Liv Condous

Take Main North Road out of Adelaide and keep driving for 1.5 hours. As you roll into Ngadjuri Country, photogenic little Auburn marks the southern bookend of the Clare Valley. There’s a real shift in the landscape here: the silos and rolling wheatfields of the Mid North district give way to vineyards, historic stone villages and sheltered creek beds studded with huge old redgums. Clare itself, the valley’s northern bookend, is just 24 kilometres further on: in between are 50-plus wineries (around 35 cellar doors), bottling up mineral-rich reds, semillon and riesling to rival the world’s best. Snaking through it all is the 33-kilometre Riesling Trail, a disused rail line that’s been converted into a bike/hike path, taking you past some of the valley’s top cellar doors. In an area so rich with top-notch drops, how does one thirsty visitor choose which wineries to visit? To narrow it down, Time Out has enlisted an avid quaffer and wine enthusiast to bring you a list of the best Clare Valley wineries. This guide spans everything from some of the very first estates that defined the region, like Jim Barry Wines, tucked-away contemporary cellar doors like Jeanneret Wines, and biodynamic pioneers like Grosset Wines. So there's nothing left to do but get sipping. Here are our picks of the best Clare Valley wineries. 🍷 Best wineries in the Barossa Valley🍺 Best bars in Adelaide🌳 Best things to do in Adelaide

Call us biased, but we think Australia is the most incredible and diverse country on the planet. A sizeable place (you know, continent-sized), it can be overwhelming to decide where to go on your first, fifth or 50th trip – but that's where our expert travel writers come in. From turquoise beaches and ancient rainforests, to flaming red deserts and buzzy metropolitan cities, our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley (who has visited every Aussie state and territory) has picked out the top places to visit in Australia right now. First-timers should start with iconic destinations, like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Whitsundays, while seasoned travellers can uncover hidden treasures in the Scenic Rim, Kangaroo Island and Ningaloo Reef. No matter who you are or what you like – be it art, wine, sports or festivals – rest assured, there's something on this list for everyone. Here's your official guide to the best places to visit in Australia. Jump to list:  QLD | NT | WA | NSW | SA | VIC | TAS 🇦🇺 Top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful places🚘 Regional towns worth visiting

If you’re looking for next-level dumplings, noodles with actual stretch or Peking duck so crisp it could shatter on impact, well, congratulations – you’ve come to the right city. Thanks to a vibrant Asian-Australian community and a collective obsession with wok-fried everything, Brisbane punches well above its weight when it comes to Chinese cuisine. And while Sydney and Melbourne may hog the culinary spotlight, Brisbane quietly plays its hand, offering up dishes that rival anything found south of the border.  From Cantonese institutions still spinning lazy Susans to new-gen spots that wouldn’t look out of place in Shanghai, the choices here are plentiful and, frankly, overwhelming. There are long-standing institutions like Enjoy Inn, spots where dinner turns into a night out like Central Restaurant, as well as special occasion venues like The Fifty Six. To make life easier, Time Out has teamed up with a local Brisbane writer and food expert, Alli Forde, to bring you this ultimate list of the best Chinese restaurants right now. Gather your people, order with abandon and prepare for a food coma of your own making. 🥘 The best Indian food in Brisbane🥩 The best steaks in Brisbane🍣 The best Japanese restaurants

If there's one thing that Australia does right, it's really beautiful beaches – and a lot of them, to be precise. With a whopping 12,000 fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackled one beach per day. Assuming that your 32-year plan doesn't singularly involve beach hopping around Australia (although we can of course dream), we've put together a list of the best beaches in Australia that you should visit this year – or at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected for its remarkable beauty, prime swimming conditions (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure doesn't end with just one dip. Take the breathtaking Bay of Fires, crowned Tourism Australia's best beach for 2025; the picturesque Whitehaven Beach, recently named the world's best; or the blindingly white Hyams Beach, our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's personal favourite. Now, all that’s left is for you to discover the best beaches in Australia for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 The best places to visit in Australia

Brisbane’s Italian dining scene has long been among the best in Australia – and it just keeps getting better. Drawing inspiration from regions all over Italy and working with top local produce, these restaurants show why we have such top-notch Italian fare. Time Out Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley has drawn on her recent dining adventures in Brisbane and teamed up with expert foodie Isabel Cant to bring you this list of the top spots for your next Italian feast. There are stylish diners like Gemelli, longtime favourites like Ristorante Tartufo and family-friendly joints like Marinara Restaurant. So, whether a hearty ragu in a cosy dining room is what you’re after or linguine with prawns enjoyed al fresco is more your speed, these are the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane. 🍽️ Brisbane's best restaurants🍕 The best pizza in Brisbane🥩 The best steak in Brisbane

