Any great trip to New Zealand's South Island should include at least one stay in accommodation with a fantastic view. Luckily, in this stunning part of the world, that's not hard to do. To help you plan, we've put together some of our favourite South Island offerings with views of the island's stunning mountains, valleys and coastlines — and even the night sky. From rugged secluded cottages to luxurious retreats, here's where to soak up incredible views of the South Island's world-famous natural beauty. Recommended reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in New Zealand The Best Places to Go Glamping in Australia The Most Unique Stays You Can Book Around New Zealand The Most Unique Stays with Breathtaking Views of New Zealand's South Island Remarkable Views, Queenstown After a day of hiking, skiing, or exploring Queenstown, return to this gem you'll find less than a ten-minute walk from town. The combination of the stunning mountain views from the deck alongside a convenient location makes this truly a one-of-a-kind find. From $360 AUD per night, sleeps four. Woodpecker Bay Bach, West Coast This rustic bach is located only steps from the water but half an hour away from the nearest shops, making it the very definition of a secluded getaway. There are lots of gorgeous outdoor attractions near the cabin to explore — that is, if you ever want to leave the beautiful bathtub with stunning water views. From $226 SUD per night, sleeps two. Tawhitnui House, Elaine Bay This remote rental features unobstructed ocean views — and a solar-heated infinity pool from which to enjoy them. Because of its remote location, guests can enjoy a true immersion into local flora and fauna and see the stars in a pollution-free night sky. From $294 AUD per night, sleeps six. Kiwi Bach, Canterbury Located in the small beach community of Te Onepoto/Taylor's Mistake, this 1920s bach is the perfect surfer's vacation rental. Watch the waves roll in beneath rolling green hills from the cabin's windows or outdoor areas, or walk directly down to the beach to see them up close. From $117 AUD per night, sleeps two. Rocky Point Hut, Nelson The 90-minute trek to this hut is worth it for the panoramic views alone. Situated on its own portion of Pepin Island, this rental has complete privacy. Explore, relax, and gaze out to the Abel Tasman sea from this cabin's solar-heated outdoor bathtub. From $290 AUD per night, sleeps two. Romantic Remote Chalet, Collingwood Nestled into the beautiful rocky shoreline of a coastal farm, this cosy chalet and nearby sleep-out is a ten-minute walk from the sea. Both buildings, which are about 30 metres apart, can be included in the booking, bringing the total capacity to six people. From $217 AUD per night, sleeps four. Stargazer's Luxury Retreat, Lake Tekapo This aptly named cabin is, indeed, luxurious. With a king-sized bed and wood-fired hot tub, this Airbnb is intended to be cosy. If stargazing up at the Milky Way from this hot tub is not on your trip agenda, you're doing it wrong. From $524 AUD per night, sleeps two. Skylark Cabin, Twizel This luxurious cabin is located in a stunning, sun-soaked valley in backcountry Ben Ohau. The star of the house is a circular window in the roof, which allows guests to stargaze from the warmth and comfort of their king-sized bed. From $723 AUD per night, sleeps two. High Country Cabin, Canterbury Whether you're seeking adventure on the nearest hiking trail or curling up by the fire in this rustic cabin, the Southern Alps will make the seclusion-seeking traveller feel at peace. You'll just have to put up with the "neighbours": grazing sheep and other local wildlife. From $406 AUD per night, sleeps five. Takahopa Bay Retreat, Otago This secluded home in the Catlins offers sweeping views of the surrounding forest and ocean. Although it's fully off the grid, this home is powered by an emission-free hydro system that gives it all the conveniences of city life — with significantly fewer neighbours. If you're lucky, you may even see Aurora Australis from your back porch. From $357 AUD per night, sleeps four. Lake Ohau Escape, Lake Ohau This three-bedroom home boasts waterfront views and a toasty indoor fireplace — the perfect getaway for any time of year. If you're looking for outdoor activities, there are many close by — including an A2O cycle trail or a ski field that's 15 minutes away — or you can choose to stay in for the stunning mountain-range views, best enjoyed from the outdoor spa. From $563 AUD per night, sleeps seven. Luxury Wilderness Cabin, Waiau Nestled in the absolute wilderness, this off-grid eco-cabin on the edge of a small lake is just a three-minute drive from Waiau Glacier village. The lake is fed by a pristine mountain stream and offers views of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and Unser Fritz Falls that you can experience from an outdoor stone bath. Within the cabin, enjoy a king bed and cedar barrel sauna. From $496 AUD per night, sleeps two. Wanaka Couples Escape, Luggate This converted shipping container is a private oasis equipped with modern luxuries and natural beauty. Relax in this an outdoor bath or the deck under the stars with an unending view of the night sky. What's there not to love about this cosy hideaway in the country. From $248 AUD per night, sleeps two. 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: courtesy of Airbnb.
Chances are, you're well overdue for a relaxed group getaway with your besties, and it just so happens that Australia's chock full of world-class vacation spots to suit all types. And for that group escape, Byron Bay is delivering the goods, as always. In northern NSW, you'll find a healthy dose of sun, sea and subtropical rainforest awaiting your arrival. Plus, an array of waterfront villas and roomy coastal retreats ideal for a beach vacay with your besties. We've done the hard work and rounded up the best group Airbnbs you can book in Byron Bay. Pack those bags and get set for a hard-earned beach adventure. Recommended Reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in NSW The Best Tiny Houses You Can Book Around NSW The Best Hotels in Sydney The Best Places to Stay in the Blue Mountains Elevation, Byron Bay Luxe vacation vibes abound at this newly renovated architectural stunner, complete with heated pool and spa, and enormous sun-drenched deck. From $1321 a night, sleeps eight. Paradiso Property, Byron Bay Sporting soothing whites and natural finishes, this group retreat feels instantly relaxing. There's loads of space indoors and out, plus a brand-new pool. From $750 a night, sleeps eight. Belongil on the Beach, Byron Bay Swap city life for a weekend of blissful Byron beachfront. This sprawling house boasts cheery nautical styling and a backyard right on the water's edge. From $700 a night, sleeps six. Havana Lodge, Byron Bay With its contemporary boho styling, nature-filled surrounds and dreamy meditation loft, this eclectic retreat is the ultimate antidote to fast-paced city living. From $449 a night, sleeps four. Byron Superluxe, Byron Bay Boasting loads of outdoor living, a pool and space to sleep 14, this supersized retreat is group holiday perfection. And the beach is just metres away. From $1220 a night, sleeps 14. Beaumonts House, Byron Bay Perched overlooking the sand, this spacious beach house is a true surfer's dream. Expect incredible views and plenty of room to move. From $799 a night, sleeps ten. Eternity Beach House, Byron Bay A leafy oasis just moments from Belongil Beach, this relaxed holiday retreat comes complete with luxury furnishings and state-of-the-art features. From $990 a night, sleeps six. Ayana at the Pass, Byron Bay With its tropical setting and designer interiors, this modern abode is a study in holiday luxury. Enjoy a heated spa, outdoor shower and dedicated yoga deck. From $1380 a night, sleeps eight. Old 55, Byron Bay This beautifully restored Wategos Beach treehouse makes for an inviting beach escape, with roomy open-plan living and lots of outdoor space. From $949 a night, sleeps 11. Memories at Wategos, Byron Bay Just a short six-minute walk from Wategos Beach, this fabulous modern abode is perfect for a day in the sand or lounging by its top-tier pool with your best friends. From $1190 at night, sleeps eight. 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: courtesy of Airbnb.
Hidden among the high-rises of central Parramatta's George Street is a gem serving comforting classics and first-rate brews. Housed in an airy industrial space, Homage has quickly become a well-loved mainstay of the local community, slinging breakfast, lunch and coffee from Monday to Saturday. Cosy up with the chilli scram with pecorino and chives, Middle Eastern breakfast eggs with whipped garlic labneh, chickpeas and cauliflower, or lemongrass chicken salad. If you're craving something more carb-heavy, there are Brooklyn Boy bagels with a selection of spreads and jaffles and toasties galore, including the popular bolognese, cheeseburger or zucchini parmigiana options. What stands out most, however, are the hundreds of five-star Google reviews that note the cafe's unparalleled service and warm staff, so make sure you sing out with any coffee queries or just say g'day.
Gone are the days when foil-wrapped burritos and sweaty quesadillas were the sole representatives of Mexican cuisine in Sydney. The Harbour City is now home to a variety of refined Mexican diners specialising in little-known and regional fare that showcases the diversity and depth of Latin-American flavours. Among them is Alegre, a stylish yet laidback eatery heroing dishes from Tulum, the popular tourist hotspot on the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This latest venture from the team behind Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant Callao in Barangaroo, is led by chef-owner Rasel Zaman, who oversees a team with a superb pedigree, including Mexico City-born sous chef Alvaro Valenzuela, formerly of Alma, and Ivan Castillejos, who sharpened his skills at Chula. The menu is not just an introduction to Tulum's culinary traditions but also an ode to the kitchen team's personal food memories, drawing on family recipes, such as the restaurant's signature mole madre with wagyu and fresh lime, inspired by Castillejos' recollections of cooking with his grandfather and mother. Reflecting Tulum's coastal locale, seafood is a prominent presence on the crudo menu, including a silky octopus ceviche tostada, spiked with pico de gallo, spicy Yucatecan aioli and finished with a local wink of saltbush. The Mayan-spiced charcoal king prawns are another highlight, served with a picante chipotle tomato salsa and a refreshing spritz of fresh lime. Carnivores are equally well served by a mighty, meaty al carbon selection including a Range Valley wagyu tomahawk and a chargrilled half-chicken served with mole amarillo and chochoyote dumplings. Diners with a sweet tooth shouldn't miss Alegre's riff on the banoffee pie: a burnt platano custard tart, topped with vanilla mascarpone, dulce de leche jam, cajeta ice cream and roasted macadamia. Besides its sunny skies and crystal waters, Tulum is also famed for its agave spirits, so naturally, tequilas and mezcals are a vital pillar of Alegre's bar offering. You'll find more than 150 varieties on offer, from bright and easy sips perfect for newcomers to Mexico's national liquors, to rarer, more complex pours for curious connoisseurs. Located overlooking the gentle waters of Darling Harbour and King Street Wharf, the rustic elegance of Alegre's interiors — featuring a relaxed palette of earthy tones, natural finishes, Mexican furnishings and leafy planting — transports diners to the shores of Tulum, no passport required. The dining room is designed to cater to multiple types of gatherings, from intimate tables for two with harbour views to large communal tables and private spaces for bigger celebrations. While Alegre takes its food seriously, the atmosphere here is playful. From Friday to Sunday, a trio of resident DJs help get the party started, while the bottomless lunch menu, offering free-flowing spritzes, wine or beer alongside a menu of share plates, available Saturday and Sundays for $99 per person, helps diners start (or end) their weekend as they mean to go on.
