Maya Skidmore

Sydney is often referred to as the Harbour City, but a better name might be the Town of a Hundred Beaches. There are countless golden stretches scattered the full length and breadth of Sydney’s many shores (exact figures vary based on who you ask, as some disappear with the tides or are all but impossible to reach). But such an array of sandy riches can make picking the right beach to visit a bit of a head-scratcher. To help you out, we’ve cast our discerning eyes across pretty much every beach in the city, awarding points for accessibility, natural beauty, range of facilities and unique charms. We’ve tallied the results, tabulated the scores and can now reveal our definitive rankings of the 47 best beaches in Sydney. Grab those beach towels and dive right in. Hate crowds? Here's our guide to the best secret beaches in Sydney. The city also has a heap of fab harbour beaches – as well as dog-friendly beaches.

It's officially March – and to go against the mainstream, we reckon that it's the best month of the year in Sydney. March in the Emerald City is full of warm days, crazy clear water, less crowds and all-round delicious autumnal times. During these weeks of balance, Sydneysiders will get the chance to hit up the inaugural All About Women festival for an extravaganza of feminist ideas, powerful women and groundbreaking talks, a staggering amount of epic international music headliners, and a bunch of brand new art exhibitions.   Plus, despite summer being over *by name*, there's still going to be plenty of time to frolic through the city's best beaches, splash around at one of Sydney's most beautiful swimming spots, and head off the beaten track at one of the city's most stunning secret beaches. The heat is still on, and as such, so are we.  Stay outside this March at one of Sydney's best (and easiest) day hikes, and then think about heading to one of the most gorgeous glamping sites in town.   

Summer 2023 update: Start your summertime morning on the right note with a swim at one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches followed by a delicious brekkie and on-point coffee at one of the cafés below. Because who wants to cook eggs and bacon at home? Not us, that’s for sure. Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee, we won't bat an eyelid over shelling out $30+ a head for brunch, 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, a quick caffeinated catch-up, 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 critics, including Food & Drink Writer Avril Treasure. We'll have a B&E roll, please.  Is it lunch time? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants right now.

In NSW, you don’t need to travel far to make a couple of nights away feel like a proper holiday. Whether you’re in the mood for a beach break, a hike in the mountains, or an escape to the country, we’ve found a host of getaway destinations that are easily accessible from Sydney. Need to squeeze your excursion into a day? These are the best day trips from Sydney. Or have an in-tents city break at one of the best camping spots near Sydney.

For many Sydneysiders, it is an undeniable truth that the weekend market is one of our most beloved cultural institutions. However, when looking for the most amazing market to hit up in Sydney, it can be very hard to know where to begin.   Our city has a whole lot of options for the market saavy explorer. Whether it's walking away with farm-fresh produce, unearthing vintage and antique treasures, snaffling fried brunchy fare on the grass, or jiving to a live saxaphone player before 10 am, this city has something for everyone.  At the end of the day, a market jaunt is an affordable, cheap and consistently fresh way to spend your time in this city. With our round-up of the city's best, we have you covered on where to go, where to look, and when to do it when the craving calls.  Happy hunting.  Keep shopping at one of Sydney's ten coolest independent clothes shops, or check out this (smaller) list of seven great markets to try in Sydney. 

The five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a strange, awkward, in-between time for everyone. Most places have closed shop for the summer, while others have new holiday hours that are tricky to wrap your head around. At this time of year, Sydney tends to feel more empty than usual as most locals make a mass exodus for elsewhere, but if you plan on sticking around and having a lovely summer holiday in a whole city that you're likely to get (probably, mostly) to yourself, we have put together a list for you of all the coolest things for you to do in town between Christmas Day and New Years'. You're welcome.  Want more culture? Check out our guide to the best art exhibitions and theatre and musicals on in Sydney this month. 

