Alec Jones

If there’s one thing Australia manages to have in both quality and quantity, it’s beaches. But like many things in life, there can only be one best-in-class beach. For Australia, that rule was bent slightly when its best beach of 2026 was actually awarded to a collection of beaches: Bate Bay – a stretch of beaches in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, including Cronulla, Elouera and Gunnamatta Bay. Cronulla wasn’t one to rest on its laurels after that win because, as of this month, it’s now home to a 12-month trial of Sydney’s first-ever beachside special entertainment precinct, as part of the NSW Government’s multi-step plan to improve nightlife across NSW. Found everywhere from Enmore Rd to Hornsby, these precincts allow local businesses to stay open later, with more flexibility around late-night noise levels. For Cronulla, that means new venues like Nelly Robinson’s coastal-inspired NEL sibling NOA, contemporary Asian eatery Isora, the day-to-night Meadow Music Room and the hybrid pizza and Mexican-serving Retro will be at the heart of the precinct, inspiring vibrant summer dining and a lively entertainment scene.  And if you’re in the mood to move, sources tell us that the Sutherland Shire is the crown jewel of Sydney’s next boot-scooting craze. It’s an area where you can get line-dancing lessons from not one but at least five local venues, including Northies at Cronulla and The Prince at Kirrawee.  If you need a proper bucket list to make the most of the year of late nights to c

October 2026: The Broadway smash-hit 'A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical' has finally made its Aussie debut, with our reviewer saying it's "so good, so good". For a ballet experience that's sure to move involving vampires, tragedy and a whole lot of darkness (in the best way), 'Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest' is a must. A musical adaptation of Harron's iconic film, 'American Psycho', is also coming to the Athaneum Theatre at the end of this month for a three-week limited run. A dark horror comedy that bursts into song? That sounds right up our alley. From the toe-tapping to the cathartic, consider this your ultimate guide to all the best Melbourne theatre shows happening this month. When stuck for things to do between shows, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Want something else to do this month? Check out our guide to the city's best exhibitions.

As we return to the sunny side of the year, there’s one thing on all our minds: a change of scenery. Sunny long weekends are coming up fast, and we’re prepping our calendars with day trips, weekends away and adventures. If your holiday savings are looking a little light, maybe it’s time to opt for a local getaway in Vic instead?  Thanks to Victoria’s half price travel until 1 January 2027, this is possible and much more affordable than a flight. Half price travel means every single public transport fee (excluding ferries and subsidised regional bus services) will be slashed down the middle. All you need to do is tap on or buy a ticket as you always would. No matter if it's on a myki or a contactless payment, every fee on trains, trams, buses, V/Lines and coaches is automatically being halved, even concessions. That means a full day of transport anywhere on the network is down from $11.40 to $5.70 on full fares, or $2.85 for concession. It’s a prime time to leave the car at home or book a heavily discounted trip and explore across the state’s network. With nothing more than a few dollars thanks to the half-price offer, you could zip up for a wildflower-studded visit to the Grampians via train to Ararat and a coach to Halls Gap; or enjoy all the colours of the rainbow in Bendigo’s fields and flower arrangements, which is less than two hours on the train.  Photograph: Supplied | Transport VictoriaVIC Metropolitan Tram EClass Need a long winery weekend? Kick off a Yarra Valley 

To celebrate its Birthday Bash, Kris+ by Singapore Airlines is boosting its earn rate to 10 miles per dollar at participating Kris+ partners across Sydney and Melbourne from October 1-31.  The Kris+ network spans dining, retail and lifestyle, meaning you can earn miles while doing plenty of the things you were already planning to do. And with more than 300 partner outlets around Australia spanning retail to dining and tech – including national retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys – there are plenty of opportunities to make everyday spending work a little harder.  Those miles can add up surprisingly quickly. A Scoot flight to Singapore can start from as little as 12,500 miles – around $1,250 of spend at the boosted October earn rate. Members can also redeem miles or use them to offset purchases at participating Kris+ outlets.  Photograph: Supplied | Kris+ by Singapore AirlinesUsing the Kris+ by Singapore Airlines points program And to top it off? Joining is free, and you can score a $10 reward by joining today with code KPTIMEOUT26 – simply download the Kris+ app and start earning when you spend with Kris+ partners. There’s no minimum purchase required to access the boosted earn rate, so even the little purchases can count.  Coffee today, Singapore tomorrow? We can work with that.

