The steaks are high, as the list of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants for 2026 is revealed. Building on last year's already impressive stats, we can now reveal that 22 Australian restaurants have featured on the globally renowned list. Now that's something to celebrate. So did your favourite steak restaurant make the cut? While many Australian eateries across several states made the 2026 ranking, it was a Sydney favourite that made it (almost) all the way to the top. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years and have somehow missed the remarkable success of Neil Perry's Margaret, it likely won't come as a surprise that it took out the coveted second spot on the list this year. Most of the Australian restaurants that made the cut last year did so this year — and, incredibly, Margaret has secured its second-place ranking for the second year in a row. Yes, the Double Bay venue has proved again that it is not only the best steak restaurant in Australia, but almost the best in the entire world. [caption id="attachment_1001992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay.[/caption] "We're absolutely thrilled that Margaret continues to be recognised as one of the world's best steak restaurants, and to see Gran Torino make the list in its debut year is very exciting for us," says Neil Perry. "This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication behind our family-run restaurants - from sourcing outstanding beef from outstanding producers like Blackmore Wagyu and CopperTree Farms, to ensuring every cut served is meticulously dry-aged and perfectly cooked. It's also fantastic to see 22 Australian restaurants represented on the list this year, which highlights the exceptional quality and reputation of Australian beef on the world stage," says Perry. Taking out the number one spot was La Cúpula de El Capricho in Jiménez De Jamuz, Spain, and after Margaret comes another Spanish hotspot, Laia Erretegia in Hondarribia, Spain. London's Ibai came in at number seven, and Singapore's Burnt Ends came in at number nine. Remarkably, two more Sydney restaurants cracked the top 15, with Firedoor ranking 11th and Aalia 14th. Don't fret, it wasn't just Sydney who made headlines this year, with other Australian capital cities holding their own on the list. "Australia has firmly confirmed its position as a leading power in the global steak scene. With 22 restaurants featured in the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2026, Australia shines brighter than ever and demonstrates remarkable strength across the ranking. This achievement speaks not only to the exceptional quality and provenance of Australian beef, but also to the expertise, consistency and cultural confidence with which the country's leading steak restaurants operate. Australia is no longer simply setting benchmarks domestically — it is helping define excellence on a global stage." The list is the result of a meticulous evaluation of 1200 restaurants, judged against 29 detailed criteria including meat quality, cooking technique, sourcing, ageing, authenticity, ambience, service and wine list. Making the cut for Melbourne were the likes of Steer Dining Room at 29th, Victor Churchill at 31st, Gimlet at 62nd and Grill Americano at 95th. Brisbane impressively had two inclusions on the list, with Agnes coming in at number 20 and SK Steak & Oyster at 77th. Adelaide's fire-driven diner Arkhé must have made a striking impression, coming in at sweet 16t. Several other Sydney and Melbourne restaurants rounded out the 22 Australian restaurants that made the 2026 list. [caption id="attachment_1001993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_699842" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] [caption id="attachment_844448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Pearce[/caption] [caption id="attachment_956587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Loneragan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_675814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Loneragan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_860199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Earl Carter[/caption] For the full rundown of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants for 2026, head to the list's website. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Feature image: Petrina Tinslay.
Group getaways can often be social highlights of the year. But, between the group chat admin, Airbnb cleaning fees and boring, overpriced hotel rooms, deciding where to stay on a friend's trip can suck the fun right out of it before you've even arrived. In Bendigo, a new type of accommodation has landed, designed with group getaways in mind. Tasman Holiday Parks Bendigo has just launched its fleet of vintage-style caravans that are full of personality. Nicknamed Patty, Selma, Thelma and Louise, these four retro caravans are designed for travellers seeking accommodation with character. While the caravans look perfectly vintage on the outside, the insides are decked out with comfortable, modern amenities, including a queen bed, private bathroom, and kitchenette. Each caravan also comes with its own vinyl record player, lawn games, and access to a private fire-pit precinct to help you switch off and connect with your mates. The campsite includes access to a communal resort pool, laundry facilities, a camp kitchen, and a games room. Ultimately, the glamping caravans help you and your mates focus on making memories — all without the hassle of pitching your own tent or sleeping in a swag. The caravans are best suited to small groups, including low-key hen getaways, couples' trips or a quiet family holiday. Plus, given the parks' central Bendigo location, holidaymakers also have easy access to the Victorian city's incredible food and wine scene, galleries and botanic gardens. So, if you're looking for a glamping-style holiday that's full of character and a chance to log off and make some memories, consider booking a stay at Tasman Holiday Parks brand new vintage caravans in Bendigo. Book your stay now. Image Credit: Supplied
While the city may be famous for its beach and wellness lifestyle, the Gold Coast also has a thriving cultural scene. One that's filled with local makers, independent boutiques and art spaces. From gallery exhibitions and circus performers to Indigenous tours and food markets, Get Up and Gold Coast and discover the city's cultural side with this insider guide. [caption id="attachment_1072421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] La Clique[/caption] HOTA, Home of the Arts The first stop on a cultural tour has to be HOTA, Home of the Arts. It's a precinct that brings together galleries, live performance, cinema and dining all under one roof. On now is the free exhibition A Bigger View, which spans artists, decades and continents to showcase large-scale artworks and masterpieces from the National Gallery of Australia and major works from HOTA. Among other talented artists, the exhibition also includes two pieces by Henri Matisse and one by Pintupi artist Long Tom Tjapanangka. Alongside art and exhibitions, HOTA also hosts theatre, including international productions such as the high-energy circus cabaret La Clique, which returns in March after its sold-out debut in 2025. The show blends daring acrobatics and stunts with burlesque and comedy to create a captivating night out. Also in March, for one weekend only, comes Duck Pond, an "exuberant take" on the famous Swan Lake ballet in circus form. If you want to elevate your cultural day out, head to Palette, HOTA's flagship restaurant. It's the Gold Coast's only three-hatted restaurant, with a menu that is inspired by the gallery's exhibitions. [caption id="attachment_1067580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre[/caption] Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre A huge part of the Gold Coast's culture is its Indigenous history. Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, located at Burleigh Headland, offers locals and visitors the opportunity of guided walks, exhibitions and storytelling experiences to showcase the Yugambeh language and Country. Learn about the land's history and its First Nations people to gain an even deeper sense of its cultural heritage. To inspire you to Get Up and Gold Coast, Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is offering two weekday walkabout tours for the price of one. Bring a friend or family member along for free and discover ancient stories and Burleigh's vibrant culture. [caption id="attachment_1067581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Swell Sculpture Festival[/caption] Gold Coast Festivals Many art festivals choose the Gold Coast as their home base. First on the calendar in July is the Surface Miami Street Art Festival, which features large-scale murals and live painting in the Gold Coast suburb of Miami. In September, the Swell Sculpture Festival transforms Currumbin Beach into an openair gallery for Queensland's largest outdoor sculpture exhibition. BLEACH* Festival is an annual citywide celebration of performance, visual art and music that takes over the Gold Coast's laneways and theatres. In 2026, BLEACH* will take place in October, so keep an eye out throughout the year as the program is unveiled. Between these festivals and many others, you've got a cultural calendar that rivals other Australian cities. [caption id="attachment_1067583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mint Art House[/caption] Independent Boutiques If you're looking for local creators and small businesses to support when in the Gold Coast, head to James Street's boutique stores in Burleigh. Located mere steps from the ocean, the independent shops and designers offer thoughtful curation and pieces that will remind you of your trip to the Gold Coast. For something even more unique, Mint Art House in Burleigh Heads is an artists' collective that's also a gallery, studio and events space selling unique ceramics and souvenirs for you to take home. [caption id="attachment_1067586" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miami Marketta[/caption] Food Culture Looking to experience some of the Gold Coast's food culture? There are an abundance of markets and cafes that focus on community and creatives. Miami Marketta is a hub of creativity, good food, and live music. Described as the first creative precinct on the Gold Coast, different spaces and events are run side by side, and night markets and street food reign supreme. At HOTA Farmer and Artisan Markets, local designers, artists and artisans host stalls every Sunday morning, offering the best in farm-fresh produce, delicious food, handcrafted wears and more. For a Gold Coast-style brunch, Stable at Cornerstone in Currumbin is a sun-filled space where seasonal produce and specialty coffee take precedence, while Sun Devil (located in Strange Days vintage clothing store) proves that some of the Gold Coast's best cafes are where you least expect them. This is just a snippet of the cultural events, festivals and activities happening on the Gold Coast. Because while we love the city for its theme parks and beaches, it's also a growing cultural haven. Image credit: Supplied Lead Image: Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
A Gold Coast getaway often means sun-soaked beaches, surf breaks and seaside cocktails. But just a short drive inland lies an entirely different world, one of ancient rainforests, misty waterfalls, boutique wineries and luxurious accommodation that will reshape how you holiday. If the Hinterland's on your radar, now's the time to Get Up and Gold Coast, with exclusive accommodation and experience deals to help you plan your trip. Waterfalls and Walks Worth the Drive If your idea of a holiday is getting out into nature and stretching your legs, the Gold Coast Hinterland has a number of UNESCO-listed rainforests and parks for you to enjoy. Twin Falls and Purlingbrook Falls in Springbrook National Park are must-do walks, offering dramatic waterfalls and shaded paths that feel worlds away from the coast. For those craving grand scenery, Lamington National Park delivers on all fronts. Think ancient trees, panoramic lookouts and natural beauty that make this Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area a must-do. [caption id="attachment_1069322" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Purlingbrook Falls[/caption] If you'd rather leave the logistics to someone else, Paradise Tours offers 10% off its Springbrook day tour, complete with free professional photos, when you book with the code GOLDCOAST2026. Southern Cross Tours also sweetens the deal, with $50 off a Scenic Rainforest & Vineyard Escape for Two using the code GETUP. Adventure Time The Hinterland caters just as well to thrill-seekers as it does to slow travellers. Soar through the rainforest canopy on Australia's largest guided zipline tour at Canyon Flyer in Mount Tamborine, or tackle the aerial challenges at Happitat, a world-first cliff park where high ropes and ziplines are set against jaw-dropping scenery. Both adventure tours will get your heart pumping whilst you enjoy the stunning scenery of the Scenic Rim surrounds. Meanwhile, the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk offers an elevated perspective of the forest, with steel bridges suspended high above the canopy. Perfect for those who like a little adventure without the need to abseil. [caption id="attachment_1066281" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Happitat[/caption] If you're planning a romantic adventure, the Historic Rivermill's private, scenic horse ride for two lets you slow down and take in the Hinterland's scenery. Book the Historic Rivermill private scenic horse ride with the code FREEPICNIC, and you'll receive a complimentary riverside picnic. Or use code GETUPGC to enjoy 10% off at Happitat. Where to Stay While the Gold Coast's beaches have holiday apartments and five-star hotels, luxury in the Hinterland means quiet mornings surrounded by nature. There are a number of boutique accommodation options for you to indulge in. The Beechmont Estate is a boutique country retreat with five-star luxury accommodation and a hatted on-site restaurant, The Paddock, while The Tamborine offers a boutique hotel experience perched above the escarpment of Tamborine Mountain. If you love to glamp in style, Tamborine Mountain Glades is a five-star glamping experience that's set within the surrounds of Thunderbird Park, offering you a chance to rest and reconnect among the greenery. [caption id="attachment_1066289" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamborine Mountain Glades[/caption] For a luxe stay, Verandah House Country Estate lets you create your very own wellness retreat on Mount Tamborine. Relax among the trees in a barrel steam sauna and magnesium hot baths. And for a truly immersive nature stay, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat features views overlooking the western McPherson Ranges, architecturally designed villas, walks (both guided and solo), and waterfalls on your doorstep. Book Tamborine Mountain Glades with the code EGC2026, and you can receive a late checkout and breakfast for two included. O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat's Best of O'Reilly's package includes two nights' accommodation, daily breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. Where to Eat Food is a major drawcard in the Hinterland thanks to paddock-to-plate dining, boutique distilleries and cellar doors dotted throughout the region. Start your day at Franquette Bakery, where flaky pastries and excellent coffee are king. From there, head deeper into the Hinterland to Cauldron Distillery and try their award-winning gin range that's inspired by the Gold Coast's native botanicals. Bring along a picnic rug or camp chairs and sprawl amongst the vineyards with friends. [caption id="attachment_1066288" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cauldron Distillery[/caption] For lunch, Canungra Valley Vineyards delivers the full slow-afternoon experience. It's perfect for a long lunch featuring wine tastings and strolls through the cellar door to try local produce. Canungra Valley's Homestead Picnic Basket experience is a great option for a romantic date in the Hinterland. [caption id="attachment_1066282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peddly Picnics[/caption] For laidback afternoons, Peddly Picnics (where your electric bike hire is paired with a bespoke hamper) creates curated picnic experiences that turn any scenic spot into a long lunch. There's even the option to bring your dog along for the ride with Peddly Picnics' dog carrier. Enjoy the perfect day at O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards with a Homestead Picnic Basket for two with any bottle of wine for only $120. So jump in the car and enjoy a short drive away from the coastline to experience the Gold Coast unlike ever before. Whether you're chasing waterfalls, sipping wine among rolling hills or unwinding in a rainforest retreat, these hinterland experiences are waiting for you to experience them. Image credit: Supplied
Another race week in Melbourne has zoomed past like a McLaren. The highly-anticipated race week always carries a certain buzz: packed trams, streets humming with excitement and pubs around the city overflowing with devoted fans. To celebrate, Jack Daniel's brought the hype (and noise) off-track with a bunch of racing experiences across the city. Here's what went down. The Hub of Middle Park With the race track situated in Albert Park, the next-door suburb of Middle Park became a hub of fan activity. Local pub, Middle Park Hotel, was the destination for catching all of the race week action. There was a festival-like energy all weekend, with fans spilling out of the circuit and into the surrounding events. Jack Daniel's took over the entire venue, with replica McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team uniforms and helmets on display throughout the hotel, along with games, competitions, and prizes. Outside, the Jack Daniel's Marquee became a natural meeting point for racegoers, offering a place to regroup after the track action while staying immersed in the buzzing atmosphere. With screens broadcasting the action live, fans never missed a moment, and the mix of music, conversation and post-race excitement kept the crowd's energy high and rolling well into the evening. On Thursday, there was a race warm-up party inside the marquee with a surprise appearance from Melbourne's own racing star, Oscar Piastri. It gave fans a memorable race week moment to talk about long after the weekend wrapped. Jack's Bus Goes VIP Also in Middle Park was Jack's Bus. Parked out the front of Middle Park Hotel, Jack's Bus was decked out in race paraphernalia and offered punters a more elevated experience within the chaos of race weekend. Guests could learn about Jack Daniel's, try whiskey tastings and enjoy the cool, air-conditioned bus. Watching the festival-like atmosphere unfold from the bus gave it a VIP feel (without the price tag). Live Music at Jack's Garage The live music highlight of the weekend came via Jack's Garage, the four-night gig series that took over the Gershwin Room at St Kilda institution, The Espy. Fans got to see four legendary Australian acts across the weekend: The Presets, Slowly Slowly, Anna Lunoe and Keli Holiday. The combination of racing fans and music lovers created an exciting crossover crowd and heightened the race week hype felt across the city. Even after a full day spent at the track, the audience clearly had plenty left in the tank for each act. Conversations about lap times and overtakes easily gave way to sing-alongs and packed dance floors, with the live sets becoming a natural continuation of the race-week energy. Karaoke Time Also held in St Kilda was Jack Daniel's karaoke competition. In The Espy's Engine Room, participants were encouraged to step up and grab the mic in a high-stakes competition, with $5K in cash on the line. The audience got behind their favourite performers with the crowd reactions and sing-alongs turning into one of the most unexpectedly entertaining parts of the race weekend. Across the weekend, Jack Daniel's blended racing culture with Melbourne's exciting city buzz. From live music and watch parties to karaoke and surprise driver appearances, the whole weekend was a nonstop celebration that kept fans immersed in the energy of race week. Let's do it all again next year. Image Credit: Laura Du Vue
With ocean views and weather that practically begs you to eat outdoors year-round, the Gold Coast is where long lunches often roll into sunset drinks, and reservations are planned around golden hour. Whether you're plotting a food-focused escape or simply want to see how good dining with a sea breeze can really be, Get Up and Gold Coast to these al fresco dining spots that deliver on atmosphere, flavour and location in equal measure. The Tropic, Burleigh Heads Set right on beautiful Burleigh Beach, The Tropic is the type of venue your mind wanders to when you think of the Gold Coast. White umbrellas, breezy interiors and uninterrupted ocean views set the tone, while a Mediterranean-leaning menu keeps things fresh and coastal. You can expect plenty of seafood (the cold seafood platter features the best in Moreton Bay bugs, tiger prawns, freshly shucked oysters, and more), and refined cocktails, including signatures like the Mojo Tivo Blood Orange spritz and the Basil Maybe, which features gin, mango, basil, and bitters served straight up for a refreshing sip. If you're looking for an al fresco long lunch destination that ends in sunset spritzes overlooking the beach, The Tropic is your go-to. [caption id="attachment_1070222" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads[/caption] Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads Rick Shores is the type of Gold Coast restaurant that interstate foodies plan their trips around, and for good reason. Also located on Burleigh, the modern Asian restaurant pairs bold flavours with a stellar view. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and an open deck, the beach is the backdrop for signature dishes like Moreton Bay bug rolls, cured Ora King salmon sashimi, and freshly shucked oysters with Thai vinaigrette. The al fresco experience is polished yet relaxed, making it one of the Gold Coast's most memorable dining experiences. [caption id="attachment_1070225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kirra Beach House, Coolangatta[/caption] Kirra Beach House, Coolangatta If you find yourself in the southern Gold Coast, be sure to drop by Kirra Beach House in Coolangatta. Despite being a multi-level, elevated beachfront venue, Kirra Beach still has a laidback atmosphere. Lounge in the terrace cabanas, sink into booth seating in the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, and enjoy the sunset terrace for cocktail catchups and casual lunches. When it comes to food, expect seafood-led pasta, fish and steak fillets, as well as salad bowls for something lighter. With an extensive wine list and signature crowd-pleasing cocktails, it's easy to spend the whole day relaxing al fresco-style. [caption id="attachment_1070223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sueño, Mermaid Beach[/caption] Sueño, Mermaid Beach If you're looking for a rooftop bar that's as design-driven as it is delicious, head to Sueño. The Mermaid Beach rooftop is located above the Latin American restaurant Norté and features a variety of shareable plates. Think: ceviche, skewers, handmade tortillas and guacamole. Sueño's signature cocktail menu is extensive and inspired by the Americas (be sure to try the Beso Picante featuring gin, Aperol, and spicy agave). The rooftop also offers a bottomless brunch on weekends, featuring an eight-dish shared-style brunch menu paired with bottomless selected cocktails, house beer, and wine for $149 per person. Whether you're here for a rooftop afternoon aperitif or a long evening under the stars, Sueño is all about fresh flavours and al fresco dining – Latin American-style. [caption id="attachment_1070226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Surfers Pavilion[/caption] Surfers Pavilion, Surfers Paradise If you're looking for a Gold Coast dining experience that's a bit more casual (without compromising on its view), Surfers Pavilion in Surfers Paradise does the trick. The restaurant is located on the Nerang River, providing a different type of waterfront al fresco dining experience. It offers a relaxed, social atmosphere that suits large groups and after-work revellers, and its deck is ideal for grazing, cocktail parties and casual catch-ups. The menu is a crowd-pleaser serving everything from burgers to fish and chips and share plates at affordable prices. Enjoy a cold beer in the Queensland afternoon with a river view to match. [caption id="attachment_1070224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads[/caption] Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads Burleigh Pavilion is a Gold Coast institution. Sitting right on the headland, the large restaurant overlooks Burleigh Beach and features sprawling spaces to socialise alfresco-style. Grab a spot on the deck beneath the umbrellas for the best views of Burleigh, and enjoy the menu, which features share plates for groups and pub-style classics, including battered local snapper, burgers, steak, and woodfire pizzas. Aperol Spritzes are the unofficial cocktail of Burleigh Pavilion, making it the perfect Sunday session location when on the Gold Coast. [caption id="attachment_1074101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Palette, HOTA[/caption] Palette, Surfers Paradise Located inside HOTA, Home of the Arts, Palette is one of the Gold Coast's hidden dining gems. The refined restaurant offers a calm, cultural dining experience with a seasonal menu inspired by the gallery's exhibitions. Palette is the Gold Coast's only three-hatted restaurant, offering fine dining alongside the fresh, local produce the destination is known for. If you're looking for an alfresco bar post-gallery hopping, head to The Exhibitionist Bar, which features breathtaking views across the city and toward the hinterland from HOTA's rooftop. From beachside views to rooftop escapes, the Gold Coast's al fresco dining scene is reason enough to plan a getaway. Come for the sunshine, stay for the long lunches, and don't be surprised if your afternoon plans roll on into the evening. Image Credit: Supplied Lead Image Credit: The Tropic