From arts and design treasure troves to European-inspired food markets, these Christmas shopping pop-ups have all the yuletide goods you need to make the silly season really special. If the thought of joining the hoards at a shopping mall in December gives you full body chills, save yourself the bother and add these quaint Chrissie markets to your hit list. This year, you’ll find cost-of-living conscious options (such as sub $20 gift options at Le Jolly Market) alongside some real push-the-boat-out offerings.Regardless of your holiday budget, it’s worth hitting at least one market for your annual dose of festive (if only for the fondue).  Merry shopping. Give even greener presents by stopping by at one of Sydney's best plant nurseries.  Need a tree to put all those market-bought goodies under? Here's where to find the best Christmas trees in Sydney.

There’s no doubt about it, Sydneysiders can’t get enough of Italian food. And who can blame us? There’s something about a bowl of perfectly al dente pasta paired with a luscious, rich ragu that just hits the spot. And white Italian cuisine differs throughout the 20 incredible regions – broadly speaking the northern regions eat more rice and polenta, and down south they feast more on seafood – Italians share a love of beautiful, seasonal produce, choosing simplicity rather than overcomplicating dishes, and cooking food with soul. No wonder we love it so much. Luckily, there are a wealth of excellent options to choose from when it comes to Italian dining in Sydney. Time Out’s editors and critics, including our Food & Drink Writer Avril Treasure, have picked our favourite eateries covering all bases – from casual red-sauce joints and classic pizzerias to fine dining restaurants – so no matter what mood you're in, there's something here for you. Not in the mood for pasta? Here are our picks of the best spots for Greek and French food in Sydney

What could be more romantic than a hamper packed for two and sweeping harbour views? Where else could you organise a long, lazy lunch for a group of friends? Or an impromptu dinner date, alfresco? For all this, and more head to one of Sydney's very best picnic spots. And don't worry, we've done the research on if there’s parking, toilets and barbecues available. All you've got to do is pop the champers, sit back and have a right good picnicking time.  We also have you covered for where to find Sydney's best parks.   

Sydney isn't known for archeological finds like ruined 16th-century castles, ancient Egyptian tombs or caches of glistening Viking treasure. But with a living history that dates back so many thousands of years, the Harbour City boasts archeology that reaches far into the deep past. Despite Sydney's relatively new city construction, fascinating relics continue to exist quietly beneath our feet, with history sometimes coming back to meet us in truly remarkable and unexpected ways. Whether it be unearthing a 4000-year-old skeleton beneath a bus stop, or discovering a mystery from 2000 years ago in plain sight, this is a look at six wild and wonderful historical discoveries that have been found beneath this city's streets.   Photograph: Maurice van Creij The Narrabeen Man  This list should start off with a bang, which is exactly what (almost) happened in 2005 when a couple of contractors digging a gas pipeline on the Northern Beaches discovered a six-foot-tall human skeleton beneath a bus shelter. They were terrified, thinking that they had inadvertently stumbled across a recent murder victim – but it was only after the police were called and an examination had taken place that the real truth was revealed.  The skeleton was 4000 years old.  Radiocarbon dating and isotope chemistry analysis of the bones revealed that they belonged to an uncommonly tall Indigenous man, aged between 30 and 40 years old, who had survived on a diet of seaweed, seabirds, fish and shellfish.  The thi

There’s nothing like a big, bright (real) Christmas tree to transform an ordinary living room into a festive fantasia, and with the silly season rapidly coming up in Sydney, the need to find the perfect one is becoming more pressing than ever.  We've collected a Santa's swag of local Christmas tree sellers that deliver the goods – sometimes directly to your door. Take a look at our list below for real Christmas trees, trees for hire, and environmentally friendly options right across Sydney that will fill your house with that oh-so-festive pine scent. Want more festive fun to get around? Check out our guide to everything on in Sydney this weekend.

For the young folk, the poor folk and the folk who just like to run free, love in this economy can tend to be tricky. Generally living in Sydney means that (unless you’re a multi-bazillionaire with eight private islands), taking your squeeze out on the town can mean a significant dent to your superfund and the possible loss of an arm and leg to the capitalist gods. So to all you lovers out there whose weekly budget doesn't stretch to chartering a seaplane (or even just one exotic cocktail at any CBD bar), we hear you and we see you. That’s why we have put together an ultimate list of the coolest cheap and free dates available to lovers in the Emerald City. Each of these options is guaranteed to set you back either nothing or next to nothing. While you're at it, check out the best (or not-so-best) places to snog in Sydney Saved money on date night? Now you can splurge on one of Sydney's most romantic hotels