There’s something about spring that makes us want to get out of Sydney and explore. Suddenly, spending a weekend somewhere outside the city seems like an excellent idea. Even better? You can let NSW TrainLink do the driving. ​ If you’re planning your next holiday, NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network connects travellers to more than 365 destinations across NSW and beyond. Just pick your destination, secure your spot online – which’ll save you 5 per cent on the trip, too – and let NSW TrainLink do the rest.  Instead, you can settle in, watch the scenery roll by and concentrate on deciding what you’ll do when you arrive.  For travellers dreaming of their next regional adventure, there has never been a better time to experience the convenience of NSW TrainLink. Book online and save 5 per cent at NSW TrainLink.

Some say Champagne on ice is sacrilegious, but not in sunny Southern France. There, locals say it’s better to drink Champagne on the rocks so it’s ice cold. Moët and Chandon have created a Champagne specifically crafted to be enjoyed on ice – Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial. And you’ll be able to sip it poolside at an exclusive pop-up on the Gold Coast. Moët and Chandon is bringing this icy varietal, designed in partnership with fashion icon Pharrell Williams, to the Gold Coast’s Mondrian Hotel. A longtime collaborator with the Champagne brand, Williams redesigned the Ice Imperial bottle with a fabric-inspired label dotted with golden pearls.  Throughout October, you’ll be able to enjoy the return to the warmer weather with those unique and limited-edition bottles – served as a summery pour over ice alongside curated snacks. This Champagne – the first of its kind as an ice-elevated blend – was inspired by sun-soaked Saint Tropez, and it’s a mouthful of tropical fruit flavours that are best shared with friends on a sunny day. Where better to find that sun than the Gold Coast? Visit the Mondrian Gold Coast to try Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial between 1-31 October 2026. For more information, visit the website.

COMPETITION RULES THIS COMPETITION IS ORGANISED BY… Time Out:(the Organiser) Print and Digital Publishing Pty Ltd  (ABN 50 125 441 812) Level 2, 223 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 In association with:(the Prize Provider) Hunter Street Hospitality  (ABN 79 607 717 206) Lvl 2, Cleland Bond Building 33 Playfair Street, The Rocks 2000 WHAT’S THE PRIZE? A prize voucher valued to be spent at two Melbourne dining venues – 7 Alfred and Bar Ferdinand – six months after the issue date, for one or multiple steak frites and cocktail dinners. The value of the prize is approximately $500 AUD. This prize is referred to as the Prize Package in these rules. 👉  The Prize Package is subject to the Prize Provider’s terms and conditions available at: https://hunterstreethospitality.com.au/privacy-policy/  👉  There are a few additional conditions from the Prize Provider which apply to this Competition and Prize Package: The prize will need to be booked/used six months after the issue date. It can be used multiple times; however, if the available balance is overdrawn, the difference will need to be paid by another method. Prize voucher will be treated like cash, and will not be eligible for replacement or refund. It is also unable to be redeemed for cash. WHEN CAN I ENTER THE COMPETITION? Start Date: AEST 12:15 am on 11 September 2026 End Date: AEST 11:45 pm on Wednesday, September 30   HOW DO I ENTER? Step 1: Fill out your details in the entry form found here. Step 2:

Are you in need of a date night, but pasta at home (again) is about as far as your budget can stretch? We have a luxurious dinner out with your (and a guest’s) name on it. Tucked away on Alfred Place, there’s a little slice of Paris that has perfected the art of one simple thing – steak frites. This is 7 Alfred, part of the Hunter Street Hospitality portfolio. Think generous, perfectly cooked cuts of premium beef with crisp, golden fries. There’s also the matter of sauce – top it off with your pick of peppercorn sauce, veal jus, chimichurri or umami butter. 7 Alfred is downstairs from Victorian-style Bar Ferdinand, where you’ll head for cocktails. Here, the menu takes thematic inspo from an imaginary botanic garden, with drinks that tap flavours of rose, eucalyptus, fern, blackberries and more. (In case you’re not a steak fan, Bar Ferdinand also serves snack plates you could tuck into.) We’re giving away a $500 voucher to fund a night out at these two stellar Melbourne venues. You’ll be free to spend it on dinner and drinks for you and a guest – be it your other half or a best friend who deserves some spoiling. Visit 7 Alfred and Bar Ferdinand in whatever order you choose.  Enter below before midnight Wednesday, September 30 for your chance to win. 

