Lisa Hamilton

Spring 2025 update: From sunny beer gardens to refreshing pints, make the most of the cracking spring weather with our guide to Sydney’s best pubs. What do they all have in common? Great vibes, great drinks and ace food. Bring your mates. 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. 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. 

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

Ah, food. Glorious, glorious food. There’s nothing more we’d rather travel around the country for. Almost every state, city and even town in Australia has its own foodie festival, bringing together the best chefs, farmers, producers and suppliers. Our Sydney Food & Drink Editor, Avril Treasure, raves about Orange F.O.O.D Week, our Melbourne Editor, Lauren Dinse, loves Pinot Palooza, and our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, dreams of experiencing Darwin International Laksa Festival. So, whether you’re a wine wanker, a seafood seeker, a beer buff or a truffle hunter, here are the best food and drink festivals in Australia worth travelling for. 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🎸 Australia's grooviest music and arts festival🍷 The best bars in Australia

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

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

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

Heaps Gay has long been a champion in the Sydney nightlife scene, holding parties and events that create a safe space for the queer community. On November 19, they’re returning with their Wet Dreams 10th birthday party, which will blow the lid off Sydney Harbour. It’ll be queer, it’ll be wet and it’ll be one of the best events of the year. They’ve just dropped the line-up performing at Mrs Macquarie Point, and we’ll be adding tickets to cart toot suite. Apart from everything else, THE Mel C of Spice Girls fame will be taking to the stage to perform a DJ set. This huge get for the Wet Dreams party comes as Melanie C embarks on her inaugural DJ tour – she’s heading to Sydney for a set at Seadeck, as well as to other cities Down Under. We hear she’ll be paying homage to the ’90s (good times), with dance classics and of course some Spice Girls hits. Zig-a-zig-ah. Elsewhere on the Wet Dreams line-up you’ll find British singer-songwriter Aluna, Kah-Lo, Cakes Da Killa, Byron Spencer, Felicia Foxx and heaps (gay) more epic performances.  To get tickets to Wet Dreams, head here and sign up for the pre-sale, which starts Wednesday, October 4 at 6pm. General sale begins Thursday, October 5 at 6pm over here. If you want to catch Mel C in Sydney the week before at Seadeck, you can grab yourself some tickets to that DJ performance right now here. Back-to-back Mel C weekends? Christmas is coming early. Want more spicy news? Australia is hosting an academic conference dedicated to Taylor Sw

If your social calendar has been looking decidedly un-sexy, we’ve got just the ticket to help you spice things up a bit. Dubbed ‘Australia’s sexiest party’, the Erotic Ball is returning to Sydney in 2023. On November 11, Sydneysiders are invited to a top secret location (v. sexy, v. elusive) to let their hair down and lean into all things erotic for an evening of pure, unadulterated fun.  This non-judgemental safe space will allow guests to explore their sensual side with the help of some sultry entertainment. Among the line-up of talented seductive professionals on hand will be former Miss Nude Australia Suzie Q, Benjamin Butterfly (who will put on a pole performance), Yanita Werkout (who will perform in drag), and Miss Taken Identity (who will lead a couples strip). For those keen to get involved there’s only one rule handed down by the organisers: dress to impress. Whatever sexy look you like – just make sure you double down and go all out. This is your opportunity to let go of your inhibitions and let that beautiful freak flag fly. If you’ve got an old PVC catsuit that has been collecting dust in the wardrobe, dust her off and remerge at the Erotic Ball. Whether you’re new to The Erotic Ball scene or if you’re a seasoned tease, you'll be totally welcome. To learn more about The Erotic Ball or secure your tickets, head here before they all get snapped up. Want more? Looking for a costume, toy or more? These are the best sex shops in Sydney Strip Her – a women-only strip s