The Gold Coast has long been one of Australia's most reliable family holiday destinations, and for good reason. Few places pack in the same mix of adrenaline-pumping theme parks, wildlife encounters, outdoor adventures and family-friendly accommodation. Whether you're travelling with thrill-seekers, animal lovers or kids who just want to stay by the pool, the Gold Coast makes it easy to build an itinerary that keeps everyone happy. This guide rounds up the best family-friendly deals and experiences, so you can Get Up and Gold Coast on your next holiday. [caption id="attachment_1069893" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Movie World[/caption] Make Some Memories A family holiday doesn't have to mean slowing down. If your family thrives on excitement, the Gold Coast delivers it in spades. The classics include Village Roadshow Theme Parks: Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet 'n' Wild, where you can enjoy five consecutive days of holiday fun for $169 per person. Australia's biggest theme park, Dreamworld, also suits families with kids of all ages. The big kids can make some memories on King Claw and Steel Taipan rollercoaster, while the little ones can have fun on the Deep Sea Dodgems and the Big Red Boat Coaster. For families looking to get more bang for their buck, you can book two-day tickets for $99 per person that offer access to Dreamworld, SkyPoint, and Whitewater World. [caption id="attachment_1069891" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Timezone[/caption] If a day (or five) in the theme parks still hasn't scratched the adrenaline itch, consider iFly. Located in the heart of bustling Surfers Paradise, iFly lets kids (and brave parents) experience the thrill of indoor skydiving in a safe, controlled environment. Fly from as little as $69 per person and use the promocode EXPGC when booking the iFLY Basic or iFLY Value Package for a discount. Also in Surfers Paradise is the world's largest Timezone, a reliable hit that features arcades, laser tag, bowling, bumper cars, and glow-in-the-dark golf. Set on the water, GC Aqua Park in Southport is a unique, family-friendly experience designed for splash-filled fun, an inflatable course perfect for kids who love to jump off their energy in the Gold Coast sunshine. [caption id="attachment_1069889" align="alignnone" width="1920"] GC Aqua Park[/caption] Nature and Wildlife Adventures Water parks and thrill-seeking aside, there are a number of experiences on the Gold Coast that are rich in connection, nature, and fun. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a beloved day out for families to learn more about animals and the sanctuary's conservation efforts. Enjoy close encounters with the kids' favourite animals, shaded walking trails, and an overall educational day out. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also hosts Astra Lumina, a cosmic light and sound experience that's set in the sanctuary's bushland. Embark on an enchanted after-dark experience, and discover the wonder of the stars thanks to a projection and moving soundscape. It's a multi-sensory experience (and one that won't be forgotten quickly). Use the promo code GETCWS for $10 off day passes to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Use the code GETAL5 for $5 off Astra Lumina tickets. [caption id="attachment_1069894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Astra Lumina[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1069890" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elite Holiday Homes[/caption] Where to Stay Accommodation on the Gold Coast caters exceptionally well to families, whether you want all-inclusive ease or simply a place to sleep in between adventures. Paradise Resort is made for travelling with kids, combining pools, activities and kids' clubs with dining that takes the pressure off parents. It's been voted Australia's Best Family Resort for the 15th year in a row and is packed full of activities, including an ice-skating rink, waterpark, miniature train, and more, all within metres of Surfers Paradise Beach. If you stay for three or more nights, Paradise Resort offers daily breakfast for everyone, lunch and dinner for the kids, $200 activities credit, one kids club session per child and more. For families travelling with larger groups, Elite Holiday Homes offers spacious, luxury holiday homes with family-friendly pools and Gold Coast views. If camping or cabin-style stays are more your speed, NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort and Gold Coast Tourist Parks deliver an easy balance of affordability and convenience, with easy access to beaches and the Gold Coast's main attractions. If you prefer your accommodation as a central base that's close to holiday activities, look to Novotel Surfers Paradise or voco Gold Coast. Both hotels offer family-friendly discounts, such as kids eating free and, for Novotel, a $100 Timezone voucher to enjoy when staying two nights or more. Use the code LOVE and receive 30% off Elite Holiday Homes when booking for a minimum of four nights. NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort Kids stay and play free, save up to 15%* off accommodation. Free daily coffees, free pedal-kart hire and a $10 games room credit. [caption id="attachment_1069888" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gold Coast Tourist Parks[/caption] On the Gold Coast, you can spend one day riding rollercoasters, the next spotting kangaroos, and the following afternoon doing absolutely nothing by the hotel pool, all without long drives or rigid itineraries. With all of these options in close proximity to one another, a family-style Gold Coast holiday is a no-brainer. Image Credit: Supplied
While the Gold Coast might be known for its beaches, you don't have to be an ocean person to enjoy the relaxation of the destination. Beyond the sand is a leader in Australia's booming health and wellness scene. Whether you're planning a dedicated wellness escape or weaving a little indulgence into a holiday itinerary, Get Up and Gold Coast to the destination's best spa and wellness experiences for slowing down and switching off. [caption id="attachment_1067919" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Native State[/caption] Bathhouses Bathhouses are all the rage at the moment, including on the Gold Coast. SOL Elements in Mount Tamborine is described as a transformative sanctuary where ancient healing meets modern-day wellness rituals. Enjoy the elemental bathhouse, float caves for weightless stillness, and hands-on massages and treatments. If you can make it midweek, SOL Elements offers a midweek bathhouse session and a private floatation cave session, with a wellness drink on arrival and robe hire, for $150. In Coolangatta, Native State is the Gold Coast's premier bathhouse, offering hydrothermal pools, steam rooms, and quiet spaces to boost your immune system, reduce stress, revitalise your body, and more. Its 90-minute bathhouse sessions are currently available for $49 with code 45ONUS. [caption id="attachment_1067921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ground Bathhouse[/caption] Worth bookmarking for your hinterland escape are Ground Bathhouse in Currumbin and Greenhouse Bathhouse in Tallebudgera Valley. Both are known for their calming atmosphere, mineral pools, and community-driven approach to modern wellness. Ground Bathhouse offers bespoke facials, hydrotherapy spas, a traditional cedar hot tub, a large wood-fired hot stone sauna, and an outdoor infrared sauna. Greenhouse Bathhouse is the Gold Coast's original bathhouse, having been established in 2017. It offers massages, an on-site restaurant, a magnesium pool, a red cedar sauna, and more to help you unwind and relax in the hinterland. [caption id="attachment_1067922" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spa by JW Marriott[/caption] Day Spas For those craving hands-on treatments and experiences, the Gold Coast's hotel spas deliver polished, high-end experiences that will have you feeling like a new person. Inside The Star Gold Coast, Azure Spa is a destination for moments of solitude, offering treatments that focus on relieving tension, rejuvenating the skin, and providing full-body restorative treatments. The Babor facial is $160 for 60 minutes, giving you an hour of indulgence and self-care. Over at The Langham, Chuan Spa blends traditional Chinese medicine philosophies with modern spa techniques. Restore your balance with massage, detoxifying face masks, and more. [caption id="attachment_1067923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chuan Spa[/caption] If you're looking for a spa destination for a bachelorette party or birthday, the Spa by JW Marriott at Surfers Paradise is ideal for groups. A four-hour pamper package comes to $539 (valued at $702) and includes a one-hour facial, a one-hour massage, high tea, sauna and steam shower, a glass of champagne and more. [caption id="attachment_1067924" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gwinganna Retreat and Spa[/caption] Retreat-Style Wellness Escapes If you're ready to take the (cold) plunge and book an overnight retreat, the Gold Coast hinterland is the perfect place to escape and switch off. For two decades, Gwinganna Retreat and Spa in Tallebudgera Valley has been a leader in holistic wellness retreat experiences. With the principles of organic living, healing spa treatments, and restorative rest in nature, you're guaranteed to feel rejuvenated. Currently, guests can stay five nights and pay for only four, plus experience a massage, facial, $100 wellness therapy credit, and complimentary Gold Coast Airport transfers. Use the code GCSTAYS to redeem and prepare a schedule built around movement, nutrition, rest and reconnection. [caption id="attachment_1067925" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eden Retreat[/caption] Eden Retreat in Currumbin Valley is designed for those looking to step away from everyday life in a secluded, nature-focused environment. The retreat offers stays that are focused on realignment through holistic wellbeing, meditation, nourishing food, and therapeutic treatments. If you want to experience Eden Retreat without staying overnight, its day spa is also open to guests seeking restorative treatments. Finally, On Eagle Wings Mountain Retreat & Spa in the hinterland is a relaxing retreat set in the rainforest. The two-and-a-half-hour soak spa package, which lets you recharge your body and take in the incredible skyline views from the infinity pool, is currently priced at $159 per person and includes infrared therapy and mineral spas. [caption id="attachment_1067926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eagle Wings Mountain Retreat & Spa[/caption] The Gold Coast's wellness scene proves that relaxation here goes far beyond the shoreline. From accessible bathhouse sessions to luxury spa treatments and immersive hinterland retreats, these experiences show just how zen a Gold Coast getaway can be. Image credit: Supplied
Byron Bay isn't short on beachside hangouts, but a new arrival is raising the bar for long lunches, sun-drenched cocktails and a poolside view. Located just behind Main Beach, Roca first opened in December 2024, serving Latin-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner among colour-drenched interiors. Now, one year after the restaurant's Byron debut, the team has expanded with a new luxe pool club next door: Roca Cabana. Designed as an all-day destination, Roca Cabana blends Byron's relaxed coastal energy with a polished resort feel. Guests can expect expertly crafted drinks alongside fresh seafood, sandwiches, burgers and light daytime favourites from the club's Raw Bar and ceviche menu. Entry includes access to the venue's pool, which will be heated to a balmy 28 degrees in winter and comes complete with complimentary towels. With views of Byron Bay's famous lighthouse as the backdrop, the adults-only pool club invites guests to lounge poolside with full glasses and chilled house beats. Swim, sip and soak at Roca Cabana before towelling off and heading next door for a long lunch or dinner, Latin style. Designer Chris Schneider helped conceptualise the new space. "My partner is Chilean, and during our visits there, I was inspired by the colours, textures, and warmth of South American culture. Roca Cabana blends that inspiration with Byron's own laid-back elegance," says Chris. Terracotta hues, vibrant Spanish-blue mosaics by the pool, shimmering copper accents and rendered curves bring the concept to life. For Chris, the design was intended as a nod to the adobe architecture of South America. "The space feels both transportive and uniquely local. It's a fusion of cultures that reflects our food and our story." Roca's Food Roca Byron Bay has already made a name for itself as the town's only dedicated Latin American restaurant. Guests can enjoy dishes from Peru, Argentina, Chile and Brazil as Roca's Latin American flavours are fused with the best local produce on the Northern Rivers. The restaurant offers an extensive tapas menu as well as mouth-watering local meats grilled on Roca's authentic Argentinian Parilla BBQ. The grilled dishes are crafted to pair perfectly with Roca's extensive wine list, including Malbec and Carménère, directly imported from Argentina and Chile. Roca Byron Bay also offers a curated signature cocktail menu featuring fusion drinks such as the Chimitini (imagine a dirty martini with chimichurri), or the Ginebra Maté, a refreshing cocktail made with infused Argentinian Yerba Mate, gin and elderflower. With a menu designed to share "familia" style and an authentic Argentinian Parilla BBQ, Roca Byron Bay is an East Coast destination worth making a trip for. Why Byron Bay? With its famous beaches and buzzing bar scene, Byron Bay might already seem well catered for, but Chris says the idea was to offer a different kind of escape. "Whether you're visiting Byron or are lucky enough to call it home, I believe everyone deserves a touch of luxury, and we wanted to create an elevated poolside experience." Just a minute's walk from Main Beach, Roca Cabana also offers a stylish fallback for those days when the surf (or the weather) doesn't quite cooperate. Between its Latin-inspired design, poolside cocktails and seafood-driven menu, Roca Cabana adds a new kind of daytime escape to Byron Bay's social scene. Whether you're settling in for oysters and prosecco, dipping between sun loungers and the pool, or stretching a long lunch well into the afternoon, the new pool club is designed for exactly the kind of slow, sun-soaked afternoons the Northern Rivers does best. Book your luxe pool club day out now. Roca Cabana is running events across the Easter long weekend, including back-to-back DJs all day on Thursday, April 2, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, plus cocktail specials including $15 aperol spritz and frozen coconut margs. On Easter Monday, April 6, Roca Cabana is hosting a Long Weekend Recovery with Caesar's Cocktails by the pool. Guests can either walk in on the day or book a daybed in advance by emailing lifeguard@rocacabana.com. Image Credit: Supplied
As the weather begins to cool down, it's easy to turn your mind to autumn travel plans. With Aperol Spritzes behind us and cosy, quiet weekends ahead, planning a city escape can be tempting. But where to go? Just two hours from both Canberra and Sydney lies the South Coast region of Shoalhaven. From the white sands of Jervis Bay to the misty rivers surrounding Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven is built for weekends dedicated to rest, retreat and renewal. If you're looking to swap city stress for ocean air and indulge in long lunches and restorative experiences, here's how to spend a wellness-focused weekend in the region. Rest Your restorative getaway is only as good as your accommodation choice, and Shoalhaven has no shortage of quiet and restful retreats. Bay and Bush Jervis Bay is designed for switching off in nature. The boutique eco-retreat offers self-contained cottages and safari glamping tents on acres of lush Australian bushland. Wellness is woven into your stay at The Nest, the on-site studio featuring yoga and soundbath sessions. There's also an on-site day spa featuring massages and treatments, and a brand new cafe that's open to the public. With Jervis Bay just a short drive away, as well as bushwalking, whale watching, breweries, and galleries all nearby, Bay and Bush Jervis Bay has everything you could need for a restful weekend retreat. [caption id="attachment_1083654" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Motel Molly, Mollybrook[/caption] Motel Molly in Mollymook is a luxe update on the beach motel of many Australian summer road trips. The oceanside motel has recently been revamped with a Mediterranean-inspired look and features handmade ceramics, mosaic tiles, and sunken bathtubs. It also offers a pool, sauna and massages to help you lean into relaxation and renewal. Rooms range from one-bedroom king suites to three-bedroom apartments for larger groups. Alongside its wellness offerings, Motel Molly is a great spot to get out into nature by hiring a bike or surfboard and soaking up the surrounding beaches. [caption id="attachment_1081431" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Appleye Silver, Berry[/caption] Outside of accommodation options, Shoalhaven urges you to rest through creativity. Get off your screens and use your hands in local workshops such as Appleye Silver silversmithing, or meet (and paint) some Highland Cows at Abergail Farm with their Coos & Colour art experience. If you prefer to soak up the art rather than make your own, head to Bundanon Art Museum, gallery and homestead for world-class contemporary art set amongst a stunning South Coast landscape. Retreat [caption id="attachment_1081432" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Valley Outdoors[/caption] One of the best parts of a city escape is retreating into nature. Paddle the region's calm waterways in canoes with Valley Outdoors. If you really want to feel the serenity, book in for a half-day guided tour with Valley Outdoors Mindful Canoeing Nature Experience. You'll enjoy a mindful reset as your guides help you to connect with Shoalhaven's beautiful nature, including the Shoalhaven Gorge's pristine waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Your tour will involve a moderate level of activity while paddling, but there'll be ample time to pause and enjoy the moment throughout. Another outdoor activity is Shoalhaven's horse riding school. Saddle up for a scenic trail ride through bushland with Regal Riding School, where you can trot along a stretch of shoreline that's waiting to be discovered. In the evening, book a magical Jervis Bay Stargazing experience and lie under vast starry skies. Here, astronomers share stories of the cosmos as you pause and reconnect with nature. [caption id="attachment_1081433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jervis Bay Stargazing[/caption] When it comes to local restorative spaces, Worrowing Estate's new wellness pavilion, Melaleuca, will help your mind to slow down through flowing movement. Here, you can practice yoga, pilates, sound healing, reiki and breathwork, all in a peaceful studio that overlooks farmland, bush and curious kangaroos. [caption id="attachment_1081434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Life Centre, Bewong[/caption] If you're after something more indulgent for your Shoalhaven retreat, make a trip to Berry and visit Sol Organic Facialist. Focusing on Australian-made organic and natural products, facialist Alexandra has over 20 years of experience in her field and offers restorative luxe facials and treatments that include Reiki. In Bewong, Life Centre is your chance to switch off through hot and cold therapy. With saunas, ice baths, floatation tanks and breathwork sessions, you'll feel rejuvenated as soon as you set foot in the wellness space. If you're after something a bit more rigorous, Bowline Remedial Massage and Recovery combines evidence-based remedial massage with recovery-focused treatments to prevent injury, support rehabilitation, and your overall wellbeing. Renewal Renewing in Shoalhaven means connecting more deeply with place. There are First Nations–led experiences across the region that offer opportunities to learn directly from local Indigenous custodians. At Mirritya Mundya in Culburra Beach, guests can experience Indigenous food culture through native ingredients and storytelling. Dishes connect directly to Country for a dining experience built on thousands of years of knowledge. [caption id="attachment_1081437" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mirritya Mundya[/caption] In nearby Nowra, Blak Cede Gunyah is a First Nations, women-led cafe and social enterprise that showcases bush foods and produce from the Kareela Ngura community garden. The menu highlights ingredients and knowledge passed down through generations, offering a meaningful way to experience local culture through food. Across the region, produce-driven experiences continue the theme. There are several fresh farmers' markets throughout Shoalhaven that showcase the area's strong connection between land, sea and plate. Enjoy fresh seafood from local producers like Jervis Bay Mussels and Jim Wild Oysters. For fruits, vegetables and artisan produce, make a trip to Milton Village Showground Market, visit the weekly Berry Farmer's Market, or enjoy the monthly Kangaroo Valley Farmer's Market that's located in the heart of town. No matter where you stay, you'll most likely be able to find a local farmers' market. Whether you're looking for an offline luxury bush retreat or a road trip through country towns and beaches, Shoalhaven is a destination designed for switching off. Build your Shoalhaven wellness itinerary here.
