Liv Condous

Melbourne comes alive on the weekend, so be sure to leave some room in your schedule to get out and experience the best of it! To help you make the most of your Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we've gathered all the hottest events, shows, gigs, exhibitions, openings and pop-up activations in one easy spot – you're welcome! The beloved Big Design Market brings a wintery edition of the event to Melbourne this weekend. If you're up for a fun-filled road trip, Ballarat Heritage Festival is a quirky day out in regional Victoria. For aspiring Jedis, experience a galaxy far, far away at the Lego Star Wars: the Exhibition. Or for some theatrics, Beetlejuice the Musical (yes, a stage show based on the cult classic movie) and acclaimed musical Hadestown are both playing in Melbourne now. Or get some creative inspo at one of the many inventive events that are part of Melbourne Design Week.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.

If your idea of a good time involves flying down mountains, powering through puddles and chasing that adrenaline rush, this guide’s for you. Australia is full of thrill-seeking adventures for mountain biking enthusiasts, ranging from the country’s longest off-road cycling trail in the west to one of the world’s top downhill runs in the south.  We’ve mapped out the best mountain biking trails in Australia, with options for every skill level – from biking beginners to seasoned pros. Just don’t forget to pump your tyres and strap on a helmet... safety first, legends! 🎾 The best sporting events in Australia🏃🏿‍♂️ All the best marathons in Australia🥾 Australia's best hikes and trails

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure. It's a huge month on Melbourne's stages, with a slew of world-class stage shows to enjoy: catch Hadestown, Beetlejuice the Musical, Les Misérables the Arena Spectacular and the Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale all playing in our city right now. Yirramboi Festival enters its second week, celebrating Indigenous culture with a jam-packed program of exciting creative events. Plus, the force is strong in Melbourne, after the much-anticipated opening of Lego Star Wars: the Exhibition. And frothy fest Pint of Origin is the perfect thirst-quenching outing this week.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.

Wondering what to do in Melbourne this June? We've got you sorted with this list of free things, art exhibitions, theatre shows, festivals and more.  Miserable weather? Here's what to do in Melbourne when it rains. Keen to embrace the cold? Check out our comprehensive guide to Victoria's snow season.

When visiting a new city, it’s highly likely that, at some point, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a big and beautiful museum or gallery. Come rain, hail or shine, these brilliant buildings are the place to brush up on historical happenings and learn a thing or two about local heritage.  Inside Australia's best museums, you’ll find some of our country’s greatest treasures and a huge diversity of subject matters too, ranging from natural history and cultural artefacts to science marvels and sporting achievements. Don’t wait until the next rainy day to explore Australia’s best museums with this ultimate guide, curated by our very own local experts (including Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley and Arts & Culture Editor Alannah Le Cross). 🖼️ The best art galleries to explore in Australia🎶 All the biggest musicals touring Australia right now👀 The coolest art exhibitions to see in Australia

Australia is packed with many incredible natural landmarks, gorgeous sightseeing spots and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But with so much choice, it's hard knowing which ones live up to the hype. Our Travel and News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has drawn on her adventures across every state and territory to curate this list of Australia’s top tourist attractions, spanning from the east coast to the west.  While the Big Banana didn’t make the cut this time around, you’re sure to be amazed by these spectacular sights, including the world’s largest coral reef, the oldest continually surviving rainforest, and the best sunset-watching location on Earth. Start compiling your great Australian bucket list from these top attractions. 😱 The best places to visit in Australia right now🌈 All the most beautiful places to explore Down Under🌊 Australia's best beaches

Wondering what to do in Melbourne this May? We've got you sorted with this list of free things, art exhibitions, stage shows, festivals and more. Get up your calendar and start planning. It's a huge month on Melbourne's theatrical stages, with the opening of two much-anticipated productions in our city: thrilling musical Hadestown and Beetlejuice: the Musical. Plus, the exciting Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will take over Rod Laver Arena for a 15-show run. And Jesus Christ Superstar continues its run at the Princess Theatre.  Yirramboi Festival returns with a stacked program of groundbreaking performances and events led by First Nations creatives. And if you've felt the force getting stronger, that could be because the mind-boggling Lego Star Wars: the Exhibition opens this month.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.   RECOMMENDED: What to do in Melbourne when it rains. 

