Whether you're in lockdown, working from home or just social distancing in general, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past few months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Earlier in the year, Melbourne's zoos started live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong, the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opted for a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has grown over the course of 2020, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. In the latest webcam setup at Melbourne Zoo, a lens has been trained on the site's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. They were born in February this year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r14IcXmQMyg&feature=emb_logo The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopard cubs and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
Yellowjackets wants viewers to be its bloody Valentine in 2025 — and more cannibalism, more haunting reminders of what it takes to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash, and more hunting in both of the hit thriller series' timelines are in store. In November 2024, not only was a Friday, February 14, 2025 return date locked in for the show's third season, but fans scored a first glimpse. Now comes a proper trailer, complete with chases, the faces of the dead popping back up and pondering who should be eaten (or should've been by now). Two years after its second season, Yellowjackets will make is comeback on Valentine's Day to kick off its latest round, again following its characters both in the immediate aftermath of their traumatic accident and when the past keeps intruding on their present after decades have gone by. As viewers discovered when it debuted in 2021 and became one of the best new shows of that year, the instantly intriguing (and excellent) series follows a New Jersey high school's girls soccer team in the 90s after their plane plummets into the forest, and also checks in with everyone that's made it out alive 25 years later. Across two seasons so far, life and friendship have proven complex for Yellowjackets' core quartet of Shauna (The Tattooist of Auschwitz's Melanie Lynskey as an adult, and also No Return's Sophie Nélisse as a teenager), Natalie (I'm a Virgo's Juliette Lewis, plus Heretic's Sophie Thatcher), Taissa (Law & Order's Tawny Cypress, and also Scream VI's Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Misty (Wednesday's Christina Ricci, as well as Atlas' Samantha Hanratty). The latest trailer for season three puts it this way: "once upon a time, a bunch of teenage girls got stranded in the wilderness — and they went completely nuts." The full setup: back in 1996, en route to a big match in Seattle on a private aircraft, Shauna, Natalie, Taissa, Misty and the rest of their teammates entered Lost territory. The accident saw everyone who walked away stranded in the wilderness — and those who then made it through that ordeal stuck out there for 19 months, living their worst Alive-meets-Lord of the Flies lives. Thanks to the new sneak peek at what's to come, get ready for howling, masks, more fighting, ghosts and the present-day crew trying to work out who is after them. After swiftly getting picked up for a second season because its first was that ace, Yellowjackets was then renewed for a third season before that second group of episodes even aired. In Australia, viewers can watch via Paramount+. In New Zealand, the series streams via Neon. In season three, the returning cast — which includes Simone Kessell (Muru) as the older Lottie and Lauren Ambrose (Servant) as the older Van, characters played in their younger guises by Australian actors Courtney Eaton (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Liv Hewson (Party Down) — will be joined by Hilary Swank (Ordinary Angels) and Joel McHale (The Bear). And from season two, Elijah Wood (Bookworm) is also back. Check out the latest trailer for Yellowjackets season three below: Season three of Yellowjackets will start streaming from Friday, February 14, 2025 via Paramount+ in Australia — and streams via Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of season one and review of season two, plus our interview with Melanie Lynskey. Via Variety.
What do The Simpsons, Star Wars and Shrek have in common? They've all graced the big screen, they clearly share a love for the letter S and they're each huge hits. Oh, and they've all inspired their own firmly adults-only stage parodies, as pop-culture favourites starting with the 19th letter of the alphabet happen to do in Australia, it seems. Somebody once told us that Shreklesque is the burlesque and drag take pop culture's favourite green ogre that you didn't know you needed — and we're telling you that now. (And no, nobody informed you two decades ago that the animated hit would turn out like this, because no one could've predicted it.) On the bill at the aptly named show: the kind of irreverent and raunchy take on all things Shrek that The Bad Collective will be serving up with its upcoming The Stripsons, too — and, while Shreklesque has been around for a couple of years now, earning awards and acclaim in the process, the Aussie production is hitting the road for a national and New Zealand tour in 2022. That means that it's time to make a date with a production that might share a general storyline and a fondness for the colour green with the much less satirical — and actually family-friendly — Broadway hit Shrek the Musical, which came our way a year or so back, but couldn't be more different in a heap of ways. If you're wondering who had the brainwave to turn Shrek into a burlesque show, that'd be Trigger Happy as Shreklesque's creator and director. For this tour, the show's cast includes Bebe Gunn, Rainbow, Tugboat Tiffy, Baron Von Envy, Henny Spaghetti, Barbie Banks, Selin Tian, Rosaline DeRussi, Indea Sekula and De La Vinx. Wearing green is obviously recommended — although you'll be seeing plenty of it on-stage anyway. And if this is exactly your sense of humour when it comes to beloved pop-culture commodities, all that glitters is gold, naturally. SHREKLESQUE AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022 DATES: February 18–20: The Flamingo at Gluttony, Adelaide June 3–4: Enmore Theatre, Sydney June 11: The Princess Theatre, Launceston June 15–18: The Tivoli, Brisbane June 24: The Astor, Perth June 29–July 2: Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne July 8–9: The Opera House, Wellington July 16: Entertainment Centre, Darwin Shreklesque tours Australia and New Zealand throughout 2022, starting in Adelaide in February, then picking back up again in June and July. Head to the show's website for further details and tickets. Images: SomeFX.
The location: a picturesque Hawaiian resort. The clientele: rich and mostly loving it. The vibe: largely demanding, entitled and oblivious that their attitude isn't everyone's idea of normal, at least when it comes to the bulk of the guests staying on the premises and expecting the hotel's staff to cater to their every whim. That's where The White Lotus finds its setting, and the type of folks the HBO series places in its suitably sun-dappled frames as well. But there's an anxious, dark and complex undercurrent pulsating beneath every gorgeous beach, luxurious suite and cashed-up patron — and a strong awareness of the chasm between the well-to-do customers and the struggling and striving hotel staff, too. The latest series from writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status), The White Lotus splits its time between some of the resort's current crop of guests and a selection of its employees. Business hotshot Nicole (Connie Britton, Bombshell) is on holiday with her husband Mark (Steve Zahn, Where'd You Go, Bernadette), teenage son Quinn (Fred Hechinger, Fear Street), college-student daughter Olivia (Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria) and the latter's pal Paula (Brittany O'Grady, Little Voice), but tension keeps festering — Nicole can't help working, Mark receives some unexpected news, Olivia keeps kicking Quinn out of their room and Paula hits it off with Kai (Kekoa Kekumano, Aquaman), one of the staff. Newlyweds Rachel (Alexandra Daddario, Songbird) and Shane (Jake Lacy, Mrs America) are on their honeymoon, but he's too fixated with the fact that they didn't get an even fancier suite, to the point of constantly harassing the hotel's Aussie manager Armond (Murray Bartlett, Tales of the City). Meanwhile, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge, Promising Young Woman) just lost her mother, is working through her grief and leans heavily on spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, Insecure). Back in 2011–13, long before The White Lotus became one of 2021's best new shows — and best shows overall as well — White spent two seasons crafting Enlightened, the excellent two-season Laura Dern-starring comedy-drama that was cancelled much too soon. It followed an executive who broke down at work and, when she stepped back into her life, wanted something completely different not just for herself, but for and from the world. It isn't linked, narrative-wise, to White's latest TV miniseries. The same mood flows through, however. And, in terms of sinking its claws into the affluent, eat the rich-style, The White Lotus also pairs nicely with the White-penned Beatriz at Dinner, especially as it examines the differences between the haves and the have nots. The result: a perceptive, alluring and excellently cast satire that hooks viewers from the outset, and then keeps them both guessing and obsessed. In its opening scene, the series shows Shane accompanying a body on the way home, so the audience know this'll end with a death — and wondering who, how and why is one reason that The White Lotus is so compelling. But as each episode unfurls, it's clear that these characters are reassessing what they want out of life as well. The privileged aren't doing it willingly, unsurprisingly, but those at their beck and call definitely are. Here, a glam and glossy getaway becomes a hellish trap, magnifying glass and mirror, with everyone's issues and problems only augmented by their time at the eponymous location. This twisty, astute, savage and hilarious storyline will wrap up after six episodes, in what was meant to be one of HBO's many miniseries. That's the only bad part about the show — but, ahead of its final instalment, HBO has just announced that it's going to bring The White Lotus back for a second run. The next batch of episodes will tell a different chapter in a new place, focusing on a fresh group of holiday-goers at another White Lotus property. Just when they'll arrive hasn't been revealed as yet. Fingers crossed that it's as engrossing and biting as this initial season, though — and that it sports a score of tunes that are just as enticing and also eerie, too. Check out the trailer below: The first five episodes of The White Lotus season one are available to stream via Binge, with the sixth episode dropping on Monday, August 16.
Frankston has had a major glow up in recent years. Walking around town, you'll now find stacks of busy cafes and restaurants, unique street art at every turn and all kinds of local community events — think film festivals, block parties and monthly markets. The beachside life is also booming. Kids and adults alike head to the famous Frankston Pier to jump into the calm waters, or simply choose to lay on the long stretch of beach with a book in hand. Restaurants and bars also line the shore, perfect for tucking into fish and chips or sipping on sunset spritzes. To celebrate the locale's best bits, we've teamed up with Frankston City Council to create this 48-hour guide that will take you from the sun-soaked seaside to the hidden laneways and rooftop bars. [caption id="attachment_890961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Oliver's Corner[/caption] FRIDAY One great way to spend your first afternoon in Frankston is by hitting up the Beer and Spirits Trail. This self-guided tour takes you to a series of local breweries and distilleries — from Seaford Pier all the way down to Frankston Pier. It's the perfect way to get acquainted with the beachside 'burb. Follow this up with dinner at Oliver's Corner. This waterside restaurant and bar sits within the Frankston Yacht Club and is one of the best places to be when that sun starts setting. Grab some arancini, a hearty pub-style Italian feed and a few cocktails as locals go on their evening stroll along the boardwalk. Alternatively, if you happen to be in Frankston on Friday, March 24, you've got to go to The Block Party. The free event will see food trucks, live bands, street performers and local alcohol vendors descend on Frankston's laneways for one night only. It is all about celebrating the local arts scene – especially the street art. And if you're keen for a kick-on, head to The Deck for live music and DJs on the rooftop. It's the ideal way to spend a balmy evening in Melbourne — dancing through your evening as the wind blows and the cocktails flow. SATURDAY The monthly Little Beauty Market is not to be missed (if you're in Frankston on the right day). Head down in the morning to check out design, art, food and craft stalls selling local wares. It's a standout way to experience, and financially support, Frankston's flourishing community spirit. Once you're done with the market, you'll be in need of a morning brew. Thankfully, you're spoilt for choice in these parts. Two Boys, One Beagle and Mr Frankie are both brilliant laidback brunch spots — with the latter open for live music nights on Fridays and Saturdays, too. A trip to Frankston is not complete without taking a street art walking tour, either guided or solo. You'll find colourful art down laneways, in car parks and etched across multi-level buildings — we think you'll be surprised by just how much there is to see. Frankston City Street Art Tours was even named the Australian Street Art Awards' Best Street Art Tour in 2022, so you're pretty much guaranteed a brilliant experience with them. Once you're done with your afternoon jaunt around Frankston, a refreshing bev is a must. We recommend making your way over to Hotel Lona for rooftop drinks with a side of live music. For dinner, we couldn't decide between two truly great options — so here are both. First, there's Geon Bae, the spot where you'll feast on top-notch Korean barbecue dishes — cooking up your own dinner on a hot plate. But if you're in the mood for seafood and tapas, give Spanish Bar a go. This unassuming beachside restaurant serves up authentic Spanish grub — expect empanadas and croquettes for starters, share-style serves of paella and jugs of sangria for big groups, and the obligatory churros for dessert. Once you're done feasting, sit back and digest while hitting up a show at Frankston Art Centre. Here, you'll find comedy gigs, theatre performances and all other manner of entertainment throughout the year. [caption id="attachment_890963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] G Mckenzie (Unsplash)[/caption] SUNDAY Kick off your Sunday morning in Frankston with a coffee from Common Folk Coffee, or get some hearty and healthy brunch from 6 Nutrition. Next up? Sneak in a late-morning trip to the McClelland Gallery sculpture park, exploring art and nature together. Walk around the 16-hectare property to see large sculptures seamlessly set within wild surrounds or come for one of the temporary exhibitions or special events. Now, we have saved the best for last. Our hot tip is to spend the rest of your Sunday down at Frankston's waterfront. Start at the famous Frankston Pier, jumping into the water with locals who'll spend the whole day waterside — listening to music and paddling about the cool waters. You can also walk along the coast to the Seaford Foreshore for more laidback swimming and relaxing on the beach. Learn more about Frankston by visiting the Frankston City Council website. Images: Frankston City Council
If you've been perplexed, provoked or just plain pissed off by Shia LaBeouf's antics, you can now gain some insights. In an exclusive interview with Dazed, artists Luke Turner and Nastja Rönkkö open up about collaborating with the Nymphomaniac star on #IAMSORRY. "At its core, the most fascinating part of the performance was whether people would see Shia as a person, flesh and bones and soul, or as an object, a celebrity," says Nastja. "I also find it quite revealing that whereas in the past everyone wanted to become celebrities, today everyone wants to be an artist. For me, this opens up questions of whether our value systems are moving towards something more meaningful." Shia copped quite a bit of flak last year when Daniel Clowes fans made plagiarism accusations. As far they were concerned, LaBoeuf's new film Howard Cantour.com (2012) was far too close to Clowes' comic Justin M. Damiano (2007) for comfort. Previously, in an inflamed letter to Alec Baldwin, he'd passed off several paragraphs written by Tom Chiarella as his own. As if that wasn't attention enough — or perhaps because he sought to shift the focal point of the public eye — he turned up to the Berlin Film Festival wearing a paper bag bearing the statement, 'I am not famous anymore', quoted Eric Cantona at the Nymphomaniac press conference, and vanished. Some people were sympathetic; others expressed outrage. Either way, the stunt swamped arts headlines all over the globe. Then, like any good Matthew Arnold scholar, he sought refuge in art. For six days, a Los Angeles gallery hosted Shia's performance #IAMSORRY, which involved the either beleaguered or exceptionally publicity-hungry actor donning a tuxedo and paper bag and crying in public. Visitors reacted by losing their temper, taking selfies or offering congratulations. It was a multiplatform project that also played out on Shia's Twitter, in skywriting and a university seminar in which he read Guy Debord to students. In Nastja's view, Shia "made a genuine mistake during the process of trying to find his directorial feet" and has "undoubtedly regretted it deeply ever since". The actor approached the pair while the plagiarism controversy was going on. "Right from our very first meeting, I had been convinced of his commitment to his art and the trueness of his aim," Luke says. The artists both indicate that they intend to keep working with Shia, so expect to feel that vague annoyance towards him for some time yet. Read more about the history of Shia's new art form in our feature on ten crazy things done in the name of performance art.
