at Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Chadstone and two Melbourne CBD locations, until sold out. Head to the Piccoliona website for more information.
Family feuds are a deadly business in Bad Sisters, Apple TV+'s latest must-see. Just don't believe the first word in its title for a second. Starring, co-written and co-developed by Sharon Horgan, as Catastrophe was before it, this ten-part streaming series focuses on the Garvey girls, a quintet of Irish siblings who became bonded by more than blood when they were orphaned years earlier. Horgan's Eva took on the matriarch role and has doted on her siblings Grace (Anne-Marie Duff, Sex Education), Ursula (Eva Birthistle, The Last Kingdom), Bibi (Sarah Greene, Normal People) and Becka (Eve Hewson, Behind Her Eyes) ever since, even now that they range from their late twenties through to their forties. Used to doing whatever they must for each other, there's nothing bad about their sisterly devotion — but it just might include killing Grace's husband. A pitch-black comedy, a murder-mystery and a family drama all in one — an Irish riff on Big Little Lies, too, although it's actually adapted from Belgian TV's Clan from back in 2012 — Bad Sisters ponders two questions. Firstly, it wonders what lengths loyal siblings would truly go to to protect one of their own. Secondly, it contemplates what comeuppance women pushed to their limits will exact upon the source of their misery. Indeed, it's a darkly funny revenge fantasy as well, and a puzzle to compulsively sleuth along with. Do the Garveys get their wish? How will they try to make their dream a reality? Will their various murder plots work? What'll go wrong next? These queries also keep coming, and unfurling the answers makes for equally riveting, entertaining, empathetic and amusing viewing. Bad Sisters begins on the day of a funeral, farewelling John Paul Williams (Claes Bang, The Northman) after Grace makes sure that his erection won't be noticed first. Her dead husband has long been nicknamed 'The Prick' anyway, with his four sisters-in-law all thoroughly unimpressed, to say the least, about the toxic way he openly treated his dutiful wife. They're all sick of the underhanded abuse he also directed towards each of them, as well as anyone he didn't like, and the unearned air of superiority that always came with it. Calling him manipulative, callous, misogynistic, racist, narcissistic, spiteful, vicious, pitiless, ruthless, flat-out intolerable — they all fit. When a guest offers condolences at JP's wake, Eva's response is: "I'm just glad the suffering's over". When she's then asked if he was ill, she replies with a blunt and loaded "no". Relief lingers during JP's sendoff, but so does tension. Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka long wanted The Prick dead and, as flashbacks show, had been planning to bring about that very end. Complicating matters: two insurance agents, aka half-brothers Thomas (Brian Gleeson, Death of a Ladies' Man) and Matthew Claffin (Daryl McCormack, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), who start nosing around as John Paul is being laid to rest. Their family-run outfit is meant to pay out on his life insurance policy, but it's a hefty amount of cash and will bankrupt the firm. And with Thomas' wife Theresa (Seána Kerslake, My Salinger Year) heavily pregnant and on bed rest, the Claffins already have their own share of family stresses. As brought to Apple TV+ by Horgan with United States of Tara, New Girl and 30 Rock's Brett Baer and Dave Finkel, Bad Sisters uses that insurance investigation to justify its jumps backwards — and it's a savvy tactic. In its weekly instalments, the series works through JP's awfulness and the Garveys' campaign of vengeance in two directions, contrasting the sisters' motivations in the months leading up to their brother-in-law's death with the aftermath. That said, exactly how Grace ends up a widow, who's responsible and which of the siblings knows what all drive the show's whodunnit angle, sharply and entertainingly so. Bad Sisters teases out the precise reasons that Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka can't stand JP, too, because The Prick's abysmal behaviour made enemies out of everyone around him over and over. Boasting a devilish setup is just one of Bad Sisters' drawcards. What a premise it is, though. The whole 'offing your arsehole brother-in-law' idea may seem obvious at the outset, but this is a series with both bite and warmth as it unpacks what happens when women don't have any other options but potentially breaking bad — and sticking together. The pervasive feeling: wish fulfilment and catharsis, as Grace's siblings attempt to make everyone's lives better, even if it requires one of the most drastic moves there is. Just as Horgan inhabits her part with fierce affection, as characters played by the This Way Up star tend to sport, the entire ten-episode run bubbles with unfailing determination. It's dedicated to seeing the horrors of coercive control and the harrowing ordeal that is life with someone like JP, but it's as devoted to maintaining hope in the Garveys' sense of sorority. Bad Sisters is also unflinching about perfecting the right balance between twisted, heartfelt, weighty, amusing, sincere and audacious — as resolute as it is about filling its frames with scenic Irish sights. The show's roster of writers and directors, which includes Dearbhla Walsh (Tales From the Loop), Rebecca Gatward (The Spanish Princess) and Josephine Bornebusch (Love Me) behind the lens, ensure four outcomes: lapping up every twist and turn; wishing you're a Garvey yourself; planning a getaway to Ireland; and feeling seen if you've ever been treated terribly by someone you love or even someone you know, be it a relative, friend, neighbour, boss, colleague or acquaintance of an acquaintance. There's no doubting the impact of Bad Sisters' on-screen talents in making it such an instantly addictive Irish delight, however. It isn't merely the central murder-mystery that lures viewers in — and the comic way the series cycles through the Garveys' schemes — but also the show's wonderful leading ladies. From Horgan through to Hewson, the eponymous sisters are exceptionally well-cast, with all five actors conveying the clan's strengths, flaws, differences, fights and camaraderie, including at an individual level and together. Duff is especially heartbreaking as the spouse who has convinced herself that her husband's exploitation and cruelty is normal, while the Bang ensures that the potently odious, easily despised JP is abhorrent on every level but never cartoonish. They're all ably supported by the charmingly bumbling Gleeson and just charmingly charming McCormack, who help reinforce that every family has its ups and downs — including when no one is contemplating homicide. Check out the trailer for Bad Sisters below: Bad Sisters streams via Apple TV+.
Before getting a glimpse into everyone else's lives was as simple as logging into your social-media platform of choice, a game arrived that let its players do something similar with computerised characters. A spinoff from SimCity and its city-building follow-ups, The Sims allows whoever is mashing buttons to create and control virtual people, then step through their existence. First hitting in February 2000, it has spawned three sequels, plus a whole heap of expansion and compilation packs for each — and online, console and mobile versions as well. A quarter of a century since its debut, The Sims still keeps dropping new releases. To mark its 25th birthday, there's now The Sims: Birthday Bundle. That's one way to celebrate the game's latest anniversary. Here's another: stepping inside a three-day Australian pop-up dedicated to the beloved life simulator, which is heading to Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image from Friday, February 21–Sunday, February 23, 2025. Despite The Sims' more-recent titles, thinking about the game usually means thinking about the 2000s. So, this pop-up is taking that truth to heart by celebrating the Y2K era, too. Going along involves entering inside a 2000s-era pre-teen bedroom that's been decked out by Josh & Matt Design with all of the appropriate touches. Yes, it'll be nostalgic. Yes, there'll be CD towers and blow-up couches, just to name a few decor choices. The pop-up will also feature free stations where you can play The Sims: Birthday Bundle, if the best way for you to commeroate the occasion is by diving into the franchise virtually. In addition, there'll also be a free panel about the game on the Saturday, with speakers including Josh & Matt Design's Josh Jessup and Matt Moss — who are big The Sims fans — and EA/Firemonkeys' Simulation Division General Manager Mavis Chan.
The idea that you can't have too much of a good thing has been part of The Office franchise ever since an American version of the UK-originated hit was initially locked in. As well 188 episodes of the US take on the workplace comedy, more iterations have followed around the world, including in Australia. An American spinoff called The Paper led by Domhnall Gleeson (Echo Valley) also arrives in September 2025. Here's another way that "the more, the merrier" applies to The Office: via the Superfan episodes. Extended scenes, bloopers, deleted moments: they're all included, alongside other bonus content — and for the first time, these lengthier instalments are available Down Under. [caption id="attachment_1018235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Haston/NBC[/caption] As at Thursday, August 21, 2025, Binge has dropped the Superfan episodes across seasons 1–8 of the US The Office, spanning 170 episodes — and an extra 28 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds material. This is the first time ever that they've not only been made available in Australia, but outside of the US. Get ready to see the beloved sitcom in an entirely new way, then, no matter how many times you've watched and rewatched it before. For everyone who has ever had a cringeworthy boss, annoying co-worker or soul-crushing office job, this comedy franchise has understood for more than two decades now. It was back in 2001 that the original UK version of The Office arrived, introducing the world to the literally paper-pushing David Brent. And, in 2005, an American series featuring the also-awkward Michael Scott hit the small screen as well. The US iteration of The Office proved one of the rare instances where a TV remake is better than the original. It was also immensely easy to just keep rewatching, as fans have known since the 2005–13 show finished its run. Of course, that's what you get when you round up Steve Carell (Mountainhead), John Krasinski (Fountain of Youth), Jenna Fischer (Mean Girls), Rainn Wilson (Home Delivery), Mindy Kaling (Velma), Ed Helms (Family Switch), Ellie Kemper (Happiness for Beginners), Craig Robinson (Hot Frosty) and more in the same show, and let all of them break out their comedic best. As for The Paper, it streams from Thursday, September 4, 2025, also on Binge, and is set at a midwestern newspaper publisher. As its predecessor was, it's a mockumentary series. The setup: the same documentary crew that turned their cameras towards Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch have found a new workplace to explore. Their time pointing their lens the Toledo Truth Teller's way coincides with Ned Sampson (Gleeson) joining the publication as editor-in-chief, with the paper's newest employee underwhelmed with the status quo and brimming with ideas about how to change things. Check out a trailer for The Office season one's Superfan episodes below: The Office Superfan episodes are available to stream in Australia from Thursday, August 21, 2025 via Binge.
When home video, the internet and mobile phones with inbuilt cameras each arrived, six words could've been uttered: get ready to look at dicks. New HBO comedy Minx is set the early 70s, so before all three, but the same phrase also applies here. It's true of the show itself, which isn't shy about displaying the male member in various shapes and sizes. It also stands tall in the world that Minx depicts. When you're making the first porn magazine for women — and, when you're making a series about it, even if it's all purely fictional — penises are inescapable. Also impossible to avoid in Minx: questions like "are erections consistent with our philosophy?", as asked by Vassar graduate and country club regular Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond, Trying). Idolising the magazine industry and unhappily working for the dispiritingly traditional Teen Queen, she has long dreamed of starting her own feminist publication — even penning a bundle of articles and making her own issues — but centrefolds splashed with male genitalia don't fit her ideal pitch. No one's buying what Joyce is selling, though; The Matriarchy Awakens, her dream mag, gets rejected repeatedly by the industry's gatekeepers. Only one is interested: Bottom Dollar Publications' Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson, Ride the Eagle), but he's in the pornography business. In Minx's premiere — which is now streaming alongside its second via Stan in Australia, with future episodes dropping in pairs weekly — Joyce and Doug are poised as opposites. When they first meet at the Southern California Magazine Pitch Festival, they contrast so forcefully in a visual sense that the show's Los Angeles-set frames may as well be screaming. She's buttoned up in a three-piece pantsuit, while he hasn't seen fit to fasten his shirt above his navel. Her gaze is steely and resolute; his couldn't be more casual. As created by Ellen Rapoport (Clifford the Big Red Dog) and executive produced by Paul Feig (Last Christmas), Minx plays up this clear and blatant contrast, and gleefully so, but little that follows is ever as easy and obvious. A streaming series about feminism, penises and 70s porn for women: that's Minx. A program about all of the above that unpacks and subverts Joyce and Doug's initial impressions: that's Minx as well. Indeed, it uses that first interaction as a spark for everything it carves into once it truly kicks into gear. Together, the pair pledge to create a feminist erotica magazine, and a savvy yet breezy workplace comedy results. The fact that nothing is ever just one thing — be it people, ideas, or everything that feminism and porn encompass — is a straightforward observation, but it's laid bare in a winning way in this quickly likeable show. Joyce is many things, in addition to being Minx's editor, driving force and sole doubter about male centrefolds. She worships Gloria Steinem, hands out The Kinsey Report to her colleagues, and is committed to giving the mag depth and intelligence — marital rape and contraception for single women rank among her ready-to-go article topics — but she's also prudish about nudity and sex toys, and incurious about her own desires. And, as the series points out, she benefits from a layer of white privilege and financial comfort that's given her the space to even fantasise about her passion project in the first place. Doug is equally multifaceted; a slacker on par with Johnson's New Girl claim to fame, he isn't. He's laidback, naturally, but he's astute about business, great at reading people, eager to make bold leaps and values having talented folks around him. Just as Joyce isn't merely a patriarchy-smashing go-getter stereotype, Doug isn't a sleazy but charming peddler of porn, either. Teamwork makes the Minx dream work, of course, and the crew assembled to get the magazine into the hands of women keeps challenging archetypes, too. Blonde and perky, Bambi (Jessica Lowe, Miracle Workers) models for Doug's other publications, has a knack for the creative side of the business and could never be dismissed as a bimbo — and sees nothing wrong with everything the term typically describes. Shelly (Lennon Parham, Veep), Joyce's sister, is more open about sex and its place in print, all while slotting into the conventional homemaker role expected of her gender. There's also Tina (Idara Victor, Shameless), Doug's whip-smart righthand woman, who rightly won't stand for being underestimated because she's Black— but isn't simply around to offer that reminder — and gay Latino photographer Richie (Oscar Montoya, Final Space), who is never a best friend-type sidekick. If Minx, the series, sounds a little like The Deuce meets Mrs America — but lighter, sweeter and funnier — that's because the comparison fits. Pick a beloved workplace sitcom, make it about feminism and porn, and Minx would slide in there, too, especially with its pitch-perfect ensemble cast. Of course, TV comedies aren't normally filled with so many phalluses, but this series knows that it can't tell a tale about embracing the female gaze if it doesn't embody the very concept. It's thoughtful about it at every turn as well; when Joyce rationalises the mag's first centrefold by flipping a real-life situation that women have endured too often, it's part of Minx's ongoing conversation on a range of essential topics. The many forms that feminism takes, how women have been conditioned to view sex, the stigma surrounding porn: they all bubble up in Minx's first five episodes (from a ten-instalment debut season). So too do sexism within advertising and in life in general, boys' club mentalities, censorship, the wowser-driven political war against anything salacious, the way that women judge each other and the power dynamics at the heart of romance. Obviously, the list of subjects that could fall into Minx's remit is lengthy — and, like its two lead characters, it sports the ambition to keep spreading its message far and wide. It's also as determined and unapologetic as Joyce, charismatic and flirty like Doug, and as layered as everyone in its frames. Minx's dicks don't talk — that's left to Pam & Tommy — but this newcomer is a full-frontal delight. Check out the trailer for Minx below. The first two episodes of Minx are available to stream via Stan, with two new episodes dropping weekly.