The beloved Melbourne International Comedy Festival is well and truly in full swing, with more than 680 shows lighting up venues across the city. Phew, our abs are hurting already! With so many comedians to see and not enough time, we have sent out a batch of reviewers to dig deep and suss out the best of the fest this year. Whether it's a weird and wonderful show, a national treasure or a rising star, check out our reviews and see what tickles your fancy.  Want to review the show over a drink? Check out the best late-night bars in Melbourne.  

The arrival of autumn means Easter is around the corner, and so are the term one school holidays. In Victoria, kids get to have a break until from April 5 to April 21. So if you don't want bored children on your hands, you'll need a few ideas up your sleeve for how to keep them entertained. But fear not, we've put together a list of the best family friendly things to do, so you won't have stir-crazy kids running around the house. Looking for more things to do? Here’s what’s happening across Melbourne this week. 

Wondering what to do in Melbourne this April? We've got you covered with our list of events, festivals, exhibitions and more happening around town.  It's a laugh a minute in April, with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival keeping us entertained. It's your last chance to see the blockbuster exhibition Yayoi Kusama, and also NGV Friday Nights wraps up this month, so get your after-dark fix of art and tunes while you can. Or for a touch of retail therapy, the Makers and Shakers Market returns for one weekend featuring one-of-a-kind wares. Plus, an electrifying production of Jesus Christ Superstar is on at the Princess Theatre, and Beauty and the Beast will take its final bow this month. For a colourful day trip, frolic through fields of blooms at the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival. RECOMMENDED: The best places to see autumn leaves in Victoria.

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 and prettiest 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 out doesn't end with just one dip. Take the breathtaking Bay of Fires, crowned Tourism Australia's best beach for 2025, or the picturesque Whitehaven Beach, recently named the world's best. Now, all that’s left is for you to see them for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 All the best places to visit in Australia

We’re calling it: 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for travel in Australia. In a country that buzzes from sunrise to sunset, you’re guaranteed to find new and exciting things happening no matter where you wake up (or wind down). As the Travel and News Editor for Time Out Australia, it’s my duty to scope out all the newest happenings across every state and territory. From epic tours and highly-anticipated restaurants to the hottest new hotels and hidden gem exhibitions, here’s our ultimate list of the 25 best new things to do in Australia in 2025. How many will you tick off? 🦘 The 30 best places to visit in Australia👀 10 major Aussie moments to look out for in 2025🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia

Forget about needing to fly thousands of kilometres to the other side of the world to see Les Miserablés – an epic production of the iconic musical has landed right here in our city, providing the chance to experience the magic of a performance from the crème de la crème of London’s famed West End. Les Miserablés is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a mega arena-sized version of the beloved show, filling Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena with soaring songs for a limited time.  For the uninitiated, Les Miserablés is a musical adaptation of an 1800s novel by Victor Hugo, which was picked up by prolific West End producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh in the 1980s to become the production audiences know and love today. Set in 19th century France, it follows the life of Jean Valjean (played by Alfie Boe and alternate Killian Donnelly), a man striving to build a new life after he’s freed from imprisonment, but who breaks his parole to escape the trappings of a cruel justice system.  An act of pure kindness from a caring bishop (Earl Carpenter) spurs Valjean to transform his life and become a reputable figure, striving to give back to those in need. But the shadow of his past follows him, and he’s constantly evading the pursuit of tyrannous inspector Javert (Michael Ball). Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the story dips into the lives of a series of characters he encounters, each facing the trials of love and survival. While this summary sounds serious, the story is sung th

