Lisa Hamilton

In Australia, we've got boundless stars to share. When you combine vast stretches of national park, deeply dark skies and a dash of pure air, you've got yourself the ideal recipe for a quality stargazing session. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley reckons Exmouth's Cape Range National Park has the best night sky on the planet, and she'd love to go stargazing at South Australia's Arkaroola – the country's first internationally recognised dark sky sanctuary. Here's your ultimate guide to the best stargazing Australia has to offer. When is the best time to go stargazing in Australia?  Generally, the experts say winter, for the crispest air and sharpest visuals. This being said, anytime from February to October should deliver the goods in any one of the spots we've listed across the nation.  What should you take stargazing in Australia? Just like if you're going outdoors at night, anywhere, you need to be prepared. Even though the land Down Under has a rep for hotness, at night, temperatures do plummet – so bring plenty of warm clothes, insect protection, and ample food and water. Depending on your stargazing level (one being – "I like looking up occasionally and saying 'wow!' while eating marshmallows, and pro being – "I prefer seeing my constellations through the Hubble"), you should bring binoculars, night camera equipment or a portable telescope. Also, a good attitude and a healthy appreciation for celestial fun. Those two? Essential.  ☀️ Where to see Australia's best

Summer 2025 update: From fun beer gardens to cold beers and hearty meals, Sydney’s pubs are where it’s at. Below, we’ve rounded up the best of the best. Bonus points if they’ve got air-con to keep you cool this summer. There's a lot that goes into making a great pub. They need to furnish you with an excellent meal and friendly service, and a game of pool or darts doesn't go astray. On a hot day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. Top-notch drinks are a must, obvs. There are a lot of rock-solid pubs in this city, and these are our picks of the bunch, pulled together by Time Out Sydney's local writers. Cheers! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. For something a bit less pubby, a bit higher end, see our picks of the best bars in Sydney. Hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants. 

If you’re a Rooty Hill local, you’ll probably remember the Carousel Inn, a spot that had all the fixings of a local pub, but was in need of a lil’ TLC. You’ll be happy to know that now, its gotten lucky.  After a multi-million-dollar facelift by Sydney hospo group Solotel (also The Abercrombie, The Golden Sheaf, Darlo Bar, The Erko, The Norfolk and more), the Carousel Inn has been rebranded as The Woodstock Hotel – and its fresh doors are open for service. Rooty Hill’s newest watering hole is a far cry from the previous layout. Forget sticky carpet, a well-worn bar and eye-watering fluorescent lights, the Woodstock Hotel has come into its own with a family-friendly bistro, spacious beer garden, sports bar, events centre and a playground for the kids. The hearty bistro menu features proper pub classics, including chicken parmi, woodfired pizzas, chargrilled meats and $12 kids meals. Tipped to be a new local favourite, The Woodstock General Manager Rhyan O’Halloran hopes the new look venue will become a place for all members of the community to come and enjoy the facilities. “We want this place buzzing,” said O’Halloran. “The bistro will be full of families on a weeknight, the beer garden packed on a sunny afternoon with groups, the Sports Bar heaving when there’s a big game on. We’ve got the event space ready to go for sport lunches, weddings, birthdays – you name it”.  Making sure to tick all the boxes, The Woodstock has a daily happy hour from 3-6pm (can’t be mad at that) an