Candlelight dinners, walks in the park, roses and chocolate. That's the old Valentine's Day. We're in 2023, the age of doing things differently. And what date concept is more unconventionally romantic than an evening of hurling a sharp object into a wooden target? The good folks at MANIAX Axe Throwing are getting in the mood and celebrating the season of love with the offer of Valentine's Day date nights at their nationwide axe throwing venues — and you can win one for free. In addition to pelting a heavy weapon at a wall with your S.O., the prize will include the added benefits of the MANIAX date night package: a 60-minute session with a lesson from an instructor (nobody throws until they're ready), two drinks of your choice and a piping hot pizza to share. MANIAX has locations in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. So, whether you're looking for an unconventional date, have a thing for sharp weapons, or are well-versed in the world of axe throwing and simply want to show off, MANIAX has your Valentine's sorted. To earn your place in this hall of warriors, complete the form below. [competition]886696[/competition]
There are 8222 islands within Australia's watery borders. You could spend your entire life hopping from one to another and never quite make them all (well, unless you're very, very quick). So, we thought we'd save you some time and handpick ten of the best. They should at least get you started. Next time you start imagining yourself on a white-sanded beach with quokkas close by, sea lions in the distance and your desk a few hundred kilometres away, these are the spots to catch a boat/plane/ferry to. Remember: when you leave the mainland, you leave all your worries there, too. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've put together a list of some of our favourite island escapes — no passport or immense jet lag required. [caption id="attachment_688571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Ewart/Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND, QLD Located 25 minutes by ferry off the Queensland coast, Stradbroke Island is an easy day trip from Brisbane. It's the second biggest sand island in the world after Fraser Island (more on that later). For swimming in gentle waves, head to idyllic Cylinder Beach; for wilder surf, make your destination 38-kilometre-long Main Beach. Overnight stays include beach camping, as well as an array of cottages, hotels and B&Bs. Just north of Straddie is Moreton Island, a wonderland of long beaches, clear lakes and a national park. And, consider sleeping over at Tangalooma, an eco-friendly resort where you can hand-feed wild dolphins and swim around a shipwreck. [caption id="attachment_688550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trevor King/Destination NSW[/caption] LORD HOWE ISLAND, NSW Just 11 kilometres long and two kilometres wide, Lord Howe, a two-hour flight east of Sydney, is explorable within a few days. Whenever you travel, you won't have to fear tourist crowds: only 400 visitors are permitted at any one time and the population was just 382 at last count back in 2016. Prepare to have pretty beaches, spectacular diving sites and rugged terrain all to yourself. Among the best adventures are the Mount Gower Trail, a steep, eight-hour trek that carries you 875 metres above sea level, and Erscott's Hole, a natural wonder where you can snorkel among staghorn coral, bluefish and double-headed wrasse. [caption id="attachment_688568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Khy Orchard/Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] MAGNETIC ISLAND, QLD There are hundreds of islands in the Great Barrier Reef area, offering everything from secluded campsites to five-star luxury resorts. But, for convenience, outdoor adventures and, most importantly, koala spotting, Magnetic Island is hard to go past. You'll find it just 20 minutes from Townsville. Get active with sea kayaking tours and yoga classes, get artsy at beachside markets and galleries or relax at stunning beaches like Horseshoe Bay. If you're keen to venture further, jump aboard a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling, diving or sightseeing tour. [caption id="attachment_688400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Isaac Forman/SA Tourism Commission[/caption] KANGAROO ISLAND, SA With a whopping 509 kilometres of coastline, Kangaroo Island could have you exploring for weeks. The island was pretty badly affected by bushfires back in 2020, but this guide will help you navigate — including which businesses to support. To get there, take a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, around 100 kilometres south of Adelaide. Then gear up to share your holiday with sea lions, fur seals, little penguins, echidnas, koalas and, you guessed it, kangaroos. The island is a haven for creatures who've struggled to survive elsewhere, especially Australian sea lions, who were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are numerous national parks and conservation areas, and the over 4000-strong population is big on food and wine. ROTTNEST ISLAND, WA This island is a 90-minute ferry ride from Barrack Street Jetty, Perth, or 25 minutes from Fremantle. Like Kangaroo Island, Rottnest has given a big dose of much-needed love to our wild creatures, particularly quokkas, which now number 12,000 or so. Dedicate some time to spotting them (though please don't go touching, patting or feeding), before visiting pristine beaches — such as The Basin, where you'll find an underwater playground, and Little Parakeet Bay, backdropped by striking rock formations. [caption id="attachment_724590" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC Phillip Island's biggest drawcard is its penguin parade. Every night, at sunset, the island's resident little penguins return to their terrestrial homes, having spent the day out and about fishing. Beyond wildlife watching, go wine and craft beer tasting, bliss out with a massage or spa treatment, or conquer a trail on foot — such as the Cape Woolamai Walk, which traverses dramatic clifftops along Phillip's southernmost point. Find suggestions on where to eat, drink and stay in our guide. Unlike all the other islands on this list, you can reach this one by road: it's around 90 minutes south of Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_770035" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] BRUNY ISLAND, TAS Bruny feels completely remote, yet it's just a 20-minute ferry ride from the coast and, with driving time added, 50 minutes from Hobart. The beauty of this proximity to the city is that, despite all the wilderness, you can find some top nosh: for fish and chips head to Jetty Cafe; for pub grub swing by Hotel Bruny; for cheese visit Bruny Island Cheese Company; and for a tipple, there's the Bruny Island House of Whisky. Meanwhile, nature lovers will find white wallabies at Inala Nature Reserve, windswept headlands at Cape Bruny Lighthouse and head-clearing watery views at Cloudy Bay. [caption id="attachment_688565" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matt Raimondo/Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] K'GARI (FRASER ISLAND), QLD World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island) is the biggest sand island in the world. There are 184,000 hectares of the stuff, comprising of 72 different colours and mostly in the form of magnificent dunes, many of which are covered in rainforest. If you've time on your hands, take on the Great Walk, an eight-day epic that visits many of Fraser's 100 freshwater lakes. If not, jump aboard a 4WD and cruise along 75 Mile Beach, take a dip at Champagne Pools along the way and pay a visit to awe-inspiring Boorangoora(Lake McKenzie), a perched lake made up of rainwater and soft silica sand. [caption id="attachment_688583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Wilson/Tourism Tasmania[/caption] KING ISLAND, TASMANIA You might have no idea where this island is, but you've no doubt seen its cheese at your local supermarket. King Island Dairy's decadent triple cream brie is an Aussie gourmet staple. But it's far from the only treat you'll be sampling in this lush place, which lies in the Bass Strait, halfway between Victoria and Tassie. Count, too, on super-fresh seafood, flavourful beef and a cornucopia of produce from local growers. When you're finished feasting, stroll along the white sands of Disappointment Bay, visit a 7000-year-old calcified forest and go horse riding by the sea. [caption id="attachment_688591" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Coral Coast Tourism[/caption] ABROLHOS ISLANDS, WA The Houtman Abrolhos isn't just an island, it's an archipelago. There are 122 isles that make up the marvel, more or less clustered in three groups, across 100 kilometres. They lie around 60 kilometres off the Coral Coast, west of Geraldton, which is four hours' drive north of Perth. Lose yourself snorkelling or diving among colourful coral, spotting Australian sea lions and looking out for more than 90 species of seabirds, including majestic white-breasted sea eagles. For mind-blowing views, jump aboard a scenic flight. Top image: Lord Howe Island, tom-archer.com via Destination NSW
In October 2023, Karen Martini's restaurant Hero suddenly closed its doors to the public. It was a shock for the industry. But the author and celebrity chef wasn't gone for long. She soon became Culinary Director of Johnny's Green Room, and then took charge of all things food at Saint George gastropub in St Kilda. The transformed venue (formerly The Saint Hotel) now includes two distinct drinking and dining spaces: The Tavern and The Grill. The Tavern is home to some classic gastropub eats like a fried fish burger and veal cotoletta, plus a few fun and more interesting dishes like the potato cake topped with whipped cod roe. But it's within The Grill where Martini is really showcasing her signature contemporary Italian culinary stylings. For one, it is where she is bringing back her much-loved bistecca alla Fiorentina (from when she worked at Melbourne Wine Room). A slew of antipasti dishes and handmade pasta also feature in this more refined part of St Kilda's Saint George. The drinks menu includes a quirky wine list, along with plenty of Italian-inspired cocktails and some local beers. The backdrop to the food and drink lineup is the newly designed Saint George. Chris Connell Designs has kept things simple, restoring the exposed brickwork, while placing simple black tables throughout the two spaces and injecting a bit of colour with pleasing earthy hues. A few wall-sized David Band artworks from Martini's personal art collection have also been recreated for the pub, adding to its sleek and contemporary feel. Martini is leaving her stamp all over the Saint George gastropub in St Kilda, and we are all for it. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen.
After four years off the scene, The Espy — St Kilda's legendary waterside music pub — flung open its doors in November 2018. But, rather than giving us everything at once, new owners Sand Hill Road opened it in stages. Which is fair, considering the sprawling establishment has 12 bars, two restaurants and three live music stages spread across six levels. The first eatery to open was the 450-seater Espy Kitchen, which is serving up pub classics and share plates, overseen by Executive Chef Ash Hicks (Circa, Garden State). Next, Cantonese Restaurant Mya Tiger and its accompanying cocktail bar joined the action. Located on The Espy's fifth floor, this warm, welcoming space has dazzling vistas of Port Phillip Bay. The design — a collaboration between Sand Hill Road, Techne Architects and stylist Eleisha Gray — takes inspiration from two sources: St Kilda's 1850s Chinese cook-shops and the airy colonial architecture of Singapore's Raffles Hotel. Think plush gold and green velvet, lots of tassels, dark timbers and old-school fans. Expansive windows make the most of the watery views and, in warm weather, coastal breezes. Hicks put together the menu with Head Chef Sarah Chan (Longrain and Lotus Dining). At its heart is traditional Cantonese cooking, designed for sharing. Start out with sesame prawn toast and ginger chicken dumplings, then move onto roast duck and crispy pork belly, with a generous side of veggies, such as honey caramel eggplant or fried green beans with chilli and cashews. It's also a bit hard to go past the super-fresh seafood, be it XO pipis or typhoon king prawns. On the dessert menu you'll find mango coconut pudding, red bean pancake and an ice cream sandwich. These sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours are well matched with the wine list, put together by sommelier Matt Skinner. It's big on fragrant whites and light reds, with a particular focus on riesling and pinot noir made by local producers. Following suit is the cocktail list, created by bar manager Kevin Peters in collaboration with Chan. On a summery evening, try the Beijing Peach, a heady concoction of Jasmine-infused vodka, lime and peach. Or, if you're in the mood for a harder hitter, there's the Chinese 5 Spice Highball, infused Havana Especial, Pepsi and citrus. Or help yourself to a craft brew from the self-serve beer fridge. Images: Simon Shiff.
Located in a mid-century warehouse in Abbotsford, 2 Mayfield Street is a community space for creatives that offers up classes, gallery spaces and a place for everyone to feel welcome. The space is bright and airy, with a large ceramics studio and woodworking facility, and is often full of great tunes. The pottery offering involves a wheel-throwing course designed for beginners and intermediates. Over six weeks, learn all the wheel skills, from designing to throwing to turning, trimming and glazing. By the end of the course, you'll be experimenting with decorating techniques such as underglaze colours, stoneware glazing and tissue transfers. There are also opportunities to try the wheel as a one-off experience and see if it's right for you, as well as painting a piece that its very own Mayfield Makers created. Alternatively, try the Clay Soirée, where you experience both the wheel and the painting with a group of mates. There are children's classes, too, which are particularly helpful during the school holidays and corporate events for team building. The Mayfield Gallery holds six projects annually, incorporating a performance element within an art exhibition. 2 Mayfield Street isn't your average pottery studio in Melbourne — the team here is constantly evolving the space's offerings and has created a really laidback and open space for people of varying skill levels.
UPDATE, Wednesday, October 9: Cheri's opening has been delayed and is now set to open its doors on Wednesday, October 30. Darling Group is best known for opening and acquiring some of Melbourne's top cafes (Higher Ground, Top Paddock, The Terrace, Kettle Black), while recently branching out into the restaurant scene (Token and Stringers). Like many of the larger hospitality groups in Melbourne, the Darling Group continues to expand (even if the industry is struggling right now), preparing to open Cheri — a new all-day eatery located right across from South Melbourne Market — on Wednesday, October 9. Cheri has taken over neighbouring sites Bibelot and Chez Dre, transforming them into one huge 150-seat venue that will be open from 7am–5pm every day of the week. Darling Group's Executive Pastry Chef Michael Germanos is making sure Cheri will be home to incredible pastries, cakes and bread, made on-site every morning to be exclusively sold here and across all of Darling Group's other venues. Expect an expansive collection of sweet and savoury croissants, classic eclairs, small and large tarts and cakes, sourdough loaves, baguettes, piadinas and focaccia sandwiches. It's giving full bakery energy throughout the morning, while also serving up an all-day dining menu that covers most of your breakfast and lunch bases. Brekkie bites will include polenta porridge with confit spiced dates, mandarin, creme fraiche, cinnamon and pistachios; croissant loaf french toast with maple syrup and cultured butter; eggs benedict served on a croissant wheel; and a lamb merguez fry-up with poached eggs, za'atar yogurt, preserved lemon, mint and pita bread. This is a stacked morning menu that reads like those at Melbourne's best breakfast spots. For lunch, you've got ricotta gnocchi with pancetta, broad bean leaf verde, spring peas, stracciatella and green onion oil; chicken cotoletta with sprouting broccoli leaves, asparagus and cafe de Paris sauce; and seven different pizzas made with 72-hour fermented dough. Pair this all with some signature cocktails — you can never go wrong with a cheeky bloody mary — teas, shakes, sodas, and a decadent Cheri hot chocolate that's made with milk chocolate, whipped cream and crema di pistachio. You can drop by this spot for a quick takeaway pastry and coffee, or choose to sit in the main dining room or 50-person courtyard — when the sun is shining. We have high expectations for Cheri, not only because Darling Group has proven it knows how to cafe, but because this food menu sounds like an absolute banger. [caption id="attachment_974006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darling Group Director Nick Seoud, Executive Chef Ashley Hicks and Creative Director Chris Seoud.[/caption] Cheri — located at 285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne — is slated to open on Wednesday, October 9, and will be open from 7am–5pm daily. For more information, check out the venue's website. Images: Julian Lallo.
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.
