Maya Skidmore

Call us biased, but we think Australia is one of the most incredible and diverse places 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 we come in. From turquoise beaches and ancient rainforests, to flaming red deserts and buzzy metropolitan cities, our Travel and News Editor Melissa Woodley (who has visited every Aussie state and territory) has picked out the most breathtaking places you should visit in Australia right now. 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.  Jump to list:  QLD | NT | WA | NSW | SA | VIC | TAS 🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful places to explore🚘 Regional towns worth visiting in Australia

With so many must-see attractions in NYC, a visit to the city can be overwhelming. The best NYC tours — whether by land, sea or air — can help you make the most of your visit. Even locals will enjoy these tours and maybe learn something new (or discover a few secret NYC destinations) by taking an off-the-beaten-path tour. Choose your own adventure: walking tours, boat tours, bike tours and helicopter tours are all great ways to see the city, and the expert guides will turn you into fountains of knowledge on New York landmarks. Looking for something more specific? There are food tours, movie tours, art tours, architecture tours and more. Whatever part of NYC you want to explore, there’s a tour for you, and you’ll have fun while learning everything you need to know about the Big Apple – including local-approved recommendations that will really show you the best of the city.  Want to traverse a little more in 2025?  Get curious with the best non-touristy things to do in NYC  Frolic through NYC's most beautiful parks Discover the city's best lesser-known attractions Eat through the best food tours in NYC  This guide was written by Time Out New York's commercial editor, Annalise Mantz. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This

In all of planet Earth, there is no other skyline quite like that of New York City. Whether by air or by land, the Big Apple’s skyscrapers and landmarks are iconic. But there’s one way of touring NYC that beats out the rest, hands down—by boat.  Whether from the upper deck of a yacht or hunkered down on a speedboat, views from the harbor show NYC at its absolute finest. From the Statue of Liberty to the One World Trade Center, you can take in all the biggest sights without dealing with packed subway cars and endless traffic jams. Below are some of the best boat tours in NYC from speedboat rides to floating jazz concerts and cocktail cruises.  Updated May 2025: Looking to go big (Apple) this 4th of July? There's an NYC boat tour for that. Expect a buffet, DJ and close-up view of the fireworks.  Want more nautical things to do? These are NYC's best boat bars for sips and snacks.  How do we determine the cream of the crop? Our staff picks combine the top, most recent reviews with some of our personal favorites to make sure you get the best deal on the web. Throughout this article, you may notice some affiliate links – these have no influence on our editorial content – we pinky swear. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

There are few things on Earth more exciting than stumbling across a chaotic blooming of rainbow wildflowers somewhere unexpected. Despite a popular belief held overseas that Australia is 98 per cent arid outback (with a tiny slice of Bondi Beach thrown into the mix), our land Down Under is actually home to a veritable abundance of stunningly beautiful wildflowers that you have to see to believe.  One of the coolest ways (in our humble opinion) to create an Australian travel itinerary is to do it in tune with the wildflower seasons, with every state and territory having a different moment under the floral sun throughout the year. To help you out, we've picked the best places to spot wildflowers in Australia this year, and tell you exactly when and where you need to be to see them at their florid best.  🌈 Follow the rainbow to Australia’s most colourful landmarks😍 The most beautiful places to explore in Australia✅ Aussie tourist attractions that don't actually suck

As a city bursting with attractions, it’s an unavoidable fact that some of the things in your Sydney guidebook are bound to suck. Long queues, ridiculous prices and crowds of tourists are hardly going to make your trip to Sydney a memorable one – so ditch them all for these top-notch, local-approved sights and activities.  Below we’ve laid out a full range of tried-and-tested tourist stops around Sydney that are guaranteed not to be a let-down; they'll see you surfing at Bondi Beach, jetting across the harbour on a speedboat and watching humpback whales in the wild. Read on for our pick of the very best tourist attractions in Australia’s Harbour City. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:These are the best restaurants in Sydney.These are the city's best bars.And these are the very best places to stay the night.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