With its sunny climate and impeccable wine and produce offerings, Perth could lay claim to being Australia’s answer to Italy. It’s no surprise, then, that Perth’s Italian dining scene is rich and extensive. From wine bars offering aperitivo and pizza, to intimate restaurants where you can share pasta over candlelight, the city's Italian restaurant scene is bustling with exciting venues. There are fresh, innovative takes on beloved classics to try at every turn, so to narrow down where to go for your pasta fix, Time Out has asked a Perth-based foodie writer for her top Italo picks. Take the intimate cucina La Madonna Nera, inventive fusion eatery Tetsun and open-air restaurant Si Paradiso that harbours a basement nightclub, to name just a few. Whichever one you choose, you’re guaranteed to be saying saluti to a stellar meal at Perth's best Italian restaurants. 🍽 The best restaurants in Perth🥘 The best Indian in Perth🍷 The best Japanese in Perth

Trying to find the perfect gift for your fussy friends who say they don't need anything can be difficult, but these Melbourne-based gift shops are up to helping you with the task. From candles and homewares to cheeky trinkets and novelty gags, these shops know how to cater for every occasion and the pickiest of people.  Sprucing up your place? Here are the best homewares stores in Melbourne.

Choosing the right hotel in Melbourne can be an almighty task. With so many incredible stays to choose between – from super modern sky-high towers to charming historic gems – it can be an overwhelming ordeal to decide which one is right for you.Every traveller has their preference, but to make the job of deciding a little easier, our team of local experts have hotel hopped their way around the city to bring you our guide to the very best hotels in Melbourne. Many of the stays included in the list are favourites of Time Out Melbourne Editor Leah Glynn, with our Travel and Hotels Editor Winnie Stubbs chiming in and checking the guide to make sure it’s up to scratch.Whether you’re looking for a playful stay right in the CBD action (W Hotel, we’re looking at you) or somewhere more boutique in Melbourne’s buzzy Inner North (Standard X), we’ve got your back. Read on for our guide to the best hotels in Melbourne.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  These are the best places to go camping near MelbourneAnd these are our favourite glamping sites in VictoriaTime Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

There’s not a lot that beats a classic steak dinner (unless you’re a vegetarian, of course). The classic dish features on menus across the city in all different variations. Whether you’re after some good old pub grub with the usual fixings of chips and salad, or a classy chargrilled affair, these steakhouses and restaurants will satisfy your hankering for red meat. Indulge in some of the finest steaks money can buy at The Kitchen, go for hearty pub fare at Oakbank Hotel, or try fresh flavours at La Boca Bar and Grill. No matter where you go, there's delicious, tender steak waiting for you. To help you choose which will satiate your carnivorous craving, Time Out has tasked one of our expert writers to update this list of Adelaide's best steak spots. Carve right in!  🍷 The best bars in Adelaide🍔 Adelaide's best burgers🍕 Adelaide's best pizza joints

Ramen, sushi, okonomiyaki, gyoza... Japan's food culture is a phenomenon, and luckily, Brisbane is blessed with plenty of great Japanese dining options. From bustling little yakitori and izakaya bars to splurge-worthy multi-course omakases, there are plenty of places to make your dreams of moving to Tokyo come true. Whether you're looking for a venue to splurge at on a special occasion like Komeyui, a quick affordable lunch at Sushi Kotobuki or an all-out omakase experience at a sleek eatery like Takashiya, this city has plenty of options. To narrow down the best places, Time Out has tasked an expert food writer with compiling a guide on the best Japanese restaurants Brisbane has on offer – and we suggest you start eating your way through it. 🥘 The best Indian eats in town🥩 Brisbane's best steaks🍽 The best restaurants in Brisbane

Perth's pizza game has levelled up over the past few years, and we now have everything from Neapolitan and Roman-style pizzas to New York slices and our very own Aussie creations. Whether they're woodfired in purpose-built ovens or crisped to perfection in specialist electric and stone ovens, Perth's best pizza features the freshest and finest ingredients from Australia and abroad. Family-owned Monsterella is a fan favourite for its naturally risen 48-hour dough, while Il Locale Pizzeria is so popular that it's expanded to six locations across Western Australia. Here, in no particular order, are some of the best pizzas in Perth, as chosen by our local dough experts. 🍝 The best Italian restaurants in Perth🍔 The best burgers in Perth🍷 The best bars in Perth

Brisbane is spoilt for choice when it comes to the flavours of India. Whether you crave the smoky flavours of the tandoor, the fiery heat of a North Indian curry, a South Indian delicacy or some lip-smackingly good street food, we’ve got the place for you.   There's a huge range of Indian restaurants in Brisbane offering dishes that cover the array of flavours and dishes the nation is known for, like beloved family-run eatery Taj Bengal, the vibrant Jaipur Palace and the spirited Curryville. With so much choice, Time Out has enlisted the help of a local expert foodie writer to pull together a guide on the top places for an Indian feast. Round up your curry-craving pals and start working your way through this list of the best Indian restaurants in Brisbane.  🥩 The best steaks in Brisbane🍣 The best Japanese in Brisbane 🍽 The best restaurants in Brisbane