If you're looking for a relaxed bar promising rooftop views of the surrounding city and plenty of whisky cocktails and food until 3am, look no further than Hats and Tatts in Melbourne's CBD. This dive bar relocated from its South Melbourne digs to its new two-level spot in the heart of the city, offering up good tunes, great drinks and American comfort food in the realm of hand-held classics like burgers, fried chicken and more. If you're in a particularly playful mood, Hats and Tatts also has a collection of retro arcade games including an Addam's Family pinball, and a billiards table so you can flex your hand-eye coordination as you keep the good times rolling. There's also a Selfie Mirror bathroom if you're feeling the desire to show off your Insta-best (although after the aforementioned whisky cocktails, sometimes we find it's better to resist the urge).
While the Great Ocean Road has long been a favourite destination for Victoria's beach-bound visitors, a journey around the other side of Port Phillip Bay harbours just as much gold for adventurous weekenders. Just a few clicks beyond the outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston lies the Mornington Peninsula, with its diverse mix of sandy shoreline, vineyard-dotted hills and picturesque national parkland. Thanks to its reputable wine industry and burgeoning food scene, the area has become much more than just a summer destination, luring city dwellers year-round to feast on its many varied offerings. Together with our Victorian road trip partner RACV, we've put together a guide to a perfect weekend on the eastern side of the bay. And don't forget — if you're planning on having a drink, make sure there's a designated driver to keep you safe on your travels. STAY Sitting pretty in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula's wine region is the stunning Jackalope. Set on a picture-perfect vineyard, this 45-key luxury hotel has been one of Victoria's most sought-after stays since opening in 2017 thanks to its rooms that feature private terraces, king-sized beds, rain showers and the option of deep-soak Japanese baths. If you do leave your room, you'll find a 30-metre infinity pool overlooking the property's 28-acre vineyard and immersive culinary experiences that include a two fine-dining restaurants, a winery, cellar door and sleek cocktail bar. Its location in the middle of the Peninsula also means that the region's beaches, golf courses, hiking trails and wineries are all within easy reach. [caption id="attachment_580662" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sandpiper at Blue Moon Cottages[/caption] If the beach is calling, you can opt for a seaside stay, putting down anchor at the likes of Rye's Blue Moon Cottages. Just a 250-metre stroll from the sand, this luxury accommodation features an assortment of quaint cottages, though couples will especially love the Sandpiper. With its log cabin styling, crackling wood fire and spa bath, this self-contained, one-bedroom beauty is dressed to impress. [caption id="attachment_580670" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Foxeys Hangout, Liza-Jane Snowden via Instagram[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Journey along the winding, woodland roads of Red Hill and Balnarring, and you'll find yourself in a paradise for both wine lovers and foodies alike, with enough cellar doors, wineries, farm gates and restaurants to fill your weekends for the next year. But you've got to start exploring somewhere, right? A visit to Quealy's informal cellar door at its Balnarring vineyard will get things off to a good comfortable start, with the winemakers more than happy to team your tasting with a healthy side of knowledge. Pick their brains and learn a thing or two about the local grape scene, while you sample the winery's own Italian-influenced stable of wines. This one's a must-visit for any pinot grigio fan, as winemaker Kathleen Quealy's been pioneering the variety since the '90s. Armed with the lowdown, make the short drive west to Red Hill's Foxeys Hangout, where you can team some more wine tasting with one of the winery's famously fresh, flavour-packed lunches. Here, you'll sample some of the cold-climate expressions that Michael and Tony Lee craft so well, including pinot noir, pinot gris and chardonnay, as well as a select range of the boys' sparkling wines. And since these guys are big believers that wine is made to be enjoyed alongside food, there's no chance of leaving hungry. Lunch at the cellar door involves a parade of seasonal small plates, designed to perfectly complement the wines you've been sipping. Opt for the changing chef's menu and you'll get yourself a taste of the very best in seasonal local produce. [caption id="attachment_580673" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Polperro[/caption] Just around the corner, the folks at Polperro are equally big champions of that intuitive relationship between vineyard and kitchen. Here, they're plating up a menu that's nothing short of stunning, with huge respect for seasonality, local produce and technique. Grab a seat in the designer dining space and indulge in dapper dishes — the current menu features the likes of gazpacho andalouse with crayfish, kale and cashew cheese martabak and tea-smoked Aylesbury duck breast. Cap off your long lunch with a tasting at the cellar door, where you'll get to sample the best this single vineyard label has to offer. [caption id="attachment_580675" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Merchant & Maker[/caption] The Peninsula's coastal stretch holds even more in the way of gastronomic delights, with beachside cafés and eateries aplenty. McCrae's Merchant & Maker is a spot for indulging all sorts of foodie cravings. The cheery beachfront café and bar turns out top-notch specialty coffee from Mornington's own Commonfolk, alongside tempting brunches and home-style lunch and dinner dishes. Here, you can start your day with an espresso and a medley of sautéed mushrooms with an umami sauce, ponzu gel, goat's cheese, kale and a poached egg, or finish it with a delightful nasi lemak bowl, teamed with a local boutique wine. Over in Dromana, you'll find another burst of freshness at Pier Street Kitchen. This buzzing eatery serves up a produce-driven menu of Middle Eastern-accented comfort food that's sure to impress. Tuck into the kitchen's signature shakshouka, unwind with a drop from the regional wine list, and grab a few of the tasty take-home meals for later. [caption id="attachment_580678" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Peninsula Hot Springs[/caption] DO If, for you, no weekend getaway is complete without a spot of pampering, then you've really come to the right place. The award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs is Victoria's first natural hot springs and spa centre, and it's sure to go down a real treat after a long day cruising the cellar doors. You'll be spoilt for choice with a huge array of bathing experiences and spa treatments to indulge in, from a traditional Turkish steam bath to icy-cold plunge pools and ancient healing stone experiences. But however you choose to luxe out, be sure to cap it off with a visit to the hilltop pool, where you can soak away all your troubles while enjoying 360-degree views across the Peninsula. [caption id="attachment_580704" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bridgewater Bay[/caption] After something a touch more energetic to balance out all the wine quaffing and culinary indulgences of your weekend? The Peninsula also boasts over 30 bike tracks and countless more walking trails, from captivating coastal paths, to rugged bushland tracks. At its very tip, you'll find Point Nepean National Park – 560 hectares of prime walking, cycling and exploring territory. Don some sturdy shoes and take in as much of it as you like, from the old quarantine station to the Pearce Barracks site and the Harold Holt memorial located at the park's highest point. Of course, you're surrounded by water, so a swim is always on the cards. Jump off the rocks into the calm bay waters at Mouth Martha, throw yourself into the washing machine that is Portsea Back Beach (seriously, this is only for surfers and strong swimmers) or take your umbrella and make a day of it in the rockpools at Bridgewater Bay in Blairgowrie. [caption id="attachment_580698" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Fernando de Sousa via Flickr[/caption] LET'S DO THIS: GIVE ME THE DETAILS The Mornington Peninsula is about a one hour drive from Melbourne along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. It starts at Mount Eliza and, surrounded by Port Phillip Bay, Bass Straight and Western Port, encompasses the towns of Dromana, Portsea, Flinders, Fingal and Hastings, among others. Road tripping this summer? Make sure you're covered with RACV. Top image: Polperro.
Summer in Australia must've treated Kesha well at the beginning of 2025, because she's repeating the trip in 2026. Last January, the pop star ventured Down Under for two gigs, playing a House of Kesha show in Sydney and also the Australian Open's music lineup. In February 2026, she's taking to the stage at a series of headline concerts around the country, including in Melbourne. The two-time Grammy-nominee is bringing The Tits Out tour this way, with her Australian gigs part of the biggest headline run of Kesha's career so far — which kicked off in July 2025 in the US and also has European shows locked in for March 2026. [caption id="attachment_1015395" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ryan Bakerink/FilmMagic[/caption] With ten top-ten singles across her career so far, plus six albums under her belt — 2023's Gag Order and 2025's Period among them — Kesha has no shortage of tunes to draw upon live. 'JOYRIDE', 'TiK ToK', 'Only Love Can Save Us Now', 'Your Love Is My Drug', 'Take It Off' and 'We R Who We R' are among the tracks on her current setlist. In the Victorian capital, she's playing Margaret Court Arena on Sunday, February 22. [caption id="attachment_975223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brendan Walter[/caption]
When Flash Camp brought pop-up glamping to Stradbroke Island in 2016, southeast Queenslanders took note. Among them were the folks at Straddie Camping, who've now set up a permanent glamping retreat at the north island's Adder Rock, bringing luxury beachside camping to this idyllic patch of land all year round. Launching just as the weather heads into prime glamp-friendly territory, and just in time for whale migration season, Straddie Camping's Adder Rock setup features a mini-village of ten tents by the beachfront. Blending the novelty of sleeping under the stars with the comforts of home, each comes equipped with cotton sheets, fresh towels, two bamboo chairs and power. Visitors also have access to the camping ground's communal kitchen, barbecue and picnic facilities. And, in addition to the sound of lapping waves, views aplenty and shelter from native tea tree and pandanus forests, the site is also within close proximity to the more touristy part of the island. That means that following up your beachside bliss with a wander up to Point Lookout's shops, restaurant and all-important pub is on the agenda. For those keen to head to every Brisbanite's favourite island for a leisurely stay by the sea, tents are available for the very affordable rate of $99 per night for two people. Getting in quick is recommended, with the retreat certain to prove popular as Queensland's seemingly endless summer sets in. For more information about Straddie Camping, visit their website.
These days, Easter promises a whole lot more than just generic choccy eggs and plain hot cross buns. Bakeries, chocolate brands, gelaterias and dessert shops across the city are getting more inventive with each passing year, whipping up all sorts of creative treats worthy of a spot on your own personal Easter hunt. Here, we've rounded up some of the coolest grown-up goodies to seek out, from hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches to Easter-themed high tea experiences. Dig in. Recommended reads: The Best High Teas in Melbourne The Best Bakeries in Melbourne Where to Find the Best Ice Cream and Gelato in Melbourne Hot Cross Cinnamon Scrolls, Hot Cross-ants and Hot Cross Buns at Penny for Pound The last few years have seen Penny for Pound become a hub of activity, as hot cross bun fanatics arrive in droves to stock up on their highly rated goods. Expect the same again this year, as the bakery returns with two premium flavours: a dressed-up classic offering earl-grey soaked raisins, currants and sultanas, and a triple-chocolate bun that packs decadent dark chocolate chunks into every bite. However, Penny for Pound is stepping things up in 2025 with the release of two never-before-seen creations – the hot cross-ant ($8.50) and the hot cross cinnamon scroll ($7.50). The first sees a flaky croissant meet classic hot cross bun flavours with a citrus finish. The latter fuses fluffy dough with spiced brown sugar, cinnamon and plump sultanas before being topped with vanilla sour cream and a cinnamon cross. Find them in-store or pre-order a six-pack of buns for $24. Scotch Cross Bun at KOI Dessert Bar Let the expert sweet-makers at KOI Dessert Bar level up your Easter feast with their Scotch Cross Bun. Made in collaboration with Benriach Distillery – the acclaimed maker of Speyside single malt scotch whisky – these boozy buns blend traditional flavours and aromas with contemporary cake design to create a luxe treat bound to impress the fam. Here, rich vanilla mousse has been infused with autumnal spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, then spiked with currants soaked in Benriach's The Original Ten whisky. Ready to buy? The Scotch Cross Bun is available for $22 at KOI Dessert Bar Melbourne for dine-in or takeaway. Every purchase also comes with a free 50ml bottle of Benriach's finest. Fruit Hot Cross Cruffins and Chocolate Hot Cross Cruffins at Lune Croissantrie First, Lune perfected croissants, so much so that the Australian bakery chain became renowned for its flaky pastries all around the world. Then came cruffins, aka croissant-muffin hybrids. For Easter, the obvious next step was hot cross cruffins, for when you want a hot cross bun, but you're also hankering for a croissant and a muffin. Lune's hot cross cruffins have been popping up annually for years, but 2025's batch is different. This time, they're made using the acclaimed bakery's signature croissant dough. You can also pick between two varieties this year: the OG and chocolate, both for $10.50 each. Can't decide which one? You can get mixed six-packs featuring both for $63. Gelato-Stuffed Easter Eggs at Piccolina Gelateria This Easter, Piccolina Gelateria is marking the occasion with a new line of limited-edition Uovo di Pasqua Easter eggs — because gelato-filled Easter eggs have well and truly become a thing in Melbourne. Available now in-store and online, you'll find three varieties, each hand-crafted, hand-wrapped and presented in a beautiful Piccolina box. Choose from the Milo Egg, featuring a malted chocolate gelato layered with homemade Milo crumb and a soft milk chocolate ganache centre; the Rocky Road, layered with homemade raspberry jellies, raspberry marshmallow and toasted peanuts; and the Golden Gaytime, featuring honeycomb gelato, chocolate malt crumble and caramel ganache. Available at all Piccolina locations for a limited time, these massive creations cost $39 each. Hot Cross Buns at Morning Market If you're looking for something a little fancy this Easter, Andrew McConnell's European-style pantry and provisions outfit, Morning Market, is serving up freshly baked hot cross buns for the very first time. Elevating the traditional recipe, these hot cross buns feature anise-flavoured pastis, brandy, cardamon and allspice, while top-quality dried prunes and apricots are added to the mix. Baked fresh until Saturday, April 19, Morning Market's hot cross buns are available for pre-order and purchase at $4.50 each or $26 for a pack of six. Whether you're nearest to the Fitzroy or Prahran store, trust these Easter treats to give your holiday a lift. Hot Cross Doughnuts, Single-Origin Eggs, Praline Treats and Chocolate Gelato at Pidapipo Most Melbourne eateries that create specials for Easter tend to make one show-stopping treat. But the crew at Pidapipo Laboratorio are given the freedom and resources to dream up all kinds of delicious things year-round. For Easter, Pidapipo has invented the hot cross doughnut ($15) – where hot cross bun dough is fried, then served hot with a scoop of fior di latte gelato and a drizzle of spiced salted caramel sauce. Meanwhile, the team has used its single-origin Dominican Republic cacao to produce bags of mini eggs ($39) and larger options with a surprise inside — wrapped mini chocolate eggs and a cute Pidapipo pin ($32). You can also opt for a wonderfully designed tin, filled with assorted medium eggs and their bestselling praline-filled chocolate ($29). Finally, Pidapipo is celebrating Easter with a trio of indulgent chocolate-focused gelato cones for $10 each. Choose from: peppermint chocolate gelato with white chocolate fudge and dark chocolate shards; white chocolate bacio gelato with Nutella swirl and hazelnut merengue; and malted milk chocolate gelato with caramel swirl, dipped in milk chocolate. All sweets are available at every Pidapipo location, except the hot cross doughnut, which is a Fitzroy Laboratorio exclusive. Hot Cross Bun Cake at Le Yeahllow Le Yeahllow is known for creating some of the most incredible cakes in Melbourne — leaning into the "is it actually cake?" territory. And the crew's Easter special is quintessential Le Yeahllow. The Hot Cross Cake (above) looks like a single or six-pack of hot cross buns, but is in fact a dense and extravagant cake. Slice into this bad boy to find layers of whipped ganache, a chocolate cremeux, chocolate and a hot cross sponge. Punters can either buy a single hot cross bun cake, or packs of six for $85 or nine for $119. Hot Cross Buns at Baker Bleu Baker Bleu, one of the best bakeries in Melbourne, is keeping things simple with its Easter treats this year — because you don't always have to go over the top. The focus is all on the sacred hot cross bun, with two tantalising options set to make your long weekend extra special. The more traditional option features raisin, cinnamon, fresh orange pulp and ginger, perfect for slathering with far too much butter. For something a little more adventurous, they've also got sour cherry and dark chocolate. Available in limited numbers, pre-order a six-pack online for $30. Easter High Tea at Pan Pacific Down at Melbourne's South Wharf, Pan Pacific is serving up its annual special Easter High Tea, which you can book here. The three-tiered spread will include a heap of savoury and sweet options, many with Easter-themed flavours and decorations. Think spiced orange and chocolate chip scones; a frangipane bunny; Easter vol au vent with mushrooms, caramelised onions and three cheeses; and a colourful Cointreau Easter egg. Sessions run daily until Sunday, April 20, with prices starting from $90.