The allure of a Mediterranean beach holiday might seem tempting, but you'll find a bounty of worthy vacation spots located right here in your own backyard. And if sun, sand and surf are on the agenda, there are plenty of idyllic island escapes up and down the coast of Queensland, just waiting to be explored. Indulge in a tropical getaway to Hamilton Island, or embrace the beachside life with a few days spent lounging in The Whitsundays. We've done the hard work for you and pulled together a list of the most idyllic island accommodations you can book in Queensland. Pick a favourite, pack your sunscreen and get ready to feel the sand between your toes. Recommended reads: The Best Hotels in Brisbane The Best Glamping Sites in Queensland The Best Dog-Friendly Accommodations in Queensland The Best Islands in Australia to Visit Any Time of the Year Central Airlie Holiday Home, Airlie Beach This Airlie Beach gem has room for the whole gang, but it's the divine deck and pool overlooking the Whitsunday Islands that'll steal your heart. From $545 a night, sleeps 10. Luxury Private Retreat Villa, Urangan Your own tropical haven, just minutes from the beaches of Hervey Bay. This breezy villa boasts contemporary styling, gorgeous outdoor living and a private pool. From $235 a night, sleeps six. Yacht Club 33, Hamilton Island This newly built island escape is a study in luxury living, complete with high-end features, pool access and sweeping ocean views throughout. From $1715 a night, sleeps nine. The Little Bush Hut, Nelly Bay On a secluded patch of island paradise, this stylishly restored hut is couples' holiday perfection. Fall in love with the private setting and the covered outdoor tub. From $310 a night, sleeps two. Headland House, Picnic Bay This architectural stunner boasts a covetable location on Magnetic Island, with luxurious spaces indoors and out, and epic ocean vistas to match. From $1752 a night, sleeps ten. Point Blue, Hamilton Island With its sleek interiors, picture-perfect views and abundance of outdoor living, this island home is the answer to all types of tropical holiday cravings. From $2164 a night, sleeps eight Point Lookout Townhouse, Point Lookout This stylish townhouse comes complete with panoramic water views, a gorgeous indoor-outdoor set-up and access to the complex's infinity pool. From $580 a night, sleeps seven. Complete Straddie Beach Retreat, Point Lookout Blissful island days await at this vibrant villa, perched just metres from the beach. Enjoy the romantic loft bedroom, sun-drenched deck and shared pool. From $219 a night, sleeps three Ascension, Point Lookout Luxe out in this sprawling holiday mansion, set overlooking the waters off Point Lookout. There's a huge deck, spa room and telescope for whale-watching. From $1000 a night, sleeps 12. Elementa House 1, Airlie Beach Unwind in style with a stay at this Whitsundays stunner, complete with private garden, shared infinity pool and master tub with breathtaking views. From $637 a night, sleeps six. La Boheme Studio, Jubliee Pocket Experience your own little slice of Whitsundays magic at this contemporary coastal cottage, flitting between porch hammock and incredible magnesium pool. From $155 a night, sleeps two. Shorelines 23, Hamilton Island You'll feel on top of the world at this soaring Hamilton Island apartment, featuring panoramic ocean views and a stunning shared pool located just metres away. From $495 a night, sleeps six. Hamptons House on the Hill, Airlie Beach Boasting incredible vistas across the Whitsundays, a private pool and lots of luxury features, this award-winning Hamptons-style home is total bliss. From $375 a night, sleeps four. The Moreton Mansion, Tangalooma This generous three-level abode makes for a lavish group getaway, overlooking the waters of Moreton Bay. Plus, enjoy full access to the nearby resort facilities. From $1050 a night, sleeps 16+. Bedarra Island Villa, Bedarra Island A glam island paradise surrounded by leafy palms and lapping blue ocean. This designer villa boasts a stunning deck and delightfully secluded beachside setting. From $1258 a night, sleeps eight. 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: Courtesy of Airbnb
Tio's is unabashedly fun. Head inside this laidback tequila-filled drinking den to find a huge selection of margaritas, ice cold tinnies with fresh lime and salt on the rim as well as a free bag of popcorn every time you order a drink — "Scientifically matched to the flavour of Old El Paso taco seasoning, circa 1999". Or so they say. Consider yourself a tequila and mezcal connoisseur? Then make your way through some of those on offer — choose from hundreds of varieties of these agave-based tipples. We bet you'll find stacks you've never tried before. The owners, Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd, are big tequila fans and have spent many years curating this list — with some also featuring on the menu of their other Sydney bar, Cantina OK! [caption id="attachment_834813" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] Or if margaritas are more your jam, be sure to try some of their cheap as chips $10 margs — the flavour of which changes each week. Past creations have combined pandan with coconut and blueberries with hibiscus. But the purists out there can also expect the classic varieties too. Tio's also has stacks of beer options. Expect a few local Aussie brews, but you come to this bar — a somewhat drunken love letter to Mexican culture — to drink some Mexican bevs. Try the Tecate, Negra Modelo, Carona or Tio's own Loco Lager on tap. [caption id="attachment_761744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] And if the bottomless bags of spicy popcorn aren't enough for you, fill up on some super loaded nachos. These cheesy treats come with either chorizo, roasted pork or refried pinto beans (vegan cheese is also available). Enjoy all of this within some sensory-overloaded surrounds. The inside of Tio's is adorned in religious iconography — think Virgin Mary statues, melted church candles and a few Jesus' on the cross. Fairy lights and colourful paper lanterns are strung up all over, too. More is more at Tio's. And we can't get enough of it. [caption id="attachment_834811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] You'll find Tio's at 4-14 Forest Street, Surrey Hills — open from Tuesday to Sunday. Top images: Letícia Almeida and Nikki To
You could easily miss the almost unmarked Gothic doors on Falcon Street that hide the darkened entryway to one of the city's most exciting hidden playgrounds. You'd kick yourself if you did. The Foxtrot is much like the whisky that it showcases: smooth and gratifying, with a wickedly delicious aftertaste. The Gothic feel continues inside, with an eerie and captivating full-wall mural featuring an ethereal cast of characters with stories begging to be told. The DJ lays down tracks atop a beleaguered upright piano that looks like Wednesday Addams might have owned it once. Long-dead explorers keep a watchful eye on the bartenders from framed portraits on the wall; we can't ask them, but we are sure they approve of what they see. Behind the bar, it's all about the simple pleasures. A whole apple is juiced before your eyes and poured over a generous shot of Jameson or Zubrowka ($10). Or, try the house-infused spiced rum, enlivened with cinnamon and vanilla and lengthened with freshly juiced pears ($10). The boys behind the bar know their whisky, and show off with an impressively curated 'Gentleman's List' of classy concoctions (no sexism intended, we are assured). Our favourite, Josie's Well, is named for the main water source of the Glenlivet distillery and features 12-year-old Glenlivet with Poire Williams, Lillet Blanc and Aztec chocolate bitters ($19). Continuing the theme of elegant simplicity, the food situation is straightforward: pizza. Creative combinations of quality ingredients mean you can't really put a foot wrong here, but we recommend the roast pumpkin option, with cherry tomatoes, chorizo, Spanish onion, rosemary and goat's cheese ($20). For longer-term snacking, get your hands on a cheese board ($20) served with a teacup of olives and mountains of crusty walnut sourdough. The music is smooth and eclectic, channelling the sophistication of the dance for which the bar is named. Soft beats tumble and flow over the Foxtrot's merry drinkers, subtle enough to allow for engaging conversation, but unique enough to inspire moments of serious appreciation. There are some interesting spaces to explore, including an indoor courtyard and a carpeted living room complete with a working fireplace. But we don't budge from our seats by the bar, where we can watch the bartenders work their magic and admire the impressive collection lining the back bar. By the end of the evening, the Foxtrot feels like an old mate. We know it's the start of a beautiful friendship.
Art exhibitions are fleeting, gracing walls and halls for just days, weeks or months at a time, then moving elsewhere or never being seen again. The Lume, Melbourne's multi-sensory digital art gallery, is also set to be a brief addition to Australia's cultural scene. The venue opened in 2021, and has now announced that it will shut its doors in 2026, after deciding not to extend its lease at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Whether you're an art lover based in the Victorian capital or elsewhere around the country, you've now got just over a year — before January 2026 — to head by. Until early December 2024, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius is filling The Lume with a tribute to the iconic artist. Then, come Boxing Day 2024, the site is bringing back its Vincent van Gogh exhibition, complete with The Starry Night projected large, taking over an entire room; the immersive Sunflower room, where golden petals stretch as far as the eye can see; an immersive cafe inspired by the artist's Café Terrace at Night; and more. "The Lume Melbourne's lease at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre was up for renewal in January 2026, and we have made the decision to not extend the lease beyond that time. This decision, made in alignment with our parent company Grande Experiences, reflects our ambition to explore new directions and technologies that build on our success here in Melbourne," said the team behind the gallery in a statement. "Since opening in November 2021, The Lume Melbourne has become a beloved cultural destination, inviting audiences to experience art in an inclusive, accessible and engaging way. We are incredibly proud of what's been achieved over the past three years." "Looking forward, The Lume is excited to embrace new technologies that deepen connections with our audiences and will transform the way visitors engage with art and culture. This evolution will guide us toward opportunities best suited to support these creative possibilities," the crew continued. "We look forward to an unforgettable final year at MCEC and to sharing this exciting new chapter of The Lume as we continue to push the boundaries of how technology can bring art and culture to life." When it initially opened, The Lume launched with its immersive van Gogh showcase — making the exhibition's return a full-circle moment. Also wowing audiences at the gallery: a celebration of Monet and his contemporaries, a huge showcase dedicated to First Nations artists and, since early 2024, all things da Vinci. The Lume Melbourne is set to close at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, in January 2026. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius displays until Sunday, December 8, 2024. Van Gogh at The Lume opens on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further information. Images: Morgan Sette / Miles Noel Photography / Grande Experiences.
The property bubble in Australia is officially still swelling, according to Domain's 2026 First Home Buyers Report released this morning. Despite rate cuts and public outcry for more affordable housing — Domain reports that prices of entry-level homes have risen a further 15 percent, averaging at an extra $150,000 in cities across the nation. The exact growth varies in each city, but the data points to growth across the board. In the last year, entry-level prices rose by at least 20 percent in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin — and Sydney, which saw an annual growth of 15 percent, remains the only city where an entry-level house costs seven figures, $1,150,000 to be exact. In the last five years, it's Adelaide that's seen entry-level house prices rise the most, growing by a whopping 159.2 percent to the current average price of $720,000. [caption id="attachment_1077354" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Ben Goode via iStock[/caption] On the apartments front, prices rose over the last year in every city except one, with the most growth (20 percent or more) recorded in Perth, Adelaide and Darwin. The only city where entry-level unit prices actually fell was Canberra, where an entry-level unit is almost $15,300 cheaper than it was this time last year. The report also details how long it will take buyers to save the funds to meet the cost of a home, or at least a 20 percent deposit. Unsurprisingly, Sydney has the highest figure there, where a 20 percent deposit will cost buyers 7.7 years of saving, followed by Brisbane for 6.3 and Adelaide at 5.7. It averages out to 5 years across Australia, but it's lowest in Darwin, where buyers need only save for 2.7 years [caption id="attachment_877221" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] NeoPhoto via iStock[/caption] When saving for a unit deposit, it's much lower. In Sydney, that will set you back just over three years, and no longer than two years in any other capital city — a figure that's fallen over the last five years in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. If you thought prices end at the first purchase, the report also reveals that mortgage rates have risen in turn, with all capital city mortgage prices exceeding the 30 percent 'stress threshold', determined by the household income required to pay it off. In Sydney, the average repayments on an entry-level home consume 68 percent of household income, followed by Brisbane at 50 percent and Adelaide at 44 percent. Rates improved in Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra, where rates consume a mere 39 to 41 percent of household income. But, averaging all the capitals, mortgages demand 24 percent more income than they did five years ago. [caption id="attachment_984500" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council[/caption] In terms of solutions to the issue, it's not an easy fix. Domain reports that the federal government's Help to Buy scheme is an effective aid for eligible applicants (individuals earning $100,000 or less), as is the 5% Deposit Scheme, which lowers the minimum deposit for eligible first-time buyers. The main finding? Rates don't match wages, and first-home buyers are facing more constraints than ever before. Read the 2026 First Home Buyer Report in full here.
Dan Hong, one of Sydney's renowned chefs, restaurateurs and television hosts, opens the doors to his no-frills and fuss-free Chinese diner, Good Luck Eating House, on Wednesday, November 12. Under the Merivale umbrella, the former Good Luck Restaurant Lounge has evolved into this latest iteration, serving casual, inviting food infused with Hong's signature flair. Hong is synonymous with contemporary, high-energy dining across restaurants such as Mr Wong, The Press, Sushi e and Establishment Bar. He says that Good Luck Eating House "is the casual and more approachable little sibling of Mr Wong." Think generous plates of stir-fries, noodles and dumplings, perfect for rowdy evenings out with a group, sitting alongside Aussie-Chinese classics like salt and pepper calamari and sweet and sour pork. "The inspiration is rustic regional Chinese fare, bringing it back to basics. It's the kind of place where anyone can drop in for a quick bowl of noodles or a plate of dumplings, but also come down for a big feast with friends. The menu includes traditional cold appetisers, potsticker dumplings, chilli oil wontons, scallion pancakes, cumin lamb skewers, simple noodle dishes and stir-fries. Highlights will be the dumplings, cumin lamb skewers cooked over charcoal, along with the rustic stir-fries inspired by the Hunan and Sichuan provinces." A range of cocktails, including the Strawberry Matcha Sour, Mango Spritz, Yuzu Paloma, and the Good Luck Dirty Martini, with the inviting addition of ginger and yuzu, are a welcome addition to the flavour-packed menu. Good Luck Eating House is fast and fresh, fun and full of energy, and sure to be a good time. Head in for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday, with late-night seatings available from Thursdays to Saturday. Images: Alana Dimou.
Think of the Gold Coast and your mind probably jumps straight to its picturesque beaches, beloved theme parks and the lively strip of Surfer's Paradise. While these can all make for a brilliant getaway, the Gold Coast has a number of year-round events that give the holiday destination a cultural edge. From world-class sporting spectacles to exciting festivals, Get Up and Gold Coast in 2026, and plan a trip around these exciting events. AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 This March, the Gold Coast is hosting one of the premier sporting events of the year: the AFC Women's Asia Cup 2026. Alongside Sydney and Perth, the Gold Coast will become a bucket list destination for football fans. The Gold Coast Stadium will host four group matches from Monday, March 2, until Sunday, March 8. This includes the Matildas' second group match, followed by two rounds of play-offs on Thursday, March 19. Whether you're a sports fan or not, there's no denying the buzz and atmosphere that comes from a major sporting event like this. There are still tickets available, so be sure to nab yours and book in a Gold Coast escape. Australian WPGA Championship The Australian Women's Professional Golfers' Association Championship brings the world's best female golfers to the Gold Coast. Players will compete for the Karrie Webb Cup (and $600,000 in prize money) at the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club and the Palms Golf Course from Thursday, March 19, until Sunday, March 22. Outside of the championship, the Sanctuary Cove Marine Village is your destination for sport and entertainment with food and beverage options, music, pop-up bars, dedicated fan zones, interactive golf challenges, chill-out areas and shopping. At WPGA, witness the best in golf while enjoying the Gold Coast's picturesque weather and scenery. WSL Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro In May, the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro (part of the World Surf League Championship Tour event) will be held on the Gold Coast's golden beaches from Friday, May 1, until Monday, May 11. This year, the event is taking place in Snapper Rocks and is set to deliver world-class surfing. Past winners include Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, Carissa Moore and Gabriel Medina, so you know that it'll be worth the journey to see this year's talent on show. The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro is free to enter, so you and the family can witness the best surfers in the world compete up close and personal. Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show One of the Southern Hemisphere's largest boat shows, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is an annual showcase of superyachts, sailboats, marine tech and waterfront appreciation. The event takes place over four action-packed days from Thursday, May 21, to Sunday, May 24. See superyachts up close and personal and revel in the luxurious waterfront lifestyle that the Gold Coast delivers in droves. Blues on Broadbeach Every May, the Gold Coast suburb of Broadbeach transforms into one of Australia's largest music festivals, Blues on Broadbeach. Across multiple indoor and outdoor stages, the four-day (and night) event is a celebration of soul, rhythm and blues music. It kicks off on Thursday, May 14, with a non-ticketed lineup that includes Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster, Robert Finley, The Lachy Doley Trio, and many more. While most of the festival is free, the Sunday Ticket offers exclusive access to a stellar lineup. On Sunday, May 17, ARIA Award-winning The Teskey Brothers and special guests Judith Hill and Ash Grunwald will perform to the crowd as the sun sets over Broadbeach. Alongside live performances, you can wander between beachfront parks, bars and pop-ups, making it the ultimate chilled Gold Coast experience for music lovers. Cooly Rocks On Coolangatta puts on its retro filter the first weekend in June with Cooly Rocks On. The nostalgia-fuelled street party is a celebration of the motors, music and lifestyle of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s with classic car displays, a pin-up pageant, live gigs and vintage beachfront markets, all free to explore. From Wednesday, June 3, until Sunday, June 7, you can browse through a selection of retro treasures and memorabilia and listen to some of the finest rock 'n' roll, swing, rockabilly and tribute artists from around the world. There's also a preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Contest taking place. Cooly Rocks On is one of three festivals in the country to host this round, and the winner will secure a spot at Elvis Week in Memphis. Rock on. Pacific Airshow The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast transforms the city's famous beachfront into an open-air runway. From Friday, August 14, until Sunday, August 16, fighter jets, aerobatic teams and precision solo flyers will take to the skies for a weekend of high-octane airshows. Enjoy general admission, or take it up a notch with hospitality experiences at the Garden Bar or Beach Club. Ticket holders can enjoy a curated menu of food and drinks, a patio area with seating and shade, private restrooms, and live airshow commentary. It's a Gold Coast-style winter escape. Bleach* It's not just Melbourne and Sydney hosting the country's premier cultural events. Bleach* Festival is a contemporary arts festival running from Thursday, October 1, until Sunday, October 11. The spring festival brings dance, art, music, exhibitions, and panels across three vibrant festival hubs: Kurrawa Park, Emerald Lakes, and the Gold Coast's Home Of The Arts (HOTA). There's a range of free and ticketed events to choose from, with the full lineup released later in the year. Keep your eyes peeled and book in some cultural experiences. Groundwater Country Music Festival Is country music more your scene? Groundwater Country Music Festival is the Gold Coast's destination for all things boots, banjos and beachside twang. Taking over the streets of Broadbeach from Friday, October 16, until Sunday, October 18, the free three-day festival brings a stacked lineup of Australian and international acts. While the 2026 lineup is yet to be announced, the October festival is a must-do for music lovers on the Gold Coast. Expect line-dancing sessions, street food, pop-up bars and a laidback coastal atmosphere complete with cowboy hats. Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 The Gold Coast 500 turns Surfers Paradise into a high-speed street circuit, bringing Supercars racing right into the heart of the city. For one adrenaline-fuelled weekend from Friday, October 23 until Sunday, October 25, the sound of engines echoes between skyscrapers as drivers battle it out just metres from the beach. Whether you're a die-hard motorsport fan or simply keen for a high-energy weekend by the beach, the event blends sun, speed and spectacle. Explore more events and accommodation options, and be ready to Get Up and Gold Coast. Image credit: Supplied
Hugos Manly is quite possibly the perfect spot to bunk down of a warm evening for a Pimms Cooler ($36 jug). With uninterrupted views of the ferries pulling into the wharf, this place has become popular amongst both locals and city dwellers alike. Try the salmon pizza – smoked salmon with mascarpone, caviar, capers, watercress and chives ($28) – and celebrate a setting sun.
