Olivia Hart

A lavish new venue, The Peacock Lounge, is making its debut across five lively days this spring. Featuring a custom James Squire drink list and bar, a menu inspired by Sydney's beloved yum cha scene and rotating DJ sets, it will light up Royal Randwick's Winx Stand.  Come dressed to impress (fascinators optional) and grab a drink, with everything from bubbles to beers on the menu. Slide into one of the plush booths where you can settle in for the day or get around a game of pool – there's no need to be a racing fan to enjoy the perks of the lounge. On the food front, there will be steamed pork buns, chicken skewers and lobster spring rolls. The prawn and water chestnut dumplings, served with a signature chilli oil, have been crafted by former MasterChef contestant turned celebrity chef Hayden Quinn. The best bit? You won’t spend more than $15 per plate.  End the night with a boogie, or keep the fun going with After The Last DJ series which returns to Randwick Racecourse, with performances from artists including Teddy Cream, Levi and Kinder.  The Peacock Lounge will open its doors on September 21, October 5, 19 and 26, and November 5 from 10am – with free entry for anyone with a general admission ticket to the Sydney Everest Carnival.  Tickets are on sale now from $35, and you can get yours here.

We all remember that one family road trip we were dragged on, filled with nostalgic tunes, bags of lollies and pit stops at some of Australia’s biggest things. Whether you remember it fondly or not, road trips have come a long way since the ‘good ol’ days’.  Now, a long trek across the country is more comfortable than ever and sure to beat a cramped economy plane seat any day. It's no secret that the best way to see Australia is by car – and what could be better than a winding stretch of road with epic views than getting to experience it in your own set of four wheels.  If you’re tired of the concrete jungle and need to escape the city, then turn your next drive into a scenic one with these top driving routes across Australia. Planning a trip? Take our quiz to find out which charming Aussie town you should pass through next.

Since the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) moved to its new custom-designed harbourside home in Sydney, inside the revitalised Pier 2/3 in the heart of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the company has been able to welcome audiences for two standout seasons. With another thrilling year of world-class music well underway, it’s no surprise that Artistic Director Richard Tognetti has found new ways to reimagine beloved classics while continuing to push into new frontiers. After more than 30 years at the helm, Tognetti has created a stacked program with highlights including two ambitious tours (both of which he will direct) and the chance to sit amongst the musicians in immersive performances at their harbourside home.   Photograph: Supplied | Australian Chamber Orchestra Scotland Unbound Be transported to the Scottish Highlands as guitarist Sean Shibe makes his Australian debut in this thrilling season closer Scotland Unbound. The Edinburgh-born, award-winning musician, with seven critically acclaimed albums to his name, is a passionate advocate for contemporary music. Known for his hands-on approach to new commissions, Shibe collaborates closely with composers, to intertwine the old with the new.  In his latest show, Shibe performs Scottish folk songs on classical guitar alongside the strings of the ACO and a new commission from composer Cassandra Miller. Then, tradition is quickly turned on its head with performances on electric guitar for Julia Wolfe’s Lad, which was original

For a fuss-free holiday, nothing beats hitting the road in a caravan. Forget about early check-outs and heavy luggage when you can whiz around a city at your own speed. Take some time off and head to the culturally vibrant city of Adelaide where there’s a wine barrel full of fun waiting. Beyond its world-famous wine regions, Adelaide boasts unforgettable stretches of coastline and one of the largest undercover markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Along the way, make a few pit stops at the city’s top caravan parks, where you'll find everything you need and more – enough to make you want to stay an extra day or two. ✨ The best hotels in Adelaide🔥 Adelaide's cosiest Airbnbs🥾 The best things to do in Adelaide

