The Hills' Wolfe & Co. took the sleepy semi-rural suburb of Dural by storm when it opened on Old Northern Road last year. Locals quickly got all over the daytime cafe — probably because they'd normally have to drive 30 minutes to find something similar — but they soon they started requesting a place to spend their nights. So earlier this year owners Che Vogel and Caroline Neill Ryan doubled down and bought another space across the road. And with the same swish attitude to food and design, they've opened the doors to their newest outfit: Cod's Gift. The restaurant specialises in seafood, with a focus on sustainable produce from the Hawkesbury River region, after the pair found that there were no seafood restaurants in The Hills. With contrasted, Nordic-style furniture in turquoise, granite, brass and steel blue — all designed by Neill Ryan — it's a huge difference from the drab strip mall in which the restaurant is located. The duo were aiming to create a beautiful-yet-casual space for all. Luxe, but approachable. David Koorey is executive chef for both Dural kitchens. His background is mainly UK restaurants and this influence can be seen in some of the menu's Japanese-fusion dishes. All are visually appealing, with sprinklings of microherbs and edible flowers (all greens are from a small, local grower within walking distance of the restaurant). There are three kinds of oysters (the Hawkesbury River's famous export) and fish dishes push the boundaries of normal ingredient combinations. The John Dory comes with carrots, cumin, smoked peas and liquorice, and then there's the snapper with sage crumb, preserved lemon butter, lilliput capers and shaved fennel. For vegetarians, the eggplant dish with chard, burrata, torn pasta, sugo and olive dust proves vegetarians are not an afterthought. Pair this with a cocktail or a wine from France, Italy or, much closer to home, the Hunter Valley. Cod's Gift is now open at shop 4–6, 3 Ward Place, Dural. For more info, visit codsgift.com.au.
Year on year, Sydney's weather is becoming more unpredictable. Cold snaps and untimely rain can decimate your outdoor workout plans just as often as heatwaves and unbearably humid evenings. But, fear not, because fitness never sleeps. From boxing to pole dancing, it may be chilly outside but the burn is real in here. We've got ten refreshing indoor workouts to get you up and moving even when it's gross outside. And, don't worry — they're are nothing like your average treadmill slog. SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY, ULTIMO If you've ever gone down a dance-related YouTube rabbit hole — for the uninitiated, begin your binge with videos of the renowned Royal Family Crew — it might be time to hit up a dance class and test out your moves away from the screen. Ultimo-based Sydney Dance Company is one of the heaviest hitters in this arena, offering drop-in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, JFH, lyrical and tap in spacious professional studios. Check the timetable to find out when classes are on for your particular level. The teachers are excellent and lay down straight-fire choreography to the latest Drake, Travis Scott, Ariana Grande and Cardi B on the regular. So, channel your inner-Beyonce and slay away. NOMAD BOULDERING GYM, CAMPERDOWN Hone a new skill whilst sculpting some serious abs at NOMAD Bouldering Gym, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Bouldering is like rock climbing but it's done without a harness or rope and you climb shorter routes — also known as 'problems' — close to the ground. But don't confuse 'shorter' for 'less intense' — boulderers are always looking for new ways to push their minds and bodies to the max. It's very sociable so it's also a great workout to do with a small group of friends. HUMMING PUPPY, REDFERN Humming Puppy is a spiffy (bougie) inner-city yoga studio in Darlington. Enjoy a complimentary coconut water pre-practice, then settle down onto your preassigned mat for class. Everything is provided, including towels, mats, blocks and belts — so you can just jump on the mat and sink into savasana. That weird humming noise coming from the concealed speakers? Yeah, that's kind of Humming Puppy's thing. At first, you won't know what to make of it — but by the end of class, you'll be used to it and so relaxed you may as well have been hypnotised by the mystery hum. Also, the shower facilities are some of the best any gym in Sydney has to offer. Once you're sufficiently sweat free, head to the adorable Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar for an after-class treat. XTEND BARRE, DRUMMOYNE If you don't feel the burn, you're not doing your barre workout right. At Xtend Barre, hit your glutes, quads, triceps, abs, those other abs, inner thighs, and what feels like literally every muscle in your body in a 60-minute ballet-pilates hybrid workout. The studio also offers reformer pilates classes, if that's your thing. Grip socks are required for class, which are available for purchase. So, go ahead and enjoy your classy ballet moment — by which, of course, we mean grace on the outside, low-key crying on the inside. SKY-LAB, SURRY HILLS Nestled several stories up in the unlikely location of Hibernian House is an oasis of calm known as Sky-Lab. Here, stretch like you've never stretched before in an aerial yoga class. Suspended yoga helps to strengthen your core muscles and increase spinal and shoulder flexibility. You will feel a satisfying elongation of your spine difficult to achieve in other stretch classes, and may even walk out of class feeling a little taller. If you're looking for a super chill class — maybe you're just getting back into exercise or you're having a recovery day — the Aerial Yoga Melt class is a good option. It's a low- to no-sweat workout that focuses mostly on releasing and relaxing different aspects of your musculature and fascia. MY BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, CAMPERDOWN What do Wiz Khalifa, Milla Jovovich and Demi Lovato all have in common? They all train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Really. Try your hand at this martial art-combat sport mix at My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While it looks a bit like wrestling, it's actually super technical and challenging. BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves or another against a bigger, stronger, heavier person by using proper technique, leverage and, most notably, by taking the fight to the ground. The ethos behind BJJ makes it a particularly empowering sport for women, or smaller folk in general, as it challenges traditional notions of strength and power. SYDNEY POLE, CAMPERDOWN, PARRAMATTA OR GLADESVILLE Pole dancing is having a well-deserved moment in the fitness sun at the moment. And rightly so — the fun and liberating strength-based training combines dance, music and gymnastics-style tricks to get you moving. Sydney Pole regularly runs free intro classes and the welcoming studio is inclusive of all ages and body types. Ready to expand your horizons? Try Hip-Hop Pole, Sexy Floorwork or 80s Pole to really start feeling yourself. Shorts and sports bras are recommended instead of full-coverage leggings as you need exposed skin to grip to the pole properly. But, for your first time, wear whatever you feel most comfortable in. Also, don't lather yourself in body lotion beforehand, you'll slide right off the pole if your skin isn't dry — which is not ideal. AERIALIZE, CANTERBURY Concept: hula hoops, suspended mid-air, with tricks. Yes, things just got real. Your fledgling circus career awaits you at Aerialize — the Canterbury studio's drop-in classes cover a range of pursuits from Lyra, Static Trapeze, Silks, Acrobatics and more. The skill-based nature of these classes will help you to channel your energy into focusing on learning a new move rather than worrying about burning calories or how you look as you contort your body. It's all about having fun and, maybe, just a little bit about getting sweet shot for Instagram. BOXING WORKS, SURRY HILLS Boxing has been ranked the number one sport for increasing overall athleticism. And, adding boxing to your fitness regime can sometimes be the shock your system needs to stay engaged and receptive. At Boxing Works, you can sample Muay Thai, kickboxing and regular boxing to see which style has you feeling most like Michael B. Jordan in Creed. Unlike running on a treadmill or doing the same old squats, again and again, you won't be looking at the clock every ten seconds. Boxing requires total focus and, once you get into it, it's so much fun you'll only notice how much your shoulders are burning at the end of the session. Probably. THE MOVEMENT ACADEMY, ROSEBERY Go from 'master of none' to 'master of at least one cool thing': handstands. That's right — that move you spent hours perfecting as a kid is about to saunter back into your adult life in a big way. This time, place yourself under the tutelage of trained gymnasts — rather than your obliging sibling — and sign up for handstand classes at The Movement Academy. You'll improve alignment, balance and shoulder health, strengthen your core, condition your wrists and increase overall body awareness with training and drills suited to your level.
As many films do, The Space Between begins with a series of influential events that shake up an otherwise stagnant life. When his stint in New York came to an unplanned end through a family tragedy, Marco (Flavio Parenti) returned to his home town of Udine in Northern Italy, gave up on his dream of being a chef and carved out a routine existence — and just as he has somewhat accepted his fate, more hardship strikes. But at the same time, he meets Olivia (Maeve Dermody), an Australian in the country wading through her own family and career matters. A connection forms as the two try to find their path forward. The film's narrative isn't just an interesting story worth spending 98 minutes watching — it's also somewhat based on reality. In fact, The Space Between is partially inspired by the day that Melbourne-based writer-director Ruth Borgobello met her husband Davide Giusto (who also serves as one of movie's producers), and the bond they forged as he coped with his real-life grief. In turning the tale into a film (her first feature, no less), Borgobello has not only transported parts of her life to the big screen, but has also crafted the first-ever Australian-Italian co-production in the process. While the former feat has personal significance, the latter is no lesser of an achievement; indeed, a filmmaking treaty between the two countries was signed back in 1993. Just how did Borgobello draw from such intimate experiences? And how did she manage to make history with her debut feature? With The Space Between currently touring Australia as part of the Italian Film Festival, we chatted with the filmmaker about finding inspiration in Italy, working through trauma and turning an aspect of your life into a feature film. ON LETTING REALITY INSPIRE THE NARRATIVE "I met my husband the day he lost someone very important to him unexpectedly. We'd sort of already had this plan to spend a couple of weeks together, because he's a good friend of my cousin in Italy, and he was planning to come to Australia, and he had his visa ready. And so, in spite of this loss and grief he was going through, we spent a couple of weeks together, and I guess that always stayed with me as a very transformational moment for both of us. We were in our early 20s, so it kind of throws everything into question and makes you think very carefully about the life path that you want to choose when something like that happens. You tend to think you're quite invincible when you're that age, I think. Years later I kind of was developing another project focused more on a migration story of my family and my father, but I guess just spending time in Italy and thinking about that moment, I was sort of quite inspired and pushed to do something a bit more personal as my first film. And talking about contemporary Italy within that as well. So, it was inspired by that moment — but the actual characters and the journey that they go on is very fictional, and very, much more connected to Italy today than back in that time." ON DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCED GRIEF AND TRAUMA "When I set out to write this script, I was sort of basing it on my husband's experience of losing someone close to him — and I had never lost someone, especially not a close friend in the way that he had. So I tried to get inside his head, I guess, and his grieving process. And then also working with my co-writer who had lost his father when he was quite young, so he had gone through that. But then, strangely, in the journey of writing it — and it was something that really kind of terrified me when it happened — my best friend actually was in an accident, a very unexpected accident, and was in a coma for a few weeks hovering between life and death. Luckily now she's fine, she's got through it, but I guess it strangely sort of brought me very close to that experience, which can be quite challenging because when it happens to you — you don't know if you can actually go there to bring it into the script. But, I tried to write during that period just to tune into the emotion of it all. I guess with the grief, I think the lesson that came for us that was very powerful — it was that he left...but then someone else arrived in that moment that would be very important and play a similar role, I guess, in Davide, my husband's, life. Just that sort of interesting thing that someone leaves and someone else arrives, and I guess to trust in life sometimes that it will bring you support in those kind of moments, and then opportunity to maybe grow and evolve." ON MAKING THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN-ITALIAN CO-PRODUCTION "It's just enormous, and I think it's not just sort of all the relationships and paperwork and trying to make the two governments sort of work — or their rules — really work together. Also, then you've got to translate everything and every time it changes you've got to re-translate it. So it is an enormous amount of work. I guess, at the end of the day, it's just kind of willingness and determination to make it work. And we sort of sensed that if we could make it work, then there would be a lot of positivity that would come out of that — obviously for the film, but also creating future possibilities between the two countries. So it's worth it. When you know you're going to make history, it's worth it to persevere. And we had a lot of willingness from Italy and the Italian government too, that really supported us in wanting to make it work, so that helps." ON SETTING HER FILM IN ITALY — AND FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATIONS "We spent years of research looking at locations that are not the typical tourist locations. They're not the places you could open a book and find out where they are — they're all sort of quite hidden and you have to know people who know people. So it took a lot to find those places that would really serve the psychology and the narrative of Marco's journey, and with Olivia. So I spent time myself there in Italy, living for periods of six months or so, just to also really get to know the people and the place. And trying to perceive the current climate of today, and what's going on, and the relationship between the environment and this sort of crisis as well, which I always found quite contradictory because there's so much beauty and inspiration in what's been created in the past, but it feels very stagnant in the present. So it was about sort of being able to marry those two together." ON HER TIES WITH ITALY "I've got two projects that I'm working on, and both are connected with Italy again. One of them is also sort of connected to climate change, and I really want to do a sort of original creative story around that, kind of featuring nature as a main character — and it's positive, not fear-driven. So that's something that I'm heavily researching at the moment. And then another film, perhaps with Italy dealing with refugees and what's happening at the moment in Europe with that crisis, through quite a courageous character who goes out on a limb to help the refugees. So sort of inspired by a true story that we've come across. I think we've learnt so much, so it will make the next one easier. I'm sure it will always be challenging, but it feels like there's a clear path now." The Space Between is currently screening at the Italian Film Festival, which tours Australia until October 19. Check out our top five picks of the festival.
Sleepovers at IKEA are one thing, this is a little more intense. Inspired by similar epic events held in Europe stores, there's a giant game of hide and seek planned for the IKEA store in Tempe; with this Facebook event generating huge interest over the last few days and Sydneysiders upping their yoga quota to more effectively fit into tiny storage bins and blue bags. And with over 34,000 attending on Facebook, this was going to be one seriously huge game, locked in for May 23 at 1pm. But after days of waiting with baited breath for an IKEA response, we've finally got one — and it's predictably naysaying. In a statement on Facebook yesterday, IKEA has warned against playing hide and seek in store as it apparently raises security issues for both customers and co-workers. "As many of you may have heard, there are a couple of large hide-and-seek games being planned for IKEA stores in Australia. While the prospect of seeing many of you trying to camouflage yourselves among the meatballs has its appeal, we are unfortunately unable to host or support these games. Due to the level of interest these games attract we would not be able to guarantee everyone’s safety and the threat this poses to our co-workers, customers and game participants is just too great. We would still love to have you visit — no need to hide!" The Swedish furniture giant hasn't yet declared whether they'll be kicking people out for smooshing themselves into the store's display kitchens (would definitely aim for a cushy bedding spot). IKEA have held officially approved games in the past. Last year, about 500 people participated in a storewide hide and seek in Wilrijk, Belgium. But IKEA have also banned games in Holland after tens of thousands of people geared up to attend in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Utrecht in April and May — IKEA found out about it on Facebook and shut it down. Hopefully this doesn't happen to the Sydney edition. Apparently IKEA called the police on a Melbourne game in 2010, according to Huffington Post. We're hoping the Man looks the other way this time around. According to the Facebook event, meet-up is at the food court. Every player will receive a paper collar connected to their yellow fluro hat, and you'd better look out for the five people in orange — they're in. The game will commence at 1pm, within ten minutes of starting time you will be allowed to hide. It's a dollar coin entry fee, and goes to the last one found. If, by the end time, there's still more than one person left unfound, the prize pool money will be divided respectively to the number of players left — or donated to a charitable cause if everyone's unearthed. Rules? Don't create a public nuisance, run, be loud, break anything or steal. No hiding in fire escapes or toilets. Fingers crossed guys.
What would you do if you were a little less freaked out by consequences? Would you talk to more new people, fear a bit less, dance a little more like FKA Twigs, quit your desk job and start that business you've always wanted to give a red hot go? Some sparkling young Australians are already flinging their inhibitions into a ziplock bag and seizing this little ol' life with both hands. Concrete Playground has teamed up with the Jameson crew to give you a sneak peek into the lives of bold characters who took a big chance on themselves. They've gone out on a limb and rewritten their path, encapsulating 'Sine Metu', the Jameson family motto which translates to 'without fear' — getting outside your comfort zone and trying something new. After all, we only get one shot at this. Take notes. Dreaming big is easy. Following through on that dream — that's where the hard work begins. Junky Comics' owner Vlada Edirippulige knows this, but a year after opening her own store, she wouldn't have it any other way. Also known as illustrator Junky and as a member of local band Major Leagues, her commitment to boosting Brisbane's arts scene shows just what can happen when you embody 'Sine Metu', set your mind to something and throw caution to the wind. As a result, not only does she get to hang out in her ideal bookshop all day, Vlada also celebrates artists and work that isn't available elsewhere, she helps make the city the place she wants it to be and nurtures fellow creative Brisbanites through Junky's growing events program. DON'T OVERTHINK IT, JUST DO IT Anyone fresh out of university knows the feeling of spending three years studying, graduating with a shiny piece of paper, and then facing a wave of uncertainty about the future. In 2012, that was Vlada, who boasted a music degree, a hankering for creativity, and an avid interest in comics and art in general. At that time, she came to a realisation. "A lot of the work I was interested in, a lot of the female writers and artists that I was following online — it was tough to find their stuff physically in Brisbane." Enter Junky Comics — or, the first seeds of an idea that would sprout into the vibrant addition to West End's Vulture Street the city now knows and loves. "I was buying a lot of stuff online, and I had a lot of friends who were doing the same. And I also had a bunch of really talented female friends that were doing incredible things. I thought that it was time that there was a place in Brisbane that could house all that kind of stuff. And I thought that I'd just give it a crack," she continues. Armed with a little 'Sine Metu' attitude, Vlada jumped into action, first testing the waters with an online store. Its success bolstered her confidence, and the bricks-and-mortar business was born. Many people in her situation would've spent months and even years deliberating and preparing; however Vlada is honest about her thought processes, or lack thereof. "Not a lot of thought went into it. I was just like, 'I'm just going to do it.' It was very much a leap of faith, but I thought I should just give it a go while I hadn't settled down to do anything yet." EMBRACE YOUR COMMUNITY Vlada's own tastes might've provided her initial motivation, but her faith in Brisbane as a place that should have a store like Junky was also a strong driving force. It's a situation everyone can relate to; all Brisbanites have watched their fair share of friends head to Sydney and Melbourne to chase their dreams, but that wasn't the path Vlada wanted to follow. "I have a really strong belief in Brisbane as a place and as an artistic community," she says. "I think it gets a bit of a bad rap sometimes. I think that we've got so much blank space that we can fill in with music and art." Given the buzz Junky has generated since it launched in April 2015, her customers clearly agree, enabling Vlada to run her own store in her hometown. "That's the dream, right?" she says. "I think in order for Brisbane to be put on the map like Sydney and Melbourne , we need to really cultivate that community that's here. There are so many people doing [great things], and it is exciting to be a part of it." PAY IT FORWARD Indeed, selling great comics and books to the citizens of Brisbane isn't Vlada's only passion or Junky's sole purpose, as anyone who has caught an exhibition, been to a book launch or indulged their own artistic side within the store's walls knows. More than just a shopfront, Junky has become a gallery, hangout space and all-round hive of activity. That's all by design — and it's just the beginning, with expanding the calendar of events being part of Vlada's future plans. "I really want to focus on doing gallery stuff, because it is really fun to tack someone's art on the walls and have them super excited about it — and be able to invite all their pals and celebrate each other's work," she points out. And, in the process, Vlada is not only helping Junky fulfil its potential; she's also doing her bit to assist other creative folks follow in her footsteps. "I think that's where a lot of the joy comes from; seeing people talk about producing something, then producing something, putting on a show and getting all their pals to come in and experience it with them." KEEP YOUR CHIN UP (AND LISTEN TO BEYONCÉ IF IT'S DOWN) Of course, opening her own store from scratch and building Junky into the thriving hub it is today wasn't all smooth sailing, even if it appears that way on the outside. Junky might be gearing up to celebrate its first birthday in April, all while filling its shelves with eclectic wares and playing host to everything from art shows to zine launches, but, like everyone, Vlada has her good days and her bad. So how does she weather those ups and downs, and what advice does she have for anyone keen to rewrite their own path? "The thing I wish I had thought of or knew when I'd started is just don't be knocked down or persuaded that you're anything less than you think you are by anybody," Vlada says. "When you start something, you're already feeling super vulnerable. The way I did it was just by listening to a lot of Beyoncé — but you've got to have something that you can look at or think about every day that reminds you why you're doing it, and that you can do it. Because there's going to be shitty days, and days where you're like 'oh man, this is not worth it'. But then you'll have the really great days that even it out." Want to experience a little bit of 'Sine Metu' yourself? Thanks to Jameson and The Rewriters, one extremely fortunate Concrete Playground reader (and their even more fortunate mate) will get the chance to 'fear less' and go on a big ol' adventure to Ireland. In addition to two return flights departing from your choice of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, this epic giveaway comes with five night's accommodation and $500 spending money you can use to paint the Emerald Isle red. ENTER HERE. For more about how 'Sine Metu' influenced John Jameson's journey visit Jameson's website.