Some people visit the show for the thrilling rides, others come to marvel at award-winning cakes, the incredible woodchoppers, the pavilions filled with cute baby animals… or maybe we’re all just united in a mutual love of sugar-filled show bags.  This year’s Melbourne Royal Show is set to be bigger and better than ever, running from September 25 until October 5. It will feature everything from escape artists and FMX stunts to DJ sets and an exclusive Lego playzone. The animals have long been the stars of the show, and this year you can get up close with cows, sheep, poultry, dogs and even alpacas. There will also be pony rides, showjumping competitions and working dog demonstrations, plus plenty of family-fun farm experiences at the rural pavilion. And for those just looking to cuddle a lamb or baby chicken, the animal nursery is the place to be.  Foodies at the show are certainly looked after. Sure, you could go for the traditional dagwood dog or cloud of fairy floss, but there are far more gourmet options to devour. Vendors such as Stix Waffles, Royal Burger, Banh Mi Runner, Son In Law and Sushi Hub will all be serving up tasty bites, or you can head to the Country Women's Association Café for the show's famous scones with jam and cream. The good times won't stop after the sun sets, with a jam-packed after-dark program featuring fireworks and the incredible Night of the Horse arena show. Tickets are on sale now – those in the know buy them early to score a discounted

The Yarra River is a beloved centrepiece of Melbourne, so it makes perfect sense that there's a festival dedicated to celebrating it in all its glory. After growing into one of the city's most beloved cultural and environmental events, Birrarung Riverfest is returning for a third year, with three weeks of events that inspire connection to Country and highlight the importance of our main waterway and all the things Melburnians love about it. The festival will run from September 6-28 (which also happens to be World Rivers Day), with more than 60 events happening all across the 242 kilometre stretch of the river, from Westgate Park at its mouth to Warburton at its source. This year, the aim is to raise awareness of stormwater pollution and the threat it poses to the health of the river. Highlights include everything from platypus spotting and sunset paddles, to gig nights and art-led sensory walks, plus talks, exhibitions, guided nature walks, tours and more. Many of these communty-led events are free to attend, too. It will conclude with the World Rivers Day Finale – a community celebration at Fed Square, with music, art, ceremony and a flotilla of boats along the river.  “After a cold Melbourne winter, Riverfest comes at the perfect time to spring us back to life,” says Janet Bolitho, president of the Yarra Riverkeepers Association. “From educational and cultural events to outdoor adventures, the Riverfest program has something for everyone.” Birrarung Riverfest is run by the

Preston Market has long been known as one of the most prolific market precincts in Melbourne's north, serving the ever-growing and diverse neighbourhood for more than 50 years.  And to celebrate its devoted Italian community, the market will host a free, one-day festival on Sunday, August 31, with a jam-packed line-up of tastings, entertainment and fun activities for bambinos and nonnas alike. The festa stage will feature performances from Lorenzo + Co, the lively Tarantella dancers and the soulful Veneto Choir. Radio Italiana 531 will also be broadcasting live from the market all day. Of course, there will be a smorgasbord of authentic Italian dishes to feast upon. You can try zeppole doughnuts from Sorelle Catering, panzerotti by Il Panzerotto, meatballs by Mama's Polpette and tasty scoops from Destination Gelato. Thirsty? Gindu will be serving up bespoke gin cocktails. There's even something for the kids: from 10am until 1pm they can take part in a pasta necklace workshop. Preston Market’s Italian Day will run from 8am-3pm on Sunday, August 31. Entry is free and you can find out more at the website. Craving pizza and pasta? These are the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne right now. 

To celebrate the arrival of spring, a fun-filled festival will take over Fed Square in September, with free family-friendly events that celebrate our natural world and how to better look after it.  RESET Festival is all about starting fresh, exploring sustainability in creative waysand feeling inspired to take on new ways of living. It's about reinventing little parts of our lives to make big changes in the world.  The program features activations, markets, activities, film screenings, talks and workshops, all focused on minimising negative impacts on the environment and increasing positive impact. There's fun to be had almost every weekend for the month, especially for the little ones during school holidays.  Highlights include the Planting Party on September 7, which involves community tree planting, live music, gardening talks and seed workshops; and the Big Toy Swap on October 2, which encourages kids to reuse and recycle in practical ways. At the Zero Waste Festival on October 6, you can learn valuable tips and tricks from experts on how to lead a waste-free lifestyle through panel discussions, activites and sustainable food trucks. Fed Square's outdoor cinema will also make a return, screening flicks that pair family favourites with environmental themes – think FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Flow and Shrek. Consider this your chance to learn all about how to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair in order to take care of our precious planet. For more information on the ful