Bella Manningham is a young wife who seemingly has it all – a nice home, a comfortable upper-middle class life in Victorian-era London. Her housekeepers attend to her every need, and her husband Jack appears attentive and loving. So why is Bella constantly on edge? Something is amiss in the Manningham household. Patrick Hamilton’s 1940’s suspense-thriller, Gaslight, has fascinated audiences for some eight decades – and now, Sydneysiders have the chance to see a brand new modern adaption of this classic play. This reinvention by respected Canadian writer/performers Patty Jamieson and Johnna Wright is sure to thrill fans of Hitchcockian whodunnits and classic melodramas. Following enthusiastic reviews around the country, this epic production will play its final shows at Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre from August 21.  Beloved star of the stage and screen Geraldine Hakewill (who you might know from her lead role in Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) is Bella, and her performance as the paranoid wife was commended by Time Out Melbourne in their 4-star review. She’s joined by Boy Swallows Universe star Toby Schmitz (Amadeus at Sydney Opera House) as the deceptive husband; with legend of the stage Kate Fitzpatrick and rising star Courtney Cavallaro as the dutiful servants. Throughout this timeless story, we watch as Bella becomes increasingly haunted by footsteps in the night, and the flickering of gaslights dimming without a touch. Despite her husband's insistence that she’s simp

Father’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s crunch time to pick up a present. But fear not – we’ve put together a list of thoughtful gifts that are sure to show your appreciation. Whether your dad is thrifty or appreciates the finer things in life, prefers spirits or hot sauce, there’s sure to be a dad-approved idea in our round-up.

Finding the perfect gift for Dad can be tricky at the best of times, especially when he claims to be happy with the same power tools and socks every year. We think every dad deserves to feel special, so why not mix it up this Father's Day and show your love with a personalised gift. To make the occasion truly memorable, Archie Rose Distilling Co. invites you to customise a bottle of whisky or gin this Father’s Day. The thoughtful gift idea allows you to choose the blends, adjust the strength and design a custom label. To top it off, you can include a personal message on the back of the bottle to show you really care – despite all the dad jokes.  To craft your own custom bottle on the spot, visit one of three Archie Rose Tailored Spirits Live pop-ups in Sydney and create your tailored whisky or gin in person. Find them across the city at the Queen Victoria Building, Westfield Bondi Junction and Westfield Hornsby until September 1 – just enough time to secure your gift. While you're there, you can also taste and shop the Archie Rose Signature Range and Limited Edition products.  Can’t make it to a pop-up? The Tailored Spirits service is also available at the Archie Rose Cellar Door in Rosebery from Tuesdays to Sundays. Or, head online where you can customise a bottle and also have the option to tailor an Archie Rose vodka. Once you’ve placed your order online, it takes three to five days to create your custom blend before it’s shipped to your doorstep. To ensure it arrives on t

When our nation's first female prime minister Julia Gillard roasted Tony Abbott in 2012 with the words: “I will not be lectured on sexism and misogyny by that man, I will not. Not now, not ever,” the Misogyny Speech (as it’s now known) immediately became one of the most iconic in Australian history.  Not only did the famous words launch a thousand memes and feminist awakenings across the country, but also a play. Penned by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Sarah Goodes, Julia takes us back to Gillard's childhood, tracing the path of events that led to that pivotal day in the House of Representatives. Following a sold-out premiere season in 2023, Sydney Theatre Company is bringing the smash-hit show back as part of its 2024 season for a special encore run. The formidable Justine Clarke will be reprising the titular role of Julia Gillard, in a performance that Time Out reviewed as “purely magnificent”, and Jessica Bentley will return as the quiet observer on stage whose presence evokes the impact Gillard's speech has had on a generation.    Taking over the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House from September 5, Sydney will be the last stop on the production's national tour. Grab your tickets now for what is sure to be one of the most talked about theatrical experiences of the season.

Summer 2024 is in full swing, and that means a whole lot of tanning time, and possibly a cheeky flight or two. So what’s that we hear? Suddenly you need a bit of light entertainment on the go? Fear not, dear friends. We got you.  Here at Time Out, we love a podcast as much as the next guy. But we don’t think that should mean listening to grisly true crime all the time. On our list of the best podcasts right now, we’ve got chatty comedy, celeb presenters, world history, investigative journalism and much, much more. Whatever your vibe, we’ve got a podcast for you. Guaranteed. Here are the best podcasts to get stuck into this summer, chosen by our editors. Happy listening! ️‍🔥 August 2024: We’ve just added a bunch of great podcasts to this list, including celeb favourite ‘SmartLess’ and gripping whodunit ‘White Devil’. We update regularly with new releases, so check back for more podcast recommendations from the Time Out team.  RECOMMENDED:🎧 The best news podcasts🗞️ The best history podcasts🔪 The best true crime podcasts