With its signature blend of art, ritual, and after-dark hedonism, Dark Mofo is returning to Hobart this winter. Taking place from Thursday, June 11, until Monday, June 22, the Tasmanian city will transform into a cultural playground filled with music, fire, food, art, performance, and large-scale public installations that both challenge and ignite creativity. With so much to do during the winter solstice festival, we've delved into the stacked program to share the must-do moments of Dark Mofo 2026. Late-Night Events Night Mass, Dark Mofo's takeover of Hobart's CBD, is returning this year with the late-night party offering a feast for the senses. Wander through hidden laneway venues, ogle at installations and experience music and art at this after-dark experience. In a 2026 debut, another late-night event is Help Me Through The World. The name is inspired by an old pub in Hobart, and the event is held in a late-night club hidden in the city, featuring music and performers until the early morning. Art and Performers Dark Mofo is known for pushing boundaries in art and culture, and 2026's program is no different. The festival has invited performers from around the globe to experience a Hobart winter, and is offering a program full of Australian exclusives. Dancer, performer, and choreographer Candela Capitán, known for her work in both popular and underground culture, is a major highlight of the program. The Spanish artist will present three performances of her work SOLAS, which sees five dancers and five computers spawn a kaleidoscope of screen and body, desire and consumption. Barcelona-based artist duo, Lolo and Sosaku, will also perform their signature sound installations at the Theatre Royal in an Australian exclusive. Titled ÊLÊCTRON 45CC L=20NM W20NM, the artists will physically create sounds with objects, including engines and hammers, to push the boundaries of electronic music. Over at City Hall, Belgian artist Ruben Bellinkx is building a human sculpture comprised of 36 men holding tables with their teeth. It's bound to be a talking point throughout this year's Dark Mofo festival, and there are eight performances for you to witness during its Australian exclusive. [caption id="attachment_1086169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ruben Bellinkx[/caption] Women artists are prominent throughout the 2026 program with Regina Jose Galindo from Guatemala and Kiyo Gutiérrez from Mexico, both performing their boundary-shattering works at Hobart's Piano Warehouse — a new precinct for Dark Mofo. Both artists are exploring the human cost of conflict and state lines through Galindo's work, Times of War Regina José Galindo, and Gutiérrez's two performances, Hairline Border and A Wall That Breaks The Body In Two. These performances are free, but for one night only, so we suggest you turn up early. [caption id="attachment_1086171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A Wall That Breaks The Body In Two[/caption] Dark Park At Dark Park, Dark Mofo's immersive public art playground (part of which is happening aboard the new Spirit of Tasmania ferry), several artworks challenge what it means to be human in the modern age. Boris Acket is premiering one of his largest ever spatial audio works, enveloping attendees in light and sound, while Monica Bonvicini is creating a giant whip that aims to wipe clean the structures humans have been dealing with. Meanwhile, Regina Jose Galindo explores the prevalence of European weapons manufacturing in La Sombra, and Chunxiao Qu shares the struggles of loss and a mother's grief in I Want To Burn The Sun and There Is Nothing Left To Pray For, both developed after a traumatic custody dispute. Arthur Jafa also celebrates Black culture and excellence in APEX, where 850 images are soundtracked by a heart-thumping (literally) techno beat. [caption id="attachment_1086174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Princess Nokia[/caption] Music Experiences Alongside Dark Mofo's incredible art, performance and installation lineup, there's also a music program that will have you booking your winter plans ASAP. In Australian exclusives, Xiu Xiu pays tribute to the late David Lynch with their performance of Eraserhead, and international artists Princess Nokia, Headache, Sega Bodega, Power Trip, Snapped Ankles, and WU LYF are all heading down to Hobart for musical performances. At the Odeon Theatre, enjoy performances from the likes of Ninajirachi, Dry Cleaning, Danny Brown, The Black Angels, Clipping, Gabber Eleganza, Daniel Avery, and Blackwater Holylight. Dark Mofo is expanding beyond Hobart this year, with Launceston's Albert Hall offering performances from Melbourne indie darlings Folk Bitch Trio and Yolngu artist Baker Boy. [caption id="attachment_1086175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Baker Boy[/caption] Winter Renewal Amongst all the art and music, Dark Mofo 2026 is also bringing back beloved events that refresh and renew, including the famous 3,000-person Nude Swim and the Ogoh-Ogoh ceremony. Over the festival, attendees can write down their fears, which are then stuffed into a sculpture. On the last Sunday of the festival, the Balinese-inspired sculpture is then paraded and ceremonially burned to cleanse the fears of festival-goers. Returning in 2026 is also Dark Mofo's Winter Feast. This year, the guest chef, Floriano Pellegrino, owner of Michelin-starred Bros' restaurant in Lecce, Italy, is working on inventive and thought-provoking food that moonlights as miniature works of art in their own right. There will be 75 other stallholders at the festival, so you can enjoy the best in Tasmania's incredible local produce and artisans. The 2026 Dark Mofo program proves that the festival remains one of Australia's most distinctive and important contemporary art events. With an immersive lineup, Australian exclusives from global artists and the rituals of death and rebirth during the winter solstice, there's truly nothing else like it. This is just a taste of the program, so be sure to explore the complete lineup and subscribe for priority access to tickets when they go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, April 1. View the program and subscribe here. Image Credit: Supplied
If your love language is a perfectly textured flat white, clear your calendar. The Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) is back in 2026, and it's brewing up its biggest year yet. From Thursday, March 26, until Saturday, March 28, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will transform into a caffeinated haven. As the Asia Pacific's largest dedicated coffee event, MICE draws over 11,000 attendees from around the world, bringing together cafe owners, roasters, coffee innovators, and everyday caffeine devotees under one roof. This year, MILKLAB (AKA, the milk used by baristas) is a Platinum Sponsor. The brand is offering attendees a high-energy program that's packed with competitions, bean tastings, and daily DJ sets to keep you going. Here's what's happening at MICE this year. The Roaster Royale Finals Kicking off on Thursday, March 26 from 2–4pm, the MILKLAB Roaster Royale Finals will crown Australia's best blend, but with a twist. Aussie roasters have been tasked with developing the ultimate coffee blend using supplied green beans from InterAmerican Coffee, to pair with MILKLAB's Oat milk. The top contenders will go head-to-head at MICE, where a champion and runner-up will be announced. Attendees can also sample the top five blends and cast their vote for the MICE Favourite, giving coffee lovers a direct say in who takes home bragging rights and $1,000. National Barista Battle On Friday, March 27, from 2–4pm, the stakes rise with the MILKLAB National Barista Battle. Australia's best baristas will compete for the 2026 title in a high-stakes battle of the pour. Then on Saturday, March 28, from 2–4pm, the newly crowned national champion will return to the stage for the MILKLAB International Barista Battle, facing off against leading baristas from around the world. Attendees can expect high-pressure pours, technical precision, and some serious latte art theatre as global talent battles it out in front of a live MICE crowd. It's your chance to witness world-class coffee techniques up close and personal and take home a little art inspiration. Sensations Booth Beyond the competitions, the MILKLAB Sensations booth will be serving its signature drinks to attendees throughout the expo. Each year, MILKLAB curates a season-defining drop of drinks designed to satisfy your tastebuds (and Instagram story aesthetics). This year's range has been developed with specialty coffee roasters Golden Brown Coffee and includes a Glazed Doughnut Iced Latte and a Mango Matcha, among other delicious coffee creations. Swing by the booth at MICE to sample the signature drinks and see why MILKLAB has cemented its place as a premium favourite among baristas and specialty cafes nationwide. DJs to Keep the Energy High MICE may be an industry-focused event, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. A live DJ will be spinning daily sets at the MILKLAB booth to soundtrack your coffee-sipping and barista-battles throughout the weekend. Across the wider expo floor, attendees can explore cutting-edge equipment, discover emerging coffee roasters, and gain insights from industry leaders who are shaping the future of specialty coffee in Australia and beyond. All in Australia's favourite coffee city, Melbourne. Whether you're in the trade or are just chasing your next favourite cup, MICE 2026 promises three days of competition, collaboration, and of course, seriously good coffee. Purchase your tickets to MICE now. Image credit: Supplied
Once, watching a movie in bed meant getting cosy indoors with whatever you choose to view on a small screen. Then Mov'In Bed came along. It takes the idea that catching a flick and lazing around on a mattress can go hand in hand, embraces it, and moves it outdoors. The crew behind it have delivered variations, too — on boats in Darling Harbour, in cars on Entertainment Quarter's rooftop and on sand at Barangaroo. Mov'In Bed initially debuted its outdoor beach cinema in January 2024. Unsurprisingly, it proved popular. Accordingly, Mov'In Bed Outdoor Cinema is returning to Harbour Park for another summer — this time for a hefty four-month run between Friday, November 28, 2025 through to April 2026. The concept behind Mov'In Bed has always answered a question: can't choose between hitting up an outdoor cinema or watching a film in bed? Here, you don't have to. The outdoor beach setup stacks on another layer to that equation like it's building a sandcastle. Can't pick between flicks under the stars, going to the beach or being cosy? Again, this is the solution. Here's how it works: you can park up on a king or queen-size mattress, or you can bring a towel to recline on on the sand. Whatever sits between you and all of those white grains beneath your feet, you'll be getting comfortable on top while peering at the 15-metre 4K screen silver screen and listening in via noise-cancelling headphones. The movie lineup features big names from 2025's cinema releases, including Regretting You, Tron: Ares, Twinless, One Battle After Another, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Wicked: For Good, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Now You See Me: Now You Don't and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Given that the season runs over Christmas, yes, Elf and Love Actually, Home Alone, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Die Hard (yes, it's a Christmas movie) are on the bill as well. More movies will be announced for the beach club-style cinema, sticking to the above mix — so recent favourites and classics. This time around, there'll be 150 queen- and king-sized beds, all with pillows and blankets. Prices start at $12 if you're happy sitting on your own towel — and go up to $75 for a VIP package that includes sparkling wine, butler service, unlimited gourmet popcorn and a premium view of the screen.
If you've been looking for an excuse to book a Perth trip this year, RAC Arena is making a very strong case for it. The 2026 calendar is stacked with major music, comedy and live-event dates, giving east-coast visitors plenty of reasons to turn a night out into a full weekend away. While there's a lot happening at the venue across the year, this hit list leans into the headline acts most worth planning around — whether you're after a huge pop night, a long-awaited hometown set or a comedy show that fully justifies a flight west. There's even room for something a little different, because the best arena lineups are never just one-note. It helps that Perth is an easy city to build a mini break around once the tickets are sorted. You can pair your RAC Arena night with beach time, a day in Fremantle, a wander through Kings Park or a trip to Swan Valley for a winery lunch before heading back into the city. So if you're keen to make a westbound trip feel bigger than a fly-in, fly-out show, start with the dates below. These are the RAC Arena picks worth locking into the calendar now, in the order they're landing across 2026. Machine Gun Kelly — April 8 Machine Gun Kelly is kicking off the Australian and New Zealand leg of his Lost Americana tour in Perth, bringing his genre-blurring mix of rap, rock and alt-pop to RAC Arena. With a reputation for high-energy live shows and a huge global following behind him, this one looks set to be a big way to start the arena run. Jimmy Carr — April 21–22 If razor-sharp one-liners and properly dark humour are your thing, Jimmy Carr's Perth return should be high on your list. Demand has already been strong enough to add a second show, so this is clearly one of the comedy dates to lock in early. Harlem Globetrotters — June 20 Not every RAC Arena highlight this year is strictly a concert, and the Harlem Globetrotters' 100 Year Tour is a good example of that. Expect big tricks, huge energy and plenty of family-friendly spectacle from one of the most iconic names in live sports entertainment. Laufey — July 25 Two years after her last Australian visit, Laufey is bringing her A Matter of Time Tour to Perth in late July. Supposedly her biggest tour yet, her unique blend of jazz and classically infused pop will be sweeping the nation, and the hearts of everyone at RAC Arena (for one night only). Jim Jefferies — July 30 Jim Jefferies is bringing his Son of a Carpenter tour to Perth, with the Australian comic promising a night of brutally honest stories, biting commentary and absolutely no soft edges. For anyone planning a comedy-led trip west, this is one of the sharpest names on the bill. Urzila Carlson — July 31 Urzila Carlson follows close behind with Fatty On a Yacht, a new show built around not fitting in, standing out and laughing through the awkwardness of it all. Her deadpan delivery and fan-favourite status make this an easy pick for anyone keen to line up back-to-back comedy nights at RAC Arena. Alex Warren — September 12 Feel stuck in the ordinary? The chart-topping sounds of Alex Warren might be just the thing you need. If you missed him last year, or need another dose of his uplifting music to keep you topped up in these dark times, the megastar is bringing his global Finding Friends on the Road tour to Perth this September. Tame Impala — October 24–25 Tame Impala's hometown return is one of the biggest RAC Arena moments of the year, with Kevin Parker bringing new album Deadbeat back to Perth for a massive two-night run. A second show has already been added, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about how quickly these tickets are moving. Lily Allen — November 1 Lily Allen rounds out the run with what's being billed as the biggest headline tour of her career, arriving in Perth with her new live show Lily Allen performs West End Girl. She'll play the new album in full, while also bringing the same sharp, candid pop voice that made her one of the defining artists of the 2000s. Head to RAC Arena's What's On page to see the full 2026 lineup and snap up tickets. This article is produced by Concrete Playground in partnership with RAC Arena. Image credit: Supplied/RAC Arena.