Stepping into Mantra PortSea Resort felt a bit like wandering into a Mediterranean escape, with archways lining the crisp all-white exterior, light spilling into the airy lobby and a huge art installation swinging above. Unlike many of my friends, I’d decided to forgo a Euro summer, instead opting for a sunny Queensland getaway to break up Melbourne’s brutal winter. So it was lovely to feel like I wasn’t totally missing out, as this hotel still had the same holiday vibe, but without the incredibly expensive airfare to get there.  If, like me, you find yourself heading to Port Douglas in search of a relaxed seaside escape, Mantra PortSea Resort is a solid pick that has a true tropical holiday feeling. Why stay at Mantra PortSea Resort? Situated a short walk from the picturesque Four Mile Beach and Port Douglas’ main strip, Macrossan Street, with a plethora of cafés, bars, boutiques and galleries, Mantra PortSea Resort’s location is the sweet spot for proximity to both beach and town. While the hotel is simple, it still felt like a special stay, with the sprawling lagoon swimming pool in the centre of the hotel adding a real wow-factor. Plus, in an area that has plenty of fancy hotels, this one also has the affordability factor, which is a huge plus for saving your holiday budget for the many activities you can do from Port Douglas.  What are the rooms like at Mantra PortSea Resort? My friend and I stayed in a One Bedroom Superior Studio, which was airy with light‑wood furnishi

As a sun-starved Melburnian, Cairns was my ideal winter getaway destination for a strong dose of warmth and relaxation. I wanted to soak up some Vitamin D and explore the natural wonders of tropical north Queensland, and when it came to accommodation, all I was looking for was a base for my sun-drenched adventures. Hilton Cairns was the perfect place, with its central location and laid-back vibe.  I’m not a high-maintenance type of traveller – yes, it’s nice to be bougie once and a while, but generally I’d rather stay at a hotel that simply ticks all the essential boxes. Hilton Cairns ticks them in spades – it’s not trying to be trendy or flashy, but it’s got that reliable luxury vibe that makes you feel instantly taken care of. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have wow-factor – the Hilton's location brings a new meaning to waterfront views. When I first walked into my room, my jaw dropped as I marvelled at the genuinely panoramic vista before me. It was stunning – and felt like the essence of the beauty that is abound in tropical North Queensland, that I was eager to explore.  Why stay at Hilton Cairns? Like many hotels under the famous name, Hilton Cairns has been around for a while, gaining a strong reputation over the years. It’s one of Cairns’ most recognisable hotels – from afar, you can spot the striking curved white structure wrapping around the marina like a cruise ship permanently docked in the city. But while the exterior leans a little retro, the interiors have be

May the 4th is a special date for any Star Wars fan, but this year is one to remember. A brand-new Lego Star Wars exhibition made its world premiere, and not in a galaxy far, far away but right here in Melbourne.  Lego Star Wars: the Exhibition at Melbourne Museum comes from revered Lego genius Ryan 'Brickman' McNaught, who's back with his latest mind-boggling project of massive Star Wars brick creations – some standing at a whopping four metres tall.  There are Lego replicas of many of the iconic characters, fan favourite scenes, spacecraft and more, from both the classic films and newer releases. Plus, the exhibition includes interactive brick-based activities inclusive of all ages.  It took more than 25,000 hours to finish the exhibition and it features a wild 8 million Lego bricks. One of the most monumental creations is a three-metre-tall red X-wing spacecraft, made of an astonishing 64,759 bricks, taking 382 hours to build.  "Fans will be blown away by the scale of the experience," Brickman says. "Building these iconic scenes and characters in Lego Star Wars form is an extremely complex task – taking the humble Lego brick and using it by the millions to translate into Star Wars builds and models at an epic scale the world has never seen before.  "My team and I are super excited to launch this mind-blowing experience right here in Melbourne. My inner 7-year-old self still can’t quite believe this is happening. I can’t wait till May the Fourth to be able to share this in

Get your wands at the ready, because Melbourne is set to play host to the Australian premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition. This behind-the-scenes extravaganza will leave Potterheads spellbound, and features interactive recreations of famous film scenes, props and costumes from the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a multimedia experience featuring the Whomping Willow, dementors, the Marauder's Map and the chance to conjure a Patronus charm. Budding witches and wizards will be sorted into Hogwarts houses and earn points as they explore the exhibition – it could be through a potions class, predicting the future à la Professor Trelawney in Divination or defeating a boggart in Defence Against the Dark Arts. There will also be opportunities to practice spell casting and Quidditch skills, plus win golden snitch medallions to become a model student. Each experience comes with plenty of photo ops and, of course, magical interactive moments. There's even a recreation of the Great Hall for visitors to enjoy in all its splendour, complete with floating candles.  This official Harry Potter exhibition is part of a global tour, previously selling out in cities like Boston and Madrid. You can find out more about this enchanting experience via the website.  Looking for more family-friendly things to do? Here's our guide to the best activities for kids in Melbourne. 