Down near Wollongong is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Buddhist temple, Nan Tien, of the Fo Guang Shan order of Buddhism. The temple is a hub for tourists and visitors – you can take a tour, have a meal, learn cooking, calligraphy or meditation, or simply wander the grounds and admire the main shrine with its 10,000 Buddhas. Nan Tien Temple has been a fixture of the drive down from Sydney to Wollongong since the 1990s, with its spectacular eight-storey pagoda transforming both the Wollongong skyline and the Princes Highway into something magical and unexpected. After Wollongong City Council donated 26 hectares of land to the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, charging a hefty annual rent of $1 for 100 years (yes, you read that right), Nan Tien was built in 1993.  Ever since it opened its doors in 1997, the temple has acted as a 50-hectare oasis of sacred grounds, spirituality and greenery for people, with it being a particularly important space for Asian Australians to connect with Buddhist culture and one another.  You can stay overnight at the Nan Tien Temple's impressive on-site accomodation, attend numerous workshops, and connect with a plethora of communities, all in one very special place.  Want more? Do one of these epic things while you're down south. 

In early 2023 the news broke that people could swim in the Barangaroo side of Sydney Harbour for the first time in 50 years. The opening of Marrinawi Cove generated a whole lot of discussion about whether people would actually take the plunge into the city’s most famous waterway (sharks? pollution? scary underwatery secrets?), but now, it’s pretty clear that the safety issues have been cleared, and this crystalline cove is worth its salt as a uniquely Sydney swimming spot. Tucked away on the northern end of the Barangaroo Reserve, Marrinawi is on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people, and has been an important fishing, swimming and canoeing spot for Sydney’s First Nations people for thousands of years. However, after several decades of neglect and water pollution, its appeal as a casual swimming location dropped off. Now, after sustained efforts by local residents and the state government, this historic and beautiful corner of Sydney Harbour has been cleaned up, and is more than open for business.  With its super-clear turquoise waters, chunky slabs of sandstone to sunbake on, and glorious, shiny views of the Harbour Bridge, Marrinawi somehow manages to blend every part of Sydney that we love in one, special place – plus, it's a pretty much in Sydney's CBD.  Urban ocean swimming is one of the tiny bits of magic that sets our city apart from pretty much everywhere else, and we reckon that if you want to have a maximum-level Sydney experience, you can’t beat heading to M

"Finders keepers, losers weepers" used to be a well-known singing refrain in every Aussie schoolyard, but at the Hordern Pavilion this Christmas, nobody (we hope) will be crying, because the Finders Keepers Markets is returning to Sydney and, frankly, the whole thing looks downright delightful.  From Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10, the Hordern Pavilion will house Australia’s most consciously-curated markets, with Sydney playing host to more than 170 small creative businesses from NSW and across the country. This three-day market is all about celebrating creative local business – punters will be able to pick up hand-made ceramics, slow fashion, jewellery, homewares, original art and much, much more from the market’s huge array of stalls. It’s the perfect place to get a head start on your Christmas shopping and pick up a few gifts for yourself, too. Take a break from shopping with a bevvy from the Finders Keepers’ summer bar, sip on free cold filter coffee from Allpress Espresso and groove to live sets from local DJs. There will also be fabulous workshops run by the Finders Keepers Indigenous Program, plus colourful craft activities running all weekend for kids and adults alike. The Finders Keepers Markets will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday, and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Entry costs $6, and can be bought at the door cashless, or booked in ahead of time by clicking right here. Kids under 13 can come in for free. RECOMMENDED: Want more? Here are the

For all those suffering through some winter blues, fret no longer. Christmas in July is coming to town, and with it, a whole lotta mulled wine, cinnamon scents and festive fun times that are all guaranteed to warm up any freezing heart going through a Sydney mid-winter. One of the crowning glories for this early silly season is the Ultimate Christmas in July Market that is set to take over the Entertainment Quarter on December 3 between 10am and 4pm.  This mega market is all about celebrating the Yuletide ahead of time, with it bringing over 150 stalls that will each be peddling a variety of festive wares, with homewares, fashion, food, art and crafts all set to adorn the proverbial Christmassy table.  This one-day-only market affair will be all about championing small businesses in a big way, with punters able to dip into steaming hot chocolates, sizzling market food, handmade winter woolies, and a whole bunch of cold-weather products and presents that will make both the nippy temperatures and the four-month wait til' December kind of worth it.  To find out more info about this free mega market, simply click right here. Want more? Here are the best year-round markets in Sydney. 