Before you enter full hibernation mode ahead of the cooler months, commit to one last outdoor hurrah with the return of the Great Ocean Road Running Festival on May 17-18. Take in sweeping coastal views while enjoying this rare opportunity to traverse the famous winding road on foot.  It's also the running festival's 20th anniversary, and with more than 11,000 runners expected to take part, this year’s milestone event is set to be the most unforgettable yet. For the running purists amongst us, there are a number of events on offer, including the ultra (60 kilometres), full (44 kilometres) and half marathons (23 kilometres), along with shorter options for those who just want to jog or walk.  And if you've got little ones, encourage them to get up and about for the 1.5-kilometre Kids’ Gallop. If that still sounds a little too athletic, consider getting involved in the Kite Festival, the Pub to Pub Waiter’s Race (which involves carrying a tray of beer from the Apollo Bay Hotel to the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse and back), or check out the live music all weekend long in Apollo Bay. There are plenty of other events and races on offer, so for more information be sure to check out the website.  Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the best things happening in Melbourne this week.

Join thousands of veterans, their descendants, and current serving personnel to pay respect to the ANZACs at the Shrine of Remembrance on ANZAC Day. The Dawn Service is a tradition that came out of the military practice of 'standing to' at dawn, a time when troops are vulnerable to attacks. Each year, the event draws thousands to the Shrine of Remembrance while millions more around the world follow the ceremony on television and radio.  This year, the Dawn Service will commence at 5.30am, followed by the ANZAC Day March at 9am. After the march concludes, a commemorative service will be held. All are welcome to attend, and no tickets or bookings are required. If you're unable to make it in person, the service and march will also be streamed live here. You can also commemorate from home by donating to the ANZAC Appeal to support the veteran community.  Looking to take part in more traditions? Here's where you can play two-up, a gambling game that is only legal on ANZAC Day.

Nestled in the foothills of surrounding mountain ranges, the Grampians Grape Escape is taking over the beloved regional town of Halls Gap with a weekend-long program of world-class wines, gourmet food and live music.  It all kicks off with a 'feel-good Friday' session before the festival fully opens on Saturday, a night celebrating local music talent from with a line-up of all homegrown bands like The Settlement and No Mistake. The weekend program will feature more than 90 exhibitors, including wineries, food trucks, creators and makers. There will be cooking demonstrations and masterclasses by guest chefs like MasterChef Australia favourites Dani Venn and Justine Schofield, plus a wine auction (with funds raised to be put back into the local community) and tastings from more than 30 local wineries and entertainment. If you're bringing the kiddos along, there will be plenty of activities to keep them going including rock climbing, herb and flower planting, and more. And you'll be able to shop up a storm with stalls showcasing everything from candles and jewellery to art and condiments. After the region was devastated by severe bushfires over summer, this event is the perfect way to support the local community and its small businesses to recover with a much-needed economic boost.  There are a variety of ticketing options available now (including single and multi-day passes), and you can find out more at the Grampians Grape Escape website.  Exploring the Grampians? Check out

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. It will be apparating into Melbourne on April 4, with tickets on sale now. 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. 

Lovers of gyros, halloumi and the zorba, listen up. A huge one-day celebration of Greek culture is returning to the Preston Market in Melbourne's north, with a fun-filled, free event.  On Sunday, April 6, Greek Day will transform the market into a Hellenic paradise, with loads of specialty food, live music, dance entertainment, kids' activities and more. It's a day for celebrating cultural diversity, with a chance for everyone to come together and experience Greek culture in all its glory. Running from 10am to 3pm, the northside market will become a vibrant Greek party, with renowned Greek band Anagennisi and beloved singer Valia Gianiska taking to the stage. Plus, Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture will put on energetic performances of traditional moves with authentic folk costumes.  Of course, don't forget the delicious Greek food on offer. Event attendees can expect a raft of exciting food and market pop-up stalls, including St. Gerry’s Greek Donuts for tasty loukoumades. Plus, to keep the little ones entertained, a variety of kids activities will be running from 11am to 1pm.  It's set to be a delightful day out and best of all, it's totally free to attend. Find out more on the website.  Can't get enough of Hellenic cuisine? Here are the best Greek restaurants in Melbourne. 