If you’re a Rooty Hill local, you’ll probably remember the Carousel Inn, a spot that had all the fixings of a local pub, but was in need of a lil’ TLC. You’ll be happy to know that now, its gotten lucky.  After a multi-million-dollar facelift by Sydney hospo group Solotel (also The Abercrombie, The Golden Sheaf, Darlo Bar, The Erko, The Norfolk and more), the Carousel Inn has been rebranded as The Woodstock Hotel – and its fresh doors are open for service. Rooty Hill’s newest watering hole is a far cry from the previous layout. Forget sticky carpet, a well-worn bar and eye-watering fluorescent lights, the Woodstock Hotel has come into its own with a family-friendly bistro, spacious beer garden, sports bar, events centre and a playground for the kids. Their hearty bistro menu features line-up of proper pub classics, including chicken parmi, woodfired pizzas, chargrilled meats and $12 kids meals. Tipped to be a new local favourite, The Woodstock General Manager Rhyan O’Halloran hopes the new look venue will become a place for all members of the community to come and enjoy the facilities. “We want this place buzzing,” said O’Halloran. “The bistro will be full of families on a weeknight, the beer garden packed on a sunny afternoon with groups, the Sports Bar heaving when there’s a big game on. We’ve got the event space ready to go for sport lunches, weddings, birthdays – you name it”.  Making sure to tick all the boxes, The Woodstock has a daily happy hour from 3-6pm (can’t be ma

Sydney’s Darling Harbour is turning to ice. No, the great big body of water that surrounds our city hasn't hit sub-zero temperatures (although you’d be forgiven for thinking it has based on recent weather) but rather an ice skating rink has arrived in town. Have you always wanted to try a triple axel? Or maybe Home Alone 2 is your favourite cosy movie thanks to the Rockefeller Centre ice skating rink. Well, now is your chance to live out those dreams under our very own city skyline.  If you’re looking for a date night idea or something to occupy (read: tire out)  the kids then this is just the ticket for you. From Saturday, June 28 until Sunday, July 20, you can head on down to the harbourside precinct to strap on the skates and glide like a majestic penguin – or clamber around like Bambi on ice. Knee pads aren’t included, so it might be wise to wear a thick pair of pants to cushion any falls.  Once you’ve had your dash on the rink you may be ready to grab a bite to eat or rest your weary legs. Thankfully, Darling Harbour is within walking distance of plenty of Sydney’s very best restaurants and most delightful cheap eats.  If you love to romanticise winter, skating beneath the lights of Sydney’s CBD towers sounds like the perfect way to lean into the cooler months. The rink is open daily from 10am until 9pm at the Palm Grove Forecourt, and skating costs $28 per adult, $20 for children and $15 for toddlers. Skating penguins can be booked for an extra $10 to keep the little on

Real ale fanatic? Craft brew aficionado? We’ve got news. The GABS Beer Festival – the most anticipated event on Australia’s beer calendar – is heading back to Sydney this May. Complete with a 30-metre bar (the longest in Australia) GABS will bring more than 500 brews to the Harbour City for festival goers to have a crack at. Attendees of GABS25 can head along to the International Convention Centre to sample the extensive selection of daring, out-of-the-box concoctions. Among the line-up of funky frothies will be some seriously unique tipples like the Broken Bay Pearl Beer from Six String Brewing Co in Erina that was made using 1000 shucked oysters. If you’re not saying “what a pearler” two pints in, that’s on you. Elsewhere on offer you can get your laughing gear around the Gingerbread Pastry Beer (yes) from Shout Brewing Co in Newcastle or the Pickle Beer (double yes!) from Stoic Brewing in Gerringong.  The creativity of these breweries knows no bounds, with the likes of The Socials Brewers in Mortdale heading to GABS25 to show off their Vegemite, stale bread and Indigenous macadamia nuts beer. Sounds yeasty. For the sweet toothed among us, there’s a Rainbow Ice Cream Cone beer by Good Land Brewing which is stacked full of strawberries, bananas, cherries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream and bubblegum.  There will also be some European guest breweries at the festival including the world’s oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, all the way from Germany. With 500+ beer taps on offer, a

