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

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

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

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

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting warmer and there’s a scent of festivity in the air. The ushering in of the summer months brings about a sense of carefree whimsy to the city and we’ve got just the event to get your party started – on October 27, the Bacardi Dance Floor party is taking place inside the hallowed halls of the Cell Block Theatre at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, and famed indie dance act Northeast Party House will be taking centre stage. The Bacardi Dance Floor party will also feature musical performances from Gold Fang and Carolina Gasolina, who will bring a mix of reggae, funk, hip-hop and Afrobeat sounds. The folks from Bacardi will be on hand to make sure the zesty cocktails are a’flowing. Nothing says balmy nights quite like a Mojito, eh? And your bargain $30 ticket will get you entry to the party, two signature cocktails and food served throughout the event.  There’s nothing like partying with a conscience – all profits from the gig will be donated to the Support Act charity, which raises much-needed funds for crisis relief services within the music industry. Tickets are on sale now, so get in quick to make sure you’re in the mix at one of the biggest pre-summer parties of the season. What else is on in October? Check out our guide to fun weekend happenings. Hungry? Suss out these award-winning cheap eats in Sydney. Oh, and Sydney just scored its first restaurant subscription service.

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

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and everyone is suddenly sneezing – that means spring has officially sprung in Melbourne! And with the change in season comes everyone's favourite annual event: daylights savings. Funnily enough, even though it comes around every year, we're always wondering when it starts and just how exactly it all works. So if you're a teeny bit confused about whether we're about to gain or lose an hour of sleep (spoiler alert for sleepyheads: it's the latter), here's a guide that answers all your 2025 daylight savings questions. When does daylight savings start in Victoria for 2025? Daylight savings starts on the first Sunday in October. So this year, on Sunday, October 5, clocks will jump forward an hour – that means we skip an hour at 2am and go straight to 3am.  Do we gain an hour or lose an hour when daylight savings starts in Victoria? When daylight savings kicks in, our clocks will jump forward, meaning we will lose an hour. However, what we lose in time we will make up for in light at the end of the day – more hours to go out for a twilight walk, get a drink with friends or try that new restaurant.  Do I turn the clock back or forward for daylight savings in Victoria? Look, if you have a smartphone or laptop connected to the internet, the time change happens automatically. But to help you get your head around it, you have to move your analogue clocks and watches forward by one hour when you wake up on Sunday, October 5. Wha

Cost-of-living pressures and commute times might get Sydneysiders down, but for travellers, Sydney is a happy destination – new research says it’s one of the happiest places in the world to travel. Clinical psychologist and well-regarded “happiness expert” Dr Natalie Dattilo-Ryan partnered with travel company bookretreats.com to create the Holiday Happiness Index, and Sydney came in at spot number 18. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, diverse, world-class dining, a thriving arts scene, cool festivals, great bars and, ya know, our glorious range of outdoor activities, all have something to do with Sydney placing among the top happiness-inducing destinations in the world. A lot goes into generating good vibes – from food for good wellbeing to time in the great outdoors – so the Holiday Happiness Index crunched the numbers by analysing each city using the following criteria:  Sunlight: average annual hours Quality sleep: noise and light pollution Healthy diet: healthy restaurants available Time in nature: public green space per capita Physical exercise: city walkability Using that methodology, Sydney fires on all cylinders and makes for a seriously chipper choice for travellers looking to boost their serotonin. Looking for somewhere to travel to top up your happy? Here are the top 20 happy destinations around the world, according to the research (you'll see some surprising results in the mix): Lisbon, Portugal Helsinki, Finland Orlando, US Athens, Greece Edinburgh,

Show me a Sydneysider and I’ll show you a person who isn’t shy about singing the praises of our stunning Harbour city. Top tier dining – we got it. Beautiful beaches – we got ‘em. World renowned universities – tick, tick, tick. According to a worldwide university ranking from the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) we’ve now got the stats to back up our boastful ways with UNSW landing a spot on the list. UNSW was also the highest-ranking NSW uni on the prestigious QS World University Rankings, which were released last month.  Coming in at number 52 on the CWUR list, UNSW claimed victory as Australia’s top university – beating the likes of University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney and University of Queensland. More than 21,000 universities were ranked to make a top 2,000 list, which makes UNSW’s top 100 place a rather commendable achievement when stacked up against some of the most renowned tertiary facilities in the world. The quantitative academic ranking assessed each university by taking a look at key areas including the quality of education, alumni employment, quality of faculty and research performance. UNSW received an overall score of 84.6, in large part thanks to the university's solar cell technology research, which helped boost their ranking from 99 in 2024. These are the top 10 universities in the world according to the Centre for World Universities Harvard University, USA Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),USA

It’s a good time to be a driver in NSW. This week, the NSW government revealed details for the government body that will be in charge of regulating toll operators and making the road network fairer for motorists. And more good news: they’ve announced a new parking fine system that promises to bring fairness and transparency. Coming into effect from Tuesday, July 1, the reform has removed ticketless parking fines and introduced on the spot fines in order to overhaul a previous “unfair” system, which saw drivers surprised by unexpected, very expensive letters in the post. Motorists across NSW can expect fines attached to their vehicle, and issued no later than seven days after the offence. This parking shake-up comes after years of frustration over the previous fine system which saw many motorists blindsided by tickets weeks after their parking folly. “Our commonsense changes bring fairness and transparency back to the system,” said Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos. “Motorists will once again benefit from on-the-spot notifications. New requirements that motorists are provided with photos of the offence will assist them if they wish to object to a fine.” A major driving force behind the call for reform came in the form of complaints from the public expressing anger over a lack of transparency when it came to fines. “People deserve to know when and why they’re being fined—and to have a fair chance to challenge it if needed,” said an NRMA Spokesperson Peter Khoury. Hopefully

When we hear the term “holiday destinations”, people often conjure up fantasies of warmer climates, a cocktail in hand and waves lapping at the sparkling shore (extra points for some Baja Fish Tacos delivered straight to the sun lounger, but we’re not picky). But for those of us who lean into the Hygge lifestyle (a Scandinavian word to describe a warm and cosy vibe), the perfect getaway takes place in the winter months.  Thanks to a new campaign from Destination NSW, Sydney – the city known for its outdoor lifestyle and summer experiences – has been pitched as a top holiday spot for those looking to get into the warm and woollies. If our cosy pubs with fireplaces are anything to go by, we’d say the theory checks out.   The ‘Feel the Sydney side of winter’ campaign has launched to showcase the delights on offer in Sydney through the colder months, and you might be pleasantly surprised to learn how much there is to see and do when the temps drop. Sure, the harbour comes alive during summer (so much so that it ranked as the best winter sun destination in the world for residents of the Northern Hemisphere). But have you ever popped on a pair of ugg boots and sipped a mug of mulled wine while watching the whales cruise past Clovelly?  A report from Tourism Research Australia revealed that in 2024, 8.7 million domestic and international travellers visited Sydney between June and September. Which means a lot of people like the cut of our winter jib, and we can’t blame ’em.  Photogr