Clay-fiends, your day is coming. Just in time for Christmas, all ye pottery heads will get the chance to browse the ceramics of your wildest dreams at Clayground, a pop-up Christmas market that will peddle the wares of local ceramic creatives for just one day on December 10.  This market and arty showcase will be all about highlighting the gorgeous works of the 100 practising artists who use ClayGround Studio in Rosebery, with this day set to be filled with live DJs spinning beats, ceramic making demonstrations and a whole bunch of cute pottery that you can buy for your family and friends – or even, just for yourself.   Also, if you end up feeling alight with the fire of a high-powered glazing kiln to get clay-reative on your own terms, you can take a block of clay or a selection of boxed clay kits home with you to kickstart your career as a ceramicist. You're welcome.  Clayground will be poppin’ off from 10am until 2pm on Sunday, December 11, and entry is totally free.  You can stay updated on all Clayground Christmas Market happenings on their website. Want more markets? Check out our list of Sydney's best.

On Saturday, November 18, a beautiful (and free) experience is landing at Bondi Beach.  Ocean Heroes – a WA-based charity – is bringing a day of free guided surf lessons for autistic kids to Sydney, and it looks absolutely delightful. Coming back for the third time this year, this lovely day out is all about creating community connections in a safe and happy space.  Set against the stunning backdrop of Bondi Beach, this event has the capacity to take up to 50 people on the autism spectrum surfing for free, with each person given a 30-minute slot between 8.30am and 1pm.  Ocean Heroes will provide life jackets, surfboards, wetsuits, sunscreen and surf instructors, meaning that all you need to bring along is swimmers, a hat, towel, water bottle and a fresh change of clothes.  Everything will be going down at North Bondi Beach in front of the Surf Life Saving Club, and you can select your preferred time slot when you register for the event, which you can do by clicking right here. Keen to get involved? Ocean Heros are always looking for amazing volunteers. No surfing experience is required, and you’ll lend a hand by doing regos on the sand, helping the kids into wetsuits, and handing out certificates and high fives. You can head out into the waves if you know how to surf, too. You can register to be a volunteer here. So, if you want to meet other families in the Sydney autism community, have a fabulous time, and get outside and in the water, think about signing up. It looks pret

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 15 to Friday, December 22, the organisers of the epic Bastille Festival are back with two of 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 – popped up in the Customs House forecourt last December, and it’s back this year with added je ne sais quoi (read: a sparkly night time setup). As with last year’s debut event, 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 oysters crowned in Champagne sauce, loaded lobster rolls and steaming bowls of the good stuff from Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers. And while last year’s event took place under Sydney’s December sunshine, this year it’s a nocturnal affair: running every evening from 5.00 to 10.30pm. Alongside the five wine bars and 40 specialty food purveyors, the market will play host to live music and artisan makers, each offering sub $20 gifts to add a little affordable European charm to your Christmas haul.The festivities will be going down on the Customs’ House forecourt at Circular Quay, and entry is free. You can stay up-to-date with all things jolly on their website.  Joyeux Noël! Stay festive this season wit

If you love Christmas, meeting rescue puppies and frolicking with fellow dog people with their dogs in the sunshine, you need to pop the aptly named ‘Santa Paws’ event into your calendar, stat. On Sunday, November 26, 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.  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 of your Christmas pet photography needs (you know you’re interested) – and even take part in a legit ‘Person-Pooch-Look-Alike’ contest (with prizes for the most striking resemblance). It starts at 9am, and runs until 4pm – and it's all going down on Federation Drive on the Paddington side of Centennial Park. 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 launch into Christmas. What are you waiting for? Santa Paws is coming to town! RECOMMENDED:  Drink up