With Easter just around the corner, we’re busy filling our trolley with overpriced chockie eggs and making plans to enjoy the extended weekend. If your calendar is looking a little bare, we’ve got just the ticket for your Easter Sunday. In an eggs-cellent showdown, the Sydney Swans will be going head-to-head with Port Adelaide in a round-six clash that promises to be a very family friendly match-day. Even better news for families, we've got a discount code you can use to nab a family ticket for just $70 (subject to availability) – use code SWANSHQ70 when purchasing via this link. After an epic 2024 for the Swannies, Sydneysiders will no doubt be keen to don the red and white to support the team in this new season that's well underway.   Which AFL teams are playing on Easter Sunday? The Sydney Swans are going head to head with Port Adelaide on Easter Sunday (April 20). Once you’ve finished up your Easter egg hunt you can get on down to the game for a family-friendly first bounce time of 3:20pm. Pretty nice way to spend Easter if you ask us. Where is the Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide game? The match-up between the Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide will take place at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Moore Park. Which means you can hop on the Light Rail from Central Station to get there.   What time is Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide? Gates will open at the SCG at 1:30pm and first bounce will take place at 3:20pm – which means no late nights for families. As always the SCG w

Lets face it, heading along to the cinema ain’t cheap these days – add a choc top into the mix and yeesh, you may as well take out a second mortgage. If 2025 is all about saying yes to getting out and about but doing it on a budget, Parramatta has the answer: a bunch of free pop-up movie nights for the whole family to enjoy. The travelling Family Movie Nights pop-up event will span across two weekends sitting inside the NSW school holidays, with the first kicking off on Friday, April 11 at Binalong Park, Old Toongabbie. Wondering what’s on the line-up? Don’t worry, they won’t be dusting off the old VHS and playing Flubber (although 10/10 would watch again), organisers have nabbed an epic line-up of flicks including the 2025 Academy Award nominated musical spectacular, Wicked. It’s free, and I get to sing ‘Defying Gravity’ to the good people of Parramatta? Win, win! Not only will this family-friendly initiative from the City of Parramatta bring the magic of movies to the masses, but you can also expect a bit of a funfair with live music, art, games, food stalls, kid’s workshops and plenty more kicking off from 4pm before the film begins at sundown. City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the return of Family Movie Nights will be a welcome event for parents looking for cost-effective activities during the school holidays. “It’s getting harder for families to find fun yet affordable things to do during the school holidays, so we’re making life easier by putting on th

There’s something so intriguing about exploring the depths of the ocean, because we don't get many chances to check out what's down there. If you’re not a diver but you’ve always wanted to see what happens underneath the ripples of the water's surface, check out this ocean photography exhibition that's returning to the Australian National Maritime Museum.From November 28, the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition will feature all of the winners and finalists of the prestigious prize, which is led by the London-based Oceanographic Magazine.  The exhibition will display 118 of the most awe-inspiring wildlife shots ever snapped, immersing you in the otherworldly magic of the ocean and bringing you face-to-face with some of the sea's most majestic creatures. Particular highlights will no doubt be getting your peepers on the winning image from photographer Rafael Fernández Caballero. His incredible photo of a Bryde whale feeding on a heart-shaped baitball was taken in Baja California Sur, Mexico during the Mexican sardine run. The stunning shot was chosen from more than 15,000 images by a panel of expert judges.  There are plenty of other award-winning photos on display across 10 categories, including the Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year and the Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year.   Tickets are on sale now with discounts available for concessions and children and family passes on offer. All tickets include access to al

All the singles that dream of a 90's rom-com meet-cute and/or the grisly death of internet dating – put your hands up! Gather ‘round, your day has arrived.  It's a universal truth that trying to find love via an app can be a soul-destroying process that makes many of us question our will to live. Now, for single Sydneysiders, the Emerald City cupids are putting on an IRL dating event called ‘No Swipes’, that, in their words, is all about “giving dating apps the middle finger”.  If you’re ready to flip the bird to the online dating world then mark Sunday, February 11 in your diary as the day you might meet your soulmate, aboard a yacht on Sydney's sparkling harbour (Sydney Sweeney, eat your heart out). For the fourth Sydney pop-up of their invitation-only event series, No Swipes has partnered with floating festival company Yacht Social – they're bringing nine yachts together in a corner of the harbour with sparkling city views, a float-up party, on-board barbecues and a line-up of top DJs soundtracking the day. Ticketed entry is via a waitlist, so you’ll want to get in quick if you’re keen on a ‘meet-cute’ story that will probably make people exclaim loudly at parties. You can pop your name down right here, and if you’re successful, an email with details on how to purchase tickets will come flying into your inbox with the speed and velocity of Cupid’s arrow. The invitation-only event accepts 400 people on board, and ticketholders can choose a place on a standard yacht, a prem