Feast on borek, gozleme and Turkish delights this April when the Turkish Pazar festival returns to Queen Victoria Market. This year marks the 17th year the Pazar rolls into town to celebrate Turkey's rich culture.  The festival replicates the atmosphere of an authentic Turkish bazaar right in the middle of Melbourne, to celebrate the end of Ramadan. At the pazar you'll discover the vibrant tastes, colours and sounds of Turkey through food, music, arts and crafts and cultural displays. Numerous food stalls will entice taste buds - with delicious plates of gozleme and kebabs as well as sweet treats like Turkish Delight and like baklava, plus authentic Turkish coffee.  There'll be live acts and traditional entertainment, including The Australian Ottoman Marching Band performing on the second day. During the weekend you can also browse Turkish arts and handicrafts, plus learn more about Turkish culture from stallholders. There will even be ebru demonstrations – the art of paper marbling.  You can visit the Turkish Pazar at the Queen Victoria Markets on April 12 and 13 from 9am to 4pm. All ages are welcome and entry is free. Looking for more things to do in Melbourne? Here's our guide to what's on this week. 

Melburnians know and love the Finders Keepers Market for creating the opportunity to shop from our city's most creative makers and designers – but this iteration of the biannual event is something fresh. As part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the market is holding a special foodie edition, where you can shop everything from hot sauce and kombucha to cookies and locally brewed beer. More than 50 local, independent makers will come together at North Melbourne's Meat Market for the two-day pop-up event, in a celebration of the food community. The market is designed to promote thoughtful, intention buying as part of the slow food movement. The aim is that shoppers leave not only with some delicious new treats to take home, but with a feeling of connection to the people that carefully crafted them. You can find the full list of all the stallholders here.  But it's not just a shopping experience – there'll be a special market menu using ingredients from stallholders, tablescapes with pieces from vendors for hosting inspo, a food art gallery, a collaborative mindfulness mural and a gin masterclass from Molly Rose Brewing.  The Finders Keepers Food Market will run from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23. Tickets are $7 and children under 13 can enter for free. Find out more about the event here.  Hungry for more foodie events? Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has stacks to satiate your appetite. 

It felt like something was brewing at the 17th edition of Golden Plains festival. The event has always been well-loved, as the little sister to the ever increasingly popular Meredith, but this year the last-minute demand for tickets was intense and unprecedented. A concoction of factors – another major Victorian music festival suffering a shock cancellation, the masterfully programmed line-up with a mix of exciting new artists hitting their peak and musical greats, and probably an unwillingness to let go of another festival season when it seems local events are dwindling by the year – meant the hype felt like Golden Plains was the place to be for the Labour Day long weekend.  At the heart of this revered annual gathering is the music. Incredible music, and lots of it. Pretty much every act on the program is praised by someone as a highlight – such is the quality of the line-up, and the skillful programming that means there really is something for everyone.  On the first afternoon, Skeleten’s ethereal yet bouncy sounds drew dancers towards the ‘Sup (nicknamed after its full title, the Supernatural Amphitheatre), followed by beautifully sincere folk music from Bonny Light Horseman that felt like the first special moment of the festival. As the sun set, the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra lifted the energy to prime punters for the evening ahead.  The musical programming on the Friday night was a classic demonstration of the diversity of genres typically heard on the festival’s single

CERES Community Environment Park is celebrating all things earthy at its Harvest Festival on Saturday, March 29. The Harvest Festival is jam-packed with events across the day, with plenty of activities for kids, including a scarecrow building competion. Plus, there'll be a range of entertainment such as live music from local musos and cultural performances. The festival will bring a taste of country living to the city and showcase some of the most loved local merchants and food stalls with a massive market, as well as the CERES Home Harvest Awards, which invites attendees to show off their cooking or gardening prowess. There'll also be farm tours and talks, so you can get to know this beloved community space on a deeper level.  Kids under 12 are free and there's tiered ticketing options, so you can pay for entry as you feel, ranging from $5-$30. Tickets are available online here.  Looking for more things to do in Melbourne? Check out what's on this week. 