The Auriga Spa – once only open to guests of the five-star Capella Hotel – is now open to the public. So more people can now book in to experience the magic of Auriga, which offers rejuvenation and wellness experiences that appear to have been plucked from the scenes of all our White Lotus dreams (just without the weird guests and/or murder sub-plot). Set deep within the heritage walls of the Capella Hotel in the centre of Sydney, the Auriga is awash with low-lit moody corners, white marble, an immense 20-metre heated pool, and massages that are tailor-made to reflect the changing cycles of the new and full moon. Quite transcendent, if you ask us.  While the Auriga Spa is synonymous with the Capella brand all over the world, this new Sydney iteration is distinctly Australian, and it taps into Sydney history, being built off an intentional synergy with the heritage-listed former Department of Education building that Capella Sydney has taken over. From bespoke aromatic skincare products made by Synthesis Organics in Byron Bay, to heated stones gathered from remote corners of Australia, to native botanical facials and wellness journeys that draw on connecting to country as a ground base, Auriga is centred on working with what we’ve naturally got. This is also obvious in the spa’s careful consideration of the historical legacy of the building that it’s housed in. We’re told that the teams from Make Architects and BAR Studio were deeply invested in site-sensitive architecture and

If sneakers are your life, your way of being – or just simply your favourite thing to pop on your feet – you’re going to want to make sure you head down to Sneakerland in Sydney on December 2, 2023.  Sneakerland is (much like the name suggests) an absolutely ginormous convention that’s all about celebrating street culture, community and, you guessed it, the humble sneaker, all in one, big, poppin’ place that’s open for everyone.  If you decide to hit Sneakerland up, you can expect to geez at some of the most exclusive sneakers and streetwear pieces in the world, peruse the wares of 50 sneaker vendors, including Foot Locker, Throwback Store and Goorin Bros, and dive into an epic ‘Sneakerhead Market’ that’ll have local brands, collectors, buyers, influencers and creatives all selling, buying and trading the rarest sneakers and apparel on the market.  On top of checking out and picking up pairs of fresh kicks, you’ll also get to dig into tasty snacks from food trucks, throw back bevs from a curated on-site bar, get braids, haircuts and tattoos on-site, and then have a boogie to a bunch of DJs who will be spinning tracks all day. There’ll also be a 1v1 basketball tournament and dance competition going down on the day, with up to $3,000 in cash prizes up for grabs – so, basically, we’re all in for a good time.  Sneakerland Sydney will be taking over Carriageworks from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Entry is $40 for adult, $20 for kids (ages 6-17), and a family of four c

If the almost-Christmas mad-dash to buy Christmas presents isn't your bag, you might be keen to start your gift finding mish in November – and you can do that at the ‘Sydney Made Art & Design Markets’, which are making a triumphant return for 2023. This market is all about peddling art and design treasures hand-made by Sydney locals in the beautiful Town Hall.   This one-day-only mega market will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, November 25, and will be showcasing the curated wares of more than 75 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. Our favourite hall 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. Craving more market action? Check out our list of the best markets in Sydney that happen all year-round.

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's actually 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 a 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 worms or shine any light on them at all. This means switching your torches

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

Nan Tien Temple has long been one of NSW’s most beloved and special locations, and now it’s looking like this sentiment could be about to be made official. Heritage NSW is currently considering Nan Tien Temple for heritage listing – and if it goes ahead, the iconic landmark on the Princes Highway will become the state’s second-youngest heritage listed site, behind the millennium Olympic Cauldron.  Nan Tien Temple has been a fixture of the drive down from Sydney to Wollongong since the 1990s, with its spectacular eight-storey pagoda transforming the highway into something magical and unexpected. After Wollongong City Council donated 26 hectares of land to the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, charging an annual rent of just $1 for 100 years (yes, you read that right), Nan Tien was built in 1993.  Ever since it opened its doors in 1997, the temple has been a 50-hectare oasis of sacred grounds, spirituality and greenery for people, with it being a particularly important space for Buddhists to connect with their culture, one another and other visitors.  Nan Tien was originally invited by Heritage NSW to submit a nomination to be listed on the State Heritage Legislature in 2019, and is now calling for public submissions before it will get passed along to NSW Heritage Minister, Penny Sharpe for final consideration. NSW Heritage Sites get chosen if they meet two of the council’s seven points of criteria – and given how important Nan Tien Temple has been for connecting multicultural comm