With its stunning beaches and glorious gardens, Sydney is a city with nature therapy on tap. And while a walk in the park or a splash in the ocean can be a good fix for all manner of ills, sometimes what you really need is an all-out indulgent spa day.  Thankfully, the Harbour City is home to some of the most incredible day spas in the country – palaces of rejuvenation ranging from a super-affordable communal bathhouse to a luxe harbourside spa in one of the city’s most high-end hotels.  Our editors – including yours truly, lifestyle writer and self-care enthusiast Winnie Stubbs – have valiantly volunteered to try out Sydney’s leading spas, and have put together this list based on how revitalised we felt as we stepped back into the real world. Every few months, we hunt down a new gem to add to the list – Sydney’s wellness game is on the up, and it’s our job to shout from the rooftops about the places that will make you feel like the best version of you.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.  RECOMMENDED:  Keen to head further afield? These are the best spas in the Blue Mountains. And these are the best facials in Sydney.Planning a mum-and-daughter day? These are the best afternoon teas in Sydney.

Any Sydneysider knows that getting a good feed near the Sydney Opera House is a hard game. If you're looking for an easy, delicious lunch or dinner – or a quality drink before or after hitting the sails for a show – it can be tough to know where to look in a district rife with overpriced tourist traps. That’s why we’ve rounded up the very best restaurants, bars and eateries for you to grab dinner, lunch or a simple pre-show snack while you're in the heart of Sydney’s most famous part of town. You’re welcome. While you're in the area, check out the best restaurants in Sydney right now, then wander around the Rocks and check out the MCA. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.

If you didn’t know already, Australia is home to some of the most incredible hikes on the planet. From week-long treks through red deserts and green mountains to easy day hikes through rainforests and along beautiful beaches, the land Down Under has every possible kind of walk imaginable – and trust us, they’re all bloody good.  If you’re looking at lacing up your hiking boots this year, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best hikes and walks to do in Australia. Using the age-old philosophy of variety being the best spice, this list has a little bit of everything. From self-guided, kid-friendly day walks to life-changing multi-day treks that can be done independently or in a guided group, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful hikes in Australia. 🥾 The most epic national parks in Australia🌊 Australia's best beaches🤿 The best things to do in Australia

One of Australia’s crowning glories is, without a doubt, its wildlife. For many people travelling to or around Australia, spotting a vibrant array of animals in real life is one experience that most aren’t willing to skip. And we get it – you can't really beat seeing a baby koala in the flesh by much.  Here, we’ve rounded up the best ethical zoos and wildlife sanctuaries to see both native and non-native animals in Australia. Each of these locations has been selected for its strict adherence to animal welfare guidelines, conservation efforts, and the work that they do to care for endangered species, both in captivity and in the wild. Because, if there's one thing that's more important now than ever, it's getting to know the many wonderous creatures who also call this planet home – and then making sure we do our best to protect them.  🦘 The best places to see kangaroos and koalas in Australia🐳 Where to go whale watching Down Under 🐧 The top birdwatching spots 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

You know the landmarks and the laid-back culture, but there are plenty more things to do in Australia than kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. Australia is a nature lover’s paradise, with highly sought-after food experiences and an impressive cultural heritage to boot. Our team (including Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley) have sifted through every attraction, experience, event and landmark our nation has to offer and put together the only Aussie bucket list you'll ever need. Whether you want to get amongst art parties in small coastal cities, see fairy penguins scurry across sandy beaches or watch the sunrise over Sydney Harbour from a kayak, there’s so much to explore across this incredible country. Here's our guide to all the best things you need to do in Australia right now. 🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful destinations🌊 The best beaches in Australia

Autumn 2025 update: Not sure where the start of the year went? Same. Embrace the cooler weather with brekkie and a hot coffee at one of our fave Sydney cafés. My current picks include a delightful new spot from the Ursula’s Paddington team called Cafe Cressida, Manly’s go-to Noon, and the Euro-style Ken's Continental in Potts Point. Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee and we love nothing more than donning our finest sport-luxe activewear and catching up with mates on a weekend morning over eggs, fritters and crusty artisan sourdough. So, whether it's a reward for tackling one of Sydney's most beautiful walks, an indulgent hangover fix after a night at one of the city's best bars, or a workday coffee stop, these are the best Sydney cafés, according to our in-the-know Time Out Sydney writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. We'll have one B&E roll, please.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Is it lunch time? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants right now.