There's no shortage of excellent films these days, and there are plenty of great movies releasing in April, whether you're a regular theatregoer or more comfortable watching at home by renting or streaming the latest blockbusters and indie films. If you've lost track of the release schedule or you're simply curious about what's in theatres this month, as well as what's landing on streaming and VOD (video on demand — renting or buying on your platform of choice), these are all the films the Concrete Playground team will be watching throughout April. Not keen on the movies releasing this month? Check out our guide to all the TV shows hitting streaming this month instead. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — In cinemas now Nintendo's iconic moustache-sporting, goomba-stomping plumber is back on the big screen this April. When the heir to Bowser's empire, Bowser Jr., arrives to break his father out of his tiny prison, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad and Yoshi are drawn into a new adventure, this time with intergalactic proportions, and probably a galaxy's worth of Nintendo cameos and references. Father Mother Sister Brother — In cinemas April 2 Family is complicated. That's the heart of this triptych feature film, composed of three stories about adult children and the complex relationships with their parents and siblings. A father in the northeast US, a mother in Dublin and two siblings in Paris, all character studies, and all humorous but woven with threads of melancholy. The Drama — In cinemas April 2 For young couple Emma and Charlie (Zendaya and Robert Pattinson), just a week away from their wedding, everything in life is perfect. In the midst of speechwriting and party planning, a harmless conversational exercise with friends — what's the worst thing you've ever done — is meant to blow off steam. But Emma's answer leaves the room in shocked silence, sparking a pre-wedding spiral of doubt and confusion that could bring this happy story of young love violently crashing down. 500 Days In the Wild — In cinemas April 4 The Trans-Canada Trail is the longest recreational trail in the world, covering 24000 kilometres and connecting the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. For decades, no one had completed it until filmmaker Diane Whelan set out to change that. This film is the result, compiling footage from six years of walking, canoeing and biking the trail in its entirety. You can catch it in limited screenings at Govinda's Cinema, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Hayden Orpheum and Cinema Nova in Sydney and Melbourne. All That's Left of You — In cinemas April 9 Jaffa, 1948. A young family faces eviction from their home by settlers, and questions whether to leave and face poverty or stay and face violence. That decision kickstarts a story charting three generations of one Palestinian family, exploring the occupation of Gaza from the side of the people who called it home, from the very beginning in the aftermath of WWII, all the way into the 2020s. Outcome — Streaming on Apple TV April 10 Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves) is one of the most prolific actors in modern movie history, but after several years away from the cameras, he's ready to get back in the game. Until he's extorted with a mysterious video that could destroy his career and alienate everyone he loves. The solution? Identify all the people he's wronged, and tackle his demons head-on by apologising to all of them and right every wrong before it's too late. My Father's Shadow — Streaming on MUBI April 10 The first feature film of director Akinola Davies Jr., My Father's Shadow is a deeply personal story of fatherhood set against a backdrop of politically charged chaos. Inspired by real events from Davies Jr's life, it follows a father taking his estranged sons through the city of Lagos as the chaos of the infamous 1993 democratic elections and the subsequent military annulment unfold on the streets around them. Lee Cronin's The Mummy — In cinemas April 16 Sick of sandstorms and scarab-laden mummy stories? This spine-tingling take from Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise) is for you. When the parents of a missing girl are told she's been found after eight years, and was sealed inside a 3000-year-old sarcophagus, their happiness at seeing her again doesn't last long. She resembles a corpse more than their daughter, and frankly, is acting scary as hell. That said, they still seem to think taking her home is a good idea. Screams ensue. Normal — In cinemas April 17 The town of Normal, Minnesota, seems like a good place to wind down and enjoy the small-town way of living. At least that's the thinking by substitute sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk), but as a winter storm rolls in and a bank robbery unfolds in the snow, exposing a dark secret, Ulysses quickly learns that this town is anything but normal. Since this comes from the creator of John Wick, Derek Kolstad, and Nobody producer Marc Provissiero, expect bullets to fly and bones to crunch by the dozen. Michael — In cinemas April 22 Even the King of Pop had small beginnings. The latest biopic from the producer of Bohemian Rhapsody stars Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle, exploring the man behind the music. From the Jackson 5 days to his relentless pursuit of a solo career and some of his biggest performances, Michael charts the meteoric rise and heights of one of the most influential artists in music history. Alphabet Lane — In cinemas April 23 One of the benefits of rural life is the quiet. But quiet can lead to boredom, and in boredom come jokes, fantasies, silly stories and the like. But what happens when these distractions take on a life of their own? In this Australian-made and set musing on romance and creativity, a young couple who've moved to the countryside quickly lose control of jokes about their imaginary friends Joe and Michelle. Exit 8 — In cinemas April 23 This claustrophobic, mind-bending thriller, adapting an indie video game of the same name, takes the famously confusing underground passages of Japanese train stations and turns them into a waking nightmare. A man is seemingly trapped in an infinite underground passage, surrounded by eerie posters, strange anomalies, unresponsive passerby and dire warnings of only one exit that can save him — if he can make it there without losing his mind. Apex — Streaming on Netflix April 24 Shot in the Blue Mountains, Apex brings a terrifying prospect to life when the kindness of strangers comes with hostile intentions, and you have no one but yourself to rely on to escape them. Sasha (Charlize Theron) is headed into the Australian wilderness for a solo canoeing trip, but after taking directions from a local (Taron Edgerton) — she finds herself as prey in his sick hunt or be hunted game in remote and unforgiving country. Greenland 2: Migration — Streaming on Prime Video April 27 There are plenty of natural disaster apocalypse films out there, but not that many of them get a sequel. In Greenland, John (Gerard Butler) did everything he could to get his family to a safe bunker in the Arctic before a rogue comet impact. Now, five years later, the world is being ravaged by radiation, and the bunker is on its last legs. John and his family will have to cross a scarred surface to get to a new safe haven — the comet crater itself. The Devil Wears Prada 2 — In cinemas April 30 Runway is no mere magazine, it's where icons are born, and as said by the dulcet tones of Stanley Tucci, it's a winding road that brings us back together again. 20 years on that road, and Andrea has found her way back to where it all began, now the new features editor of Runway. Emily can hardly believe it; Miranda doesn't even remember who Andy is. At least everybody still looks so damn chic. Wolfram — In cinemas April 30 A follow-up to Warwick Thornton's award-winning Sweet Country, this new feature film returns to Australia's colonial past for a story inspired by the true history of the Thornton family. In the 1930s, two white outlaws were hoping to strike it rich in the mines of a small settlement. Their arrival sparked a wave of chaos and violence, resulting in three kids escaping their white masters and setting off across the sweet country to find their family and safe haven. For more movies releasing this month, check your local theatre website or a streaming platform of your choice. Images: Supplied | 20th Century Studios.
You may have been born too late to experience the heyday of Manhattan-style brasseries. However, you're right on time for its Sydney revival, as Vito's is set to open in the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building in August 2026. Taking inspiration from the golden days of NYC dining, this new venue will seek to reimagine the abundant cuisine, the elevated mood and the instinctive hospitality that made this era so special. Leading the throwback venture is Sunday Co., guided by industry veterans Brett Sergeant, James Wicks and Iris Kleimann, which is also behind Morrison's Oyster Bar & Grill and Whalebridge. While the restaurant's landmark venue is now secured, the team viewed more than 20 sites before deciding the Burns Philp Building offered the ideal combination of sophistication, scale and character befitting what the team hopes to achieve with Vito's. Seating 170 guests across a central dining floor, this impressive space is flanked by raised alcoves and grand booths, with an estimated 80 linear metres of banquette seating available. Meanwhile, on the mezzanine level, guests can survey the scene, perhaps channelling just a hint of Frank Sinatra or Audrey Hepburn. To strike Vito's see-and-be-seen backdrop, Sunday Co. commissioned renowned interior designer Craig Madgwick. Every element has been custom-made by mostly Australian artisans, whether sliding martinis over the marble bar, settling into a banquette or gazing up at the lighting. Nostalgic yet with a lived-in luxury feel, the textures and details will evoke mid-century Manhattan — think burgundy leather, brass detailing, and dramatic chandeliers. "The best dining rooms in the world weren't built overnight, they accumulate craft and detail over time," says Sergeant. "We've worked with Craig Madgwick to create that same sense of permanence at Vito's. From hand-painted crockery from Southern Italy to chandeliers recreated from scratch, everything has been designed to feel like it's been here for decades." In the kitchen, award-winning head chef Michael Fox completes the experience with a big-city menu that recalls old-school elegance, such as orecchiette crab, prawn and scallop agnolotti, and Black Onyx porterhouse steak cooked on a custom grill. "Vito's celebrates Italian-American food at its highest level," says Fox. "With deep roots in New York's immigrant communities, this is a style of food that has fed neighbourhoods for decades." Vito's is expected to open in August 2026 at the Burns Philp Building, 11 Bridge Street, Sydney, operating daily from midday–late. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Steven Woodburn.
News just in that Cronulla will land a new day-to-night music room, bar and bistro, from a hospo pair who are no strangers to the area. Meadow will mark the third venue for Adam and Kylie Micola, set to open in the former Papa J's cocktail bar site. This new operation is set to reinvigorate the evolving Cronulla hospo offering with a music-forward, drinks-led experience. It comes off the back of the Micola's success with popular local venues, Bobbys and Bangor Tavern. Alongside the opening of the third venue, the couple will launch their new hospitality group, Anyway Hospitality. "This venue is an exciting step for us, as a sister venue to Bobbys, Meadow will offer a place where sound, atmosphere and people meet without pretence. Launching Anyway Hospitality feels like a natural progression for us. The name really reflects our philosophy in creating places that give people a reason to go out, shape their mood and carry the moment. As we grow Anyway Hospitality, our intention is to create spaces that become more immersive, more memorable and harder to leave," says Adam Micola. Meadow's live music program will focus largely on vinyl records, and the restaurant will draw inspiration from approachable, neighbourhood French bistros for everything else. The menu, created by group executive chef Pablo Tordesillas, will feature dishes such as duck liver parfait with toasted baguette, Moreton Bay bug with rouille and frites, and a signature cheeseburger with Café de Paris butter. The complimentary beverage program focuses on quality cocktails, a strong selection of wines by the glass, and an emphasis on champagne. The space, with a capacity for 120 people, has been designed by Tom Mark Henry, channelling quiet sophistication, warmth and elegance, and easy day-to-night transitions. Images: Supplied. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
The cost of living crisis is only increasing for Australians, as fuel shortages from the Iran War cause rolling supply impacts that are hitting hard, leaving Aussie drivers dry in both their tanks and their wallets. With no end to the shortages in sight, drivers are looking to their state governments for support. With global watchdogs urging consumers to do everything they can to avoid getting behind the wheel in the first place, the logical first step would be to make public transport alternatives more accessible. That ball has indeed started to roll, with the Victorian and Tasmanian governments announcing a temporary freeze on public transport fares as the pumps struggle to keep up with demand. In Victoria, where the cheapest fuel at the time of writing is $2.57 a litre (20 cents up from a week ago), all metro and regional V/Line trams, trains and buses are free to ride from tomorrow until the end of April. In Tasmania, where prices average at $2.59 at the time of writing, buses and Derwent River ferries are free from now until Wednesday, July 1. It's not a national shift, though. On Sunday, NSW Transport Minister John Graham said NSW will not offer free public transport, citing concerns that the state would lose "millions of dollars every single day" if transport were to be made free. Those millions have to be reserved for maintaining NSW's public transport network and for the long term, according to Graham, who reasoned that NSW needs to "keep the powder dry to be able to assist the broader economy." This morning, NSW State Treasurer Daniel Moukhey told 2GB that the government wants to avoid what he called an "expensive" knee-jerk reaction to the situation. The Victorian government did admit that the month without fares would result in $71 million in revenue being lost. Another hard no came through in Western Australia, where Premier Roger Cook says fares are already at a historic low, with these prices comparable to the 1980s, when "Rick Astley was at the top of the charts". In South Australia, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Joe Szakacs has yet to announce fare cuts, but has said the state is preparing a "broad suite of policies" to address costs. And no comment from Queensland either, where fares are admittedly an enormously low 50 cents. [caption id="attachment_1087611" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] James Gourley/Getty[/caption] In NSW, the decision has not been received with universal support. NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane believes transport should at least be free for the Easter weekend. Meanwhile, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, which had already called out for free transport before the state government's rejection, told the ABC that "the NSW Government has a responsibility to act", citing a need for extra services to meet demand and that the network has "plenty of spare capacity." Data from The Guardian reveals that, despite all this, NSW residents are not driving less or using public transport more — in fact, Opal Card tap-ons have decreased since February. Similarly, data from Melbourne indicates little to no change in commuter habits, despite advice to work from home whenever possible, as the global supply network struggles to adapt and the cost of living is expected to rise further for Australians. When fuel prices rise, freight companies add fuel surcharges to the cost of the goods shipped. So while commuters will continue to pay for getting anywhere, they'll start to notice price increases on groceries, dining out, rideshare services, parcel delivery and their morning coffee — inflation as a whole could increase from the current figure of 3.7 percent to five percent by June (according to forecasts from AMP), that double the chances of a recession in Australia this year to 30 percent. Images: Getty Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Snot blocks, phlegm cake, pus pie – whatever unsavoury name you call it, the vanilla slice and its loyal followers in Australia are entirely unfazed by the sour nicknames. Regardless of moniker, it's easy to spot in any neighbourhood bakery: a neat brick of wobbly yellow custard sandwiched between pastry and finished with a slick of white icing or a dusting of powdered sugar, depending on the region. I'd never heard of a vanilla slice before moving to Melbourne a decade ago. It was a foreign concept when I first spotted one at La Panela – a Preston bakery best known for its vegan spins on Vietnamese and Australian classics. At the time, I didn't think much of it, instead being drawn to rows of caramel slices, faux-pink strawberry doughnuts and jam tarts. But as many of these old-school Aussie baked sweets die out, the vanilla slice remains. Across Victoria – and increasingly, the rest of the country — bakeries loudly claim to make the best vanilla slice in Australia. The declarations appear on window decals and chalkboards, sometimes within blocks of other claimants, and often without explanation of whether the title was awarded or simply claimed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Banana Boogie Bakery (@banana_boogie) While it's not entirely clear how the vanilla slice became so entrenched, according to the bakers themselves, European influence almost certainly played a role. "I'm not sure why [the vanilla slice] is so appealing to Australians," says Jason Spencer, owner of Banana Boogie Bakery in Adelaide. "It's a bastardised version of the French mille-feuille. We've taken a layer of pastry out and given it our own spin." The Dutch tompouce is another close relative — nearly identical, save for its pink icing, a variation still spotted in some Australian bakeries. There's also the Austro-Hungarian cremeschnitte and Polish napoleonka, but I suspect Australia's strong Greek influence played a bigger role; the vanilla slice bears more than a passing resemblance to galaktoboureko. Whatever the reason, it's a dessert Australians hold in high regard, whether driven by regional pride or nostalgia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The French Lettuce (@thefrenchlettuce) Hudson Brown manages The French Lettuce in Carlton, home to "Melbourne's most loved vanilla slice — voted best in town", at least according to the website. It's backed by media praise and customer loyalty — something Brown attributes to consistency and familiarity. When gauging a solid vanilla slice, "you want to be transported back to a memory of something special from childhood," he says. Brown's parents took over the shop in 2003, though it's been operating since 1984 with the same recipe. But staying traditional isn't cheap. Ten years ago, Brown says cream cost $14 for five litres. Today, he pays $20 for three. "Some bakeries use what's called imitation cream," he says. "It's basically a powder you add water to." French Lettuce won't do that. Maintaining the original recipe is a decision Brown credits for the bakery's longevity and cult following, even as costs rise. Cutting corners, he says, is obvious to customers who care. And boy, do Australians care. The Facebook group The Best Vanilla Slices in Australia has more than 125,000 members, with posts ranging from forensic cross-sections of custard to heated debates over pastry quality and accusations of bakeries "cheating" with packet mixes. Nowhere is this fervour more apparent than in Victoria, where the vanilla slice has achieved near-mythic status. Victorian bakeries routinely dominate the rankings in the competitive landscape of the vanilla slice. The state even hosts an annual competition, The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, devoted entirely to the treat. The event began in 1998, sparked by then-premier Jeff Kennett. Legend has it that Kennett ate a particularly good vanilla slice while passing through Ouyen in northwest Victoria and decided the small town deserved national attention. A Grand Prix was floated. A vanilla slice competition won out. The event ran there for more than a decade before relocating to Merbein, Mildura, and eventually back to Merbein. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donna, do tell (@donnadotell) Last year's top honour went to Sharps' Bakery in Birchip, a small regional shop that has become something of a pilgrimage site after a prodigious six wins at the event. "People will travel from Melbourne or anywhere to go and get their vanilla slice," says judging coordinator Anne Nash. Beyond professional bakers, the competition includes categories for home cooks, schoolchildren and seniors, alongside awards for both classic and innovative slices. The competition is no joke – some interstate participants even set up makeshift kitchens in nearby caravan parks to ensure slices are as fresh as possible on judging day. Judges take their role seriously, too, with strict criteria around what makes a good slice. "We're not looking for a creamy vanilla slice – we're looking for a vanilla slice," says Nash. "You have to be able to taste the vanilla." As for what differentiates one slice from another? "They don't like to share their secrets. It's very competitive." Spencer, whose bakery placed second in last year's competition and first in 2024, edging out Victorian competitors as an Adelaide upstart, argues that the difference between a good and bad vanilla slice is immediately apparent. "You get ones that are rubbery, gelatinous, chewy – not appealing at all," he says. "Then there's the home version people make with SAO biscuits, custard in the middle and fudge icing or fondant with chocolate feathering." He says there are a few telltale signs to look for, starting with the icing. "You can always tell if a bakery sells its vanilla slices over multiple days by the icing," he says. "Fudge icing will last two to three days in the fridge. Fondant starts running after a day. It looks terrible." Second is colour. A deeply yellow custard, Spencer says, often signals cost-cutting. A base made with water and starch keeps that hue, while custard heavy in milk and cream – like Banana Boogie's – sets much paler. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bourkies Bakehouse (@bourkiesbakehouse) When it comes to the "best" slice, tradition still reigns, but innovation is gaining ground. Woodend institution Bourkies Bakehouse has made its vanilla slice the same way for 35 years, earning awards and fierce loyalty. At the same time, it has embraced contemporary flavours inspired by Filipino desserts. Its bold purple ube slice leans into the earthy sweetness of purple yam, while a pandan version highlights the herb's grassy, floral notes. "With competitions now, it's all about innovation," says retail operations manager Tess Nic. "You still have your classic custard slice, but there are constant improvements and new flavours coming through." Customers seem receptive, and other bakeries are following suit. Dulce Bakehouse, known for traditional South American pastries, has found its biggest hit in a vanilla slice layered with dulce de leche – a subtle twist that honours tradition without alienating purists. Which may explain the vanilla slice's endurance. It's a flexible format that allows for variation, yet minimal enough that quality – or lack thereof – is immediately apparent. Despite all the claims of the best vanilla slice, it's clear that for most Australians, the verdict is deeply personal. 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You'd think the frozen winters and polar nights where the sun doesn't rise might act as a buzzkill, but Finland once again ranks as the world's happiest country. Topping the United Nations' World Happiness Report 2026, it's actually the ninth consecutive time the Nordic nation has confirmed its contented status. So, what makes the average Finn so happy? According to the report, it might have something to do with how the country's people remain as close to nature as ever, not to their screens. With this in mind, Visit Finland is celebrating their latest joyful milestone by inviting six pairs from around the world to indulge in a free seven-day digital detox. Named the 'Chill Like a Finn Challenge,' selected winners will travel to Finland's Lakeland — a picture-perfect region teeming with almost 200,000 lakes, vast forests and peaceful cottage life. What's more, the itinerary is designed to help people master the art of relaxation, rather than spending their holiday plugged in and always on the move. "In Finland, we don't really chase happiness — we tend to find it in small, ordinary moments," says Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Visit Finland. "When life feels overwhelming, sometimes the best way to feel better is simply to slow down, step outside and chill a little — like a Finn." That means you'll be encouraged to seek out a more balanced way of life, where spending time in nature takes precedence over staying online. Over the course of a week-long experience, you'll take refreshing lake swims, cleanse mind and body in traditional saunas and relish seasonal food and good company — all with barely a device in sight. Keen to apply? Applications for the Chill Like a Finn challenge are now open until 7.59am AEDT on Monday, March 30. Just complete Visit Finland's social media challenge, then submit your application form on the website. With participants chosen in April 2026, this summertime escape will have you appreciating what makes Finland so happy. Applications for Visit Finland's Chill Like a Finn challenge are now open until 7.59am AEDT on Monday, March 30. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Visit Finland.