You don't have to wait until spring to enjoy the delights of frolicking through a field of flowers, because autumn will bring the arrival of the KaBloom Festival of Flowers. Head to Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges for a festival that combines fields of flowers with spectacular circus art, from the Tesselaar team who also bring us the beloved annual Dutch tulip festival.  Wander through fields filled with sunflowers, salvias, marigolds, dahlias and more, arranged in enchanting intricate patterns. It's an Instagrammer's dream, but don't forget to bring some allergy medication if you're prone to hay fever. This year is the first that the Kabloom Ferris Wheel will allow floral fanatics to see the flower arrangements from above, making for a beautiful view. The festival also features a host of kid-friendly events among the flower fields. Keep an eye out for the flower fairies and pixies who will entertain the masses among the colourful blooms every day. Talented performers from Circus Oz will showcase jaw-dropping circus acts and lead workshops for the little ones. There'll also be a bubble show, with jaw-droppingly huge floating bubbles, and scenic rides on a tractor train.    When is the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival on?  The festival runs every day between March 29 to April 27, even on the Easter weekend public holidays. Its opening times are 10am to 5pm.  How much are tickets to the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival? Kids under 16 get free entry into the festival when accompanied by an a

Wyndham Park is getting a literal glow-up this March with a dazzling after dark experience returning to the Werribee recreation area. Lit at Wyndham Park is a free, after-hours art experience that turns the space into a glowing wonderland through a number of immersive attractions.  This year, highlights include several large-scale installations, including more than 50 gigantic, iridescent bubbles, a 27-metre illuminated skink sculpture representing the culture of the First Nations Kaurna people and an interactive artwork that allows you to create a holographic projection of yourself. Plus, there's a light trail and a colourful installation celebrating Australian wildflowers.  To make a night of it, there's plenty of restaurants, bars, pubs and more within the city centre of Werribee.  Lit at Wyndham Park is free to enjoy and will run nightly Thursday to Sunday from March 27 to April 13, open between 7pm and 11pm. There will also be sensory friendly nights on April 2 and 9. Head to the website for more information about the event. Looking for more fun? Here's our guide to what's on in Melbourne this weekend.

It's no secret that whenever Melbourne makes it onto any global list, we love to shout it from the rooftops. Now, Melbourne has claimed another achievement that's truly worth celebrating, ranking in the top ten on a worldwide list of the best cities. You don't need to tell us that our city is among the best of the best – but it's lovely to be reminded.  The 2025 Global Cities Index assesses 1,000 of the largest cities worldwide in determining the rankings, and Melbourne was named sixth in the whole wide world. Our city jumped up from ninth place in 2024, proving that it continues to go from strength to strength.  To compile the rankings, researchers at Oxford Economics scored each city on 27 indicators across five categories, including Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. Cities were scored under each of these pillars, then the results were combined to reveal the world’s top-performing cities overall. Melbourne once again took the crown as the highest-ranking Australian city and overtook heavyweights like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The Victorian capital truly shone in the Human Capital category, where it ranked 12th globally – largely thanks to its high-quality universities and fast-growing economy that’s attracted many foreign workers. Melbourne also secured a spot in the top 20 cities for Economics, ranked in the top ten per cent for Environment and tied with Sydney as Australia’s highest-ranked city for Governance in 15th place.

If you're one of the rare Melburnians who hasn't visited the land of sushi and sake – now is your chance to change that. Jetstar has launched some crazy bargain airfares to Japan this week as part of a limited time sale, with one-way flights as cheap as $377. That's cheaper than a flight to Perth! If you've been tossing up whether it's finally time to make a trip to Tokyo, here's your sign to make it happen.  Jetstar’s Sashimi Rollin’ Sale runs from Monday, May 19 until Friday, May 23 at 11.59pm AEST (unless sold out prior). This sale is perfect if you haven't sorted your holiday plans for this year – the sale airfares available from October 6 to November 15, 2025.  Photograph: Melissa Woodley Melburnians can fly to Osaka for as little as $377, and to Tokyo for just $407. When you add in the return airfare, you're looking at a price tag starting from $729. For an overseas holiday to a destination that's as popular as Japan is right now, that's an absolute steal.  These flights will be snapped up pretty quick, so don't sleep on this chance to nab your ticket to a holiday filled with omakase and onsens. You can find out more about Jetstar’s Sashimi Rollin’ Sale here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Yes! All public transport is officially free for kids in Victoria from next year Construction has kicked off on Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop, a massive new 90km rail line acr