What if we told you that every month or so, a women-only strip club pops up in Sydney. Well, that’s exactly what we’re telling you. Now, listen up. Strip Her: The Pop Up is a sensual show with a twist. Instead of going to see a strip show as a voyeur, everyone that rocks up to this event will actually become the show instead. Before you worry, there’s absolutely nothing sleazy or sordid about this, and it’s designed with utmost inclusivity at heart, meaning that regardless of your sexual orientation, you’re welcome to come through and get down in a supportive space that’s built on powering up your individual sensuality.  This is all the brainchild of Caitlin Erica, a stripper, birth doula and teacher who works to help women let go of internalised shame and step into their full "divine feminine power" in safe spaces that entirely support them. The night will flow along these exact lines, with participants invited to express their sensuality for nobody except themselves.  This show is a bit of a revolutionary concept, with the stage open to any woman willing to strip down in a free-flowing dance that’s premised on you having as much fun as possible. The event creators seem very keen on labelling this as a ‘safe space’, which we reckon is a green flag for something that obviously has the potential to be pretty scary for those who aren’t used to it.  Want to know more? We chatted to Caitlin Erica about sex, stripping, what made her start 'Strip Her' and her hottest things to do

If the idea of a chilly European-style Christmas market really gets you going, then boy, do we have the marché for you. From Friday, December 13 to Saturday, December 22, the organisers of the epic Bastille Festival are back with their European-themed extravaganza’s Christmas edition – falling snow included. Le Jolly Market – a classic European winter market, complete with wooden chalets, melted cheese stations and a glimmering Christmas tree – is popping up this year in a sparkly new super-central location.The annual festive affair will be bringing a whole heap of European charm to Belmore Park – an often overlooked pocket of green in the heart of the city. You’ll find Belmore Park just opposite the Eddy Avenue exit of Central Station, and from December 13 until December 22, it will be transformed into a Christmas-themed wonderland.  Guests can expect food stalls slinging all the European favourites: fresh crepes, cheese fondue and – naturally – a whole lot of wine. Other foodie highlights include escargot, moules frites and cute-as-anything Christmas pastries. With five wine bars and 40 food stalls, plus 35 stalls offering everything from handmade ceramics to locally-crafted spirits, this is your one-stop-shop for a dose of festive cheer. Plus, you’ll find a whole heap of gifts for less than $20 – an affordable way to add a little affordable European charm to your Christmas haul. Le Jolly Market will be open to the public from 5pm until 10.30pm every evening from December 1

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. When I walk into Tida with my mum and cousins, it’s like being plunged into a sweet saffron sea that makes me want to cry (in a good way, I promise). As a second-generation Iranian-Australian, I grew up going to Iranian restaurants run by friends of my grandparents on Sydney’s north shore. These restaurants were old-school formal palaces, made for the older generation who’d recently arrived in Australia. But when I walk into Tida, it’s a fresher, younger Iranian world that I recognise, and it makes me feel emotional. Tida (whose name translates to “daughter of the sun” in old Persian) is a new-ish introduction to North Willoughby’s high street – an intimate space with a handful of communal tables and warm, hand-painted golden-yellow walls. Its young owners wanted their restaurant to look and feel like a dining room in an Iranian home, because, as they tell me, “we can’t go back to ours”. Every part of Tida has been lovingly created by a friend, from the thoughtful scattered artworks to the homey display cabinets. There’s a real sense of love and care here, and it extends to the patrons who sit comfortably in long, languorous conversations around the small white tables, sipping black tea and forgetting they’re in a restaurant on the side of a major road. It’s