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

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

There’s no doubt about it: Greater Sydney is in dire need of a solution to the housing crisis. Housing affordability, rental prices growing faster than wage increases, slow building approvals and a general lack of supply to meet the demand are all contributing factors that make Sydney one of the most difficult places in the world to find somewhere to live. RELATED READ: These modular homes could be the future of social housing in NSW – and the first residents have just moved in Since the government launched the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, there have been considerable developments in ensuring that new build housing projects are moved to the top of the approvals list. However, in Northern Sydney’s suburb of Ingleside, a proposed development of 536 new dwellings has been met with some pushback from locals due to concerns over bushfire risks. The Wilga Wilson Precinct residential development was first proposed in 2016, but by 2018 a report revealed the area was susceptible to “extreme to catastrophic bushfire risk.” The development was then resubmitted in 2021 and once again thrown out in 2022 due to concerns over bushfire evacuation procedures. Now, in 2025, the proposal is back on the table – with 133 houses, 210 terrace houses and 193 apartments included in the residential development plans – but not everyone in the community is happy about it. Dick Clarke from Elanora Heights Residents Association told Northside Living News he has concerns not enough h

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

The new Western Sydney International Airport development is almost complete, and the original Sydney Airport refuses to get left behind, with loads of new developments happening in Mascot, also. Now, travellers at Sydney Airport can hopefully move throughout the precinct a little more seamlessly thanks to the introduction of a new SkyBus service. Hailing from Melbourne, the SkyBus is infamous because it’s the only public transport option from Tullamarine Airport into Melbourne city – and for a bus ride, it ain’t cheap. Now SkyBus has partnered with Sydney Airport to bring a fleet of 40 buses offering transportation services. The SkyBus expansion into Sydney includes a number of different operations, including transporting travellers between gates, connecting people between terminals and other essential services. The introduction of SkyBus into the Sydney Airport ecosystem has been touted as a step forward in providing more efficiency to support the larger 2039 Master Plan that will see major development and growth at Sydney Airport over the next 20 years.  RELATED READ: Sydney Airport's T3 domestic terminal has just dropped details of its new foodie line-up Projections are forecasting that over the next two decades, passengers travelling through Sydney Airport will increase to 65.6 million people – that’s a lotta baggage. To get on the front foot, Sydney Airport has signed a five-year deal with SkyBus parent company Kinetic. Kinetic Managing Director (Australia) Matthew Campb

An alarming new report from the Australian government has revealed heat-related deaths in Sydney could increase by 444 per cent if significant actions against global warming aren’t taken. The first 'National Climate Risk Assessment' was released this month, offering a blistering overview of the impacts climate change could have on our livelihood. When looking at Sydney, the report showed that if temperatures rose by just 1.5 degrees, heat-related deaths would double, and if it raised by 3 degrees we would see more that 400 per cent more deaths. Heatwaves are already becoming more regular occurrences, and more often than not they are being keenly felt in the suburbs of Western Sydney. To mitigate the soaring temperatures across Western Sydney, local council initiatives are well underway to improve conditions by providing more shade from trees. In Blacktown, for instance, more than 12,000 trees have been planted across the past four years. This initiative was kicked off back in 2021, with the NSW Government committing to providing 29 councils with more than $8 million in funding to plant more trees in the area. Another heat trap that has been identified: the large number of cement carparks, which can become scorching during extreme weather events. In response, a recent NSW Government-funded project has introduced “cool car parks”, which use netting and plant canopies to offer shade on hot days. In addition to removing things like synthetic grass from local areas, there has also

It's not actually summer yet, but beach season has just officially begun, as the red and yellow flags went up and the Surf Life Saving patrol season commenced over the weekend. The other thing that's been put back up recently: shark nets. The NSW Government made a call to halt their trial removal of shark nets at particular NSW beaches, as they pause to reflect on a new plan of action after a number of shark attacks. There are shark nets at 51 beaches across NSW, and three local councils – Northern Beaches, Waverley and Central Coast – were given the directive to roll back shark nets and remove them from beaches as a trial. This came about following heated debate that shark nets are ineffective, cruel to sea life (the controversial 'gillnets' are designed to reduce shark activity by killing animals – including dolphins and whales), and expensive (they cost taxpayers about $21 million a year, with seemingly little payoff). There are also views that the nets actually attract sharks to beaches, because other sea life get trapped in the nets and sharks come along to feed on them.  However, Premier Chris Minns has since halted the shark net removal trial in the wake of the devastating recent shark attack at Long Reef Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches.  As the government continues to look into all options when it comes to keeping NSW beaches safe for the community, plenty of external pundits are weighing in on the best way forward.  An alternative option is using a smart 'drumline