If clothes make the man, the beard defines the attitude. Whether it's a sharp stubble, a neat fade or a bold statement moustache, the right grooming routine can elevate your whole look. That's where the Philips OneBlade 360 comes in. This all-in-one tool is built to trim, edge and shave any length of hair with precision and ease, thanks to a flexible 360-degree blade that follows the contours of your face, a five-in-one adjustable comb and a fast-moving cutter that can deal with hair of any length. To show what it can do, we've teamed up with Joe Kurdyla from Melbourne barbershop Kings Domain to walk us through four trending facial hair styles that you can nail at home with the Philips OneBlade 360. Short stubble Effortless and universally flattering, a tidy five o'clock shadow is an easy way to look put-together without appearing as though you've tried too hard. Keep it sharp by using the adjustable guard to maintain your preferred length, and let the 360-degree blade do the heavy lifting. Neat beard A short-to-medium beard with faded sides and defined edges is a low-maintenance way to enhance your face shape and jawline while still looking professional. No fuzz, no fuss. The OneBlade's precision trimmer lets you clean up the neckline and cheeks in seconds, keeping things fresh between barber visits. Full beard Bold, rugged and full of character, a full-length beard is a surefire way to make a statement. Use the OneBlade to shape and edge around the beard, especially around the cheeks and neckline, so it stays strong rather than scruffy. Retro moustache Throwback alert: whether you're going for the retro Tom Selleck look or prefer a neater, cleaner look (think: Nathan Cleary), the OneBlade's dual-sided blade helps you define edges with total control. Ditch the guard, tidy the stubble around your mo and let the whiskers take centre stage. For more information on the Philips OneBlade 360, head to the brand's website.
Long before Sculpture by the Sea, SWELL Sculpture Festival and the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, there was the Mildura Sculpture Triennial. It was Australia's first-ever event for large-scale contemporary sculptures — and, in the 1960s and '70s, drew thousands of artists, students and travellers to Mildura, a town on the edge of the outback, 600 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Inspired by open skies, endless plains and the mighty Murray River, these artists pushed the boundaries of sculpture as we then knew it, delving into earth art, performance, site-specific works and ephemeral installations. Today, the Biennale's legacy lives on in Mildura's art scene — through galleries, public art and big events. In April 2025, English-Australian artist Bruce Munro arrived with Trail of Lights. To experience this legacy for ourselves, we escaped to Mildura for a few days. Along the way, we long lunched on the river, cruised on a 19th century paddle steamer, wandered around pretty satellite villages, stayed at a California-inspired hotel, and ate more than our fair share of juicy oranges — Mildura is famous for growing them. [caption id="attachment_1016549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Feasting on Arts, Culture and History Our adventures began on the Murray, which runs through Mildura. Just downstream, it meets the Darling, forming the fourth biggest river system in the world. So, it makes sense that Munro — who loves significant sites from Uluru to Salisbury Cathedral — would choose Mildura for one of his monumental works. We crossed the river at sunset onto Lock Island. As the sky darkened, thousands upon thousands of tiny lights started to flicker among the grass and rocks and trees — each gradually dimming, then brightening, like fireflies. A web of pathways let us walk beside them, while the weir gushed eerily in the distance, then through them, where they seemed to continue beyond the horizon into infinity. Unlike other, more sensational light spectacles, Trail of Lights was a dreamy, meditative experience — made all the more powerful by having the island more or less to ourselves. "People react in all kinds of different ways; some people have told me it made them cry," a hotel owner later told us. Soon, Munro will bring a second work – Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra – to the nearby ancient Perry Sandhills. [caption id="attachment_1019599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Mildura Arts Centre Facebook[/caption] Lock Island is ten minutes' walk from Mildura Arts Centre, where the Sculpture Park lets you travel back in time to the Triennial. Highlights include Ron Robertson-Swann's Beethoven, Simon Hopkinson and Gary Willis's Work–Art, and John Robinson's Mortality. While you're there, wander through Rio Vista, a 19th century mansion built by WB Chaffey and his wife, Heather. Chaffey and his brother, George, were Canadian engineers who brought irrigation to Mildura, so we have them to thank for most of Australia's supply of grapes and oranges. Other spots to get your art fix in and around town include NAP Contemporary, the Mural Walking Trail, and, for silo art, the nearby rural localities of Werrimull and Walpeup. [caption id="attachment_1019908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Discover Mildura[/caption] The Great Outdoors – from the Murray River to Mungo National Park For artists – or for anyone, for that matter – it's impossible to ignore Mildura's extraordinary landscapes. Our explorations started on the Murray River, with a cruise on the paddle steamer P.V. Rothbury. Built in the 1880s, she used to tow wool barges, but now she's dedicated to taking visitors on two-hour trips downstream, where Mildura's township gives way to gumtrees and birdsong. Another way to get to know the river is on foot, following one of many waterfront trails, such as the 3.5-kilometre stroll from the CBD to the Arts Centre or the 4.9-kilometre track to Lock 11. [caption id="attachment_1021367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Keen to go further afield? Consider a day trip to Mungo National Park — where Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were found — with Discover Mildura. In the company of a family that's lived locally for generations, you'll travel through the awe-inspiring plains to Mildura's northwest, be treated to homemade morning tea (pray for the banana bread!), walk among the Walls of China (one of NSW's most well-known landmarks), visit Mungo Woolshed and go deep into Mildura's history. Other tours explore wineries, farm gates, nearby villages, the Murray River and more — plus, there's the option of booking a private adventure. [caption id="attachment_1019909" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Discover Mildura[/caption] Other spectacular stops to add to your itinerary include Orange World (a 50-acre working citrus farm), the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens (for 2,500-year-old trees), Perry Sandhills (400 acres of moving dunes), the Murray-Darling River Junction, the Murray-Sunset National Park (for stunning pink salt lakes) and Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (for freshwater lakes thriving with birdlife). [caption id="attachment_1019930" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Mildura Boathouse Facebook[/caption] Where to Eat and Drink Having boated and strolled beside the river, we were ready to eat beside it. So, we headed to the Mildura Boathouse Eatery & Bar, a big, bright space splashed in aquamarine and white on the waterfront. For the best views, claim a table on the deck under a big umbrella. Our favourite on the local produce-fuelled menu was the mushies topped with goat's cheese, truffle mousse and poached eggs on bread baked 15 minutes' drive away at Gio's in Redcliff. But the brekkie roll packed with egg, bacon and cheddar and slathered in secret sauce came a close second. [caption id="attachment_1021369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Another beautiful place for riverside feasting is Trentham Estate, a winery on the Murray, 20 minutes' drive east of the CBD. Whether you sit in the glass-walled dining room or on the verandah, you'll be gazing over dreamy water views, foregrounded by green grass and shady gums. We settled in for a long lunch, travelling from a baked scallop-prawn tart, to pan-fried salmon with basil pesto on sweet potato mash, to an exquisite lemon meringue tart with berry coulis and vanilla ice cream. To get even closer to the water, opt for a picnic on the lawn, with a cheese platter followed by chocolate fudge cake. Either way, there's plenty to explore on the wine list, from the budget-friendly The Family range to the award-winning Reserves. [caption id="attachment_1019964" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: 400 Gradi website[/caption] Back in town, we loved 400 Gradi, a Melbourne export which opened in Mildura in 2022, for its flash-fried calamari, light prawn and zucchini white pizza, rich mushroom pappardelle and irresistible tiramisu — all served in a slick, grand space, with excellent service. Also worth checking out are SteamPunk and BLK MLK for coffee, Brother Chris and Twenty Seven for brunch, Oak Valley and Capogreco for wine tasting, The Spanish Grill for top-notch steaks, Baghdad Kitchen for charcoal-grilled delights, and, for a legendary multi-course dinner, Stefano's. [caption id="attachment_992001" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Where to Sleep A drive down Mildura's main street gives the impression the town is home to more motor inns per capita than maybe any other town in Australia. We don't have any stats on that, but we can tell you we were happy with our decision to opt for Kar-Rama. Opened in February 2025, it takes inspiration from California, in its breezy palm trees, white deck chairs and sparkling heated pool. The rooms — decked in pastel shades — come with king-sized beds draped in top-shelf linen, excellent showers, comfy Bemboka robes, a complimentary minibar, Nespresso coffee machines and Leif toiletries. Hot tip: for extra space and light, ask for a room on the first floor and consider paying a bit extra for a deluxe studio. Other inviting sleepovers in and around town include Indulge Apartments (for a touch of luxury), All Seasons Houseboats (for more time on the river) and Mungo Lodge (for deeper exploration of Mungo National Park). [caption id="attachment_992008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Supplied[/caption] Concrete Playground travelled to Mildura with the support of Visit Victoria.
If you had to restrict your menu to just dough, and stuff you can make with dough, what would you serve? There's actually a fairly wide selection: bread, cakes, pastries, pizza and pasta. Everything a growing body needs. This is the general inspiration behind a new restaurant coming to Melbourne's CBD, dubbed ANTARA 128. It's the brainchild of Executive Chef and co-owner of Sunda and Aru, Khanh Nguyen, and it's set to rise in late 2023. While Nguyen's name alone is enough to get Melburnians excited, given the enormous splash that Sunda and Aru have made on Melbourne's dining scene — ANTARA 128 is also backed by the Halim Group, who oversaw the restoration of the Hotel Windsor. [caption id="attachment_825951" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Sunda, supplied[/caption] "With ANTARA, we wanted to look to the dining scene of Europe, but done in a Melbourne way," Group Director Adi Halim says. "I've always liked the feel of European brasseries, places that open from early to late which you can drop in at throughout the day." Details are still sketchy on ANTARA 128, but you can expect a mostly dough-fuelled menu. Fresh-baked bread and pastries each morning, strong coffee for commuters, soft mounds of pizza dough and ribbons of fresh-made pasta, with everything given a dusting of Nguyen's trademark spice. "Follow us as we slowly rise," reads the current website. "We will be bringing the sensibility of that to this venture and depart from our norm, with the food having a European focus with an Asian touch," says Halim. [caption id="attachment_837098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Aru by Ari Hatzis[/caption] Keep an eye out for ANTARA 128 at 128 Exhibition Street in the CBD. We'll provide more details ahead of the launch. Top image: Khanh Nguyen by Ryan Noreiks.
A few tears might have been shed when American diner Rockwell and Sons shut up shop for good this winter, but it's a-ok, because the crew from Bar Liberty and Capitano has cooked up something pretty exciting to fill its place. Or, should we say, baking. That's right, the space at 288 Smith Street has entered its next phase of life as an innovative bakery named Falco. For this venue, Michael Bascetta, Manu Potoi and Casey Wall have teamed up with Christine Tran (Tivoli Road Bakery, Loafer Bread), who's fresh from a stint at San Francisco's renowned bakery Tartine. In Collingwood, Tran, together with Group Executive Chef Wall, is baking sweet and savoury goods made with seasonal, organic and local produce. The kitchen is sourcing chocolate from Hunted & Gathered and Birdsnake, dairy products from nearby Saint David, and organic flour from Wholegrain Milling in NSW and Powlett Hill in Victoria. [caption id="attachment_755060" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jana Langhorst[/caption] At the centre of the 25-seat cafe space by Chris James Design Studio, which is built using sustainably sourced materials, are the cabinets loaded with oven-fresh Falco goodies. As well as a range of bread — that includes country loaves, baguettes, fougasse and fruit bread — you'll spy hot pies, fresh sandwiches, and grab-and-go sourdough muffins stuffed with egg and cheese (and sometimes festive ham). Speaking of Christmas, expect to find spicy gingerbread and mince pies in the cabinet throughout December. Sweet-toothed folk can prepare for the likes of Swedish-style cardamom buns and addictive chocolate-halva brownies at this famed Melbourne bakery. Fruit danishes, croissants and a heap of cookies (with flavours like apricot oat and earl grey) round out the flaky, sweet options. And because freshly baked treats make a perfect match to a nice hot cuppa, Falco is even roasting its own house coffee. Heading up the bakery's caffeine program are Manager Jo Watson (Melbourne's Patricia Coffee Brewers and Sydney's Paramount Coffee Project) and Roaster Tim Varney, who's spent the last six years at Norway's renowned coffee roaster Tim Wendelboe. Elsewhere on the drinks lineup, you'll find kefir from The Fermentary and Assembly teas. With all of this combined, Falco Bakery is clearly one of the very best bakeries in Melbourne. Images: Jana Langhorst Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Melbourne for 2023 The Best Bakeries in Melbourne for 2023
Melbourne's craft beer scene is a global contender, well deserving of a craft brewery dedicated to its culture. Stomping Ground Brewing Co.'s brewery and beer hall is just that, and the next great venture by craft beer heroes Guy Greenstone and Steve Jeffares. The duo are well known in the beer scene as two of the originators of craft in Australia — they're the minds behind The Local Taphouses in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the GABS festival which is now considered one of the best beer festivals in the world. "This brewery is an opportunity to distil down what we love about the city that we live in and what we love about independent beer and hospitality in our city," says Greenstone. "We're brewing all of that love into a bottle," he adds. The two are going full steam ahead with Stomping Ground, their flagship APA aptly named after their new Gipps Street location. "It's a logical progression for us to move into the brewing space," says Greenstone. "We're passionate about craft beer and hospitality, so it made sense to make an independent beer brand." The team is joined by long-time Taphouse manager Justin Joiner and head brewer Ashur Hall, who hails from Illawarra Brewing Company, where he worked closely with Wayward's head brewer Shaun Blissett. The massive brewery houses a twenty four-tap bar, a 2000-litre brewhouse and a beer garden with retractable roof. "We want to create an all-inclusive space where our guests can be social," says Greenstone. "We love being a catalyst for people's craft beer awakening and providing them with an awesome experience that they'll remember."