If the late-December dash to buy Christmas presents isn't your bag, you might be keen to start your gift finding mission in November – and you can do exactly that at the ‘Sydney Made Art & Design Markets’, which are back in a big way for the 2024 season. As a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting Sydney’s creative scene, this market is all about peddling art and design treasures hand-made by Sydneysiders in the beautiful Town Hall.   This one-day-only mega market will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, November 23, and will be showcasing the curated wares of more than 76 makers and designers from all across Sydney. Shoppers will be able to peruse photography, slow fashion, natural skincare, ceramics, jewellery, bespoke stationery and art pieces, among many other curious treasures. The historic space will also be filled with live music acts throughout the day, and entry is by donation, which will go towards supporting an entirely volunteer-run community event.  You can stay up to date with all the happenings with the Sydney Made Art & Design Markets on their Facebook page and via their website.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Craving more market action? Check out our list of the best markets in Sydney that happen all year-round.

If you love Christmas, meeting rescue puppies and frolicking with fellow dog people and their dogs in the sunshine, you need to pop the aptly named ‘Santa Paws’ event into your calendar, stat. On Sunday, November 17, this one-day event in Centennial Park is a big, canine extravaganza that’s all about raising funds for rescue dog charity, Ozzie Tails of Hope. All dollars raised on the day will go straight to animal rescue charities across Australia. Last year, over $20,000 was raised – a figure we reckon we can up, this time round. The goodness of the cause isn’t the only sweet thing on the cards at Santa Paws. You can meet rescue dogs and puppies who are up for adoption, take part in doggy yoga, snaffle snacks from food trucks, tick off your Christmas pet photography needs (you know you’re interested) – and even take part in a ‘Strike-a-Paws’ contest (with prizes for the best dressed). It starts at 8am, and runs until 1pm – and it's all going down on at Centennial Park's dog park (at the corner of Grand Drive and Loch Avenue) on the Bondi Junction side. Best of all, this festival is totally free, and open to everyone. You can pre-register yourself and your pooch for the many fabulous contests and activities that’ll be popping on the day by clicking right here. Whether you walk away with a permanent new furry friend, a festive pet portrait – or just get the chance to downward dog with a particularly adorable poodle-cross, Santa Paws is the perfect way for every pooch fan to la

It's a universally acknowledged truth that a heady swig of gin makes for a jolly good time. The wonders of this diverse and delicious liquor are known to many of us, but when it comes to finding out where the very best joints in Sydneytown to swill ’em actually are, we can often come up lost. That is, however, until now.  Enter: Gin Journey – the sauced-up baby of British-born Leon Dalloway, Gin Journey founder and all-around lord of all things liquor, who has been charming fans of the devil’s drop with his educational bar crawls from London to Sydney since 2013.  Gin Journey is Dalloway’s original invention, with this tried and tested explorative experience taking you on a guided tour of Sydney’s boutique distilleries and hidden gin bars, including Young Henrys, Ester Spirits and Unexpected Guest Distillery. A gin flight is included at each stop, along with an artisan gin cocktail to smooth its way.  Throughout the tasting tour, Dalloway will share fun facts about the popular tipple's fascinating history, from its checkered days as ‘mother’s ruin’ to its present-day ascendancy and the botanical bonanza of contemporary Aussie gins. Expect good chat, delicious (and extremely high quality) gin moments, and to leave at the end of the day feeling more than pleasantly buzzed.  Margarita Journey is the latest addition to Sydney’s boozy block, following the exact same base model as its gin-heavy sister, but with an obvious tequila-esque twist. In three hours, you’ll tick off hot spo