Travelling for work isn't always the perk you imagine. When it comes to hitting the road for your day job, you're most likely cooped up inside the four walls of a budget hotel rather than exploring the sights. However, Big4 Holiday Parks has a new competition, The Big Aussie Review, where the winner scores a travel gig that many of us have spent years dreaming about. With applications now open, you've got the chance to become BIG4's official Travel Reviewer, tasked with spending 365 days travelling across Australia. The assignment? Uncover and review the small-town favourites, roadside stops and unexpected moments that turn a good trip into a great one. With one lucky duo — partner or best mate — or family awarded the job, you'll crisscross the country in a Ford Ranger and Crusader caravan, stopping at Big4 Holiday Parks along the way. Travelling from the Top End to Tassie, the brief is simple: capture and produce top-notch video, social and editorial content that inspires Australians to rediscover their own backyard. "Australians don't need a passport to have an incredible holiday," says Big4 Holiday Parks CEO Sean Jenner. "We're a nation that loves a review, and The Big Aussie Review is about shining the spotlight onto the magical stuff and celebrating what makes travel in Australia so special." Oh, that car and caravan we mentioned? Once this year-long adventure is over, they're yours to keep. Plus, your 12-month trip includes petrol costs, weekly food allowances, thousands of dollars' worth of travel equipment, and a car load of content creation gear, including a new iPhone 17 Pro and Starlink satellite internet, so you can keep the world informed about your adventures. Fancy yourself as the next Michael Palin or Jan Morris? The selection criteria are straightforward. All Big4 asks is that you love to travel, can't stop creating content and have a keen eye for spotting the magic in the everyday. To apply, visit the website and upload a 60-second video of yourself reviewing anything that you love, no matter how silly. Applications for Big4 Holiday Parks' The Big Aussie Review are now open. Head to the website for more information.
Hear ye, hear ye. Bondi has landed a new, classic British pub just in time for the long, warm summer ahead. The Beekeeper has opened on Hall Street, in the heritage-listed Fellworth Flats, bringing British nostalgia and cosy, inviting energy to the beachside. The Beekeeper is an ode to the Northern English heritage of owners Ben Campbell and Brendan Darcy. The boys behind the Northern Hospitality group are well-versed in operating welcoming and lively spaces, with their much-loved dive bar Chuck Trailer's recently expanding to a second location in Sydney's CBD. The boys want their new venue to serve as a hub of community activity where people can gather over a Guinness and some classic pub fare. Head Chef Kevin Davis intends to bring a taste of his English roots to Bondi, serving dishes such as scotch eggs, fish and chips, Ploughman's Lunches, and traditional Sunday roasts, accompanied by all the usual trimmings. There will be steak sandwiches, gammon and eggs, a Cumberland pinwheel with mash and chicken chop, which will take any English expats right back to their roots. In strong contention for Bondi's best happy hour, running Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm, you can grab house beers from $6, house wines from $7, spritzes from $10 and Tommy Margaritas for $16. In addition to these damn good deals, check out the Thinkin' Drinks mini cocktail menu that is available all day, featuring mini martinis and negronis for just $10 — now that's adorable and affordable. Ben and Brendan explain, "The name The Beekeeper is a nod to Manchester's worker bee — a symbol of hard work, resilience, and community. We want The Beekeeper to be the heart of Bondi, a place where locals can drop in for a pint, a roast, or a cheeky cocktail and always feel at home." Images: Supplied.
A mega-venue has opened in the heart of Sydney's Circular Quay, adding four unique venues to the harbourside CBD suburb. The new Hinchcliff House has overtaken the heritage Hinchcliff Wool Store, a huge sandstone structure dating back to the 1860's that has been restored and revived as part of the ever-evolving Quay Quarter. Two of the Hinchcliff House's four venues are now open to the public, with the other two set to follow suit in May. Grana, located on the ground floor of the former wool store, is an all-day Italian restaurant and bakery, while Apollonia is a low-light cocktail bar in the venue's lower ground. Head to Grana early for a taste of its breakfast treats. Think blue swimmer crab omelette ($23) or a classic bacon and egg roll on schiacciata with chilli mayo and a hash brown ($18), alongside a selection of breakfast cocktails. All of Grana's bread is made at its onsite mill, providing fresh morning pastries, or ideal starters come dinner. Once breakfast is finished, turn your attention to Grana's standard menu. On the bread and dairy section, sourdough is served alongside a rich macadamia butter ($4 per person) and cheese is wrapped in thin and flaky house-made focaccia ($16). While it would be easy to fill up on bread, make sure you leave room for the cauliflower cotoletta ($24) or market fish tartar with trout roe ($26). Of course, a healthy selection of pasta is available including ricotta and pumpkin occhi, swimming in a lemon balm and served with pickled pumpkin ($25), or a seaweed gigli paired with Moreton Bay bug ($34). All four of the venues at Hinchcliff House are the creation of prolific New Zealand restauranteur Scott Brown (Amano) alongside the team at House Made Hospitality. Brown has been running restaurants across the Tasman for over a decade, founding Auckland's Hipgroup in 2004, responsible for venues like seasonal Spanish restaurant Alma. Images: Jiwon Kim
For decades, the corner of Liverpool and Yurong streets in Darlinghurst has been home to some of Sydney's most beloved Italian restaurants. In the 1980s, eastern suburbs glitterati rubbed elbows at Tre Scalini, which spearheaded the recession-era move to pared-back trattoria-style dining. In 2019, the space became Bar Vincent, a cosy but polished neighbourhood Italian that shuttered in June 2025. And for its third act, 174 Liverpool Street has been reborn as Vin-Cenzo's, the latest opening from The Goodies Hospitality (Bar Copains, Bessie's, Alma's). This next chapter keeps the Italian spirit alive while adding a late-night twist, with the restaurant open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, and transforming into a weekend supper club that runs until 2am. In the kitchen, Nathan Sasi (ex-Nomad, Mercado, Adelaide's Leigh Street Wine Room) takes a produce-driven approach that adds clever Euro spins to Italian classics. Start with the likes of flame-licked scampi dressed simply in chilli, garlic and Sicilian oregano, a selection of salumi served alongside giardiniera and grissini or an umami-laden bite of zucchini flower with five cheeses that's topped with an anchovy. Mains include handmade pastas like a roast chicken- and mortadella-packed agnolotti in an aromatic brodo, while mains are hearty and homely — think veal t-bone with shimeji mushroom and marsala and a house-made pork belly sausage with lentils and quince mustard. Desserts lean nostalgic but bold, with burnt lemon tart, pig fat cannolo packed with ricotta and Sicilian almonds, as well as traditional Italian biscuits served in vintage tins, inspired by recipes from Sasi's Sicilian godmother. [caption id="attachment_1018054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] On the drinks side, group sommelier Ishan Kaplish (ex-Mimi's, Tetsuya's) has assembled a list rich in Italian, French and Australian drops, interspersed with rare vintages from Co-Owner Morgan McGlone's personal cellar. Cocktails are classic and Italian-leaning, with bottled negronis and sgroppinos with house-made sorbet among the signatures. Fans of Bar Vincent's pared-back neighbourhood vibe should like what Studio Gram has done with the place, reimagining the interiors to suit the late-night vibe but keeping the same feeling of low-lit intimacy. There's a nod to New York's red-sauce dining rooms, with tiled floors, warm wall sconces and hand-painted wall art paired against burgundy leather banquettes and walnut timber finishes. Perhaps the most dramatic change is the increase in seating capacity, which has jumped from 36 to 68 pax, thanks to the addition of a leafy new al fresco area on Liverpool Street set aside for walk-ins. Top images: Jason Loucas.
If anyone knows the recipe for a highly talked-about hospitality venue, it's the Merivale crew. As always with the Hemmes empire's outposts, there's been a lot of buzz surrounding two of the group's east Sydney ventures — a hint? They're both open on Oxford Street. Seasonally-focused restaurant Fred's and intimate basement bar Charlie Parker's are as ambitious, with some big guns at the helm and an exciting, produce-driven food philosophy at their core, but with a few years in the scene to show it, they have the skills to back it up. Both venues were designed by Justin and Bettina Hemmes, Vince Alafaci and Caroline Chocker of ACME & Co. and styled by Amanda Talbot. Downstairs, Charlie Parker's cocktail bar is a warm den of exposed sandstone. The subterranean bar team has crafted an innovative, produce-driven drinks list backed by an Alvarez-designed menu of clever bar snacks — think prawns with fennel salt and lemon or steak tartare with anchovy, capers, citrus and lavosh. This is an underground bar, so the best views you're going to get are the cocktails. If you'd prefer to run the straight and narrow, crack open the wine and beer lists, if you're here for some real fun, let's talk cocktails. There's a chef's approach to this menu instead of a bartender's, with seasonal produce used across the board. Flavour comes first instead of personality. Be it the simpler fig leaf and sauterne (Hickson Road Dry Gin, extra virgin olive oil and salt) or the punchy orange mint and fermented pineapple (Havana 3yo and coconut), or even the wild berry wines on offer, there's a healthy shot of creativity in every single glass. Updated March 2024 Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
Darling Harbour nightclub Home the Venue is swapping the sticky dance floor for sticky sheets. It's making its triumphant post-COVID-19 comeback this March, but instead of letting revellers dance on vodka cranberry-covered floors, it's letting them party in queen-sized beds. Launching on Friday, March 5 in time for this year's Mardi Gras celebrations, In Bed @ Home will see the harbourside venue transformed into a left-of-centre entertainment experience. The entire nightclub's dance floor has been filled with beds , in which you're offered a 'bedside' drinks service and you can watch two different shows. There's the Cirkus Bizurkus, with comedy, cabaret, burlesque and magic; and Pretty Masc, which is being pitched as a "gender-bending underground performance". A nightclub with beds isn't an entirely new concept, however. In fact, visiting a fictional club with beds is the theme of an episode of Sex in the City and several very real clubs with queen-sized comfort opened in the US and the UK in the late 90s and early 2000s. But, it's still a novel concept here in Sydney — and reflective of the times, where limits and restrictions on dancing exist because of a certain pandemic. That said, while nightclub experiences are still few and far between, tickets are getting snapped up quick. If you'd like to try out the new slumber party-cum-nightclub, you can already snap up tickets for $50 a pop. In Bed @ Home launches at Home the Venue, 101/1–5 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour on Friday, March 5. Tickets are available to purchase via homesydney.com.
If you've ever wanted to know how a billionaire feels when they eat their breakfast, you should probably check out the Boathouse at Balmoral. Because, let's face it, it's a hell of lot easier than making a billion dollars. Renovated in early 2014 by Pip and Andrew Goldsmith, the power team who brought us The Boathouse in Palm Beach and the Armchair Collective in Mona Vale, the Boatshed is a glorious improvement on the modest cafe it once was. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, so we'd would advise going at least 30 minutes before you think you'll be hungry to avoid any potential hanger while you queue. That said, there are worse places to queue seeing how you're surrounded by water views. For breakfast, we recommend the green eggs and ham ($23), which offers perfectly poached eggs, grilled leg ham and tomatoes with a generous dollop of house-made pesto on toasted sourdough. And for lunch, it's hard to look past the seafood when you're sitting outside in the sunshine on a deck suspended over the ocean. Try the beer battered flathead served atop a mountain of thick cut chips with a side of Boathouse tartare ($29). Sure, the food is a little pricey, but at the Boathouse, you pay for the stunning view of Balmoral Beach, the giant wooden barrels of seasonal fruit that adorn the entrance, the crab traps suspended from the ceiling, the smoothies served in pint glasses with old fashioned paper straws and the sand you find between your toes long after you've left.
Originally designed by Bruce Dellit, the same architectural visionary behind Hyde Park's striking War Memorial, this 1930s-built heritage-listed former bank in the CBD is regarded as one of Australia's finest examples of the Egyptian art deco style. In the impressive foyer, which boasts wow-worthy 14-metre-high ceilings, the same travertine-clad walls, marble floors and huge glass light pendants that were present when this O'Connell Street address first opened are still in their proper place. However, as much as certain elements have remained untouched, it's doubtful Dellit ever imagined his elegant bank would one day be home to a buzzy cocktail lounge, a rock-n-roll dive bar and a pumping nightclub and cabaret space. With stunning interiors by Sydney-based architecture firm Steel and Stitch, visitors can step through time by ascending the venue's three levels. When you enter, you are immediately greeted by the deco dream of the aptly named Main Bar, where smart bartenders in Gatsby-coded garb shake and stir a menu of classic and signature cocktails curated by Nathan Alan Jones from Drinks By Design. One floor up, laidback drinking den The Hutch pushes the vibe a few decades forward, channelling a more 1990s rock energy, complete with a retro hi-fi system. On the third level, the 21st-century nightclub space, also named Arcade, is a flexible after-dark playground, hosting comedy gigs one night and DJ sets with exclusive VIP bottle service the next.