Summer is all about getting outside and enjoying the sunshine – but when day turns to night, balmy weather makes for the perfect conditions to keep exploring long after the sun sets. By day, Jervis Bay is home to some of the most beautiful (and clearest water) beaches in NSW (heck, the world), but in the evening she’s just as glorious, thanks to less light pollution than in Sydney. If you’d like to dig your toes into the sand and marvel at the canopy of lights in the sky, then a guided stargazing tour in Jervis Bay should go to the top of your summertime activities list. Astrophysicist Dimitri Douchin, along with Caroline Boulom, invite you on a 90-minute experience that will open your eyes to the wonders of the universe right on the water's edge. Sounds magical, right? (They're the same people who run Blue Mountains Stargazing – and Dimitri sure knows his stuff, considering he's a TED speaker with a PhD in astrophysics. He’s a big thinker with a breadth of knowledge about how the world out there works, so we can’t think a better star-expert to take you on this very special journey.) You’ll get a chance to peep at the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and The Orion Nebula through a telescope – and you might even spot a shooting star if you cross your fingers and toes. You might even witness the bioluminescence phenomenon, where a chemical reaction lights up the sealife, making their bodies glisten a shiny blue light. All participants who embark on the Jervis Bar stargazing t

Hey Bondi, are you feeling clucky? The uber-popular chicken shop that turns up the heat has a new home in the seaside suburb of Bondi Beach. That’s right, Belles Hot Chicken has opened a venue smack bang in the hustle and bustle of Hall Street. Belles Hot Chicken is now welcoming patrons into their freshly decked out digs that have been designed by Vicki Punch with an American ’70s diner vibe. Think retro booths, pastel colouring and totally groovy interiors. On the menu side, chook enthusiasts can expect more of the plucking good fare that has garnered Belles Hot Chicken such a big name amongst the public. Head in from the surf and tuck into some hot chicken and waffles or try the spicy chicken slider. Belles Hot Chicken Managing Director, Joss-Jenner Leuthart says the move into Bondi Beach felt like a great next move for the brand. “Comfort food, great booze and tunes just metres Australia’s most iconic beach –a match made in heaven,” said Managing Director of Belles Hot Chicken, Joss-Jenner Leuthart. “After opening the doors to our CBD flagship at Circular Quay, we pounced at the opportunity to transform Fonda’s iconic location to our new home. Belles is a place to kick back, dig in, get messy or just chill – and Bondi Beach always felt like a natural fit.” The new opening comes as Belles Hot Chicken footprint continues to expand throughout Sydney after finding success in Barangaroo, Darling Square, the Tramsheds and the CBD flagship in Circular Quay. Catch ya by the beach

If you’ve been singing Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ in your bedroom for the past 26 years, we reckon it’s high time you took your dulcet vocals to the main stage. Or at the very least to the teeny, tiny stage at Poppie's Karaoke, Sydney’s newest and “littlest” karaoke joint. Hidden inside the Little Guy, a trusted and much-loved bar on Glebe Point Road, Poppie’s welcomes crooners to pick up the microphone and belt out the classics. This will be Glebe’s first official karaoke room and they’ve pulled out all the stops for the momentous occasion. No rendition of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ is complete without LED lights, neons and lasers, right? Good thing Poppie’s have the light show portion of your performance covered. Of course, karaoke isn’t really karaoke without a little lubrication. Fear not, you’ll be able to coat the vocal cords with all the Dutch courage you need to hit those Mariah-high octaves time and time again. Sip on ‘Poppie’s Punch’ or select a drop from the extensive beverage menu, all while noshing on complimentary popcorn. Once you’ve finished your set and collected your roses, head upstairs to the pool room and continue the good times. A nod to the ‘little’ in the Little Guy, Poppie’s will be a snug fit for those wanting to keep their performances intimate. With rooms capped at 15 patrons, this will be the intimate setting perfect for a song or two with your nearest and dearest. Given the small nature of the rooms, we encourage you to book ahead to ensure