Public transport is a contentious topic, especially in Melbourne. It's not unusual for the topic to spark a heated debate – just the mention of the Airport Rail Link will make any Melburnian's blood pressure rise. But now, the state government has made an announcement that we're sure everyone will agree is good news: public transport in Victoria is being made free for kids.  There's no caveat here – this change will apply to anyone under 18 across the whole state, on all forms of public transport. It'll come into effect on January 1, 2026 – which aligns with around the time that bank card payments will start being used on public transport, with new compatible Myki readers currently being installed around Melbourne.  The move was announced as a teaser for the latest state budget, which is set to be fully revealed on May 20. For it to become a long-term change, the Labour government will need to be reelected in the Victorian election later next year. It's an effort from the government to ease the pressure of the relentlessly rising cost of living for Victorian families, as it's estimated that public transport fares can cost around $1,000 a year per child.  A new youth Myki will be introduced as part of the changes, so that children can still tap on through ticket gates at train stations. The youth Myki will stay valid until the child turns 18. Young Victorians living in regional and rural areas where Mykis aren't used will also be able to use public transport for free.  Plus, V

There are plenty of reasons to smile about living in Melbourne right now – from world-class dining to exciting new stage productions. But in news that doesn't make us feel like smiling, apparently Melburnians are much unhappier than they were last year, according to the 2025 Happy City Index. It seems we need to turn our frowns upside down.  Now in its sixth year, the Happy City Index ranks 200 cities around the world using 82 indicators across six categories: governance, environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing and health. These cities are then awarded gold, silver or bronze status based on their overall ranking.  In the last 12 months, Melbourne's happy city ranking has dropped drastically. And unfortunately, it wasn't that high to begin with. In 2024, Melbourne ranked 41st on the Happy City Index. Now, our city has dropped to equal 67th place on the list. Ouch.  The factors Melbourne ranked lowest for were economy and mobility (the efficiency and quality of public transport). But on the positive side, Melbourne still claimed a silver medal, and our city ranked as the third happiest in Australia. We fell behind Adelaide, which placed 29th, and Canberra which placed 51st on the global list. According to the index, Sydney is the 75th happiest city worldwide, and Brisbane is the 78th. So as far as Aussie cities go, Melbourne definitely isn't the saddest place to be.  So which cities across the whole wide world are the happiest? Copenhagen in Denmark was named as the t

If you never got over the R'n'B era of the early 2000s, now's your time to shine. The man who is arguably the king of the genre is coming to Melbourne for a run of arena shows – yes, the one and only Usher is gracing us with his presence. OMG!  As part of his Past Present Future world tour, Usher has announced 12 (!!!) Aussie shows in Melbourne and Sydney later this year. It's a long-awaited return Down Under for the 'Love in this Club' singer, who hasn't performed on our shores since his first solo headline tour, the OMG tour, in 2011. All we can say is, yeah! The tour is essentially a victory lap for the iconic artist, who is performing in celebration of his incredible 30-year career, singing all his hits like 'DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love', 'Burn' and heaps more. Currently touring around the world, Usher is already creating lots of hype among his fans, particularly with some viral clips of him feeding women in his audience cherries. Clearly, he's still got it. So if you've got it bad for the king of R'n'B, here's everything you need to know about Usher's Melbourne shows for the 2025 Past Present Future tour. When is Usher performing in Melbourne for his 2025 Australia tour? Usher will perform six (yes, really!) shows at Rod Laver Arena in 2025 on Wednesday, November 19; Thursday, November 20; Saturday, November 22; Sunday, November 23; Tuesday, November 25; and Wednesday, November 26. When do Usher Melbourne tickets go on sale? General sale kicks off on Friday, May 16 at 12pm