Come November, a whole heap of Aussies will be stripping off on a beach in the Whitsundays as acclaimed New York artist Spencer Tunick returns to Australia to stage the next of his famed mass nude photographs. It's been 18 years since Australia's first taste of the internationally famed artist's work, when 4500 naked volunteers posed for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival. Tunick then photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras and returned to Australia just last year to shoot over 800 Melburnians in the rooftop carpark of a Prahran Woolworths. Elsewhere, he's photographed the public painted red and gold outside Munich's Bavarian State Opera, covered in veils in the Nevada desert and covered in blue in Hull in the UK. Now, the artist is set to return to our shores and his sights are set on the white sands and sparkling blue waters of Whitsundays' Whitehaven Beach. Tunick will assemble another contingent of naked folk this November, for a work titled Sea Earth Change. Interestingly, the shoot is part of The Iconic's (yes, that online clothing store) upcoming summer campaign We Are Human. [caption id="attachment_671796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spencer Tunick, Sydney (2010)[/caption] Anyone over the age of 18 can get their kit off and get involved — Tunick hopes to have a diverse mix of bodies in the shoot, which will be held on Saturday, November 23. Participants each get a print of the photograph, and, we're sure, a big boost of body confidence. They'll also be invited to the unveiling of the artwork at The Calile Hotel, Brisbane, a few days later. Successful candidates will be notified about a week before the shoot. The catch here is, of course, the location. If you're not usually located on the tropical Queensland archipelago, you will need to travel there. From Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, you can fly into the Hamilton Island or Whitsunday Coast airports, then take a 60-minute ferry or 30-minute drive, respectively, to Airlie Port Marina. The team will look after your transport from here. It'll be a worthwhile journey, though — as well as being involved in a once-in-a-lifetime photoshoot, you'll also get to visit the second best beach in the world. Sea Earth Change will be shot on Saturday, November 23 on Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays. You can register to take part here before Thursday, November 14. Images: Spencer Tunick, Miami (2007) and Burgundy (2009).
When someone spots a giant spider, they take notice, even when it's simply a tall metal piece of art. Seeing one of Louise Bourgeois' towering arachnids is indeed a stunning experience; however, so is watching people clock her lofty works. Her Maman sculptures demand attention. They're the type of public art that audiences just want to sit around, soak in and commune with. They're photo favourites, too, of course — and one has just arrived in Australia. This is the first time that Maman has displayed Down Under, with the world-famous piece arriving in Sydney as part of Sydney International Art Series. Bourgeois is one of three hero talents scoring a blockbuster exhibition during event, alongside Wassily Kandinsky and Tacita Dean. [caption id="attachment_927829" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Louise Bourgeois 'Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] The nine-metre-high, ten-metre-wide sculpture that Bourgeois is best known for is currently on display on the forecourt of the Art Gallery of NSW, towering over the historic South Building. The sculpture hails back to 1999, and boasts its name because it's a tribute to Bourgeois' mother. The artist described her mum as "deliberate, clever, patient, soothing... and [as] useful as a spider". If you're keen to see Maman on home soil, Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? is running at the gallery from Saturday, November 25, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024, boasting 120 different works — the most comprehensive exhibition of Bourgeois's work ever to grace a gallery in the Asia Pacific. [caption id="attachment_927824" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation of Louise Bourgeois 'Maman' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] "Bold artists inspire art museums towards new approaches," said Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand. "I am proud that Bourgeois' art has inspired an exhibition that is itself exploratory and fully exploits the dramatic potential of our expanded art museum to reveal the ceaseless exploration of life's extremes that characterised her work." "This ambitious exhibition is like none other presented at the Art Gallery, and we are very proud to bring this unique experience to Sydney this summer." The Bourgeois exhibition is on display 13 years after the Paris-born artist passed away in New York in 2010, and after she stamped her imprint upon the art of the 20th century. Visitors will see her Arch of Hysteria work down in the gallery's underground Tank, textile works of the 1990s and 2000s, and plenty in-between. [caption id="attachment_927827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Louise Bourgeois 'Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] Other highlights include The Destruction of the Father, which is among the pieces that've never been displayed in Australia before; Clouds and Caverns, which is rarely seen in general; and the mirrored piece Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day?, which shares the exhibition's moniker. Alongside the display of art, there will be a free film series curated by the AGNSW's Ruby Arrowsmith-Todd. A heap of Louise Bourgeois' favourite flicks will be screened at the gallery's cinema, including 1958's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1971's Harold and Maude, David Lynch's Eraserhead, John Waters' Pink Flamingos and The Wizard of Oz. [caption id="attachment_927832" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, courtesy of Roadshow PPL[/caption] [caption id="attachment_927830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Louise Bourgeois 'Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] [caption id="attachment_927831" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Louise Bourgeois 'Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] [caption id="attachment_927826" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Louise Bourgeois 'Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day?' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins[/caption] Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? runs from Saturday, November 25, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney. Head to the gallery's website for more information and to purchase tickets. Top image: installation of Louise Bourgeois 'Maman' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Felicity Jenkins.
A decade ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find an accessible dining experience of a similar calibre and philosophy as those you saw in shows similar to Chef's Table. Lucky for us in present day, eco-friendly dining is no longer limited to small pockets of artisanal growers and eco-conscious chefs. Restaurants all over Australia are proving time and time again that taste and sustainability aren't mutually exclusive. Sourcing produce from their own 80-acre working farms, creating closed-loop dining experiences with micro rooftop worm gardens and growing heirloom varieties with the help of trusted friends — chefs are honing in eco-friendly practices all while delivering gourmet menus. With that in mind, we've teamed up with Stoneleigh Wild Valley, whose hands-off winemaking philosophy lets nature do its thing to create a 'natural expression' of Marlborough wines, to highlight six innovative eateries across the country with strong connections to nature. [caption id="attachment_677793" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] QUAY — SYDNEY Quay has always been one of the shining beacons of Australia's fine dining scene, but what you might not know is that it's now one of the country's most sustainably minded restaurants, too. World-renowned chef Peter Gilmore has been gardening for over a decade at home, becoming addicted to the lifecycle of plants and herbs. His interest has carried over to the Quay kitchen where produce from trusted farms, like Palisa Anderson's Boon Luck Farm, inform the menu. Specially grown red speckled peas are served with aged Maremma duck; newly created heirloom purple corn is set against a rich oxtail broth; crystallised caramel is punctuated with both a prune jam and a prune cream; and well, you get the picture. It's nature-inspired food at its best. ATTICA — MELBOURNE Long before sustainability was the trend on everyone's lips, Attica's owner-chef Ben Shewry was foraging with his family for mussels and shellfish along the coast of Taranaki, New Zealand. And with one look at Attica's menu, it's obvious those early ideas of hyperlocal eating have stayed him. The menu reveals his respect for eco-friendly seafood such as hand-caught crab and native ingredients like black and green ants sourced from Indigenous farmers. Deliciously gooey whipped emu eggs and honey-laden finger limes also demonstrate his devotion to Australia's homegrown flavours. Then there's Attica's garden. Boasting over 100 varieties of herbs (there's apparently 16 different types of basil) and other flora that makes its way onto dinner plates, it's the cherry on top of an already exceptional commitment to taste, Australian cuisine and, of course, the environment. [caption id="attachment_704269" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould.[/caption] PAPERBARK — SYDNEY If inventive and exciting meat-free cooking sounds right up your alley then it's time to pay a visit to Paperbark. Opened in June 2018, the relative newcomer has quickly made waves in Sydney's already exceptional vegan dining scene. There's no simple way to explain the cuisine here, except to say it's all tied together by a commitment to native Australian ingredients. There's wattleseed and finger lime atop pumpkin tostadas, strawberry gum mole mopped up with doughy rye from eco-friendly bakery Iggy's Bread and mango and lemon myrtle meringue. It's all delicious, all the time. THREE BLUE DUCKS — BRISBANE Three Blue Ducks is no stranger to the eco-friendly dining scene. Ever since the three original owners opened their small paddock-to-plate eatery in Bronte, Sydney in 2010, they've been proving that sustainability doesn't mean sacrificing on flavour, it means improving it. Now, almost a decade later, they have three additional partners and four new locations. Set inside the W Brisbane hotel and open breakfast, lunch and dinner, the latest restaurant sources much of its produce from Three Blue Ducks' own 80-acre working farm in Byron Bay, as well as other local ethical growers. Expect wood-fired proteins with season veg like porchetta with smoked parsnip purée, beetroot and apple salad, fennel granola and mustard jus or the fish of the day with corn, smoked eggplant chilli, cucumber, heirloom tomato and preserved lemon. MESA VERDE — MELBOURNE Meaning 'green table' in Spanish, Mesa Verde brings fresh Mexican dishes to level six at Curtin House. The cantina serves smaller plates from the sea and land, like market fish ceviche or zesty heirloom zucchini tostadas, as well as larger plates of braised lamb shoulder, cauliflower tlayuda and mushroom entomatadas. Then there's the full taco menu with fillings ranging from cochinita-style roasted eggplant to beer-battered fish tacos to braised beef cheek. All of these dishes are peppered with fresh herbs and spices grown in the roof's vegetable gardens. There's even a rooftop worm farm to help fertilise the vege patch. In a feat of small-scale closed-loop cooking, chef Kathy Reed and her team use vegetable off-cuts to feed the worms and create fertiliser, which in turn helps grow the rare Mexican ingredients that pack an irresistible punch on the restaurant's menu. FLOCK EATERY — REDCLIFFE Featuring a winning combination of picturesque views across Moreton Bay and a farm-to-plate dining experience that caters to all your dietary needs, it's no surprise the Flock Eatery in Redcliffe is a closely guarded secret by those in the know. Breakfast favourites like the smokey king brown mushrooms and eggs benny paired with seasonal greens are both delightfully tasty and ethically sourced from nearby farmers. The best part? Any leftovers are composted at the wonderful LOOP.Growers farm so that nothing is wasted. Make sure to try the coffee; Tim Adams Specialty Coffee roasts it locally. Connect to nature through food at the above eateries and through drink with Stoneleigh Wild Valley, whose 2017 sauvignon blanc recently won gold at the New York International Wine Competition 2019. Top image: Paperbark by Trent van der Jagt.
Revered chef, veteran restaurateur and bonefide icon Neil Perry has all but single-handedly transformed Double Bay into one of Sydney's buzziest dining destinations. First came Margaret, Perry's mod-Aus post-Rockpool passion project which was recently recognised as one of the world's best steakhouses. Next, there was Baker Bleu, the much-lauded Melbourne bakery that moved in next door to Margaret at Perry's behest to supply his fine diner with top-quality baked goods. Song Bird — a vast, multi-level Cantonese restaurant — is the jewel in Perry's Bay Street crown, spread over three floors of the heritage-listed Gaden House. But impressive as this mega-venue may be, there's a small yet perfectly formed treat to be found in its basement: Bobbie's, a quintessential cocktail lounge specialising in martinis. To realise Perry's vision for a chic, cosmopolitan 'tini joint, he tapped his long-time friends, Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson, the dynamic duo behind famed New York haunt Dante. Indeed, the bar could be considered more Pride's than Perry's, since its name, Bobbie's, is an ode to Pride's renowned grandfather, Australian DJ Bob Rogers OAM, the nation's longest-serving radio announcer who is credited with introducing Top 40 radio programming on 2UE in the late 1950s. In a further nod to Pride's illustrious forebear, Bobbie's will also be a live music venue. The streamlined wine list sets a celebratory tone with a focus on champagne. Emerging champagne growers, more established champagne houses and sparkling wines from around the world offer patrons plenty of corks to pop. What Perry venue would be complete without a serious dining offering? The bar menu stars seafood plates and elevated snacks, but also sandwiches — both fresh and toasted. Think Walker's Big Eye Tuna with green olive and lemon salsa, Spencer Gulf King Prawn cocktail with Murray Rose sauce, and CopperTree Farm beef patty cheese melts with gruyere and pickles. Lighter bites lean luxe, with white sturgeon caviar, freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters and gildas with green olive, anchovy and pickled chilli on the menu. "We've designed Bobbie's to be a place for people to enjoy at any time of the day or night," Perry shares. "Whether it be for a martini and oysters in the afternoon, a nightcap and cheese plate on the way home, or a full evening of dining, drinking and live music – the choice is yours." Images: Yusuke Oba
With a fresh (an exclusive) Hiroshi Sugimoto exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), now is the perfect time to indulge in some Japanese culture right here in Sydney. MCA is known for its world-class art exhibitions and is a leading cultural destination for tourists and locals alike. The Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine exhibition is now at the MCA until October 27. This exclusive exhibition is the largest display of Sugimoto's work ever presented and his first in the southern hemisphere. Featuring nearly 100 of his most iconic and rarely-seen pieces, it showcases over 50 years of the artist's groundbreaking photography. Organised in collaboration with London's Hayward Gallery and supported by Destination NSW, Time Machine is set to be a highlight of the MCA's calendar. Whether you're a seasoned art lover or simply curious, Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine is a must-see event on your Japanese-themed tour of the city. [caption id="attachment_952847" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kahii Kissaten Match, KWPhotography, Matthew Wong[/caption] Morning Start your day with a taste of Tokyo in Surry Hills. Wander over to Parami on Alberta Street, where breakfast comes in the form of onigiri, humble but oh-so-satisfying rice triangles. Whether you go for the wagyu, salted salmon, or a breakfast favourite like bacon and egg, you'll find yourself wondering why you ever settled for avo on toast. Pair that with a matcha latte, and you're set. For a sweeter start to your day, head to the cult-favourite Gram Cafe's CBD outpost and indulge in its famous soufflé pancakes. [caption id="attachment_972871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hiroshi Sugimoto, installation view, Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2024, image courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] Now that your belly is happy, it's time to feed your artistic soul. Make your way to the MCA for Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine, an immersive exploration of Sugimoto's work. As one of the most renowned photographers of our time, Sugimoto has made an indelible mark on contemporary art. He captures ethereal and contemplative images that challenge the boundaries of time, history and reality. The MCA has curated a dynamic program of talks, workshops, family-friendly activities, and film screenings, all designed to further engage visitors with Sugimoto's unique vision. Mark your calendar for Friday, October 11, when the museum will host a special 'Up Late' event, celebrating Japanese culture through art, music, and performance, offering an unforgettable evening experience. [caption id="attachment_972870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hiroshi Sugimoto, Opticks 195, 2018, installation view, Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2024, chromogenic print, image courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley[/caption] After soaking in Sugimoto's art, refuel at Kahii Kissatten in the CBD. A nod to Japan's traditional tea rooms, this spot is part of the buzzing YCK Laneways precinct but with a much more serene vibe. Here, you can savour a house-roasted small-batch coffee, sip on Uji-sourced matcha, or go all out with a black sesame cloud drink. Pair your bevvy with one of their Japanese-inspired pastries (we're talking banana tiramisu pastries and almond croissants), and you're all set. Afternoon With your caffeine cravings satisfied, it's time to channel your own inner artisan with some traditional Japanese art. Head to Kintsugi Australia, and try your hand at kintsugi, the Japanese practice of mending broken pottery with lacquer and gold. It's all about celebrating imperfections, a philosophy that'll have you looking at life's cracks and flaws in a whole new light. Kintsugi Australia offers a range of courses, whether you are looking for something modern, traditional, beginner or intensive. After flexing your creative skills, enjoy a satisfying sushi lunch at the sleek underground sushi restaurant Toko on George Street or head out to Ume Burger in Barangaroo or its outpost in Darling Harbour for delicious Japanese burgers, lotus chips and crisp Japanese lager. No day of Japanese culture would be complete without a little retail therapy. Head to Kinokuniya, Sydney's best Japanese bookstore, for everything from manga to art books. Then, swing by Muji and Uniqlo to pick up minimalist homewares and effortlessly stylish clothing that'll have you embracing the Japanese principle of 'less is more.' And, of course, make time for a quick stop at a Gacha Gacha machine — who doesn't love a capsule toy surprise? — there are numerous Gacha Gachas dotted throughout the CBD. [caption id="attachment_887361" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bay Nine, Declan Blackall[/caption] Evening As the sun sets, treat yourself to a luxe Japanese dinner at Bay Nine Omakase in Circular Quay. Here, you'll be spoiled with a chef's selection of seasonal dishes crafted with the finest ingredients in the tradition of omakase dining. Prefer something more casual? Check out Nakano Darling for an izakaya feast. For dessert, head over to LeTAO for a luxurious slice of Japanese cheesecake. Still have some energy left? Slide into Rekodo, a vinyl bar at Barangaroo where tunes meet Japanese whisky — an ideal combo for a laidback evening. Or, if you're feeling more lively, pop into Bancho in Haymarket for a cocktail and a nightcap. Finally, no Japanese-inspired day would be complete without a karaoke session. Head to Goros in Surry Hills, where you can belt out your favourite anthems while sipping on sake in one of the private rooms, challenge your mates to arcade games or dance the night away at the popular Japanese dive bar spot. Whether you're diving into art, sipping on matcha, or singing your heart out, Sydney's got all the ingredients for a Japanese day out that's anything but ordinary — no passport required. Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine runs from August 2 until October 27, 2024. Tickets can be purchased from MCA's website. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $20 for concessions, excluding booking fee. Entry is free to MCA members, youth (13–17 year-olds) and children (12 year-olds and younger).