Along with the Tokyo fish market, Kyoto during cherry blossom season and eating as much ramen as possible, spying Mout Fuji ranks highly on most traveller's Japanese to-do list. Actually getting a glimpse of the mountain isn't always as easy as it sounds, however. If the weather isn't right, even someone staying in a hotel specifically built to give visitors the iconic view they're after might be greeted by clouds rather than a towering peak. One such hotel, Yamanashi prefecture's aptly named Hotel Mt Fuji, has come up with a solution. If you visit between January 9 and 19, and you're unable to enjoy the sight of Mount Fuji for more than a minute between checking in and checking out — including at night — then you'll receive a free night's stay next time you return. And, while you're sitting, waiting and trying to see the mountain, you can do so in their semi-openair hot water bath. There are a few conditions, understandably. The deal is only available to guests who checkout after 7am, so anyone who leaves before the sun comes up the next day isn't eligible. It won't be offered to people who book a stay either the same day, or the day prior, to avoid folks purposefully planning to visit in bad weather conditions. And, it is being offered during a window of time considered to be peak Mount Fuji-viewing season. Still, if spending a night with a stellar vantage of the enormous landmass is in your short-term future, it's a decent backup plan. Better than simply buying some of the plentiful Mount Fuji merchandise on offer anywhere you look, or trying your luck seeing it from quite the distance from Tokyo Tower. Via PR Times.
Anyone who makes it acceptable to eat pudding for breakfast is okay by me, which is precisely why Twenty & Six Espresso have me here before 9am on a crisp, fingertip-freezing Melbourne morning. The lines are blurred as to whether black sticky rice is technically a breakfast food or a dessert, but it's best not to ask questions — particularly when it tastes this good. There's no chill in here, especially after you've popped a few spoonfuls of the warm, creamy, sugary coconut milk concoction into your mouth. This dish is a staple for Twenty & Six and — after a brief hiatus — it's back on the menu topped with lychee, pear, toasted coconut and a sesame snap ($15). But rice pudding isn't the only thing that keeps people coming to this North Melbourne cafe, now over two years since opening. Amongst other things, there are the personable owners (Nedim and Madja), the excellent coffee (Seven Seeds and a rotating weekly blend) and an inventive menu in that rivals — if not surpasses — Auction Rooms around the corner. The Queensberry Street shopfront is small, but the most is made of the space with a minimal design, and a striking use of storage. Wooden crates affixed to the wall hold back issues of Dumbo Feather; tables for two are divided by hanging exposed lights. It's nice and light and, as you might expect, it's hard to get a table on the weekend — particularly one of the coveted spots in their quaint, sunny courtyard out back. The menu is excruciatingly hard to choose from, which, considering how small it actually is, is a good indicator of the quality of the food. The apricot, coconut and fig granola with poached quince ($12) is made in-house and, if you know your muesli, it's certainly worth a try. Braised mushrooms, asparagus, ricotta, salsa verde and a poached egg sit atop a crisp beacon of fried polenta ($18), and makes for a perfect blend of produce for breakfast or lunch. After something super sweet? Go for the apple and rhubarb brioche French toast with house made honeycomb parfait and vanilla labne ($17). Both sweet and savoury are toyed with at Twenty & Six, so whether you're into to rice pudding or polenta for breakfast (or not), you'll still have plenty of options — choosing will be your only dilemma.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: when Hans Zimmer composes a film score, audiences remember it. His list of credits is as massive as his love of music, spanning everything from Dune, Top Gun: Maverick and No Time to Die through to Prehistoric Planet, Wonder Woman 1984 and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run in just the past three years alone. Also on the German composer's resume: helping put the bounce in The Lion King's score — both versions — and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes. And, he worked on Thelma & Louise, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, Blade Runner 2049 and more. We could keen naming titles — flicks like Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, 12 Years a Slave, Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible II and Pearl Harbour, for instance — but all movie lovers know that the best way to appreciate the the Oscar-, Golden Globe-, Grammy- and Tony-winning talent is to listen. And, that's exactly what the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra wants you to do on two big summer nights, thanks to its returning The Music of Hans Zimmer performances at Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 16. [caption id="attachment_724809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hans Zimmer[/caption] Sadly, especially if you caught his 2019 Australian tour, Zimmer himself won't be there. But Australian conductor and composer Nicholas Buc will lead the charge as the MSO plays through a selection of Zimmer's work, focusing on tunes from flicks like The Dark Knight, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lion King. Buc is no stranger to Zimmer's tunes, after conducting the world-premiere live concert for The Lion King. And, he's no stranger to this kind of event in general, with doing the same for Beauty and the Beast, and just leading live film concerts around the country and the world, also on his resume. When MSO first performed The Music of Hans Zimmer back in May, Buc was also guiding the orchestra. Returning after those autumn dates sold out, this Zimmer ode will also feature The Art of the Score podcast hosts Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding talking audiences through the music with Buc. The Music of Hans Zimmer will return Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 16. Tickets go on sale from 10am AEDT on Thursday, August 24 — for further details, visit the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's website.
When you've been screening movies under the stars for 25 years, it's worth celebrating that fact. And when you're hosting your newest season of outdoor flicks after a year of significant worldwide change, giving viewers something comfortable and reliable to watch is a mighty sensible approach. Moonlight Cinema is doing both when it returns to Melbourne in January 2021, all by packing its program with a heap of film favourites — so get ready to kick back on the grass and watch Love Actually, Bohemian Rhapsody, 10 Things I Hate About You, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Toy Story and Dirty Dancing. Indeed, there's a definite retro air to Moonlight's lineup this year — which arrives after the outdoor cinema first announced that it was definitely returning in this chaotic period, and then revealed its exact dates. Between Thursday, January 7–Sunday, April 25, the event will head to Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens with a heap of old-school flicks. You'll also be able to see some recent releases, in case you haven't had the chance since cinemas started reopening (back in November in Melbourne). In the classic camp, a heap of rom-coms will help you feel warm and fuzzy, with The Holiday, Pretty Woman and Notting Hill on the bill. From 2020 and 2021's new releases, there's a little bit of everything. Happiest Season keeps the romantic comedy theme going, the Sia-directed Music will screen in the evening air and new Aussie crime drama The Dry will play surrounded by plenty of grass. There's also Russell Crowe getting angry over the phone and in his car in thriller Unhinged, superhero flick Wonder Woman 1984 doing its thing and stellar documentary I Am Greta. Some slots in the program haven't been filled yet, so it's worth checking exactly what's playing on your preferred date. And, because Moonlight announces its lineup month by month, it has only revealed its January slate. It's also worth remembering that the outdoor cinema is BYO — and there'll be food trucks, a bar, snacks and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along, too. Moonlight Cinema kicks off in Melbourne on Thursday, January 7, running through until Sunday, April 25. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the cinema's website.
Melbourne's Vue de Monde might have some high-rise competition next year, with the city set to get a new 5-star hospitality venue — 140 metres off the ground. Like so many other projects, Sky Bar Melbourne was meant to launch this year, but COVID and construction delays have pushed the opening out to March, 2022. Still, we've got some early-release images and details to share with you. You'll find SkyBar on the 40th floor of Oakwood Premier in Southbank. Guests will enter via a private elevator in the main lobby. In the spirit of other ambitious, high-concept restaurants (we're looking at you, Society) the venue will feature five distinct dining areas, with seating for up to 250 patrons. There'll be a VIP room, star-like chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a floating al fresco terrace, immersive lighting projects (courtesy of The Sequence Group) and the main event: a 5-star restaurant named Strato with seven-metre windows lapping right around the venue. Depending on where you sit, you'll get 360-degree views of Port Phillip Bay, the CBD skyline, the Yarra and the MCG. The sheer altitude of Sky Bar also means you'll be able to watch the weather sweep across Melbourne, and there'll be some pretty epic sunsets from the western side of the building. Don't be surprised if you're dining in the clouds, come winter. "We couldn't be more excited to open Sky Bar Melbourne," says Norman Khan, Managing Director of Yarra Hotel Group. "Our vision for this venue has been to show off our amazing city in all its glory. We know the past 18 months have been hard and dining out is dearly missed. We've put a lot of effort into making Sky Bar Melbourne an entire experience, and the venue has been developed by a team of people who are passionate about hospitality." It's clear the guys from Yarra Hotel Group are shooting for the moon with SkyBar. The menu concept for Strato alone promises "smoke, vapour, embers, levitation and nitrogen". It'll be interesting to see whether the CBD embraces sky-high dining, and how SkyBar figures with the city's post-COVID hospo recovery. Definitely, one to watch. Sky Bar Melbourne is set to launch in March 2022. We'll bring you more details closer to the launch date. Sky Bar Outlook: Rhiannon Taylor UPDATE: Since opening in July 2022, the sky-high venues at 202 Normanby Street, Southbank, have been rebranded as one all-encompassing bar and eatery named Strato Melbourne. Find out more at the website.
You could spend a weekend in Broken Hill doing nothing but gazing at the sky. In autumn, huge cloud formations battle against the sun all day long, and, come evening, you've never seen so many stars. Perhaps it's this, along with the striking red earth of the surrounding desert, that attracts so many artists to this 18,000-person outback town, about 1200 kilometres west of Sydney and 850 kilometres north of Melbourne. Between gallery visits you can wander among grand 19th century architecture, have a yarn in proper country pubs (you'll be getting burgers, not sliders, 'round 'ere) and head underground to experience some legendary history, from mining to illicit two-up. Plus, there's a museum dedicated to Mad Max 2. Hit the road. [caption id="attachment_580402" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Simon Yeo via Flickr[/caption] SEE AND DO Let's start with the art. 90 minutes before sundown, drive to the 180-hectare Living Desert Reserve. On a hilltop affording 360-degree views, there's a dozen sculptures created by artists from all over the world, and strategically positioned to catch the sun's dying rays. The nearby 1.5-kilometre cultural trail features epic Sturt's Desert Pea displays and Indigenous story poles. Back in town, immerse yourself in the world's biggest acrylic painting on canvas by a single artist (Ando's 100-metre x 12-metre landscape), swing by Pro Hart Gallery and ramble around the many spaces of the high-ceilinged Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. To get the lowdown on the area's history, join a Silver City Sights and Heritage Tour. In a comfy, air-conditioned bus, you'll cover 50 kilometres and over 100 years — from BHP's first mining of silver and lead in 1885 (BHP, by the way, stands for Broken Hill Proprietary) to the 2001 building of the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, which commemorates more than 800 miners killed on the job. [caption id="attachment_575825" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jasmine Crittenden[/caption] Mining is still a dangerous business, but it was way more terrifying in the 1880s. Get acquainted with its historical extremes at the Day Dream Mine, 33 kilometres northwest of Broken Hill. Back then, workers did it so tough for so little, their bosses handed out opium to ease the pain — presumably cheaper than paying sick leave — and when the drugs wore off, horehound beer was the next refuge, often sending drinkers blind for a day or two (hence the phrase 'blind drunk'). You'll hear these and other tales while squeezing through tunnels 30 metres underground. Recover with scones and tea in the homestead. [caption id="attachment_582402" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Amanda Slater via Flickr[/caption] Another 15 or so kilometres west, the outback proper begins at Silverton. Home to just over 600 people, this tiny town peaked in the 1890s when silver was found nearby, and is now an arty enclave, where donkeys roam wild and days end best with a beer at the famous Silverton Hotel. Among its crowded walls — which are hung with guitars, trumpets, Akubras and empty stubbies — you'll find souvenirs from the many film crews to have passed through, from Wake In Fright (1970) to Mad Max 2 (1981) to Razorback (1984). Delve deeper into movie history at the Mad Max 2 Museum. Opened by obsessive collector Adrian Bennett in 2010, this shed is crammed with behind-the-scenes photos, costumes and vehicles, including the original gyrocopter and interceptor. When you're max-ed out, meander around Silverton, visiting The Horizon Gallery, the John Dynan Art Gallery and the Silverton Gaol Museum, before driving four kilometres north to Mundi Mundi Plains to watch the sun set over what looks like the edge of the world. EAT AND DRINK In most of Broken Hill's pubs and restaurants, you can count on hearty, meat-heavy cooking — mammoth-sized feeds that reward a long day of hard yakka. At The Palace Hotel — where Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette stopped over during The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert — dig into crispy-skinned, grilled Atlantic salmon with dill, creamy garlic sauce, mash, veg and a splash of Chardonnay. If you're dining on a Friday, hang around afterwards for a game of two-up — The Palace is the only place in Australia where it's legal all year-long. Before 1984, you would've dropped into Broken Hill's illicit two-up school, held behind a green door on Crystal Lane. Two blocks away is the majestic, heritage-listed Astra. This swish hotel, built in the 1890s, has eight suites and a big, shady verandah. Downstairs, relax over a cocktail in the Red Lush Lounge or slide into a cosy, high-backed chair in Trinders restaurant for a modern Australian feast, like their signature surf 'n' turf: fillet steak topped with king prawns, grilled banana, hollandaise and seasonal veggies. There are a few cafes bringing more contemporary fare to the outback. Get your single origin coffee fix at health-minded, family-owned The Silly Goat on the main drag. Among the sunflowers, burnt orange feature walls and timber tables, you'll also find their "turmeric elixir", cold-pressed juices, house-baked treats and inner-city-style mains, like the haloumi burger with mushies, beetroot relish and aioli. A few blocks to the northwest, outside the GP Super Clinic, is The Caff, opened by local couple Summa and Nathan Rayner in February 2014. The fun fit-out was a 100 percent DIY job, from the blue tartan seats ripped straight out of a school bus to the recycled wooden tables. Every dish on the menu is made from scratch. Try just-baked waffles packed with zucchini and corn and stacked with chilli con carne and guacamole, a gourmet pie or some bread and butter pudding-style French toast. And just south of the town centre, there's Bells Milk Bar. This isn't one of those trendy, ironic, retro-themed places — it's the real thing. It's been open since the 1930s and the decor dates to the 1950s. The syrups, cordials and ice cream are all made in-house in small batches, according to secret recipes. Choose from over 40 milkshake flavours or 16 spiders, slip into a booth in the back room and crank some Bill Haley and The Comets on the juke box. STAY For oodles of space and light, a king-size bed, a spa and a separate lounge area — including your own mini-kitchen — check into the Red Earth Motel. The spick-and-span interiors are inspired by the desert. Think luxe white linen dotted with earthy-patterned pillows and lounge chairs in reds and ochres. If you're travelling in a group, book into a two- or three-bedroom apartment. The shaded swimming pool lets you cool off after a busy day of sun and adventures. Meanwhile, you can sleep under an original artwork at Ibis Styles. Owned by locals Michael and Dana Farcich for 27 years, these lodgings were known as the Mine Host Motel before being acquired by Accor in the mid-2000s. 42 two-toned rooms stretch across two storeys, encircling a central pool. There's also an on-site restaurant, the glass-walled, green-and-purple-lit S-Que, where country dishes are given fancy touches. The steak, for example, is a 450-gram, chargrilled Tomahawk behemoth, with kipfler potato chips, rosemary salt, house coleslaw and portobello mushroom sauce. You probably won't need to eat again until you're at the other end of the drive home. Jasmine Crittenden travelled as a guest of Destination NSW. Top image: Simon Yeo via Flickr.