For anyone who's struggled with the monotony of the black line, the North Sydney Olympic Pool provides an antidote. Keep yourself motivated by rewarding yourself at the end of each lap — you couldn't get a better perspective on the mighty Harbour Bridge. What's more, Luna Park is just next door, so, you can wrap up your session with a ferris wheel ride. Go hard enough at your training and you might add to the 86 records set at the pool since it opened in 1936. Along with the pool, there's a gym, sauna and spa.
Sydney's nightlife is in a bit of a weird spot at the moment, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the amount of bars opening. 2017's newbies have been diverse so far; as well as some top-notch Euro-leaning wine bars, we've had a vinyl-spinning lounge bar open alongside an all-out basement 'Viking luxe' bar mixing sorbet-filled and served-in-horn cocktails with details down to a tee. Yeah, there's just some things you can't recreate at home. With so many openings hitting the city in a six-month period, we whittled it down to our favourite newcomers raising the bar for Sydney's drinking scene. Well, our favourites so far — there's still another six months to go.
If you're a regular coffee drinker, no doubt you've been caught up in the recent push towards recyclable or reusable coffee cups. And for many of us, drinking the sweet nectar from a one-use, environmentally-unfriendly takeaway cup is just not the same as a weighty, handmade ceramic cafe cup. But who has the time to stop and sip? Where can you find a fusion of both? Thanks to a talented Queensland couple, you can now have your ceramic-bound coffee and drink it (on the go) too. Queensland potter Renton Bishopric and partner Clare Botfield have recently launched Pottery for the Planet — a series of limited edition pottery pieces that raise money and awareness of environmental issues. "If we want to continue living in a beautiful clean country and world, we have to make some serious changes and that starts with the choices of each individual," says Bishopric. In an effort to make this choice a little more design-savvy, the duo has begun making what customers have dubbed 'Planet Cups', bespoke ceramic coffee cups that reduce paper cup wastage, one coffee at a time. Bishopric and Botfield make each 8oz or 12oz cup by hand on the pottery wheel, drying and firing them in the kiln before glazing in a selection of colours. The intricate process by which they are made means each Planet Cup is unique. "With a handmade product there are so many variables starting with the hands of the person that threw the pot, down to the firing environment in the kiln. So no matter what, each cup is unique from its brothers and sisters," says Bishopric. Each Planet Cup comes with a silicone lid and the option of a heat band so extra hot coffee drinkers can protect their fingers. Due to the incredible popularity of the Planet Cups, an online shop is set to be launched soon. In the meantime, the colourful creations can be purchased through the pair's Sunshine Coast retail store, Cinnabar Soul. You can also check out the Pottery for the Planet website for a list of local stockists. If you live in Hobart, you're going to need one very soon. Image: Renton Bishopric Ceramics.
Sydney sunrises and sunsets are pretty damn special. You'll see Instagram lose its collective mind every time there's a clear day with a marmaladey sunset to be snapped. But you've never seen a sunset like the panoramic mindbender from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one only accessible by personally climbing the bridge itself. Luckily, the adventure-seeking crew at BridgeClimb will happily take you all the way to the top, with their extra pretty dawn and twilight climbs. Like many Sydneysiders, we hadn't climbed the Harbour Bridge before (except the time we sent CP's Tom Glasson up the bridge for a special Vivid climb). But we can't stress this enough: it's something all locals should try to do at least once — it makes a damn great Christmas present too. You'll see your city from a completely different angle, and remember why we're lucky jerks to live here. You'll find the BridgeClimb centre just up the road from the Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks — and you'll want to remember that libation-happy location for when you come back down to earth. Twilight climbs run for around three hours, so make sure you snack before you start. After using the bathroom about twenty times, we're headed into the pre-climb area. You'll be breathalysed — don't go on a bender and decide to climb the bridge — and if you pass, you'll be given your slammin' BridgeClimb onesie to change into. If you wear spectacles, you'll get to wear a super groove-o glasses attachment (suck it, jocks, we cool). Then it's time to meet your Climb Leader. We had the pleasure of climbing with wildly funny and incredibly knowledgable climber Brett, who has been climbing for 13 years. He hasn't counted, but reckons it's anywhere between 2000 and 3000 climbs. Your Climb Leader will help you suit up with a radio headset, heaps cool cap, handkerchief, fleece, headlamp and importantly, hair ties. Then you're off for a quick trial climb indoors and we're headed for the bridge. Not going to lie, this editor was bloody scared to be climbing this colossal bridge. But your team has your back and your Climb Leader is there to keep you going (and to tell you not to look down). Only three people have ever turned back on Brett's climbs — over 13 years. You'll make your way along underneath the Bradfield Highway, as trains roar above you and the Park Hyatt guests swan around beneath you. Give a high five to the hand-chipped granite pylons and head up the ladders, past zooming cars, to the main bridge climb. Once you're past the initial stage of the climb, the actual ascent to the summit is super, super easy and straight-up one of the most beautiful views in the world. Brett weaves stories about the history of The Rocks, the poorly designed nature of Fort Denison and the origins of White Australia in Campbell's Cove. He'll tell you the origins of Kirribilli as an Aboriginal fishing spot of choice (derived from the Aboriginal word Kiarabilli, which means 'good fishing spot'). Fun facts: Sydney Harbour's shoreline is 317kms around. Another fun fact: There have been 4000 proposals on the bridge, and 26 weddings (they give the bride a little mini-veil). One more fun fact: Paul Hogan used to be a worker on the bridge (without any kind of rope support) and his mates dared him to enter a talent quest, which he won. One more? The granite pylons are unnecessary — the bridge could actually stand up without them. Being a twilight climb, the whole ascent and descent is timed around the sunset — climb up with the sun on the Opera House, climb down as the sun sets behind Western Sydney, behind Anzac Bridge. There's something incredibly pride-instilling about being on the top of such a feat of modern engineering and problem-solving as the sun goes down (before the bridge was built, it took a whole day to horse and cart from Sydney's CBD to North Sydney, over five bridges). Heading back to solid ground, with our headlamps necessary for the last little section, you can't deny this newfound adoration for this crazily clean, beautiful, peaceful city we very often take for granted (and rather enjoy complaining about tiny things like coffee prices over). Although climbing during the day or nighttime would have an undoubtedly similar jaw-dropping effect, adding a little bit more dosh to your ticket and climbing the bridge at dawn or twilight adds that extra gobsmacking element you could need to stop yearning for Sydney to be anything else but Sydney. BridgeClimb runs day, night, dawn and twilight tours every day. Book in your climb from BridgeClimb's website — they also make an excellent Christmas pressie.
In days gone by, the humble cheese plate was always that conspicuous option on the dessert menu nestled between chocolate cake and the creme brulee. As a child we would never consider opting for anything remotely cheese-themed on a dessert menu, because it was something that only adults ordered as they hate delicious things like chocolate cake because they're dead inside. But now, as only partially dead inside adults, we can admit that as children we were wrong about cheese plates. That's not to say we should ever forgo chocolate cake for a plate of cheese, but rather, being adults means we can have our cake and eat a cheese plate too. Not all cheese plates are crafted with equal levels of finesse, however; there are so many factors that can make or break the perfect cheese board. The sheer amount of cheese, obviously, is the most important factor. The less visibly uncheesed board the better. As for the cracker situation, rustic is always good, and an array of textures is key. These bars and restaurants have mastered the art, so your next sensuous cheese night is covered. THE STINKING BISHOPS, ENMORE If cheese were a religion, The Stinking Bishops would be its Mecca. Upon entering, you'll spy an entire blackboard devoted to all the different types of cheese, categorised according to hardness and milk type. You can curate your own two, three or four cheese platters ($21, $29 or $37, respectively) from their selection of over 30 cheeses, but we suggest you rely on the cheese connoisseurs' thoughtful guidance. All plates are served with a basket of various ribbons of lavosh, crusty bread and the most perfectly smooth quince paste. Behind the counter, there's a glorious closet packed with what looks like several thousand dollars worth of cheese, and we'll admit, it has crossed our minds several times to jump the counter, fill our pockets with as many wheels of triple cream brie as they can hold and hightail it out of there. CURED, MANLY With bottles of wine lining one wall, a picklery in the corner and cured meats hanging from the ceiling, Cured has a simple concept — who doesn't like wine and cheese? — but their offering isn't something that can be replicated at home. None of the wines on their menu can be found in bottle shops and the Dad & Dave's beer is from an up-and-comer brewed locally in Brookvale. Cured may not have a commercial kitchen, but they do have a chef who is on hand to help you select meats and cheeses that will complement one another. Every board comes with sourdough, olives and pickles — then it's up to you how far you take it. If you're not quite ready to commit, you could grab a glass of wine and share an aged cloth cheddar and bresaola. And for a bit of extra sweetness, throw some honeycomb into the mix. But if you really want to heat things up, try their habaneros. Go all-in with a mix — perhaps a truffle triple cream brie, burrata and a hunk of Al Malto D'Orzo whisky ($13-15), a semi-hard cheese that's been soaked in a whisky barrel for three months. For the ultimate pairing, save this for dessert and wash it down with a glass of Lagavulin single malt ($15). [caption id="attachment_526146" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Bodhi Liggett[/caption] MV BISTRO, SURRY HILLS If you needed another reason to hit up MV Bistro (which was until recently Mille Vini), aside from their daily specials, it's their cheese plate (two cheeses for $19, three for $25, all four for $30). Choose as many cheeses as you can handle from their selection of blue, French brie, Comte gruyere and goat's cheese. They come served with Iggy's bread, rose-soaked figs and a respectable amount of crackers. We recommend you arrive early so you can lazily make your way through their extensive wine list and still remember your name when you go home. THE POTTING SHED, ALEXANDRIA It's worth the trip to The Potting Shed just for The Shed Platter: a plank of wood handsomely laden with internationally sourced cheeses, piles of cured meats, fruits, marinated vegetables and a basket of daily baked breads. They offer an epic platter for $54, which should feed four to six people. But it feels like the bar staff wouldn't judge you too harshly if you said you were dining with cheese-loving ghosts to round out the numbers. Plus, the al fresco dining area, nestled among planter boxes and a hanging garden adorned with fairy lights, is the perfect location for spending some quality time drinking wine and catching up with old friends (and ghost friends). DONNY'S BAR, MANLY If you've got a hankering for cheese northside, Donny's Bar has got your back. The industrial warehouse conversion with copper fixtures and low lighting feels like it's been cut and pasted straight out of a coffee table book on cool Brooklyn haunts. The cheese plate ($24) at Donny's Bar is particularly handsome, consisting of manchego, San Simon and Cabra Pimento served with marinated olives, chilli peanuts, chillies and crackers. And once you've polished that off, you can then venture upstairs for some deliciously strong cocktails and cheese-fuelled dancing. [caption id="attachment_526154" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Formaggi Ocello.[/caption] FORMAGGI OCELLO, SURRY HILLS Formaggi Ocello is a cheese lover's heaven. There's monthly cheese and wine tasting events and a glass cabinet filled with over 200 types of cheese, and they even make tiered cheese wedding cakes to order. Hailing from Spain, France and Italy as well as locally, the flooring selection is available for purchase to eat in the privacy of your own home, or you can curate your own cheese board, sip on one of their many wines and soak up the dappled sun while feeling sorry for all the suckers in the Bourke Street bike lane who aren't eating cheese. THE THEATRE BAR AT THE END OF THE WHARF, WALSH BAY The only thing better than looking at the best view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is looking at the best view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with a cheese-laden cracker en route to your mouth. The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf the perfect place to spend time before or after seeing a production from the Sydney Theatre Company (or just skip the show and spend your money on cocktails). Their cheese plate ($28) is classic: three cheeses served with quince paste, grapes and lavosh. It's also the perfect place to take a friend from out of town if you want to gloat about how nice Sydney is. [caption id="attachment_635660" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford[/caption] THE RIO, SUMMER HILL For decades, The Rio was the coolest spot in Summer Hill, doling out sweets and soft drinks to cinemagoers and late-night drifters. It fell out of fashion more recently, but owner George Poulos (known as 'The General' to locals), never deviated from the old-school formula and kept dishing up the finest milkshakes in town, always immaculately dressed in a suit and tie. His shop was a labour of love, and he literally worked in the store until the day he died. Now, everything old is new again and a new team including owner Tess Robens (Newtown's Corridor) has re-opened the gem of a site as a small bar, retaining the name and paying loving homage to the venue's past life. There are, of course, some milkshakes on the drinks list, but we're there for the platters ($36 for two people, $52 for four), which arrive on a plank piled appealingly with creamy blue cheese, cornichons, salami, prosciutto and crackers. GPO CHEESE AND WINE ROOM, CBD The GPO Cheese and Wine Room is dealing in some serious cheese business. Stocking between 80 and 100 cheeses, this cosy little nook, tucked away in the depths of Martin Place, is the perfect place for post-dinner treats. As expected, the cheese board is a real triumph, served on a large piece of wood that wouldn't look out of place on a Game of Thrones set. You can curate your own plate, but we recommend you rely on the in-house cheese masters to fashion you up the perfect platter and offer pairings with over 250 wines ($30–44). The cheese portions are generous, served with impressive charcuterie and accompaniments, and they've perfected the cracker-to-cheese ratio, so you're never left eating dry, cheeseless crackers like a barbarian. Updated: October 2, 2017.