The craze for all things pre-loved and recycled is nothing new, but it's becoming increasingly clear that in most people's minds, old stuff is way better than new stuff. This doesn't just apply to clothing, but also to the items you choose to kit out your home with. Life's just more interesting when people start getting creative and repurposing vintage items, and it's a more sustainable way of living too. Here, we have compiled a list of the places we believe to be some of the most interesting and inspirational purveyors of vintage homewares, antiques and recycled cool stuff in Sydney. With high- and low-end options, these vintage retailers exude endless creativity and long hours of delighted exploration. 1. Doug Up On Bourke When I was a kid I was convinced that everyday objects had lives of their own and got up to amusing hijinks whenever I wasn't looking. When things got lost, I used to imagine they'd taken themselves off to a kind of ramshackle clubhouse of 'stuff', where the chairs and the tables were having a fantastic party and exchanging witty banter about things I didn't understand. And in my mind that place looked exactly like Doug Up On Bourke. It's where industrial, commercial and rustic antiques all come together in one space, and where you can spend hours walking around in wide-eyed fascination. Doug Up On Bourke was established back in 2003, and sources items from all over Australia, with everything lovingly restored by hand. It's the place to go if you're after shipping trunks, industrial work tables, watering cans, church pews or old bakelite phones. The place is huge, so you need an hour or so to browse through everything, but you're guaranteed to find something amazing. Address: 901 Bourke St, Waterloo Phone: (02) 9690 0962 2. Mitchell Road Antique and Design Centre Mitchell Road is a graffiti-clad emporium located in the wilds of Alexandria, containing over seventy different dealers within its walls. Climb up the staircase on your left to the first floor and inside you'll find every kind of vintage, industrial or retro item you've ever fantasised about, all the way from Victoriana through to 20th century design. In addition to homewares, furniture and lighting there is also a range of vintage fashion, toys, kitchen items and industrial pieces. If they don't have what you're looking for there is a 'wish list' feature you can use, and the centre's dealers will try and hunt it down for you. You need a few hours to take everything in and exclaim over old tram signs and granny blankets but you definitely won't walk away empty handed, so make sure you've got money and ample room in your backseat. Address: 76 Mitchell Rd, Alexandria Phone: (02) 9698 0907 3. Sydney Antique Centre Beginning in the 1970s, the Sydney Antiques Centre was created thanks to the optimism of a couple of salespeople who'd seen the Kings Road Antique Market in London and believed it was high time Sydney had its own version. This was a tall order given Sydney was in a bit of a slump at the time and didn't have scores of old families littered about with the odd suit of armour and crate of Spanish galleons stashed away in the attic. Moreover there was a colony of pigeons residing in the derelict building on South Dowling Street they elected to use as their premises, who stubbornly refused eviction until well after the Market had kicked off. Given its rickety beginnings, it's truly impressive just how amazing Australia's oldest antiques centre is today. With over fifty antiques and art dealers in-house selling porcelain, clocks, rugs, clothing and furniture, as well as an indoor cafe and gallery, the Centre in many ways feels like a museum. The quality of items is impeccable, so while it's not always the cheapest place to shop, it is definitely worth checking out. Address: 531 South Dowling St, Surry Hills Phone: (02) 9361 3244 4. quintessential duckeggBLUE duckeggBLUE specialises in reclaimed industrial and antique furniture, with all items sourced from Europe, America, Russia and Britain. Pieces from the 1800s sit side-by-side with paraphenalia from the 1920s - old English club sofa chairs, industrial French workbenches and original bus signs. duckeggBLUE has a reputation for one-of-a-kind pieces, and it's usually one of the first places people bring up when you mention vintage homewares in Sydney. Moreover, only the very best pieces are sourced, so the selection isn't as vast and mind-boggling as many other places on this list. duckeggBLUE is regularly used by magazine stylists, and they have supplied items to Fleur Wood, Seed and Adriano Zumbo's Patisserie, among others. Address: 497 Darling St, Balmain Phone: (02) 9810 4330 5. Three of a Kind Driving down Parramatta Road, amongst the leagues of car dealerships and questionable bridal shops, there is one sign in a shop window which will make you giggle: "Butt ugly blokes building handsome furniture for beautiful people." This shop outside which it hangs is Three of a Kind, selling handbuilt recycled timber furniture. The three 'blokes' work in an old fashioned method, taking pride in the fact that people enjoy watching others make something with their hands which isn't a sandwich or a paper plane. Original pieces are available to buy directly from the showroom floor, or the 'blokes' are happy to tailor-make particular items to suit specific needs. You want a kitchen cabinet made out of old Peter's ice cream signs? You got it. A confederate flag dining table? Sure, no problem. Their wares grace the interiors of establishments such as Clipper Cafe in Glebe and Clover Cafe in Annandale. Address: 629 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt Phone: 0409 555 173 and 0400 555 173 6. The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre The Bower exists to deal with the kinds of items that commercially-run charity stores don't accept. That means you're unlikely to find a desk or a chest of drawers here, but white goods, bric-a-brac and fireplaces can be found with ease. This is the kind of place that inspires creativity. The Bower is all about recycling and diverting needless waste from landfill, collecting and repairing pre-loved household goods and reselling them to the local community. In addition to the aforementioned fireplaces and white goods, there is also the Reuse Gallery featured within The Bower, where you can find upcycled items like bowls made from LPs and coffee tables made from bicycle rims. And on top of everything else, they are not only a second hand store but also a registered Environmental Charity. Address: 34/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville Phone: (02) 9568 6280 7. Raffan, Kelaher & Thomas Auctions are for proper adults with expensive watches and rimless glasses, right? Wrong. RKT are something of a Sydney institution tucked away between Leichhardt and Annandale, beloved of socialites, aesthetes and antique dealers alike. The company is a well-established collection of fine art and general auctioneers and valuers, holding twice-weekly auctions showcasing items as specific as 'Collectors Books' and 'Australiana.' Each sale has between 1600 to 2400 lots to bid on. According to their website the auctions are not only affordable and entertaining but also "studies in kinetic human interaction." Which has got to be better than your average house auction, right? Address: 42-48 John Street, Leichhardt Phone: (02) 9552 1899 8. The Bronte Tram The folks at Bronte Tram do a bunch of stuff with furniture: they hire it, they buy it, they paint it and they reupholster it, then they carefully arrange it all for you to rummage around in to your heart's content. This husband and wife team collect industrial antiques, chandeliers, outdoor furniture and 1950s clocks to make them all fit together as though they were always meant to be one seamlessly arranged whole. From a vintage Japanese sea diving helmet to ship lights and old Indian schoolroom lockers, there's a bunch of stuff here that you simply won't find anywhere else. Address: 195 Bronte Rd, Waverley Phone: (02) 9389 1337 9. Reverse Garbage Reverse Garbage is a not for profit co-operative established by a group of idealistic teachers during the 1970s who ran it out of a warehouse in Marrickville, selling industrial off-cuts, over-runs and discards for both creative and practical pursuits. Essentially, it's the kind of place where every primary school craft project is born. Raw materials, including cloth, perspex, wood, bubble wrap and ceramic tiles, are both low-priced and over-abundant, scattered about in a chaotic jumble. This is because Reverse Garbage's aim is to make sure as little as possible reusable material ends up in landfill, collecting it from all over Sydney so that everything is made available to the public in one convenient place. If you're looking for sacks of ribbon left over from Mardi Gras, old test tubes, skeletons or a tailor's mannequin, you're more likely to find them in this overcrowded warehouse than anywhere else. Address: 8/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville Phone: (02) 9569 3132 10. Graham & Graham Design If you're looking to score yourself some 1960s Scandinavian furniture, this is the place. Graham & Graham sell hand-restored Danish pieces using traditional techniques, with all items sourced from Australia, Britain and Scandinavia. If you're looking to make sure your surroundings resemble a set from Mad Men, Graham & Graham is an excellent place to start. Not only is there a wide selection of sixties-era lighting and ceramics to choose from, but there is a huge range of desks, chairs and sideboards by well known Danish furniture designers and a host of Eames copycats. They'll also do you some custom designed lampshades if you ask nicely. Address: 142 Regent St, Redfern Phone: (02) 8084 3983
There are only a handful of soundtracks that can make millennials' hair stand on end — one of which is Harry Potter™. If you've ever wanted to hear John Williams' instantly recognisable Oscar-nominated score live, you're in luck as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ In Concert is about to cast a spell over Sydney. To celebrate 25 years of witchcraft and wizardry on screen, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is performing the entire film soundtrack live. Running across five performances from Wednesday, December 2 to Saturday, December 5, the film that began the series will be screened in high definition, while the orchestra brings John Williams' epic score to life. See the first Hogwarts letter being delivered, the beginnings of Harry, Ron and Hermione's friendship, a troll running amok, and the story that inspired a generation, all backed by an expert live orchestra. Whether you're a Potterhead yourself or are introducing the magic of the film to someone for the first time, you can expect to experience a whole new level of enchantment at the Sydney Opera House this December. Book your tickets now. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ In Concert is rated PG. Please note: children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times when attending concerts at the venue. All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.