Huge news: Darlinghurst is set to become home to Soho House Sydney, Australia's first outpost for the ultra-exclusive membership club. The much-hyped global brand already has locations across the world from Berlin to Miami, and is now in the process of transforming a building on the corner of Crown and Foley Street above Shady Pines Saloon, with ambitious plans in the works to completely reshape the space. The five-storey development is currently subject to City of Sydney approval, but is set to feature a variety of spaces both indoor and outdoor that are designed to facilitate social gatherings, including multiple restaurants and bars across the various levels. Plans submitted to the city council also show a proposed gym, cabaret facilities, and a rooftop terrace and pool. The plans also reveal anticipated changes to the facade, replacing the building's fairly rundown exterior with a simple, sleek and modern cream and brown design in line with other Soho Houses around the world. Soho House is working with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (The Old Clare Hotel, Bondi Pavilion) in creating the proposed design. "It's possibly one of the worst-kept secrets, but we're so excited to confirm that we will be opening a Soho House in Sydney in the future," says Soho House Membership Director Dominique Bellas. [caption id="attachment_900975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects[/caption] "While we don't have more details to share at this time, we continue to grow our Cities Without Houses community in Australia and are looking forward to bringing our members a week-long Soho House experience for Sydney's first South by Southwest." As Bellas stated, the Soho House Sydney announcement comes as the internationally renowned brand hits Australia for SXSW Sydney — taking over The Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale. The dreamy accommodation, pub and rooftop bar is being treated to a Soho House transformation for the eight-day festival. Soho House and Cities Without Houses members — whether they be travelling Down Under for the festival, or local jetsetters and creatives — will be treated to daily programming and events designed to be reminiscent of what you'd experience at Soho Houses around the world. Included in the events will be a performance curated by Secret Sounds, a one-night-only dinner from British chef Darren Robertson (Three Blue Ducks, Rocker), an art installation from Paul Davies and an industry event with the not-for-profit Women In Music Australia. If you want to join the Soho House community in preparation for the inaugural Australian outpost to open, you can apply for a Cities Without Houses membership, which will grant you access to the brand's SXSW Sydney takeover of The Old Clare. [caption id="attachment_706208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Old Clare Rooftop[/caption] Australia's first-ever Soho House was originally set to open on Domain Road in Melbourne's South Yarra, but developers were forced to ditch plans at the direction of VCAT after strong opposition from local councils and a residents' group. The Darlinghurst building earmarked for Soho House Sydney has a storied history, taking many forms over the years including Bolot's Embassy Dancing Academy between 1924–30, the Playbox Theatre and Stanley Twig's auction house in the 1930s and, most recently, housing several retail tenants throughout the 2000s including an espresso bar, convenience store and a nail salon. Now boasting over 40 houses across the globe, Soho House first opened in London in 1995 as a private members club for clientele in the creative sphere. It has since spread throughout Europe and North America, opening restaurants, cinemas, workspaces, spas and bedrooms alongside the traditional clubs. From New York to Istanbul, exclusivity is a common global denominator. [caption id="attachment_613704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Robertson and Cameron Northway[/caption] Soho House Sydney is set to open at 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst — we'll update you with an opening date when one is announced. Top image: Soho House Sydney render by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
Voila! The Four Horsemen are hitting Australia, in magical news if you like illusionists and the Now You See Me film franchise. Back in 2018, it was announced that the Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain)-, Woody Harrelson (Last Breath)-, Dave Franco (Together)- and Isla Fisher (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy)-starring cinema saga was making its way to the stage — and while that's proven the case elsewhere since, the IRL production will make its first trip to Australia before 2025 is out. Now You See Me Live doesn't feature the cast of the films, but gets real-life illusionists demonstrating their skills instead. Their Aussie stop: the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall across Friday, December 19, 2025–Saturday, January 3, 2026. Audiences will be able to see Adam Trent from the US, Enzo Weyne from France, Andrew Basso from Italy and Gabriella Lester from South Africa step into the Four Horsemen's shoes. From Trent, expect plenty of sleight of hand, while Weyne specialises in large-scale magic. Basso prefers death-defying acts and Lester is a master of Houdini's upside down straight-jacket escape. The ensemble have taken to the stage for residencies on Broadway and in Las Vegas, and also in hundreds of other cities. Now, it's Australia's turn. "Hosting an Australian-premiere season at the Opera House is always a thrill, and this show is a spectacle — perfect for anyone with an appetite to be wowed this summer. Now You See Me Live takes movie magic to a whole new level of drama in this high-stakes live experience," said Brenna Hobson, Sydney Opera House Director, Programming, announcing the shows. Added Simon Painter, the production's Creative Producer, "Now You See Me Live pushes the boundaries of stage magic to the absolute edge, making the impossible possible in front of your very eyes. Together we've created a show with truly mindblowing artistry at epic scale and we can't wait for Sydney audiences to experience the magic — live!" 2025 is a big Now You See Me year: a new movie in the franchise is on its way to cinemas, too, with Now You See Me: Now You Don't releasing in Aussie picture palaces on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Check out the trailer for Now You See Me Live below: Now You See Me Live is playing the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall across Friday, December 19, 2025–Saturday, January 3, 2026. Head to the venue website for more information — with presale tickets from 9am on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 and general tickets from 9am on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
Good things may come in small packages, but finer things come served as tasty morsels on wooden boards. The Italians call this cicchetti, and it's one of the defining features of Lygon Street's hippest bar, Heartattack and Vine. Inspired in name by a Tom Waits' song, Heartattack and Vine follows a tradition from the team who brought us A Minor Place and Wide Open Road. And it seems that their ode to tradition has struck a chord with the Carlton crowd too, who are as mixed as the food selection. Owners Emily Bitto and Nathen Doyle admit it wasn't an easy market to break into, where Lygon Street has a long-standing tradition of family owned stores and cafes. From couples enjoying an independent film across the way to youth looking for a hideout in between studies, the regulars are a combination of cultured sorts. They've even managed to lure in the odd member from the Italian assemblage. Perhaps it's a reflection of the décor, which sees old-world charm polished with a retro edge. Inside, lamps hang above the bar from recycled window awnings. On the street, a relaxed setting of four wooden benches and stools await, all sourced and saved from Bavarian beer halls in Germany. This fusion of furniture, along with Doyle and Bitto's passion for quality produce, is perhaps the proof that they've really nailed this pudding. And 'pudding' we did try. Guarded by glass, the rotating cicchetti covers anything from a bowl of humble olives to crostini breads topped with slow braised ox tongue, smoked cod or roast peach and whipped goats cheese ($3.50 each or $10 for three). Match your cicchetti to the Ape on the Loose Greco ($13 per glass) which has a lush, sugary start with an almost salty, super dry finish. Italian and Spanish vermouths ($7.50 - $10) are available and served classically on the rocks with skewered olives and oranges to boot. If you're milling about during the day, the porchetta sandwich ($15) is pretty hard to go past. Served with a side of sweet spicey sambal, it's prepared every morning (in a three-hour process, mind you) using the belly of the beast. Crunchy Italian slaw ($3) made of savoury cabbage and fresh mango is the perfect accompaniment. It's the type of place where afternoons easily bleed into evenings and you could quite happily be mistaken for thinking you're living the European life as you watch the foot traffic drift on by. So if you haven't already, head to Heartattack and Vine, and treat yourself to some cicchetti, a glass of grapes and stay there 'til the money runs out. After all, it's what Tom Waits would do, right? Images: Brook James.
Nestled in the leafy heart of Camberwell, The Old Garage takes the concept of dog-friendly cafe to new heights. Sure, its streetside dining area heaves with adorable doggy visitors and its Instagram page is flooded with snaps of cute, wet-nosed clientele. But it also has a dedicated dog menu, hosts regular fundraisers supporting local animal shelters and offers vegan options for every single dish it serves. This former garage and petrol station has been transformed into a much-loved local haunt, fitted out with recycled materials and custom copper lighting, with yellow striped umbrellas adorning the frontage. The food offering features Aussie brunch classics, alongside modern dishes starring flavours that trip from South America to the Mediterranean. You'll be in good hands, with ex-400 Gradi head chef Harley Salanitri whipping up chipotle scrambles with provolone cheese ($21/26), Lebanese baked eggs ($18), breakfast tacos ($18/23), and a brioche french toast finished with candied bacon and mascarpone ($21.5/26.5). Southern fried chicken comes teamed with peri peri fries ($19.5/25), the signature toastie stars four types of cheese ($17/25), and the house-made bircher is topped with a butter biscuit crumble ($17/19). And yes, there are plant-based alternatives for everything on the menu, with the kitchen championing quality vegan products like those from Beyond Meat. Throw in that daily-changing lineup of doggy dishes and a few hard-earned puppychinos ($2), and The Old Garage is ensuring absolutely no one misses out.
Champagne flutes and caviar bumps. Gold-trimmed mirrors and tinkling diamond chandeliers. The crescendo of a saxophone on record and the kick of a burlesque dancer's heel into the air. It's not an evening at Mr Gatsby's estate or the teenage memories of your great-grandparents — it's a bar, hidden in Beaumaris of all places. Tucked away in the unassuming suburbs of Beaumaris, Le Bar Supper Club is an ode to the rip-roaring 20s. With a healthy dose of French flavours and a prohibition-era attitude, it's all about elegance and indulgence. The menu is packed with French flair. Besides the aforementioned caviar, there's oyster, lobster, octopus and a toasted baguette with honey and brie, just on the first page. Turn a page to find caramelised French onion soup, oak-cured smoked salmon, and chicken liver pate. The mains don't drop the crystal ball, with an eggplant and basil lasagne, twice-cooked duck leg à l'orange, a 220-gram aged Angus eye fillet and more on offer. Drinks are crafted by in-house sommelier and mixologist Jai Singh, who took notes from menus gone by. The signature cocktails are the kinds of beverages that are best discovered by your tastebuds, not your eyes, but each is inspired by popular drinks of the 19th and 20th centuries — star ingredients include Prohibition gin, caviar-washed Haku vodka, wattle-seed bourbon, maple whisky and Chartreuse. Then there's the events program. What good is a supper club without entertainment? Le Bar boasts a regular program of live jazz, swing and French music every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday night, broken up by burlesque shows every Friday and Saturday night.