One of the main events of Chinatown's annual Lunar New Year festivities, the Dragon Parade is truly a sight to behold. At 11.30am on Sunday, February 14, the Dai Loong ("big dragon") will emerge from its home at the Chinese Museum and make its way through the streets of Melbourne, heralding the New Year and the beginning of the Spring Festival. There'll be dancing and drumming and colourful costumes as far as the eye can see. And if all the parading leaves you feeling peckish — well, you'll be in Chinatown now, won't you? Image: Chris Phutully via Flickr.
Cookie beer hall, eating house and disco is a flamboyant venue full of chatter and laughter that serves up classic Thai dishes and innovative cocktails. While the main bar and restaurant is rambunctious with noise — laughter, clashing cutlery and clinking glassware — the secretive back bar is mellow and conducive to a late night liaison any night of the week. The small dishes include a tom yum going soup with prawns, mushrooms and lemongrass chilli while vegetarians can enjoy sweet potatoes with coconut cigars, orange and chilli sauce or garlic and chive dumplings. The medium plates feature fried snapper with bok choy, tamarind and crispy shallots as well as a crispy fish salad with green papaya, peanut and found dry shrimp. For something larger try the deep friend five spice chicken with sweet chilli sauce and home-made pickles or the seafood platter of snapper, calamari, mussels and king prawns in a red curry. There's something to please everyone on the drinks menu here (it's more appropriately described as an encyclopaedia volume), whether it be beer, wine or cocktails. This makes Cookie ideal for those occasions when you're unsure of your company's tastes. The seasonal cocktails include the 'D for Dangerous', a mix of Rittenhouse Rye, Hennesy and Yellow Chartreuse, designed to kick start the night in style. The wine list is huge and there'll be help to guide you through it. Being one of those must-see venues for Melbourne tourists, it's unlikely you'll run into any regular mates here — unless of course they're on sneaky dates, too. Appears in: The Best Thai Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
In the Smith Street corner site that was once home to the Robert Burns Hotel, now sits Hotel Collingwood — a bright, modern pub venture by Only Hospitality Group (Bentwood, Glovers Station and Juliette Coffee & Bread). Inside, a refresh by Pierce Widera features fresh white and olive green tones, alongside native blackbutt timber. There are two wood-fired fireplaces, an all-weather beer garden oasis out back and an upstairs dining space called Bobby's. You'll find a couple of big screens for your live sports fix, too. The food offering sees Lucas Group alumni John Woo and Allan Hwang plating up a subtle reworking of honest pub grub with a touch of Asian influence. Bites like fried chicken bao with spicy house-made mayo ($6.5), dumplings ($18–19) and kingfish sashimi ($23) sit alongside both meat and vegetarian grazing boards ($25). The classic parma is done with panko crumbs ($26), a fennel salad features edamame and a yuzu dressing ($19), and there are three different cuts of beef to tempt steak lovers. At the bar, cocktails lean to the classic, while both the 14 beer taps and the 100-strong wine list are mostly heroing home-grown drops. Try a pint of The Mill Brewery's Mosaic IPA ($13) or a Molly Rose Hug Replacement ($15) just metres from where they were made. [caption id="attachment_829526" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bobby's[/caption]
A road trip through the American South is one of those epic, once-in-a-lifetime journeys. It's also the epitome of Americana and offers an unrivalled way to experience the South. The sheer distance between many of the South's most distinctive sights, sounds, culture and history can only be bridged via four wheels, and there's no freedom quite like the one when you take to the road. Your next destination depends only on your interests and how much fuel (or gas, as it's known in the States) is in the tank. In partnership with Travel South USA, we've curated the best routes in each of the South's nine states to accelerate your trip planning. Create an adventure that's entirely your own by linking up different sections of the region's countless routes. Whether you want to cruise through vibrant towns, savour Southern cuisine or catch your breath in the face of awe-inspiring natural scenery, the open road can take you there in the South. Route 66 — Missouri One of America's most iconic highways, driving along Route 66 is a classic American road trip. Affectionately known as "Mother Road", the route covers over 450 kilometres traversing America from east to west, but Missouri's stretch is one of the highway's best segments. Not only will you pass through two of Missouri's largest cities, encounter well-preserved motor courts harkening to a bygone era and enjoy incredibly scenic views, it also takes in some of the Route's most historic attractions and is lined with fascinating landmarks that will have you stopping the car every couple of miles. Music, Marches and Mardi Gras — Alabama The South is and historically has been a region of outsized cultural impact in America — and a road trip through Alabama is one of the best ways to see the history of the US firsthand. Stop in the central cities of Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, where Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks made history; in Muscle Shoals where music history was made with recordings by many of America's most influential artists; and in Mobile, which is one of America's oldest cities, the birthplace of Mardi Gras and where you'll find fresh seafood straight out of the Gulf. For miles of powdery white sand, beaches, resorts and plenty of outdoor fun, be sure to stop at Alabama's coastal cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach too. Outer Banks Scenic Byway — North Carolina Extending for over 138 miles (about 220 kilometres), the Outer Banks Scenic Byway follows the barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. Showcasing the region's scenery and history, you'll drive alongside pristine beaches, windswept dunes and local landmarks. In addition to the charming coastal towns en route, be sure to add these must-sees to your road trip itinerary: Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates where the first flights in heavier-than-air aircrafts took place; Jockey's Ridge, the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast; Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where you'll find America's tallest lighthouse; and fuel your sightseeing by filling up on oysters along the North Carolina Oyster Trail. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail — Kentucky The American South is the birthplace of bourbon and nowhere is it better to experience that culture than in Bourbon country itself along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The trail takes you through the state's legendary distilleries, showcasing the craft of bourbon-making. With the option to stop at a few distilleries in the state or at each and every single one, the trail can last anywhere from four days to a whole leisurely month on the road — all while taking in the rest of the sights of Kentucky too. Tennessee Scenic Trails & Byways — Tennessee Tennessee's 95 counties are filled with hidden gems just waiting to be explored. Take the scenic route and embark on any number of the state's 16 self-guided scenic drives. The trails and byways are a breeze to follow — they're well marked by brown signs — and you'll discover captivating attractions, local eateries and noteworthy stops along the way. Highland Scenic Highway — West Virginia Nestled in the Monongahela National Forest, the Highland Scenic Highway is one of the most stunning drives on America's East Coast. Over 43 miles (about 70 kilometres) the route traverses crystal clear rivers and wild forest where native spruce trees tower. This unmissable drive promises panoramic views and adventures in the Potomac Highlands and is one of the best ways to experience West Virginia's natural beauty. [caption id="attachment_988789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angela Liguori[/caption] Scenic Highway 11 — South Carolina Named after the Native Americans who once called the South Carolina foothills home, Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway (South Carolina Highway 11) captures some of the most stunning views of South Carolina's mountains and landscapes. Along the highway, take in views of Table Rock State Park's 350-million-year-old granite dome. Stop along the way for a hike or canoe in the State Park, or continue driving to experience the beautiful Wildcat Branch Falls from the comfort of your car. Natchez Trace Parkway — Mississippi If you've ever wondered where the largest octagonal home in America can be found, the answer lies along the Natchez Trace Parkway at Longwood, a historical home that's listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Spanning 444 miles (about 715 kilometres) through Mississippi and two other states, the scenic drive includes historical points of interest and passes through lush forest where outdoor adventures such as biking, hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, or camping amidst the state's wilderness await. Great River Road — Louisiana See all of Louisiana along the Great River Road which follows the Mississippi River from north to south. This route is a designated All-American Road, which means it contains features that can't be found anywhere else in America. On this route, you'll find UNESCO sites such as Poverty Point World Heritage Site, where artifacts dating back to 1700–700 BC are still being uncovered; the Frogmore Plantation and Gins, a still-functioning cotton farm that tells story of slavery in the area; the tallest state capitol building in the US in Baton Rouge; and New Orleans where an abundance of museums can be explored alongside world-class venues and restaurants and a thriving live music scene. Find your next adventure in the South. Discover more unforgettable destinations and start planning your trip with Travel South USA.
For more than two decades, every Australian kid was familiar with Aerobics Oz Style. It's the show that kept TV-loving children from their early-morning cartoon fix — airing each day before Cheez TV and its predecessors started. Back then, between 1982–2005, the sight of leotards, tights and leg warmers probably brought a frown to your face. Now, while we're all trying to keep active in isolation, it's reason to smile. Bust out your best retro workout outfit and get ready to stretch, bend, step and tone — because Network Ten has just dropped a heap of old-school episodes on its free streaming platform. Over at 10Play, 15 90s-era instalments of Aerobics Oz Style are now available to watch (complete with 90s-era soundtracks). The bulk were first aired in February 1995; however you can also get sweaty to episodes from April and October 1996, December 1997 and February 1998 as well. Most of the available episodes were filmed in a studio, so prepare not only for some thoroughly 90s activewear fashions, but also for pastel-heavy set design from the period. If you're eager to get a glimpse of Sydney from more than 20 years ago, though, three of the episodes were shot at various outdoor locations around town — so you can get fit and check out the scenery. Need an amusing reminder of what you're in for? In 1998, TISM satirised the show in the music video for their single 'Whatareya?', which you can watch below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiHdpAVIHgo To sweat your way through 15 retro episodes of Aerobics Oz Style, head to 10Play.
There are few places that instantly make you feel special. Tonka, formally Honky Tonks, is one of them. The moment you walk in, you know this place is different. The staff are warm yet professional and the dining room is beautiful, accented by a twirling white installation hanging from the roof. Follow the flashing neon sign to the very end of Duckboard Place off Flinders Lane, and you'll find your way. Start your Indian feast with a crisp pocket of spiced potato, mung beans, date and tamarind chutney complete with a jar of 'aromatic water' which is heavily spiced with coriander. Other good starters include the Crystal Bay prawn mollee with smoked Yarra Valley caviar and the tandoor paneer tikka with pineapple chutney and cos. Move to the larger dishes like the tender Avani's lamb curry with roasted coconut, black cardamom and white poppy seeds, or the nigiri vegetable curry with seasonal pickled vegetables. For something that packs a bit of heat try Tonka's chicken biryani with Sella rice, saffron and cassia. For dessert, the chocolate and caramel mouse with spiced pear compote is a standout, while the mango lassi ice-cream sandwich with a caramel spiced brownie is a textural experience in itself. Tonka's wine list also presents interesting wines with accessibility front of mind. The staff know their list and can recommend something regardless of your palate. There are also cocktails which take classics such as old-fashioneds and margaritas and give them an Indian twist — thoughtfully using aromatics and herbs. The rum mango lassi really needs to be ordered as well. It's approachable, fine dining if we've ever seen it. Go make an occasion of the whole experience, drinking it all in at Tonka. Images: Brook James.
Mud, moss and murky waters mightn't sound like dream Airbnb features, but they couldn't be more exciting if you're a fan of pop culture's favourite solitude-loving ogre. To celebrate Halloween with a fairy tale theme, the accommodation booking platform has added a unique Scottish Highlands stay that'll turn you green with envy if you don't score the reservation — and have you spending the weekend at Shrek's Swamp IRL if you do. Hey now, this is the nostalgic all-star of Airbnb listings, aka a recreation of a spot straight out of the Shrek movies. And the host? Donkey, although it's unlikely that that means that either Eddie Murphy or a domesticated equine will be there to greet you. Here's what is definitely included: two nights for up to three guests in a stumpy structure that goes rustic inside and out, all for free. You'll enjoy a parfait, fireside stories, waffles in the morning, "earwax candlelight" to set the mood (the listing's words, not ours), and having the whole place to yourselves behind the "danger" and "stay out" signs. Oh, and absolutely no torches and pitchforks. Whether onions are included hasn't been revealed. "Shrek's Swamp is lovely. Just beautiful. The perfect place to entertain guests," said Donkey, announcing the stay (well, said Airbnb giving the statement the appropriate themed spin). "You know what I like about it? Everything. The overgrown landscaping, the modest interiors, the nice boulders, all of it. I can't wait for guests to experience this muddy slice of paradise for themselves." If you're keen, you'll need to try to nab the booking at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 — and, if your wish comes true, you'll be off for a stay across the weekend of Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29. As always, whoever gets the reservation is responsible for their own travel, including if they have to get to and from Scotland. This listing is also helping a good cause, with Airbnb making a one-off donation to the HopScotch Children's Charity, which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Scotland, as part of the Shrek's Swamp promotion. Somebody once told us that the platform loves offering up once-in-a-lifetime spots to slumber, as its recent history shows. In the past, it has had nights at Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito abode, Hobbiton, the Bluey house, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine up for grabs. Also on the list: The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, Japan's World Heritage-listed Suganuma Village and the House of Sunny studio. Last Halloween, it similarly went with a movie theme, listing the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage. For more information about the Shrek's Swamp stay on Airbnb, or to book at 4am AEDT / 3am AEST / 6am NZDT on Saturday, October 14 for a stay across Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Alix McIntosh. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Forty years after first forming, Cirque du Soleil still knows how to notch up firsts among its lineup of dazzling circus shows, especially for Australian audiences. In 2023, the Montreal-based company headed Down Under with CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice. In 2024, it's following that up with LUZIA, which takes inspiration from Mexico, and also marks Cirque du Soleil's first touring performance that features rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. LUZIA's name is a combination of the words 'lux' and 'lluvia' in Spanish, with the first translating as light and the second as rain. What that means in the production will be unveiled to Melbourne audiences from Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Flemington Racecourse. While it has been four decades since Cirque du Soleil was created back in 1984, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the troupe's performances in Australia, making LUZIA the tenth big-top show to hit our shores. So, although it's already an ode to Mexican culture, the production has even more to celebrate as it spends the bulk of 2024 and into 2025 making its way around the nation. Packing their bags to help: a team of 120 people, which includes 47 artists from 26 countries. First staged in 2016 and becoming Cirque du Soleil's 38th original production at the time, LUZIA has already been seen by 4.5-million people, a number that'll grow in Australia. Audiences are in for a trip to an imaginary version of Mexico, where the performance gets playful and surreal amid the light and rain. Some of the settings include an old movie set, the desert, the ocean and a dance hall, all backdropping the company's acrobatics, trapeze displays, contortionist feats, juggling and more. In the Cyr wheel, artists will roll and spin through the rain. And that trapeze work? That happens through showers. LUZIA also spans hoop diving on giant treadmills, a natural sinkhole, seven pins being flung in the air by jugglers and street dancing that includes footballs. Daniele Finzi Pasca wrote and directs the production, which begins with a parachutist falling into a field of cempasuchil flowers, turning a huge metallic key, then taking a magical journey. From there, the clown antics give LUZIA a beach clown and clown scuba diving, the acrobatics even take to a bike, a luchador mask makes an appearance in the swing segment — 1000-plus costumes are seen across the show in total — and a hair-suspension act features. Images: Anne Colliard.