Getting your collective sweat on in a Pilates, yoga, or reformer class is one of the best ways to feel good—but turning up the heat and making it a hot one? Now, that's the 2025 energy we need. Luckily for us, beloved Pilates and yoga studio CorePlus has finally opened its first Sydney outpost in Darlinghurst. To celebrate, they're gifting you your first class for free. With over 30 studios across Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, CorePlus prides itself on offering a diverse range of classes led by dedicated instructors. The studio is all about inclusivity, community, mindfulness, and movement. You can choose from three heated mat Pilates classes (Hot Mat, Hot Strength, and Hot Strength Cardio), three yoga variations (Hot Yoga Flow, Warm Slow Flow, and Warm Yin Yoga), and four reformer class styles (Athletic, Strength, Cardio, and Pre and Postnatal). To redeem your free first class, download the CorePlus app for free and use code CONCRETEPLAYGROUND on your booking before Thursday, July 31. By Elise Cullen
The latest addition to Merivale's portfolio, Palmer & Co. is a gorgeous hiding place. Tucked into the underground level of what was once a throbbing, sticky nightclub in the heart of Sydney's CBD, the venue has been transformed beyond recognition into a glowing little cove that exudes the sumptuous glamour and devilish secrecy of the 1920s prohibition era. Whilst perhaps not the most inspired of concepts, every detail of Palmer & Co. speaks of Merivale's signature polish, and the bar's clandestine feel echoes the theme of secrecy. Embraced by exposed brick walls, heavy timber surfaces and the intimacy of low, golden lighting, you are enveloped immediately by a sense of sophistication as your enter Palmer & Co. This is a bar for grown-ups. You are invited by the staple Merivale beauties, in flapper dresses and all, to make your selection from the extensive menu of spirits and cocktails, embellished by photographs harking back to days of dapper criminals in three-piece suits and girls who could neck a bottle of bourbon and look graceful doing it. Palmer & Co. offers a small selection of bar snacks, including spicy chipolatas ($12) and charcuterie share boards ($18 for 2), but this is not really a dinner spot. I suggest you eat beforehand because, if you are anywhere near as susceptible to Palmer & Co.'s hypnotic sway as I was, it will be hours before you emerge again. Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
Back in 2020, Lord Howe Island was picked as one of the best places to visit on the planet. The 11-kilometre-long, two-kilometre-wide expanse just a two-hour flight east of Sydney is also one of Australia's most incredible islands, clearly. Now, it's being recognised for boasting the best hotel in the South Pacific — beating out resorts in Fiji and Bora Bora, which is quite the feat. The latest acclaim being showered Lord Howe Island's way comes courtesy of Tripadvisor, which has surveyed its users' review data and unveiled its Best of the Best Hotels list as part of its 2023 Travellers' Choice Awards. Open since around 1895, Pinetrees Lodge earned the top spot in the South Pacific rankings, and also came in at number 25 on the best all-inclusive hotels list, which details the top spots where everything you need is all in one place. [caption id="attachment_901975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pinetrees Lodge[/caption] Joining Pinetrees Lodge among the Aussie highlights in the South Pacific are six other accommodation destinations. The Reef House Adults Boutique Tropical Escapes in Palm Cove came in second, The Remington Muswellbrook ranked fourth, RACV Torquay Resort sits in fifth, Brisbane's Kingsford Smith Motel at sixth and Element on Coolum Beach at seventh, then Little National Hotel Sydney in tenth. Filling the gaps between them: Fiji's Tokoriki Island Resort in third spot, then Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort at eighth and The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort in ninth position. That's quite the handy rundown of local and local-ish places to spend a night or several on your next vacation or staycation — and all seven Aussie hotels obviously took the top seven berths in the Australia-only top 25 as well. That lengthier list spans everywhere from Sovereign Park Motor Inn in Ballarat and MACq 01 Hotel in Hobart to Laneways by Ovolo in Melbourne and the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. [caption id="attachment_901976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rambagh Palace[/caption] Sadly, there was no Aussie showing in Tripadvisor's top ten hotels in the world, with the number-one spot going to Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, India. As all these kinds of rankings offer, the rest of the placeholders comprise an impressive travel bucket list, pinballing from Ozen Reserve Bolifushi on Bolifushi Island in the Maldives to the Shangri-La The Shard in London, plus Ikos Dassia in Greece, Padma Resort Ubud in Puhu in Indonesia and more. In various subcategories, other hotels given some love include Dromoland Castle Hotel in Ireland, a 16th-century castle that's been named the best hotel for sleep; The Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, aka the newly dubbed best hotel with a spa; and the yurts of Patagonia Camp in Chile, which were anointed the best out-of-the-ordinary hotel. Or, there's The Toulson Court in England as the best B&B or inn — a field that Yarra Gables in Victoria came in third in worldwide — and White House Hotel in Istanbul as the best small hotel. [caption id="attachment_901973" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ozen Reserve Bolifushi[/caption] TOP TEN HOTELS IN THE WORLD 2023: 1. Rambagh Palace — Jaipur, India 2. Ozen Reserve Bolifushi — Bolifushi Island, Maldives 3. Hotel Colline de France — Gramado, Brazil 4. Shangri-La The Shard, London — London, United Kingdom 5. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong — Hong Kong, China 6. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai — Dubai, United Arab Emirates 7. Romance Istanbul Hotel — Istanbul, Türkiye 8. Ikos Dassia — Dassia, Greece 9. Ikos Andalusia — Estepona, Spain 10. Padma Resort Ubud — Puhu, Indonesia [caption id="attachment_901978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tokoriki Island Resort[/caption] TOP TEN HOTELS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 2023: 1. Pinetrees Lodge — Lord Howe Island, Australia 2. The Reef House Adults Boutique Tropical Escapes — Palm Cove, Australia 3. Tokoriki Island Resort — Tokoriki Island, Fiji 4. The Remington Muswellbrook — Muswellbrook, Australia 5. RACV Torquay Resort — Torquay, Australia 6. Kingsford Smith Motel — Brisbane, Australia 7. Element on Coolum Beach — Coolum Beach, Australia 8. Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort — Sigatoka, Fiji 9. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort — Bora Bora, French Polynesia 10. Little National Hotel Sydney — Sydney, Australia [caption id="attachment_901977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Reef House Adults Boutique Tropical Escapes[/caption] TOP 25 HOTELS IN AUSTRALIA 2023: 1. Pinetrees Lodge — Lord Howe Island, NSW 2. The Reef House Adults Boutique Tropical Escapes — Palm Cove, Qld 3. The Remington Muswellbrook — Muswellbrook, NSW 4. RACV Torquay Resort — Torquay, Vic 5. Kingsford Smith Motel — Brisbane, Qld 6. Element on Coolum Beach — Coolum Beach, Qld 7. Little National Hotel Sydney — Sydney, NSW 8. Zagame's House — Melbourne, Vic 9. Sovereign Park Motor Inn — Ballarat, Vic 10. Mansi on Raymond — Sale, Vic 11. Quest South Perth Foreshore — South Perth, WA 12. Quest Orange — Orange, NSW 13. Emporium Hotel South Bank — Brisbane, Qld 14. MACq 01 Hotel —Hobart, Tas 15. Julie-Anna Inn — Bendigo, Vic 16. Majestic M Suites — Adelaide, SA 17. Alcyone Hotel Residences — Brisbane, Qld 18. Laneways by Ovolo — Melbourne, Vic 19. Quest Echuca — Echuca, Vic 20. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat — Tallebudgera, Qld 21. Quest Warrnambool — Warrnambool, Vic 22. Korte's Resort — Rockhampton, Qld 23. Novotel Brisbane South Bank — Brisbane, Qld 24. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney — Sydney, NSW 25. Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury — Adelaide, SA For more information about Tripadvisor's 2023 Travellers' Choice Awards, head to the service's website. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you take your Easter chocolate seriously, why not seek out the best of the best? Dear Florence — the French patisserie housed in Sydney's Japanese-inspired hospitality precinct Prefecture 48 — has unveiled its first-ever treat for the holiday season. Inspired by the classic Cadbury Creme Egg, The Easter Cake Egg gives a monumental glow up to the supermarket fave. Just how much of a glow up are we talking about? In the Dear Florence reimagining, creamy coconut mousse stands in for the egg white, passionfruit curd is used for the yolk and coconut dacquoise brings that essential spongy texture that makes the Cadbury OG so moreish. The egg is then covered in a corn flake-inspired coating before a two-tone chocolate spray delivers a rousing finish. Responsible for this fascinating creation is executive pastry chef Aoife Noonan. Hailing from Dublin, Noonan worked at some of the best restaurants in Ireland before a four-year stint as head pastry chef at her home city's celebrated fine-diner Patrick Guilbaud, a two Michelin-starred restaurant since 1996 that helped put Ireland on the map as a culinary destination. She further bolstered her credentials as head pastry chef at legendary Sydney restaurant Aria, and this fine-dining precision and technical nous are on full display with her latest creation. This limited-time creation undoubtedly befits Dear Florence's reputation for haute dessert. The Japanese-inspired flavours of The Easter Cake Egg combine with a healthy dose of nostalgia to ensure each bite transports you back to your childhood munching on Cadbury's creations. Yet this inspired reimagining is a far more mature affair — developed for an adult palette, it features carefully shaped layers that reveal an exciting surprise, as refined textures and flavours contrast and complement each other with impressive results. This thoughtful concept reflects how things are done at Dear Florence, an intentionally high-end patisserie committed to crafting desserts that evoke emotions, celebrate traditions and tell stories. Not all stories are forever, though — The Easter Cake Egg is only available until Saturday, April 19. Opened in 2024, Dear Florence has rapidly emerged as one of Sydney's must-try patisseries. Gracing the front of Prefecture 48's historic Sussex Street home, the storefront looks more like a jewellery store than somewhere to stock up on cakes and tarts. However, one glimpse of Noonan's inventions gives you the impression that these immaculately presented desserts could just as well be precious stones — and her latest creation is no exception. Dear Florence is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10am–3pm at Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex St, Sydney. Head to the venue's website for more information.
Newtown is home to plenty of institutions, be it the Dendy Cinema, Marly Bar or Dean's Diner, and up there with the best is Thai Pothong — a destination restaurant that's been drawing in couples on dates, groups of mates sharing a banquet and boisterous twenty-firsts and fortieths for over two decades. Heaps of Thai restaurants line Newtown's streets, but Thai Pothong rises above them all. The expansive dining room offers authentic Thai food in an ever-bustling atmosphere and the service is top notch. It's almost fine dining but it's casual and cool enough to skip that moniker. Instead it's a force of nature in the busy Newtown food scene and one not to be missed. This King Street stalwart serves up all of the usual curries, stir fries and noodle dishes alongside heaps of chef's specialities, like barramundi curry, banana blossom salad and fried rice with crab meat. Popular dishes include the steamed chilli scallops with ginger in spicy sauce, and the BBQ baby octopus which is perfectly charred and tender. For vegetarians there is the papaya salad which offers a light start of fresh papaya and carrot with tomatoes, lemon juice and peanuts, while a more filling offering is the crispy salt and pepper tofu with chilli, garlic and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. Thai Pothong Restaurant also offers several banquet menus, and puts on regular monthly special, too. The drink list is extensive and includes classic Thai beers, while downstair is a "secret" bar to enjoy a cocktail before or after your meal. Come here fThai Pothong Restaurant or a celebration or sit by the window with your partner and watch the parade of King Street pass on by. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Worimi National Park is one of the biggest drawcards to the Port Stephens region, particularly for thrillseekers. Most of the credit is given to Stockton Beach, and deservedly so. It's the longest beach in New South Wales at 32 kilometres, and the enormous mobile sand dunes are primed for quad biking and sandboarding adventures. But the journey to get there is well worth some attention, too. Worimi Forest Walk begins at the car park on the Fern Bay Access Trail. From here, it's an easy 1.4-kilometre stroll (one way) through the Worimi Conservation Lands — a forest of native greenery, including coastal sand apple blackbutt trees, swamp mahogany paperbark trees and old man banksias. Eventually, you'll pop out at the southern end of Stockton Beach, an area rich with Aboriginal history, including campsites and burial sites. Image: Destination NSW
Victoria has no shortage of standout destinations to explore throughout the year — natural, beautiful and sometimes downright surprising. The state is one of Australia's smallest, yet it boasts a diverse array of stunning landscapes, from tumbling waterfalls in the middle of dense forest to ancient volcanic craters teeming with wildlife. Here, we've rounded up eight unexpected natural sights just waiting to be explored. Start plotting some epic adventures around this lineup of must-see Victorian landmarks. Recommended reads: The Best Natural Hot Springs in Victoria The Best Walks in and Around Melbourne The Best Beaches in Melbourne The Best Places to Go Glamping in Victoria [caption id="attachment_785503" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Darren Seiler for Visit Victoria[/caption] Pink Lakes, Murray-Sunset National Park As far as bodies of water go, these ones are what you'd call true show-stoppers. Up in the wilds of northwestern Victoria, the Murray-Sunset National Park is best known for its four eye-catching Pink Lakes, which feature solid salt beds and a vibrant blush tinge thanks to the red algae growing in their waters. With the lakes shifting in colour throughout the day, the vast, flat territory makes for some pretty magical photo ops, especially during sunset and at dusk. You can soak up the untouched surrounds while trekking one of the area's many walking trails, and you can even spend a night onsite at the campgrounds, taking advantage of the open starry skies and lake views. [caption id="attachment_785511" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn for Visit Victoria[/caption] The Pinnacle Lookout, Halls Gap Rising up above Halls Gap, The Pinnacle Lookout is The Grampians' crowning glory, in more ways than one. It clocks in at an impressive 720 metres above sea level and boasts some unimaginably good panoramic views to match. The spectacular summit is accessed by a bunch of different hiking trails (starting from a medium-grade 45-minute trek), which'll take you winding through a rugged region of leafy bushland and rocky outcrops. Make your way up to the top and take in those dramatic vistas over the National Park's peaks and valleys. You'll feel like you're standing atop Victoria's own version of the Grand Canyon. [caption id="attachment_785496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Garry Moore for Visit Victoria[/caption] Buchan Caves, Buchan Some of you might find it hard to get excited about a cave. But this huge subterranean network, filled with majestic limestone formations, really is some exceptional stuff. Carved out by underground rivers almost 400 million years ago, Gippsland's Buchan Caves are the largest of their kind in Victoria, and are also a site of huge Aboriginal cultural significance. You can take guided tours of the two main lit sections, known as Royal Cave and Fairy Cave, winding your way amongst the stalactites, stalagmites and calcite-rimmed pools. What's more, the adjoining Buchan Caves Reserve boasts loads of native wildlife, bushland walks and idyllic picnic spots. You can even make a mini-getaway of it and spend the night at one of the campsites. It's one of our favourite Victorian caves to explore. [caption id="attachment_845835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Great Ocean Road Tourism[/caption] Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Tower Hill If you ever want to see what life is like within a dormant volcano, simply venture a few hours west to the site of Tower Hill, near Port Fairy. Here, a 30,000-year-old volcanic crater houses the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, featuring a striking backdrop of cone-shaped hills, wetlands and lakes. And as well as boasting gorgeous scenery and bushwalks aplenty, this one's steeped in history. A significant Indigenous landmark and Victoria's first national park, the site was driven to ruin by early settlers before volunteers restored it to the natural beauty it is today. The crater is also home to scores of native wildlife species — keep an eye out for the likes of koalas, kangaroos and spoonbills kicking around in this unique habitat. [caption id="attachment_785501" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Watson for Visit Victoria[/caption] Californian Redwood Forest, Beech Forest Take a trip out to the Otways' famed Californian Redwood Forest and you'll find yourself quickly enveloped in an otherworldly haven of peace and tranquillity. Created over 85 years ago, this plantation of towering Californian redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) makes for quite the nature spectacular, with its uniform rows of tree trunks, hushed forest floor and shards of sunlight filtering through the upper branches. Nothing offers a change of perspective quite like taking in the full stature of these arboreal giants on a stroll through the 1400-strong forest. Some of the redwoods reach a whopping 55 metres tall. Enjoy a picnic lunch, hug a few trees and revel in a much-welcomed dose of Mother Nature. [caption id="attachment_785504" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pennicott Wilderness Journeys[/caption] Skull Rock, Tidal River Victoria lays claim to plenty of famous rock formations, but this skull-shaped number emerging from the waters off Wilsons Prom might just be the coolest. Cleft Island — also known as Skull Rock for obvious reasons — is a giant granite formation near the very southern tip of the state. It's been gradually shaped and smoothed by waves over centuries, and features a giant grassy cave hollowing out one side. For a close-up view, you can (normally) jump on a 2.5-hour cruise, departing daily from Tidal River. And if you're visiting during migration season, you could even spy a few of the area's less eerie residents, including sea birds, dolphins and fur seals. [caption id="attachment_785502" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn for Visit Victoria[/caption] Trentham Falls, Trentham As one of the state's longest single-drop waterfalls, Trentham Falls is always a majestic sight to feast your eyes on. And, at a soaring height of 32 metres, we reckon the falls certainly get the tick of approval from TLC. Located within the lush forest of Coliban River Scenic Reserve — about 90 minutes northwest of Melbourne — this impressive water feature looms large against ancient basalt rock, with the whole scene framed by leafy native vegetation. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to get too close, but you'll find the best vantage point from atop the dedicated viewing area, just a short trek from the car park. Take a moment to admire the dancing water, surrounded by shady manna gum and messmate trees, and we promise you'll feel worlds away from the big smoke. [caption id="attachment_785540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gillian via Flickr[/caption] The Organ Pipes, Keilor North It's not too hard to see where this unique rock formation gets its name from, with its row of towering cylindrical columns that look like they could just about start pumping out tunes. Gracing the side of a big basalt cliff, the distinctive design was naturally created back in ancient times by cooling lava. Now, it serves as a constant reminder that this region is on the edge of one of the world's largest ancient volcanic lava flows. You'll find the geological gem located within the Organ Pipes National Park, just 30 minutes out of the CBD. While you're there, be sure to catch some of the park's other quirky resident rock formations, including the mosaic-like Tessellated Pavement and another that looks like the spokes of a giant wheel. Top Image: Californian Redwood Forest, Beech Forest.