Melbourne's public transport system is in the throes of a makeover, in a big way. Between the imminent opening of the metro tunnel and Myki cards on their way to being scrapped, we'll be seeing some significant changes to how we get around our city in the coming years. There's even a plan in the pipeline for a second metro tunnel with a station underneath Marvel Stadium.  But wait – believe it or not, there's more. The next big (or rather, ginormous) transport project is the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), and construction officially kicked off this month.  We don't blame you if you have no idea what the SRL is, since it's a little hard to keep up with Melbourne's many construction projects. Essentially, the SRL is a brand-new rail line that will run for 90 kilometres around the outer ring of Melbourne’s metro area, travelling from Werribee in the west to Cheltenham in the south. The purpose of the SRL is to take pressure off the inner areas of Melbourne, spread out our city's population and infrastructure density and accommodate for the booming growth areas in outer Melbourne. According to the state government, Melbourne’s population growth is on track to be the current size of London by 2050, so more transport is urgently needed. It will travel via the future airport rail link through the new super hub station in Sunshine, then to the northern suburbs, stopping at Broadmeadows, Fawkner, Reservoir, Bundoora and Heidelberg. Then it will zoom to the east, via Doncaster, Box Hill, Bu

If you never got over the R'n'B era of the early 2000s, now's the time to relive it. The man who is arguably the king of the genre is coming to Sydney for a run of four arena shows – yes, the one and only Usher is gracing us with his presence. As he would say, oh my gosh. As part of his Past Present Future world tour, Usher has just announced a total of eight Aussie shows in Sydney and Melbourne later this year. It's a long-awaited return Down Under for the 'Love in this Club' singer, who hasn't performed on our shores since his first solo headline tour, the OMG tour, in 2011.  The tour is essentially a victory lap for the iconic artist, who is performing in celebration of his incredible 30-year career, singing all his hits like 'DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love', 'Burn' and heaps more. Currently touring around the world, Usher is already creating lots of hype – i.e. the viral clips of him feeding women in his audience cherries. Clearly, he's still got it. So if you've got it bad for the king of R'n'B, here's everything you need to know about Usher's Sydney shows for the 2025 Past Present Future tour. When are Usher's Sydney shows for his 2025 Australia tour? Usher will perform four shows at Qudos Bank Arena in early December, on: Monday, December 1; Tuesday, December 2; Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5. Yep, Christmas is coming early. Where is Usher performing in Sydney? Usher will perform his four Sydney shows at Olympic Park's Qudos Bank Arena in early December. That

While we love a sunny day in Melbourne, the recent bout of warm weather in our city has left us a little bamboozled. If you’ve been feeling like it’s unseasonably warm for this time of year, you’re not alone.  New data from the Bureau of Meteorology has shown that Victoria just had its warmest April ever. This means that in weather records dating back to 1910, the average temperature for April has never been so high. Oh dear.  We’re not talking about a tiny, incremental increase either. The temperature last month was 2.37 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average.  Melbourne experienced a 2.9 degree increase on the long term average last month, making it the capital city with the second highest temperature increase in the country, with an average temperature of 23.2 degrees. This made it the second warmest April on record for Melbourne. We were definitely scratching our heads when we could go to the beach for a swim on a 30 degree day in the middle of autumn.  It wasn’t just a warm April, it was also a dry one. Across the southern half of Victoria, rainfall levels were either significantly below average or the lowest on record.  Victoria wasn't alone with its warm weather – there was a one degree increase on the long-term average across Australia in April. Every state and territory also saw above-average temperatures last month.  The toasty trend doesn’t seem to be dissipating anytime soon. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that the next three months will continu

Yearning for a holiday? Join the club. Thankfully, Jetstar has zoomed to our rescue – they've brought back their famous Return for Free sale as part of their 21st birthday celebrations. The sale's offering is simply in its name: book a flight to one of the idyllic destinations (with domestic and international routes included), and your flight home will cost you nothing. Here’s the lowdown.The Jetstar Return for Free Birthday Sale will launch to the general public at midnight tonight (Tuesday, May 6) and will run for just 48 hours, ending at 11.59pm Melbourne time on Thursday, May 8 (unless already sold out). Want early access? Club Jetstar members have access to the sale from noon today (Tuesday, May 6). You can become a Club Jetstar member and book your cut-price escape over here. Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSWCape Byron Lighthouse With more than 80 domestic routes and heaps of international routes included in the sale, it might be tricky to pick your destination. In the mood for a Byron Bay getaway? You could fly there and back from Melbourne for $99. Want an island escape? Flights from Melbourne to Bali in the sale start at $239 (with $0 return fares) and flights from Melbourne to Phuket start at $266. Travel dates vary for each route, but include early September 2025 until late March 2026 for domestic travel, and late May 2025 until late March 2026 for international flights. Find out more here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newslette