Stand beneath a simulated thunderstorm, ponder eternal life, venture inside a massive lung-like inflatable installation and hear boundary-pushing sounds – Now or Never is back this winter.  Returning for a third year, the 2025 program has just dropped, cementing the festival as an exciting addition to Melbourne’s cultural calendar. From August 21 to 31, this multi-venue festival takes over some of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings to host artistic works at the forefront of creative innovation. With a whopping 140 events over 11 days, it features the recipe that the festival made waves with when it debuted – and some thrilling new elements.  The transformation of the Royal Exhibition Building into a cavernous rave cave has been a huge highlight from previous years, but this year the heritage space will morph into a completely different form. The space will house a massive installation by Spanish collective Penique Productions that will fill the building with a mammoth inflatable balloon to be experienced from the womb-like insides. ‘MATRIX’ will be on show for the first four days of the festival and it’ll be free to experience during the day, while also hosting immersive artistic evening events. Melbourne Town Hall will also come to life with a large-scale installation, a kinetic textile artwork that will dramatically drape 20 metres across the ceiling, titled ‘Einder’ by Dutch artist Boris Acket. Rippling with light and sound, this piece will also be free to see for just thre

Scienceworks is opening its doors after dark during the winter solstice, for an adults-only night where Melburnians can roam through exhibitions, catch docos on the planetarium dome, sip mulled wine and enjoy live music.  Embrace your inner child at the museum's fun-filled exhibitions and try once again to beat Cathy Freeman in a virtual race (you were so close when you were 12, surely you can do it now!)  The Planetarium dome will also be open, with guided tours of the night sky every hour. Lie back and take in the magic of the cosmos, with a drink in hand.  Plus, there'll be arts and craft activities, DJs and performances. You can make a proper night out of it and head to Grazeland just next door, where there are endless food options for dinner.  It all makes for an ideal, wintery weekend evening – have a great time and who knows, you might learn something too. Find out more and purchase tickets on the website.  Looking for more fun things to do? Here's our guide to what's on this week. 

Scienceworks invites visitors to explore Earth and the cosmos with a series of after-hours and adults-only film screenings on the huge Planetarium dome, with a drink in hand. Every Friday night, those over 18 can explore the universe through immersive documentaries and marvel at the magic of the universe. You won’t go spacing out at these shows either, as they’re loaded with amazing visuals and stellar content. The Friday night screenings feature two fims: one at 7.30pm and the other at 9pm. The films change each month; this June, you can look forward to Voyager – The Never Ending Journey in the earlier session. Ukrainian filmmaker Yuriy Gapon takes viewers on a wild ride to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune to see the launch of two space probes that would make history in the 1970s. If you book in for this slot, a presenter will also walk you through What’s in the Sky Tonight, where our real-time night sky will look more like a movie.  If you decide to come to the later session (or buy a double ticket and stick around), Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon will be lighting up the dome. Strap in for 42 minutes of non-stop tunes from the legendary rock band, as their greatest hits from the album Dark Side of the Moon is played in surround sound while set to trippy celestial visuals. Update Thursday, June 12: The June screenings of Dark Side of the Moon are all sold out, but you can catch the show back by popular demand in August (if you're eager, you can snag tickets from June 3

Whack on something dazzling and dust off your dancing shoes as the much-loved NGV Friday Nights returns to warm Melburnians up this winter. The popular event returns for 18 weeks during the NGV International's latest winter masterpieces exhibition, French Impressionism.  The new exhibition showcases more than 100 works by some of the greatest impressionist artists of all time, such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas and more. French Impressionism will take visitors on a journey through the evolution of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in late nineteenth-century France, experiencing firsthand the radical vision of avant-garde artists who challenged tradition to forge a new artistic path. From June 6 until October 3, you can take an after-dark journey through late nineteenth-century France, and exploring the evolution of this art form that was once considered radical and avant-garde. But in addition to the art, spend your Friday evening enjoying a night out at one of Melbourne's most beloved attractions. Grab a tipple from one of the multiple bars (including the Moët and Chandon Champagne Bar and the Yering Station Wine Bar), or enjoy a set winter menu at the NGV Garden Restaurant. The trendy tunes are another key drawcard of NGV Friday nights, with musicians performing in the Great Hall every night. There'll be live music performances spanning genres including jazz, contemporary classical, R&B, neo-soul and electronic, fro