Joining a stable of popular venues that includes the likes of Lucky Coq, Bimbo Deluxe and the Portsea Hotel in 2023, the Albert Park Hotel jumped back onto the post-COVID scene with a contemporary new look and a modern Chinese food offering. The full revamp has gifted the space with a new four-storey atrium and old-meets-new interiors bringing new life to the venue's original brickwork and historic features. A contemporary food offering from Head Chef Karloong Yee is available throughout the venue, but takes centre stage within the restaurant, Happy Valley, with a menu that fuses familiar Chinese flavours with modern technique and local ingredients. Expect dim sum aplenty, alongside the likes of san choi bao, peking duck pancakes and a kung pao chicken laced with facing heaven chilli. Char siu pork pairs with black pepper and honey, and ice cream comes with a five-spice doughnut. You can match snacks — perhaps barbecue pork buns or seafood spring rolls — with a few crisp brews and some footy in the front bar, or take advantage of the Aussie-led wine lineup and a reserve list that's at once high-end and affordable. For cocktails, signatures include spins on palomas, sours, old-fashioned's and plenty of original pours. Images: Simon Shiff Appears in: The Best Pubs in Melbourne for 2023
It's been a busy couple of months of stargazing, with both the Lyrid and Eta Aquarids Meteor Showers lighting up our skies. Tonight, Thursday, May 7, there's another reason to look up, too: a supermoon. The last in a series of four supermoons in 2020, according to NASA, this one is called a flower moon. If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know: a supermoon is a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. They're not uncommon; three have taken place since February. But, now, it feels especially nice to have something luminous to look out (outside of our apartments). The flower moon is named after the flowers that are usually abundant this time of year in the US, where it's currently spring. Closer to home, this supermoon corresponds with Vesak, a Buddhist holiday marking the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha. https://www.facebook.com/NASA/photos/a.67899501771/10158205507416772/?type=3&theater If you're keen to see it, you'll want to catch the full moon when it's most illuminated, which happens when it's opposite the sun (a term called syzygy). According to timeanddate.com, this will happen at 8.45pm AEST and 10.45pm NZST. Have your cameras at the ready, obviously — and see if you can outdo the last big batch of supermoon snaps. Usually, when a supermoon lights up the sky, we'd advise city-dwellers to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the best view. That's not possible given the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, so you'd best take a gander from your backyard or balcony. If you can't get a clear view, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live streaming the flower moon from 4.30am AEST (6.30am NZST) here. Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky
If you're the kind of restaurant-goer who picks their places to eat based on accolades, acclaim and applause, then you'll be familiar with France's Mirazur. The three Michelin-starred eatery sits in the French Riviera near the Italian border, calls an old 1930s villa home, and is the work of Argentinian-born chef and owner Mauro Colagreco, who takes culinary inspiration from his Italian grandparents. It's also a former winner of the World's Best 50 Restaurants' top spot, and it should be high on everyone's food bucket list. For three weeks in autumn, from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31, Mirazur is also visiting Australia. Its destination: the hatted The Gantry at Pier One Sydney Harbour, where the coveted restaurant will put on its first-ever Harbour City residency. That'll make ticking off a visit a whole lot easier — no overseas plane ticket required. [caption id="attachment_728308" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mirazur, Nicolas Lobbestael[/caption] Swapping one waterfront locale for another, Colagreco is making the trip Down Under from Menton near Nice on the Cote D'Azur, accompanied by a sizeable portion of his team. That includes Mirazur's Chief Operating Officer Maria Tancredi and Executive Chef Luca Mattioli, as well as front-of-house and kitchen staff, plus sommeliers. Silvina Dayer, its agronome — aka garden scientist — will also head our way with the crew. Heroing Australian ingredients, the Mirazur cohort will serve up a multi-course tasting menu, plus snacks, which won't come cheap — $685 per person, in fact, with wine pairings starting from an extra $210. [caption id="attachment_888022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matteo Carassale[/caption] The specific focus: using the best Aussie wares they can source, working with producers who are respectful and passionate about the land and sea, to whip up an original menu that showcases the restaurant's commitment to sustainability, nature and biodiversity. Taking inspiration from different cultures and cooking environments, and highlighting their ingredients and suppliers, is what the Mirazur Beyond Borders project is all about — which this residency slots into. "Mirazur Beyond Borders is the opportunity for us to enrich our knowledge, philosophy and commitment. I have visited Australia a few times and what excites me is that it is a country where there is a huge diversity of nature, landscapes, and species," said Colagreco, announcing the Sydney jaunt. "It's very important for me and my team to learn from and experiment with the ingredients we find in the country we visit, and to learn from all the people and products we encounter on the way. Although we are coming to Australia for a few weeks, I already know we will leave with something that lasts forever," he continued. "I am thrilled to cook in Sydney, as it's such a diverse Australian city, where many cultures and foods coexist. What I love about Australian gastronomy, and particularly Sydney's, is that it has been influenced by many different cultures, from Asian to European, and a large range of produce to create its own gastronomy, and reinvents itself constantly." [caption id="attachment_650654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gantry, Alana Dimou[/caption] Mirazur will temporarily take up residence in Sydney just a few months before three Michelin-starred English restaurant L'Enclume, from British chef Simon Rogan, does the same in July and August. Mirazur Beyond Borders at The Gantry, Pier One Sydney Harbour, will run from Friday, March 10–Friday, March 31 — operating for lunch and dinner Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the residency's website for bookings from 12pm AEST on Tuesday, February 13, and to register for the priority list in advance.
The Finders Keepers Design Market is making its spring return to the Royal Exhibition Building from Friday, October 10 to Sunday, October 12. This time, the market is debuting a first-of-its-kind showcase with Australian furniture and lighting brand Dowel Jones. Curated by Dale Hardiman (Dowel Jones) in partnership with Craft Victoria, The Museum of Modern Craft (MoMC) will spotlight Australian makers in an ode to vessels and vases, adding an entirely new dimension to the market's already stacked lineup. Expect the usual Finders Keepers energy of more than 260 stalls brimming with homewares, art, fashion, jewellery, ceramics and unique gifts. There'll also be live music, DJs and an expanded outdoor picnic ground serving wine from Fin Wines, brews and spritzes from Molly Rose, caffeine hits by Coffee Supreme and Matcha Mate, and pies from Ballarat's Mrs Browne Bakes (a 2025 award-winner). Market favourites are returning too, including the Mindfulness Mural, Eleonora Arosio's sell-out three-minute portraits and fresh editions from independent makers like Everyday Normal, Find Your Treasures, Little Greeneryy, and Danny Boy Distillery. The Design Files is also dropping issue three of its magazine exclusively at the market. Tickets for the Finders Keepers Design Market are on sale now and range from $5 to $36, depending on the ticket type. To find out more, head to the event website.
Inspired by owners Stephen and Niharika Hogan's recent jaunts across South America, Onda brings a healthy dose of colour and good times vibes to Richmond. It's a playful Bridge Road space with a vibrant fitout of botanical artwork and polished brass. Stephen, who is also the restaurant's head chef, uses South America flavours throughout the menu and leans on his experience in kitchens across Melbourne and New Zealand (Chin Chin, Bistro Guillaume, St. Ali and Sir Charles to name just a few). A bright and lively menu complements its surrounds, starring generous plates like the grilled wagyu rump cap with bone marrow-toasted croutons, chimichurri and beef jugo; and a barramundi baked in corn husk. Light, fresh additions include a kingfish ceviche with purple yam crisps and coconut chicken wings, while vegetarians will be just as satisfied diving into dishes like whole roast cauliflower with puffed buckwheat crumb or mozzarella chipa puffs (Paraguayan-style cheese rolls) with dark mole sauce. When you're done with savoury bites, we recommend ordering the the black sesame and chocolate dessert cigars. Loaded with dulce de leche and banana, the cigars look as good as they taste. Extending the light-hearted and colourful vibes is the drinks list — a couple of bubbly options and a lineup of fun signature cocktails prove a perfect match to the Onda mood.
The world is an incredible and enigmatic place that holds many secrets and wonders that we humans sometimes struggle to explain. There are places that many of us would find difficult to even dream about or conjure up in our imaginations, yet they actually exist. Ranging from popular tourist destinations to awe-inspiring sights, here are a handful to add to the bucket list of amazing ones to visit before you kick it. 1. Wisteria Tunnel [Map] This stunning and mesmerising array of purple, cream and lilac flowering trees appears as though it has sprung from the pages of a childhood fairytale. This Japanese garden contains three massive wisteria trellises that are at the height of their beauty in May and is just a four hour drive out of Tokyo. 2. Cinque Terre [Map] Located on the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre is an historical and unfathomable sight to behold. With the almost non-existent corporate development or public transport infrastructure surrounding the area, these majestic hillside terraces are a magnet for tourists searching for an authentic taste of Italy’s most spectacular cultural destination. 3. Hotel La Montana Magica [Map] A Lord of the Rings-esque four star lodge, Hotel La Montana Magica is a breathtaking establishment in the biological reserve of Huilo, Chile. The hotel is set in the middle of a 120,000 hectare native forest and built inside a man made volcano, which actually spurts water from its peak and then flows down the side of the mountain past the windows of the thirteen rooms inside. With moss and vines wrapping their way around the structure it would be hard not to feel part of a fantasyland whilst bunking here. 4. Crooked Forest [Map] If you thought trees could only grow straight up in a linear direction, then you obviously have never been to Nowe Czarnowo in West Pomerania, Poland. The grove, known as the Crooked Forest, contains approximately 400 slanting pine trees, which were planted in the 1930s. Seemingly defying gravity, these wonder trees will be sure to awe, and quite possibly confound you, as though you were living in perpetual state of ‘opposite day’. The reason for their planting is to this day still unknown, but plain beauty is good enough for us. 5. The Tunnel of Love [Map] Dubbed the Tunnel of Love, this old train tunnel surrounded by giant trees is located in Kleven, Ukraine. In true love story fashion, it is believed that if couples visiting the tunnel share genuine love then kiss and make a wish, their wish will come true. 6. The Blue Lagoon [Map] The mystic and mesmerising geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon is one of the most visited places in Iceland, and for good reason. With temperatures ranging from 37-39°C and having therapeutic powers to help sufferers of skin diseases such as psoriasis, this relaxing and soothing oasis would be a tough one to miss. 7. Ice Canyon [Map] The sheer beauty of the Ice Canyon in Greenland speaks for itself, as is visible in the innumerable images of this icy wonder. One of the most photographed spots in Greenland, it is also (quite literally) one of the coolest places on Earth. The canyons were carved by meltwater and can measure to be a near whopping 50m deep. The area is home to lush mountains, stunning icebergs and various flora and fauna unlike anywhere else on the planet and is also a popular sporting and recreation spot. 8. Ball's Pyramid [Map] Measuring at 562m high, Ball Pyramid is the tallest volcanic stack in the world, which formed around 7 million years ago. It is an erosional remnant of a shield volcano 20km south of Australia’s idyllic and secluded Lord Howe Island. The pyramid was discovered in 1788 but after failed attempts wasn’t successfully climbed to the summit until 1965. The ancient wonder is also home to a number of rare insect and plant species, which were previously thought to be extinct. 9. The Great Barrier Reef [Map] Australia’s own natural wonder, – only one of seven in the world – the Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on Earth visible space. Boasting of breathtaking beauty and incredibly diverse and vibrant marine species, it contains over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays as well as thousands of dream-like tropical islands. The marine park extends over 300km along the Queensland coast, entailing one of the most spectacular underwater experiences the globe has to offer. 10. Plitvice Lakes National Park [Map] The Plitvice Lakes National Park really demonstrates nature at its best, both in terms of beauty and natural marvels. 16 lakes can be seen from the surface of the largest national park in Croatia, which are all interconnected and arranged in cascades, yet separated by natural dams of travertine. These travertine barriers are created by the accumulation of moss, algae and bacteria and serve to retain the flow of water, causing the height of the dams to continuously grow. The luscious greens, greys and blue of the lake clusters alter depending on the minerals in the water, making this unpredictable spectacle all the more fascinating. [Via Buzzfeed]
No stranger to novel hospo concepts, Collingwood welcomes Bar Local Drop to the neighbourhood, serving everything from limited and rare drops to barbecue spatchcock, fresh pasta specials, and an impressive selection of over 500 bottles to stock your home cellar. The bar was founded by Jagdev Singh and his wife, Emily Prunty, the founders of The Local Drop, a respected wine business covering retail, events, and bespoke cellars. They chose Collingwood, specifically the design-forward space at 116 Rokeby Street, curated by Studio Y and recognised by the Australian Institute of Architects, to set up their bricks-and-mortar offering. While there is a deep and serious focus on all things wine, Bar Local Drop is also prioritising food. Head Chef Damon McIvor (of Wally's and Waxflower) brings more than 15-years' worth of industry experience to the kitchen. His Euro-leaning menu champions local growers, including Somerset Farm, Natoora and Day's Walk Farm. Seasonally changing menus may include tapioca fritti with anchovies, cured swordfish with pickled mussels, smoked lamb tartare with hash browns, and Hapuka with fennel and beurre blanc. Pop in midweek to catch the lunchtime specials that include barbecue spatch cock (served half or whole) with fries and chicken jus, or rotating pasta dishes for just $20. The star of the show, the wine, is left in the ultra-experienced hands of Pierrick Gorrichon, who not only served as the Sommelier at Gimlet but also worked at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Check out The Black Book, the bar's handwritten reserve list showcasing limited and rare wines. Here's the kicker: once a bottle is gone, it's simply crossed off the page, so don't snooze on trying these special drops. Images: Supplied.
Nestled down the quiet end of Brunswick Street since mid-2017, Fitzroy bar Amarillo sports a sunny disposition. Its name is Spanish for yellow, so the upbeat mood fits. Before evening arrives, it also boasts a light-filled space that's perfect for leisurely drinks — which is perfect for making the most of golden hour in a cosy, welcoming neighbourhood bar with a classic and timeless feel. Owner Adam Sime (Long Play) and his partner Adele del Signore have drawn upon Brunswick Street's European influence, decking the venue out with mid-century furniture and cultivating a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere to match. Here, in the venue's two rooms, you'll pair salted cod, cuttlefish with chickpeas, manchego croquetas and crispy quail with spritzes, brews, and a curated selection of wines. Signature cocktails like the Momoko Spritz and the mezcal-infused Smokey Negroni — one made with Japanese whisky, peach liqueur, and lemon juice, then topped with soda and spiked with housemade Earl Grey syrup and orange blossom; the other pairing Vida Mezcal, Dolin Rouge and Campari — are well worth a look-in, too. Top image: Nicholas Wilkins.