The soaring cost of living in Sydney is one of those recurrent news stories that dominate our news feeds every so often. This is not shocking for anyone who has ever forked out upwards of $25 for a cocktail. According to The Economist's Worldwide Cost of Living 2014 report, Sydney ranks as the fifth most expensive city – sitting not far behind our pricey friends in Singapore, Paris, Oslo and Zurich. We've all felt the strain on our wallets as we've handed over $5 for a bus ticket, or walked out of the supermarket having spent a small fortune on three measly items. To ease the pain just that little bit, we've devised the best ways to enjoy this beautiful city of ours without paying a single cent. Whether live music, trivia or a good old-fashioned stroll is your jam, it's actually not that hard to experience the city for the low, low price of free. Let your inner cheapskate shine with our week-long guide to the best free events in Sydney. TRIVIA AT THE LITTLE GUY Recount all that useless knowledge that you've accumulated over the years, compete against other people to see who has amassed more random tidbits for the chance to win money (in the form of alcohol) at The Little Guy's trivia night. Also, free popcorn. Trivia starts at 7pm every Monday night at the Little Guy in Glebe. MUSIC AND GAMES NIGHT AT 505 JAZZ CLUB Every Monday night, jazz venue 505 will be offering up jazz with a side of board games. Play against actual human beings in a social setting, instead of being beaten by your smart phone. Jazz Jam Session and Games happen every Monday night at the 505 in Surry Hills, doors open at 6pm. THE MONDAY JAM AT GINGER'S The genre will change every week, but the price tag will not. Free music sessions run every week at Ginger's in Darlinghurst. Starts at 9pm every Monday at Gingers in Darlinghurst (upstairs at the Oxford Hotel). MOVIE NIGHTS AT THE SODA FACTORY Mondays will see The Soda Factory transformed into a funky movie theatre (sans the smell of stale popcorn) with great drinks and even better vibes. Doors open at 5pm every Monday at The Soda Factory, Surry Hills. SONGWRITER'S NIGHT AT THE VIC Home to all things Aussie music, The Vic is handing over the mic every Tuesday. Come and show off your musical talent, or enjoy someone else's. Music starts at 8pm every Tuesday night at The Vic, Enmore. OLD SCHOOL FUNK & GROOVE NIGHT AT 505 Tuesdays at this beloved music mecca are all about old school jazz. Soak up some live funk as the groove bands take over the stage, with free entry every week. Old School Funk & Groove Night runs every Tuesday at the 505 in Surry Hills, doors open at 6pm. SYDNEY IDEAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Tuesday is just one of the days you can listen to experts in their field debate some really interesting and controversial ideas, as The University of Sydney rolls out a bunch of free talks throughout the year. Talk dates vary, the timetable is available on the Sydney Ideas website. Talks are held on campus at the University of Sydney every week during semester. LIVE BLUES AND JAZZ NIGHT AT THE COMMONS Every week this cosy bar brings live Delta Blues, East Coast Jazz and Chicago Blues to Darlinghurst. Live blues and jazz night is held every Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30pm at The Commons, Darlinghurst. TRIVIA AT THE KIRRIBILLI HOTEL Did you know that Tasmania is bigger than Sri Lanka? Did you know that gin originated in the Netherlands? The Kirribilli Hotel is all about these head scratchers every Wednesday night, with cash jackpots and confectionery to be won each week. Trivia starts at 7pm every Wednesday night at the Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point. ART AFTER HOURS AT THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Standing around in sterile art galleries for school excursions is a distant memory, with the Art Gallery of NSW opening its doors for free talks, music and film screenings every Wednesday night. Art After Hours will run until 10pm every Wednesday night at the Art Gallery of NSW. MCA AND LULULEMON SPRING YOGA SERIES Why go to the gym when you can hit up the MCA, who'll be hosting free evening Vinyasa yoga sessions under the sky from October 15 – January 28. The sessions are held on the museum's rooftop Sculpture Terrace, providing panoramic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while you're finding your centre. The spring yoga series is on at 5.30pm Thursdays. Bookings are essential via the MCA website. COMEDY NIGHT AT THE CROWS NEST HOTEL The first Thursday of every month is chuckle city at The Crowie. Let some local and international comedians win you over with some awkward anecdotes and only slightly inappropriate rants. Comedy night starts at 8pm and is held on the first Thursday of every month at the Crows Nest Hotel. FREE BOWLING AT THE STANDARD BOWL The classic gig venue has been transformed into The Standard Bowl, complete with 4 bowling alleys, a pinball machine and a bar – it's a winning combination. The Standard Bowl is open every Wednesday and Thursday night 9pm – 2am and 6pm – 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. SPOTLIGHT TALKS AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Like art? Like listening to passionate people talk about their favourite artworks? Then Spotlights Talks at the MCA is definitely going to be your thing. The permanent exhibition is free everyday. Spotlight Talks usually take place everyday at 3pm-3.10pm, but check the website as dates and times can vary. The MCA is open every day from 10am – 5pm and 10am – 9pm on Thursdays. CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET Every Friday from 4pm, China Town comes alive. More than 65 stalls line Dixon Street, selling everything from clothes to handmade jewellery, and of course lots of tasty food. The Chinatown Night Markets run from 4pm to 11pm every Friday. SALSA DANCING AT THE CUBAN PLACE What better way to celebrate the end of the work week than by throwing on your dancing shoes. Once the Cuban Place live house band Lorenzo y su Swing pick up their instruments, the stress of the daily grind will be long forgotten. The music stars at The Cuban Place at 8pm Fridays, with free entry all night long. GLEBE MARKETS Get into those weekend market vibes, as the grounds of Glebe Public School are filled with aisles and aisles of antiques, artworks and second hand clothes. Glebe is just one of many great markets in Sydney – for more check out our guide to the best markets in Sydney. Glebe Markets run every Saturday, 10am-4pm. YOGA SESSIONS AT LENTIL AS ANYTHING Transferring the "pay as you feel" mantra to yoga, Lentil as Anything are holding yoga sessions at the Newtown location every Saturday of the month. Yoga classes run from 8:30am-10am every week at Lentil as Anything in Newtown. EVELEIGH FARMERS MARKETS If you can't get enough of market stalls, food testers and friendly banter, head over to the Eveleigh Farmers Markets for some fresh food and even fresher personalities. Eveleigh Farmers Markets kick off every Saturday morning from 8am to 1pm. MANLY TO SPIT BRIDGE WALK Pre-empt that inevitable hangover by getting off your keister and enjoying some fresh air and incredible views. The track runs for 10kms and will take you about three or four hours to complete depending on how many time you get lost looking out across the scenery. The trail for the Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk is well signposted, but if you want to plan your walk check out the Destination NSW guide. COOGEE TO BONDI WALK Lets be realistic here - it wouldn't be a Sydney list without a mention of the Coogee to Bondi Walk. These six kilometres of spectacular coastline are the first place you take out-of-towners, and for good reason. Fortunately walking is both free and good for you! Double win. For a guide to the walk there is a dedicated Bondi to Coogee Walk website. TERRACE COMEDY AT WORLD BAR Laughing has been proven to lower blood pressure and increase energy levels. So do your body some good by heading to Terrace Comedy at World Bar, which will run for free every Sunday evening. Terrace Comedy at World Bar in Kings Cross runs every Sunday night from 6pm. Entry is free, but it's a good idea to book a table by emailing comedy@theworldbar.com.
After a year full of lockdowns and restrictions, travelling around Australia is finally possible again. Now, the bumper-to-bumper summer season of the country's top galleries is within reach to out-of-town art lovers too. We've pulled together a taster of major exhibitions that span both new and recognisable art and will encourage reflection on this crazy year. Each state is offering something unique, from an expansive all-women artist exhibition in Canberra to shows revealing the diversity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from across the country. Join us in celebrating culture and open borders with an Australian summer full of art, performance, community talks and tours.
For craft beer lovers, there's no better way to fill up on your favourite brews than with a growler. Equal to a six-pack in volume, it's the most sustainable, cheapest way to drink your craft. Not unlike a first-born child, growlers are much loved by their owners. Even better, when you use a growler, you're helping the entire brew process — from packaging to distributing and buying. As Pete Rose from Balmain Wine Shop says, "It saves time, money, and it's cheaper for local beer lovers. There's a sense of community in the growler refill, and it frees up more time for brewers create your next favourite beer." Whether yours is glass, aluminium or PET, check out these shops that will fill you up. ANNANDALE CELLARS This proudly independent and family-owned bottle shop is also a champion of all things local — from craft beer to organic wines. Their newly installed growler machine will continue to promote local craft — the three keg rotation currently has Willie the Boatman's ESB, golden and dark ale on. It's $20 to purchase their snazzy aluminium growlers, or bring your own for a $20 refill. Supporting the community with great local beer and wine? Now that's a bottle shop we can get behind. 119 Johnston Street, Annandale STEVE'S COOL BOOZE Steve's has been filling growlers for three years, with a four-tap rotation focusing on limited release and seasonal brews. His counter pressure machine is no behemoth, but it does the job right for a perfect quality pour every time. It rotates with local favourites like Lord Nelson as well as international beers from Belgium, the Netherlands and the like. If you're in the market to buy a new growler, Steve has options of PET or glass growlers and squealers ($3 - $16) and even a growler koozie cover ($18.99) to protect your beer from the destructive effects of UV light. Better yet, you'll get a complimentary tasting of the beers before you buy. 686 Anzac Parade, Kingsford WAYWARD BREWING Recently opened down a hidden laneway in Camperdown, Wayward Brewing doesn't just offer up their own award-winning Wayward beers; they have three guest taps of local favourites like Akasha and Shenanigans as well. It's like going to a bottle shop inside a brewery. Buy a Wayward growler or bring your own, filled off the tap. With new Octoberfest-inspired brews now on tap and summer brews out soon, there's more than one reason to visit Sydney's newest brewery. 1 Gehrig Lane, Camperdown NEWTOWN GROWLER DEPOT The famous Rosie, an arcade machine of growler fillers, is not your ordinary tap refill. With separate compartments for sanitising and filling with counter pressure, this machine guarantees you one month of shelf life. At Newtown, they're filling 300 growlers per week, with the option to bring your own glass growler to be filled or use the swap-and-go method. If you're in the market for your first, growlers are only $10 to buy. The bottle-O also hosts 'meet the local brewers' nights on Friday arvos and is now distributing to their sister shops in Balmain and Glebe, which operate strictly on the swap-and-go system. 145 King Street, Newtown; Balmain Wine Shop 292 Darling Street, Balmain; Glebe Wine Shop 345 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. ttp://concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2014/12/cp-line.jpg" alt="cp-line" width="825" height="3" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-503581" /> MODUS OPERANDI Home of the CANimal machine, this brewery not only offers growlers and squealers but also has their own master sealer for cans to go, poured straight from the tap. With 12 taps and cheeky stories to accompany each beer, you'll have a lot to choose from. Their seasonals brws include a coffee lager and a Russian imperial, with all the fan favourites alongside. A brewery counting four Champion Craft Beer Awards is worth getting to go. 14 Harkeith Street, Mona Vale. Image courtesy of Modus Operandi. BONDI BEACH CELLARS This family-owned operation has been a Bondi institution for 27 years and has just recently added three growler taps to amp up their eastern suburbs craft beer haven. With Rogue Dead Guy Ale and Riverside 777 currently on tap, they'll continue the trend of mixing local and international breweries. This well matches their range of beers, which hits 300 varieties. Going back for more? Their growler refill loyalty program gets you every 10th refill free. 50 Hall Street, Bondi. Image courtesy of Bondi Beach Cellars. BEER CARTEL It's easy to get overwhelmed at Beer Cartel, which boasts the biggest beer selection in Sydney at 1100+ brews. Instead, head in for their two beer taps, housing a lot of Stateside favourites like Rogue, Sierra Nevada and Founders. Filling both squealers and growlers and constantly rotating their taps, this shop continues to live up to its name. 9/87 Reserve Road, Artarmon BATCH BREWING CO The Batch guys are never resting. They constantly pump out new and interesting brews. Your growler fills could look completely different from one week to the next. Right now, they have their core range on, including the signature APA and west coast IPA, along with the German-inspired Das Helles and Das Dunkel. The local hangout is a great place to spend an afternoon, and afterwards, takeaway is a must. 44 Sydenham Road, Marrickville. Image courtesy of Batch Brewing Co. THE OAK BARREL Oak Barrel's undeniably impressive stock doesn't stop, and their rotating, refillable growler taps are the cherry on top. The craft beer corridor that will seal your inevitable doom could take days to navigate and can make even the biggest beer snob's jaw drop, so always good to go for the growler and simplify your beer buying experience. 152 Elizabeth Street, Sydney ROCKS BREWING CO The Rocks Brewing has brought happy hour to growlers. From 3pm–5pm, Monday–Friday, their core range is available for $15, including Hangman Pale Ale, Governor Golden Ale and the Convict Lager. At regular price, you can still get a fresh batch of local craft brew for $20. A brewery involving six generations of Australians and two brewpubs is a very smart place to get your growler filled. 160 Bourke Road (Driveway J), Alexandria. Image courtesy of Rocks Brewing Co. Top image: Young Henrys, available at Newtown Growler Depot and Young Henrys. Annandale, Balmain Wine Shop, Newtown Depot and Steve's Cool Booze images by Marissa Ciampi.
It's been written about, blogged about, hyped by almost every foodie and has queues out the door every single day — so is Bourke Street Bakery actually all that good? Um yes. Yes it is. One bite of their buttery and crisp ginger brulee tart and you'll be working out how you can schedule in a visit here every day of the week. The loaves of bread for sale are excellent — all the sourdoughs are solid and last for about a week, but the fig and cranberry is our favourite served toasted with butter or with ham and brie for an incredible sandwich. The beef brisket pie and lamb and harissa sausage rolls are so good you won't even need a squeezy packet of tomato sauce. Grab a dark chocolate and sour cherry cookie for later — you won't regret it. Appears in: The Best Bakeries in Sydney for 2023
The Harbour City doesn't lack art highlights all year, every year, but every two years the New South Wales capital plays host to the Biennale of Sydney. 2024 is one such year, with a hefty lineup taking over the city from Saturday, March 9–Monday, June 10 under the theme Ten Thousand Suns. White Bay Power Station is opening to the public for the first time in over a century for the Biennale, which is a huge highlight of the program. Of course, so are the 96 artists and collectives contributing 400-plus pieces across the event. Australia is represented, naturally, as is everywhere from Aotearoa New Zealand, Indonesia, India and Japan to Ukraine, Brazil, Mexico, the UK and the US. International talents include Andrew Thomas Huang, Adebunmi Gbadebo, Pacific Sisters, Martin Wong, Frank Moore, Maru Yacco and Anne Samat. Among the Aussies: Gordon Hookey, Tracey Moffatt, Serwah Attafuah, William Yang, VNS Matrix, Kirtika Kain, Joel Sherwood Spring and Juan Davila. Also, 14 First Nations artists have been commissioned by Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, one of the Biennale's partners, to make new works just for the event: Mangala Bai Maravi, Doreen Chapman, Megan Cope, Cristina Flores Pescorán, Freddy Mamani and Dylan Mooney, as well as Orquideas Barrileteras, John Pule, Eric-Paul Riege, Darrell Sibosado, Kaylene Whiskey, Yangamini, and Nikau Hindin in collaboration with Ebonie Fifita-Laufilitoga-Maka, Hina Puamohala Kneubuhl, Hinatea Colombani, Kesaia Biuvanua and Rongomai Gbric-Hoskins. [caption id="attachment_945078" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Citra Sasmita, Timur Merah Project X: Bedtime Story, 2023, acrylic on traditional Kamasan canvas, oak dowels. Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from the Australia-Indonesia Institute. Timur Merah Project IV: Tales of Nowhere, 2020, acrylic on traditional Kamasan canvas, oak dowels. Commissioned by UOB for Children Art Space MACAN Museum Jakarta, Indonesia 2020. Courtesy the artist and Yeo Workshop, Singapore. Photo by David James.[/caption] Expect to enjoy Mooney's mural tribute to Malcolm Cole, the queer queer First Nations dancer and activist who created history by leading the first-ever Aboriginal float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in 1988 — and also Sibosado's riji (aka pearl shell) designs in neon. Both feature at White Bay Power Station, as does VNS Matrix's exploration of women and technology via banners. Chau Chak Wing Museum joins the Biennale of Sydney footprint for the first time, which is where Mangala Bai Maravi and Wong have pieces — one continuing to preserve tattooing patterns used by her people, India's Baiga group; the other being celebrated posthumously with nine paintings that focus on queer sexuality, as well ethnic and racial identities. At White Bay Power Station and Artspace, Indigenous weaving and jewellery making are in the spotlight via Riege. Also at the latter venue, Gbadebo is displaying new ceramic works that continue her interrogation of her family's past and America's history of slavery. And over at the Art Gallery of NSW, Hookey and Yacco will have works on offer. The lineup also spreads over to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which is where pieces by Moore and Kain feature — and to UNSW Galleries, where Sherwood and Elyas Alavi will be found. Whoever is showcased where, they're pondering heat, power, light, summer, joy, strength, the changing climate and everything else that the sun brings to mind. And, they're part of a lineup that also includes artist talks, art tours, workshops, music and more. [caption id="attachment_945080" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Top images:Installation view, Ten Thousand Suns, 24th Biennale of Sydney 2024, Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring art by Pacific Sisters (foreground) and Robert Gabris (wall) photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Christopher Snee // Daniel Boud.
The owners of Bondi's Mexican mainstays Taqiza and Carbon opened Sonora Mexican restaurant back in 2019. While they've stayed within Mexican cuisine, this time round, Pablo Galindo Vargas and Liber Osorio have expanded outside of Bondi, setting up shop on Bayswater Road in Potts Point. DIY tacos, made-to-order tortillas and a serious mezcal program are all on the menu at Sonora, which takes its name both from the Mexican state and the Latin word for 'sound'. Mexican-born chef Juan Carlos (Three Blue Ducks) has created a menu inspired by his time working in Baja California, but it's far from traditional Mexican fare — you'll spot plenty of international flavours and ingredients, such as soy sauce, truffle salami and wattleseed. Tacos are the central focus here, with creative fillings including chicken tinga with caramelised onions and jalapeno crema, fish with pickled cabbage and pico de gallo and broiled mushrooms with garlic soy sauce and roasted capsicum. As in Mexico, every table gets complimentary salsas for topping those tacos with, too, which come in three varieties: chipotle hibiscus, basil salsa verde and hazelnut macha. And if you really want to set yourself a challenge, try the bottomless taco fiesta for $89 per person. Eat as many tacos as you can within 90 minutes, and down all the margaritas, beer and wine within the same time. It's one of the best bottomless brunches in Sydney. Apart from the tacos, you'll find blue swimmer crab tostadas and a watermelon salad with goat's cheese and hazelnuts for starters, and sides include the street corn salad and sauteed mushrooms with pickled avocado. For dessert, try the Mexican flan made with a tonka bean custard. Alternatively, you can grab a seat at the bar, and order a tequila margarita or mezcal cocktail — made with spirits booze sourced from little-known Mexican distilleries. A mostly Aussie wine list and a lineup of Mexican brews are also available. The fit-out comes courtesy of the lauded Guru Designs (Reign, Esquire, Went To See Gypsy, nel.) and Carolina Jensen (Merivale, Three Blue Ducks). Expect a dimly lit interior with natural finishes that pay homage to the Sonora desert region.
Make your way down Locomotive Street in South Eveleigh and you're presented with many interesting spots for a feed or a drink. There's the sustainability-focused, zero-waste bar Re-, there's BrewDog's massive beer bar with its vegan-heavy menu, and there's Coyoacán Social, a Mexican street food eatery from the Plate It Forward team. Plate It Forward has already made an impact on Sydney's culinary scene and beyond with its first two venues: the beloved Enmore Road Sri Lankan restaurant Colombo Social and the 2022 arrival Kabul Social. The hospitality group's inaugural spot is based on the philosophy of providing employment opportunities, training and meals to people seeking asylum, while its Afghan counterpart in the CBD is run by a group of female refugees, and donates a meal to a person in need in both Australia and Afghanistan for each meal sold. [caption id="attachment_896474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roman Cortes and his mother Maru Navarro[/caption] Coyoacán Social is the third restaurant to join the hospitality group, a walk-in-only spot that's donating a meal to Mexico City for every guest who buys a set of tacos while also working with local charities to create a safe space within the local Redfern and South Eveleigh communities. Plate It Forward founder Shaun Christie-David has put the restaurant in the hands of Head Chef Roman Cortes, a Mexico City native and someone who has previously faced the challenges of overcoming addiction. Cortes shares Christie-David and Plate It Forward's belief in the power of food to create social change, and has pulled together a vibrant menu inspired by his mother Maru Navarro's cooking and dishes from her birthplace Coyoacán. Birria tacos ($19.50) are the star of the menu, made with shredded beef marinated in a traditional adobo, topped with melted cheese and served alongside a side of beef compote cooked overnight for dipping. Outside of tacos, you'll find a customisable nachos menu ($16), crunch tostadas ($18) smothered in toppings, and a range of accompaniments like guacamole ($6-9) and pico de Gallo ($4). For the sweet tooth in attendance, there's horchata or hibiscus flower iced tea ($6) to accompany your savoury mains, and there's some of Sydney's best churros ($10 for four). The crunchy cinnamon sticks are drenched in creamy sweetened caramel for a truly indulgent end to your meal. Images: Rhiannon Hopley.