If you really, really love jacarandas and don’t mind a bit of a trek to see them at their bloomin' best, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival might be just the thing you’re looking for.  Kicking off on Friday, October 25 and running until Sunday, November 3, this purple blossom explosion is perfect for everyone who wants a maximum level of jacarandas in their lives. Grafton is a 6.5-hours drive north of Sydney, and it's home to an abundance of jacaranda trees. With more than 2,000 of the lilac flowering trees calling this Northern Rivers town home, you’re in for a big, fat, flowery time.  Running every year, this festival is somewhat of an institution, and in 2024, it’s looking like it’ll be quite the event. With 12 days of festivities planned, visitors can expect some blockbuster blossoming fun. Whether it’s a Venetian carnival, a ‘50s and ‘60s ‘Retrofest’, highland dancers (in tartan, obviously), a jacaranda fun and colour run, or a spectacular jacaranda float parade, this festival looks like a pretty good time.  With food trucks galore, the chance to wander through purple sweet-smelling lanes at night, and getting to (allegedly) meet the royal family amongst vivid lilac blooms, it looks like this festival is a definite crowd pleaser, no matter who you are, or what you like doing with your time. You can check out the whole program right here. Head up for the most wholesome spring break, some sweet small town vibes, and plenty of purple. You won’t regret it. Stay in the loop: sign

Does the thought of standing behind a tumbling, enchanted waterfall while surrounded by twinkling glow worms sound like a fairytale to you? For all us Sydney and NSW dwellers, this dream is also very much in reach. Horseshoe Falls is a waterfall tucked away in Hazelbrook in the Blue Mountains. (There is a shortage of parking, so you're best off coming via public transport.) There's a track with four main waterfalls to explore, but our top tips are checking out Horseshore and Glow Worm Nook Falls. Follow the path towards the waterfalls, and the first one you'll reach, within about 15 minutes, is Horseshoe Falls, which has a horseshoe-shaped cave overhang. Keep walking for another 15 minutes or so, and you'll reach Glow Worm Nook Falls, where you can explore behind the waterfall looking for glow worms. Both these sections of track are suitable for kids, too.  If you want to maximise your glow worm action, there are loads to see at the first stop, Horseshoe Falls, if you head there in the dark – a daunting prospect that's best left to the more adventurous among us who own powerful torches to light the way on the walk there (but, and this is very important, not inside the glow worm cave itself), good walking boots to minimise slipping, and perhaps even a safety beacon. When the sun goes down, the cave behind the waterfall is said to come alive with a veritable galaxy of thousands and thousands of glow worms.  More warnings: It is absolutely vital that you do not touch the glow

Embracing Indigenous culture through local bush tucker, Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel’s resident restaurant offers the finest feed you'll find in Kakadu. You can fuel up for the day with a hot buffet breakfast and barista-made coffees; enjoy a light lunch with sparkling wine; or head here for the star in this particular crown: dinner. With an emphasis on locally sourced flavours and produce, you can eat your way through crocodile spring rolls, seared barramundi steak and bush-spiced kangaroo fillet in the cavernous formal dining room. 

Cooinda Lodge’s on-site restaurant, this cosy timber paradise is full of golden light and good times. In the morning, you can get stuck into a succulent breakfast buffet and swill back delicious barista-made coffees in ‘Mimi’s Restaurant’, while at lunch you can snaffle down a proper pub lunch, with all the classics up for grabs, alongside ice-cold schooners. For dinner, get involved with barramundi ceviche, smoked buffalo, crab and prawn linguine, and fries with Kakadu plum salt. Keep the night rolling with drinks under the fairy lights at Barra Bar and Bistro. 

A ten-minute drive from Cooinda Lodge, this incredible river cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong along the heritage-listed South Alligator River takes dreamy adventure to a whole new level. There are six departures per day, and the most popular times are sunrise and sunset, this being the best time to see wildlife. We recommend going at dawn when the air is soft and oceanic and all the animals are starting their day. See colossal crocs swimming through fields of pink water lilies, sea eagles diving for fish, and tiny bird lovers hopping across gigantic floating lily pads. With one of the dynamic and hilarious Yellow Water guides driving the boat, you can be confident that not a single animal fact, sneaky croc or colourful story will pass by unaccounted for.