Big moments deserve a little something extra — and with American Express Plan It® Instalments, you can make it happen*. Plan It lets you divide your purchase or even your statement balance into three, six or 12 equal monthly instalments — with no interest, just a monthly fee. You can even create multiple plans at once and cancel anytime, so you stay fully in control while building up those sweet rewards points along the way. Even if it's just for a weekend, sometimes the best way to recharge is by checking into a hotel that feels worlds away. Add world-class dining, buzzy rooftop bars or a spa treatment or two, and you've got yourself the ultimate mini-escape. Here are some of our favourite city escapes around the country that tick all the boxes. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne Rising high above the Hoddle Grid with sweeping views of the city and beyond, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, is, in more ways than one, the pinnacle of luxury. There are plenty of ways to take in those views, too, whether from your in-room bathtub, the stunning 24-hour infinity pool or hatted fine-diner Atria. Complete the experience with a visit to The Ritz-Carlton Spa, where tranquil spaces and restorative treatments make it easy to forget you're in the middle of the city. Crown Towers It's big, it's bold, it's flashy — and there's simply nothing else quite like it in Melbourne. Inside, you'll find oversized rooms and suites with marble-accented bathrooms, world-class dining at restaurants like Nobu, Rockpool and Silks (not to mention the long-standing Conservatory, still home to one of Melbourne's very best buffets), and one of the city's most renowned spas. Crown might just be Melbourne's ultimate choose-your-own-adventure — as long as you're in the mood for pure indulgence. Jackalope Set among rolling vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula, Jackalope pairs avant-garde design with a deep sense of place. Dine on hyperlocal produce at on-site fine-diner Doot Doot Doot, sip wines surrounded by vineyards, or unwind with a spa treatment that draws on the property's surrounds. It's a one-of-a-kind experience that will stay with you long after you check out, whether it's a romantic weekend or a solo escape. Capella Sydney Behind a heritage sandstone façade in the heart of the CBD, Capella Sydney brings a new level of contemporary luxury to the Harbour City. The nine-storey property features 192 elegant rooms with Frette linen and standalone bathtubs, alongside destination dining at the opulent Brasserie 1930. The indulgence continues at Auriga Spa, where timber-lined interiors, greenery and a considered menu of treatments will help you truly disconnect. The Eve You might be mistaken for thinking the above pool deck is located on a faraway island — but it's actually in the thick of Surry Hills. And it's the cherry on the very top of The Eve, the 102-room hotel set within the expansive Surry Hills Village. Downstairs, the vibrant Wunderlich Lane precinct is home to a curated (and extensive) mix of dining and bars, from vibey rooftop Mexican diner Lottie to the sleek omakase of R by Raita. The options might feel overwhelming, but don't spend too long deciding where to dine — the pool awaits, after all. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth With its mix of 1960s jet-set glamour and contemporary French-inspired luxury, Australia's first-ever five-star hotel continues to set the standard for luxury city stays nearly 50 years after it welcomed its first guests. Following a top-to-bottom $70-million makeover unveiled in 2024, the 436-room hotel now boasts four new dining and bar venues curated by House Made Hospitality, including the expansive terrace lounge Wentworth Bar, Vietnamese-French fine diner Delta Rue and the elegant Bar Tilda. If you like your stays a little gourmet, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth delivers. [caption id="attachment_973394" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Calile James St, Cieran Murphy[/caption] The Calile, Brisbane There isn't much that hasn't already been said about The Calile, Fortitude Valley's oh-so-stylish resort-style hotel that's twice been named the very best hotel in Oceania by the World's 50 Best. Its 175 rooms and suites combine chic, pared-back interiors with private balconies that overlook the stunning openair pool deck, where poolside cabanas set the scene for weekend lounging at its finest. Beyond the pool, dining options abound — from breezy all-day Greek at Hellenika or punchy contemporary Thai at the impressive sAme sAme — while a curated retail precinct makes for a leisurely shopping experience. If relaxation is on the cards, the Kailo Medispa provides a range of rejuvenating treatments, while the hotel's library offers a serene space to read or work. W Brisbane W Brisbane might just be one of the city's most eye-catching hotels. The design-forward property offers 312 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the Brisbane River and beyond, while the rooftop WET Deck, tranquil AWAY Spa and 24-hour gym are ready and waiting for however you choose to unwind. You won't have to head too far to refuel, either — start with a pre-dinner drink and snack at the sleek Living Room Bar, indulge in caviar bumps and fire-grilled steaks at New York-style brasserie The Lex, and head up to the pool deck for a nightcap overlooking the city skyline. Crystalbrook Vincent With over 500 prints by acclaimed Australian artist Vincent Fantauzzo, Crystalbrook Vincent is a bold, art-infused hotel perched right on the edge of the Brisbane River. This boutique stay fuses sustainability and style with 100-percent waste-free bathrooms and no single-use plastics anywhere on site, while plush king beds and rainforest showers in every room bring the luxe factor. Food-wise, all-day diner Mews offers seasonal menus that champion local produce, buzzy rooftop bar Fiume might just be one of the city's most picturesque spots for a sundowner, while Howard Street Wharves and James Street are but a proverbial stone's throw away. For more information about Amex Plan It, head to the Amex website. A fixed monthly fee and T&Cs apply. *Plan It Terms and Conditions: You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may withdraw this offer, prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions. The minimum Plan amount is AUD$100. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24-48 hours to process ("Processing Time"), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date. View the full Plan It ® Instalment Terms and Conditions here. Top image: Jackalope
This May, genre-bending US artist Beck is returning to Australia for three unforgettable performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Taking place at the Sydney Opera House, the shows will dive into Beck's three-decade-spanning catalogue, reimagining some of his most beloved songs through sweeping orchestral arrangements. From the multi-platinum 1996 album, Odelay, to the Grammy Album of the Year winner Morning Phase, Beck will take audiences on a journey through his work — all reimagined with a live orchestra. The performances will be arranged and conducted by Australian composer and conductor Nicholas Buc, who will lead the orchestra through new interpretations designed specifically for the concert hall setting. The result promises to be something different from a typical Beck show. Think lush strings, cinematic swells and orchestral textures layered beneath the artist's unmistakable vocals and lyricism. Alongside orchestral versions of fan favourites, audiences can also expect a few surprises. These concerts will reportedly feature rare covers and unexpected moments woven into the setlist. The limited run of performances will take place across three nights: Thursday, May 7, Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, offering fans a rare chance to hear Beck's expansive catalogue in a completely new light. If you've ever wanted to hear songs like Loser, Where It's At or Devils Haircut backed by a full orchestra inside one of the world's most iconic concert halls, this is your moment. Tickets are on sale now, so be sure not to miss out on this unforgettable concert experience. Book your tickets now. Image Credit: Supplied
On Tuesday, a landmark decision was made that will affect hundreds of thousands of Australians. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced that discounted junior pay rates will no longer apply to young Aussies, with workers aged 18 to 20 now entitled to salaries reflective of those received by their older coworkers. This means that starting from December 2026, an estimated half a million employees will be entitled to a pay rise. Specifically, the ruling dictates that young employees are required to have at least six months of experience to be eligible for the rates, and employees aged 17 and below will still be paid on junior rates. Said discounts are based on the historical precedent that young employees incur training costs to offset their inexperience, and that businesses have historically been incentivised to hire younger employees because they'd have to pay them less. [caption id="attachment_1088266" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Getty Images[/caption] Typically, young people in Australia get their start in hospitality, fast food, pharmaceutical and retail industries, and responses within those industries have been mixed. According to the Australian Retail Council (ARC), one in eight Australians gets their first job in retail, and in a statement, ARC Ceo Chris Rodwell said that while the ARC welcomes the FWC's decision, it "does add another layer of cost at a time when many retailers are dealing with a cost-of-doing-business crisis." The ruling was set in motion in 2024 by an application from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA). Following the ruling, SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said, "It may take longer than we would have liked, but the principle has been established that no longer will 18-year-olds be treated as second class citizens," citing that 18-year-old employees are old enough to vote, enlist in the armed forces and to drive, adding the decision was "up there with the introduction of equal pay for women in the 1970s." View this post on Instagram A post shared by SDA SA/NT (@sda_sa_nt) While the added cost for businesses cannot be overlooked, this decision will go a long way to support young Australians struggling to make a start amidst the cost-of-living crisis. It will take some time to go into full effect, though, with the rates set to increase five percent each year until 2029 until they match adult rates. Upon completion, 18-year-olds will be entitled to 70 percent of the adult pay rate, 19-year-olds to 80 percent and 20-year-olds to 90 percent. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Once upon a time, the office coffee run was akin to a sacred ritual. At 10am every morning — caffeine consumer or not — the crew would assemble and make its way to the local. It wasn't until you'd been invited on the 10am coffee run that you'd truly infiltrated the inner sanctum of a new workplace, a milestone more imperative to your corporate survival than passing your probationary period. And it was always one place, and one place only. Loyalty mattered. The first time the barista at LaManna&Sons in Cremorne remembered my "just the usual?" (a strong latte with one) I all but levitated off the ground. Before we all became home baristas, coffee culture felt inseparable from identity. There was the low-stakes intimacy of the barista who knew your order, the tiny social choreography of "I'll get this one, you get me tomorrow" between colleagues, even the way a branded cup would appear on an Instagram Story like a lifestyle signifier, captioned something excruciatingly millennial like: "Keep calm and drink coffee!" Buying coffee at a cafe and carrying it around was simply part of how we moved through the world; making one at home meant depriving yourself of a crucial semiotic accessory and a necessary microdose of community: I am busy, I belong. [caption id="attachment_921824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Small Batch coffee roastery and cafe in North Melbourne[/caption] Fast-forward to 2026, and everyone I know has a coffee setup at home that could quite convincingly rival a cafe-style beverage of their choosing. For some reason, even people who have never worked a day in hospo in their lives know how to steam milk just right — so there's no head on their flat white and just enough on their latte. The most likely culprit is COVID-19. Aside from the obvious inability to leave the house — cue Melburnian PTSD flashbacks — lockdown made domestic projects feel strangely meaningful. We were baking sourdough, pickling vegetables, reorganising shelves and romanticising the kind of small, repetitive labour that made time feel structured again. Coffee fit that era perfectly: practical enough to justify, complicated enough to become a hobby and aesthetic enough to post about. If you wanted a neat cultural timestamp for the moment it tipped into mass behaviour, Dalgona coffee probably was it. Vogue Australia's April 2020 explainer on fluffy coffee captured it exactly as a pandemic pastime — easy to make, highly visual and a way of "bonding with everyone else working from home" while stuck indoors. As of the time of writing, the TikTok #coffeetok page houses a staggering 1.3 million videos. @imhannahcho yes i hand whisked this whipped coffee for like 20 mins bc my mommy wanted to try it 👻 she loved it!! (달고나 커피) #korean #fyp #aesthetic ♬ Put your head on my shoulder cover by karlo - K a r l o Rohan Cooke, former barista and co-founder of Golden Brown Coffee, gives the clearest timeline for when the shift stopped being niche. In his view, home machines "finally got good enough" around 2010–15 to make cafe-quality coffee, but COVID was the real turning point: suddenly, "everyone's like, I need this great quality coffee" and plunged into a "deep dive" of learning and gear. What has happened since, he says, is that home coffee has moved beyond the enthusiast crowd and into the accessible mainstream, with better machines and more guided brewing helping "everyone at all levels" make something good. [caption id="attachment_1081968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Coffee Founder and Ninja Ambassador, Rohan Cooke[/caption] I'd like to offer up, as research, a completely scientific and watertight sample size of the five people in the Vinyl Media office present while I'm writing this story. Of the five, four of us start our day with at-home espresso setups of varying degrees of manual involvement. Charlotte, our partnerships manager, bought a Smeg espresso machine during COVID, taught herself to froth milk on YouTube and now alternates between weekday iced lattes and a weekend French press with her partner. Denise, our head of social, has a Breville Barista Pro with saved settings and milk-specific customisation, so it makes her coffee "exactly how I want it". I start my day with a manual, no-frills DeLonghi Dedica Arte, making a latte before work — which I admittedly usually follow with a cup of instant coffee later in the day because I simply cannot be bothered cleaning the machine twice. Jasmine, our Branded Content Director, is truly the only person in the group qualified to have a properly sophisticated home setup. An ex-Sensory Lab barista and St ALi waitress, she has an impressive Lelit Bianca, which she says has "massively improved me and my partner's quality of life". Then there's the outlier: James, our Head of Creative Strategy. In a very on-brand move (you'd agree if you met him), he "drinks rooibos tea". But on the rare occasion that he does "need a double espresso straight to the dome", it's via an Aeropress. So I guess that's the tea (or the coffee, LOL) — your average person may not be a coffee snob, exactly, but they have become oddly specific. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Golden Brown Coffee (@goldenbrown.coffee) That specificity is probably the real story. Once you've learned the version of coffee you like, and once the tools to make it have become more available, more affordable and more teachable, it becomes harder to be impressed by an average latte bought on the run. Rohan is clear that what cafes still do better is consistency: the water filtration, the repetition, the inbuilt scales, the workflow, the fact that someone is tasting and adjusting throughout the day to keep everything dialled in. At home, he says, you can absolutely get milk "just as silky and beautiful" as a cafe, but the real value a great cafe still offers is service, hospitality and understanding exactly what the customer wants. He is equally firm that "adding milk is not blasphemy" — it just changes what matters, especially when you are choosing beans that need enough body to still sing through dairy or alt milk. The Machine Guide If the home barista era is here to stay, the best machine is not the most expensive one — it is the one that suits the way you actually drink coffee. Rohan's most useful advice is to think less romantically about the machine itself and more practically about the hierarchy of what matters. First: good beans. Then, if you care about taste and consistency, a burr grinder and a scale will often make a bigger difference than people expect. For the novice: Nespresso Creatista Uno Breville Black Sesame Look for guided brewing and minimal admin. This is the person who wants cafe-adjacent results without developing a new personality around extraction, which is why assisted machines have become so appealing. They remove enough friction to make home coffee feel achievable rather than aspirational. For the time-poor: Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine Go for one-touch convenience, saved settings and automatic milk functions — a machine that remembers your preferences, handles the grind and makes your coffee exactly the same way every morning. Bonus: you can head to the Ninja x Luxe Café Pop-Up, running 13–17 March in Melbourne, to give the machine a whirl before committing. For the ex-barista: Lelit Bianca This is the grinder-scale-separate-machine crowd. If you enjoy dialling in, adjusting dose and chasing repeatability, Rohan's advice is clear: buy good beans, get a quality burr grinder and use a scale precise enough to keep your results consistent. For the old-school: Moccamaster Select Coffee Maker You may not need an espresso machine at all. An Aeropress, French press or simple filter setup can make excellent coffee with fewer variables, less cleanup and less bench space, which is partly why these methods keep surviving every new gadget cycle. Still need a little more guidance? You can catch Rohan talking all things beans, machines and accoutrements on his 'It's Just Coffee!' podcast. Images: supplied. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence our recommendations, but they may earn us a small commission. For more information, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these in your inbox.