Attention celestial sighting enthusiasts! May has an exciting spectacle in store for stargazers. Melbourne's skies are set to sparkle with a super bright meteor shower called Eta Aquarid, described as “the second best meteor shower of the year for Australian sky watchers” by astronomy experts. The annual meteor shower – which is formed from debris from Halley’s comet – will light up the sky above Australia this week, peaking in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7. The Eta Aquarid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable show, with their high speed also making them appear brighter to the naked eye.  If you're keen to see these scintillating sights for yourself, here's what you need to know.  How can I see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower from Melbourne?  Melbourne stargazers will have their best chance at seeing the Eta Aquarids between 2am and 5.40am local time from Monday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 7. The meteor shower is set to reach its maximum around 2am on May 7. The best way to see them is to scan the northern horizon near the point of the Aquarius constellation, where the meteors are set to emerge from. You’ll know you’re looking in the right place if you're looking at a spot where there's not much else to see except Saturn, which will also be particularly bright. Importantly, you'll need a cloud-free sky and quite a lot of patience, as meteor sightings can be quite sporadic.  When will the Eta Aquarids meteor shower be at its peak? Though the meteor shower i

Mother Nature has blessed Victoria with countless spots with amazing trails, from adventurous multi-day treks to breathtaking day hikes. From the Grampians National Park to the Dandenong Ranges National Park – if you're looking for world-class hiking, you don't have to look far. Affirming that our state is home to the best of the best treks, Time Out’s global team have compiled an ultimate list of the world’s top 20 best hikes – and one in the top five is right here in Victoria.  The list spans the globe, featuring everything from the historic Camino de Santiago in Spain to the breathtaking Tour du Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps and the cliff-hugging Lycian Way in Turkey. It also happens to feature two Aussie gems, including Victoria’s windswept Great Ocean Walk and Tasmania’s secluded Maria Island Walk. The Great Ocean Walk was named fifth on the list, an impressive feat considering the high calibre of hikes among the rankings. While the Great Ocean Road is well-known as Australia’s favourite road trip, many are surprised to discover that you can actually shadow the entire sea-swept stretch from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles on foot. Photograph: Visit Victoria   Spanning 104 kilometres, the Great Ocean Walk takes up to eight days to complete in full, but there are plenty of pick-up points throughout the trail that are perfect for shorter overnight stretches. Along the way, you’ll pass some of Victoria’s most iconic sights, from the lush rainforests of Great Otway Nation

As the sunny days in Melbourne become fewer and farther between, you don't have to give up on getting your dose of sunshine. The people at Qantas are making sure we get our fix of Vitamin D with a massive sale on flights to some beloved tropical destinations. Honolulu? Tick! Fiji? Yep! Vanuatu? You bet – and some of the return flights are going for less than $499! Plus, if you're keen to get over to the Northern Hemisphere, you could snag return flights from Melbourne to London and back for $1,740. It's a sweet deal worth snapping up to make your aspirations of a 2025 getaway a reality.  You’ve got only one week to nab these super discounted fares, with the sale launching today (April 29) and ending on May 5 (unless sold out prior). There’s a huge range of travel dates from May 2025 to March 2026 – so if you’ve already burned through this year’s annual leave, here’s your chance to lock in an early 2026 escape.  So, where to? Island time is calling, with return flights from Melbourne to Nadi, Fiji starting at just $729, or chill out in Bali with return flights from $721. Sun, sand and savings go hand in hand – so why not take advantage of discounted return flights to Honolulu from Melbourne from just $999. Or, if you’ve had your fix of tropical bliss, you can snag cheap return flights from Melbourne to Beijing from $1,612, or flights to Los Angeles and back from $1,867.You can check out more discounted destinations on the Qantas website here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our