The streaming television market is a helluva place to be in 2023. So many platforms are competing for our attention, time and money to deliver content to our eyeballs. It has its perks, though. Never before has there been so many great choices available. If the competition is too much for you, and you can't remember which service costs $14 a month and which costs $10, there is a free solution on hand. Enter SBS On Demand. The Australian channel doesn't just broadcast — it streams as well. But what you might not know about its on-demand service is that it's completely free, and comes with a perfect blend of homegrown Aussie and internationally sourced content. If the costs of streaming are getting you down, maybe it's time to trim your subscriptions and take a tour of the SBS On Demand catalogue. Let's start with drama — here are eight shows to watch. EROTIC STORIES: EIGHT STORIES OF LOVE AND INTIMACY IN MODERN AUSTRALIA Brand-new in 2023, Erotic Stories joins the ever-growing SBS On Demand catalogue as a fresh, original title. Told in an anthology form, this series shines a light on the intricacies of modern relationships: from middle-aged mates experimenting with remotely controlled sex toys to breaking a sexual drought by trying out dating apps. The series doesn't shy away from getting spicy, wondering how spicy each episode is? Read our ranking. Erotic Stories has a star-studded cast that any Australian drama fan will recognise: talents like Frances O'Connor (The End), Kate Box (Deadloch), Rärriwuy Hick (Wentworth), Zahra Newman (Thirteen Lives), Catherine McClements (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) and Danielle Cormack (Rake) and Alex Fitzalan (The Twelve). FARGO: THE CRIME CAPER RETURNS FOR SEASON FIVE No, this isn't the legendary 1996 film directed by the Coen brothers. If this is your first time hearing about the small-screen adaptation, you've been missing out. Since its premiere in 2014, Fargo has returned four more times with twisted tales of murder in the American midwest. In the latest instalment, an unexpected series of events lands a seemingly innocent housewife in hot water and under potentially lethal scrutiny. Fargo season five stars Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) as Dorothy 'Dot' Lyon, Jon Hamm (Good Omens) as Roy Tillman, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Hunters) as Lorraine Lyon, Joe Keery (Stranger Things) as Gator Tillman, David Rysdahl (Oppenheimer) as Wayne Lyon, Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever) as Minnesota deputy Indira Olmstead and Lamorne Morris (New Girl) as North Dakota trooper Witt Farr. THE DOLL FACTORY: A PERIOD DRAMA ABOUT LOVE, ARTISTRY AND OBSESSION Coming to Australia through SBS On Demand, The Doll Factory is a six-part historical thriller that adapts the bestselling novel by Elizabeth Macneal. Take a trip to London in 1850, where protagonist Iris paints dolls for a living and dreams of a career as an artist when she meets a taxidermist and a painter, who will take her down a path of dark obsession that she might not return from. The Doll Factory stars Esme Creed-Miles (Hanna) as Iris, Éanna Hardwicke (Smother) as Silas, Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Rose, George Webster (Wedding Season) as Louis and Sharlene Whyte (Sanditon) as Madame. SAFE HOME: A BOLD STORY TACKLING AUSTRALIA'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC The gripping limited series Safe Home from SBS On Demand is only four episodes in length, but wastes no time and pulls no punches in telling a series of captivating and nerve-wracking stories centred around a family violence legal centre. Protagonist Phoebe has just moved into a new communications role at the centre after leaving a major law firm, but the situations in which she finds herself in this tense new environment are as confronting as they can be. Safe Home stars Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) as Phoebe Rook, Mabel Li (Erotic Stories) as Jenny Lee, Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) as Julian MacDonald, Antonio Prebble (Double Parked) as Grace MacDonald and Chenoa Deemal (Troppo) as Layla Morris. ROGUE HEROES: THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE INFAMOUS BRITISH SAS Based on the bestselling book by Ben Macintyre, Rogue Heroes tells a World War II tale of how three young and daring British officers created the original unit of the British SAS. The modern elite special forces team had to start somewhere, and its beginnings involved a small team of cheeky soldiers disobeying orders, parachuting behind enemy lines and quickly becoming the worst nightmare of Axis forces in 1940s North Africa. Rogue Heroes stars Connor Swindells (Sex Education) as David Stirling, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) as Jock Lewes, Jack O'Connell (Lady Chatterley's Lover) as Paddy Mayne, Sofia Boutella (Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities) as Eve Mansour and Jacob Ifan (A Discovery of Witches) as Pat Riley. WHY WOMEN KILL: A DARK DRAMEDY OF FASHION, LEADING LADIES AND MURDER Hailing from creator Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), this comedic drama features two seasons that stand apart. Season one stars Lucy Liu (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) as Simone Grove, Ginnifer Goodwin (Zootopia) as Beth Ann Stanton and Kirby (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) as Taylor Harding. The season follows three women from different decades who are connected by living in the same Californian mansion, all experiencing infidelity in their marriages and dealing with it with a touch of violence. Season two delivers a new story and cast with the same glamour, humour and even more murder. This time the focus is what it means to be beautiful, and also what it means to hide one's true face from the world — with Allison Tolman (Fargo), Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time), Nick Frost (The Nevers), BK Cannon (Switched at Birth), Jordane Christie (The Haunting of Hill House), Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters) and Veronica Falcón (Queen of the South) starring. DARK WINDS: NAVAJO TRIBAL POLICE INVESTIGATE A SERIES OF STRANGE MURDERS Based on the Leaphorn and Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds combines elements of a psychological thriller, cultural history piece and compelling crime drama. Set in the Navajo Nation in 1971, the series follows tribal police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and his deputy Jim Chee as they investigate a series of unusual murders that tell a much darker tale than either of them can imagine. Dark Winds stars Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs) as Joe Leaphorn, Kiowa Gordon (Roswell, New Mexico) as Jim Chee, Jessica Matten (Tribal) as Bernadette Manuelito, Elva Guerra (Reservation Dogs) as Sally Growing Thunder and Noah Emmerich (Space Force) as Leland Whitover. VIGIL: A DETECTIVE WORKS A MURDER CASE ONBOARD A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE In its first season, Vigil has all the trimmings of your favourite UK police thrillers: a skilled detective, a mysterious death, and a clash between politics and justice. What makes Vigil unique? The death is onboard a nuclear submarine, and the Scottish police Detective Chief Inspector looking into the case must remain there as the vessel patrols the Atlantic while she investigates. Vigil stars Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) as Amy Silva, Rose Leslie (The Time Traveller's Wife) as Kirsten Longacre, Shaun Evans (Endeavour) as Glover, Paterson Joseph (Boat Story) as Newsome, Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project) as Tiffany Docherty and Connor Swindells (Rogue Heroes) as Hadlow. All of these titles and more are streaming for free on SBS On Demand. To find more information or other great shows, visit the website.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are various interstate border restrictions in place. Up-to-date information on restrictions are available at your state's health websites (click through for NSW, Victoria and Queensland). Of course, even border closures don't mean you can't start dreaming — bookmark this for when you can explore freely once again. There's something special about getting behind the wheel for a long drive, whether you're summiting Australia's soaring mountain ranges or rambling your way up the coastline. There are fascinating adventures awaiting in every corner of the country, so forget about setting a breakneck pace. Just pick out a few waypoints along the way and pull in wherever you please. When you spot a stunning hike or a sandy beach that simply has to be experienced, slide the new Sonos Roam — featuring ten hours of playtime and a drop-resistant design — into your daypack and let the perfect playlist soundtrack your adventures. Exploring Australia has never sounded so good. [caption id="attachment_728931" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Kuilenburg, Tourism Tas[/caption] GREAT EASTERN DRIVE, TASMANIA Don't think that you can get away with ignoring Tassie for much longer. The entire state deserves to be explored but, if time is of the essence, the east coast boasts a particularly scenic drive overflowing with stellar restaurants, wineries and landscapes. The fun starts in the island's northeastern corner at the Bay of Fires with its striking orange lichen-cloaked boulders. Heading south, you'll find windswept delights in coastal towns like Binalong Bay, St Helens and Bicheno before arriving at Freycinet National Park and experiencing spectacular views across Wineglass Bay. [caption id="attachment_777954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ensay Winery, Visit Victoria[/caption] GREAT ALPINE ROAD, VICTORIA Victoria offers some wonderfully diverse landscapes with the Great Alpine Road carrying you through some of the best. Stretching for 339 kilometres from Wangaratta to Metung, this adventure sees you cruise through granite mountain ranges and venture into lush rainforests — with dozens of great stops to make along the way. Consider taking a detour into Mount Buffalo National Park to experience the incredible views from The Horn or cool off in the Eurobin Falls. You can also sample eco-conscious wines at Ensay Winery or swing by Bruthen's Bullant Brewery for top-quality beers and a feed that showcases delicious regional flavours. [caption id="attachment_734990" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Paterson, Visit Victoria[/caption] BASS COAST, VICTORIA You don't have to travel far from Melbourne to get amongst some of the state's most scenic locations. Just an hour's drive from the CBD is the stunning Bass Coast region, which encompasses everything from Phillip Island to Inverloch. Catch views of the jagged coastline and sea-bird nesting areas from San Remo before scooting along the coast to charming towns like Kilcunda, Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson. This unforgettable coastal cruise bounces from one relaxed village to the next with outstanding spots for surfing, snorkelling and dining at every turn. [caption id="attachment_813784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cape Tribulation, Unsplash[/caption] CAIRNS TO CAPE YORK, QUEENSLAND Completing the 1000-kilometre trip from Cairns to Cape York is a tropical adventure like no other. Featuring some of Australia's wildest landscapes, this road trip will take you on a tour of pioneering history via lowland rainforests and sweeping landscapes. Pause at Mareeba to discover why 70 percent of Australia's coffee is grown here before experiencing the reaches of the Daintree Rainforest at Port Douglas and the pristine Mossman Gorge. While much of the Cairns to Cape York route is sealed, having a 4WD to overcome some unexpected obstacles is a good idea. [caption id="attachment_743610" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] 75 MILE BEACH, QUEENSLAND Scout out the sights of the world's largest sand island — K'gari (Fraser Island) — and its breathtaking 75 Mile Beach. When the tide is right, you're welcome to take your four wheels onto the white sand beach to live out the summertime getaway of your dreams. Plus, there are more than 100 freshwater lakes found across K'gari — be sure to take a dip in the red waters of Lake Boomanjin. You can also explore the SS Maheno Shipwreck, which ran aground in 1935, before pitching a tent beneath the enormous ferns of Central Station's open rainforest. [caption id="attachment_813791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Geoffrey Rhodes, Flickr[/caption] ANCIENT OUTBACK MOUNT ISA LOOP, QUEENSLAND Pack plenty of water and sunscreen because a multi-day drive through Queensland's remote northwest is bound to get a bit warm. This trip departs from the mining capital of Mount Isa, taking you east past the rugged Selwyn Ranges. Onwards to Richmond, you'll come across Australia's best-preserved dinosaur skeleton at Kronosaurus Korner, while Winton, about 230 kilometres to the south, is believed to be the birthplace of 'Waltzing Matilda'. Ahead of finishing the loop, experience cinematic history by stopping for a drink at Crocodile Dundee's favourite pub, the Walkabout Creek Hotel, in McKinlay. [caption id="attachment_772492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination Port Stephens[/caption] PACIFIC COAST, NEW SOUTH WALES/QUEENSLAND The road from Sydney to Brisbane is peppered with remarkable attractions. You'll need about a week to experience the top-notch locations along the 1000-kilometre route. After leaving Sydney behind, the first unmissable stop is Lake Macquarie's sparkling rock pools and world-class fishing. Just up the coast, choose any of Port Stephens's 26 stunning beaches for an idyllic picnic and break out the snorkelling gear at Coffs Harbour's Solitary Islands Marine Park. Following a stop in Byron Bay, it's time to cross the Queensland border and experience the Gold Coast hinterland en route to Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_813795" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Broken Hill, Trevor McKinnon, Unsplash[/caption] BROKEN HILL AND THE OUTBACK, NEW SOUTH WALES See both sides of New South Wales as this sweeping road trip transports you from Sydney's bright lights to the frontier town of Broken Hill. You have a variety of fascinating backcountry communities to explore with Dubbo the first major landmark on this adventure. Prepare yourself for the wide open landscapes to come by visiting the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. After you move through historic mining towns like Cobar, Wilcannia and White Cliffs, you'll soon arrive at Broken Hill. Relish a cold drink at the famous Palace Hotel, then head out for an unbeatable sunset surrounded by the sandstone sculptures at the Living Desert & Sculpture Symposium. [caption id="attachment_746256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Snowy Mountains[/caption] ALPINE WAY, NEW SOUTH WALES Australia might not be best known for its snow-capped mountains, but our alpine region is about as scenic as they come. The Alpine Way links one mindblowing destination to the next with this road trip beginning at the laidback community of Cooma and heading deep into the Snowy Mountains. Learn your local history by paying a visit to the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, then make tracks to the picturesque town of Jindabyne for a dip in the lake (weather permitting, of course). As the altitude increases, the isolated town of Khancoban provides the perfect launchpad to explore Kosciuszko National Park's hikes and adventure activities. Find out more about the new Sonos Roam at the official website. Top image: Bay of Fires, Spencer Chow.