An oasis of glamping tents, cabins and shady lush campground, this village-like property is tucked away right by the Yellow Water Billabong. In a national park as vast as Kakadu, the need for petrol, food, water and shelter is more pressing than most. At Cooinda Lodge, you can find all of the above in one space, and there is a variety of accommodation options available. Whether you glamp in one of the elevated outback retreats, sleep in one of the luxe air-conditioned lodge rooms that accommodate up to four people (and come with a mini-fridge, squishy pillows and TV) or camp in a luxury tent, you’re in for a simply gorgeous time. 

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

Cancel your plans and beeline for the east. After years of delays, one of Sydney's most beautiful harbour beaches has finally reopened to the public. Sitting on the edge of national parkland on the banks of Sydney’s sparkling harbour, Shark Beach at Nielsen Park has long been one of the Eastern Suburb’s most treasured swimming spots. But since March 2022 it has been tightly closed to the public, inciting mass frustration among locals who desperately want to dive back into their favourite turquoise cove as warmer days approach.   In glorious news for swimmers, the stunning harbour cove – and its onsite café – has just reopened.  Photograph: Supplied | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Getting to this point of completion hasn’t been as easy ride. Reconstruction work was originally meant to be completed by December, 2022 – but the wettest Sydney year on record, contractual delays and the discovery (and removal) of a hefty 3,600 tonnes of asbestos put big delays on progress. The construction work that’s been taking place over the past few years has involved improving accessibility to the beach – with a new wheelchair accessible pedestrian ramp and a separate ramp to allow maintenance vehicle access to the beach, plus additional seating along the promenade. The sea wall was raised by 50 centimetres, with wave deflectors integrated to protect the park  (and recently renovated kiosk) from sea level changes. Now, the beach is back welcoming visitors, though we expect these first few

For many of us in Sydney, the thought of travelling up into the Red Centre feels like a magical stretch of possibility and wild adventure. Now, the siren’s call of the great red north has become even louder, with the introduction of the Red Centre Light Trail, an amazing six-day road trip from Uluru to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon that is full of glittering light shows, installations and sparkly experiences that all look set to enthral, awe and light up an already very spectacular place.  We all know Vivid in Sydneytown, but the thought of gazing at wild light projections in the middle of a desert is something else entirely. The vast distances between Alice Springs, Uluru and Kings Canyon are usually marked by long, arid stretches of land with very little breaking the landscape up. Now, travellers will get a whole extra dimension added to an already epic adventure.  The installations will pop up on the way as you drive the main tourist loop between these iconic Australian locations, however there are some special highlights that look particularly notable.  Photograph: Getty Images/ Voyages Indigenous Tourism AustraliaAnangu share the Mala story, from Kaltukatjara to Uluru, through a drone, sound and light show designed and produced by RAMUS At Uluru, you will be able to see Wintjiri Wiru, a choreographed drone show that uses lasers and light projections to a re-telling of ancient Anangu stories. Made in close collaboration with the local Anangu community, this reflection

Whether you’re one for a teeny-weeny boutique stay in the mountains or a glitzy suite in a city-centre skyscraper, Australia is full of some pretty jaw-dropping hotels. In news that has us brimming with pride, two of our nation’s very best have just been honoured on this year's World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Brisbane property The Calile Hotel took out the title of the Best Hotel in Oceania for the second year running, while Hobart’s The Tasman made its top 50 debut. Stacking up against some seriously impressive resorts, hotels, palaces(!) and chalets around the globe, The Calile, which you'll find in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, scored an outstanding 25th place in the line-up. This is a drop from its 12th-place ranking in the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list in 2023, with the rankings voted on by 600 industry leaders, including hoteliers, travel journalists and luxury travellers. Photograph: Sean Fennessy While you might not immediately associate Brissie with luxury (no shade, guys), The Calile Hotel has made its mark since opening in 2018, drawing in well-heeled clientele from all over the world to the River City. There’s a lot to love about the Calile, with its distinct architecture that perfectly marries curved concrete with pops of tropical lushness. You’ll find a palm tree perched against sleek brickwork at every turn, courtesy of the genius design acumen of firm Richards and Spence. Not to mention that 30-metre pool you would have seen on Instagram, or Hellenika, t