We've heard a lot about the roof of the new Sydney Fish Market – as well as being wave-like in structure (a 200m floating canopy), it will be a platform for colourful light shows. But what about what will be inside the new multi-million dollar construction when it opens? There are some sagoi Japanese restaurants featuring in the new mix, and there's one in particular we're pretty excited about – the highly lauded Japanese restaurant, Sushi Oe. Sushi Oe is currently a miniscule (six-seater) eatery in Cammeray, headed up by chef Toshihiko Oe. He'll be transporting his traditional fine-dining fare to the much, much larger venue of the new-look Sydney Fish Market when it opens early 2026. The scale-up from a tiny space to the bustling halls of Sydney Fish Market might make a fledgling chef's gills stand up, but Oe is taking it all in his stride. “I want to make sushi for more people,” Oe told Good Food. “It won’t change, same style.” It has also been announced that chef Toru Ryu of Restaurant 16 in Neutral Bay will also be opening an eatery at the new Sydney Fish Market, serving a traditional Japanese haute cuisine menu. Then there's Takao Muramoto, who owns Ichie restaurant in Hokkaido – he'll be opening a barbecue- and ramen-focused restaurant of the same name with Libras Ting (a Sydney restaurateur) and Hide Tsuboi (Tokyo-trained chef-owner at Haymarket’s Hakatamon Ramen). Photograph: Supplied/Sydney Fish Market Up until recently, details around which restaurateurs will be

Our city is growing at a rapid rate, with the 2026 completion of the new Western Sydney International Airport set to punctuate this big leap in development. And, of course, with big growth comes the need for more infrastructure, facilities and housing. One locale near the airport is set to grow by more than 300 per cent in the next two years, and now property developers Mirvac have announced their latest big residential community, Everdene, which will be built in Mulgoa (near Penrith), which is about a 16-minute drive from the new airport and new Aerotropolis precinct. Everdene will bring a further 1,200 new homes to this rapidly expanding Western Sydney region. Mirvac has told realestate.com.au that the $1.2-billion community megaplan won’t just bring housing to the area – but also green space, a playground, more family areas, sports pitches, walking paths and an eatery.  Mirvac General Manager for Residential Development in NSW, Warwick Bible, said he believes the careful consideration of Everdene’s blueprint will help to create a thriving hub for locals in the area.  “Overlooking the proposed nature play zone and water playground, this space will be for families to come together, connect and engage with the wider community.  “It’s more than just a facility – it will offer residents a welcoming environment to relax, socialise and enjoy everything this incredible neighbourhood will offer.” Housing lots are expected to be released soon, with the general public encouraged to r

The Sydney Metro has already helped improve many commuters lives – for other Sydneysiders (those who live along the Bankstown to Sydenham line), they're sick of catching train replacement buses while their line is closed for the transformation of the line. We already know the development of the Metro West line is well underway, so eventually more of Sydney will benefit from the super-fast rail network. Then recently, plans to open Woollahra Train Station were announced. Now, leaked plans from NSW Transport indicate big extensions could be in the works for both the heavy rail and metro lines, which would greatly improve the daily lives of many commuters. NSW Transport Minister John Graham gave a nod towards these upgrades, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that the NSW Government is “doing planning work for future rail extensions”. The proposed extensions would see new lines from Leppington to the new Bradfield city centre and metro lines connecting north of Tallawong down to south of Campbeltown. These so-called “cross-regional corridors” would help ease congestion by removing the need for commuters to travel through the Sydney CBD when using the rail to access the outskirts of Sydney. RELATED READ: Sydney's huge new airport metro station is taking shape The fate of these expansions will boil down to business cases put forward to ensure the investment isn’t “a stranded asset” says Graham.  Of course, there are also questions about where the funding would come from. The overha