Canberra is home to the Australian War Memorial, a shrine and museum that commemorates the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women in wartime. Here you can discover the Australian experiences of war and connect with the stories of people and events that shaped Australia. Place a poppy on the Roll of Honour to remember the sacrifice made by Australian servicemen and women, and stay for the moving Last Post closing ceremony.  How about this? The Australian War Memorial has been listed as one of the top free tourist attractions in the world. In a list released by tourism company Casago, the Australian War Memorial made the top 10 best places across the globe to visit that will cost you zero dollars. Analysing TripAdvisor reviews, they looked at which free tourist spots have the most five-star ratings, and the Australian War Memorial came in at number nine. Open from 10am daily, grab your free ticket (booked in advance) and weave through the exhibitions that tell a rich story of Australia's military history. You can explore the Aircraft Hall, the World War I and II galleries before paying respects at the commemorative area where there is an Honour Roll complete with names of all the brave men and women who fought for our country. If you’re interested in checking out the other free tourist attractions around the world listed by Casago, you might want to lock in an around-the-world flight, because they’re dotted far and wide. According to the data, the quaint Belgian town

In recent years, Northern Beaches Hospital hasn’t been far from headlines, garnering attention for botched surgeries and negligent medical practices. Coupled with ongoing financial woes from the privately owned hospital’s parent company Healthscope, NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the facility will officially go public. This will be a big shift for the hospital, which has been servicing the area since 2018 and has understandably drawn a chorus of questions since the public shakeup news dropped. Healthscope was contracted to run the hospital until 2038. However, with the company going into receivership in May with a $1.6 billion debt, its ability to safely and effectively continue operations was scrutinised. NSW taxpayers will fund $190 million to Healthscope to exit its hospital contract early. Northern Sydney Local Health District will lead the transition of the 494-bed hospital and will regain full control by mid-2026. This shift will no doubt have a knock-on effect on the local community, which includes 132,491 residents with private health insurance, according to recent ABS statistics. Good news on the staffing front – it has been announced that all staff will be offered employment by NSW Health to ensure a smooth transition of operations. Given recent campaigning by midwives and nurses for a wage increase, and a general sense of exhaustion and burnout due to understaffing in the public healthcare sector, some pushback from unions might be expected over this big ann

Miss a green light. Delivery truck blocking the path. Stuck behind someone describing their extremely terrible date in detail. On any given morning in the CBD any of these roadblocks might add a few precious minutes to your walk to the office which might mean having to skip your coffee – what a shame! Well, a brand-new undercover pedestrian network has just been announced – and it’s going to make your commute a whole lot zippier. RELATED READ: A huge new metro station is being built beneath Sydney’s CBD The planned connection will link Hunter Street Station to Wynyard Station and will hopefully eradicate all those people who prefer to faff about.  The project is being touted as a big solution for commuters by providing an efficient way to move through the city as well as providing weather protection to prevent further delays. Photograph: Transport for NSW/Justin Sanson According to the NSW Government, they predict that by 2036 around 10,000 people will move through the Hunter Street Station during peak hour – that’s a lot of hooves to account for. Getting into the nitty-gritty around how this undercover path will look, it has been announced that two connections will form the east-west network. The first connection will use the existing Hunter Connection Tunnel and will link to Brookfield Place and Wynyard Walk. A second link will connect the Hunter Street Metro station through to the Martin Place Metro station. Construction is underway now, so get ready to soon zoom through