Summer beach days are great, but it's during those crisp months of winter that many of Victoria's country towns really turn on the charm. After all, what better way to keep chills at bay than by hiking through some untouched wilderness, indulging in a spot of regional history and art, and capping it all off with a cosy fireside feed at some quaint country pub? To help your winter weekends look a little like that, we've rounded up ten of the state's top country towns deserving of a day-trip from Melbourne. Fill up the car and swap the fast pace of the big smoke for a day spent exploring one of these charming country destinations. Recommended reads: The Best Winter Cabins in Australia The Ten Best Road Trip Destinations Around Melbourne Six Tiny Cabin Stays in Australia to Book When You Need a Weekend Off the Grid The Best Glamping Spots Near Melbourne [caption id="attachment_767820" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Innocent Bystander[/caption] HEALESVILLE Boasting plenty of top-shelf wining, dining and nature, this Yarra Ranges town is a worthy Victorian day-trip destination any time of year. But come winter, it's especially hard to beat. You can fuel your day with a stop at celebrated sourdough bakery and coffee roasters Habituel, before cosying up to some native critters at Healesville Sanctuary. Art aficionados will appreciate a wander through the TarraWarra Museum of Art, while Innocent Bystander's sprawling cellar door and winery is a lunchtime winner when the mood calls for some award-winning vino and wood fired pizzas. The relatively new Four Pillars gin distillery and restaurant is also a must-visit. And, if you fancy a scenic post-lunch leg stretch before the journey home, Maroondah Reservoir Park is just a quick trip up the road. How far? An 80-minute drive. [caption id="attachment_705358" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Red Gum BBQ[/caption] RED HILL While the Mornington Peninsula is a certified summertime hot-spot, the region's also got plenty to entice the winter day-tripper. Especially if you pack your appetite and aim straight for the rolling green hills, specialty producers and award-winning cool-climate wineries of Red Hill and Main Ridge. Kick things off with a coffee stop at Scandi-style cafe Nordie, before swinging past the renowned Main Ridge Dairy to stock up on incredible local cheese. A winery crawl is the logical next step, with a stack of local gems to choose from — try Foxey's Hangout or the stylish Polperro if you fancy a wine-matched fireside feed. And to round out the day on a smoky note, visit Red Gum BBQ's Southern-style kitchen and beer hall — perfect for a winter day trip from Melbourne. How far? One-hour drive. [caption id="attachment_670671" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bendigo Art Gallery[/caption] BENDIGO It's safe to say Bendigo is famously vibrant arts scene shines just as bright during the chilly months. And what better place to start a culture feast here, than the Bendigo Art Gallery, home to a renowned collection of Australian works and regular host of major exhibitions from across the world? Continue your tour with a visit to some of the town's numerous smaller galleries and exhibition spaces, like the locally-focused Bendigo Living Arts Space. And when it's time to refuel? Settle in beside The Woodhouse's roaring fire for top-quality steaks grilled over redgum, or opt for craft beers and refined comfort food at the beautifully refitted Gold Mines Hotel. How far? Two-hour drive. MACEDON An easy hour out of Melbourne, Macedon is your gateway to a blissful day of wine sipping, bush hiking and feasting. Much-loved cafe Mr Macedon can hook you up with some top-quality coffee and a hefty breakfast bagel, before you clock up some steps in the lush, wildlife-filled Macedon Regional Park. And then, you can rest those weary feet while settling into some wine and cheese appreciation at The Wine Collective's light-filled, fire-heated cellar door. If beer is more your speed, don't head home without a stop in at the legendary Holgate Brewhouse for modern pub grub and boutique house brews, served in a gorgeous heritage hotel. All these cosy spots make it one of the best country towns near Melbourne to visit for a day trip in winter. How far? One-hour drive. [caption id="attachment_682670" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn for Visit Victoria.[/caption] BALLARAT If your favourite winter pastimes are those involving comfort food, then a trip out to the Goldfields hub of Ballarat is guaranteed to deliver some wins. There are countless food adventures to be had here, not least of which is a visit to Webster's Market & Cafe for a top-notch caffeine hit and loaded reuben bagel. Meanwhile, dining institution The Boatshed has both a crackling fire and dreamy views across Lake Wendouree to match its menu of modern Australian fare. Or, you can envelop yourself within the historic Pub With Two Names, to devour a top-notch cut of local meat, hot off the woodfire grill. And in between food stops, get acquainted with some of Bendigo's rich goldrush history, on a self-guided heritage walk. How far? 90-minute drive. [caption id="attachment_771085" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cosmopolitan Hotel by Visit Victoria[/caption] TRENTHAM High up in the Great Dividing Range, the town of Trentham might be tiny, but it's brimming with history, wild landscapes and road trip-worthy eats. It's an easy addition to this list of the best country towns to visit for a day trip near Melbourne in winter. RedBeard Historic Bakery is a primo starting point, for top-notch coffee and sourdough breads fired in a 19th-century scotch oven. Then, take an easy bush trek to Coliban River Scenic Reserve, for a glimpse at the 32-metre plunge that is Trentham Falls. The extra rainfall means this beauty is at its best in winter. When a feed is on the cards, you'll find memorable produce-driven fare and an open fire over at The Cosmopolitan Hotel. Or, treat yourself to some of Annie Smithers' famed French farmhouse cooking at Du Fermier. How far? 90-minute drive. [caption id="attachment_681049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] CASTLEMAINE The colourful countryside hub of Castlemaine has long been a magnet for creatives, so it's got more than enough to fill up a winter day's itinerary. You'll find yourself at the heart of the action with a visit to The Mill — a buzzing food, artisan and vintage precinct housed within a former wool mill. Shop some local wares and fuel up with a few treats from Sprout Bakery, before hitting one of the rugged walking trails in Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Of course, you won't want to venture home before a cosy session at classic country boozer The Bridge Hotel, where the plates are hearty, the wines are mostly local and a fireplace crackles invitingly. It's a fabulous Victorian country town to visit on a winter day trip. How far? 90-minute drive. [caption id="attachment_772265" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Dunphy for Visit Victoria[/caption] MANSFIELD For a surefire antidote to any big city stress, venture a couple of hours northeast to indulge in the High Country charms of Mansfield. With its idyllic alpine landscapes, this region's got outdoor adventure options on tap — grab a bike and warm up with a spin on the Mansfield Town Ride or tackle part of the Great Victorian Rail Trail. Once you've worked up an appetite, drop into town favourite The Produce Store, where you can stock up on locally made goodies and tuck into honest, home-style fare; like the rustic sausage rolls. How far? 2.5-hour drive. [caption id="attachment_711451" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steavenson Falls by Visit Victoria[/caption] MARYSVILLE The ultimate Victoria day-trip destination for nature-lovers, Marysville boasts all the dense forests, rugged walking trails and scenic lookouts your outdoorsy heart could ever want. For an action-packed day out, Lake Mountain ski resort (which is open, but has a limited capacity and tickets must be pre-purchased) has 37 kilometres of trails to ski or snowshoe, as well as a 240-metre dual flying fox serving up thrills all year round. Elsewhere, you can hike your way along one of the area's many forest tracks, or take an easy meander out to Victoria's highest waterfalls, Steavenson Falls. And, when it's time for a feed, simply head to the centre of town — The Duck Inn is a top choice for that cheeky parma and pint, overlooking the park. How far? Two-hour drive. [caption id="attachment_771893" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Chew for Visit Victoria[/caption] QUEENSCLIFF It might be coastal, but the quaint town of Queenscliff is well deserving of a spot on your Victoria winter day trip guide. Soak up that seaside village vibe with a self-guided art tour, hitting the likes of Salt Contemporary Art and the acclaimed Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop, which is housed in a 150-year-old Wesleyan church. Then, you can pique your appetite with a wander along the foreshore, before treating your inner architect nerd to lunch in the dining room at the stunning Vue Grand. Here, ornate ceilings and plush red carpets make a luxe backdrop to a feast of french onion soup and slow-cooked lamb pappardelle. Finish with a stop at the Queenscliff Brewhouse to sample a range of beers and gin crafted onsite. How far? Two-hour drive. Top image: The Mill in Castlemaine by Michelle Jarni/Visit Victoria.
Yayoi Kusama's list of achievements just keeps growing. At the age of 96, the Japanese talent has proven a pioneer and an icon many times over across her eight decades of making art, and now she has breaking an Australian record to her name as well. Thanks to the exhibition that shares her moniker, which has been on display at Melbourne's NGV International since December 2024, Kusama can now claim the nation's highest-attended ticketed exhibition ever. This news confirms what Aussies have long known: we're dotty for the creative genius who uses spots aplenty in her work, plus pumpkins, tentacles and flowers — and for an art figure who knows how to get audiences losing themselves in a gallery via her infinity rooms. Since Yayoi Kusama opened on Sunday, December 15, 2024, it has welcomed more than 480,000 people through the door. That number still has time to go up, too, given that the exhibition runs until Monday, April 21, 2025. That it's open from 8am–6pm till Wednesday, April 16, then will operate from 8am–midnight daily between Thursday, April 17–Monday, April 21, will assist. To put that huge attendance in context, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan compared it to one of Melbourne's best-known venues. "This record-breaking exhibition has brought five MCGs worth of visitors to the heart of Melbourne — that's great for local jobs, great for local businesses and great for families looking for something to do these holidays," Allan said. "We're truly overwhelmed by how enthusiastically Victorians and visitors alike have embraced this exhibition — and connected so strongly with Kusama's work and life story. This milestone is a testament to the enduring impact of Kusama's work and the growing appeal of contemporary art in Australia," added NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM. This celebration of Kusama was already in the history books for giving Australia its largest-ever retrospective dedicated to the artist. In terms of tickets sold, Yayoi Kusama takes the record from another Victorian exhibition, Van Gogh and the Seasons, which displayed in 2017 and saw 462,262 people head along. The National Gallery of Victoria's spectacular tribute to Kusama includes the Japanese icon's brand-new Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light among its ten immersive installations, breaking the world record for the number of such pieces by the artist assembled in one spot as well. In total, there's 200 pieces on display, taking over the St Kilda Road gallery's entire ground floor with a childhood-to-now survey of its subject's creative output. Kusama's five-metre-tall dot-covered Dancing Pumpkin sculpture in NGV International's Federation Court, a new version of Narcissus Garden, the yellow-and-black spheres of Dots Obsession, the all-ages-friendly The Obliteration Room, participatory floral piece Flower Obsession, the mirror-heavy Chandelier of Grief, gourds aplenty in The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens: they're all part of the exhibition. Across the eight decades of art on offer, some pieces have never been seen Down Under until now. Some are sourced from private collections, and others from Kusama's own personal stash. Overall, Yayoi Kusama steps through the artist's work via a thematic chronology. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s; plenty from the past four decades: they all appear. Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until Monday, April 21, 2025 — including from 8am–6pm between Saturday, April 5–Wednesday, April 16, and from 8am–midnight between Thursday, April 17–Monday, April 21. NGV Friday Nights: Yayoi Kusama runs each Friday until Friday, April 18, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Visitors and artworks in the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV International, Melbourne until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photos: Danielle Castano, Sean Fennessy, Tobias Titz and Kate Shannassy.
It's this midway point of the year when many of us have travel on our minds. Whether the Euro summer Instagram dumps have you thinking about your next jaunt to the Northern hemisphere, or you want to escape the long winter for a warm Asian escape, a lot of us are plotting our next adventure. If it's been a while since you planned an international trip, here are some handy tips to keep in mind and help you travel smarter, not harder. Book Smart When deciding on a holiday destination, it's easy to get excited and book the first flight the airline presents to you. Take your time, do some research and look at off-peak tickets to save some money. These include flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you can, avoid flights that take off just after work and during holiday periods. Pack a 24-Hour Emergency Kit In Your Carry On Stuff happens. Flights get delayed, and luggage can be lost. While not ideal, having a backup outfit, toiletries, and any medication in your carry-on bag can help to ease your mind. Travelling can be unpredictable, but by preparing a little more, the big annoyances can become small details that you'll forget by the time your lost luggage arrives safely on your hotel doorstep. Get Your Money In Order Your holiday savings account looks nice and healthy, and your bag is packed, but how will you spend money when you get to your destination? Using the wrong card could result in some hefty international exchange fees. No one needs to pay $4 to get their own money out of an ATM in Italy. HSBC's Everyday Global Account is an everyday bank account with useful benefits for your international travels. Think instant (and seamless) fee-free* currency exchange 24/7, competitive exchange rates, and $0 HSBC ATM fees worldwide**. The HSBC Everyday Global Account also allows you to spend in multiple currencies from the one account. Organising your money before you're swept up in holiday adventures means you could save some serious cash in the long run. Plus, you can keep using your HSBC Everyday Global Account when you land back on home soil, too. With HSBC's Everyday Extras, enjoy up to $600 cashback*** a year on eligible tap and pay purchases under $100 domestically, making it the ideal everyday account for the world. Layovers As Mini Holidays As Australians, we're used to long haul flights. This doesn't mean we can't make the most of the time, though. Rather than rushing across continents as quickly as possible, consider an extra night in your layover destination. It's the perfect way to feel more rested pre-holiday and reset for reality on the way back. Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong are all popular layover destinations from Australia and have a wealth of culture and food to get you into the holiday zone. Make The Most of The Airport Lounge A part of getting older is learning that sometimes it's worth it to spend a little bit extra when traveling in exchange for comfort and cleanliness. If you're not going to leave the airport on your long haul layover, at least consider a pass to a lounge. Here, you can shower, eat some food (local cuisine is encouraged), and charge up your devices before landing at your destination. Utilising airport lounges can mean the difference between arriving at your first stop feeling excited and ready to explore, versus needing a day in your hotel to recover from the flight. Utilise Google Maps Is there anything worse than heading out to explore a new city's cuisine and finding yourself eating at a fast food joint? In the months and weeks leading up to your holiday, spend some time researching places you'd like to check out and save them on your Google Maps. This way, when you're wandering around, the sun is setting and hunger is rearing its head, you'll have a laundry list of local spots ready to go rather than wasting a meal on food you could get back home. Don't worry, you don't have to tick them off like a to-do list (that's part of the fun of exploring), but having them saved as a backup means that you're never left wandering around aimlessly. Don't Forget The Fine Print Travel is always a thrill, but you can give yourself some peace of mind by ensuring the admin has been triple-checked before your bag is packed. Is your passport six months within date? Do you have travel insurance? Have you read its fine print? Do you know how you'll be spending money once you're overseas? Checking this admin off before you head to the airport means peace of mind and travelling smarter, not harder. Give Yourself a Day to Reset Where once you might've driven from the airport to the office on a Monday morning, giving yourself at least one day at home before getting back into your day-to-day life can help to ease you out of holiday mode. From jet lag to a lack of clean clothes, you won't regret taking the time to reset post-travel. Yes, you might need to spend an extra day of annual leave, but reminiscing on your trip and getting a good night's sleep will help to ease the travel blues and get you gearing up for your next trip, wherever that may take you. Learn more about HSBC's Everyday Global Account here. *T&Cs apply. Other banking services fees and charges may apply, including corresponding bank fees for international transfers. Issued by HSBC Bank Australia Limited ABN 48 006 434 162 AFSL 232595. **Non-HSBC branded ATMs and some HSBC Group ATMs may charge an ATM operator fee for withdrawals or balance enquiries at their ATMs. ***HSBC Everyday Extras is a feature of the HSBC Everyday Global Account. You will be eligible for Everyday Extras if you deposit at least AUD2,000 into your HSBC Everyday Global Account before the last working business day of each calendar month. For more information, refer to the Transaction and Savings Accounts Terms (PDF).