November 2023 update: GOOD NEWS! The Royal National Park platypus project has so far been a success – the ten platypuses that were released into the park are well and thriving, according to the University of NSW team that's monitoring them. The platypuses will continue to be monitored and tracked by UNSW and WWF Australia. ***** 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 chemical spill on the Princes Highway in the 1970s, these gorgeous creatures disappeared for good – becoming locally extinct in the nation’s oldest national park for the last 50 years.  Now, in 2023, five female platypuses were reintroduced to the Hacking River in the Royal National Park just an hour from Sydney city, followed by a group of five males. This very good news is the product of a collaboration between the University of New South Wales, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the World Wildli

In news that won't surprise many Sydneysiders, a fresh study from the folks over at Shepherds Friendly has revealed that Sydney is one of the most expensive places to retire in. What may surprise you though, is that they also found that Brisbane is a more expensive place to live out your sunset years. (And one upside: we're only on the list of assessed cities in the first place because we also live in one of the World's Happiest Countries, according to the World Happiness Report.) While Zurich in Switzerland and Reykjavik in Iceland came in first and second places on this not-so-prestigious list, Brisbane took third spot, while Sydney placed fourth, Perth came in at eighth, and Melbourne tenth. Four Australian cities in the top ten. Crikey, we may have to consider our retirement options – Greece doesn't sound too bad.  So, how did Shepherds come to this conclusion? They looked at the world’s 46 happiest cities, and then analysed the property price metrics, happiness levels, monthly cost of living, life expectancy and (importantly!) how many bus routes are available in each city, to see how much it would cost someone to spend their retirement there.  To live in the most expensive place for retirees, Zurich, you’d need £322,565 (that’s $618,171 AUD) for a retirement length of 18 years.  Photograph: Henrique Felix | Unsplash For Sydneysiders, Shepherds identified an estimated cost of living during retirement years of $380,632 Aussie dollars for a period of 18 years of leisurel

Us Aussies have a deep appreciation for the ocean and all its wonders, as many of us spend most of our summers getting sandy by the sea at our many beaches. While there's lots to love about our crystalline coasts, few things can top the majesty of a whale sighting. And there's never been a better time to experience this magic, as experts have said that there are currently record numbers of humpback whales off Australia's shores, making their annual migration down the east coast of Australia to southern waters.  After the total eastern Australian humpback population declined down to a measly 150 due to commercial whaling between the 1850s and 1960s, numbers have built back to a staggering 40,000 over the last 30 years – and they're currently all making their way down the east coast.  Whale tour operators have reported seeing record numbers of whales and calves this season, while Dr Wally Franklin from the Oceania Project has said to the ABC that the whale numbers are almost at ‘carrying capacity’, which means that “the number of whales born equals the number of whales that die of natural causes every year”.   Photograph: Supplied This amazing news is made all the more miraculous given that all whales we’re seeing in our eastern Aussie waters today are the direct descendants of the tiny group of whales who managed to survive mass killings up until the early 60s. Using careful conservation and collective action, Australians have managed to help bring back these incredible anim

If you reckon you’ve seen more whales dancing in the waters off Sydney this year (including right on top of one Northern Beaches’ windsurfer), turns out there’s a good reason. Experts have said that there are currently record numbers of humpback whales making their annual migration past Sydney to southern waters – and yes, this is very good news.  After the total eastern Australian humpback population declined down to a measly 150 due to commercial whaling between the 1850s and 1960s, numbers have built back to a staggering 40,000 over the last 30 years. RECOMMENDED: The best spots for whale watching in Sydney Whale tour operators have reported seeing record numbers of whales and calves this season, while Dr Wally Franklin from the Oceania Project has said to the ABC that the whale numbers are almost at ‘carrying capacity’, which means that “the number of whales born equals the number of whales that die of natural causes every year”.   Photograph: Unsplash This amazing news is made all the more miraculous given that all whales we’re seeing in our eastern Aussie waters today are the direct descendants of the tiny group of whales who managed to survive mass killings up until the early 60s.  Using careful conservation and collective action, Australians have managed to help bring back these incredible animals from the brink of permanent extinction, with experts saying that their population has been steadily increasing by 10 per cent, year on year.  The only way is up.   Want mo