I know what you're probably thinking. At Concrete Playground, we're very transparent about the awesome work we do with brands. So it might be reasonable to conclude that I'm going to fill the next 600 words or so with unadulterated praise about Milklab's new oat milk. But you'd be wrong. The first time I, a stubbornly exclusive drinker of full-fat dairy milk, tried oat milk, I made a face that made my walking buddy think I'd stepped in a big pile of dog shit. My next thought: immediate regret. You see, I'd challenged myself to make the switch to oat milk. I discovered while reading up about it, of the various plant-based milks that are now widely available in cafes, oat is supposed to be the closest in taste and creaminess to dairy. So, I thought, why not give it a go? I decided to commit to the oat for a whole week and document my experiences. But, after my first sip, I was immediately overcome with regret. A whole week on this was all of a sudden starting to look like it could be a long one. Was I going to make it? Was I going to cave? Or was I — perhaps unthinkably — actually going to enjoy it? Here's what happened. THE TASTE My first sip of an oat milk coffee was definitely a bit of a shock. For the uninitiated (as I was just a couple of weeks ago), there's a sweet, nutty, almost malty taste — as well as an undeniably oat-y one — that I knew was going to take a bit of getting used to. I don't take any sugar in my coffee, either, so I realised from that first sip that some adjustment (mainly of my own expectations) was going to be required. One almost immediate effect the sweetness did have was that it forced me to slow down, and to savour every sip. There was also a surprising richness to the milk that meant each sip just went that little bit further. I also tried different types of oat milk coffee: hot and cold, frothy and flat. I was surprised by the full flavour and roundness in the latte — especially an oat cap (more on that below). Meanwhile, the iced oat lattes I had were also very, very drinkable. Not only did these not leave me feeling bloated like a dairy version would, but it seems that not heating the milk neutralised some of the immediate nuttiness and sweetness. And while I could tell it wasn't dairy, it tasted pretty close to it. THE MOUTHFEEL This was, to be honest, the part that I was probably the most nervous about. One of the main reasons that I have stubbornly insisted on full-fat dairy milk is because I've found the alternatives either too watery for my liking, or far too overpowering in taste. The warm internal hug that a perfectly made latte with full-fat dairy milk provides is hard to replicate with the alternatives. One drink, though, changed my mind from the first sip: the oat cappuccino. While I am firmly of the belief that cappuccinos should remain in the 90s alongside sundried tomatoes and focaccia, the full velvety goodness of an oat cap was, to quote Jessica Simpson, irresistible. This is likely because oat milk stretches similarly to dairy, effectively resulting in a smaller margin of error on the part of the espresso puller and also creating that fuller mouthfeel. Another thing it took drinking oat to realise — especially on days I drank both oat and dairy to compare a little more directly — is the film that dairy can leave around the mouth, which is honestly... not okay. There was no such residue with oat, hot or cold. THE EFFECT Remember that warm internal hug I mentioned earlier? As pretty much any drinker of dairy milk can vouch for, it's not uncommon for your stomach to start to play dubstep after, or even during, that milk-induced inside-out embrace. Mercifully, no such beats were created after an oat beverage. Another thing I found interesting was that the post-caffeine crash I would usually experience — especially following my afternoon brew — did not come when I'd had my oat drink. This is surprising given that oat has less protein and more sugar than full-fat dairy, but what is undeniable is that an oatey boy seemed to keep me going for longer. The same can be said for the fullness factor. While its bloat factor means that dairy usually fills me more quickly, the fullness seems to be both more subtle and more sustained with oat. [caption id="attachment_824628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rachel McDermott (Unsplash)[/caption] THE VERDICT Full disclosure: I'm writing this while drinking a full-fat dairy latte. But I'm not enjoying it as much as what I might have done a couple of weeks ago. I actually came to not only enjoy the taste of oat milk, but also crave it. Am I converted? Truth be told, I'll still be ordering dairy when the mood hits. But what I have discovered is that there is another option that does the job just as well — and, in some cases, even better. For more information on Milklab's new oat range, head to the website.
You love your mum, and if you're looking for ways to spoil the leading lady in your life, we're here to help. Because let's face it — your favourite underground bar is a bit too dingy, and your go-to ramen joint is a bit of a lazy pick for the woman who gave you, you know, life. This is your chance to deliver something momentous and memorable — and earn some serious brownie points on the side. From luxuriously long lunches to boozy brunches and everything in between, we've rounded up the best places for Mother's Day in Melbourne, and for every weekend after it. Go forth and really make mum's day. Recommended reads: The Best Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Wine Bars in Melbourne The Best Pubs in Melbourne The Most Romantic Bars and Restaurants in Melbourne For Wine Lovers: Fergusson Winery This Mother's Day, Fergusson Winery in the Yarra Valley is hosting a luxury garden party surrounded by rolling vineyards. The team has created a four-course menu just for the occasion ($99) and will set up a bunch of lawn games for the afternoon — just hope for good weather. There will also be a themed cocktail menu, matching wines (obviously) and a special gift for each of the mothers who attend the lunch. For Immersive Art, Dining and Yoga: The Lume Melbourne digital art gallery The Lume's current multi-sensory exhibition is dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, and this exhibition will be the gallery's final before closing its doors forever on Sunday, June 1. Van Gogh's masterpieces cover all the floors and walls, making for an experience that goes above and beyond your typical art gallery. And for this Mother's Day, there will be a few ways to celebrate at The Lume. For a special meal with a special lady, you can book a spot at Caffè Terrace 1888, the on-site dining destination that blends into the immersive space, for a taste of 19th-century French classics inside the works of Van Gogh himself. If Mum is a wellness lover and doesn't mind an early start, The Lume's wellness program is running a special 8am class on the big day for $35 per person. Move and Connect with Her Run combines gentle yoga and soothing sound baths for a restorative Mother's Day experience you couldn't find anywhere else. If you need early morning energy to support Mum, the class includes complimentary coffee for all participants beforehand. For Classic Mother's Day High Tea: Mary Eats Cake, Royal Exhibition Building and Sofitel on Collins Treating your mum to a luxe Melbourne high tea is a classic Mother's Day experience. It's easy, no matter the size of the group, and it doesn't have to be too expensive. There are also heaps of places in Melbourne that have made one-off afternoon teas for Mother's Day. First, Mary Eats Cake is running its Mother's Day High Tea again (from $75 per person) from Thursday, May 1–Saturday, May 31, as well as a dedicated Ultimate Mother's Day High Tea for $95 per person on the weekend of the occasion. Both include your usual high tea treats of specialty cocktails and mocktails, savoury and sweet treats, and oh-so-many scones. For a touch of historical elegance, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building is hosting a Mother's Day high tea with complimentary bubbles and live classical music for $139 per person, while Sofitel on Collins has put together a Mother's Day high tea in No35 Restaurant with complimentary champagne, degustation bites and live music from $155 per person. For Mums Who Love a Cause: Mother's Day Classic and The Terrace Sure, you could spend your day indulging in all sorts of high teas and treats across Melbourne, but the occasion marks a great opportunity to get moving for a damn good cause. The Mother's Day Classic is an annual Mother's Day marathon (or walkathon) that circumnavigates Royal Botanic Gardens to raise money for breast cancer and ovarian cancer research. Nearby to the course is an ideal recovery spot at one of Melbourne's most scenic cafes: The Terrace. You can recover with an à la carte booking or opt for the Mother's Day high tea package, which includes sweet and savoury treats, a hibiscus spritz and bouquets (available for preorder) across three sessions for $89 per person. For Ceramics Shopping: Three Day Clay Pop-Up Instead of picking a present to get your mum ahead of time and hoping she loves it, why not take her shopping for her own gift instead? You can hit up stores all over the city or opt to visit the Three Day Clay pop-up store on Sydney Road in Brunswick. 13-plus artists will sell their wares during the mornings and afternoons from Friday, May 8–Sunday, May 11. The event is even open in the evening on Friday, when the team will give a glass of complimentary sparkling wine to everyone who stops by. For a Lunchtime Feast: Bottomless Yum Cha at David's If you prefer a more casual, all-you-can-eat feast for Mother's Day in Melbourne, then you've got to check out David's in Prahran. On Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, the team will serve up their bottomless yum cha ($74 per person), with seatings throughout the day on Saturday and bookings into the evening on Sunday. Given that it's Mother's Day, there will be more than enough tea and spritzes to enjoy throughout your booking. These guys are super quick with their service, so you know the staff won't let your glass lay empty for long. [caption id="attachment_951928" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] For Total Luxury: Reine and La Rue Reine and La Rue is home to one of the finest dining spaces in Melbourne. It's also hosting one of the most decadent Mother's Day meals in Melbourne. For both lunch and dinner, the team has created a stunning set menu and is giving guests the opportunity to personalise the occasion. When booking, guests can choose between a preordered box of sweet treats or an elegant floral bouquet to adorn their table. The experience isn't the cheapest, clocking in at a hefty $245 per person, but it is great for those looking to go all out this Mother's Day. For Fresh Flavours: Lona Misa If you're not drawn to the temptation of scones, teas or even a hearty pub feed, there are some more adventurous Mother's Day offerings around town. One of those is at Lona Misa, the South Yarra Latin hotspot that specialises in approachable and vegan-friendly fare. The team has put together a long lunch menu for Mother's Day, for $95 per adult. Expect potato bread and grilled shiitake anticuchos skewers, roasted peri-peri chicken, roasted cabbage with salsa macha and Andean papas with black garlic mayo. All that comes with free-flowing coffee and tea, and two hours of bottomless mimosas, spritzes, wine and beer. For a Sweet Treat: Piccolina Not all Mother's Day treats have to include outings to Melbourne restaurants and bars. Sometimes, you just want to hang out at home and have some family time. If that's your plan, but you still want to do something a little special, think about pre-ordering some of Piccolina's limited-edition tiramisu gelato sandwiches. The pastry chefs over at one of Melbourne's best gelaterias have adapted the timeless Italian dessert into an all-new form, with chocolate-dipped and cocoa-dusted sponge wedged around a slab of ganache and marscarpone gelato. You can pick them up on Mother's Day and deliver them yourself for an easy $22. Top image: Mary Eats Cake
The next time you’re waiting for a train at Flinders Street Station, pay a quick visit to Campbell Arcade. As of this time next week, the historic pedestrian underpass and subterranean shopping mall is getting an injection of exciting new and unconventional artwork, with the City of Melbourne reactivating twelve glass cabinets as a public exhibition space for local creatives. Set into the walls of the underground arcade that connects the railway station with Degraves Street, the cabinets previously housed month-long exhibits curated by Platform Arts Group. The revamp is part of the City of Melbourne’s Creative Spaces Program, and will see the display cases rechristened 'The Dirty Dozen', in what’s been described as ‘a wry nod’ to the arcade’s less than spotless decor. In addition to the name change, the handover will see the space become more accessible to artists. Under Platform Arts, anyone wanting to display work in the cases had to pay for the privilege, whereas they will now be available free of charge. Applications will open on the Creative Spaces website from June 25. The new curators have also indicated an interest in non-traditional artwork, as exemplified by the debut installation from Victoria University’s Skunk Control — an art collective consisting of creatively-inclined scientists and engineers. Each exhibition will run for approximately eight weeks, although December is being reserved for a special holiday-themed installation that will offer an alternative to the Myer Xmas Window display on Bourke Street. Want to apply to exhibit work in one of The Dirty Dozen? Head to the Creative Spaces website, applications open June 25.
When we talk about playing games at Crown, we're not just talking about blackjack. Playtime Crown is filled to the brim with 150-plus classic and new-age video games – and much better odds of walking away with a win or two. Housed within the Crown Entertainment Complex, Playtime is the arcade of your kidult dreams. In addition to the video games, there is also a bowling alley, laser tag and the vortex to keep both big and little kids entertained. Remember vortexes? Most science centres had them with the express purpose of farming child vomit. It's a tube you walk down and the walls spin (seriously, if you have a weak stomach, don't do it). Fun times.
Stiff drinks have flowed freely on the corner of Russell and Little Collins Streets for almost 160 years, most recently as The Crafty Squire. Now, this enduring cornerstone watering hole has been reborn as the Hickens Hotel, following an extensive $12-million renovation. Transformed from top to bottom, this four-level CBD pub has two new floors to explore, including a fresh rooftop primed for sunny days and warm nights. On the ground floor, the Hickens Front Bar resonates with everything special about the Melbourne pub scene. Cosy and casual, this spot will become a go-to for post-work knock-offs and low-key meals. This level is also home to an Australian first — the Carlton Lounge. Themed around an undying love for Carlton Draught, this bar goes beyond a simple tribute, decked out with 70s-inspired decor, a pool table and the freshest pints poured from copper tanks. Upstairs, Level One is where dining takes centre stage. Featuring a menu stacked with Aussie pub classics — some playfully elevated — options include cheese and Vegemite garlic bread, a pork and duck sausage roll with HP sauce, and roasted chook rolls slathered with Melbourne Bitter gravy. For something heartier, check out the spiced goat and pale ale pie or the 300-gram scotch fillet, served with chips, salad, Diane sauce and XPA beer mustard. While there are screens on every level, Abe's Athletic Hall is the top spot to catch the game. Featuring massive wall-to-wall screens where you won't miss a moment, there's also the option of booking a booth with a private screen to keep a closer eye on the action. The level is also jam-packed with arcade games and foosball tables, so challenge your pals to NBA Jam or head to the karaoke room when your game-day sesh evolves into all-night fun. Topping off the Hickens Hotel is The Rooftop — a newly launched openair haven taken up a notch by inner-city views and an upbeat atmosphere. From here, expect cocktails in the sun, late-night debauchery and social celebrations made even better by the constant hum of the CBD in the background. "Hickens is now the spot to go to in the city! We've dialled in on what makes a pub great, leaning into a nostalgic and playful personality," says Hickens Hotel Venue Manager, Giuseppe Lacava. Despite its comprehensive makeover, the pub hasn't forgotten to acknowledge its colourful past. Previously called the Hickens Hotel in the 1870s — named so by infamous British boxer and publican Ebenezer "Abe" Hicken — the modern-day hotel won't feature the same dubious boxing bouts once organised by the namesake rebel rouser. But it might attract a similarly boisterous crowd keen to make the most of its multi-level experience, brimming with good food, high-energy sports and lively entertainment.