It's taken decades for this news to break, but after four decades of stardom in Australian music, Kylie Minogue is finally making her AFL Grand Final debut this September. Announced as the headline performer for this year's pre-match performance, she joins a Hall of Fame that includes stars like Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry, Mike Brady, Robbie Williams, Delta Goodrem, Ed Sheeran, INXS and many, many more. It's been a big year in almost every sense so far, and Minogue's appearance will supposedly be "one of the biggest and most unforgettable" AFL Grand Final pre-shows in history. "The Toyota AFL Grand Final is the biggest event on the Australian sporting calendar – and this year, we welcome home an Australian icon." AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said. "Kylie has been on our wish list for a long time, and there is no better artist for headline the performance prior to our biggest game of the season." View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFL (@afl) Minogue will be the first Australian since 2021 to headline the event. In 2021, due to Covid restrictions, the Grand Final was played in Perth with a medley of Australian artists taking on the performance, including Baker Boy and Eskimo Joe. Minogue said of the announcement: "The AFL Grand Final at Melbourne's one and only, forever iconic MCG? Yes please! As a Melburnian, I'm so excited to be coming home for the biggest day in the Aussie sporting calendar. I'll not only be performing, but I'll be one of 100,000 fans at the 'G, watching the wonder that is footy." Minogue's career has seen her amass over 80 million record sales internationally, five billion streams, and nine No. 1 Australian albums. She has won 18 ARIA Awards, four BRITs, two MTV Awards, and two Grammys. https://open.spotify.com/artist/4RVnAU35WRWra6OZ3CbbMA?si=Ww3cj_YSSy2G4pT9TtvEtw Last year, her 2001 hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head" came in at second in Rolling Stone AU/NZ's Best Australian and New Zealand Songs of the 21st Century So Far list. The track, off Fever, also landed Minogue her first-ever No. 1 spot on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart. It was the first of fourteen No. 1s she would go on to achieve on that chart, a run which saw her eventually tie in tenth place for most No. 1s. "It signalled yet another shift in Kylie's musical direction. Here she was serving sharpened club beats that wouldn't have sounded out of place in a German electro cut from the '80s, a style so ahead of its time it still seems futuristic now," we wrote of it. The show will be produced by Mushroom Group's CEO Matt Gudinksi, who said they've tried "for some time" to make this a reality. "Mushroom is so excited to welcome Kylie home to perform at Australia's biggest day in sport at the MCG. We're working closely with Kylie's team to create and produce what will be one of the most memorable Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment shows yet." More entertainment announcements regarding the Toyota AFL Grand Final Day will be made later this year. This article first appeared on Rolling Stone AU/NZ. Image: Jim Dyson/Getty
Think of Brisbane coffee, and you may envision iced latte walks by the river or packed sidewalk cafes serving flat whites in trendy Tenerrife. But, in an industrial suburb in Brisbane's north sits Fox Coffee: a coffee roastery and family business that has evolved into one of the city's largest operators, using around 130 kilos of beans every week. Fox Coffee was born in 2016, after coffee roaster James May returned to Brisbane from Melbourne, where he had worked for Campos Coffee. After learning about the industry (in the peak of the specialty coffee boom), James asked his parents, Peter and Susan, to go into business together and do Brisbane coffee their way. The plan began modestly. The family decided to build a "small" roastery with an espresso bar attached to see if they could gain traction in the wholesale market. They initially looked across Brisbane's inner suburbs before landing on an out-of-the-box contender. A rough-around-the-edges warehouse in Geebung. "Geebung at the time was not a particularly popular suburb," Peter tells Concrete Playground. "But what we did realise is there were loads of people that lived in the area, and there wasn't much around." Located between Chermside's Westfield shopping centre and the major Sandgate Road, the May family opened the roastery Monday to Friday. That wouldn't last long. "Some of the customers that started coming in used to say, 'Gee, if only you were open at the weekend, we might come in'. The rest is history," says Peter. Fox Coffee began opening its doors on Saturdays (followed quickly by Sundays) until the weekend became the small roastery's busiest period. Families, cyclists, dog-walkers and tradies all flocked to the warehouse in Geebung to enjoy the specialty coffee that's usually reserved for the inner city. Brisbane-Style Coffee After experiencing Melbourne's fanatical coffee industry first-hand, James knew the Brisbane market deserved something different. Something uniquely Brisbane. Unpretentious, uncomplicated, and flavour that focuses on chocolate over exotic fruits and batch brews. "It wasn't that people didn't like coffee up here. It's just they didn't care what people were doing in Melbourne," says James. "When I was leaving Melbourne in 2015, I was tired of drinking milky sour water because it was all light roasted, funky, and that's just not what we want up here. The clientele was different." Fox Coffee were happy to fill the gap in the Brisbane market, and their wholesale blended beans now fly off the shelves. Crafted is their best-seller. It's a smooth, easy-drinking coffee with sweet notes of milk chocolate, toffee and hazelnut. Dusk is slightly heavier and bolder, and as James describes it, "big on the mud cakey kind of flavours". Finally, Hunter has a slight fruit edge, with milk chocolate and marmalade notes. Fox Coffee's wholesale beans are a staple of the family-run business, and after ten years of growth, with thousands of kilos of beans and shots served at its espresso bar, the team decided it was time for a renovation. Fox's New Era With the growth of Fox's reputation and the Geebung area itself, the warehouse couldn't keep up with demand. The May family wanted to improve the space without stripping away the industrial character that made it what it is. The result is a smarter, more functional layout: clearer ordering points, better flow, more room to wait, and faster service, all while keeping that raw, roastery feel intact. "When you're doing that sort of volume of coffee, then you need to get the flow going better," says Peter. The brand-new espresso bar has been designed by local interior designer Collectivus and features new espresso equipment, including two La Marzocco machines, six Markibar grinders, and two Übermilk frothers. The upgrade also includes upgraded retail shelving and an on-site kitchen that will serve Fox Coffee's existing menu of snacks, including focaccia toasties, brioche Vegemite scrolls, muffins, quiches and more. Remaining Local While Fox Coffee has grown exponentially from its humble Geebung warehouse beginnings, the team insists they're not chasing rapid expansion. "We don't want to be bigger just for the sake of being big," says Peter. "I don't see it going from 150 kilos to 250 kilos. That's not the sort of business we want to be." In a way, Fox Coffee tells the story of the Australian Dream. A family-run business that's seen local community success. It doesn't aim to be flashy or a leader in the hyper-competitive coffee industry. Instead, they want to continue focusing on their roastery and the local customers who've supported them from the start. The ones who helped turn a humble Geebung roastery into a community hub and cafe. "We're serious about the business, but we're not too serious about ourselves. We want to have a good business that makes customers happy." In a landscape that often leans toward the overly curated or overly complicated, that balance might just be Fox Coffee's biggest strength. Visit Fox Coffee at 3 Ellison Rd, Geebung, QLD 4034.
UPDATE: Artemis II has launched and is on trajectory as planned. Visit the NASA website for further updates. Few cultural moments are as ingrained in our collective memory as the handful of missions that have sent astronaut crews into space or celebrities into orbit. Thankfully, this time it's the former — more specifically, Artemis II, the first crewed mission being sent to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. In a world and newscycle that are constantly circulating bad news, this seems like an occasion worth celebrating, but nobody seems to be talking about it. So, here's everything you need to know about Artemis II. Important disclaimer: this isn't going to be a moon landing. But, it's still an exciting mission and the first time that human beings are entering the moon's celestial neighbourhood since the Apollo missions. Artemis II is scheduled for a promising two-hour launch window that starts at 9.30am AEST tomorrow, Thursday, April 2, from where its crew of four (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen) will set out on the most exciting surveying job in decades. [caption id="attachment_1088418" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Chip Somodevilla[/caption] Artemis II is performing a 10-day flyby mission, circumnavigating the celestial body to survey it for potential landing sites for subsequent Artemis missions, where NASA aims to have humans return to the lunar surface by 2028. The crew will collect data from orbit of the lunar surface and the effects of deep space travel on the human body — all to inform missions to come and a culminating long-term goal of sending humans to Mars in the 2030s. It's a mission of multiple firsts, too. The crew includes the first woman (Koch), the first person of colour (Glover), the oldest person (Wiseman) and the first non US National (Hansen) to either leave low Earth orbit or travel around the moon. It's also expected to break speed records for crewed missions on its lunar transit and reentry over the Pacific Ocean. [caption id="attachment_1088419" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)[/caption] The American-organised mission will be supported from Australia, too. NASA's Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla and the Australian National University's (ANU) Quantum Optical Ground Station at Mt Stromlo Observatory will provide tracking and communications support for the mission. Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg told the ABC,"In the Apollo era, Australia hosted the most amount of tracking stations outside of the US that supported Apollo. We were absolutely critical then; we are also absolutely critical now." [caption id="attachment_1088420" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Joe Raedle[/caption] But why is nobody talking about it? A lot of hype was built for the mission's original launch in February, only for it to be postponed by hydrogen leaks, so perhaps the rescheduled date has already been swallowed by the ruthless news cycle and the stories surrounding the fuel crisis, Iran War and any other myriad of upsetting current affairs. Plenty of people are talking about space via Project Hail Mary, but this is the real deal. But now you know. Tomorrow morning, you can tune in to the live broadcast of the launch window on NASA's YouTube channel. It currently has an 80% chance of being a successful launch, pending the weather holds. Should it be a success — humanity will be taking its biggest step towards a future in the stars since Apollo 11 landed all those decades ago. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Alex Warren, the chart-topping, Grammy Award-nominated pop star, was just in Australia last year (and sold out eight shows in the process), but he's already announced that he'll be back in town for his Finding Family on the Road tour. Fresh off the release of his latest single, 'FEVER DREAM', which gathered five million streams in the first 24 hours of its release, Warren confirmed seven cities in Australia and New Zealand are on the spring tour schedule. Though Warren's discography has well over seven billion streams and garners over 54 million monthly listeners, you probably know him from his viral breakout single, 'Ordinary'. The track, which was released in February 2025, went nothing short of nuclear — being certified 3x platinum in the US, 7x platinum in Australia and 4x platinum in New Zealand. It's currently tied for the second-longest running No. 1 single in ARIA chart history after concluding a 17-week streak in the top ten last year. [embed]https://open.spotify.com/artist/0fTSzq9jAh4c36UVb4V7CB?si=R3HA-1ZPRqq1W4vWiZZFqQ[/embed] You might have also seen Warren perform at a number of major music events in the last year, including the American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, plus TV appearances like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and festival slots at Coachella and Stagecoach. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alex Warren (@alexwarren) Announcing the Australian shows, Warren released a trailer featuring himself and his wife alongside Aussie icon Robert Irwin. But where exactly is he performing? Fans in Christchurch, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth rejoice — you're all on the list with the concerts taking place in massive arena venues between Friday, August 21 and Saturday, September 12. Tickets for Alex Warren's 'Finding Family on the Road' tour are on sale now. Visit the Frontier Touring website for more information. This article is produced by Concrete Playground in partnership with Frontier Touring. Image: Getty
Located on the corner of Goulburn Street and Wentworth Avenue, the century-old Macquarie Hotel's Hotel Harry has undergone an extensive revamp as it enters its next chapter. While the iconic corner pub has been reimagined for the next generation, at its heart, it maintains the same character and energy that locals have loved for decades. Hotel Harry has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Surry Hills since 1912, hosting everything from restaurant pop-ups to ARIA Awards, after-parties, live music gigs, and endless local celebrations. In its newest chapter, Hotel Harry embraces the beloved nature of a modern Australian pub with high-quality food, elevated drinks, a strong local identity and community spirit. Co-founder of The Point Group, Brett Robinson, who has owned and operated the venue since 2013, says, "For over 15 years we've watched this precinct grow into one of Sydney's most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods, thriving with quality restaurants, bars, galleries and hotels. The evolution of Harry's not only moves with that energy; it creates a true focal point for it. A place to meet. A place that anchors the area. A pub made for Surry Hills." Developed by Culinary Director Joel Bickford and Executive Chef Danny Corbett, the new menu, anchored in charred, smoky flavours owing to the kitchen's French rotisserie, wood-fired Parilla Grill and Marana Forni pizza oven, will be the drawcard for both newcomers and regulars. Feast on organic rotisserie chicken or pork with garlic caper butter, 'nduja pangratto, roast potatoes and rich gravy, split king prawns or a 750 gram Bistecca Fiorentina. On the pizza front, try a Pizza Bianca with mozzarella, potato, guanciale and onions, or a Calabrese with vodka sauce. Quench your thirst with a lineup of creative cocktails, well-executed classics, and generous happy hour offerings. Signature drinks include the 1968 Harpoon Cocktail with gin, pomegranate, orange liqueur, Campari and lime, the Zombi Apocolypse with rum, velvet falernum, pomegranate, cinnamon and grapefruit, and the Money Bags Margarita with Don Julio Reposado, Grand Marnier, lime and pink peppercorn salt. Interior stylist Anna Hewett has redefined the dining experience with warm lighting, interesting textures and thoughtful details. "We wanted to celebrate the beauty of this old Federation Free Style hotel, its history and its place in the Surry Hills community. Our vision was to honour it and reimagine it for the Surry Hills of today, creating fresh, vibrant spaces where Harry's can be enjoyed from the daytime through to the evening. A place that has elegance and dignity again and can be used for an after-work drink, a special occasion, or for letting your hair down later into the evening. It's been an honour to give her a new lease on life," says Hewett. Images: Supplied. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
What do Cher, Frank Sinatra and Neil Perry share in common? Much like the Goddess of Pop and Ol' Blue Eyes, the revered chef and restaurateur isn't much good at sticking with retirement. In July of 2020, after nearly four decades as one of Australian dining's brightest guiding lights, Perry announced that he would be stepping down as Culinary Director of Rockpool Group and hanging up his apron for good, much to the dismay of his many foodie fans. Just over a year later, however, Perry backflipped on this supposed farewell, making his comeback in spectacular fashion with what would be the first site of his now four-venue-strong Double Bay empire. While we now know that Perry had a lot more to show Australian diners (although he insists that his recently opened martini lounge Bobbie's and the sprawling three-storey Cantonese diner Song Bird, also in Double Bay, really are the last ventures of his career), when it opened in 2021, Margaret was pitched as the chef's final swan song. Named in tribute to his mother, it would be the first restaurant launched by Perry without any outside financial backing, giving him the freedom to create a fine diner entirely of his own making — a deeply personal ode to his years in the kitchen, free from the pandering pressures of expectant business partners. The menu reads like an autobiography, showcasing the cuisines that have defined Perry's career. His love of Asian flavours is writ large with dishes like Perry's delicate signature Thai-style salad — fragrant and fresh with shreds of blue swimmer crab meat and sweet pork, the textural foil of green mango and crushed cashews, and a thrill of heat from sliced red chilli. A spicy, kimchi-inspired Korean-style tartare is another Eastern standout, with generous cubes of bigeye tuna tossed in a sweet-yet-bold gochujang sauce and finished with sesame and the bright zing of house-made pickles. Surf and turf, kissed by flame, has long been an idée fixe of Perry's previous venues, so it's little wonder that the char and complexity of woodfired cooking is another key pillar of Margaret's offering. Seafood lovers are well served with red throat emperor with peanut salsa; southern garfish with an Asian tilt, spiked with yuzu and fermented green chilli; and Eastern Rock lobsters, served dressed with either a sparkling lime and sambal sauce or mornay style, with a bubbling topping of cheese and garlic. Slice into a perfectly cooked wagyu fillet or bone-in sirloin and you'll see that it's not for nothing that Margaret was declared the second-best steakhouse in the world by the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurant rankings in 2025. While the skilled team under Perry's veteran eye are experts at achieving just the right sear and smokiness from every cut on the grill, it's also the provenance of Maraget's steaks that make them world-leading. Indeed, the relationships Perry has carefully cultivated over decades with the nation's finest producers underpin this menu's magic — the likes of small-scale, low-impact fishers Bruce Collis and Anthony Heslewood, and organic beef producers CopperTree Farms and Blackmore. With such a kaleidoscopic range of world cuisines represented, navigating Margaret's menu could seem daunting. Rather than sticking to either Asian fare or committing to the more Euro-leaning dishes, we suggest a more cohesion-be-damned approach. Perry is offering diners the chance to colour outside the lines, hopscotching from one spectrum of flavours to another within the same meal. An extensive wine list, with by-the-glass options paired upon request by the restaurant's superb sommeliers, help blur the edges, but what really brings it all together is the vision and passion of a once-in-a-generation chef displaying the full gamut of his technical powers, his understanding of what makes food great, and a love of cooking that even retirement couldn't contain. Images: Petrina Tinslay
While it might seem that the trend to BYO might have stayed in the 90s with focaccia and sun-dried tomatoes, Sydney is still home to plenty of venues that allow you to bring your own bottle. Whether you want to pair your favourite pét-nat with something different, crack open those craft beers you've been loving, or you're looking for a budget-friendly night out, you'll be well served at one of these excellent Sydney BYO restaurants. Some charge a corkage fee — others don't. Either way, you'll save a few dollars when visiting one of these eateries. To help you plan your next night out, we've curated this guide to Sydney's best BYO venues. Simply read through to find the spot that'll pair best with your chosen bevs. Top image: ATTENZIONE! Food & Wine, Dexter Kim. Recommended reads: The Best Restaurants in Sydney The Best Sydney Restaurants to Make a Group Booking The Best Bars in Sydney The Best Wine Bars in Sydney