Once upon a time, it was the 90s: computers were big and boxy, movies came on discs, playlists were mixtapes, and life was a little simpler. That’s the era that Funlab, the team behind Holey Moley, Archie Brothers, Strike Bowling and Hijinx Hotel, have captured inside their latest venue: Playback96. Open now inside The Social Quarter of Chadstone Shopping Centre, this shrine to the age of Dot Com and video stores is designed to transport you and your crew back 30 years, where you can get nostalgic (or get a history lesson, if your birth year starts with 20) via 90’s music, themed cocktails, era-appropriate decor and social games for any age.  The games include ‘Total Recall’, a 90’s pop culture memory challenge, plus the reaction-time-testing ‘Stop Hammer Time’, the oversized Etch A Sketch-esque drawing and guessing game ‘Line Master’, an arcade machine-housed, beer-free version of beer pong called ‘Pong Time’ – and ‘Ready Player Run’, a candy coloured tunnel packed with swinging pendulums. Post-games, you can take a chill pill with nostalgic drinks like the Screen Burn, a spin on a Sex on the Beach that comes with your very own playable pixel pet, while listening to tracks from era icons like Outkast, Blur, Portishead, Moby and Massive Attack. Keep an eye out for the nostalgic devil in the details, with wicked decor like N64 consoles, modem phones, Furbys and more. Playback96 is open now inside The Social Quarter, with an hour of unlimited play for adults for $29, and $22 fo

Of all the world’s travelling circuses, none can really hold a candle to the legendary Cirque du Soleil. This iconic Canadian troupe is regular visitor to cities around the world, and never fails to draw a crowd with their vibrant costumes, elaborate sets and acrobatics that’ll leave your jaw in your lap. They’re back in Sydney this October with Kooza, their longest-running production, and we’ve got two tickets with your name on them. Kooza first debuted back in 2007 and follows the Innocent, who discovers a magical box containing the enigmatic Trickster. Together they set off on an extravagant adventure into a magical realm full of charming (and physically talented) characters like the King, the Clowns and a Mad Dog. Cirque regulars in Sydney will remember visiting the big top at The Entertainment Quarter, possibly even for previous runs of Kooza, and this year’s venue is no different. We’re giving away two tickets to a show of your choosing, along with a $150 voucher to cover a pre-or-post-show meal at Fratelli Fresh, El Caminos or Winghaus. No matter if you’re a diehard regular yearning to be back in the stands, or a curious Cirque newcomer who’s ready to discover what awaits you inside the big top (we promise, you’ll love it) – this is a great way for you to enjoy it with your other half or best mate. Enter below before midnight on 9 October 2026 to throw your name in the ring.

Beyond the beaches, scorching deserts and snowcapped peaks of California, the state’s fertile soils combined with the dry, sunny climate make for A-grade viticulture. Discerning drinkers ought to know this already, but almost 80 per cent of American wine comes from California. And while you can find a glass of California’s good stuff in Australia year-round, those globally renowned bottles are the centrepiece of a limited-time menu at Reine & La Rue to celebrate California Wine Month. All September long, diners at Reine & La Rue will be able to order from a limited menu of California-made wines and bourbons. By the glass, you’ll be able to order Hartford Court Sevens Bench Chardonnay from Carneros, the Napa Valley-grown 2021 Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc, 2024 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County, and another Napa-bottled favourite, the 2021 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon. September also marks Bourbon Heritage Month, and the hatted Melbourne dining room couldn't let America’s quintessential spirit be forgotten, so you can also tuck into a limited-time tipple inspired by the whiskey sour. Expect a Yellowstone Bourbon base alongside mandarin, lemon, toasted rice orgeat and pastis, as well as other bourbon choices like Angel’s Envy and Woodford Reserve. This limited-time menu will be available for all regular bookings at Reine & La Rue throughout September. Make a booking here.