Almost three decades ago, before he had the world saying "thank you, thank you very much" to Elvis, before he explored the birth of American hiphop in Netflix's The Get Down, and before gave The Great Gatsby a spin and made Moulin Rouge! spectacular (spectacular), too, Baz Luhrmann achieved two not-too-insignificant things with his film version of Romeo + Juliet. Not only did the Australian director's vibrant take on the classic tragedy completely change the way everyone thinks about Shakespeare adaptations — it also delivered one of the killer soundtracks of the 90s, and one that many a movie has tried and failed to top since. The track list speaks for itself, really, featuring everything Garbage's '#1 Crush' to The Cardigans' 'Lovefool' to Radiohead's 'Talk Show Host'. Everclear, Butthole Surfers, Des'ree and Quindon Tarver's 'Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)' also pop up, with Luhrmann turning the greatest love story ever told into the greatest soundtrack ever sold. If you were around and of a certain age back in 1996, you definitely owned a copy. You probably still do. Even if you weren't loving it before the turn of the century, you should now as well. It's no wonder, then, that not just the picture but the tunes keep being celebrated as Romeo + Juliet nears its 30th anniversary in 2026. In London for more than a decade, concert screenings of the movie with a live choir and band have been wowing audiences and selling out. More than half-a-million filmgoers have attended. Now, Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet: A Cinematic Experience is finally coming to Australia. Young hearts run free to The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, which is playing host to the Australian debut of this live experience from Tuesday, September 23–Sunday, September 28, 2025. New sessions have already been added due to demand, and there's no word yet if the shows will make their way to other Australian cities. "Audiences really feel like they're stepping into Verona as we don the theatre for a multisensory experience," said Dominic Davies, CEO of the UK's Backyard Cinema, which created the experience. "After sellout performances in London, we are thrilled that Sony Music Australia is bringing this production Down Under for the first time." "The Astor Theatre is such an iconic Melbourne venue and will provide a majestic backdrop for the immersive performance — it will be an experience like no other," added Sony Music Australia and New Zealand Chair and CEO Vanessa Picken. "The show has done incredibly well in London for a long time. We're really looking forward to adding a local slant with a well-known narrator to be announced soon." Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet: A Cinematic Experience runs at The Astor Theatre, 1 Chapel Street, St Kilda, from Tuesday, September 23–Sunday, September 28, 2025 — head to Ticketek for more details and tickets. Images: Andrew Ogilvy Photography.
Japanese photographer Shinichi Maruyama has captured nude dancers from an unsual viewpoint, representing their motion in a series of complex whirls and swirls. The result is an elaborate yet beautiful depiction illustrating some of the amazing movements the human body is capable of. Maruyama has gracefully encapsulated the swaying of legs, swinging of hips and twirling of arms and combined the movements to create a single, intertwined image of motion patterns that enthralls and amazes. Take a look at these shots from Maruyama's remarkable series of blurred nude dancers.
Lightsabers, caped crusaders, fast cars and fairy tales — if you went to the cinema this year, we're betting that you saw at least one of the above. And, if you caught more than a couple of flicks, you probably roamed your eyes over creepy clowns, cheeky spies, immersive accounts of war and an acclaimed Aussie drama as well. From Star Wars, Wonder Woman, The Fate of the Furious and Beauty and the Beast, to It, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Dunkirk and Lion, they're the movies that Australians flocked to in 2017. Of course, they had company. Nearly 400 films were released onto Aussie screens over the past 12 months, and even the biggest cinephiles among probably skipped a couple. Based on box office figures, here's ten we think you might've missed, and should make the effort to catch up with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiVGDmgsFY RAW One of the year's best films, under-seen or otherwise, is also one that arrived with a bloody splash. When Raw premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016, audience members reportedly fainted during its tale of a vegan teenager turned cannibalistic college student — and while they might've been overreacting, the French film isn't for the gore-averse. What it is, rather, is an unforgettable and visceral take on the savagery of growing up from first-time writer/director Julia Ducournau. She's matched in talent by her leading lady Garance Marillier, who makes viewers understand both the reluctance and excitement that comes with going to university, breaking free from her usual personality and casually snacking on severed limbs. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J5jcPqfYss PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN 2017 was a wonderful year — for films with 'wonder' in the title, at least. While Wonder Wheel is completely missable, and Wonderstruck only played select festivals, Wonder Woman kicked superhero ass. And, it wasn't the only movie about the famous comic book character to make it to cinemas, or the best. In Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, movie-goers received the origin movie they didn't know they needed, following the story of Diana Prince's creation by William Moulton Marston. The psychologist turned comic book author (Luke Evans) took inspiration from his own life with his wife (Rebecca Hall) and live-in girlfriend (Bella Heathcoate), as relayed with passion and personality by writer/director Angela Robinson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLdhN4oMxCQ BAD GENIUS Mark our words: in the next couple of years, an English-language version of this Thai thriller will reach our screens. A high-stakes high-school exam flick, it's smart and slick, funny and fast-paced, tautly made and tension-filled — and it turns a situation we can all relate to into a nail-biting heist caper. Straight-A student Lynn (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) is the misbehaving high-achiever of the title, who first hatches a plan to make money by feeding her classmates test answers, and then bands together with her customers to cheat the biggest test there is. The premise was taken from reality, and part of the movie was shot in Sydney, but the real highlight is Bad Genius' lively style and thoroughly entertaining narrative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2RYbGgBQeM THE LOST CITY OF Z Because these things always come in pairs, The Lost City of Z is one of two 2017 features that send former film franchise heartthrobs into the jungle. It's the only one you won't want to end, however. Robert Pattinson plays second fiddle to Charlie Hunnam in this account of geographer and explorer Percy Fawcett's life, and to James Gray's astutely measured direction, as well as cinematographer Darius Khondji's lush and striking images. Indeed, Hunnam does some of his best work as the man determined to find the fabled locale, while Gray shows that his skills apply not only in urban settings, but to vast Amazonian wilds too. A visually precise and painterly effort result, one that's an existential adventure, a lush-looking portrait of feverish obsession and an engaging biopic all in the same mesmerising package. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SMmn5fu2oI WINTER AT WESTBETH This Australian-directed, New York-shot documentary only received a tiny cinema run earlier this year, so you can be forgiven for missing it. That said, if you were a fan of Bill Cunningham New York or Iris, or like factual looks at real-life creative types doing what they love — and wearing their eccentricity on their sleeves — you'll want to redress that oversight as soon as possible. A small film that leaves a big imprint, it focuses on three elderly residents of Manhattan's Far West Village for retired artists, each coping with their advanced years by immersing themselves in their chosen fields. Guided by their tales, Aussie filmmaker Rohan Spong crafts an insightful and empathetic doco that's never anything less than revelatory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih9P0QCCrUw IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD With gorgeous watercolour animation and a bittersweet but graceful approach, In This Corner of the World turns a dark chapter of the past into a thing of beauty. That applies both emotionally and visually, in a film that enchants even as it delves into life in World War II-era Hiroshima. Teenager Suzu Urano (Non) finds things forever change when she weds a naval clerk in 1943 and moves to city where he's based; however, history dictates that more is still to come. It's the type of multi-layered wonder that Studio Ghibli would usually make, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that writer/director Sunao Katabuchi worked as an assistant director on Kiki's Delivery Service. His work here is certainly worthy of the comparison. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eByhbavkA6E HEAL THE LIVING In her third film, French writer/director Katell Quillévéré wades into tricky waters, but never forgets to admire life's beauty. Given that organ donation is her main topic, that's a simply stunning feat. Based on the book of the same name, Heal the Living follows the many people affected when a 17-year-old surfer's existence is cut short: his grief-stricken parents and girlfriend, the medical professionals charged with his care and the ailing woman in another city who might get a second chance through this tragedy. As well as the sensitive handling of the subject matter, the detailed depiction of hospital routines and the spot-on charting of intricate, intimate emotional terrain, the feature boasts movingly lyrical sensibilities, and a mastery of both poetic and clinical imagery. A word of warning: if you've ever been through something similar, you may find the experience especially devastating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zzw4Lmej9s THE VILLAINESS John Wick: Chapter 2 and Atomic Blonde aren't 2017's only ace assassin films. From South Korea, say hello to The Villainess. The latest in a long line of kinetic, frenetic action flicks from the country's shores, it follows a woman trained to kill, forced to lend the government her skills and sporting one heck of a backstory. If it sounds familiar because you've seen plenty of similar fare — Luc Besson's La femme Nikita and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill included — don't worry; this isn't a mere walk down a well-worn path or an easy clone. Understandably, it's the fast and furious displays of carnage that particularly stand out thanks to director Jung Byung-gil's high-octane approach, as well as a memorable score. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl_eP39tXW0 SCHOOL LIFE Did a teacher change your life? Did you discover your true passion at school? Even if you answered no to both of those questions, there's no doubting the influence that education has on our identities — not just in the things we learn, but the people we encounter and the experiences we go through. Still not convinced? Let Irish documentary School Life show you. Set at a boarding school, it's a movie about many things: bright minds facing the future, dedicated teachers determined to do their best at their important task at hand, and two specific veterans still shaping the next generation as their own days fade. As they step through all of the above, documentarians Neasa Ní Chianáin and David Rane find the right balance between observation and emotion, and between affection and insight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cTenw8uVSw SONG TO SONG Love him or hate him, no one makes movies like Terrence Malick. As a result, when it comes to his dream-like explorations of human existence, you're either on his whisper-soundtracked, roaming camera-shot, attractive actor-starring wavelength, or you're not. Song to Song won't change anyone's minds, but those eager to go along for the ride will find the iconic filmmaker in top form in this particularly prolific phase of his career. Partially set and shot at SXSW, and featuring Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Iggy Pop and Patti Smith (among others), Song to Song proves an intoxicating dance-filled picture with oh-so-pretty folks coping with the complexities of love and life. Read our full review.
Dog-sharing. Yep. Read it again. Dog-sharing. Services that allow pooch owners to connect with other pooch owners to help with everyday care, pupsit for holidays, do walks and so on. It's happening. Australian service Dogshare was initially launched for dog owners only, but it's now launched a pretty damn exciting feature — a 'borrowing' feature for dog loving people in the same neighbourhood. Yep, now Dogshare allows dogless humans to 'borrow' a pup. You can provide walks or day/night dog-sitting for time-poor dog owners in your local area. There's no money involved, just love (and trust dammit, take care of those pooches). Similar Aussie service BorrowMyPooch works on the same principle but has a subscription fee for owners and borrowers, while Pawshake is free to sign up as a sitter, but owners pay to host their pups. Dogshare founder Jessica Thomas, a busy working mum to two young children and Duke, an exuberant German Shorthaired Pointer, chose to add the free dog borrowing feature in response to a wave of emails she received from non-dog owners willing to offer non-reciprocal care at no charge. "I found that there are so many people out there who genuinely love dogs and have experience caring for them, but are unable to commit to owning one for a variety of reasons," says Thomas. "The borrower gets access to a dog and all the benefits that go with it, while the owner has someone to love and care for their pet when they can't." So, how does it work? Like an online dating service, 'borrowers' create a profile on Dogshare's website, list their previous experience with dogs and flag any services they're keen to volunteer for — there's dog walking, park playdates, overnight stays, vacation stays, taking pups to the vet and other appointments or even the tiniest task of checking on the pup while their owners are at work. Borrowers can then connect with Dogshare's dog owners, who can arrange a local park meet-up and see whether you're not a total weirdo or not. Want to give it a shot? Visit Dogshare's website to create a borrower profile and meet dem pups. Image: Veronika Homchis.
Charming hand-drawn menus on blackboards, exposed brick walls, vinyl collections and an abundance of natural light are what await you when you step into Bar Holiday in Lincoln Square — the former airy home of Kaprica. A succinct selection of wines, beers, Victorian spirits and Italian aperitifs are available at Bar Holiday, which is one of those bars where you can sit down for a hearty meal instead of having to adjourn to a restaurant after. Think casarecce blanketed in a pork and fennel ragu — a mainstay on the menu — pasta e fagioli, barramundi served alongside a prawn bisque, and tarragon chicken with brussels sprouts and a mustard sauce. [caption id="attachment_1017320" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danielle Castano[/caption] If you're hankering for a snack, Bar Holiday does those too — Sicilian olives, white anchovy toast, and eggplant chips are some of the many on offer. If you'd like to skip straight to dessert, there's the likes of a burnt cheesecake or French cheeses like a triple cream brie and comté. More than capable of holding its own in the sea of Italian eateries in Carlton, Bar Holiday is — much like Kaprica was in the same space — a spot you'll keep returning to time and time again. It's both a classic neighbourhood bar and a destination worth travelling for. [caption id="attachment_1017319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Hurst[/caption] Top images: Danielle Castano.