The humble icy poles is the star of childhood memories the world over, reminiscent of tuck shop visits, beachside jaunts, and those sticky days of summers past. Even when we're trying our hardest to adult, getting stuck into an icy treat is still up there with our favourite summer pastimes. And while Paddle Pops and Splices will always hold a place in our hearts and freezers, these days, you're just as likely to find us getting our kicks with some hand-crafted, locally-produced, artisan version. Yup, there's all sorts of fun things happening in the world of frozen treats right now — here's what we'll be ripping into this summer. [caption id="attachment_602909" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pure Pops.[/caption] PURE POPS When two besties share an extreme love of frozen treats-on-a-stick, there's only one logical thing to do: start your own mini icy pole empire! That's the story behind Sydney company, Pure Pops, which has blossomed from a couple of farmers market stalls to a well-known brand, found at grocers, cafés, stores, and events across NSW. And these gals sure know how to make crowdpleasing icy poles. They've kept the sugary stuff to a minimum, going heavy on the natural fruit goodness, with most of the pops clocking in at under 80 calories. Expect summer-worthy flavours like banana caramel, blood orange, and pine-lime coconut splice. Check the website for your nearest stockist. [caption id="attachment_602934" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Fleming (The Simple Things Studio) for Liana Raine.[/caption] LIANA RAINE Liana Raine creations are kind of like the 'It Girls' of the frozen treats world — they're sophisticated, pop up on countless glossy magazine pages, and have even made it onto the runway at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. That said, when it comes to the important stuff, this family-run biz likes to keep things simple. Their all-natural, all-Aussie, artisan icy poles are crafted with the best seasonal fruit on offer, with clever new flavours added as quickly as they can be dreamt up — peach, moscato, and raspberry, anyone? Liana Raine is keeping summer retail plans under wraps for now, but in the meantime, jump on the website to order yourself a box. [caption id="attachment_602942" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Delish Ice.[/caption] DELISH ICE Old-school icy poles, served out of gorgeous vintage caravans – just try and match that for a nostalgia-tinged summer experience. These palate-pleasers from Perth-based Delish Ice are sure to win over young and old, what with the cute-as-pie retro styling and the downright tasty artisan pops. Flavours change regularly, but are sure to impress – expect combos like basil and elderflower; raspberry lemonade; and lychee, pineapple and lime. Buy them online, or catch one of their caravans or carts around Perth, Mandurah, Dunsborough, and Margaret River. They can even customise something special for your next summer shindig. [caption id="attachment_602937" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Frozen Sunshine.[/caption] FROZEN SUNSHINE With all that sunshine and humidity, it's a safe bet Queenslanders know a thing or two about icy poles. So, your tastebuds are in excellent hands with Frozen Sunshine Iceblocks, which are handcrafted in Maroochydore, using top-notch local ingredients and zero nasty flavourings or preservatives. These cool little characters are all free of dairy and made with either a fruit or creamy coconut milk base. At any time, there are at least 12 varieties on offer, so you might find yourself blissing out on a coconut and candied ginger creation; or maybe a pineapple, mango and passionfruit number. Pick up a box from the factory, or find them at markets, cafés and food stores across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_602945" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pop Shop.[/caption] POP SHOP SYDNEY Pop Shop Sydney's icy treats might just be the prettiest popsicles you ever did see. These locally-made beauties have been tricked out with everything from juicy fruit chunks, to edible flowers, and even gummy bears. Although with flavours like choc banana, Pimms, and Japanese lemonade with kiwi and orange, you probably won't be spending too long admiring the aesthetics. While these guys supply to a tight selection of cafés and stores around Sydney, their main jam is custom orders for parties, weddings, and other events. Get in touch and let them whip you up something special. [caption id="attachment_602946" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mountain Pops (Falls Festival).[/caption] MOUNTAIN POPS Turns out, wine isn't the only Yarra Valley creation we'll be cooling down with this summer. The folks at Mountain Pops handcraft their cracking small batch ice blocks out of a kitchen in the Yarra Valley, pulling together fresh, locally-grown fruit to star in their lineup of inventive flavour combos. They've even had a play with some boozy pop varieties, which we suspect would go down a treat at your next backyard party. These thirst-quenchers are fast becoming a favourite on the festival circuit, making their way into many a hot little hand at the likes of Strawberry Fields, Rainbow Serpent Festival, Falls Festival and Yemaya. You'll also spy them at markets and events across town, and can keep tabs on their whereabouts at Where the Truck At. [caption id="attachment_602908" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flyin' Fox.[/caption] FLYIN' FOX If you fancy keeping those food miles to a minimum, then Flyin' Fox ice blocks are sure to have you smiling. This NSW-based company handcrafts its fruit-packed icy poles in Murwillumbah, with mostly organic ingredients sourced carefully from local farms. These guys are pretty proud of our Aussie fruit, and they make it sing, in flavour combos like pomegranate and blueberry, lime and mint, and coconut and milk. You'll find them gracing the freezer section of stores and cafés across NSW and QLD, as well as in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Alice Springs. [caption id="attachment_602943" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Pop Co.[/caption] THE POP CO We guarantee this summer will see plenty of Melbourne ice block fans beating the heat with treats from The Pop Co. These guys sling handmade, gourmet popsicles out of a cheery little food cart, offering fruity flavours for all ages, alongside a range of signature, booze-infused creations. Kick it old-school with a strawberries and cream number, or embrace adulthood with a rum-laced Mojito pop. Customised flavour combinations are also on offer. The Pop Co. cart will be doing the rounds of Melbourne's markets, beaches, and outdoor events this summer, but you can always organise a special appearance, or bumper pop package for your own party. [caption id="attachment_602935" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Paleta.[/caption] PALETA This Melbourne brand pulls its name from the Spanish word for 'icy pole' and whips up its frosty treats based on authentic Mexican recipes. And indeed, these handmade sorbet icy poles, which feature an all-natural ingredient list, zero dairy or gluten, and stacks of fresh fruit, will prompt a mini fiesta in your mouth. Expect tropical flavours, like coconut, hibiscus, and your old mate watermelon, available in packs of 10 or 25, at stockists all across Melbourne. Try Aunt Maggie's in Fitzroy, The Prahran Grocer, and Market Espresso and Trolley Hire at the Queen Vic Markets. HONOURABLE EXPAT MENTION: POPS Icy poles and booze — they're the two staples of a long, hot Aussie summer. Back in October, we told you that the two had finally come together as one. Now, those Calippo-style Champagne icy poles we've all been hankering for since are finally on sale in Australia. The genius creation from POPS, a UK brand that has been keeping folks stylishly cool since 2014, have started popping up around Melbourne. Head to online alcohol delivery service tipple.com.au to order one of four flavours: the Champagne pop (called The Classic) contains half a glass of Champers (wahee!), while the Bellini blends hibiscus flowers, blood orange juice, peach Schnapps, and half a glass of Prosecco. Plus, there are a couple of all-ages products too, which see the alcohol swapped out for real fruit combinations (apple and elderflower, plus strawberry and mint). The timing couldn't be better, with the frozen delights arriving in our eskies just in time to be eaten in front of the fan (or, y'know, in the sun) this summer. As part of the Melbourne-first launch, they'll also be available at Arbory Bar and Eatery — and showering festival attendees with lickable icy alcohol goodness, including at The Pleasure Garden, Let Them Eat Cake and the Inverloch Sound of Summer. The POPS website also teases POPScycle bikes, so keep your eyes peeled.
Ever since the Mayans had the bright idea to mix cocoa seeds with cornmeal, water and chilli to make a delicious drink, humankind has enjoyed the mood-enhancing qualities of hot chocolate. Indulgent and comforting, a steaming cup of cocoa is pretty much the most fun a drink can be without introducing alcohol into the equation. If you’re a true chocaholic you’ll have already visited the major chocolate-themed cafes sprinkled across our fair city. But we've added in the chocolatey delights of less obvious places to make this list your ultimate winter treasure hunt. Blossoming: Rustic Pearl Beloved for their addictive savoury gozlemes, Rustic Pearl also make Callebaut hot chocolates worthy of a sonnet. Served in either a cup ($5) or a bowl ($6), their citrus and orange blossom creation is so deliciously fragrant it feels like you’re gradually perfuming your insides with every sip of the floral-chocolate brew. Occasionally a tangy splash of citrus appears to liven things up a bit. Service is rather slow but the tables inside are so close together you're guaranteed to overhear at least one juicy conversation while you wait. The rosewater version is also well worth a try. Rustic Pearl, 415 Crown Street, Surry Hills Vegan: Earth to Table Bondi Junction’s much-frequented raw food cafe boasts a hot chocolate ($4.70) guaranteed to please vegans and carnivores alike. Almond 'mylk' is combined with raw cacao, sweetening coconut nectar and a swirl of bitter chocolate sauce that’s pleasingly reminiscent of Ice Magic (but obviously isn’t Ice Magic). The overall flavour is slightly nutty, with a bite that can come only from high-quality cacao. It manages to be delicious whilst tasting suspiciously healthy, which upon reflection, it in fact is. Make it less so by accompanying it with one of their raw cheesecakes. Oh wait, they’re healthy too. Earth to Table, 85 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction White hot: Adora Handmade Chocolates Hidden inside Wentworth Connection, this shop-cafe offers a welcome respite from the bustle of the CBD, judging by the number of suit-clad folk contentedly imbibing their hot chocolates, which come in white, milk or dark. Sip away your corporate cares with their white chocolate ($6), which is so good you’ll take one sip and then have to sit quietly for a minute before continuing, so overwhelming is its perfection. Think frothy milk, gooey swirls of still-melting, impossibly mellow white chocolate and — it gets better — you get to choose a handmade chocolate to have with it. Adora Handmade Chocolates, Shop P9, Wentworth Connection, 2A Bligh Street Cocoa-nutty: Cafe Shenkin This popular Israeli-inspired eatery on Erskineville Road makes an utterly divine coconut hot chocolate ($4.50). Let’s put it this way: if you like Bounty bars, you’ll shed nostalgic tears when you drink this essentially Bounty-in-liquid-form hot chocolate. They use Belgian chocolate flakes and enough coconut to ensure the drink is sweet but never sickening. With an admirably light and frothy texture, it’s served hot enough to encourage a slow savouring — slow enough to last through several book chapters. Cafe Shenkin, 53a Erskineville Road Spice of life: T2 Brew Bar A lovely option for tea lovers who don’t have a raging sweet tooth but want a chocolate fix, T2’s Chilli Chocolate ($5) is an ingenious blend of black tea, sweet cocoa husks and a decent kick of chilli. Satisfying without being too filling and slightly bitter in flavour thanks to the rich depth of the black tea, there’s an invigoratingly spicy aftertaste that warms the throat. In fact, after ten sips even your bones will feel warmer. Perfect for the cold winter months and a pleasant surprise for those who didn't associate the ubiquitous tea store with hot chocolate. T2 Brew Bar, Queen Victoria Building Salt of the earth: Sadhana Kitchen Pop into Sadhana, now happily established on Enmore Road, for the yummy salads, excellent smoothies and especially for their hot chocolate menu. You can have a base of soy, almond or coconut milk and there are currently three special flavours to choose from: After Dinner Mint, White Delight and — holy of holies — Salted Caramel ($4 for regular, $5.50 for large). Presented practically overflowing in forgivably messy chocolatey goodness, the cocoa is decorated with ribbons of a salty, tangy caramel that mellows once you swirl it through the glass. It tastes like the hot chocolate version of a salted caramel gelato. Boom. Sadhana Kitchen, 147 Enmore Road, Enmore Rose-coloured glasses: Coco Chocolate Walking into Coco Chocolate's cosy Kirribilli store feels a bit like walking onto the set of Lasse Hallström’s Chocolat, sans Juliette Binoche. Using organically farmed cocoa and no palm oil, this place is an ethical treasure trove. There’s an extensive hot chocolate menu, including their award-winning rose and black pepper organic dark hot chocolate ($5). With its powerful chocolate base (70 percent cocoa mass), lightly floral rose and warming black pepper, this drink is so uplifting it had this particular writer blithely skipping out the door despite the freezing cold, torrential rain. Ask to sample a piece of their dark chocolate with rosemary. Coco Chocolate stores are in Mosman, Kirribilli and Willoughby. Fully thick: Max Brenner Supporting local cafes is the best thing, but the hot chocolates from Israeli/US chain Max Brenner are enough to make the most strident locavore weak at the knees. Their hot chocolate comes in nine styles, each available in three varieties (dark, milk and white). That's 27 hot chocolates to try all up. One handsome choice is the dark Italian — a go-to for Sydneysiders looking for a thick, European-style hot chocolate you can near stand a spoon up in. Other options include American Marshmallow chocolate, Mexican spicy chocolate and mint chocolate. At the risk of sounding really old person, choose the dark options to avoid sugar headache. Locations listed here. Espanol: San Churro Named for the heroic 16th-century monk who allegedly nursed the gravely ill Queen of Spain back to health with a big ol’ mug of hot chocolate, San Churro knows a thing or two about life-saving elixirs. Founded on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy back in 2006, the San Churro empire eventually found its way to nine Sydney spots. However chainy San Churro sounds, they crank a mean Spanish hot chocolate ($5.95). Best served with its namesake churros and dipping chocolate, San Churro’s hot choccies come topped with all kinds of offensively delicious thingies — peanut butter spoons, giant marshmallows, house-made chocolate syrup, crumbled chocolate biscuit, crushed malt balls, even a scoop of white chocolate ice cream. But for the classically minded hot chocolate connoisseur, the Classic Spanish is hard to go past — thick as they come and guaranteed to satisfy the richest of palettes. San Churro is in Glebe, Chatswood, Bondi, Penrith, Parramatta, Miranda, MacArthur Square, Harbourside and Eastgardens. Details here. Reader's Digest: Ampersand Cafe Ampersand's hot chocolates ($4 regular/$5 large) are a nifty little secret. They're your way to Lindt hot chocolate without having to go to the Lindt store, and they come with a tasty side of second-hand book browsing. There's a choice of milk or dark chocolate, frothed luxuriously with milk. By Lucy McNabb with the Concrete Playground team. View all Sydney cafes.
A bookstore may have sadly departed the neighbourhood, but in its place is something equally as appreciated. Brewtown Newtown is keeping the literary mourners happy by serving up some quality food and drink. The handiwork is indebted to Charles Cameron and Simon Triggs, who met when working at Toby's Estate. Since then, they've had respective stints at Single Origin and Gnome Espresso, so it's no wonder Brewtown is shaping up to be a success. Fashioned from what used to be Berkelouw Books, the warehouse-type space is simplistic in its raw fit-out: industrialised green lamps hang from steel beams above and exposed brick walls run the length of the cafe. An extended counter showcases the baristas at work and there is ample space for wooden tables and chairs at which to sit. A sizeable staircase leads to a second level where pop-up shops showcase an eclectic mix of local designers and artisan goods. Downstairs, as the name suggests, coffee takes centrestage. The far end of the counter is home to the designated brew bar where the 'steampunk mod' replicates a variety of brewing methods — such as aeropress or pour over — via a computer. The fancy-looking gizmo effectively saves time without compromising on quality. Another impressive gadget set-up alongside is the cold-brew tap that pours out an invigorating cold-pressed coffee ($6). Steeped in cold water for 12 hours, it's the perfect caffeine hit for a summer's day. If none of these elaborate brews are your thing, the espresso machine to the right is pumping out a robust latte otherwise ($3.50). Food wise, the menu does not fail to impress. Designed around quality produce-driven dishes, breakfast includes sumptuous offerings such as a mini egg benedict brioche roll ($8.50); baked polenta with mushrooms, grilled asparagus, poached egg and parmesan ($15); or beetroot cured ocean trout with avocado smash on rye ($16.50) — all of which satisfy that rumbling morning stomach. If you've visited in-between meals, try something sweet to have with your coffee. Pastries are made in-house and we hear that Brewtown's cronuts are building quite the reputation. Lunch dishes are equally as notable, with sophisticated options at reasonable prices. Duck ravioli with porcini and wild mushroom ($16.50) appears to be a popular choice, so too does a poached chicken salad with quinoa ($14). But it's not all fancy-pants at Brewtown: sandwich lovers unite, the quintessential Reuben ($14) makes an appearance and ye' old chicken and mayo stops in for a visit too ($10). It might be a simplistic inclusion on the menu, but it's a smart strategy from this engaged team. And engaged they all are: the troops manning the floor are all incredibly with-it, and service is faultless, even on a busy Saturday morning. Newtown has a healthy storm brewing here and despite the upsetting departure of yet another bookstore, we're most pleased to have Brewtown in the 'hood.
First it was the children's book that stunned a generation into awareness. Australia's colonial history was powerfully, simply laid bare by the allegory of The Rabbits — arriving, multiplying and eventually controlling the peaceful native marsupials. Now, it's an Australian-grown opera, dreamed up by John Sheedy, the artistic director of Perth's Barking Gecko Theatre Co. Before its premiere at last year's Perth Festival, Sheedy revealed why he had to make the show. “I was completely inspired, and in awe that, between Shaun Tan’s illustrations and John Marsden’s powerful and economic language, they tackled such huge themes," he told the Australian. "You can spend an hour on each page and make discovery after discovery ... The epic nature of the illustrations just lent itself to an opera.” Two of our brightest female artists were enlisted to create the music and libretto: Kate Miller-Heidke (who also performs as the principal soprano) and Lally Katz, along with set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova. From the looks of it, the expressively angular animals dwarfed by dusty landscapes look just as magical as Tan's. Indeed, the Perth and Melbourne seasons saw The Rabbits applauded as an exceptionally brave, vital and moving work.