She’s baaack! After a whirlwind, sell-out Australian tour in 2023, Abbie Chatfield returns with The Trauma Dump Tour…Goes Regional – so strap yourself in, because it’s sure to be a wild ride. The TV star, podcaster, radio host, ambassador and entrepreneur is doing a 13-city tour that starts in Hobart this October and wraps up in Darwin at the end of November. So what, exactly, will Chatfield be speaking about on stage? She'll be sharing stories about her own past relationships, as well as conversing with the crowd. Spoiler alert: you can read our review of her Melbourne show here. When is Abbie Chatfield going on her regional Australian tour in 2024? Following a sell-out series of shows in 2023, Abbie will take The Trauma Dump Tour...Goes Regional to 13 cities across Australia including: Odeon Theatre, Hobart – October 11 Canberra Theatre, Canberra – October 18 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul – October 19 The Events Centre, Caloundra – October 23 The Star Theatre, Gold Coast – October 24 West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul – November 1 Costa Hall, Geelong – November 2 Civic Hall, Ballarat – November 8 Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – November 9 Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle – November 16 Glasshouse Port Macquarie – November 17 Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns – November 22 Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin – November 23 When do Abbie Chatfield tickets go on sale in Australia? Tickets for what could be a potentially scandalous show go on sale from noon / 12pm local time o

If you’ve ever dreamt of exploring the land before time (friendly dinosaur babies not guaranteed), boy, is there a place out there for you: Kakadu National Park. Tucked into the Top End of the Northern Territory, this World Heritage-listed park has been home to the Bininj and Mungguy people, the keepers of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth, for 65,000 years.  A trip to Kakadu is one that makes you fall deep, and it will stay firmly with you long after you leave. Here’s your ultimate guide to prepare for the trip.  Where is Kakadu National Park? Kakadu National Park is located in the Top End of the Northern Territory, around 171 kilometres east of Darwin.  How far is Kakadu from Darwin? The drive from Darwin City to Kakadu National Park’s northern entrance takes around one hour and 45 minutes, while reaching Jabiru, the main township, takes around two hours and 45 minutes. Travelling in a 4WD (four-wheel drive) is highly recommended, as the park’s terrain can be rugged and challenging, especially during the wet season. How big is Kakadu National Park?  Kakadu is the second largest national park in Australia, behind the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park in Queensland. It covers 19,804 square kilometres, stretching almost 200 kilometres long and more than 100 kilometres wide. To put it in perspective, Kakadu is half the size of South Korea, nearly twice the size of Switzerland or Belgium, and four times the size of Yellowstone National Park. How old is Kakadu

Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience back to Australia, a country she last graced with her stratospheric stage presence back in 2013. A break in the Melbourne sporting calendar has sparked rumours that the global megastar could be taking to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in October, while a pause in Qudos Bank Arena's major events line-up from October 5-17 points to potential Sydney shows (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light. Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later.  When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has not yet announced dates for Australia, however, tour promoters have previously hinted there will be Australian dates, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as well as New Zealand. The star has teased a potential

Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience back to Sydney, a city she last graced with her stratospheric stage presence back in 2013. With the break in the Melbourne sporting calendar sparking rumours that the global megastar could be taking to the MCG in October, Sydney-based fans are asking what this means for us. A pause in the Qudos Bank Arena major events line-up between October 5 and October 17 (when Olivia Rodrigo will be taking to the stage) points to potential Sydney shows (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light. Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later. And with the huge global fascination with her genre-bending album Cowboy Carter, fans are hopeful that another world tour will be on the cards. When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has no