The latest incarnation of the Royal Botanic Gardens' iconic lakeside venue comes courtesy of Darling Group, owners of Higher Ground, Kettle Black and Stringers. Surrounded by greenery, the all-day cafe and adjoining event space have been designed in a nod to their lush outlook, with interiors by Technē featuring plenty of botanical references throughout. Expect a palette of natural hues, with terrazzo-topped benches and an idyllic al fresco area spilling out amongst the gardens. Elevated classics drive the food offering, starring produce-led options like the asparagus with stracciatella, fennel and snow peas ($23); an avocado and tahini ricotta tartine (French-style open sandwich) ($22) and sumac-dressed fattoush salad with toasted pita ($21). You can aim a little less green with likes of a spiced beef rueben toastie ($15), a signature club sanga ($18), and the blueberry and ricotta hotcake ($26). Or perhaps the homemade scones — a nod to a much-loved offering from the site's previous life. Meanwhile, Darling Group's signature coffee blend stars on the cafe's broad-ranging drinks list, with two coffee carts perched at Gates A and D of the Gardens for customers on the go. Of course, this is prime picnic turf and the Terrace Cafe's expansive grab-and-go lineup makes for an enviable rug set-up. Choose from the likes of loaded baguettes, pinsa romana (a style of fermented-dough pizza) and pastries, or a Terrace-To-Go box containing your choice of sandwich or salad, a juice and a sweet treat. Images: Griffin Simm.
When you think of elevated Japanese dining, rice might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But at Warabi this August, it's the main event. Hanabie is a limited-edition omakase experience with Haku Vodka that celebrates hakumai (polished white rice) in a way you've never tasted before. Running Tuesday to Thursday nights from August 5–28, Hanabie is named after the Japanese word, which refers to the unexpected, fleeting chill that lingers in Japan just before spring begins to bloom. The seven-course menu with paired cocktails highlights the versatility of white rice, which is the backbone of many Japanese dishes and, fittingly, the base spirit of Haku Vodka. [caption id="attachment_1014076" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arianna Leggiero[/caption] You'll enjoy everything from King George whiting sushi to pork cheek with wasabi and a warming donabe pot with eel and rice. On the drinks front, guests are greeted with a Sanmai-tini — a Haku Vodka welcome cocktail that blends sakura, genmaicha and roasted rice. If you're keen to elevate things further, add a full Haku cocktail pairing matched to each dish. In addition to the omakase experience, Warabi will also host a live vinyl DJ set every Thursday night — a delicious way to herald in the last days of winter and warm your soul for spring. Experience the limited-edition Hanabie with Haku Vodka at Warabi from Tuesday, August 5 to Thursday, August 28. Bookings are $199 per person, including a seven-course omakase and welcome cocktail on arrival. Bookings are essential. Head to the website to secure your seat. By Jacque Kennedy Images: Arianna Leggiero
If you're on the hunt for some new-school fun to make the impending frosty months go faster, you can stop searching right now. Someone, somewhere, has dreamed up the impressive combination of bumper cars and ice-skating — and is bringing the concept Down Under. In an Aussie first, Bumper Cars on Ice will hit both Melbourne and Sydney this August, and promises to yank you right out of winter hibernation mode. Not a whole lot of info has dropped just yet, though from the photos, it looks like this unique activity will have you pinballing around an ice rink in a bubble-shaped bumper car, slipping and sliding into mates. We assume the cars will head to one of Sydney's six long-running pop-up ice rinks — or the newly saved Macquarie Ice Rink — and maybe Melbourne's pop-up Eastland Shopping Centre rink. But, we'll update you as soon as we know more. [caption id="attachment_706065" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Macquarie Ice Rink.[/caption] If this sounds like your kind of icy jam, you can sign up for ticket info at the website. Bumper Cars on Ice will pop-up at yet-to-be-announced locations in Melbourne and Sydney this August.
Want to get back to nature without actually having to rough it? Lucky for you, you can now take in the rolling hills of Mudgee in New South Wales, all thanks to the region's first ever luxury glamping service. First opening in 2017, Sierra Escape is located 20 minutes drive from Mudgee's town centre and some 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney. It boasts spectacular views, and is home to wildlife including kangaroos, deer and a variety of native birds — so yeah, basically it's paradise. Campers clearly agree, with its decadent accommodation unsurprisingly proving popular, and the 280-acre property adding two new tents to cater to demand. While the site's original tent — if you can even call something this opulent a tent — is still going strong, its two newcomers kick things up a few notches. One sleeps seven in a space that features two queen beds, a single trundle and a second bedroom with a double bed. The other is a secluded hilltop getaway for two that comes with a complimentary bottle of local bubbles and local chocolate, and a breakfast pack. For $450 per night, groups staying in Dulili will also enjoy their own designer kitchen, wood fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, glass sliding doors, large indoor and outdoor dining tables, plus a firepit area and a bathroom with a shower and flushing toilet. Or, those wanting a romantic jaunt away from the big smoke will spend $550 per night for all of the above, as well as a king bed — naturally — and indoor and outdoor freestanding bathtubs. All three of Sierra Escape's tents, including the $290-per-night Carinya, are insulated for all seasons, and include outdoor areas where you can kick back and watch the sunset. The new tents are available to book from June 1. For more information visit www.sierraescape.com.au.
Don your red lips, curls and pin-striped suits, and get ready to nestle in to the elegant underground at Melbourne's newest jazz club, Bird's Basement. Located across from Flagstaff Gardens, this music-slash-hospitality venue is a dinner and a show situation — so be prepared to take a seat and make a night of it. Offering a different take on Melbourne's proffered jazz bars, Bird's Basement caters to those more keen on a sit-down affair — which makes for a good chance to take the folks out. Or your partner's for that matter. But it's still nice to know old friends, like Louie, Ella and Miles, can be found waiting for you. The interiors of midnight cyan may scream more blues than jazz, but just wait until the horns start. The musicians, wielding the trumpets, trombones and liquorice sticks, have enough energy to get even those not born with the spirit of jazz running through their veins bouncing in their seats. With two shows held most nights, you can book a 7.45pm dinner or 10pm supper session. The food is Italian, with everything from caprese salads — with thick slices of buffalo mozzarella and roma tomatoes — to four-cheese gnocchi and t-bone steaks. It's good, but not the main event — the jazz is. With a focus on the old, as well as the new, Bird's Basement has seen the likes of Ravi Coltrane and his post-bop sax, the soul and funk tunes of 13-piece Grand WaZoo, and 80s teen star Molly Ringwald come on board as headliners. On the night we visited, the act that had our feet and hearts on fire was Yvette Johansson. This broad created that easy, sassy banter that jazz musicians do so well. And what a remarkable thing to witness a rehearsed scat — those nonsense-slapping syllables — by a professional, rather than your moony Howard friends. If you've rocked up to the earlier session, know that, once the show is winding down, the staff will hustle you to pay. But we suppose that's how jazz clubs roll. And while the food and service may not have been up to the standard of other Melbourne establishments, Bird's Basement delivers a musical feast you can't find just anywhere. Which makes us wonder: maybe there's a gap in the market for more musical supper clubs in Melbourne? If you're keen to find out, fly on in to the Basement, you little jazzy beauties.
When Melburnians think of a summer activity, cooling down is top of mind. A trip to an idyllic swimming hole, local ice-cream shops and gorgeous beaches top the list, but sitting in a geothermal pool isn't the first thing that springs to mind. Don't write the hot springs off entirely, though: the award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs just debuted an aptly named Cool Zone, amongst other heat-friendly amenities that put a refreshing spin on summer soaks. For the uninitiated, cold plunge pools and a cavernous ice cave sit in the spa's Fire and Ice area, a circuit designed for contrast therapy, where guests move from hot to cold experiences. Now, the icier end of the offering has expanded with the addition of three amphitheatre pools that stay at a comfortable 20 degrees, alongside refreshing mist "clouds" that spritz from above. Follow the Cool Trail as you move from one chilled pool to another — think mist-filled pathways, cold geo-thermal showers and temperature-controlled benches shaded by lush greenery. Summer menus are in full swing around the springs. Right at the entrance, local gelateria The Yard By The Bay has set up an ice cream bar with crowd-pleasing scoops like salted caramel and pistachio. From cold brews to iced matchas to acai bowls and choc-top, the Amphitheatre Cafe is stocked with more sunny-day snacks. And if the day calls for something a little more spirited, the Bath House Cafe is pouring Limoncello spritzes. Pair your bath with the seasonal Summer Salt & Glow treatment — a 75-minute ritual that combines a salt exfoliation with a soothing back massage, ending with a calming aloe vera body moisturiser. The adults-only Spa Dreaming Centre is also equipped with thoughtful details to manage the heat, including chilled face washers, hydration stations and iced teas. Our hot tips? Get to the springs early to enjoy the crisp morning air before exploring the rest of the Mornington region — it opens at 7 am on weekdays and 5 am on weekends — or dodge the UV rays completely with a moonlit bath on the weekend. Images supplied
Officina Gastronomica Italiana is an all-day dining destination in the heart of Hawksburn Village, Prahran. It serves strong coffee, sweet pastries, and generous Italian fare in a warm, inviting space that lends itself to easygoing, drawn-out meals. Claudio Casoni set up what was originally Officine Zero in 2014 and garnered a loyal following of locals and shoppers who found respite and comfort in the humble espresso bar. However, he says he "always had a bigger vision for Officine Zero. Sustainability and the preciousness of old-fashioned conviviality have always been integral to my life and…[Officina Gastronomica Italiano] is our way of introducing the philosophy of my land to the Melbourne dining scene. My hope is to promote the important connection between the artisan, the land and its produce and the customer, in a context of true enjoyment of food and authentic conviviality inspired by my heritage." When Casoni reopened Officina, the restaurant had doubled in size, added a deli section, and expanded its service to dinner. So no matter what time of the day you're visiting, you'll get a taste of Head Chef Gabriele Coniglio's generous, homely Italian food. Breakfast highlights include bruschetta with portobello mushroom, reggiano spread, tomatoes and eggs, 'nduja scrambled eggs with pickled chilli, and Tuscan baked eggs with slow-braised wagyu beef ragu. The lunch and dinner menus showcase the tastes of Coniglio's childhood with dishes such as his Nonna's meatballs with tomato sugo and pecorino dolce. There are plenty of moreish snacks to start, mushroom croquettes with truffle pecorino, fried calamari with tempura zucchini, crostini with anchovy and butter, and plates of 18-month-cured Prosciutto San Daniele, sliced fresh to order. You won't be surprised that the fresh pastas are a local favourite, think pumpkin ravioli with goat cheese, egg tagliolini with cacio e pepe or squid ink spaghettoni with spanner crab and pangrattato. If you weren't planning on having a drink with your meal, the floor-to-ceiling wall of wine bottles might persuade you otherwise. Try one of Claudio's hand-selected aperitif wines from his home region of Emilia-Romagna, and work your way through his curated list showcasing some of the finest natural wine makers in Italy. Now, diners can enjoy the newly renovated alfresco dining area out the back. Channelling the laidback energy of Italy's neighbourhood enotecas, the updated pergola lets customers enjoy the fresh breeze and warm sunshine. Images: Supplied.
The Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance has been working hard to queer up the Australian Open ever since it ran its first Glam Slam tournament in 2019. The team works in partnership with Tennis Australia to bring in LGBTQIA+ tennis players from around the world — providing a safe space for them to compete in their own tournament while also throwing a three-day party. And this year is just as big as ever — with 260 players from around 30 countries participating in the 2025 Glam Slam, which runs from Friday, January 24–Sunday, January 26. Players of all gender identities are welcome to join and play against others with similar skill levels. Moreover, to increase women's participation, the Glam Slam also has a women's division that's open to anyone who identifies as a woman. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tournament to run an event like this, which actively gives LGBTQIA+ tennis players a space to compete. Sport has traditionally been a space where queer people don't feel safe or included (and that is still the case in many sports), but this event is working hard to challenge that in the world of tennis — by creating a welcoming and inclusive event that's also a heap of fun to attend. Glam Slam Founder Rowen D'Souza commented, "Inclusion can go much further than just raising the pride flag. For an event to be truly inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, it needs to have our community participate. The Glam Slam does this for the AO." To watch the Glam Slam games, punters simply need to purchase Australian Open ground passes and then find the matches on the outside courts. [caption id="attachment_986024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grey Goose Courtside Bar[/caption] But it's not just about the competition. There's also a heap of special entertainment running across the three days, which lines up with the AO Pride Day on Friday, January 24. You'll find drag queens and kings, face painting and glam stations, DJ sets, and plenty of rainbow flags around the grounds. From 2pm on Sunday, January 26, you can even drop by the Grey Goose Courtside Bar at Court 6 to watch the Glam Slam finals as well as a celebrity match featuring Luke and Sassy Scott and a bunch of professional players. This is usually a time of the Australian Open when the outside courts are empty — as most games in the final few days are played in the arenas. Letting the Glam Slam team take over these outer courts and the surrounding spaces is a damn great way to use the space and keep the festivities going. The 2025 Glam Slam is running from Friday, January 24–Sunday, January 26, and can be accessed by purchasing Australian Open ground passes. For more information, check out the tournament's website.