This aptly-named small bar is brimming with more than its fair share of goodness. It's not just one busy room, but is cleverly composed of an assortment of nooks. A private table at the front, stools along the wall, hidden under the stairs, the upstairs 'lounge' room or in the upstairs courtyard: take your pick. The cocktails (all $16) have continued to be the main draw card here since opening back in 2011. For a refreshing drop, go for the Funky Cold Medina (white rum, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, mint and lime juice). Or, if you're looking for something with a kick, it has to be the Mezcal and Smoked Maple Old Fashioned (tequila, LP's smoked maple, mezcal, bitters and dried chilli). The best part is you can get any on the list for a tenner during happy hour Monday through Thursday 5–7pm. And this is a happy hour we frequent. For the peckish, the share food menu has plenty on offer, including crispy polenta bites ($12) and a dip platter ($14) for smalls, plus pizzas ($10) and burgers ($12) for the hangry — with both veg and meat options. If you're the indecisive sort, the Corridor board ($22) comes with a little bit of everything, including arancini, Mediterranean meatballs, grilled halloumi and garlic bread. Order at the bar and grab a much coveted rooftop spot before the tables fills up. If you're too slow, we're pretty sure you'll decide to get stuck in downstairs anyway. Corridor is too good to miss out on. Images: Trent van der Jagt
Fancy reliving your childhood film favourites on the stage? That seems to be the current trend. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is doing big business in Melbourne, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical has been taking its golden tickets around the country, and now Shrek the Musical is bringing its all-singing, all-dancing version of the animated movie franchise to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Expect plenty of green when this Tony and Grammy award-nominated stage show finally makes its way to our shores, after first premiering on Broadway back in 2008. Since then, everyone's favourite ogre has sung his way through theatres in the UK, Asia Europe, Canada, Latin and South America, Israel and Scandinavia. Although exact dates haven't been revealed, the character originally voiced by Mike Myers will bound across the Sydney Lyric Theatre at The Star from early January 2020, then hit up Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane. You know the story, of course — unless you somehow managed to miss the original 2001 Oscar-winning film, its sequels in 2004, 2007 and 2010, and the heap of spin-offs, shorts, TV specials and series that all followed. Based on the 1990 picture book Shrek!, the tale follows the reclusive but kindly titular figure who endeavours to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona from the the fairy tale-hating Lord Farquaad, all while trekking along with a talking Donkey sidekick. Australian cast details haven't been revealed, but Shrek lovers can expect a whopping 19 songs, an obvious colour scheme and plenty of other fairy tale references. Check out the trailer for the production's UK run below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2VQ2pfXbyI Shrek the Musical will tour Australia from 2020, starting with a Sydney season at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star from January. Complete dates — including for the show's seasons at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane — are yet to be announced. Sydney tickets go on sale on Friday, July 5, with pre-sales from Monday, July 1. Head to ShrekTheMusical.com.au to join the waitlist, and for further details. Image: Helen Maybanks.
Formula 1 weekend in Melbourne has long blurred the lines between sport, fashion and spectacle — and in 2026, beauty is firmly back in the race. MECCA is returning trackside at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix with a full-scale Beauty Pit Stop — a pop-up beauty garage inspired by the lightning-fast pit stops that keep cars race-ready. [caption id="attachment_1072206" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 2025's MECCA MAX Beauty Pit Stop Activation.[/caption] Set up in the Melbourne Junction precinct at Albert Park and open to fans of all ticket types, the activation reimagines the mechanics of race day for humans instead of cars. Think less tyre changes, more touch-ups: race-goers can drop in between sessions for complimentary express eye services designed for speed, impact and endurance — the kind of glam that can survive sun, crowds and 58 laps of racing. The Pit Stop format is deliberately fast-paced. Rather than lingering makeovers, it's about quick turnarounds and high-performance results — a concept that mirrors the rhythm of the race itself. Alongside the express services, a curated edit of MECCA MAX products will be available to shop trackside, including a limited-edition Formula 1-inspired eye set created exclusively for the 2026 Grand Prix. This marks the third consecutive year MECCA has gone trackside at the Australian Grand Prix, but the scale and ambition of the Beauty Pit Stop has grown with each return. Last year's activation proved a crowd favourite, offering shaded reset zones, complimentary touch-ups and bold, race-ready colour — and this year's iteration leans even harder into the idea of beauty as part of the event experience, not just an afterthought. With Melbourne's Grand Prix consistently attracting one of the highest proportions of female fans on the global Formula 1 calendar, the Pit Stop also reflects a broader shift in how major sporting events are being designed — not just for spectatorship, but for participation, self-expression and culture beyond the track. The MECCA MAX Beauty Pit Stop will run throughout the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix, from March 5–8, 2026. Consider it your quickest stop of the weekend — no booking required. Images: MECCA | Groblox
They say change is as good as a holiday, and at Church Point, we argue that brunch is as good as a holiday. This family-run general store on stilts may be in the far reaches of Pittwater. Kick back on the breezy deck and watch tug boats and tinnies drift through the water before you; stake out the gum tree-covered land across the estuary you plan to purchase when your side hustle goes global. The deconstructed breakfast tacos and French toast with ricotta and honeycomb are also very viable reasons to visit.
Tucked away on the first floor of the recognisable Salesforce building is Bourke & Ward, an elegant all-day eatery dedicated to Southern Italian cuisine with modern flair. This triple-threat venue operates as a cafe for that early morning rush, a buzzy lunch spot come the afternoon and a moody restaurant after dark. So whether you're in for an intimate date night or swinging by for a hearty lunch, Bourke & Ward has got you covered. Peruse the menu and you'll be met with a wide array of top-quality dishes. For breakfast, take your pick from cafe classics like a hefty B&E with sauce of your choosing, an avocado stack elevated with a diced lemon confit, chilli scrambled eggs with three kinds of spice and fried Tuscan kale and an Italian take on Turkish poached eggs that features whipped ricotta, sauteéd spinach and mushrooms with a burnt butter and tomato vierge. Post-breakfast, you can opt for antipasti like the pillowy focaccia and the crispy polenta paired with calabrese sugo and stracciatella. Then, make your way to the heartier selection — it's recommended that you try a pasta and a pizza, if you've got room for both. Standouts from the pasta selection include a lasagne that would make even the fiercest of nonnas proud, squid ink linguine with garlic-coated prawns and pesto casarecce with Calabrian chilli, sundried tomato, stracciatella and smoked almond. The showstopper, though, is the traditional pinsa. What sets this pizza apart from its fellow dough-centred siblings is its crust, which consists of a six-protein dough that is proofed for 72 hours before it's turned into a lighter and crisper alternative to the familiar slices we know and love. Here, you can choose between five styles of pinsa romana, from a tomato-base Siciliana with eggplant or a four-cheese pie, to prawn-starring gamberi drizzled with nduja oil or the ham-, mushroom- and olive-topped cotto. You'll want to finish your night with a sweet treat if you've still got room, whether it be the indulgent matcha tiramisu, the Nutella pizza or the fruity apple and peach crumble with ice cream. Plus, you can pair each dish with a glass of top-notch vino from the international wine list — there's a decent selection available by the glass — or one of the restaurant's plethora of fun cocktails. From a sour mango marg and stiff blood orange negroni to a selection of seven spritzes, you'll be spoilt for choice.
Dread it, run from it, actively expect it or celebrate its arrival — Spotify Wrapped arrives all the same. It's the biggest day of the year for admitting to music tastes, when we crack open the statistics and see what we've been listening to by the numbers. Here's hoping we've moved on from the pink pilates princess era. For Wrapped Day 2025, Spotify is taking the fun out of your Instagram stories with a series of IRL activations. Celebrating some of the biggest bands in the game, Spotify is taking over four locations in Sydney today with events themed around specific artists, designed for their fans. First up is something anyone in the Eastern Suburbs or CBD won't miss. Australian listeners love their dance music — streams of dance songs went up by 409 million in Australia — so Sydneysiders best keep their eyes on the skies for CYRIL and the Spotify helicopter flying around from 6am to 9.30am. Next is for all the 5SOS fans. At World Square from 12–6pm, you'll find the 5SOS (Everyone's A) Star Walk, where you can add your handprints to the band's own in the 5SOS Walk of Fame. If 5SOS is in your top artists for Wrapped, you'll be able to walk away with a gift bag signed by the band, or you can snap a picture of the Walk of Fame to get it printed on a limited edition keyring. Once the Wrapped Day dust has settled on Saturday, December 6, in the Pitt Street Mall, you can flex your hours spent listening to any artist by showing your results to the staff at a Spotify pop-up. They'll then reward you with one of six unique keyrings with your hours engraved on it. That's one way to remember 2025. Over in Manly, Spotify is shining the light on the storied history of artists to come out of Sydney's Northern Beaches with a giant sand billboard dedicated to one of the latest stars of the area — Don West. West is one of Spotify's biggest rising artists of the year, whose music saw a 344% jump in listens throughout 2025. The billboard will be there from today through to Saturday, December 6. For more information on Spotify Wrapped, visit the website or app.
Popular Redfern eatery and sandwich palace Scout's Honour has welcomed a new addition into the family. Meet Morris. He's entered the world on the corner of Albion Avenue and Selwyn Street in Paddington — and he promises to be just as popular as his chicken 'n' chip sanga-lovin' big brother. Morris's menu is a sandwich lover's dream and, similar to Scout's Honour, focuses on good, clean basics and wholesome ingredients. You'll find a combo of sandwiches, salads and bowls, all full to the brim with ingredients your nutritionist would approve of (think fresh veggies, seeds, nuts and lean meats). The spicy fish tacos with shredded cabbage, corn and cucumber salsa, avocado, toasted pepitas, harissa sauce and fresh lime ($16) are a clear standout. The comprehensive sides and additions menu means you can freshen up your toast or tailor your meal to your taste. Although you may find yourself stuck on the sides, with options like with an avocado, coriander and walnut salsa with sesame and lemon ($6), labneh and hazelnut dukkah ($5) and bacon and house pickles ($6). Wash it down all with a freshly squeezed juice, chai or smoothie. For the winter months, we've got out eye firmly trained on the mug of hot Milo with textured milk ($4). The cute new eatery is a summer-time haven with shady outdoor eating and large street front windows to complement the fresh menu. They've taken a few cues from Scout's Honour and kept the interior design and colour palette warm and simple, with yellow and cream finishes throughout and a rough concrete finish on the exterior. Morris has all the qualities we've come to love about Scout's Honour, while still managing to be his own person (er, cafe).
When you've been sipping on blue milk, how ready will you be to battle the Galactic Empire? Will tucking into green burgers and dessert space stations get you fuelled to rebel against oppression? There's only one way to find out the answers to these questions: by visiting the brand-new Star Wars Galactic Cafe, an Australian-first eatery that's now open at Melbourne Museum. After the Victorian venue became the top spot right now, in this very galaxy, to see Star Wars come to life via Lego courtesy of the world-premiering Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition — and the only place to check out life-sized recreations of the space saga's locations, characters, duels and moments as made out of eight-million-plus plastic bricks, in fact — the same site has welcomed another Aussie debut. As first announced back in May, never before has an official Star Wars cafe popped up Down Under. This one is only here for a limited season. Yes, blue milk is definitely on offer, because it wouldn't be a Star Wars-themed spot for a snack and a sip without it. You can enjoy it chilled or as part of a slushie. And the source of that all-important hue? Butterfly pea flower powder. The cafe's full food and drink range features other dishes and selections inspired by the franchise — and while there's no green milk or fish eggs, green-hued burgs and a Death Star by chocolate sweet treat are ready to tempt your tastebuds. Fittingly, the bites and drinks have names like Canto Bight Burger, Naboo Garden Vermicelli, Outer Rim Chicken Katsu and Tatooine Sunset. Also on offer: a Chewie gingerbread cookie that adorably resembles its namesake. A range of kids meal packs are available, too, with monikers such as Endo Explorer (featuring chicken nuggets) and Padawan Power (with a hummus and salad sandwich). Open since Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Star Wars Galactic Cafe is the result of Australian-first collaboration between Museums Victoria, Disney and Lucasfilm. The decor matches the menu, with the pop-up delivering an immersive eating and drinking experience beyond what you're consuming by taking you to a Corellian Star Cruiser to get feasting. If this sounds like the kind of spot that'll be popular, that's because it already is — so bookings are encouraged, with walk-in availability limited. As for the Aussie-exclusive exhibition that goes with it and opened back in May, it's the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled and the biggest touring Lego showcase ever. The Millennium Falcon, Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards, a stormtrooper helmet, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader facing off, and the Mandalorian and Moff Gideon: they're all featured in Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition, which hails from Ryan McNaught aka Brickman. Find the Star Wars Galactic Cafe at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, operating from 10.30am–3.30pm daily for a limited season. Head to the museum's website for bookings and more details. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition runs until Monday, January 26, 2026 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the exhibition's website for tickets and more details. Images: Carmen Zammit, courtesy of Museums Victoria.