Our city's biggest summer celebration of local and international talent has finally arrived – and you've managed to bag tickets! Good start, compadre. But as any regular arts-goer knows, finding pre- or post-show eats is a tricky business. That's why we've chosen our top places near the main Sydney Festival venues, so whether you're heading to Carriageworks for About An Hour, Enmore Theatre for Mexrissey or Riverside Theatre for Birdman, we've got your nosh needs covered. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE SPIEGELTENTS, CITY RECITAL HALL OR SYDNEY TOWN HALL Festival Village For another year, Sydney Festival is setting up the beloved Festival Village in Hyde Park, stretching along College Street past the Archibald Fountain and housing the Spiegeltent, Magic Mirror Spiegeltent and all your festival food and drink needs. Food vendors have your voracious stomach's needs completely covered from 12pm (check out these ridiculous Messina creations). Yes, the gelato gods are once again gifting us with the goods for the duration of the 20-day festival, creating a seven-piece menu of stupidly creative (and delicious) ice creamery — dubbed Il Carnivale di Gelato Messina. Mary's CBD Mary's has brought its signature burgers (plus some deliciously thick new inventions) over from Newtown. Located on Castlereagh Street, Mary's CBD has two floors, with the upper level functioning as a production space, while downstairs is the kitchen and takeaway counter. The menu features the same burgers we know and love from Newtown. Add to that the new chicken burger, super crispy French fries, and thickshakes. Did someone say smoked maple? Indu Seeing a show in Angel Place? Take a turn before China Lane. From here, head through a small door, and follow your nose down a few flights of dimly lit stairs. Indu, which takes its inspiration from the southern coastal regions of India, is owned by doctor, philanthropist and all-round hero Sam Prince. Indu's menu is refreshing, totally innovative and surprisingly light — a far cry from the heavy Indian curries that characterise most Indian restaurants in the city. China Lane Underneath an art installation nest of bird cages in Angel Lane, China Lane is a mix of suits, trendy young things checking out the CBD's hidden laneway escape, and daters. If you've seen any of director Wong Kar-wai's movies, you'll get the idea – moody lighting, a modern sense of decor mixed with '50s Hong Kong glamour, and general snappiness. Japanese sashimi rubs up against Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai on the menu, showing head chef Ben Haywood's dexterity with Pan Asian cuisine. Mordeo Offering the best of Southern European cuisine, Mordeo brings a little piece of the Mediterranean to the inner city. Owner and executive chef Nicholas Aspros worked alongside head chef Marc Gehret to curate an innovative collection of fresh, produce-driven dishes, focusing on the vibrant flavours of Greece, Italy and Spain and ranging from tapas to generous share plates, woodfired meats and pizza. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE OPERA HOUSE OR ROSLYN PACKER THEATRE Opera Bar D'uh. Pop by this revamped icon, given brand new life by Matt Moran last year. Equip yourself with a refreshing pomegranate and mint Sydney Sling ($18) and head outside to the sun-drenched deck where you and 699 other people can now find a seat. Bennelong Peter Gilmore has ditched the fancy, fiddly techniques he's famous for (see: Snow Egg) and created an informal menu with approachable prices at the opera house. Bennelong has five different dining options to choose from. There's The Bar and The Circle for drinks and nibbles; Cured and Cultured, the casual dining option; The Restaurant, the main event; and The Kitchen, six VIP seats in the kitchen for a behind-the-scenes experience. Try the theatre dining option. Walsh Bay Kitchen Walsh Bay Kitchen, within the Roslyn Packer Theatre, sits on the burgeoning food strip of Hickson Road. The space is slick with off-Broadway style: think parquetry floors and leather banquettes. The recessed lightboxes seem a nod to stage lights, casting dress circle moodiness. If mirth and merriment bars a thousand harms and lengthens life, there isn't a better reason to catch an end-of-season show and dig in here. Check out their Fast Festival Feast. The Morrison Bar and Oyster Room Perch yourself on the bar and you can watch the action right before your eyes as Morrison's oyster maestros shuck your Pacific, Angassi or Rock oysters to order. Alternatively, opt for the Fast Festival Feast menu, and graze your way through a tasting plate, a main and side to share with a glass of wine each for $30pp. Hotel Palisade & Henry Deane Standing proud in Millers Point, the Hotel Palisade forms a unique and improbable part of Sydney's foreshore history; when it was built a century ago, it was the city's highest building. Now been revived with a smart new maritime design by Sibella Court, Hotel Palisade serves up pub food that avoids the familiar schnitzels and steak sandwiches and opts instead for snacks like creamy chicken liver pate with a sweet Young Henrys cider jelly ($12) or a beef brisket sanga ($18) with a mug of salt and vinegar chips. Venture upstairs for the swanky Henry Deane rooftop bar, with some of the best views in the whole city. The Glenmore The much loved local's-style pub remains on ground level, but as you head up the stairs towards the first level and rooftop terrace, you can see just how much this oldie has been spruced up. It has one of the best views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, along with some great pub food. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... CARRIAGEWORKS Cornerstone at Carriageworks You're there, it's there, what more do you want? We love the colossal monster ferns hanging from cranes, the Edison bulbs burning seductively like lanterns along a lakeside dock, and the option of outdoor seating. The bar food menu is solid and served fast. The Animal at Newtown Hotel The Animal restaurant unites Newtown's Greek migrant history with its colourful, trendy present. It's unfussy, friendly and reasonably priced. The main lure is whole animals cooked on the spit, making up a medley of daily specials. Raven's Eye Named after the mobster hangout in the 1997 film Donnie Brasko, Raven's Eye is Newtown's first Italo-American diner. Welcome to the family, cue Italian hand gestures. Established by the wise guys behind the Henrietta Supper Club and Bondi's Neighbourhood, Raven's Eye is a casual bar and ristorante that serves hefty bowls of mama's meatballs, handmade ravioli and ice-cream sandwiches. Redfern Continental Redfern's day-to-night European diner is just a short walk from Carriageworks. Birthed by the guys who brought you Arcadia Liquors (just across the road on Regent), Redfern Continental really is a little bit of everything: the perfect neighbour in a suburb fast becoming an eclectic hub of food and drink in Sydney. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... ENMORE THEATRE Hartsyard There's no denying Hartsyard's heritage; it's palpably American in taste, substance and style. As soon as you push open the glass door, the smell of hickory smoked pork greets you with open arms. Salvaged timber and industrial lighting, utility and charm, Hartsyard sits at the intersection of bustling farmhouse kitchen and buzzing late-night diner. A visit wouldn't be complete without feasting on their fried chicken, served with buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy ($29) just like they do in the South Carolina low country. Just remember that you won't be able to enjoy KFC in the same way ever again. Lentil as Anything Who said you can't make friends with salad? The not-for-profit vegan chain Lentil as Anything has quickly become the darling of King Street. No need to book, just turn up for amazing food and an atmosphere that can't be beat. As 30 percent of the ingredients are donated from food rescue operations, the menu changes often so you'll need to ask your waiter what's on offer. If you swing by on a Friday or Saturday night, head upstairs for a tasty tonic in their new Lentil on the Rocks mocktail bar. Rosso Antico Pizza Bar Perfect pizzas have arrived on Enmore Road. Ever since Gigi switched to their plant-based menu and stopped serving bases adorned with dairy delights, inner west cheese fiends have been looking for a new place to get their pizza slice fix. Now that Rosso Antico has opened it's doors, they're in luck. The simple menu reflects the pared back space — antipasto, pizza and pasta — while the drinks menu is a little more extensive, showcasing a selection of international and locally sourced beers and wines (though it's hard to pass up the trusty Aperol Spritz or the Rosso Antico). Secret Garden Bar Right next to the Enmore Theatre you'll find Secret Garden, a lush, green sanctuary with overflowing hanging baskets above, field-ploughing paraphernalia to the side (courtesy of owner Ashleigh Cavagnino's grandmother) and outside-furniture-style chez lounges connecting tables along the main wall. As food goes, currently Secret Garden serves just one type of dish: the gluten-free Columbian cornmeal snack widely known as arepas. And, quite frankly, they serve it good. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... PARRAMATTA/RIVERSIDE THEATRES El-Phoenician There may be cheaper Lebanese options along Parramatta's Church Street, but you're unlikely to find better quality than at El-Phoenician. Known for its generous servings and loud groups, this local institution is offering festivalgoers a Fast Festival Feast menu of all your favourites. If you'd like some belly dancing on the side, head there on a weekend. The Emporium While this dual-level food and wine mecca from the guys behind the Coffee Emporium franchise isn't set to open til January 15, the new venture promises great things for festivalgoers and Parramatta locals alike. With a Mediterranean-inspired menu designed by chef Leon Volk and an international wine list, The Emporium hopes to the raise the bar of the area's main eats street. Don't go past the Fast Festival Feast menu. Sabu This contemporary Japanese restaurant and sake bar sports a sleek fitout and a prime position in the Eat Street district of Parramatta. The menu ranges from sushi, sashimi to robata, with cocktails, sake and sake flights on offer. Sabu is known to exhibit local artists and often surprises guests with live performances, so if you're looking for a culture-infused dinner spot to relax in ahead of your SydFest adventures, this is your go-to. IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE STAR PizzAperta Located at the entrance to Star City , this openair pizzeria offers you a better place to spend your dough. With stone-milled flour from Padova, olive oil from Tuscany and a pizza oven from Naples, PizzAperta was created by Stefano Manfredi, the Australian godfather of Italian cuisine, and it's backed by an impressive Neapolitan woodfire oven (a Stefano Ferrara M130 for all you buffs out there). The outdoor venue has piazza seating (aka Pirrama Road footpath) or you can people-watch from a sleek timber bench bar — a particularly enjoyable sport with the casino entrance nearby. BLACK by Ezard Set within luxurious surrounds, BLACK by ezard is the Star's steak in shining armour. A favourite amongst the casino's high rolling gamblers, BLACK is a beef fiend's haven. Chef Teage Ezard plates up American grill-inspired steaks and a considered seafood menu, offering diners variety in choice. Check out their Fast Festival Feast. Balla Balla's Milanese cuisine is fresh and seasonal served with a side of harbourside view overlooking Jones Bay Wharf. This Milanese 'osteria' (translating as 'traditional restaurant'), is headed up by chef Gabriele Taddeucci (ex Ucello and then Beresford). Fast Festival Feasts are value for money here. By the Concrete Playground team.
Oh, modern life. For all its joys and conveniences, it also brings with it a particular set of stresses. From fast-paced, expensive city living to pressure from friends, family, and social media to be and look a certain way, it's no surprise we go through our days feeling a bit overwhelmed. Yet, compared to the effort we put into our physical wellbeing — clocking hours at the gym or religiously adhering to one diet or another — we tend to pay much less attention to our mental health. The result: an uptick in depression, anxiety, and general unhappiness. Luckily for us Sydneysiders, Mary Hoang and her innovative new psychology and mindfulness venture The Indigo Project are here to help. Noting the lack of businesses dedicated to mental wellbeing in Sydney, Hoang set out to build a sanctuary where city dwellers could go to de-stress and cultivate inner peace. Based in Surry Hills, the newly opened space uses mindfulness and modern psychology to, in Hoang's words, "help people get their shit together". Refreshingly unpretentious, The Indigo Project offers innovative workshops, one-on-one therapy, meditation, yoga and lunchtime nap classes (yes, nap classes), as well as local and international retreats. Hoang's path to founding The Indigo Project was winding. Originally from Perth, she moved to Sydney to pursue a degree in psychology and, after graduation, worked with the city's street kids through The Salvation Army's Oasis Youth Support Network. "I found the best way to connect with the kids was through mediums like hip hop dance and graffiti," she says. "And I became passionate about this creative, down-to-earth approach to psychology." But going on to work in various private practices, Hoang found that her youthful, creative approach was not readily embraced by employers. "I had all these ideas like taking meditation into the corporate world and creating mindfulness workshops that incorporated music, but my bosses preferred to stick to their old-school ways," she says, in her characteristically enthusiastic tone. So, in 2012, Hoang decided to take the leap and branch out on her own. Naming her venture after the concept of indigo children (that is, a generation of individuals thought to have supernatural intuition, intelligence, and creativity), she set out to build a business that would cater to young, creative individuals by teaching mindfulness in an approachable way. While the journey hasn't been easy — "you certainly don't learn how to run a small business in your psychology classes" — it's also been incredibly fulfilling. After three years of working out of her apartment and renting rooms for workshops and classes, Hoang finally opened the permanent location last month, in October 2016. "It took me years to find this place because I wanted somewhere people would want to linger, to talk, to collaborate — not just drop in for a class and then rush back out," she explains. This goal has been achieved with the serene Surry Hills space — it features beautiful Scandinavian-style furniture, abundant potted plants, and an AstroTurfed rooftop. Today, The Indigo Project's jam-packed program offers something for everyone. The only "requirement", Hoang says, is a curious mind. "If you're asking questions about how you can be more present and reduce your stress, we have something for you." For an introduction to mindfulness, try one of the daily meditation or yoga classes. Once you're ready to delve deeper, sign up for The indigo project's signature Get Your Shit Together course. An eight-week mindfulness meditation program, the course gives participants the tools to understand their minds better and learn to live in the present. You could also give the genius Nap Time a try. Perfect for those moments in the work week when you're practically nodding off at your desk, the class provides a guided relaxation meditation and the opportunity for a little pick-me-up snooze in the middle of the day. It's designed so you head back to work energised and ready to tackle the afternoon's challenges. If you don't have a nap desk, this is the next best thing. Even if you're sceptical, give it a go — your mind will thank you.
Like a diamond in the rough, Waterloo stalwart Wild Cockatoo is set in the most unassuming of spots on Botany Road — and it's turning out some of the best sourdough in the city. The bakery's organic bread is lovingly displayed in baskets set atop a massive, wrap-around display case. The sourdough is available in heaps of flavours that change daily, including daily specials such as saltbush, nigella seed, rosemary and potato, raisin and wholemeal. The bakery also bakes baguettes, rolls, flatbreads, flaky meat pies and decadently buttery croissants. Wild Cockatoo is open six days per week until sold out — you can bet it'll sell out. While you wait, be sure to check out the many colourful cockatoos that adorn the walls and have a perfect cup of coffee. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Gin lovers rejoice — Four Pillars has opened its Surry Hills digs. Since launching in 2013, Four Pillars has given Aussie gin lovers plenty to drink, including its famed Bloody Shiraz Gin, an annual Christmas-themed tipple, barrel-aged gins and even a boozy ode to Melbourne landmark The Espy. Now, Sydneysiders can sip the world's best gin straight from the source. The Yarra Valley gin distillery announcing plans for its first permanent Sydney spot back in September 2019. Part distillery, part small bar and part retail space, The Four Pillars Gin Lab is located inside a 1930s warehouse on Crown Street (across the road from Bartolo and Bills). The space is the new home for Eileen: the distillery's 70-litre still. This means small batches of gin are made on site — and you can get in on the action, too, with The Lab hosting masterclasses, tastings and gin gatherings in the space. [caption id="attachment_774864" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] Step through a discreet door on the corner of Fitzroy and Crown Streets, ascend the stairwell and you'll find Eileen's Bar: the on-site speakeasy. Expect plenty of G&Ts, martinis and negronis, plus a selection of beer, cider and wine. There is also a limited food menu — think jaffles and crinkle-cut crisps — put together by chef Matt Wilkinson, who previously headed up Made Establishment's now-closed restaurant Crofter. If all of that isn't enough to excite you, you can also pick up all of Four Pillars' made-from-gin products (we're talking marmalade, Gin Pig salami and Hunted & Gathered chocolate), merchandise, books, bar kits and, of course, gins from the adjoining Gin Shop. Top images: Anson Smart
Debauched banquets from Bompas and Parr, giant industrial fire organs and all the demon purging and ceremonial death dances you could want in a festival. Now in its third year, Dark Mofo continues to evolve to be darker, weirder and wilder than before. Aligned with the winter solstice and run from June 12-22, MONA’s annual June festival celebrated the Neolithic tradition over ten hedonistic days of eclectic and unpredictable art, performance, music and happenings around Hobart, concluding with the annual nude solstice swim at dawn after the longest night in Australia— yep, people actually swim nude in the bloody freezing Derwent River. Programming for Dark Mofo seems to be a deliberate descent from free-spirited, easily digestible art to uncontrolled, freakish insanity — from loveable Sydney fivesome The Preatures to Japanese eight-laptop conductor EYE. This year's citywide festival had thousands huddled ritualistically around fire bins in the waterfront arts precinct Dark Park, roasting giant marshmallows, chowing down on Pacha Mama wallaby burritos, Quiet Deeds Lamington Ale and Bruny Island oyster-garnished Bloody Marys at the Winter Feast and absorbing all the doom sludge metal, splintered electronic feedback ambience and Marina Abramovic performance art they could guzzle. We put our hands into mystery boxes at Hendrick's Gin's pop-up Parlour of Curiosities (which was wonderfully Sleep No More meets The Blair Witch Project), we made forcefields out of Anthony McCall's stunning Solid Light Works, avoided bodily injury by skipping Byron J Scullin and Supple Fox's Bass Bath and inhaled Aesop's olfactory soap-mist room — all while artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's beam of light towered over the city, pulsing with punter heartbeats. And then there's the event with a safe word (it was 'bananas'). Creative team Supple Fox created the mysterious, epic Blacklist party, a heaving, nightly end-of-the-world art rave taking over Hobart Town Hall until the wee hours. While most might want to abide by the rule 'what happens at Blacklist stays at Blacklist', we can divulge that there was more revolving pink Christmas trees made out of plastic bodies, silent drag shows, star sign-based floor huddles, melancholy poetry readings, Retrosweat-style dance demonstrations, silver balloon drops and car engine bonfires than we've seen at other, less apocalyptic parties. But the best bit about Dark Mofo? For an incredibly niche, dark and avant-garde festival that should be overwhelmingly pretentious, it's probably the most accessible and widely-attended (demographically) festival we've seen in many a day. Toddlers, nannas, teenagers, twenty-somethings, older humans; they all show up and have a grand ol' time. Maybe it's a Hobartian thing. Or maybe there's something about the end of the world that makes us lose our inhibitions and just run with it. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
You might have trudged up Foveaux Street in Surry Hills a thousand times, but chances are you've missed a brand new bar completely inspired by the Fonz. You heard us. Fonzarelli's, Surry Hills' newest bar dedicated to perpetually thumbs-upping Happy Days hero Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, takes cues from classic 1950s America with vintage booths, a jukebox and — something Sydney's genuinely needing more of — a swingin' dancefloor. Owner Eddie Venneri (ex-Frankie's) is the brains behind this Fonzie-inspired den of nostalgia. When we dropped in for a stickybeak, Eddie greeted us in well-worn Levi's, white crew neck t-shirt, and a charm not seen since the Fonz himself. He guides us past an original 1950s vintage café racer, strategically perched to pique interest from passersby. We wander past the jukebox, past the pinny (pinball machine), the dancefloor, and down to the romantic, snug booths of this twin level bar. "The concept comes from the cars, the fashion, the guitars, and the music," says Eddie. "I've always had a passion for the era." Eddie's hospitality background is studded with some of Sydney's most authentic bars, especially those with a nostalgic American-Italian edge. Having managed CBD basement favourite Frankie's Pizza since its opening in 2012, Eddie knows that the devil is in the detail. "If you've got to choose a concept, you must move people from A-Z. You must provide an experience that draws people to that place in time. No longer in Sydney, they are in 1950s Milwaukee." Set over two levels, Fonzarelli's features a full bar and kitchen, offering classic American food by Fernando Rodriguez of Barbecue Buddies notoriety. Downstairs sees full tray service by era-appropriate-clad servers. Upstairs will be full bar service and space for a dancefloor for all the cool cats to get swingin'. "We've been open for two minutes and we've already got people dancing," says Eddie. We expect this heavily-themed hangout to appeal to Sydneysiders who remember the era, bartenders who love the era, and students of AIM Institute who want to experience the era in the middle of Sydney. Go on, pull up a pew and "sit on it". Find Fonzarelli's at 65/67 Foveaux St, Surry Hills. Open Wednesday to Sunday 5pm-midnight. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Smash-hit musical Once has garnered an impressive array of awards. First, as an indie film by John Carney, and later, as a Broadway production adapted by Enda Walsh — its quirky telling of guy-meets-girl, along with its otherworldly lyricism, has seen Once captivate audiences worldwide. And thanks to Darlinghurst Theatre Company, this winter will mark the Sydney debut of the stage production. Director Richard Carroll's rendition will boast a star-studded local cast and feature the show's peerless musical score — one that has seen it score a Grammy, a Tony and an Academy Award. Once will run for a limited season at Darlinghurst's Eternity Playhouse. A brief synopsis: Once opens in a charming and grungy Dublin pub. There, we meet Guy, who plays gigs at this sort of locale while pining over his unfaithful ex-girlfriend (a backstory wonderfully evoked in the song 'Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy'). guy is packing up his guitar when Girl, a young Czech immigrant enchanted by his music, approaches him. We soon discover that Girl is also a musician. And, perhaps more importantly, for Once's narrative purposes at least, Girl is the owner of a broken 'hoover'. The rest of the show charts the transient but intense intimacy Guy and Girl form through their shared love of creating music. To borrow the reviewer's now well-worn catchphrase: a show like this only comes around Once. Images: Robert Catto.