While it seems the large majority of Australian expats have decided to put down roots in London or New York, Hong Kong has one heck of an Australian population — especially in the culinary scene. From Melbourne-style coffee bars and roasteries to underground contemporary Chinese fusion restaurants and Western Australian iron ore mine-themed cocktail bars (really), Honkers is brimming with little pieces from home for Australian travellers. Embracing the traditional cooking styles of HK with a little contemporary twist, these Aussie expat hubs aren't just for travellers, seeing locals queue up as much as visitors every day and night of the week. If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong, pop by and see how Aussies are representing. THE IRON FAIRIES One of the most talked about cocktail bars in Hong Kong is themed around nothing less niche than a Western Australian iron ore mine. Think Flintstones-like private cave nooks, gritty mining tools lining the back bar, live jazz, and a casual 10,000 dead butterflies suspended from the ceiling. Prolific Australian designer Ashley Sutton simply ran with what he knows — he really is a former miner from Western Australia. Sutton makes his own gin, Iron Balls, which features in a few of the highly decadent cocktails (a craft beer or wine-focused bar this ain't). Try the 'Underground Martini'. Pull up a leather Chesterfield armchair around what looks like a macabre bonfire of bodies but is actually a pile of iron fairies (hence the bar's name). Each fairy has its own name and personality — word is that each is named for Sutton's ex-girlfriends. Don't steal them like a jerk, instead you can buy a fairy and have it packaged up with magic dust and wishes. But what's this tunnel, and where does it lead... LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central. J.BOROSKI Followed the tunnel? You've emerged into one of the city's newest, most unique and most visually jaw-dropping cocktail bars. Also designed by Ashley Sutton and run by owner/mixologist Joseph Boroski, this bar is a syndication of its sister bar in Bangkok and apparently operates on an invitation-only basis. Horned beetles tile every inch of a curved tunnel ceiling, while framed giant spiders line hidden alcoves made for intimate conversations. There's no cocktail menu at J.Boroski, only particularly intuitive bartenders who'll quiz you on your preferences before producing your perfect elixir. "Have we shown you the sex room?" asks the manager. We can't tell you about the sex room, but we can tell you it exists and involves 1950s porn. You'll just have to find it for yourself. Your only clue? Follow the spiders. Secret location. To request an invitation call +852 2603 6020 or email hk@jboroski.com. HO LEE FOOK Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong King must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). The name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong PEEL STREET ESPRESSO If you're looking for a little piece of Australian cafe life in Hong Kong, head for Central and seek out Peel Street Espresso, the brainchild of Scottie Callaghan from local wholesale roasting company Redback Specialty Coffee (co-owned by Keith Regan and Craig Jackson). Opened in February 2016, this modernist, cement corridor space looks straight out of Melbourne or Sydney, and plays host to locals and visitors to the city alike, with the Ho Lee Fook team regular coffee fiends. Perch up at the window bar with a black, white or filter coffee ($3.30 each), a freshly baked and schmeared bagel ($5-11) or the quintessentially Australian avo toast ($14) before a big day of exploring. If you pop back after closing time, the coffee beans are whisked away and the space transforms into a wine bar. 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.redbackcoffee.com.hk [caption id="attachment_600511" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Maison Libanaise[/caption] MAISON LIBANAISE Fancy a spot of Lebanese in the middle of Hong Kong? Head for SoHo's Maison Libanaise, a three-storey, canteen-style restaurant inspired by 1960s Beirut, the 'Paris of the Middle East' with its French-inspired architecture and contemporary food scene. On the ground floor you'll find takeaway nosh from Le Comptoir, on the first floor lives Le Salon, a seated, sharing-focused restaurant doing Lebanese mezze, and on the rooftop you can sip on a wine or two at La Buvette, overlooking SoHo's streets. Head chef James Harrison hails from Melbourne and trained under Greg Malouf at MoMo. He's dishing up honey-glazed haloumi, eggplant fattoush and hearth baked pita bread daily. 10 Shelley Street, SoHo [caption id="attachment_600509" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ophelia[/caption] OPHELIA Yeah, yeah this one's another Ashley Sutton, but look at it. An epic peacock-themed cocktail bar inspired by 19th century opium dens and located in the nightlife-happy area of Wan Chai, Ophelia polarises bar fans in the city (like any venue boasting a penchant for blatant voyeurism, decorated female performers and onstage debauchery). Chef Angus Harrison, who's previously worked with Martin Boetz and Luke Mangan, does tapas here, perfectly paired with the bar's Asian herb-heavy cocktail menu. Shop 39A-41A,1/F, The Avenue, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai. OTHER AUSTRALIAN-HELMED RECOMMENDATIONS Belon Carbone Le Garcon Saigon Images: Shannon Connellan unless otherwise specified. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
A drive to the airport in a rideshare is one of life's mundane experiences, whether or not you're en route to a wedding, and also regardless of if you're meant to be collecting your partner and their dry-cleaned suit along the way. In Fake, this routine journey on an average Melbourne day is a masterclass in tension, a portrait of an unravelling and an unwanted realisation unfurling with no escape. With journalist Birdie Bell (Asher Keddie, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) sitting in the backseat as much that she's trusted melts down, it's a stunning episode of television, arriving five instalments into this eight-part Australian thriller that brings its page-to-screen and reality-to-fiction tale to Paramount+ in full from Thursday, July 4. Viewers spend the preceding four episodes of Fake waiting for a moment like this. For those who haven't read Stephanie Wood's memoir of the same name, charting her time dating a former architect-turned-grazier who pairs his grand romantic gestures with erratic behaviour, there's still no doubt that it's coming. It has to, and not just because series creator Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve) and her co-scribes Jessica Tuckwell (Year Of) and Hyun Lee (Born to Spy) have Birdie's beau Joe Burt (David Wenham, Elvis) note in voiceover that she was onto him from the get-go. While Fake is a love- and lies-fuelled saga, it's also about how someone gets taken in not by the kind of tales that Joe spins but by the emotions that they prey upon, even when their intuition tingles at the outset — and how deceptions like this, from someone manipulating others and someone fooling themselves alike, always shatter. The words "Joe, 51, grazier" on a dating app introduce the ex-property big shot to Birdie; however, everything that he utters on their first date almost halts their romance there. When the pair meet at a sleek bar, he has a business acquaintance (Yuchen Wang, White Fever) in tow and talks only of himself, grandstanding with the recognisable arrogance of someone who refuses to believe (or simply hasn't stopped once to consider) that they aren't the most-interesting person in the room. She cuts and leaves quickly, despite his insistence to the waitstaff that they'll share more wine. Then she ignores his persistent follow-ups afterwards, until she doesn't. Stylistically, Beyersdorf, her co-writers, and also directors Jennifer Leacey (Prosper), Emma Freeman (The Newsreader) and Taylor Ferguson (Fires) adopt two approaches to bringing both Joe's flurry of messages and Birdie's inner questioning to audiences. The contents of texts and emails are written across the screen, overlaid upon the scene's ordinary background — train windows feature heavily — and also spoken aloud, as worries about being almost 50, single and heartbroken from a failed IVF experience are similarly given voice through repeated snippets of conversation. Sometimes, Birdie's own words haunt her. Sometimes, Joe's do. Sometimes, the judgement of her sniping mother Margeaux (Heather Mitchell, Ricky Stanicky) echoes. Combined, the impact is inescapable: when his indefatigable pursuit joins her lifetime of doubts, especially that she's being too fussy and will always be alone, relenting to his overtures and investing in his narrative is the inevitable outcome. Fake relays its story within this psychological space — a place where it's clear to everyone, including to Birdie, that little is right — to explore how a person who investigates for a living succumbs to fantasy over fact. Joe gleefully spins dreams, beginning with his quiet farm life, then escalating into bigger and bolder promises. He also ticks the basics, such as showing interest, sticking around, declaring his love and making Birdie feel like romance hasn't passed her by. But Joe equally has a tale for everything that always seems tall. He misses as many dates as he makes, his excuses mushrooming as well. His ex-wife receives ample blame, frequently with the smack of convenience. He's cagey about specifics, too, and vague and defensive when questioned. When Leacey, Freeman and Ferguson, plus cinematographer Sky Davies (House of Gods), devote Fake's frames to staring Birdie's way, they push Keddie's excellent performance to the fore — and it is exceptional. She's the lead in a yell-at-the-TV type of show, where viewers can't help but say aloud that Birdie is making the wrong choice again and again, and grounding those ill-fated decisions in relatable emotions isn't a simple task. The more that Fake peers, the more that it also turns the sight of its protagonist hoping yet fraying into a mirror. One of Birdie's potential articles at work is about homelessness, a situation that's never as far away as most would like to think — and one of Fake's throughlines is that being Birdie with Joe isn't beyond anyone's realm of possibility. Wenham, no stranger to on-screen shadiness and slipperiness but with memories of SeaChange's Diver Dan still imprinted in Australia's pop-cultural memory, is equally first-rate. His remit isn't straightforward, either, selling the charm that still wins Birdie over in tandem with the sketchiness that's lurking beneath Joe's striving facade — and the character is almost ceaselessly striving — which is a gig on par with both Joshua Jackson (Fatal Attraction) and Edgar Ramirez's (Wolf Like Me) efforts in season one and two of medical-meets-romance scam series Dr Death. Indeed, Wenham does such an unshakeable job as Joe that by the time that Fake spends the aforementioned fifth episode in a car with Birdie, his presence doesn't stop cutting deep, nor showing the scars that it's carving, even just over the phone. It's hardly astonishing, then, that Fake is impossible to stop binge-watching once its first instalment puts its pieces in place: that warning-sign initial date, Birdie's loneliness trumping her niggling uncertainty, society's conditioning that to be a woman of a certain age without a partner and kids is to be a failure, the disappointment that we can all direct at ourselves if we haven't met our own expectations and, of course, the clash of Joe's dubiousness and his magnetism, for starters. It's also far from surprising that when the route to the airport beckons, and one of 2024's best episodes of TV with it, Fake's audience is right there in the Uber with Birdie, riding and feeling the same bumps. Check out the trailer for Fake below: Fake streams via Paramount+ from Thursday, July 4, 2024.
All things are relative. If you think you know the meaning of hospitality, a visit to Epocha may force you to reconsider. You probably weren't aware that a weeknight restaurant reservation could leave you with such elation; a feeling of having been hugged by the walls, filled with liquid gold and gently guided through a journey of passion and indulgence isn't a regular occurrence. It's special stuff. When I first walked into Epocha I had no idea what it was. I hadn't read any reviews; I hadn't looked at the menu online and semi-decided what to order. I had no expectations, which is perhaps what made the whole experience glimmer in the way that it did. Epocha — located on the city fringe on Carlton's garden-facing Rathdowne Street — is unassuming and brilliant. From the Victorian terrace facade to the dim and demure dining room, there's something stately about this restaurant. Its high, homely ceilings, the elegantly mismatched glassware and cosy capacity has sentiments in European dinner parties, but, from both the service and the offering, this is no novice operation. First, the service. Both owners, Angie Giannakodakis (ex Press Club) and Guy Holder, are hospo old hands, bringing with them years of experience to Epocha. And it shows. Both Angie and Guy are fixtures of the dining room — offering a back-story to any dish, divulging the preparation process and effortlessly flitting between conversation and a service so personal it's a rarity even in fine dining. Mention you're driving home and Angie will remember to fill your wine glass sparingly; ask how to fillet a fish and Guy will possibly do it at your table. Along with sommelier Danny Gibson, you're in bona fide hospitality hands. Like all good European meals, everything at Epocha is made to share. Mini crumpets with honeycomb ($7.50) come fresh out of the oven, as does the moreish dark rye bread that is plonked on your table in a cloth bag next to a hunk of butter. The paper-thin swordfish carpaccio is right on and the chicken liver pate ($10) is outstanding — you'll be hard-pressed not to lick your fingers of every purple smear. The light-as-air sliced Scotch fillet with bone marrow sauce will melt in your mouth like nothing else ($80 for 1kg), while the whole baked fish with lemon and dill is perfect for a table of seafood fiends (in fact, these two work best together). Sides are ordered separately; ergo, the duck fat roast potatoes must be ordered. Wine is available by the glass and on recommendation; you're best to trust the experts and let them choose. Maybe you want a liqueur? All you have to do is mention ouzo and Angie will be pouring you a glass before you can hesitate. Oh, and the dessert trolley will be rolling around — just try and resist the rotating sweet selections when they are practically on your plate. Even without the dessert trolley clouding my judgement, Epocha is an anomaly in hospitality. Exceeding the norm in both excellent service and incredible cuisine, the personification of the restaurant in Angie and Guy make this a place you won't fleetingly forget. It's one to cherish.
If anyone has treated Melbourne to a contemporary taste of the Middle East, it's Joseph Abboud, who first opened Rumi on the Brunswick East end of Lygon Street back in 2006. With this hugely popular venture, he helped lay a path for plenty of other Middle Eastern restaurants in Melbourne to follow and expand upon. Then, at the end of 2023, he packed up Rumi and moved it around the corner to East Brunswick Village. Next door, he also teamed up with his wife Nat to create The Rocket Society — a small neighbourhood wine bar with next-level mezze. When we revisited Rumi in the new location, we quickly breathed a deep sigh of relief. The team hadn't tried to reinvent the much-loved restaurant. They didn't transform the menu or the friendly and highly personable style of hospitality. Instead, all that changed is that the team improved the wine menu, installed a new charcoal grill and designed a space that's altogether more polished and grown-up compared to its previous site. You'll still find the moreish sigara boregi — crispy pastry cigars filled with haloumi, feta and kasseri — the fried cauliflower; Persian meatballs; and incredible tiny Turkish beef dumplings that come doused in tomato sauce, kashk yoghurt and nutty butter. Think of the dish as a Turkish pasta. It's a must-order. The Rumi set menu remains, too, and is still really affordable. For $65 per person, you get a bunch of dips, bread, cheesy cigars and pickles to start. You then get meatballs, a selection of grilled and fried vegetables, a melt-in-your-mouth lamb shoulder (another longtime menu item), barbecue chicken wings and a couple of salads. Turkish delights finish off the feast. And while the food remains much the same, the drinks got a proper glow up in the new location. Pre-dinner sips include sherry, vermouth, amaro and arak — a Lebanese spirit made by extracting anise seeds in grape brandy. There's also a stack of local beers and signature cocktails made with a Middle Eastern edge. Then there are the wines. There are over 100 of them, hailing from Australia and around the Middle East, on the Rumi menu. They're split into the following categories: mates and local legends; the old, old world; funky trendy; and classic and conventional. So, whether you're into your orange wines and pét-nats, prefer your Aussie classics, or are keen to try something new from further afield, this bar's got the goods. Rumi remains a true Melbourne treasure. It even regularly books out on weekday nights, as locals flock here on the regular. Be sure to book ahead if you want to try some of the best Middle Eastern food in the city.
A few months after Tropfest's near-death experience, founder John Polson has gone into greater detail on the alleged "financial mismanagement" that almost led to the festival's downfall. Appearing on triple j's Hack with Tom Tilley, Polson spoke about the moment when he first found out about the event's economic woes, and appeared to imply that blame lay at the feet of his business partner, Tropfest managing director Michael Laverty. "We raised well over a million dollars towards Tropfest last year and I got an email in early November saying we had not enough money to move forward with the event," Polson said on the Thursday, February 12 radio show. "It was obviously an incredible shock and a devastating blow." Polson claims to have documents proving the financial mismanagement, but declined to share them due to his impending court case against Laverty's company. "I don't believe Michael Laverty did the cliche thing of going off and spending it in the Bahamas but clearly something went wrong," he said. "There was massive, massive financial mismanagement that went down with this event and it's terrible and I'm trying to fix it." Tropfest was thrown a lifeline in December when CGU insurance stepped in to fund this year's festival, which will take place this Sunday in Sydney's centennial gardens. Polson is currently working on plans to secure the festival's long term future, and recently launched a crowdfunding campaign which has a week left to reach its $100,000 target. Polson also spoke about Hollywood star Mel Gibson, who was this week announced as a Tropfest judge alongside actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Gibney, director Jocelyn Moorhouse and cinematographer Don McAlpine. The news raised some eyebrows, given Gibson's unfortunate habit of saying appalling things whenever he's near a microphone. Nevertheless, Polson defended the choice, calling Gibson "an Australian icon." "As a 15-year-old in 1980 I went to see Mad Max and watched it three or four times over," said Polson. "What's happened to him in the last few years you'd have to ask him about." Via Hack. Image: Tropfest.