Many of us know and love the CherryHill Blossom Festival, where millions of buds bloom into beautiful flowers on countless rows of cherry trees, making for a truly stunning sight. And for the second year running, you can appreciate the blossoms at night as part of this glowing after-dark event.  Photograph: Supplied At Blossom By Light, the cherry blossoms will be transformed into an enchanting display of light and colour. It's a special experience for lovers of the pretty plant, enhancing the beauty of the blooms in a way you'd never usually get to see them. And the lighting design is by the same team behind beloved glowing events Lightscape and Puffing Billy's Train of Lights, so you know it's going to be magical.  Photograph: Neisha Breen There will be food trucks, local vino, live entertainment and you can even toast a marshmallow or two. Visitors can arrive by sunset to kick back on the lush lawns and enjoy a picnic, cherry-themed drinks or dinner from one of the on-site food trucks. Once the sun has fully set, the light show will begin. Blossom By Light is running from September 19-22 at the CherryHill orchard in Wandin East, located about an hour's drive from Melbourne's CBD. Tickets are now available to buy on the website.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  This surprising Melbourne suburb has been tipped as the fourth best spot in Australia to buy a home this spri

Victoria is lucky enough to be home to plenty of top-notch campsites, with beloved locations like Tidal River and Lake Catani popular for good reason. And while these tried-and-true spots are great, it’s always a joy to pitch a tent somewhere new. So if you're a camping enthusiast, you’ll want to add this just-opened campground in central Victoria to your list of where to go for your next outdoor adventure. Located in Bendigo Regional Park, the new campsite is called Larni Yirrip – which means ‘home of the ironbarks’. It’s a fitting name, as it’s located by the Box Ironbark Forest on the outskirts of Bendigo. This area is one of the most diverse woodlands in the country, filled with flowering eucalypt trees that can grow up to 25 metres in height.  The new campground is also right next to Crusoe Reservoir and Number 7 Park, providing easy access to swimming holes, walking trails, birdwatching spots and more. There are 12 designated walk-in sites immersed among the forest for campers, as well as toilets, picnic facilities, two shelters, cultural artworks and even a frog pond.    Photograph: Parks Victoria It also offers a chance to connect with the Dja Dja Wurrung People’s history and learn more about the traditional culture of the region. The campground was built by the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, who have interwoven cultural elements and storytelling into the campsite design.  You can find out more about the Larni Yirrip campground and make a booking via

In what's sure to be music to the ears of the avid outdoor lovers among us, a historic bridge on a popular walking and biking trail in regional Victoria is finally being repaired, meaning the track will be restored to its former glory. Dee Slip Bridge, which makes up part of the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail near Warburton, will soon reopen to the public after falling into disrepair.  Located in the Yarra Ranges National Park, the timber bridge was originally used to access the O’Shannassy Aqueduct and the 30 kilometre trail that runs alongside it. It was constructed back in 1947 when the aqueduct collapsed, and was used by cyclists and walkers alike to get to the popular mountainside track that runs from East Warburton to the Don Valley.  But in 2021, the bridge was badly damaged when a big pine tree fell onto it, and it had to be closed off to the public, with a temporary bypass created instead.   Photograph: Nick Esser Now, the state government has announced plans to restore the heritage bridge, preserving the structure by keeping the same design and retaining much of the original wood.  Dee Slip Bridge is expected to reopen in early 2026, meaning it won’t be long before there’ll be direct access to the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail once again. If you’ve never visited the trail, it’s certainly worth a visit. Set in the mountain ranges, it’s surrounded by lush greenery, with tall trees and ferns lining the track. Plus, it offers incredible views of the picturesque Yarra Ranges.

The Queen Victoria Market precinct has been undergoing a major facelift recently. A brand-new library opened and the old food hall got an impressive makeover. Now, the site of the market is about to undergo a massive transformation, with the construction of a billion-dollar development. Before you panic, don't worry, the beloved sheds of our market will remain as they are and the market isn't going anywhere. But, the land to the south of the main sheds – where the open-air car park and Franklin Street shops are – will be turned into a public square and three high-rise towers. It'll be called Gurrowa Place, with the City of Melbourne working with Lendlease to bring about the $1.7 billion development. The heritage permit has been approved by Heritage Victoria, and final federal heritage approval has also been granted, which means construction is likely to begin in 2026. The high-rise buildings will be located at the south end of the Queen Vic car park, where the disused Franklin Street shops currently are. The plan is to fully restore the Franklin Street retail space and build on the area with three towers, the tallest of which will be 28-storeys (but the permit allows for up to 49 levels to be built). These towers will be used for residential apartments, student accommodation, affordable housing and office spaces. This will be a fairly long process, with construction expected to take five years. Down on the ground, there's another component of the new development, with the cur