The Sydney Metro has garnered heart eyes from the general public ever since it began operating – and now it’s even collecting some hardware for its design. As well as picking up a NSW Architecture Award in the Urban Design category this year – and Gadigal Station being named among the world's seven most beautiful stations – it has also taken a 2025 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design. Not one, but the collective of Sydney Metro City Stations, was awarded this esteemed accolade by the 2025 National Architecture Awards Jury after being called a “strategic, financial and urban design triumph”. Amongst the six stations and two enhanced stations, the jury were unable to pick a clear favourite (that would be like asking someone to pick their favourite sandwich shop – not possible!) and therefore had no choice but to award them all. There’s a lot to love about the Sydney Metro (big ticks for cleanliness) but the jury were taken by each stations’ commitment to “celebrating the unique qualities of place and the delight of ascending from station to footpath”. They also acknowledged the very meaningful integration of Indigenous Knowledges and public art at the stations and applauded the outstanding detail given to the engineering. Thanks, Sydney Metro, for being an architectural masterpiece, quick, clean and pretty much always on time. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: Sydney's long-await

Asia's largest fast-food company – the hugely popular Jollibee – is set to open its first Australian store, in Sydney. The vacant site of the very last Sizzler restaurant in the country could soon be knocked down, under plans from commercial developer PMG Group, to make way for this Filipino fast-food giant, which has more than 1,500 locations in 17 countries around the globe. After a long campaign to set up shop here, Campbelltown in Sydney's west looks to be the site of the first Aussie outpost of Jollibee. The plans, which involve the development of three fast-food joints (Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme and Jollibee) on Harbord Road, have consent from Campbelltown City Council until July 2029. That said, no date has been set to knock down the Sizzler building that has been vacant since November 2020, when Sizzler closed the doors once and for all in Australia. Given the large Filipino population in Australia, and Campbelltown in particular (Filipinos comprise the third-largest population of residents born outside of Australia), this news has been a long time coming. A really long time coming, considering the restaurant’s initial development application was submitted to the Campbelltown City Council in March 2021.    Is Jollibee coming to Sydney, really? The initial Campbelltown site reportedly fell through due to “some administrative challenges”, which is why things seem to be taking a long time. But it's promising that Jollibee has a 'Business Head for Europe, the Middle East,

If you’re looking for some big goals to add to your 2026 New Year’s resolution list, might we suggest the recently announced Parramatta Half Marathon? In yet another feather in the cap of Western Sydney’s boundless development, the Parramatta Half Marathon will arrive in 2026 – giving running fanatics the chance to pound the pavement for glory (blisters and all). The 21.1km course will begin on O’Connell Street and take runners through the CBD, past Parramatta Square, out to Western Sydney Uni, before tracking back to CommBank Stadium for a well-earned fist pump across the finish line. The event will take place on June 21 – because let’s be honest, nobody wants to be hoofing it through Western Sydney when the temps are high – and marks the beginning of an exciting running season in Greater Sydney. RELATED READ: These are the best running routes in Sydney. With the world-major Sydney Marathon taking place on August 30, this will be the perfect warm-up for the big race (if you manage to draw a ballot spot). Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter is expecting the new event to bring a real buzz to the calendar, drawing in runners from all over. “We’ve seen the rise and rise of marathons around the world, and it’s the perfect time to leverage this for Parramatta,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s just amazing… athletes will be coming from all over the world to participate in this.” Keen runners are encouraged to register here to secure a spot on the start line. It’s time to get training

Sore feet, sweaty hair and eardrums thumping well into the next day – these are the tell-tale signs of a good night out in the bygone era of clubbing in Sydney. The art of jostling to the front of the line to get into a club has been in a period of quasi-dormancy in Sydney, thanks to lock-out laws, the shuttering of hot spots (RIP to the Cross), rising costs of living, and the pandemic. But things are looking up, club rats. Ushering in a grand clubbing resurgence is Rush, a party held at the Plaza Hotel in the CBD on the last Saturday of every month. RELATED READ: These are the best nightclubs in Sydney to get on the dance floor. Photograph: Supplied/Rush Kicking off with a very successful launch earlier in November, a 1,500-strong cohort of party-goers unequivocally confirmed that, yes, the city is still pumping, and yes, people want to see a vibrant nightlife return. The Rush experience isn’t just your plug’n’play DJ on a stage night – this is clubbing turned up all the way to 100. The space features four stages across multiple levels. The main stage hosts headliners, the basement brings the underground energy (think boiler-room vibes), a secret stage is, well, secret, and the laneway is an open-air activation featuring vinyl-only DJs. The Rush event organisers are undoubtedly nostalgic for the roaring success of Sydney’s 2000s club scene – and TBH, so are we. Lest we forget Candy’s Apartment, World Bar and Soho Bar. Photograph: Supplied/Rush Recapturing that magic is n