Update May 21, 2024: Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience to the MCG – which would see her join the ranks of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift who have both recently played sold-out shows at the iconic stadium. With the AFL Grand Final taking place on the last Saturday in September and the cricket season firing up in early November, it leaves October wide open for a potential gig (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light.  Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later.  When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has not yet announced dates for Australia, however tour promoters have previously hinted there will be Australian dates, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as well as New Zealand. The star has teased at a potential Sydney t

The 2023 World Happiness Index has just been released, and this year, Australia came out on (sort of) top.  Every year, Gallup, a consultancy and market research firm, in association with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford (UN), release a World Happiness Report, which ranks more than 140 nations from most to least happy. They gather data by asking people from each country to rate their life satisfaction over the previous three years on a scale from one to ten.  2023’s ranking results were drawn from 2020, 2021 and 2022 (all quite grim years, really), and are indicative of how people all over the world experienced the pandemic.  Which country is the happiest in the world? For the sixth year in a row, Finland took out first place for the world’s happiest country. The small northern European nation has long been heralded as one of the cheeriest places in the world. They are followed by Denmark in 2nd place, Iceland in 3rd and Israel in 4th.  Where did Australia rank in the happiest countries list?  Our great southern land ranked 12th on the list this year. This is the same as it was in 2022, but we dropped down from our position of 11th in 2020. The highest we’ve been in the last decade was in 2016, when we were ranked 9th globally. This year, we were (damnit) just beaten by New Zealand and Austria in 10th place and 11th place, while Canada followed behind us in 13th.  How do they decide which country is happiest?  The World Happiness Report uses six indi

January 2024 update: GOOD NEWS! The platypuses reintroduced into the Royal National Park seven months ago are well and truly thriving in their new habitat. Ten platypuses were released into the area in May, after being locally extinct for 50 years. Each of the creatures carries an acoustic tag that pings listening receivers up and down the rivers of the Park – the latest data confirms that nine of the ten animals are adapting well to their environment. The tenth platypus has gone a bit rogue, venturing beyond the team’s tracking capabilities – the team says she's done this before, and they're confident she's exploring further-away creeks she has previously visited. Visitors to the Royal National Park are now regularly reporting platypus sightings. The team will continue to track the creatures, including measuring breeding success. ***** Platypuses are one of Australia’s most ridiculously adorable residents. With their duck bills, little flippers and all-round slightly magical quality, the sighting of one of them in the wild is, these days, akin to a small miracle (which is why the recent news of their discovery in Sydney's Hills District is so incredibly remarkable). Now, however, the chance of Sydneysiders getting to see one of these cuties IRL has suddenly become (marginally) more likely. The curious sight of this iconic semi-aquatic monotreme was once a common occurrence in the rivers of the Royal National Park on the traditional lands of the Dharawal. However, following a

Sydney commuters – we've been hearing for so long about the upcoming new underground metro; it's hard to believe that it'll ever actually open. But the time is actually coming, for real. Speed testing in the tunnels under Sydney Harbour has proved the metro trains can travel twice the speed of our regular trains, accelerating from a standstill to a speed of 100 kilometres per hour within about 15 seconds.  Next year, the turn-up-and-go metro trains will get you from the massive new Victoria Cross underground station at North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes. Two minutes later, the tester train pulls up at another new station at Martin Place. “Extensive testing has been underway on the City and Southwest metro line since April 2023," says NSW Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen. "So far more than 2,500 hours and 12,500 kilometres of testing has been completed as we countdown to the opening of the next exciting stage of metro.”   Photograph: SuppliedSydney Metro workers at new station There are six new, accessible city stations that will open in 2024. One of the other newbies is Waterloo Metro Station, which is now 95 per cent done. From Waterloo, passengers will be able to get to Central in two minutes, Barangaroo in eight, and North Sydney in eleven.  At the moment, lifts, escalators and station signs are all being finalised at Waterloo.   RECOMMENDED: This new Sydney CBD metro station has been named in recognition of the land's traditional custodians Declaring itself