You might have heard about the huge ocean whirlpool that's swirling just 50 kilometres off Sydney’s coastline. It's a ‘monster eddy’, a 400-kilometre-wide vortex of warm ocean water that is spinning close to Sydney's coast at 8 kilometres an hour, with deep underwater temps that are 3 degrees celsius above normal.  Yes, it does sound like a watery black hole and/or plot line from a Hollywood sea-apocalypse movie. Here's what it means for the waters along Australian's eastern coastline and those who call it home.  What is an eddy?  Scientists call a ‘spinning body of water’ an eddy. They can be small currents in rivers and creeks, but ocean eddies can be massive, stretching kilometres-wide and deep. They can even be visible from space.  In the ocean, eddies are like underwater storms. They can be cold or hot, and shape underwater life, while also creating extreme ocean weather.  Unlike cold eddies, which draw up rich nutrients for plankton from the icy depths of the ocean, warm eddies are desert-like currents that don’t house much life. They work through amassing heat, storing it, and taking it to wherever they get spun in the ocean. They can store a lot of heat for a long time, but they do eventually let it go back into the atmosphere after blending with surrounding colder currents.  Why does this monster eddy mean for Sydney and our ocean life?  Researchers at UNSW and the CSIRO have found that the current, massive water vortex off Sydney could trigger a coastal marine heatw

Attention, all you NSW dwellers who like to bush walk. A brand new, 39-kilometre hiking track is currently being built in northern NSW, in the Tweed Byron hinterland, and it looks like it’s shaping up to be something pretty spectacular.  Construction is presently underway to create a sustainable, low-impact, multi-day walk linking Mount Jerusalem National Park and Minyon Falls in the lush Northern Rivers region, with the new trail planned to wind through some of the Earth’s last remaining slices of ancient Gondwana rainforest and cross the emerald ridges of the Border Ranges escarpment. You can expect stunning vistas, breathtaking biological diversity, and a generally gorgeous time.  The walk has been named the ‘Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk’, following consultation with the Widjabul Wia-bal Native Title holders and Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council. Gidjuum Gulganyi means ‘Old People’s Track’, with the walking trail crossing the ancient traditional lands of the Bundjalung Nation.  Photograph: Unsplash/Luisa Denu Slated to open to us all in mid-2024, the walking trail is currently being built in a way that is reportedly as ‘low impact’ as possible. It is being done through upgrading existing walking trails and old logging paths, with the aim being to avoid disturbance to the bush as little as possible.  Once completed, the track will have three remote, walk-in camps with basic facilities, shelters and toilets, and will also have a number of new smaller, day walks for all th

Lego lords, rejoice. The world’s biggest ever Lego store (truly, the largest on Earth) is opening in Sydney on November 11, and this is obviously a very huge deal.  A 900 square metre landmark store will be arriving in at 400 George Street, Sydney, and we’ve been told that this brick haven is going to be pretty bloody good.  Sydney’s very own Lego paradise will be chock-a-block with immersive experiences, interactive displays and a whole lot of brand-new experiences that haven’t yet been seen anywhere else on the planet. The store will be full of large format bricks, towering fixtures and a whole lot of local Sydney and Australiana vibes, marking this Lego world as one that is distinctly Down Under. There’ll also be giant 3D models built by Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught, the only Lego Certified Professional in the Southern Hemisphere – so, you know it’s going to be quality.    Supplied: Lego Sydney Sydneysiders can expect to build a tiny Lego version of themselves at Australia’s first Lego Minifigure Factory, get hands on at an enormous Pick and Build wall, and play up a storm at a huge (and free) on-site Lego wall and play area. Plus, a legion of ‘Brick Specialists’ will be on the ground every day, ready to help you discover your dream Lego set.  We've had word that this wonderland will be opening on November 11. Just in time for Chrissy shopping. RECOMMENDED:  PSA! Crazy cheap international flights are being slung over on Webjet right now (including a cheeky $647 trip to G