Competing in a marathon is no small feat. Here’s a bit of trivia: the first person to ever run one in Ancient Greece died on the spot. That was a long time ago – these days, we understand a lot more about the science involved in extreme exercise. In the case of a marathon, understanding your limits is key, and listening to your body through the insights offered by technology like Oura Ring can help you reach that finish line. Then there’s the part after the finish line – the recovery. You need to take time to ensure your muscles, energy, hormones and mind level out to a healthy baseline. Everyone has their own system, and we’ve rounded up some other ideas for where and how you can recover properly all over Sydney…

Do you love a plate of fresh seafood? A nice, cool glass of white wine? They do go together beautifully, and that culinary combo is front and centre at A Taste of New Zealand, an exclusive dinner event taking over the kitchen of The Boathouse Balmoral. The popular eatery is teaming up for a coastal-inspired night of NZ-inspired food, and wine from New Zealand winery Cloudy Bay, celebrating its latest pour: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2026. Diners who secure a seat (it’s bookings only and is happening on October 15 at 6pm) will be in for a sensory trip across the ditch. In the kitchen, chefs Kia Kanuta and Ty Bellingham will be preparing a menu of the South Pacific’s bounty – think Pacific oysters, Tasmanian abalone, ocean trout and yellowfin tuna. You’ll return to dry land for dessert at least, with a twist on a Kiwi (and Australian) summer classic: burnt pavlova. Each course will be paired with Cloudy Bay wines, including Pelorus, Te Koko, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, with Cloudy Bay winemaker Dan Sorrell leading the journey through Cloudy Bay’s flavours and varietals. The Boathouse Balmoral’s A Taste of New Zealand dinner is taking place from 6pm on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Tickets are on sale now for $250 per person, and you can get yours here.

Michelle Lim Davidson might be most recognisable from the small screen – specifically ABC’s The Newsreader – but she’s shifted (at least partly) from performer to playwright with her Griffin Theatre Company-developed writing debut, Koreaboo, playing at Melbourne’s Malthouse until October 10.  In this comedy of colliding cultures, directed by Jessica Arthur (The Dictionary of Lost Words, GAME. SET. MATCH), Davidson also stars as Hannah, a 30-something-year-old woman who’s travelled to South Korea to meet her estranged birth mother (Heather Jeong). But when she arrives in Seoul, ready for the warm embrace of her long-lost culture, she finds her Umma is a workaholic more interested in running her convenience store than connecting with her Australian-raised daughter.  Umma considers her estranged daughter a “koreaboo”, a foreigner who’s come to Korea to chase the culture craze. So, Hannah has until the end of a sweltering summer to change her mind and find the motherly figure she’s been yearning for all these years. Fresh off the back of a Brisbane run and its 2025 Sydney premiere, Koreaboo will make its Victorian debut at Malthouse with preview showings from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, October 10. In her 2025 Time Out review of Koreaboo, Time Out’s Sally Lewis wrote, “As we witness these two women get to know one another, we are reminded that parenting doesn’t stop when we turn 18. Just because we grow up, build careers, fall in love, and raise our own families, it doesn

A celebration of all things Suntory has transformed the basement of Sakura House into Suntory House – where drinks from across Japan and the world are front and centre until October 3, 2026. Suntory is one of the biggest names in the global drinks industry, and you’ll be able to order any one of their crowd favourites alongside Japanese-style share plates at this limited-time residency in this top CBD bar. Suntory House is broadly inspired by the Japanese concept of nomikai: informal, communal after-work drinks. Expect spirits, RTDs, cocktails (especially highballs) and beer on tap alongside a food menu inspired by konbinis and izakayas – think chicken karaage, Balmain bug katsu sandwiches, aburi salmon handrolls and more. If you’re into your spirits, you’ve probably sampled Suntory-owned labels like Roku Gin, Toki Whisky, Haku Vodka, Laphroaig and Jim Beam. And if you prefer your drinks carbonated, it’s unlikely you’ve never tasted a -196 RTD or a crisp Japanese beer like Suntory The Premium Malt’s. Suntory House is open daily from 5pm, but Wednesday visitors will be treated to Hi-Kara Wednesdays presented by Suntory “Kabukin” Whisky. As part of this promotion, you can order a Suntory Kabukin Whisky Highball with chicken karaage for just $25. It’s all on offer for a limited time only – you have less than a month to visit and see it firsthand. Suntory House is taking place inside Sakura House daily from 5pm until October 3, 2026, walk-ins only. For more information, visit the