Legendary UK pop star Robbie Williams announced yesterday that he'll return to performing in Australia and New Zealand this year for his first major tour since 2023. The gigs, which will take place in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle (his first performance there), Brisbane, and then Auckland and Christchurch (for the first time in 25 years), are in support of his 13th studio album, Britpop. "Australia and New Zealand have always had a very special place in my heart. Ever since my first solo tours, you have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home," Williams said. "I'm beyond excited to be coming back this November for the BRITPOP World Tour. Can't wait to see you all there!" [embed]https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HcwFjNelS49kFbfvMxQYw?si=u7bUuycMSOq2xOzB4zVmWQ[/embed] Released in January, Britpop is a tribute to the famous '90s era and features collaborations with the likes of Coldplay's Chris Martin, Gaz Coombes (Supergrass), Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi, Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy and Gary Barlow. Earlier this month, Williams led an all-star band through a rendition of "No More Tears" as part of the 2026 Brit Awards' tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who also posthumously received the show's Lifetime Achievement Award. Williams, "a long-standing fan of the music and friend of the [Osbourne] family," was joined onstage by musicians who previously performed alongside Osbourne: guitarist Zakk Wylde, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Black Sabbath reunion drummer Tommy Clufetos, and keyboardist Adam Wakeman from Osbourne's band. General public tickets go on sale from 11am AEDT on Thursday, March 26th. Click here for more details. This article first appeared on Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
In the modern world of entertainment, content can feel a little bit non-stop. There's always new things to watch, but a lot of it is better than ever. Each month, we're cutting through the streaming noise and helping you figure out what's worth bingeing on release day and what you can save for some downtime later in the year. Here are the new seasons and series we'll be watching in April. Prefer something with a longer runtime? Check out our guide to the movies releasing in theatres and on streaming this month instead. Imperfect Women — Thriller, Mystery Friendships can be complicated. But your friend group drama pales in comparison to the story that unfolds in Imperfect Women, an adaptation of Araminta Hall's novel of the same name. Here, the decades-old friendship between three women (Elizabeth Moss, Kate Mara, Kerry Washington) comes crashing down after a death, revealing long-standing secrets, desires and mistakes that all come rushing to the surface at once. Streaming weekly on Apple TV now. Invincible: Season four — Animation, Superhero When Amazon's hit animated action series Invincible returns for season four, the stakes will be their highest yet. Still recovering from a series of devastating global conflicts, Mark (Steven Yeun), aka Invincible, has to find a way to protect Earth from enemies on all sides — a task made even more difficult when his father returns from his exile and imprisonment to recruit him for a war that will decide the fate of the galaxy. Streaming weekly on Prime Video now. Deadloch: Season two — Comedy, Crime The Australian crime-comedy hit Deadloch is ditching Tasmanian noir for a tropical mystery in its second season. Detectives Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) are up north on a case from Collins' past, but are reassigned when a John Doe is discovered inside a dead croc in the remote town of Barra Creek, fuelling bad blood between the hot-headed locals and pinning Collins and Redcliffe in the middle. Streaming weekly on Prime Video now. Heartbreak High: Season three — Coming of Age, Feel-Good Another one of Netflix's perennial series is coming to an end in 2026, with the third and final season of Heartbreak High set to land on the streamer this month. When term four rolls around at Hartley High, the students are on their final stretch to graduation and the reality of life after school. But there might be just enough time left to muck around with a bit of chaos and self-discovery first, if they're smart about it. Streaming on Netflix now. Daredevil: Born Again: Season two — Superhero, Drama In the second season of Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has gone underground. With Mayor Fisk (Wilson Donofrio) firmly in control of the city and arresting anyone who publicly opposes him — he's a fugitive in and out of the Daredevil suit. Maybe some old friends, superpowered and otherwise, can help him take the fight against "Mayor Kingpin" from the streets to city hall. Streaming weekly on Disney+ now. Your Friends & Neighbours: Season two — Crime, Dark Comedy In Your Friends & Neighbours, Andrew Cooper (John Hamm) is a recently divorced former hedge-fund manager fallen on hard times who turns to robbing his wealthy neighbours to keep his family's life intact. In season two, things are looking up for Coop, until a mysterious new neighbour arrives (James Marsden) who quickly catches on to the scheme — putting Coop in a precarious situation that could get him rich…or get him arrested. Streaming weekly on Apple TV from Friday, April 3. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord — Animation, Sci-Fi The iconic Star Wars villain Maul returns in this new series from Lucasfilm Animation. In the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars and the destruction of the Jedi Order, the Empire is rapidly spreading its influence across the galaxy. On the run from the law and the Empire alike, Maul moves to cement his place in the criminal underworld and recruit a reluctant ally to destroy those who have wronged him. Streaming weekly on Disney+ from Monday, April 6. The Testaments — Drama, Coming of Age Adapting Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, The Testaments returns to Gilead after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, introducing a group of young women entering the oppressive system that transforms women into wives. For Agnes (Chase Infiniti), it's a dream come true, but for Daisy (Lucy Halliday), who's from beyond Gilead's borders — it's a life or death mission to save these women from a system that will consume them. Streaming weekly on Hulu via Disney+ from Wednesday, April 8. The Boys: Season five — Superhero, Dark Comedy In the final season of Amazon's breakout superpowered drama, enemies will collide, and the bodies are guaranteed to pile up. Homelander (Anthony Starr) has achieved absolute power over America through his fascist regime. Before his planned superpowered supremacy can conquer the world, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and The Boys must consider the bloody means they'll need to kill him, and if they'll have to wipe out every 'supe' on the planet to do it. Streaming weekly on Prime Video from Wednesday, April 8. Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair — Comedy, Feel Good 20 years later, Malcom has finally got it all figured out. A good job, a daughter and a girlfriend. He just has to stay far, far away from his family. When his family discovers he's intentionally been hiding his life from them, they'll come crashing back into it like a runaway train, bringing all their "non-stop anti-social behaviour" and "mindless myopic priorities" with them — his words, not ours — it's set to be 2026's biggest reunion. Streaming on Hulu via Disney+ from Friday, April 10. Euphoria: Season three — Drama, Thriller HBO's award-winning series is returning after four long years, and its cast of characters has left high school far behind, moving on to bigger and stranger ways of life than they could have ever imagined. Rue (Zendaya) is finding faith and fending off Laurie (Martha Kelly) and other gangsters, Nate (Jacob Elordi) is married to Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), who is now an adult content creator, and Jules (Hunter Schafer) is in art school, living the high life of a sugar baby. Streaming weekly on HBO Max from Monday, April 13. Margot's Got Money Troubles — Comedy, Family Drama A24 and Apple have partnered to adapt Rufi Thorpe's bestselling novel, where college dropout and aspiring young writer Margot (Elle Fanning) finds her life and career to-be derailed by an unexpected pregnancy. Staring down an endless pile of bills and running out of patience for her parents' expectations (Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer), she turns to OnlyFans to earn the income she and her newborn baby so desperately need. Streaming weekly on Apple TV from Wednesday, April 15. Beef: Season two — Thriller, Dark Comedy You might have thought that Netflix's Steven Yeun and Ali Wong-starring dark comedy Beef was a one-and-done story of suburban life turned inside out by a dispute, aka beef. Turns out it's an anthology series now — with season two introducing a young couple (Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton) who witness a fight between their boss (Oscar Isaac) and his wife (Carey Mulligan), triggering a four-dimensional chess match of favours, blackmail and beef in the world of an elitist billionaire-owned country club. Streaming on Netflix from Thursday, April 16. From: Season four — Mystery, Horror Everyone loves a small town getaway, but when getting away from said small town is impossible — that holiday becomes a nightmare. That's what's happened in From, where a small town in America inexplicably won't let anyone leave, and every night the residents are hunted by supernatural horrors from the surrounding forest. In season four, the answers to their prison are closer than ever, but the residents will find their struggles to escape are becoming more dangerous by the day. Streaming weekly on Stan from Monday, April 20. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: Supplied / HBO Max
The brick-and-mortar retail experience is ever-evolving, with experiential design now key to getting customers through the door. Yet, where some stores are leaning into a space that feels more art gallery than clothing boutique, others like LÈ BAUS are carving out a direction that evokes something closer to your most in-the-know friend's lounge room. Relaunched in February, the menswear brand has called this converted garage tucked in the backstreets of Paddington home since 2024. With this reimagined hybrid space combining the worlds of fashion, coffee, vinyl and art, LÈ BAUS founder Bayan Fanaeyan sought to reflect what he considers the inherent link between fashion and culture. Contrasting warm timber finishes with stainless steel and marble accents, a pair of vintage Danish chairs act as the centrepiece for this lounge-like space. Then, a vinyl listening bar encourages guests to flick through a record collection and spin whatever tunes pique their interest. Meanwhile, a custom-built coffee bar serves Diggy Doos' locally roasted beans. Of course, the garments displayed — designed in Australia and made in Portugal by a family-owned manufacturer — are no afterthought. However, Fanaeyan, who previously worked in tailoring and made-to-measure at Oscar Hunt and Tom Ford, didn't intend for fashion to dominate the space. Instead, the idea behind this flagship store is to conjure an ambience that speaks to the same sensibilities that inform what hangs from the racks. "The garments are made slowly and intentionally, so the space needed to reflect that same pace," says Fanaeyan. "It's about encouraging people to take their time — whether that's choosing a record to enjoy, having a conversation, or trying something on without pressure." Given the brand's name, meaning 'clothing' in Farsi, Fanaeyan has also included subtle touches as a homage to his Iranian heritage, as well as LÈ BAUS's close friends. Between lingering over garments or placing the needle on a record, you'll encounter a side table from his grandmother's home, a Persian-inspired backgammon and checkers board gifted to his wife, and travel photography from pals that are more than a pretty picture. LÈ BAUS is open Wednesday–Saturday from 10am–5pm and Sunday from 11am–4pm at 3A Victoria Street, Paddington. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Ansom Smart.
Tourists in Australia and New Zealand are often overwhelmed by culture shock, but one of the most surprising things about how we operate in ANZ is how early everyone seems to get up. It's quantifiable, as proven by ŌURA, which has analysed the data from its smart ring users around the world and compiled it into the ANZ: State of Sleep Report 2026. First things first, kudos to Australians and New Zealanders for your record sleep durations. New Zealand ranks first in the world for average sleep length, falling just shy of the elusive recommended eight hours at seven hours and 11 minutes. Australians follow closely at seven hours and nine minutes. [caption id="attachment_984687" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Oxime via iStock[/caption] Curious then that we're also the world's earliest risers, with both nations on average getting out of bed at 7am. Our circadian rhythms are seemingly geared for early mornings, be it for run clubs, coffee culture, catching the sunrise or trying to beat the commuter traffic. To be specific, a record 43 percent of Australians and 39 percent of New Zealanders fall into early morning or morning chronotypes — chronotype being your genetic inclination to sleep and wake at certain times in the 24-hour period. If you're a night owl, you're in the minority, since just five percent and four percent of Aussies and Kiwis are in evening chronotypes. Despite the record durations and early starts, Australians are suffering as the day goes on. The average Australian experiences 107 minutes of stress every day, and a mere 55 minutes of recovery to balance it out. It's not so bad across the ditch, though. Kiwis are averaging 101 minutes of stress, but also struggling to make up for it with rest. [caption id="attachment_1069338" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Getty[/caption] "What we're seeing in Australia and New Zealand is a reminder that sleep duration alone doesn't tell the full story," said Doug Sweeny, CMO at ŌURA. "Recovery is a 24-hour equation: if stress isn't managed during the day, the body carries that load into the night. The encouraging thing is that many of our members here are already working with their bodies - waking early, going to bed early, and aligning their daily rhythms with their biology, something they can do confidently with ŌURA." This data comes courtesy of ŌURA. ŌURA Ring 4 and ŌURA Ring 4 Ceramic are available to buy in Australia and New Zealand through the ŌURA website. Lead image: Destination NSW
The year feels like it's flying by, with the Easter holidays already upon us. While you might have plans for the long weekend, you could also lock in an adventure a little further away, with Scoot's latest sale helping you escape the oncoming cold months Running from Tuesday, March 31–Sunday, April 5, Gotta Scoot Tuesday is stacked with highlights. And with the price of fuel seemingly going up and up, it might just be cheaper to head to the airport rather than getting in the car anytime soon. If Thailand is calling your name, there are discount fares to help you reach your destination. Flying from Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, you can head to Phuket via Singapore for $178–$245. However, you might swap the Andaman Sea for the Gulf of Thailand, with flights to Koh Samui via Singapore departing Perth, Melbourne and Sydney for $250, $300 and $315, respectively. Here, island hopping is made easy, especially with nearby hotspots like Koh Tao. If Vietnam still needs to be checked off your travel bucket list — or if another visit is overdue — Scoot is departing from Perth for Ho Chi Minh City via Singapore for $182, from Sydney for $230 and from Melbourne for $240. Although there are hundreds more flights to explore, one last highlight is Denpasar via Singapore. Whether you're Bali-bound or headed to one of 17,000 or so other Indonesian islands, departures from Melbourne start at $245, while Sydney flights start from $250. Travel dates span various periods from April 13, 2026–March 26, 2027, with the sale ending on Sunday, April 5 at 11.59pm. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Thanks to a fast-track approval pathway instated by the NSW Government, a number of hospitality groups and operators have submitted proposals to develop multimillion-dollar multi-storey housing developments on suburban sites that are home to pubs and clubs, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. While coming at an opportune time amidst ongoing housing shortages across the country, some parties are concerned that the developments threaten heritage sites. The proposals were submitted to the Housing Delivery Authority, a state government initiative that allows developers to circumvent local council approvals for major residential developments that can begin construction within a year. Since its establishment, the HDA has approved over 300 major developments, all bypassing councils and going directly to the state government for approval. [caption id="attachment_1022160" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] While a number of proposals submitted to the HDA are revisions of previously rejected proposals (now reworked with the density that they need for HDA approval), several original proposals are coming from the hospitality sector, with high-density housing now earmarked on land previously exclusive to local RSLs and pubs. Proposed sites for the mixed-use developments include a two-tower, 440-unit development on the Cabramatta Hotel site, a 15-storey tower above the Narwee Hotel, 190 apartments above the heritage Strathfield Hotel and 291 apartments on the Palms Hotel site in Chullora — all of which are owned by Iris Capital, which has submitted 10 proposals to HDA, totalling almost 2500 apartments. [caption id="attachment_1022163" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] In Sydney's North Shore and Northern Beaches, the Dee Why Hotel, which just completed a $3 million makeover last year, has submitted a proposal for 115 apartments and community facilities to be built on neighbouring land — while the owners of the Castle Hill Tavern and Forest Hotel are reportedly exploring redevelopment options. One of the largest proposals submitted is in Sydney's south, where Mortdale RSL has proposed a 20-storey development that would see a neighbouring apartment block demolished to make way for the project, which includes 233 apartments, a supermarket and a rebuilt club. Speaking in support of the HDA as an approval pathway for housing projects, Iris Capital CEO Sam Arnaout told SMH, "Local council planning systems have failed to deliver sufficient housing because [controls] particularly around height and density meant [proposals] were no longer commercially feasible." Images: Dee Why Hotel Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
For over 25 years, the Good Food & Wine Show (GFWS) has lived up to its name, bringing together a stellar selection of Australia's top culinary experts, winemakers and producers. In 2026, the equation is much the same, with thousands of food lovers right around the country heading to their nearest GFWS to soak up the country's longest-running and most-awarded consumer food event. With the show drawing over 115,000 visitors nationally each year across its Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane events, the 2026 edition is ready to reveal a host of confirmed talent. Spanning numerous high-profile names, visitors can catch culinary aficionados such as celeb chef and TV personality Miguel Maestre, internationally acclaimed pâtissier Kirsten Tibballs, and MasterChef Australia favourite Brendan Pang, among many others. Also in 2026, the GFWS is ready to reveal two new experiences. Conceived by Kirsten Tibballs, Baker's Alley features ten of Australia's best independent bakeries for the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane shows, with each baker creating a one-of-a-kind exclusive treat just for the show. For instance, the Melbourne event will feature Tarts Anon, Calle Bakery and Rustica Sourdough, while Sydney highlights Valentina Pastry Lab, 15 Cenchi and Madame & Yves. For another new experience, Cooking School invites guests to cook alongside the experts, with ticketed events for up to 40 guests happening across four sessions every day. With the likes of Brendan Pang, Kirsten Tibballs and George Georgievski leading each 45-minute class, you'll learn how to master new dishes like red curry or even make your own chocolate. Best of all, each guest leaves with what they've made — let's hope you were paying attention. Good Food & Wine Show 2026 Dates: Melbourne: Friday, May 29–Sunday, May 31 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Sydney: Friday, June 19–Sunday, June 21 at ICC Sydney Perth: Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Brisbane: Friday, October 23–Sunday, October 25 at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