After the legalisation of pill testing back in November last year, and a successful summer of trialling a mobile testing service at festivals across the state, the next step in the drug-checking trial has arrived in Melbourne.  Victoria's first-ever fixed site for pill testing has just opened in the centre of Melbourne's inner north. The service is located at 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy – close to one of our city's busiest nightlife hubs.  The site offers testing of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals and liquids, all in an effort to reduce drug harm. It is run by a consortium of Youth Support and Advocacy Service, the Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria. It also offers free, confidential and non-judgmental harm reduction advice from health professionals, medical support and social services when needed.  The legalisation of pill testing doesn't mean that any drugs will be decriminalised outside of being tested at the service, but does mean that people won't be breaking the law by bringing in drugs to be tested. According to information released by the state government, consultations with police will establish an arrangement that doesn’t deter people from using the service. Victoria was the third state in the country to legalise drug-checking, following the ACT and Queensland, and the first to create dedicated legislation to support pill testing.  The motive behind the permanent testing site is ultimately to save lives and change behaviour around drug use, with pl

Head to Melbourne’s west and you’ll now find a world of pure imagination. Ok, so you won’t get to meet Willy Wonka, but you will find the largest Cadbury chocolate factory in the whole wide world.  The gigantic $130 million distribution centre is located in Truganina and opened in July, and it’s officially the national hub of all things chocolatey in our country.  At a whopping 47,000 square metres it spans twice the size of the MCG, and it will ship out 500,000 chocolate bars every day, or four million blocks each week. Seems like there must be quite a few of us with some pretty strong chocolate cravings.  The high-tech facility has 17 levels of automated storage, 11 robotic cranes and 500 metres of conveyor systems. It’s powered entirely by renewable energy, with solar panels, rainwater harvesting and modern recycling systems. But we haven’t got word yet on whether or not it has a chocolate river.  Cadbury is owned by a parent company called Mondelēz International, which also owns snack brands like Pascal and the Natural Confectionery Company. So this new centre is a very, very important place for the sweet tooths among us.  The centre has created 200 new jobs in Melbourne’s west, with 90 per cent of those jobs filled by local residents. We’d certainly like to get a taste of those work perks.  We’re not sure if they’ll be hiding golden tickets in Cadbury bars for a chance to visit, but watch this space and we’ll let you know if that changes.  Stay in the loop: sign up for

From “Mel-born” to “Cans” and “Briz-bin” to “Can-bra”, Australia is full of suburbs and cities that are quite the mouthful. Even if you’ve spent your entire life Down Under, there’s a good chance that you’re still stumbling over the correct pronunciation of some of them.  For our entertainment, language learning platform Preply recently published a list of the top 20 most mispronounced Australian place names, using an analysis of Google search data to find out which places had the most travellers making a faux pas. Topping the list of confusing names was Cairns (we totally get it), followed by Melbourne’s Prahran and Victoria’s capital city itself in third (don’t worry, Melburnians will be quick to correct you if you say “Mel-born”). Admittedly, it makes sense that Americans have an extra tough time when trying to get a grasp of how the heck the Aussie accent works. Mainly because we pronounce the letter R in words totally differently, which explains why the top three places have caused foreigners some strife.  It’s not surprising that Tasmania’s Launceston (LONN-ses-tun) came in fourth place, while NSW’s Gloucester (“gloss-ter") ranked in fifth spot and Canberra (CAN-bra) was the sixth biggest tongue twister.  Coogee and Bondi join the ranks as Australia’s most mispronounced beaches, and you can’t do the iconic coastal walk connecting the two without hearing them both: “Coooo-geee” and “Bond-dee”. It’s hard not to chuckle each time. There are heaps more places in Oz that are

If there’s one campground in Victoria that is a surefire bet to be booked out in summer, it’s Tidal River. The picturesque spot in Wilsons Promontory is ultra-popular, and for good reason. Not only is it the perfect base to explore all the natural beauty of the surrounding national park, but it’s the area's best-equipped campground. Excitingly, it’s about to get even better, with a key element getting a facelift.  The Tidal River Visitor Centre is set to be completely revamped to ensure it's appropriately equipped to welcome guests. The upgrade is part of the $23 million Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation Project, which aims to improve the overall experience for the 500,000 visitors to the national park each year.  The improvements to the visitor centre will focus on enhancing accessibility and sustainability. This will include a new façade, a small extension, interior upgrades, new picnic tables, landscaping, external paths, information kiosks, an accessible toilet block and changing facilities in the restrooms. Essentially, it’s going to be a lot more swish.  The first part of the Wilsons Prom Revitalisation was upgrading the popular Wildlife Walk back in December 2024. The refreshed trail is a go-to spot to see Aussie animals, as it winds through open grassland that's home to kangaroos, wombats, wallabies and emus. The 2.3-kilometre track now has a better trail surface (which makes accessibility easier for people with mobility issues), plus extra parking and signage. Constr