Before-work dips, post-work dips and weekends spent luxuriating in the nearest body of water are practically a requirement of an Aussie summer. But if you’re looking to ditch the overcrowded beaches and add a bit more whimsy to your cooling off, NSW is home to an expansive list of swimming holes that are every bit as adventurous as they are charming. Here’s our hot picks on the five best swimming holes NSW has to offer, according to We Are Explorers. Karloo Pools Dust off your backpack, pop on sunscreen and a hat and get out your walking shoes because the grade 3 Karloo walking track in the Royal National Park ain’t for the faint of heart. If you’re up for the challenge and don’t mind breaking a sweat you’ll be suitably rewarded with a dip in the Karloo Pool. Jump in, cool off and laze on the 'whaleback' rock outcrops before setting out on the return walk. Time Out tip: This walk is estimated to take about 3-5 hours so be sure to pack all the necessities. Photograph: Natasha WebbKarloo Pools in the Royal National Park Dangar Falls Just a few kilometres north of Dorrigo is the spectacular 30m Dangar Falls waterfall. At the base of the falls is a large watering hole that punctuates a towering gorge and scenic farmland. The area boasts trail walks, ample Insta-worthy photos and lush landscape in case you just need to get outside and touch some grass after a big week on the tools. Time Out tip: This swimming hole has some great vantage points for those in need of accessibility.

It’s getting hot in the city – hot Pilates, that is. (And yes, weather-wise too – it’s bloody hot.) As far as cult-status fitness studios go, it's safe to say Upstate has run a monopoly on the taut and toned sect of Melbourne. And now Sydneysiders can don their leggings and feel the burn with Upstate’s first-ever Sydney studio, now open in Five Dock. You can practically feel it deep in the glutes already. Located on Great North Road, the two-room studio is illuminated by the iconic neon Upstate signage. Photograph: Ed Sloane The positively bulging studio timetable features 75 weekly classes, including reformer Pilates, hot Pilates, boxing and yoga. Once you’ve sweated out all your demons, take a pause and enjoy a sound bath, meditation or warm yin to fully cleanse the chakras. It’s no secret that Upstate was made by the girlies for the girlies, so we’re positively giddy to see yet another fitness studio providing a safe space for women to work out set up camp in Sydney. Photograph: Ed Sloane After a total assault on the Melbourne fitness scene, which now boasts 13 statewide studios and a freshly opened location on the Gold Coast, it’s finally Sydney’s turn. For co-founders Gail Asbell and Charelle Cuolahan, this feels like just the beginning of a New South Wales takeover. Next stop? Surely it’s gotta be Bondi. Find out more here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOM

If you’ve ever waited for a bus in the city only to be left choking on a plume of diesel fumes, your ride is about to get a whole lot sweeter (and cleaner). In the wake of Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment (which offered up some pretty stark projections of our future livelihood), the NSW Government is helping Sydney operate more sustainably with the introduction of the first-ever electric bus depot in New South Wales. Photograph: Supplied/Transport for NSW The Brookvale depot has recently opened with powerful technology to charge a planned fleet of 229 buses, with 13 electric buses currently operating out of the Northern Beaches base. By 2028, it’s estimated that Brooky’s existing fleet of diesel buses will be completely replaced with battery-electric buses. This comes as the state moves towards converting its 8,000 diesel buses to electric vehicles. The depot is an impressive hub, with the capability to charge an electric bus in as little as 20 minutes using one of 13 pantograph charging positions or one of ten plug-in chargers. RELATED READ: Check out our guide to Sydney's public transport. The charging stations are backed by a 250kW solar system that helps feed electricity through to the site – A+ for sustainability! NSW Premier Chris Minns said the $25 million electric bus depot is a positive step forward in helping the state move towards reaching its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. “This is a win for passengers, drivers and the environment – cleaner and