It's a claim made by another animation powerhouse and their bricks-and-mortar wonderlands; however, for fans of Studio Ghibli, the beloved company's Japanese museum might just be the happiest place of earth. Not only does it celebrate the gorgeous on-screen work created by the studio — with Ghibli never making a bad movie yet — but it brings everything from My Neighbour Totoro and Laputa, Castle in the Sky to Porco Rosso and Kiki's Delivery Service to life. Understandably, that's made the Studio Ghibli Museum a must-visit place for travellers to Tokyo, with the site located on the western side of the metropolis, in Inokashira Park in Mitaka. But, unless you've actually made the trip to go there, the extent of its delights aren't that widely known, with photography forbidden once you're onsite. That means that Ghibli fans have heard about the museum's cute little cinema with bench seating, its eye-catching stained-glass windows based on the company's films, its towering spiral staircase, and the exquisite detail evident in the site's wallpaper, signage, fixtures and more — but those yet to pop by probably haven't seen it for themselves. Until now, that is, with the Studio Ghibli Museum newly opening its doors to fans virtually, all via a series of online video tours. With the venue currently temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — and with a reopening date not yet announced — Ghibli aficionados can still get their fix via the studio's YouTube channel. The videos are brief, each roaming through a different part of the museum, but they firmly showcase just how adorable the entire place is (something we can confirm from our own visits). A new video drops each week, with seven online at the time of writing — and plenty of the museum's highlights yet to be featured. Remember, this is the place that boasts an entire Catbus room, complete with a giant Catbus that kids (but not adults) can play on. Check out a glimpse at the Studio Ghibli Museum building – including its rooftop garden and its Totoro-inspired windows — in one of the venue's videos below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaX15taUGFY To check out the Studio Ghibli Museum's videos, head to the site's YouTube channel. Top image: George N via Flickr.
Coming up with Christmas gifts for the entire family isn't always easy, but there are a few things most people can agree on, like a good cup of coffee. That's why a gift like ST. ALi's annual Christmas coffee blend is a godsend when you're stuck for ideas. Back again for another festive season, this year's limited-edition and in-demand blend is the Nutcracker. Primed for going under the tree or straight in the grinder, expect a flavour profile that's delightfully on the nose when it comes to evoking holiday spirit. Jam-packed with notes of stollen and fruit cake, you'll also encounter warm toffee undertones alongside dark chocolate, roasted chestnut and candied orange. Effectively Christmas in a cup, the beans (whole or pre-ground) are also thoughtfully packaged, making them the ideal stocking stuffer for that coffee-obsessed relative who'll appreciate a festive brew. But if that's more of a you thing, trust that your December caffeine needs are covered. Drawing inspiration from the unapologetic spirit of the namesake old-world tale, the strictly limited Nutcracker blend is proud to be more than a little bold and dramatic. Load up on this Christmas coffee before it's gone and avoid snapping like a doll if you, or your relatives, don't get their morning brew. ST ALi's limited edition Nutcracker blend is available now. Head to the website for more information.
Before Melbourne started emerging from its most recent COVID-19 lockdown — and before the city's bars, restaurants and venues were given the greenlight to reopen — an increase in outdoor dining was floated as one of the key steps on the path back to normality. Cue Crown Melbourne's newest addition, Pétanque Social, which has taken advantage of that shift . Joining the casino's riverside precinct — and perched right by the Yarra on the riverwalk — the new bar is inspired by the beach clubs of St Tropez. As well as sipping drinks and grabbing a bite to eat (including via picnic boxes, or tucking into $2 oysters on weekends), you'll hang out on day beds and lounge chairs beneath striped pastel blue umbrellas. The whole idea is to make you feel like you've been whisked far from home, which is a sensation we could all use this year. And, entertainment-wise, there are live DJs, a big screen playing sport all summer and room for the game that gives the venue its name — so get ready to sit at Pétanque Social and play pétanque.
If trams are a part of your everyday commute, the concept might have lost its shine a bit. But get ready to rekindle the romance because there's a Yarra Valley getaway where you can spend the night in your very own, very comfy, refurbished 1930s-era tram. You'll find The Oaks located on two leafy acres in Lilydale, right at the doorstep of Yarra Valley wine country. The property boasts three accommodation options, including two quaint heritage-style cottages, but there's no denying the star of the show is Doris. She's an 86-year-old W Class Melbourne tram that's been carefully restored by her new owners and transformed into a cosy suite with space to sleep up to four. The fitout is cheerfully retro, with chequered floor and vintage furniture pieces, and vinyl tram seats in place of a couch. The two double bedrooms sit at either end in their own carriage compartments, while the outdoor deck areas have been designed to look like Doris has just cruised into the tram stop. She's held firmly onto her roots, too, decked out with plenty of yellow and green trimmings, and with her handles, poles and sliding doors kept intact. The tram's even sporting a fresh exterior paint job, resplendent in glossy green and yellow. Of course, guests won't be stuck dealing with 1930s-era mod-cons — the stay features all the usual luxuries, including air-con, heating, a full bathroom with proper shower and toilet, a TV, a kitchen and even an outdoor fire pit. Find Doris at The Oaks Lilydale Accommodation, 500 Maroondah Highway, Lilydale. Prices start from $450 per night for four guests. After more unique stays? Check out our roundup of extraordinary escapes around Australia.
For the people who care deeply about beautiful things — the ones who know their glassware silhouettes, have opinions on timber grains or can spot a well-cut bag from across a room — design-forward gifts always land best. This year's edit brings together thoughtful pieces from Australian makers and independent studios, spanning sculptural homewares, tactile accessories, sustainable fashion and objects that balance form with function. Whether they're curating their space piece by piece or simply appreciate good design in the everyday, these polished picks offer style, utility and a little artistic flair. Shopping for someone who prefers edible design? Explore our guide to the best small-batch foodie gifts. Balance Vase, Fazeek A sculptural glass vase that plays with symmetry and scale, this two-tone design turns a simple stem into a full display moment. Shop now. The Baguette Bag, Fred Home A bag made purely for carrying a baguette? Equal parts outrageous and totally gorgeous. Shop now. Incense Holder Bundle, Gentle Habits A ceramic holder paired with the brand's signature coastal-inspired incense blends. Shop now. Merino Alpaca Throw in Cobalt, Hommey A luxe throw woven from merino wool and alpaca, in a punchy cobalt tone to instantly elevates any space. Shop now. Ulna Ring (Emerald), Kto Made in Castlemaine, this cuttlefish-cast silver ring is a sculptural addition to any design lover's collection. Shop now. Roman Pool Towel, Baina A premium organic cotton towel featuring Baina's signature checkerboard pattern. Shop now. Sculptural Lobster Candle, Milligram A candle shaped like a lobster — do we need to say more? Witty, sculptural and very giftable. Shop now. Pin Drop Vessel, Leisa Wharington A playful hand-blown glass vessel with mix-and-match stoppers. Make it a bottle, a vase, or simply an objet d'art. Shop now. The Bronzing Duet, Fluff Fluff's unmistakable silver pebble compact, paired with a matching kabuki brush and a refillable bronzing powder. Shop now. Plaid Bag, Pan After A durable, handmade statement bag in bold woven plaid — made from 100 percent recycled nylon. Shop now. MECCA x E Nolan SPF + Lip Balm Beauty Bag Set, MECCA Cosmetica A fashion-meets-beauty collab pairing everyday essentials with a limited-edition scrunchie and pouch. Shop now. Long Stone Servers, Dinosaur Designs Hand-poured in Australia, these resin servers showcase Dinosaur Designs' signature organic forms and rich marbled colour. Shop now. Sakura Outdoor Mat, Sunnup Made from around 100 recycled polypropylene bottles, this picnic mat is as durable as it is chic. Shop now. Organica Day Bag, Brie Leon Spacious enough for daily essentials but refined enough for after-dark plans — and crafted from buttery vegan leather. Shop now. Mother of Pearl Oyster Plate, Jardan Crafted in Melbourne and slipcast to highlight natural texture, this Nattier oyster plate offers a fun take on functional serveware. Shop now. Organic Cotton Bedding in Watson Stripe, Sheet Society Soft, stonewashed organic cotton and quiet ruched detailing give this percale bedding set a refined, lived-in feel. Shop now. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence our recommendations, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
With its heritage-listed sandstone cottage building, melt-in-your-mouth duck dish, and connection to local farmers, Ennui in Haymarket has stood out from Sydney's food scene. Three hospitality friends, Thomas Bromwich, Peter Chan and Samuel Woods, originally envisioned Ennui as an intimate bar. It's now a two-storey restaurant with space to seat 100 guests and just celebrated its first birthday. [caption id="attachment_1026040" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Ennui[/caption] "Bringing Ennui to life was no small task," says director and cook Samuel Woods. "Three years of heritage approvals, landlord negotiations, and months of construction tested our patience and resolve. Yet the effort has been worth it." Located on the corner of Pitt and Hay Streets, opposite the Capitol Theatre, Ennui shares its interpretation of French cuisine in one of Sydney's most historic settings. In partnership with the business solution experts at Square, we spoke with Samuel to learn more about how they created a hospitality business that stands out from the crowd. From little things Samuel shares that Ennui began with a simple idea. "[We imagined] a small wine bar with food that spoke to our cultural backgrounds and connections with local farmers," Samuel tells Concrete Playground. "But when we were introduced to the Manse building, we knew this was something bigger." The cottage was built in 1846 and is one of the few buildings of its kind still standing in Sydney. Its historic, sandstone outer layer means the modern yet warm interiors stand out even more. [caption id="attachment_1026041" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Ennui[/caption] Keep it simple For Samuel, Peter and Thomas, their guiding principle to growing into one of Sydney's most popular new restaurants is simple: the guest comes first. "We want people to feel looked after, and we're always willing to be flexible in how we offer our service to make sure everyone feels welcome. That belief has shaped everything we do at Ennui." Restaurants and brands often focus on viral 'must-try' tactics to stand out in a crowded, algorithm-driven market. However, Samuel believes that the chase for uniqueness can undermine core values. [caption id="attachment_1026042" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Ennui[/caption] "For us, consistency is more important than chasing uniqueness. Guests should feel confident that the dish they saw online, or the one a friend recommended, will arrive at the table exactly as expected." "We want people to come back weeks later and relive the same great experience. That dependability is what builds trust and ultimately, lasting relationships with our guests," Samuel shares. Signature dishes One tenet of Ennui's success was knowing they wanted a dish that defined the restaurant. For Samuel, Thomas and Peter, this was always duck. Focusing on a signature dish (done exquisitely) has helped the restaurant stand out from other French-inspired restaurants across the city. [caption id="attachment_1026043" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Ennui[/caption] "I still remember dining at Monopole in Potts Point about ten years ago. The duck was unforgettable, and it stayed with me. From those early plans on paper to opening night, the idea of serving our own duck has been at the heart of the restaurant." Samuel credits this and word-of-mouth recommendations with helping to grow Ennui more than intentional marketing, proving that if you create an experience that people want to keep coming back to, they will. "It is one of the most important things in hospitality, to be hospitable." Learning and growing If you're new to the hospitality business, Samuel doesn't sugarcoat it — you're going to feel the heat. However, having a team of people in your corner can help to keep the dream alive. "We have been very lucky to have such a talented team of people around us, always pushing for new ways to drive business." He also credits Square's payment system as making the business side of the restaurant run more smoothly. "It's one less thing to worry about because I've got Square by my side." Samuel shares that muddling through and (sometimes) missing the mark can ultimately lead to business satisfaction."Some things have worked really well, and sometimes you try, but you miss the mark. Either way, we're happy with where we are now." From a history-rich building to collaboration and growth, it's clear that Ennui stands out from the Sydney food scene and keeps customers coming back for more. "What began as a dream between three friends who had worked together for years has grown into a restaurant that feels like home." Square empowers local businesses to thrive by making it easier to run, manage, and grow their operations. Find out how Square can help your business grow. Lead image: Ennui
Steak is one of those meals that, no matter what state you might be in, will leave you feeling just a little bit better. Responsible for sating hunger, dealing with low iron issues and just generally making meat-eaters feel like they're in their happy place, a good steak can be just the fix for a cold winter's night (or any other night — or day). Not just the fare of fancy, upmarket places with lush wagyu offerings, steak is more accessible than you think. Many pubs around town do decent steak specials, with trimmings and sides thrown in, too. Luckily for us, our pub food cravings are easily dealt with in Melbourne, with myriad venues cooking up fresh, tasty and non-pretentious pub grub from north to south. If you've a hankering for pub food in the way of hot hunks of meat, we feel you. Along with our mates over at American Express, we've put together a bit of a nightly guide to realise your carnivorous dreams throughout the week. And what's more, you can tap that American Express® Card and reap those points benefits later on, post-beef coma. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
With international travel set to be off the cards until mid 2021, many Aussies are looking to explore their own backyards a bit more. One of the ways we're doing that is by hitting the trails and mountain paths. While your regular trainers and favourite leggings are probably all good for a one-day hike (depending on terrain), if you're looking to do something a bit longer — like a multi-day adventure across NSW, Victoria of Queensland — you might want to invest in some slightly more serious hiking gear. This can usually cost a pretty penny, but, thankfully, good ol' Aldi is about to drop a heap of adventure gear that won't empty your bank account. Available at stores across the country from Saturday, July 4, the gear includes everything from down jackets to hiking shoes and backpacks. You can snag headlamps for just $4.99, wool hiking socks for $11.99, $12.99 gloves , shoes for $29.99, a $34.99 30-litre backpack, merino thermals from $26.99 and a waterproof jacket starting at $39.99. There's also an Ultralight down jacket, which is water repellent, insulated and can be packed into a easy-to-carry pocket, is on offer for just $49.99 — still less than a pineapple — as well as some outdoor-appropriate technology such as binoculars ($39.99), handheld radios ($49.99) and GPS watches ($79.99). Once you're all kitted out, it's time to start planning your adventure. We suggest you aim high (literally) and tick off these ten epic mountain walks across Australia. The Aldi Adventure Range is available from Aldi stores nationally from Saturday, July 4. From 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 1, until at least Wednesday, July 29, stay-at-home orders have been reintroduced in ten Melbourne postcodes, which means their residents can only leave for one of four reasons: work or school, care or care giving, daily exercise or food and other essentials. For more information, head to the DHHS website.