Anyone can pour orange juice and vodka into a glass and call it a screwdriver. But if you're after a cocktail more sophisticated and complicated than that, that's where top-notch bartenders come in. They're the folks who mix up drinks that you definitely don't feel like you can make at home — or know you have (again, see that OJ and vodka combo) — and they're as crucial a part of hitting a bar as the menu, vibe and company. Australia isn't short on fine folks whipping up brilliant beverages; however, if you're after the best of the best, there's now a rundown naming the country's top 100 bartenders. Consider it your next excuse to work through a boozy list, if you already started 2022 sipping the 100 best brews. Created by global bartending competition Diageo World Class, the Top 100 Australian Bartenders for 2022 list spans every state and territory — with New South Wales particularly well-represented, and Victoria and Queensland as well. Here's another way to think of it: you now have a list of bartenders to seek out on your next few holidays. [caption id="attachment_714471" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cantina OK![/caption] Standouts include folks from Sydney favourites such as Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK!, Melbourne's Nick and Nora's and Black Pearl, and Brisbane's The Gresham and Agnes. This is just part one of the contest, though. From here, these 100 bartenders will compete by mixing up impressive, boundary-pushing tipples at their venues, which'll be available for patrons to sip from Monday, May 30–Monday, June 13. Then, a top five will be announced — also on Monday, June 13 — before finals in July. The winner will be deemed the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2022, and fly the flag for Aussies at the comp's global final, which is happening here for the first time, in Sydney, between Monday, September 12–Friday, September 16. [caption id="attachment_795641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gresham, Millie Tang[/caption] Whoever emerges victorious will take over the title from Evan Stroeve from Sydney's no-waste bar Re, 2021's winner. Here's 2022's full top 100 rundown: DIEGO WORLD CLASS TOP 100 AUSTRALIAN BARTENDERS FOR 2022: NEW SOUTH WALES: Alex Gondzioulis, The Rover Behzad Vaziri, The Star Elisa Rodgrigues, Paloma Wine Bar Hunter Gregory, Maybe Sammy Matthew Dale, Re Ryan Bickley, Cantina OK Siôn Roberts, Re Storm Evans, Cantina OK Sanghyun Park, Will's Wen Wang, Maybe Sammy Albert Rust, Eileen's Bar - Four Pillars Andrew McCorquodale, Charlie Parker's Beaux Donelan, Charlie Parker's Ashley Miller, Blue Kahunas Ben Hardy, Bar Planet Brianna Aboud, Ramblin' Rascal Tavern Chloe Natterer, The Lobo Claudio Bedini, Sammy Junior Daniel Hilton, The Lobo Eduardo Conde, NO 92 GPR Dominic Causley-Todd, Dead Ringer Emma Bernardi, Bar Planet Eoin Kenny, Long Chim Hamish Mitchell, Charlie Parker's Harrison Kenney, Bar Planet Helen Yu, The Lobo James Russell, Apollonia Jenna Hemsworth, The Gidley Koby Harris, Dean and Nancy on 22 Krisztian Csigo, Dean and Nancy on 22 Sara Rinaldo, Dean and Nancy on 22 Sarah Proietti, Maybe Sammy Judith Zhu, KittyHawk Kalisha Glover, Apollonia Kat Scibiorski, Long Chim Kate Gale-Re, The Gidley Michal Wowak, The Gidley Kiaran Bryant, Earl's Juke Joint Liam Gavin, Door Knock Marco Rosati, Grain Bar Samuel McWilliams, The Lobo Thomas Opie, Births and Deaths VICTORIA: Aiden Rodriquez, EDV Melbourne Alejandro Archibald, NOMAD Melbourne Kane Smith, Nick and Nora's Melbourne Darren Leaney, Aru Cameron Parish, Gimlet Elisabetta Luppi, LUI Bar Francesca Camilli, Beneath Driver's Lane James Armstrong, The Cloakroom Bar Josephe Kourmouzis, Above Board Julien Wurtlin, LUI Bar Kayla Saito, Black Pearl Nicola Dean, Black Pearl Max Allison, Good Measure Miriam Wahlhütter, LOVER Nick Tesar, Bar Liberty Olivia Devlin, Capitano Tioni Naslund, LUI Bar Taylor Matthews, Frederic Tom McHugh, Hazel Restaurant QUEENSLAND: Dino Francia, Rosella's Bar Jack Connor, Rosella's Bar Aidan Perkins, Agnes Restaurant Daniella Darakis, The Gresham Edward Quartermass, Maker Ellery Low, Maker Jamie Fleming, Alba Bar & Deli Jenny Wang, Sono Japanese Restaurant Joe Steadman, Alba Bar & Deli Kate Bartlett, Cobbler Bar Liam Murphy, Frogs Hollow Saloon Liam Shepherd, Bar Brutus Martin McConnell, Frogs Hollow Saloon Peter Hollands, Frogs Hollow Saloon WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Dyllan Balm, Foxtrot Unicorn Max Guidice, Republic of Fremantle Nicola Herbert, Foxtrot Unicorn Shirley Yeung, Foxtrot Unicorn Samuel Cocks, Bar Rogue SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Al Simmons, Maybe Mae Alfonso Lizana, Maybe Mae Anabel Rowe, Long Story Short Georgia Edmonds, Maybe Mae Grace Rawlins, Memphis Slim's House of Blues Jack Somers, Memphis Slim's House of Blues Talis Heggart, Memphis Slim's House of Blues Michael Keogh, Memphis Slim's House of Blues Lachlan Gunner, Long Story Short Oscar Butler, Maybe Mae TASMANIA: Rachel Mynczywor, Rude Boy Rohan Massie, Rude Boy Hobart Jack Turner, Void Bar at Mona Mateo Ortiz, The Den Salamanca NORTHERN TERRITORY: Anneliese Grazioli, Hanky Panky Lounge Katerina Kosta, Hanky Panky Lounge Matt Zarimis, Smoke and Oak Darwin ACT: Cameron Abercrombie, Zaab Street Food Jack Sandeman, Zaab Street Food Liv Kelly, Bar Rochford For more information about Diego World Class, head to the competition's website. Top image: Maybe Sammy, Paolo Maffietti.
Total lunar eclipses occur regularly, if a little infrequently, but the next total lunar eclipse is set to be something special. The blood moon eclipse, when the moon turns a deep red before disappearing completely in the shadow of our own planet. Set to occur on Tuesday, March 3, this will be the final total lunar eclipse until December 2028 — so Sydney Observatory is going all out to help you see it. For the momentous lunar occasion, Sydney Observatory is teaming up with Nagoya City Science Museum in Japan, simultaneously observing the event from two continents and connecting the two via livestream for audiences in both nations. While you can see the eclipse from anywhere — weather permitting — you may as well see it from Sydney's highest natural point for the full effect, right? Explaining the science behind the phenomena, Dr Andrew Jacob, Astronomer and Curator at Sydney Observatory, said, "From any one location on Earth, you will see a Total Lunar Eclipse about once every 2.5 years, if the weather allows. Everyone on the night side of the Earth can see this eclipse when it happens. When the Moon is in the darkest part of Earth's shadow only red light reaches it, which will cause it to change colour." With the grounds open from 8–11.30pm for ticketholders — you'll also have the added benefits of viewing it through telescopes alongside members of the Sydney Skywatchers Society, the broadcast view from Nagoya and the professional astronomers guiding you through with all the astronomical knowledge you'll ever need. While you're there, you have reign of the grounds, and your free ticket will also grant you access to Sydney Observatory's exhibitions, including a celestial photography worthy of the stars in Southern Sky Observatory and an exploration of the history of First Nations astronomy in I Put The Stars on The Ground. If you can't make it on the night, the eclipse is scheduled to peak at 10.33pm, and you can watch the livestream on YouTube. The Blood Moon Eclipse is taking place from 8–11.30pm on Tuesday, March 3 at Sydney Observatory. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website. Images: Jay Evans/supplied
Creativity lives, which is a truth front and centre at HIDDEN, the annual sculpture exhibit taking over the sprawling grounds of Rookwood Cemetery. This year, you're in for an artistic display of 53 works spanning performance pieces, video installations and, of course, sculptures. Artists' explorations of history, creative forms, their own personal narratives and cultural traditions will form an openair two-kilometre walk among the gardens and graves. This year, there's a strong lineup of tours to choose from. A self-guided audio tour to keep it classic; or maybe a curator tour at dusk to dig a little deeper into the works as the sun sets. There are d/Deaf-led tours, artist talks and photography meet-ups, too. The free-to-visit exhibition is on from Saturday, September 10 till Sunday, October 9. It's recommended you start your wander at the Rookwood General Cemetery Office — on Hawthorne Avenue — so you can grab your map before trekking out. Ready to explore the historic grounds while you get your culture fix? Head to the website for more information.
There's no time like the present to explore your own backyard, and if you're feeling like getting off the mainland Tasmania's mountain ranges, white sand beaches, lush wineries and fresh farmer's markets are all ripe for exploring. We've done the hard work for you and pulled together 20 of the most stunning stays scattered around the island. Find your ideal getaway nestled among the trees or backing onto a beach, pack the car and head down for a blissful retreat from your day-to-day routine. Recommended reads: Seven Unexpected Things You Can Do and See in Tasmania Your Essential Guide to Hobart The Best Places to Go Glamping in Australia Blackwood Park Cottage, Mole Creek This beautifully restored 1800s farm cottage provides cosy comfort among the Tasmanian mountain ranges. Relax in a super-scenic countryside setting and stare out at the rolling hills — including while enjoying your complimentary breakfast. From $170 a night, sleeps two. The Ocean Retreat, Falmouth Travelling in a bigger group? Don't shy away from a hefty price tag? This four-bedroom oceanfront retreat is fitted with a heated pool, an outdoor fire pit and floor-to-ceiling windows providing stunning uninterrupted ocean views. If you're lucky, you may even catch sight of a whale or dolphin from your living room. From $850 a night, sleeps eight. Aplite House, Friendly Beaches Run on solar energy and built from Tasmanian materials, Aplite House is an eco-friendly stay on the far east coast of Tasmania, just north of Swansea. Decorated with pieces from local artists and sitting on a 200-acre property within the Freycinet National Park, this is a uniquely Tasmanian stay. From $663 a night, sleeps six. Evandale Cottage, Evandale This recently renovated cottage is full of homely charm. It sits 20 minutes from Launceston, so holidaymakers can bask in the rural country feel of the town while still being a stone's throw from one of Tassie's most exciting cities. From $150 a night, sleeps four. Cressy House Estate, Longford Dating back to the 1800s, this history-rich estate is situated within the town of Longford. Find yourself among farm animals, far-reaching greenery and uninterrupted views of the Great Western Tiers. Make sure to pack your racquets as the estate comes equipped with a tennis court. From $310 a night, sleeps four. Captain's Rest, Strahan Sip coffee or mulled wine on the pier at this ultra-quaint waterfront property. Its remote location and minimalist aesthetic pairs well with the misty Tasmania atmosphere — and makes it perfect for a secluded getaway. From $575 a night, sleeps two. The Stable Lofts, Launceston Find the best of everything Tassie has to offer at this Launceston lodge. You'll be surrounded by a lush garden, and also just a short drive from some of the island's best rivers and reserves while still central to the city. Picnic along the River Tamar, hit up the Queen Victoria Museum and relax beside the property's sequoias — all in one day. From $293 a night, sleeps two. The Trig Studio, Lilydale This one-bedroom eco-friendly lodge on the slopes of Mount Arthur comes with everything you need to unwind and enjoy your holiday. It comes fit with an outdoor bathtub, organic breakfast items, Tassie wines, a wood fireplace, a library and a record player with records, so you may find yourself too comfortable to take on the scenic hikes and bushwalks surrounding the property. From $320 a night, sleeps two. Clock Cottage, New Town Inject some history into your trip to Hobart by staying in the former base of the Tasmanian Watch and Clock Company. This refurbished 1832 building sits across from a bakery, and is also a short distance from both MONA and the River Derwent. From $140 a night, sleeps two. Beehives on Denison, Douglas River This rustic cabin combines the best of the beach and the bush. Listen to the sound of the waves from the deck while surrounded by native Australian trees. From $180 a night, sleeps five. Coldwater Cabin, Miena You'll be hard-pressed to find a better-located stay in all of Australia than this cabin, which is hidden among the trees, looks out onto The Great Lake and is surrounded by superb wineries. Pack for the cold, though, as it's known to snow down here. From $283 a night, sleeps two. Black Wattle Coastal Retreat, Four Miles Creek This three-bedroom bushland property is an ideal stay for bigger groups looking to get away. It comes with stunning water views, a fire pit and an affordable price tag. From $460 a night, sleeps eight. Oceanfront Villa, Falmouth Situated just 50 metres from the ocean, this villa is perfect for a romantic couples retreat. Breathe in the sea air as you enjoy breakfast from the property's bench, then relax in the deep bathtub or take a leisurely stroll along the beach. From $313 a night, sleeps two. Whale Song Oceanfront Escape, Falmouth Originally built by a local fisherman in the 80s, this oceanfront house has been transformed into a comfort-first stay in Tasmania's northeast. It's all here: panoramic ocean views, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, an outdoor bathtub, and a range of beautiful local beaches and hikes. From $458 a night, sleeps four. Sea Stone, Swansea This newly built modern cottage provides panoramic views of Tasmania's east coast, as well as a perfect home base for exploring the beachfront or relaxing from the comfort of the private patio. From $825 a night, sleeps six. Candlebark Ridge, Saint Marys Craving a Tasmanian tiny home experience? Look no further than this off-grid, compact dwelling nestled on 18 acres of bushland. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Tasman Sea from the comfort of the luxurious king bed - uninterrupted by the bustle of civilisation. From $295 a night, sleeps two. At the Bay, Coles Bays At this sleek east Tassie stay, you can gaze upon the mountains surrounding Coles Bay from the comfort of your bed each morning — then hit the water via the local kayak hire. From $780 a night, sleeps four. Hazards Rim, Coles Bay Find this architectural beauty hidden amongst Freycinet National Park, just a short walk from Wineglass Bay. Escape the city to live among the trees with all the comforts of home. From $480 a night, sleeps four. Hobart Hideaway Pod, Kingston This environmentally friendly one-bedroom pod sits at the foothills of Mount Wellington, just 20 minutes drive from Hobart. Its simplicity — and its spot among nature — make it an ideal place to relax on a trip to the island's capital. From $198 a night, sleeps two. The Barn, Hobart This charming converted barn will find you smack-bang in the middle of the Hobart CBD, within walking distance from some of its best cafes, restaurants and bars. Here, you can experience the city without compromising the quaint cottage experience of the Tasmanian countryside. From $353 a night, sleeps two. All images courtesy of Airbnb. 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.