It’s no secret that in both Sydney and NSW, pokies are kind of a big deal. Gambling in this state has long been a hugely divisive issue, with the facts being that more than half of NSW adults gamble – with pokies alone contributing to NSW gamblers losing a hefty $7 billion every year. So it was welcome news that all pubs, clubs and venues with gambling facilities in NSW had to permanently remove all signs advertising gambling on the outside walls of their establishments.  Yep, you'll no longer see those words, motifs and signs that have long existed as unquestioned parts of Sydney and NSW’s streetscapes.  RECOMMENDED: Visit one of these epic pubs without pokies in Sydney Banned things include:  ‘VIP Room’ and ‘VIP Lounge’ ‘Golden Room’ and ‘Golden Lounge’  ‘Player’s Room’ and ‘Players Lounge’  Pictures of dragons Pictures of coins  Lightning motifs  This reform is one part of the NSW Minns Government’s gambling reforms. They will also be:  Banning political donations from gambling clubs  Capping the amount of cash you can pop into a pokie machine at a time $500, instead of the previous $5,000  Putting a cap on the amount of gaming machines allowed in circulation  Putting ‘responsible gaming officers’ into venues that have more than 20 machines onsite  Plus, a whole lot more… If venues don’t comply with the new signage rules, we’re told there will be a $11,000 fine.  So, goodbye shiny dragon videos, and occasionally feeling like a D-grade celebrity when walking under a

What's one possession we all have and all use (way too much) every day? Yep, our phones. There are a lot of those "smart" gadgets out there, and that equals a lot of environmental waste – in fact, 5.3 billion phones are discarded each year. To put that in perspective, if you lined all those little rectangles up, they’d stretch to the moon and back. Which is why it was great to hear, in an announcement at futurist festival SXSW Sydney, that Australia is leading the charge on a ‘World Phone Amnesty’. The World Phone Amnesty is an initiative led by innovative mobile company Kingfisher. When you get a new phone, you hand in your old phone via this website – we're told they'll even pay you for it (how much they pay depends on your model of phone) – and they will give it a second life. Why would you do this, instead of just taking it to an e-waste recycler? Because approximately 83 per cent of a phone’s carbon emissions come from manufacturing, shipping and first-year usage. You might not want the phone anymore but someone else who can't afford a brand-new phone might – and keeping a smartphone in use for an extra two years somewhere in the community can reduce its CO2 impact by 43 per cent.   In the market for a new phone? You can also buy a second-hand refurbished phone over here. People who use a second-hand phone singlehandedly save 82 kilograms of raw materials from being extracted from the Earth.   The World Phone Amnesty is starting this month – and, more than just a way to

Calling all cocktail fiends and international boozers of mystery – a beloved Sydney cocktail bar just got named the 15th best bar in the world (yes, like on Planet Earth), and we are actually not all that surprised.  In the just released 2023 list of the World’s 50 Best Bars, Maybe Sammy – Sydney’s tiny marble shrine to the golden age of cocktails – beat Melbourne (sorry, moody drink artisans of the South) in an international list of the best boozers in the world. We’re not smug, it’s just the facts.  Maybe Sammy has been richly awarded in the past, with its polished, old-world glamour, perfectly balanced flavours, drinks that can only be described as ‘spectacles’ (cocktail with a side of levitation, anyone?), and an abundance of bar-staff in double breasted white suits, is a worthy contender for a top spot on the world stage.  Photograph: Katje Ford This ranking makes Maybe Sammy Australia’s best cocktail bar for 2023, with Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage ranking in as number 23 on the global list.  The World’s 50 Best Bars list comes out every year, and is a ranked list that is carefully curated by a panel of 650 drinks experts from all over the world. Unlike the Time Out Food and Drink Awards, this list takes into account all the weird, wild and wonderful boozy venues across the planet instead of just Sydney, and makes a call as to which ones are the best based on a very democratic voting process made by professional drinkers, writers, bartenders and cocktail specialists