Listen up, aviation aficionados and keen travellers – one of Qantas’ highly anticipated Airbus A350-1000 jets is touching down in Sydney soon, and you could hop on board for a maiden voyage to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The Qantas fleet of “Project Sunrise” Airbus A350-1000 jets will have the capability of connecting Australian travellers to faraway destinations like New York and London on one continuous flight.  Photograph: Supplied/Qantas While the non-stop flights won’t officially be up and running until mid-2027, one of the jets will begin stretching its wings with some Trans-Tasman trips, including the three-hour trip from Sydney to Auckland. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told Executive Traveller the A350 is slated to start flying from Sydney to New Zealand in an effort to give pilots and cabin crew an opportunity to get to know the flashy new jet system. Photograph: Soly Moses | Pexels “We’ll be doing lots of training with our pilots and our cabin crew,” said Hudson. “So to do that, we will have that first aircraft probably flying on the Tasman to New Zealand, where it gives us a little bit of time to stretch its legs, but not too far.” The A350 will touch down in Australia sometime in 2026, and shortly thereafter punters will be able to book a seat on the lush new aircraft. Photograph: Supplied/Qantas The aircraft will be decked out with all the trimmings including six private first-class suites, 52 business class suites and some new-look premium economy seats

A word of warning from the NSW Government to cyclists with modified e-bikes planning to hitch a ride on the Sydney rail system: don’t! From November 1, those boarding a Sydney Train, Trainlink or Metro (and associated platforms) with a converted e-bike (AKA a home job using electric conversion kits) could cop a hefty fine – $400 up to $1,110 – for their troubles. These new measures are coming into place due to lithium-ion batteries (the ones which power e-bikes) causing 77 incidents, which resulted in 16 injuries this year, as per reports from Fire and Rescue NSW. Transport Minister John Graham said his department was compelled to introduce the fines due to an overwhelming response following extensive talks with the public and stakeholders over the growing number of lithium-ion battery-related incidents. RELATED READ: These key Sydney train timetables are changing soon – here’s what you need to know. Ultimately, these conversations led to an understanding that “DIY installations, inadequate wiring and the use of second-hand batteries, and incompatible or poor-quality components,” were major contributors to fire risks, said Graham in an official statement. Graham says the ban will only extend to converted e-bikes in order to remove “the highest-risk e-bikes” while remaining “sensible and balanced” in the decision. Given the popularity of e-bikes in the community, Graham said he ultimately had to draw a line to straddle the line of public safety and reasonability. “The overwhel

There’s a lot to love about holidaying in Byron Bay. The place has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, cool shopping, top-tier dining, and the opportunity to accidentally rub shoulders with Chris Hemsworth while getting an acai bowl. However, last September the NSW Government and the local Byron Shire Council made moves towards solving the area's rental crisis (for locals) by introducing a 60-day rental cap. The initiative meant that home owners could only list their properties on short-term holiday sites like Airbnb and Stayz for 60 days of the year – with the intended effect of freeing up homes for locals to enter into long-term home leases. At the time the new rules were met with pushback – by said home owners, local businesses and some in the tourism industry – and some pundits declared that similar caps in New York hadn’t had any positive affect on housing accessibility. At the time, Michael Crosby, Head of Public Policy for Airbnb Australia and New Zealand said he envisioned Byron’s "critical" tourism sector would "suffer" as a result. RECOMMENDED: Looking for beaches closer to home to discover? Here's our ranking of Sydney's best beaches. One year on from the introduction of the cap, data from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure shows that there were 1,004 non-hosted rental properties registered in August, 2025 – less than the 1,195 registered a couple of years prior in September. That said, Byron Shire Council Mayor Sarah Ndiaye tol