Theatregoers, ballet fans and lovers of all things gothic, there’s a union of all your interests out there, and it’s making a bloody return to Sydney this September and November. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest takes the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance. The Australian-made BIG Live production has played sold-out seasons in London’s West End, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Singapore, breaking the all-time record for the largest attended single production of Australian-made ballet. But it’s back on familiar hunting grounds now, and will spread its tale of dark romance and bloodlust, thanks to acclaimed performances by an alumni cast. That starring cast includes returning performers Ervin Zagidullin as Dracula and Abbey Hansen as Mina Harker, supported by renowned guest artist Adamzhan Bakhtiyar as Dracula in select performances. They’re choreographed by BIG Live Co-Founder Joel Burke, who, with Dracula, wanted to create a ballet that could be enjoyed by veteran and newcomer audiences alike. And as for the music, core to any ballet show, Dracula is scored by the Emmy Award-winning composer Jason Fernandez, and features classical works from maestros like Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy.  Expect fiery passion, bared teeth, captivating physicality and the kind of gothic grandeur that only Dracula himself could conjure. A strictly limited season will play at the State Theatre from September 22-27,

Theatregoers, ballet fans and lovers of all things gothic, there’s a union of all your interests out there, and it’s making a bloody return to Melbourne this September and October. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest takes the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance. The Australian-made BIG Live production has played sold-out seasons in London’s West End, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Singapore, breaking the all-time record for the largest attended single production of Australian-made ballet. But it’s back on familiar hunting grounds now, and will spread its tale of dark romance and bloodlust, thanks to acclaimed performances by an alumni cast. That starring cast includes returning performers Ervin Zagidullin as Dracula and Abbey Hansen as Mina Harker, supported by renowned guest artist Adamzhan Bakhtiyar as Dracula in select performances. They’re choreographed by BIG Live Co-Founder Joel Burke, who, with Dracula, wanted to create a ballet that could be enjoyed by veteran and newcomer audiences alike. And as for the music, core to any ballet show, Dracula is scored by the Emmy Award-winning composer Jason Fernandez, and features classical works from maestros like Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy. The performance will play at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from September 10-19, and after a brief Sydney stint, again from October 1-25. Expect fiery passion, bared teeth, captivating physicality and the ki

Ever since Graham Chapman galloped across the silver screen as King Arthur (with the help of one trusty sidekick and an even trustier coconut) the world has loved Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In 2004, original Python Eric Idle turned the show into a glittering stage musical called Spamalot and the rest, as they say, is history. With three Tony Awards in its saddlebag and global fans made among lovers of classic Python and musical theatre alike, this particular production originated with a sell-out season this year at Planet Royale in Perth. Now, it's galloping into NSW for a limited Sydney season. This time it features the likes of legendary Aussie actor and comedian Stephen Curry (The Castle) as King Arthur and celebrated theatre star Marney MacQueen as the Lady of the Lake. You'll find its first stop at Pyrmont's Sydney Event Centre from October 15-18, before it gallops to Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre from October 22-25. Expect plenty of love for the all-time comedic chops of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, reinforced by squires packing coconut shells and sight gags, as well as big Broadway numbers and a bunch of (non-threatening) audience participation. On second thought... let's not go to Camelot... It's a silly place.  You can get tickets for Monty Python's Spamalot here for the Sydney Event Centre (Oct 15-18) and here for Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre (Oct 22-25).

Sydney, get ready to be seduced all over again. The daring, darling queen of punk-kabarett Bernie Dieter and her globally touring gig, Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett, are making a triumphant return to a Sydney stage. Bernie and her loyal band of bombastic bohemians will be bringing their fiery brand of energetic excess and peak physique to Carriageworks from October 8 to November 8. If you've not yet had the pleasure on a previous visit, you’ll find yourself transported to the smoky Berlin Underground with a show that Time Out's Guy Webster described as "a 100-minute feast for the eyes" in his five-star review of the Melbourne show earlier this year.With an inimitable skill for curating a menagerie of sideshow talents and for holding an audience in the palm of her hand, Bernie Dieter herself has been called “an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter in sequins”. Featuring an electrifying live band and a mix of Bernie’s original songs, imaginative covers, and brand-new music, expect a riotous evening that pushes physical boundaries, embraces non-conformity and sits comfortably on the edge of danger.  In Webster's Melbourne review, he continues, "With each act, Club Kabarett continues the radical queerness of its namesake, emphasising a diverse set of performers and styles taken straight out of Weimar Germany and revitalised with a modern flare. There is an element of danger retained from the Weimar age as well as signature BDSM bodices, spike