Seeing a movie at IMAX Melbourne is a rite of passage for local cinephiles. It is, after all, the largest cinema screen in the Southern Hemisphere – trust us, you can’t fully comprehend just how massive the screen is until you’re inside and witnessing it in real life. Now, even more people across the country will get to have this eye-boggling experience, as IMAX is partnering with Hoyts Cinemas to open five new screens across Australia. And lucky for us, one of them will be right here in Melbourne. The new IMAX is set to open in Melbourne Central by the end of 2025, with the other four locations yet to be announced.  Melbourne was actually the first city in the country to get an IMAX cinema, with the one at Melbourne Museum leading the way Down Under. Since 2022, four more have opened in Australia, with ten more planned for the future – including one at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre's Village Cinemas in Narre Warren, which is also set to launch in November.  The new Hoyts IMAX cinema will be equipped with advanced laser technology, creating a truly immersive experience. It’ll have crystal-clear 4K images, precision audio and state-of-the-art projection technology. It’s in a league of its own, compared to your average run-of-the-mill movie outing.  It will open in time for the release of the new Avatar: Fire and Ash movie, which is coming out on December 18. So mark your calendars if you want to experience this exciting new addition to Melbourne’s cinema scene, because we reck

The CBD street that runs between Melbourne City Baths and Queen Victoria Market has been plagued by construction works for about as long as we can remember. Well, it’s actually only been seven years. So maybe our memory just isn’t that good. But in great news, it's finally reopened – hooray! Franklin Street was closed off due to building works relating to the Metro Tunnel project, which is edging closer to its grand opening – it recently had a full weekend-long trial.  The newly opened street is now home to one of the entrances to the State Library Station. It’s also been redesigned as a tree-lined pedestrian promenade, with a small, shady park that has an area for outdoor dining as well as gardens and public art.  Other new features of the revamped street include wider footpaths, new lighting and seating, landscaping and separated bike lanes in both directions with a raised kerb for safer cycling. There’s now one traffic lane in each direction between Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, with on-street kerbside parking. The site will be an access point for the new subterranean train station, as well as a concourse that connects to Melbourne Central. Once it’s all opened, you’ll be able to catch train services on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines from there.  So while the exact Metro Tunnel opening date is still unclear, there’s signs that it could be sooner than we think. Watch this space for updates.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter

As a Melburnian, winter is undeniably a tough time. Not only do the temperatures harshly plummet and the sun sets cruelly early, but every year the annual mass exodus of your mates occurs as the cold settles in. During the cooler months, the pull of Europe’s Spritz-filled summer is incredibly strong, and many people just can’t resist escaping overseas to avoid the chill.  As the cold weather loomed this year, unlike many of my pals, I had no sunny Euro trip planned. But I was determined to come up with an alternative getaway destination to help avoid full-blown winter blues. Even just a short break from the cold could make a big difference. Like most Aussies, I love an overseas trip, but recently I’d been thinking I wanted to experience more of Australia and all the fantastic places that are essentially on my doorstep. All I wanted was somewhere that would be a sure-fire place for sunshine, with a laid-back vibe that would allow me to truly relax. I landed on visiting northern Queensland – a tropical holiday was just what I craved.  Many people may not consider Cairns as being high on the list of desirable Aussie destinations, but it’s actually got a lot going for it. For one, it’s so close to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Plus, it’s surrounded by stunning national parks and island oases. While Australia’s east coast has many amazing holiday spots, for a mid-winter getaway, Tropical North Queensland was definitely the best place to go

Melburnians, rejoice! We can once again enjoy the novelty of strolling through an underground tunnel right in the middle of our city. The historic Campbell Arcade has finally reopened, reviving the beloved shortcut that runs underneath Flinders Street Station.  The retro arcade, which first opened back in 1955, was closed off in 2022 as part of works on the Metro Tunnel. It’s been given a refresh, with a new ceiling, updated lighting and careful restoration of the original 1950s heritage features. And yes, those salmon pink tiles that cover the walls are still going strong.  The retailers that once filled the arcade aren’t back yet, but will hopefully return soon – although it’s unclear whether all of the same beloved businesses will return. Personally, we’d love to see Wax Museum Records back in the arcade. Crate digging for vinyl gems underground was a unique experience.  The heritage passageway was shut off as part of works on the Metro Tunnel, as it now forms a connection to the new Town Hall Station. Once the Metro Tunnel is in action, the new pedestrian link will run from this brand new station, under Flinders Street and alongside Campbell Arcade, before joining up to Flinders Street Station. It also connects to the Degraves Street Subway, so if you want to go directly from the train to eating a delicious baguette in mere minutes, you can live that dream.  At this stage, it’s unclear when this will actually become a reality, with no official opening date for the Metro T