Rally up your mates and plan one long picnic because Tropfest is back for its 25th year. This time around, the world's biggest short film festival will be held in Parramatta Park for the first year, a shift that's being heralded as an exciting opportunity for growth. With this change comes the introduction of a 'Pick Your Patch' option, allowing Troppers to reserve a premium patch of grass and gain exclusive bar and hamper access for $49. Or, you can rock up for free — but get there early. Despite the slight changes and a recent brush with closure, one aspect guaranteed to remain is the impressive quality of the lineup, which features 16 films, all uniquely inspired by this year's iconic Tropfest signature item — a pineapple. This must appear at least once in every film, in any way, shape or form. In an industry largely dominated by males, founder and chairman of Tropfest John Polson is proud that half of the 2017 finalists are women. "The calibre of films submitted this year was outstanding," he said. "It's wonderful to see the entrants this year reflecting a vast range of diversity and gender." Further boosting female representation is the legendary Rose Byrne, who will be heading a stellar group of judges featuring actor Sam Neill, directors George Miller and Rachel Perkins and producer Bruno Papandrea.
We made it people. After shivering through one of the coldest winters on record, the season of track pants and weekend hibernation is finally at an end. Time to put down the remote, get off the couch and go and enjoy the sunshine — and what better place to do so than in Sydney's newest public park on the CBD's north-western foreshore? Open today, Barangaroo Reserve consists of six hectares of waterfront parkland with views of the western harbour. The foreshore was constructed in the shape of the natural, pre-1836 shoreline from more than 10,000 sandstone blocks, while the park itself includes lookouts, grassed areas, cycling paths and a natural amphitheatre, along with 75,000 plants native to the Sydney area. With a design by American landscape architect Peter Walker (who previously designed the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan) and an outspoken ambassador in former Prime Minister Paul Keating, the park project took two-and-a-half years to complete at a cost of around $250 million. The opening of the park marks the first time in more than a century that this section of the harbour has been accessible to the public. It's also step one in the ambitious $6 billion Barangaroo project, which has the been the subject of controversy for some time now, mostly surrounding James Packer's plans for a $2 billion hotel, casino and apartment complex. Beyond that, the precinct is expected to welcome 80 retailers, including 50 bars and restaurants. In the meantime, the Barangaroo Delivery Authority will celebrate the opening of the park with a 12-week program of free live entertainment, beginning with a giant picnic and welcome party on Sunday September 6 that will shine a light on the Indigenous history of the area and its traditional custodians the Gadigal people. The free live shows will continue throughout spring, with performances by the likes of Casey Donovan, The Morrisons and 2015 National Indigenous Music Awards Song of the Year winner Thelma Plum. Images: Hamilton Lund & Kata Bayer
Victoria is truly a cornucopia of earthly delights. Just a few hours from the centre of Melbourne lie some of Australia's lushest landmarks – the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Prom, to name a few. And yet something often stops us from getting out of the city. Whether it's a lack of time, a private vehicle, like-minded friends or camping equipment, it's easy to not take full advantage of our location and get out into nature. Enter Hike and Seek, a boutique tour company that take small groups on day adventures from Melbourne. After launching in September last year, co-founders James McCleery and Mette Kortelainen quickly realised they were onto something amazing. "We started with two tours and now we're doing six tours on a weekly basis," says James. "Generally we book every tour out…it's been an absolute dream for us." McCleery and Kortelainen live and breathe an outdoorsy lifestyle. They imagined Hike and Seek several years ago while hiking in Wilsons Prom and now spend six days a week leading hiking tours. Unlike big tour companies, Hike and Seek is a little more personal. With just eight people on a tour, you'll be picked up by a Kombi van named Olivia from either St Kilda or the CBD. From there on out, Hike and Seek provide everything, from equipment and ethically-sourced coffee from Supreme to fresh vegan food and snacks throughout the day. So where do they take you? McCleery and Kortelainen run full and half-day tours to some of the best hiking spots around Melbourne — Wilsons Promontory, the Otways, Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island, Mt Buller, the Grampians and the Mornington Peninsula all make the list. As the tour groups are so small, they're perfect for solo travellers and anyone looking to make new friends. But this isn't some tourist activity full of visiting families and rowdy groups of backpackers. "We thought our target marketing was the travellers and the backpacker, but we realised quickly that 70 percent of our market is Melbourne-based," says James. "We actually get a lot of corporate people. We get Airbnb customers and Melbourne-based people, who've just always wanted to do it — they've heard of Wilsons Prom or the Grampians, but they've never been. Or their friends bail last minute, or they don't have a car or they wanna do it with a group." Hike and Seek also offer something else you won't find with most big tour companies: delicious vegan food. Before becoming a full-time hiker, Mette studied nutrition in Helsinki, so all the food you'll chow down on is super healthy and animal product-free, and bound to give you plenty of energy to tear through your hike. "We're not preachers at all but so many people are so intrigued by it [the vegan food]," James says "They're there to get active and healthy as well, so there's a like minded group of people there who're embarking on a journey together". Come summer, they'll even be expanding to two- and three-day camping tours for those who CBFed buying a tent but crave time out from the city. All you have to worry about now is finding a comfy pair of shoes. Hike and Seek run tours from Melbourne most days of the week. Tours book out fast so you'll need to book in advance at hikeandseek.com.au. Love a good hike? Here's eight one-day hikes that you can do on your own from Melbourne.
If you haven't brushed up on your Shakespeare since reading Romeo and Juliet in high school, you may be a tad skeptical about buying tickets to watch one of his plays. But NSW-based award-winning repertory theatre company Sport for Jove is on a mission to make you appreciate Shakespeare again. Now in its eight year, their acclaimed outdoor Summer Shakespeare Season presents the great playwright's works in an accessible, enthralling, and contemporary way. This year, watch Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra performed from the female perspective— radical cross-gender casting means the traditionally male roles are played by a stellar cast of Australian female artists. Directed by Damien Ryan and Michael Pigott, this is Shakespeare for the modern era. SPORT FOR JOVE DATES: Shakespeare in the Park, Bella Vista Farm, Dec 17–Jan 7 Leura Shakespeare Festival, Everglades Gardens, Jan 14–29
This Turkish delight in Enmore serves mezze fit for a king. Come for the delicious suckling lamb, sizzling adana kebab grilled over charcoal and authentic woodfired pide. Start the meal with an assortment of dips in a rainbow of flavours, which includes parsley, jajik (garlic), chilli, beetroot, carrot, spinach, humous and babaganoush, accompanied by a slab of oven-baked Turkish bread. You'll also want to try the pides on offer, with the Sultan's Special featuring steam fried lamb, cheese and egg; while the spicy beef is packed full of donar meat, cheese and a spicy special sauce. Other dishes worth a look include the meatballs seasoned with special herbs and spices; the mixed grill with lamb, chicken skewers and chicken wings; the falafel snack pack; or the Turkish style ravioli with minced meat and yoghurt. Best part is that it's BYO — and they don't even charge corkage for the privilege. Finish with a strong, aromatic Turkish coffee and a syrupy baklava ($3) or head next door for arguably the world's best gelato at Cow and Moon. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Calling all reggae lovers and jerk enthusiasts, you're invited to Bob Marley's 70th birthday. Again marking the would-have-been occasion, Queenie's is hosting another Jamaican-inspired birthday feast complete with enough jerk and birthday cake to please the legendary musician himself. Five courses of Marley-inspired cuisine are on the table — 'Chantdown Rasta-Muffin' (fried chicken, fresh corn muffin, pickled okra, jerk remoulade, bibb lettuce), 'Tuff Going Tartare' (smoked beef, kale crisps, Calypso Coffee beets, horseradish). Then there’ll be 'Satisy My Shrimp' (barbecued prawn, japanese pepper, Soul Shakedown sauce) and 'Pimper’s Paradise Pork' with a jerk and honey glaze. Finally, dig into 'Bob’' Birthday Cake', a dark chocolate and black cherry cake with evaporated milk ice cream and peanut brittle. Bob's birthday dinner is happening this Thursday, February 5. It's 50 beans a head (not bad for five courses) and there’s a vegetarian menu available, legends. There’ll be cocktail specials on the night and of course, a significant bucketload of loud and cruisy Bob Marley classic on the stereo all night. To book (and you probably should), call (02) 9212 3035 or shoot the Queenie's team an email to bookings@queenies.com.au.
There aren't many things that Sydney likes more than a rooftop bar. Sipping an ice-cold cocktail high above the city on a sunny day — does it get much better? Luckily, we've got plenty of top-notch options, and another is set to launch on Thursday, November 2 with CBD hotel Kimpton Margot opening Harper Rooftop Bar. The lavish boutique-meets-luxury accommodation already boasts plenty of top-notch dining spots including Luke Mangan's Luke's Kitchen and lobby cocktail haven The Wilmot Bar. Now, Harper is joining in on the fun with a summer-ready drinks list, a colourful fitout, a sky-high pool and more Mangan snacks. "We've created a delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu full of small, share-style plates using fresh, local produce and plenty of amazing seafood — the perfect combo to celebrate the warm summer days," says Mangan. As for the drinks menu, it's been injected with a whole lot of fun. Alongside classic cocktails and a robust wine selection, there are boozy slushies on offer ready to cool you down on a warm December day. And, if you feel like frosé is so 2019, Harper Rooftop Bar is mixing things up with frozen riesling (or friesling). Kimpton claims that this is Sydney CBD's biggest rooftop bar, with the expansive L-shaped space set up to accommodate everything from intimate after-work drinks to large group events. Surrounded by Sydney's mass of inner-city high-rises, the new seventh-floor venue boasts plenty of greenery, bright pod seating and long group dining tables. You'll also find the hotel's swimming pool perched above the bar, calling out for hotel guests to enjoy a poolside martini during their stay. As the silly season kicks off, keep an eye on the bar's Instagram, with the rooftop expected to host plenty of crowd-pleasing events throughout spring and summer. Harper Rooftop Bar will open on the seventh floor of Kimpton Margot Sydney, 339 Pitt Street, Sydney on Thursday, November 2. Images: Dexter Kim.
Adelaide's highly anticipated Harvest Rock Festival is fast approaching and music lovers around the country are starting to gear up for the jam-packed weekend event ahead. Set to take place at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, the festival will feature a seasoned lineup of international and local artists including headliner Jack White, The Black Crowes, Khruangbin, The Lumineers and more. While these live acts are what out-of-town fans will be travelling to Adelaide for, the City of Churches is also an excellent starting point for a number of incredible day trips. To help you out, we've gathered a list of spots for you to check out before or after the festival. From the scenic landscapes of Limestone Coast to the incredible wildlife of Kangaroo Island, these incredible locations will make you think twice about heading straight back home. [caption id="attachment_869635" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Louis Hoang (Unsplash)[/caption] ADELAIDE HILLS Less than a 20-minute drive from the city, Adelaide Hills is the perfect place to plan a boozy afternoon with friends. With more than 60 wineries calling the Hills home, you definitely won't run out of options during your time there. If you happen to be a foodie as well, a number of restaurants that serve quality produce await your arrival. Consider booking a table at the three-hatted Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, which features a refined four- or seven-course menu, as well as a multi-award-winning wine list, impressive sake collection and innovative cocktails. Or, you could opt to stop into Golding Wines and indulge in its excellent wood-fired pizza paired with a rich glass of local pinot noir. Adelaide Hills is a 15- to 20-minute drive from the city. [caption id="attachment_869645" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Luisa Denu (Unsplash)[/caption] FLEURIEU PENINSULA Whether you're looking to escape the city or immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind culinary experience, the Fleurieu Peninsula has it all. Wine and dine in a cave nestled behind Maxwell Wines, or take it to the next level and embark on a Helivista helicopter tour for epic scenes of Fleurieu Peninsula's vineyards, beaches and coastline. Don't forget to take a dip in the strikingly blue waters of Gulf St Vincent — and if you're feeling adventurous, head into the caves of Second Valley by kayak. Fleurieu Peninsula is around a one-hour drive from Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_869648" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sue Tucker (Unsplash)[/caption] KANGAROO ISLAND As November starts to warm up, bask in the South Australian sun while enjoying the white sandy beaches Kangaroo Island has to offer. Be sure to add Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to your itinerary and say hello to some wildlife like koalas and kangaroos. Or, explore the underwater world with Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari and witness dolphins, seals, ospreys, sea eagles, wedge-tail eagles and more in their natural habitats. Another must-visit is Flinders Chase National Park, where you'll get to witness other-worldly landmarks like Admiral's Arch and Remarkable Rocks up close. Kangaroo Island is a 90-minute drive and 45-minute ferry ride — or a 30-minute flight — from Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_869652" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mick Orlick (Unsplash)[/caption] BAROSSA VALLEY Barossa Valley is your one-stop destination for all things food and wine. Prior to sipping on 100-year-old Para Vintage Tawny at the historic Seppeltsfield Estate, we recommend stopping by Vasse Virgin Barossa – a brand that specialises in natural skin and body care products – and signing up for a DIY lip balm workshop, 60-minute natural perfumery workshop or olive oil masterclass. Get the full Barossa experience and make your way to the Barossa Farmers Market, which is teeming with local delicacies and produce you might not be able to find elsewhere. Barossa Valley is a 50-minute drive from Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_869655" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mark Smith (Flickr)[/caption] CLARE VALLEY Besides its Instagram-famous pink lake (Lake Bumbunga), the historic Clare Valley is also known for its sublime riesling and diverse culinary scene. Take your wine obsession to the next level and sign up for a 45-minute interactive winemaking class at Knappstein Wines — the activity includes a welcome glass of riesling on top of a full tasting of the Knappstein range from the cellar door. Before driving back into the city, fill your stomach with bruschetta, a toastie or pizza from The Olive Bus, a quaint café and cellar door situated in an upcycled 1969 British Leyland bus. Clare Valley is around a two-hour drive from Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_869660" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Charles G (Unsplash)[/caption] LIMESTONE COAST If you're in need of a short break, unplug and unwind surrounded by Limestone Coast's natural wonders. Dive into the renowned Blue Lake — a once-active volcano that measures 72 metres deep into the ground — or appreciate the beauty of Mount Gambier's picturesque Umpherston Sinkhole. Conclude your day by treating yourself to a glass of red at Brand's Laira or a delectable paddock-to-plate experience at Mayura Station's Tasting Room. Limestone Coast is around a three-hour drive from Adelaide. Make the most of your time in Adelaide by ticking these destinations off the bucket list, as well as enjoying the festivities at Harvest Rock, which can be found at Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka and King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina, Adelaide, on Saturday, November 19–Sunday, November 20. Tickets are on sale now. For more details and to purchase tickets, head to the Harvest Rock website.
After Australia got its first dedicated KitKat boutique in Melbourne a few years ago, Sydney is now getting its very own, so you can indulge on OTT KitKat flavours whenever you need a break (pun intended). The space will feature a shop, tasting bar and interactive workshop area and have a more extensive lineup of KitKats than you'll find on the supermarket shelf. Opening on Monday, July 6 in Mid City shopping centre on Pitt Street, the KitKat Chocolatory intends to offer a "premium chocolate experience" according to the sugar fiends at Nestlé. You can whip up your own chocolatey creation, with up to 30,000 possible combinations. You'll be matching your pick of chocolate with a bunch of tasty ingredients, then wrapping it up in your own custom packaging. If you'd rather skip straight to the good stuff, you can sample a range of chocolatey goods with a 90-minute dessert degustation at the onsite Tasting Table. But that's not all at this chocolate haven. You can pick up new and limited-edition creations that you won't find anywhere else — think fillings such as yuzu ganache, peanut butter and raspberry, cotton candy, sake and, perhaps the most strange, wasabi crème. Sydney's KitKat Chocolatory is slated to open Monday, July 6. For more information, head here.