It's not taken long for Heaps Normal to feel at home in Australian drinking culture. The Sydney-based non-alcoholic brewer only debuted six years ago, but it's quickly cemented itself as one of the most popular brands for inclusive drinking. It's also not the sort of brand to rest on its laurels, as its latest innovation of non-alc beer that's tap-compatible proves. To celebrate this new frontier, Heaps Normal is partnering with over 30 pubs across the country to pour the new brew for free this Friday, March 27. Now, a tap-compatible beer may not sound like an innovation, but it is for the non-alcoholic kind. To summarise, beer taps are kept at a frosty temperature (because nobody likes a warm beer), but the lower density and sugar content of non-alcoholic beers typically causes them to freeze in these conditions. Heaps Normal has cracked the code for its brand-new draught, utilising a preservative-free approach of naturally derived fibre and the 100 percent malt body of the beer to prevent freezing inside the lines and protect the liquid from contamination. "A lot of non-alcs are thin and watery by necessity," said Heaps Normal's co-founder and chief product officer Ben Holdstock. "We've always brewed with body and balance in mind, and it turns out that approach was the key to making draught work." The revolution comes just in time for a broader shift in Aussie drinking culture, indicated by a 2024 study that revealed non-alcoholic beer popularity had risen to 10 percent of total beer sales in Australia, and that the global non-alcoholic beer market is due to hit $43 billion USD in value by next year. "Jumping from the fridge to the tap, and really nailing the most traditional of Aussie swill formats, is symbolic of how far the non-alc category has matured and developed. For knock-offs, mid-week sessions and everything in between, it's a new normal for the bar," says Heaps Normal co-founder and CEO Andy Miller. Now, after testing the beer at select pubs in Sydney and Melbourne, Heaps Normal's National Bar Shout will get pubs and bars pouring 3500 schooners of the good stuff for free, you just need to visit a participating venue between 5 and 7pm this Friday, March 27. See the full list of participating venues in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and ACT on the Heaps Normal website. Images: supplied Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Following a major renovation, the Woodport Hotel has reopened on the Central Coast, returning to its roots as a live-music destination with several bars, outdoor areas, and event spaces. The multi-level venue overlooking Erina Creek now boasts a speakeasy bar with water views, and of course, the region's only and much-loved nightclub, Woodies, returns to the basement. Three Blokes and Pub owner Sean Wagstaff, who brought the premises with the Matterson brothers in 2019, says, "This is such a historic venue not only for locals but for lovers of live music right across NSW." The multi-level venue features several bars and dining spaces, which have been refreshed during the $10 million renovation. The pub, open from 10am daily, serves coffee and meals to hundreds of nearby workers, whereas the newly opened The Loft is a cocktail bar sure to attract those looking for a night out on the weekend. Wagstaff says, "We've seen an explosion in restaurants, bars and pubs across the region in recent years, but there hasn't been anywhere for people to go afterwards, when they're not ready for the night to end. As well as being a destination in its own right, the Woodport Hotel is that place." As well as your standard pub classics, you'll find the likes of burrata pizette and yellowfin tuna tostadas on the menu, alongside woodfired pizzas and a dedicated grill section. Brett Matterson, whose family is from the Central Coast, emphasises the importance of the Woodport to the community, "This pub is a meeting place, where people can come together and connect, whether it's over a beer at the end of the day, a mid-week dinner or a Saturday night out with friends. We're also excited to bring back a bit of the '80s and '90s, when live music reigned supreme in regional venues." Images: Supplied. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Back in 2012, Ananas made a name for its glamorous French brasserie, pairing plenty of champagne with an eclectic fitout that was part Parisian flea market, part Art Nouveau time capsule. Yet just four years later, the bustling restaurant shifted its famous pineapple lamps — ananas is French for the sweet, spiky fruit — from The Rocks to Darling Harbour. Now, Hunter St. Hospitality (24 York, Sahtein, Bar Patron) is bringing Ananas back to its original stomping ground, building on the initial concept with a few fresh ideas. Leading the kitchen will be executive chef Mike Flood, who previously helped Felix become one of Sydney's more admired French brasseries. Alongside head chef Christian Jones, diners can expect the reimagined Ananas to lean a little more casual than its inaugural fine-dining appeal. "This isn't about recreating a Paris corner exactly as it is," says Flood. "The menu draws from across France and shifts with the seasons. For launch, the menu leans more towards a classic Paris brasserie mood — deeper sauces, butter, a bit more richness on the plate. As we move towards spring, it lightens and leans south, with olive oil stepping in and dishes becoming brighter." That means diners should expect a series of signature year-round plates, such as fruits de mer, soupe à l'oignon and steak au poivre with frites. Yet when the seasons allow, dishes like King George whiting grenobloise and confit duck leg finished with gastrique will bring new elements to the menu. For drinks, France is the focus as you'd expect, featuring an expansive wine list of at least 800 bottles with a strong emphasis on champagne. Likewise, the new-look Ananas' design is carefully considered. Perched above Hunter St's Lebanese-inspired Sahtein, the interior will evoke the restaurant of old. Layered in harmonious and contrasting materials, two-toned Bentwood chairs sit alongside comfy banquettes, while marble and timber tables are dressed in paper or cloth. Meanwhile, a communal high-top harkens back to the original restaurant, while indoor plants and golden pineapple lamps will once more punctuate the space. "Ananas was a concept I believed in," says Hunter St Hospitality CEO Frank Tucker. "It was ambitious and had a clear point of view, but the original space was simply too large to operate comfortably. We've been looking for the right environment to bring it back for years. This room has the same sandstone bones and warmth, but in a footprint that allows it to function properly. We're taking what people responded to and refining the experience so it works for today." Ananas is expected to open at 18a Argyle Street, The Rocks, on Thursday, May 7, serving lunch and dinner daily. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Steven Woodburn.
When you're seeking a gourmet bite in Bondi, The Hub on Hall Street makes life simple, with this vibrant precinct home to much-loved spots like Da Orazio, bills, Gelato Messina and Masala Theory. Yet for one weekend this month, the whole place is transforming into a sprawling celebration of flavour, sound and creativity for Hubfest. Taking place from 12–9pm on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, this festival-like experience kicks off with a host of special deals, with over 30 food and drink offerings priced from $10–20. Think focaccia bites and negronis from Salumerie and a Hubfest-exclusive pretzel crunch magnum from Gelato Messina. Yet there's more than just stellar cuisine to explore. Setting the tone at Hubfest, The Tower Stage will sit between Salumerie and Harris Farm, wrapped in custom NOTNOT artwork. Brought to life throughout the two-day program, catch local DJs such as Damien Hesse, Nick van Tiel and Bad Ezzy, immersing the precinct in a sun-soaked soundtrack ripe with disco, house and coastal tunes. Then, visitors can experience multidisciplinary street artist and Bondi's own NOTNOT doing what he does best — transforming urban environments with provocative pieces. For Hubfest, the New York-born creative will reinvent the precinct's laneway with cascading bunting installations, while adding bold entrance moments and hero artworks throughout the venue.
Pre-loved fashion is big business these days, with sites like Depop and SwapUp frequented by fashion-lovers looking to sell and shop vintage and second-hand fits with sustainability in mind. Now, there's a new player for locals to get to know, with Tise entering the Aussie market. Launched in Norway in 2016, the mobile-first service amassed over 2.5 million users across the Nordics, listing magnitudes more clothing for sale. In September 2025, eBay continued its push into the pre-loved fashion game, acquiring Tise's widely used platform for US$130 million. So, what makes Tise stand out? Perhaps the biggest upside to the platform is that there are no seller fees, which makes decluttering your wardrobe and earning a bit of extra cash on the side even more appealing. View this post on Instagram Meanwhile, Tise is renowned for its social features, allowing users to follow their favourite sellers and like and comment on listings. Bringing a touch of community to a pre-loved transaction, this peer-to-peer marketplace is for more than just resellers. When you're ready to scroll, you've got options to filter by keywords, categories and brands, so finding the perfect outfit for the season is made easy. And for those looking to sell, you can create as many listings as you want. What's more, Tise isn't just for pre-loved fashion. It's also where you can buy and sell homewares, furniture, outdoor gear, art and design items, and anything related to your favourite hobbies, from books to board games. Tise is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
What's hot in Sydney right now? That would be Firedoor, Sydney's home of wood-smoked goodness. Behind the project is Lennox Hastie, a British-born chef with a string of Michelin stars on his belt; so as you can imagine, Firedoor was an instant hit once it opened back in 2015. These days, you'll need to book your table well in advance or try your luck for one of twenty highly coveted walk-in spots (knock on wood). There's no question that smoking is on the rise in Sydney, and at Firedoor it's used to enhance the natural characteristics of the ingredients, not to smother them like cheap perfume. Firedoor uses ten different woods to flavour and accent its menu, including gnarly mallee root, chestnut, pearwood, wine cask and native ironbark to name a few from the woodpile. [caption id="attachment_641664" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Wood also forms the central ingredient in the restaurant's décor, and the aged wood pillars and timber tables, coupled with the smell of sweet smoke, deliver a multi-sensory experience. The menu is short and changes daily, depending on what's in season and looks fresh at the markets. We start with a serve of woodfired bread with olive oil and smoked cultured butter. The butter has absorbed rich aromas from the coals; just one light spread and it tastes like you're eating a meat sandwich. This is butter to eat like no one's watching. The bread can be a consistent entry, but the rest of the menu is in flux. To give you an idea of the potential offering, past entries on the seafood front include Moreton Bay bug with green apple and a creamy smear of mullet roe underneath, garnished with snow pea tendrils and Jarrod Day calamari with smoked pork broth and quail eggs. Surf may be good, but turf is the hero. On our initial visit we tried the robust and earthy lamb rump, cooked to a wobbly medium rare and served with creamy, buttery borlotti beans lightly coated in jus and cavalo nero which has crispy singed edges. We're also impressed by the grilled leaves with pecans and guanciale, a fatty Italian cured meat which has been shaved into thin, transparent slivers. Radicchio and sweet cos are served lukewarm in a sharp vinaigrette, and the dish cleverly sits somewhere between a fresh salad and braised vegetables. Browsing the menu on other days, you'll spy entries like Bundarra pork with radish and mustard or wagyu ribs with baby blue oyster mushrooms and black garlic. From the dessert menu there are daring combinations — spaghetti squash, pumpkin ice cream and pepitas, or a Firedoor spin on the grilled pineapple craze, this time served with tahini and finger lime. As for drinks, the wines have been well curated and the cocktails are well priced. The Swiss pear bellini is lemony and mellow, while a clever negroni adds pistachio Cinzano to the mix. Bold flavour, pretty plates and technique-driven dishes have been trending in Sydney for a while now and that's where Firedoor goes against the grain. Instead, you'll get a completely new food philosophy, which puts the ingredient at the very centre, accentuated by the subtleties of woodfire. Just remember the menu changes daily, so don't expect the same experience we had, for every evening is unique at Sydney's Firedoor. Images: Nikki To. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Steak in Sydney
Thanks to Sydney's year-round calendar of events, big nights out look a little different these days. This month, instead of squeezing into a bar, we're headed for the stands — because from March 1–21, Sydney becomes centre stage for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™, welcoming the region's best women's football teams to Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium for three weeks of world-class action. As the premier women's football competition in Asia, the tournament brings powerhouse national teams — including Australia, China PR, DPR Korea, India and more — to two of Sydney's biggest arenas. Expect electric atmosphere, high-tempo matches and edge-of-your-seat finishes as players leave it all on the pitch for national glory — all dialled up to 11 when you're there in person. [caption id="attachment_1077381" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Football Australia, Photo by Misch Bocska | MB Photomedia[/caption] Sydney hosts an incredible run of fixtures across both venues, from early group-stage clashes to blockbuster knockout matches — including the showpiece Final at Stadium Australia. Mark your calendar for Australia's International Women's Day clash against Korea Republic at 8pm on Sunday, March 8; two quarter-finals on March 14 and 15; a semi-final on March 18; and the final on Saturday, March 21. With most matches taking place at night, you'll have plenty of chances to shake up your after-dark routine and catch some of the world's brightest footballing talent up close. For local fans, it's a rare opportunity to catch the Matildas in action on home soil, with star players Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler returning after long-term injury layoffs. Under new coach Joe Montemurro, the Aussies enter as one of the favourites — and will be looking to the home crowd to help lift the AFC Women's Asia Cup title for the first time since 2010. [caption id="attachment_1077384" align="alignnone" width="1920"] AFC Photo Library[/caption] Whether it's a night out with family or mates — or even a different kind of date night — this is the kind of event that feels bigger than 90 minutes of football. The women's game is in the midst of a generational rise, and this tournament is where the next breakout star or the next iconic goal could unfold live in front of you. Add affordable ticket options — with prices starting at $20 for adults and $10 for kids — and a festival-like stadium atmosphere, and your next night out is sorted. [caption id="attachment_1077530" align="alignnone" width="1920"] AFC Photo Library[/caption] The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ takes place between March 1–21 at Stadium Australia and Western Sydney Stadium. For the full Sydney fixture and to get your tickets, head to the ticketing website.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has announced that 39 venues across NSW will be the shared recipients of a $2.89 million grant — the second round of the NSW Government Live Performance Venue Grant Program. The venues in question are each designated as small or medium-sized venues and are spread across 35 suburbs across the state. This was the first time that this grant allowed venues from across the state to apply, with amounts per venue ranging between $15,000 and $80,000. The qualifier? The venues are intending to use the grant to stage live performances or increase their current offering as performance spaces. The funding can be allocated to costs such as staging and sound equipment, performer fees, and marketing and promotion for events. This program is meant to make live performances of all kinds, including live music, theatre, musical theatre, cabaret, dance, spoken word, First Nations storytelling and comedy, for more local communities across NSW. By increasing the sheer number of available venues, the program also hopes to increase the number and diversity of performances and employment opportunities for artists, performers and hospitality workers in NSW. 24-Hour Economy Commissioner John Rodrigues said, "We know that people are seeking out nightlife experiences closer to home, and this program helps venues diversify their offering to meet this demand whilst creating opportunities for local performers to access the stage, hone their craft and build their audiences. I'm excited to see the program expand across the State." The venues included in this round cover a lot of ground. Regional additions include Badlands Brewery and Mortimer's Wines in Orange, Byron Bay Spirits Co, Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar in Batemans Bay, The Thirsty Devil Brewery in South Albury and Trojans Bistro & Bar in Terrigal. Meanwhile, Sydney metro spots in the grant include Brookvale's Manly Spirit Co and Freshwater Brewing Company, Cammeray Golf Club, Newtown local favourite Earl's Juke Joint, and Alexandria haunts The Mitch and Blackwattle Bar + Brewery. To read the full recipient list, visit the Live Performance Venue Grant website. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
As the ongoing conflict in the Middle East shows no sign of slowing down, the widest-spanning impact for Australia and the world is yet another price hike, this time at the petrol station. With the world's global oil supply throttled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and despite ordering the largest releases of stockpiled oil in history, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued warnings for Australia and other countries facing limited fuel supplies on how to curb demand and limit consumption. The advice is welcomed by Aussie drivers, who are staring down some truly eye-watering price boards across the country. At the time of writing, the cheapest fuel prices in NSW are $2.35 a litre in Rozelle, in Victoria, it's $2.37 in Northcote, and the same low price up in Queensland, specifically in Wynnum. Meanwhile, tanks of diesel aren't coming in any cheaper nationwide than for $2.69 a litre in Googong, ACT. [caption id="attachment_1085445" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Getty[/caption] The IEA is now warning member nations like Australia that drivers should begin taking daily precautions to help prolong supplies — not hoarding, or stealing petrol — but in the form of easy everyday adjustments to routine. While Australia doesn't source its crude oil directly from the Middle East, the Asian countries we do source fuel from could soon focus on shoreing up their supply instead of meeting export demands, as evidenced by the last 24 hours, when six fuel supply vessels bound for Australia were cancelled or deferred. So, how can Australians be proactive and do their part to extend the supply? Firstly, work from home whenever possible, and take public transport to work when able (in NSW, the Rail Tram and Bus Union is calling on the state government to lower or scrap public transport fees). If driving on the highway, reduce speeds by ten kilometres per hour below the limit to extend time between refills. And if driving is a must, consider car sharing with friends, family, neighbours or colleagues to limit individual fuel consumption. Avoid air travel unless absolutely necessary, and if possible, limit the use of gas cooking at home. [caption id="attachment_1085447" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Getty[/caption] Several of the IEA's recommendations are aimed at governments and organisational bodies, including alternating private vehicle access to certain roads to reduce congestion and high-consumption driving, limiting LPG supplies for transport to maintain supplies for everyday essentials and optimising commercial vehicles' loads and driving practices to optimise fuel consumption. If driving can't be avoided due to your own personal circumstances, there are a number of tools you can use to find cheap petrol prices near you. State governments in VIC and NSW offer fuel-checking services, or independent platforms like PetrolSpy and 11-Seven track the lowest prices in Australian suburbs and nationwide daily. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