Buckets of sunshine, adrenaline-inducing thrills in the heart of the city, plus dreamy white-sand islands and lush rainforests on its doorstep... Brisbane and its surrounds are a wonderland for outdoor adventurers. There's the iconic Brisbane River where you can captain your own eco-friendly boat or abseil down 230 million-year-old rock formations at sunset. Or, further afield you can find the epic sand islands of Bribie, Moreton and North Stradbroke/Minjerribah, hugged by crystal clear waters, covered in national park and packed with wildlife — from green sea turtles and dolphins to wallabies and koalas. Then there's the Lamington National Park that provides nature lovers and enthusiastic hikers with magnificent waterfalls or the chance to kick back in a spa overlooking ancient rainforest. Read on for seven unmissable outdoor adventures in and around Brisbane for your next adventure. [caption id="attachment_856015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] River to Bay Tour at Moreton Island. Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] TAKE A RIVER TO BAY TOUR Just east of Brisbane you can find islands galore to explore. The easiest way to experience them? Book in a day trip with River to Bay. For snorkelling among tropical fish and green sea turtles at the picturesque Tangalooma Wrecks, spotting koalas among tall trees and wandering around the haunted ruins of Queensland's first penal colony, take the Moreton Island Bay Tour. Alternatively, go for incredible swimming beaches, spectacular scenery and boutique cafes in a historical village on the Stradbroke Island Tour. Another tempting option is the Champagne and Oyster Tour, which involves sipping bubbly and sampling oysters fresh from the ocean while watching the sun set. GO ABSEILING WITH RIVERLIFE For an adrenalin rush, go abseiling with Riverlife. On the Day Abseil, you'll complete a 90-minute ascent and descent of the 20-metre high Brisbane Kangaroo Point Cliffs. They're heritage-listed formations of 230 million-year-old volcanic rock which flank the Brisbane River, just a stone's throw from the CBD. Once you make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of Brisbane City and its surrounding waterways. For an even more magical experience, book a Twilight Abseil Tour. And if you're a nervous abseiler, don't worry. Riverlife is all about helping you overcoming your fears. [caption id="attachment_807856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Go Boat Brisbane. Image by Lean Timms.[/caption] JUMP ON A GO BOAT One of the newest additions to the adventure scene is Go Boat. Founded in Copenhagen in 2014, it was launched in Brisbane to make the most of the city's glorious weather and winding river. For up to three dreamy hours, you'll captain a blissfully silent electric boat made of recycled PET bottles transformed into fibreglass. Pack a cheeseboard, a bottle of bubbly and up to seven mates, and see Brisbane from a whole new perspective on the water. Pets are welcome. By the way, there's no need for a boating licence, as the Go Boat crew will show you what to do before waving you off on your adventure. [caption id="attachment_856018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hot Air Ballooning Brisbane. Image by Sam Lindsay/Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] GO HOT AIR BALLOONING WITH FLOATING IMAGES Once you've seen Brisbane from the water, the next logical step is to see it from the sky. You can do just that with Floating Images. Their sunrise flight takes you up where the air is clear for 60 glorious minutes. Prepare for incredible views of the Brisbane city skyline, backdropped by the Great Diving Range, the Scenic Rim and the countryside of Somerset. Afterwards, you'll be treated to a breakfast fit for royalty at a local restaurant. Chief pilot Graeme has flown air balloons for three decades on three continents, so you can relax knowing you're in safe hands. TAKE AN ADVENTURE TOUR WITH G'DAY Another spot on the must-see list for visitors to Brisbane is Bribie Island, the fourth largest sand island in the world. It, in itself, is an outdoor adventurer's kingdom packed with national parks, wild surf beaches, idyllic coves for swimming and the Pumicestone Passage, a protected marine park home to dolphins, turtles and dugongs. To get amongst it, take a tour with G'Day Adventure Tours. Their frolics range from the three-hour 4WD beach and bunker tour to the two-day, one-night Camping Adventure, which sees you kayaking through Norfolk lagoon, swimming in Mermaid lagoon, toasting marshmallows around a campfire and meeting wallabies. [caption id="attachment_856009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] RETREAT INTO THE RAINFOREST AT O'REILLY'S Another of Brisbane's drawcards is its proximity to lush ancient rainforests. One way to immerse yourself is a visit to O'Reilly's, an eco-retreat overlooking the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park. Visitors have been escaping here for nearly 100 years. There's a bunch of activities to try, including an adventure trek to the Thunder and Lightning Falls, indulgent treatments in the Lost World Day Spa, a glow worm experience and e-bike tours. To fit them all in you'll want to stay overnight, either at the campground with your own tent or go a little more luxe with a variety of studios and villas. [caption id="attachment_856007" align="alignnone" width="1920"] North Gorge Walk at North Stradbroke Island. Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.[/caption] VISIT NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND / MINJERRIBAH If beaches are your thing, then you'll want to put North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah on your itinerary. It's the world's second largest sand island, which means there are beaches for surfers, swimmers and sun-soakers of all kinds. For stunning views (especially at sunset) hit Flinders Beach (Point Lookout). For a long seaside walk try a stretch of sand across the 33km-long Main Beach. For amazing surfing (not for beginners) get some epic swell off Frenchmans Beach or Cylinder Beach. For solitude make your way to Toompany Beach and for laidback swimming in gentle crystal-clear waters visit Amity Beach. And, since you can't pack all that paradise into one day, you should definitely stay for a night (or three). Ready to plan a trip to Brisbane and its surrounds? Learn more at the Visit Brisbane website.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to the multi-award-winning Saffire Freycinet on Tasmania's East Coast. We've also teamed up with Saffire Freycinet to offer an unforgettable two-night stay in one of its Luxury Suites. The exclusive deal includes three meals at the private restaurants, complimentary lounge and minibar beverages and a $100 voucher to use on the hotel's spa treatments and signature experiences. This is peak treat-yourself stuff. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This Tassie hotel is like no other — from the panoramic views across the Hazards Mountains, Freycinet Peninsula and pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay to the hyper-personalised service, sleek design of the rooms and the long list of bespoke travel experiences. You'll pay handsomely to stay here, but it is totally worth it. Earmark Saffire Freycinet for the next time you're looking to spoil yourself silly. THE ROOMS This vast property has just 20 suites. Plus, the restaurant, bar and luxe spa are only accessible to hotel guests, so it often feels like you have the whole place to yourself. Each of the rooms looks out over the surrounding bay and mountains — seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks. Design-wise, the large suites are made up of an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary fittings, with locally made timber pieces sitting alongside mid-century classics such as chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames and Herman Miller. Super king beds (yes, they've super-sized the beds), double walk-in showers and deep baths, extensive complimentary mini-bars, bluetooth music systems, retractable LCD TVs, private courtyards and fast wifi are also on the menu at each accommodation. FOOD AND DRINK All things local are celebrated at Saffire Freycinet's two dining rooms. Palate Restaurant is home to an elegant degustation menu that changes every day depending on what's coming out of the nearby paddocks and waters. You always have the option to pair each course with a sustainably made Tassie wine, too. The Lounge is a little more laidback, offering up a space to chill with a book or quietly hang with your travel buddies. During the day, you can enjoy fresh local produce from the barbeque and outside terrace. And at night, the lounge livens up a little as guests mingle with evening canapes and pre-dinner drinks in hand. It's serving The White Lotus realness. THE LOCAL AREA This lavish hotel is set within Tasmania's Freycinet National Park, home to stunning vistas and a thriving local ecosystem — think koalas, roos and colourful birds rummaging around lush green forests. It is also home to some of the state's most famous beaches, mostly notably Wineglass Bay. The Saffire Freycinet team will help organise scenic flights over the area, guided hikes to some of the greatest vistas and boat trips for those wanting to sneak in some snorkelling and boat-side swimming. You can arrive at the hotel by air or via the Great Eastern Drive. During this road trip, you'll pass by several wineries with cellar doors and eateries such as Devil's Corner, Spring Vale, Craigie Knowe, Milton, and the famous Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea. Hobart is also just a 2.5-hour drive away, so you can easily stop by the city for a couple of days before or after your stay. THE EXTRAS Saffire Freycinet has won award after award for its extensive list of luxury travel experiences — easily added to any stay. Each of the 14 unique activities focuses on connecting guests to place through nature, culture and produce. You can do some beekeeping on the property, taste fresh oysters at its own oyster farm (with sparkling wine in hand, of course), join one of the small group (or private) cruises of the area, quad bike around the mountains with a guide and learn how to fly-fish in the Currawong Lakes. Follow these food, culture and adventure tours with a late afternoon spa sesh. Get a massage, scrub or facial before soaking in a bath overlooking the natural surroundings. This is an unbelievably dreamy place. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips to destinations all over the world.
When it's hot and humid you'll find us hurling ourselves into the nearest water source to take the heat off. And after the past couple of years we've all had, we're pretty keen to cool off somewhere extra special in 2022. One place that is overflowing with waterfalls and crystal clear freshwater swimming holes is Tropical North Queensland. Autumn is the perfect time to see the rainforest and its waterfalls truly thrive thanks to higher rainfall. From natural rock waterslides to rope swings in the Daintree, there's no shortage of incredible ways to make a splash and extend your summer in the north this year. Just make sure you always follow the advice from Queensland Parks and steer clear of out of bounds zones, flooded waters or dangerous areas so you're always swimming safely. [caption id="attachment_830046" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] SLIDE DOWN A NATURAL WATERSLIDE AT JOSEPHINE FALLS When you drive 75 kilometres south of Cairns to Josephine Falls, you'll quickly realise why this picturesque playground is so popular among locals and tourists. Located in Wooroonooran National Park, which is home to the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people, this incredible waterfall cascades through World Heritage-listed rainforest near Queensland's highest peak, Mount Bartle Frere. From the carpark, you'll wander 600 metres through lush rainforest before reaching the viewing decks that overlook the falls. Here, you can take a few snaps of the incredible view before making your way down to the water peppered with smooth boulders for you to perch on — then it's time to get wet. If you're feeling adventurous, have a crack at the natural waterslide in the main pool. Or, if you like to take your swimming at a slower pace, there's plenty of space to float about in the rejuvenating water fresh from the mountain. [caption id="attachment_830048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] HIKE THROUGH AN INCREDIBLE NATIONAL PARK TO CLAMSHELL FALLS If you want to get properly warmed up before jumping into fresh rainforest water, take the track through Behana Gorge to discover the impressive swimming spot that is Clamshell Falls. Situated 30 minutes drive south of Cairns, the track winds its way alongside a babbling creek for 3.5 kilometres before opening up to a dreamy dip destination. The waterfall itself acts as an active backdrop to the gentler swimming hole that sits below. The incline of the walk can be challenging in parts which means it's likely there won't be too many people around. Just make sure you take all your essential items with you as there are no amenities when you're this deep into the jungle. [caption id="attachment_830044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] GET UNDERNEATH THRIVING FALLS IN THE ATHERTON TABLELANDS If seeing one waterfall in a day isn't enough, head to the highlands to experience the beauty of the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit. With a bunch of tumbling waterfalls and vast crater lakes to explore, the trip up the mountain range to these rainforest delights is essential Tropical North Queensland travel. Take the Gillies Highway from Cairns to Crater Lakes National Park to dive into Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham. Unlike their explosive origins, these water-filled volcanic craters are ideal for a serene morning float. Next, drive to the nearby town of Millaa Millaa to find out why its eponymously named falls are one of the most photographed cascades in the country. Have a soak in the swimming hole at the base of Millaa Millaa Falls or get underneath its 18-metre drop to have your very own rainforest shower. And, if more waterfall action is what your heart desires, visit nearby Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls to round out the circuit. [caption id="attachment_830047" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] SWING INTO THE PRISTINE WATERS OF THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST Willing to head off the beaten track to find a quality swimming hole? Then head a couple of hours north of Cairns to beat the heat at Emmagen Creek. You'll bounce down an unsealed road to reach this picturesque pool located five kilometres north of Cape Tribulation in the Daintree National Park. From the carpark, head toward the Emmagen Creek road crossing and take the track on the left-hand side to the swimming section of the creek located a few hundred metres upstream. If the water is high, consider plonking yourself in the clear rainforest water via the rope swing. Or, clamber down the twisting tree roots to enter the freshwater swimming hole slowly and try to spot a cassowary from the creek. [caption id="attachment_830054" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] BE SPOILED FOR CHOICE AT CRYSTAL CASCADES When you want to get wet on a whim in Tropical North Queensland, head to Crystal Cascades. This stunning swimming spot is a popular place for locals to plunge and it's located only a 20-minute drive from the Cairns CBD. Crystal Cascades boasts a series of swimming holes and waterfalls that tumble down the mountain in a section of Freshwater Creek. If you don't feel like walking far, cool off in one of the cascade's lower pools. Or, if you're keen for a longer stroll, head to the top to take a dip at the larger waterfall at the track's end. The arching rainforest canopy provides for shady swimming and the granite boulder-filled creek helps to keep the pools cool year-round. There are picnic tables and barbecue facilities available too, so pack yourself some seasonal tropical fruit to refuel after all your waterfall exploration. [caption id="attachment_830049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] SPEND THE NIGHT CAMPING AT DAVIES CREEK Drifting off to sleep to the sound of falling water doesn't have to be created through a mindfulness app and your imagination when you're in Tropical North Queensland. If you head to Davies Creek National Park and Dinden National Park, you can listen to the sounds of an actual babbling creek situated right next to your campsite. To get there, drive an hour west of Cairns and then pitch a tent at either the Lower Davies Creek or Upper Davies Creek campsites. Then, spend a couple of days exploring the hikes, mountain bike trails and waterfalls throughout the neighbouring parks. Just make sure you book your campsite in advance as there are only eight spots available at each campground. [caption id="attachment_832593" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] EXPLORE THE JUNGLE AT STONEY CREEK In the rainforest at the back of Cairns, you'll find locals cooling off at much-loved swimming hole Stoney Creek. Whether you want a quick dip not too far from town or to hike your way to a waterfall further afield, this series of private swimming holes has all your swim cravings covered. It's just a short walk from the carpark in Barron Gorge National Park to the first pool perched underneath a small footbridge. Swim here or continue down the left side of the creek adjacent track past a series of swimming spots before reaching the spilling waters at Old Weir Falls. If you're keen for even more mountain action, head back to the footbridge after a swim at the falls and take the right side track up to Glacier Rock. [caption id="attachment_832594" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] DIVE INTO THE MAGIC OF FAIRY FALLS If you make your way to Crystal Cascades, it's worth checking out its little sister swimming spot located close by, too. Tucked away in the dense rainforest next door to the cascades, you'll soon realise what's so magical about Fairy Falls. Take the track to the left of the carpark at Crystal Cascades to make your way to the mystical falls a 15-minute walk away. The narrow waterfall shoots into a clear blue swimming hole and the log wedged in the centre of its stream makes it easy to imagine fairies frolicking in this picture-perfect rainforest pool. Just make sure you follow the path along the creek when you're trying to find this veiled treasure — the alternative track at the fork won't lead you to the magical place you're seeking. [caption id="attachment_832597" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raging Thunder Adventures[/caption] FLOAT DOWN THE TULLY RIVER TO PONYTAIL FALLS A couple of hours south of Cairns is where you'll find the spectacular sights of Tully Gorge National Park. The Tully River churns its way down the mountain creating rapids and world-class white water rafting throughout this stunning gorge. But it's not all rough and tumble in at every turn along this river. You have two options to find Ponytail Falls — by car or by raft with Raging Thunder Adventures. For drivers, follow signs to Cardstone Weir until you spot the number 11 painted on the road. Then, take a short stroll through the rainforest to uncover the hair-like spout that spills into pale blue water below. Or, if you want to see the falls from a raft, sign up to a white water rafting adventure and a guide will take you there via wet and wild rapids. Ready to extend your summer by soaking up waterfalls and freshwater swimming holes in Tropical North Queensland? For more information and to book your holiday in the tropics, visit the website. Top images: Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
Dark Mofo is back for another devilish year where truly anything can happen. The annual winter festival is one week in for 2023, and it has already served up a slate of highlights delighting the senses of festivalgoers and local Hobart residents. Whether you were on the hunt for packed dance floors into the early hours of the morning, unbeatably fresh feeds around a firepit or hedonistic masquerade balls, there's been no shortage of sinister activations so far to prove why the festival is such a must-attend event — and, if you haven't made it along yet, to show why it should be at top of your hit list. As the fest's second week kicks off with even more debauchery — including A Divine Comedy, an Australian premiere and an Aussie exclusive that reimagines Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise; Soda Jerk's Hello Dankness, which compiles samples into a 70-minute survey of American politics circa 2016–21; and performances from Molchat Doma, HEALTH, RVG and Moktar — here's a look at seven standouts from the first week of Dark Mofo 2023. [caption id="attachment_905439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] THE BLUE ROSE BALL BROUGHT TOGETHER CHILDLIKE JOY AND LYNCHIAN CHAOS Hidden among the haunting grounds of Dark Park at the base of Ryoji Ikeda's awe-inspiring light beam Spectra, The Blue Rose Ball unofficially opened Dark Mofo 2023's festivities the night before things well and truly got underway. A mysterious masquerade ball with nods to David Lynch and his television classic Twin Peaks, the event seamlessly paired debauchery with unbridled glee. Dressed to the nines and faces covered, guests were met with a hedonistic ballroom encouraging them to indulge in their every desire. While wandering around the ball, attendees discovered eerie dancing teddy bears; tables piled high with lollies, cheese and charcuterie; a fairy floss machine; hidden rooms with NSFW performances; a brief interlude from a fully functional soft serve van; and a central stage with surprise sets from artists like The Huxleys — plus an open bar, of course. [caption id="attachment_905440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Remi Chauvin[/caption] THE GATHERING KICKED THINGS OFF — AND BARKAA WAS IMMENSE After The Blue Rose Ball acted as a curtain-raiser, the ribbon was officially cut with The Gathering, a celebration of First Nations artists featuring Tasman Keith, dameeeela, Denni, Uncle Dougie Mansell and Madelena. While the night was a hit from start to finish, BARKAA brought the house down with a headlining performance that cements her as one of the nation's best and most important live performers. The dynamic set was a certified rollercoaster of emotions, seamlessly switching from heartwrenching explorations of pain to moments of love, joy and laughter — sometimes within the same song. The power of BARKAA's performances comes from her willingness not to shy away from making non-Indigenous audience members uncomfortable while celebrating the strength of the First Nations community, before bringing everyone back together to dance, sing and have an all-around great time. When she brought out her friend and collaborator Dobby to perform their 2020 track 'I Can't Breathe' together, the audience was already in the palm of BARKAA's hand. It was a momentous performance that set the tone for the next 14 days. [caption id="attachment_905437" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] THE FESTIVAL'S INTERNATIONAL ACTS DELIVERED THE GOODS While many people head down to Dark Mofo to immerse themselves in the wonders of Hobart as the chaos descends, the event also pulls some impressive big-name acts to headline the festivities. Week one of the 2023 fest saw Thundercat take to the stage to perform winding ten-plus-minute versions of his tracks, inserting long jam sessions into fan favourites like 'Them Changes' and 'Dragonball Durag'. Earlier that same night, Sleaford Mods provided a you-had-to-be-there kind of moment. The group's producer Andrew Fearn pressed play on his laptop and bobbed about, while vocalist Jason Williamson shouted tales of working-class England accompanied by erratically dance moves — all of which whipped the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. Punk legends Black Flag were in town for an Australian exclusive set and rolled out the classics, running through the band's influential catalogue of 80s and 00s heavy hitters. Max Ritcher popped up for two sombre orchestral performances of his piece VOICES, which was broadcast live across the entire city during Saturday night's performance, soundtracking people's journeys between that night's festivities. And despite bringing in a much-younger audience than the other global acts, "next big thing" singer-songwriter Ethel Cain felt squarely at home on the Dark Mofo lineup, blending dark religious imagery with her tales of small-town America — the anthemic choruses gliding over the screams of her rabid cult-like fanbase. All of this proved a Dark Mofo wonder without a mention of the likes of Squarepusher, Witch, Eartheater and Drab Majesty, who also peformed over the first week. [caption id="attachment_905450" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] TRANCE PROVIDED A WILD, UNIQUE AND FULLY IMMERSIVE UNIVERSE FOR 36 HOURS Berlin-based Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen's TRANCE offered Dark Mofo attendees the opportunity to drop in and out of an all-encompassing performance space for 36 hours across three days. Depending on when you arrived and how much time you spent in MAC2, you might've had a vastly different experience to someone else. Some audience members may have discovered a full-on rave with bass-heavy techno and screamed vocals, while others would have stumbled upon a delicate moment of dance and ambient music. A grand heavy-metal set, an intimate communal dinner, a hip hop dance circle, noisy experimental R&B, a downpouring of rain: they all featured throughout each of the three 12-hour performances, which were set in an otherworldy space filled with colourful larger-than-life characters and dream-like set designs. After wowing audiences in Asia and Europe, TRANCE found itself in the sleepy town of Hobart but couldn't have felt more right at Dark Mofo, asking attendees with an open mind and an affinity for the strange to let themselves be transported into Chen's one-of-a-kind world. [caption id="attachment_905441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] NIGHT MASS TOOK OVER AN ENTIRE HOBART BLOCK, CREATING A DEBAUCHEROUS ARTS PRECINCT Spread across four nights over the two weeks of Dark Mofo, this year's Night Mass has taken over an entire block of downtown Hobart, filling every stage, street, alleyway, bar and theatre with music and art between 10pm–4am. The festival's centrepieces, these debaucherous six-hour parties encourage you to wander through the different spaces and stumble upon something that you've never experienced before. On entry, there's a set of burning cars manned by performance artists that look straight out of Mad Max. Wander around the corner to discover a three-storey-tall teddy bear standing over a stage serving up deep electronic tunes and uplifting ballads of friendship (you can even livestream footage from a camera in the bear's face throughout the festival). Journey across the dozens of performance spaces at Night Mass and you'll find dimly lit dens, seated shows, multi-storey house parties, DJs perched on fire escapes and heaving dance floors. There's really not much else like it. [caption id="attachment_905434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] THE WINTER FEAST PUT ALL OF AUSTRALIA'S OTHER FOOD FESTIVALS ON NOTICE Always a highlight of Dark Mofo, the Winter Feast once again served up a showcase of the best Tasmanian food and drink. From Bruny Island oysters, top-notch local wines, truffle-topped pizza and winter warmers like mulled negronis to the headlining collaborative kitchen between Chef's Table alum Ana Roš and The Agrarian Kitchen, this culinary night market shows up its interstate rivals with the most diverse and produce-focused array of stalls of any Australian food festival. Adding to the ambience is the hall's famous cross-filled ceiling, firepits to congregate around and a constant lineup of musicians to soundtrack your meals. There were even some surprise sets from musicians on the festival lineup, with Ugandan Afrofuturist-punk collective Fulu Miziki popping up to close out the festivities with a late-night Sunday-night set that had everyone hitting the dance floor with squid on a stick and a local Moo Brew in hand. [caption id="attachment_905438" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] HOBART SHOWED WHY IT IS AUSTRALIA'S MOST UNDERRATED CITY While Dark Mofo served up plenty of standouts and surprises, the backdrop for the entire festival is the beauty of Hobart. MONA remains one of the country's best galleries, serving up weird, wonderful and thought-provoking art in its stunning subterranean space; the city's pubs, bars and restaurants remain top-tier for anyone looking for quality seafood, beers, wines, whisky and produce-driven meals; and the surrounding harbour and mountains make for a spectacular backdrop for your adventures around town. In winter, just be sure to pack plenty of warm clothes. Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. Still looking for Dark Mofo inspiration? Check out our wholesome-to-hedonistic guide, which'll help you stack your festival itinerary based on the level of chaos you're after — and our last-minute picks, too. Top image: Jesse Hunniford. 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.
A midweek outing in the city can be a real treat. But if there's one thing that can elevate a decision to wine and dine yourself on a Tuesday night, it's live jazz. The CBD's multi-level mega-venue Shell House is providing just that with its free City Jazz program at Menzies Bar & Bistro every Tuesday. Perfect for a date night or for an after-work tipple, this injection of live jazz kicks off at 7pm each week and runs until late. You can expect freeform jazz and renditions of classics from the Menzies Jazz Trio. If you find yourself at the bar for a quick drink with a live music soundtrack, you can take your pick from Menzies' inventive cocktail menu featuring the limoncello-infused Sicilian Margarita or the Love Over Money, a combo of gin, pink peppercorn, ginger, rose, pomegranate, verjus and sparkling wine. There's also plenty of next-level eats on offer from share plates like tuna crudo and the Menzies lobster roll through to heftier dishes like barbecued spatchcock or prawn linguine. If you want to ensure you can nab a seat, you can make a booking via the Shell House website — but walk-ins are welcome.
At the age of 22, Billie Eilish has nine Grammys, two Oscars, a couple of huge albums with a third set to hit in May 2024 and, ever since her first record When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? proved such a huge success, all-round music sensation status. She also has a brand-new just-announced world tour about to do the rounds, including to Australia in 2025 — with the 'Bad Guy' and 'Happier Than Ever' singer heading Down Under for three huge weeks. Eilish will spend close to a week in each of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, playing four shows apiece in all three cities. She's spreading out her gigs on each leg, doing two nights back to back, then taking an evening off, then doing two more consecutively. [caption id="attachment_952889" align="alignnone" width="1920"] William Drumm[/caption] The dates: from Tuesday, February 18–Wednesday, February 19 and then Friday, February 21–Saturday, February 22 in Brisbane; Monday, February 24–Tuesday, February 25 and then Thursday, February 27–Friday, February 28 in Sydney; and Tuesday, March 4—Wednesday, March 5 and then Friday, March 7–Saturday, March 8 in Melbourne. This is an arena tour, with Eilish heading to Brisbane Entertainment Centre when she's in the Sunshine State capital, Qudos Bank Arena in the Harbour City and Rod Laver Arena for her Victorian stint. [caption id="attachment_827919" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Crommelincklars via Flickr[/caption] Eilish toured Australia in 2019 and 2022, and her fame has only gotten bigger since the latter — hence the 12 Aussie shows announced off the bat. These are the only gigs that she'll be playing on her Aussie visit, with no others set to be added, so getting in ASAP when tickets go on sale is recommended. Pre-sales start from Wednesday, May 1, with general sales from Friday, May 3 at 1pm AEST for Sydney shows, 2pm AEST for Brisbane and 3pm AEST for Melbourne. Since her last tour for her second album Happier Than Ever, Eilish has acted in TV series Swarm and seen her track 'What Was I Made For?' from the Barbie soundtrack become one of the songs of 2023. Her third record Hit Me Hard and Soft, which her new tour is in support of, releases on Friday, May 17. Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Australian Dates 2025: Tuesday, February 18–Wednesday, February 19 + Friday, February 21–Saturday, February 22 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Monday, February 24–Tuesday, February 25 + Thursday, February 27–Friday, February 28 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Tuesday, March 4—Wednesday, March 5 + Friday, March 7–Saturday, March 8 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour will come to Australia in February and March 2025, with ticket pre-sales from Wednesday, May 1 and general sales from Friday, May 3 (at 1pm AEST for Sydney shows, 2pm AEST for Brisbane and 3pm AEST for Melbourne). Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
There are 8222 islands within Australia's watery borders. You could spend your entire life hopping from one Aussie island to another and never quite make them all (well, unless you're very, very quick). So, we thought we'd save you some time by teaming up with Jim Beam and handpicking 12 of the best islands in Australia. That should at least get you started. Next time you start imagining you and your best mates on a white-sanded beach with quokkas close by, sea lions in the distance and your desks a few hundred kilometres away, these are the spots to catch a boat, plane, or ferry to. Remember: an adventure like this is best enjoyed together. Right? Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites in Australia The Best Beaches in Australia The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia [caption id="attachment_688591" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Coral Coast Tourism[/caption] Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia The Houtman Abrolhos isn't just an island, it's an archipelago. 122 isles make up the marvel, more or less clustered in three groups across 100 kilometres. They lie 60 kilometres off the Coral Coast, west of Geraldton, which is four hours north of Perth. Lose yourself snorkelling or diving among colourful coral, spotting Australian sea lions and looking out for more than 90 species of seabirds, including majestic white-breasted sea eagles. For mind-blowing views, jump aboard a scenic flight and see the best Australian island from a bird's eye view. [caption id="attachment_688571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Ewart for Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] North Stradbroke Island, Queensland Located 25 minutes by ferry off the Queensland coast, Stradbroke Island is an easy day trip from Brisbane. It's the second biggest sand island in the world after K'gari (more on that Australian island later). For swimming in gentle waves, head to idyllic Cylinder Beach; for wilder surf, make your destination the 38-kilometre-long Main Beach. Overnight stays include beach camping, as well as an array of cottages, hotels and B&Bs. Just north of Straddie is Moreton Island, a wonderland of long beaches, clear lakes and a national park. Consider sleeping over at Tangalooma, an eco-friendly resort where you can hand-feed wild dolphins and swim around a shipwreck. [caption id="attachment_773788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tom Archer, Destination NSW[/caption] Lord Howe Island, New South Wales Just 11 kilometres long and two kilometres wide, Lord Howe, a two-hour flight east of Sydney, is explorable within a few days. Whenever you travel on this top Australian island, you won't have to fear tourist crowds: only 400 visitors are permitted at any one time and the population is just 382. Prepare to have pretty beaches, spectacular diving sites and rugged terrain all to yourself. Among the best adventures are the Mount Gower Trail, a steep, eight-hour trek that carries you 875 metres above sea level, and Erscott's Hole, a natural wonder where you can snorkel among staghorn coral, bluefish and double-headed wrasse. With all this natural beauty, it's easy to see why it made our list of the best islands in Australia and best overall places to visit in Australia. [caption id="attachment_770035" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] Bruny Island, Tasmania Bruny feels completely remote, yet it's just a 20-minute ferry ride from the coast and, with driving time added, 50 minutes from Hobart. The beauty of this proximity to the city is that, despite all the wilderness, you can find some top nosh: for fish and chips head to Jetty Cafe; for pub grub swing by Hotel Bruny; for cheese visit Bruny Island Cheese Company; and for a tipple, there's the Bruny Island House of Whisky. Meanwhile, nature lovers will find white wallabies at Inala Nature Reserve, windswept headlands at Cape Bruny Lighthouse and head-clearing watery views at Cloudy Bay. [caption id="attachment_688568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Khy Orchard for Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Magnetic Island, Queensland There are hundreds of islands in the Great Barrier Reef area, offering everything from secluded campsites to five-star luxury resorts. But, for convenience, outdoor adventures and, most importantly, koala spotting, Magnetic Island is hard to go past — found just 20 minutes from Townsville. Get active with sea kayaking tours and yoga classes, get artsy at beachside markets and galleries or relax at stunning beaches like Horseshoe Bay. If you're keen to venture further, jump aboard a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling, diving or sightseeing tour. [caption id="attachment_688400" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Isaac Forman for SA Tourism Commission[/caption] Kangaroo Island, South Australia With a whopping 509 kilometres of coastline, Kangaroo Island could have you exploring for weeks. To get there, take a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis, on the Fleurieu Peninsula — around 100 kilometres south of Adelaide. Then gear up to share your holiday with sea lions, fur seals, little penguins, echidnas, koalas and, you guessed it, kangaroos. The Australian island is a haven for creatures who've struggled to survive elsewhere, especially local sea lions, who were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are numerous national parks and conservation areas, and the almost 5000-strong population is big on food and wine. You also can't talk about this Aussie island without mentioning the spectacular beaches — our favourite being the one and only Stoke's Bay. [caption id="attachment_874908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guillaume Marques (Unsplash)[/caption] The Whitsundays, Queensland In total, The Whitsundays is made up of 74 islands. It's hard to choose the best, especially as each depends on what kind of holiday you're after. You can go camping on the famous Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, live it up at The InterContinental Resort on Hayman Island or even escape to an adults-only oasis like Elysian Retreat on Long Island — one of the best adults-only accommodations in The Whitsundays. From any of these small islands in Australia, you can easily get to the Great Barrier Reef and countless other stunning natural landscapes. This region is also one of Australia's national parks, so it will continue to be preserved for many years to come — even if the reef itself does die off. [caption id="attachment_683983" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] Rottnest Island, Western Australia Rottnest Island is a 90-minute ferry ride from Barrack Street Jetty, Perth, or 25 minutes from Fremantle. Like Kangaroo Island, Rottnest has given a big dose of much-needed love to Australia's wild creatures, particularly quokkas, which now number 12,000 or so. Dedicate some time to spotting them (though please don't go touching, patting or feeding) before visiting pristine beaches, such as The Basin, where you'll find an underwater playground, and Little Parakeet Bay, backdropped by striking rock formations. The best way to explore the Aussie island is by bike, but we are also big fans of getting on a sea kayak for the arvo as well. Prefer to stay here longer than a day? We recommend spending a few nights in Discovery Rottnest Island's luxe glamping tents by the beach. Phillip Island, Victoria Phillip Island's biggest drawcard is its penguin parade. Every night, at sunset, the island's resident little penguins return to their terrestrial homes, having spent the day out and about fishing. Beyond wildlife watching, go wine and craft beer tasting, bliss out with a massage or spa treatment or conquer a trail on foot, such as the Cape Woolamai Walk, which traverses dramatic clifftops along Phillip's southernmost point. Follow the links for suggestions on where to eat and drink and the best outdoor activities on Phillip Island. Unlike most of the other Australian islands on this list, you can reach this one by road: it's around 90 minutes' drive south of Melbourne, making it one of the most accessible islands in Australia. [caption id="attachment_911608" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Kingfisher Bay Resort[/caption] K'gari (Fraser Island), Queensland World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island) is the biggest sand island in the world. There are 184,000 hectares of the stuff, made up of 72 colours and mostly in the form of magnificent dunes, much of which are covered in rainforest. If you've time on your hands, take on the Great Walk, an eight-day epic that visits many of K'gari's 100 freshwater lakes. If not, jump aboard a 4WD and cruise along 75 Mile Beach (one of our favourite adventure experiences in Australia), take a dip at Champagne Pools along the way and pay a visit to awe-inspiring Boorangoora(Lake McKenzie), a perched lake made up of rainwater and soft silica sand. [caption id="attachment_688583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Wilson for Tourism Tasmania[/caption] King Island, Tasmania You might have no idea where King Island is, but may have seen its cheese at the supermarket. King Island Dairy's decadent triple cream brie is an Aussie gourmet staple. But it's far from the only treat you'll be sampling in this lush place, which lies in the Bass Strait, halfway between Victoria and Tassie. Count, too, on super-fresh seafood, flavourful beef and a cornucopia of produce from local growers. When you're finished feasting, stroll along the white sands of Disappointment Bay, visit a 7000-year-old calcified forest and go horse riding by the sea. This under-the-radar travel destination is undoubtedly one of the best islands in Australia. [caption id="attachment_856441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Bribie Island, Queensland Bribie Island isn't that far from Brisbane (a little over one and a half hours), but is a haven for local wildlife. That's because this Australian island is home to the Pumicestone Passage, a protected marine park where you'll find dugongs, turtles, dolphins and a diverse range of birdlife. All the classic Aussie land animals will be found all over the island, too. And, of course, the beaches are just stupidly beautiful. Whether you're a local or tourist, this island offers all the quintessential Australian sites you must see. Like Jim Beam, surfing and other outdoor adventures are all about bringing people together, so get out there this summer and find your tribe in the great outdoors. Top images: K'gari Island, courtesy of Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Previously hidden in a backyard sprinkled with fairy lights, Parramatta pizzeria Fratelli Pulcinella has expanded into a new location on Church Street. While you may not be sneaking around the side of a house to get your hands on the saucy rounds, you'll still find the same quality Italian food at Fratelli Pulcinella 2.0. Head into 399 Church Street, and you'll find two firing pizza ovens (one for classic bases and one for gluten-free slices) amid a spacious multi-storey dining room accented with brightly coloured chairs and Italian quotes emblazoned across the wall. If part of the charm at the original Parramatta location was the al fresco dining, never fear — the new space has plenty of tables out back in the courtyard. Food-wise the team has kept things consistent, with the addition of pizza fritta and panuozzo to the menu. Classic Italian combos form the basis of the pizza options: margherita (regular or the extra-cheesy buffalo variety), prosciutto and parmesan, capricciosa and napoletana. But, the rotating menu is known to dish up some unexpected flavours as well. Indulge in a combo of speck, provolone, buffalo cheese, rocket, truffle oil and balsamic glaze. Or opt for the double-layered Amore Tossico, which features fior di latte mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, house-made Italian sausage, tomato, ham, caramelised onions, buffalo cheese, fried speck and basil. Bellissimo. If you're looking for a comforting Italian feast in the west (or on your way to a game at CommBank Stadium), Fratelli Pulcinella is here to hit the spot — now with room for everyone. Updated Monday, December 18, 2023.