Dreaming of a tree change? We’ve got the perfect place for you. The Northern Territory is absolutely brimming with breathtaking landscapes, ancient wisdom, and UNESCO World Heritage natural wonders like Kakadu National Park.  Chase the warmer weather all the way to the NT and you’ll find so much more than just sunny days welcoming you. With a slower pace of life and a more affordable lifestyle than other Aussie cities, some of which have been ranked the most unaffordable in the world, swapping city life for the wide-open spaces might be just what the doctor ordered.  

Every year, you can count on Bell Shakespeare to bring the Bard’s best megalomaniacal leaders and tragic figures to life for a blockbuster season. This winter, for the first time in over a decade, the prestigious company is revisiting one of his most captivating monarchs: King Lear.  Starring veteran actor of stage and screen Robert Menzies in the titular role and led by artistic director Peter Evans, this powerful classic will be performed in the intimate setting of the Fairfax Studio at Arts Centre Melbourne. Evans and designer Anna Tregloan have drawn from the play’s pagan setting, with the action unfolding beneath a sculptural model of the solar system that extends out over the audience. In this evocative space, the ensemble cast explores central themes of truth, politics, family, succession, authority and religion. Written during Shakespeare’s later years of life, King Lear tells the bleak tale of a once-great king whose plan for succession slowly crumbles to a tragic end. In exchange for a share of his kingdom, he demands declarations of love from his three daughters, who must prove their unquestioning obedience (a premise that will no doubt sound familiar to Succession fans).  When the praise from his youngest and best-loved daughter Cordelia falls short, Lear exiles her and divides everything between the remaining two. With his title officially abdicated, he’s quickly turned out by his deceptive daughters who he believed would always worship him. After a lifetime of b

There’s no need to go all the way to Italy to enjoy la dolce vita, when you can find authentic Italian desserts right here in Sydney. After opening its second store at Sydney’s World Square in April, Italian chocolate house Venchi has already cemented itself as a regular destination for locals with its classic and creative menu.  Since getting in the game in 1878, Venchi has been making dreams come true around the world before finding its way to Aussie shores. Judging by the long lines outside their first Sydney store, which opened in 2023 in the Galeries, it’s clear they know what they're doing. Step inside the store and you’ll find everything from a wall of colourfully wrapped chocolates to a chocolate library where you can pick and mix. Plus, gift boxes, chocolate bars and handmade pralines are also up for grabs. On the menu? Immerse yourself in the heritage of the chocolate house’s signature flavours with chocoviar, a crisp shell coating a soft cocoa centre; gianduiotto, a melting of hazelnut and chocolate shaped into an upside-down boat that’s gained cult status in Italy; and nougatine, which is made of caramelised Piedmont hazelnuts from a recipe that hasn’t changed since 1905.  Fortunately for us, the chocolatiers are also gelato makers with all-natural artisan scoops made daily from quality ingredients. The milk, chocolate and Piedmont hazelnuts are of the highest grade. There’s also no artificial colours, flavours, thickeners or palm oil so you can indulge ethically.

There have been plenty of reasons to dust off your camera recently. From the National Portrait Prize and Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards taking over Sydney to the return of Sony’s photography and filmmaking festival stacked with community-hosted events for all skill levels. Whether you use your smartphone as a camera or you’re old school and capture moments with film and a darkroom, there’s never been a better time to start snapping. Now, Sony is set to launch a two-day photography, videography and content creation expo so you’ll have somewhere to channel all your inspiration. From September 28-29, Scene Tradeshow will take over Sydney’s recently revamped cultural space, White Bay Power Station.  Set to be one big epic weekend celebrating the creative medium, get hands-on with Sony’s latest cameras, lenses and accessories and brush up on your skills with a curated selection of talks, panels and masterclasses. Topics covered include grassroots filmmaking, travel photography, music video fundamentals, vlogging, behind-the-scenes photography on film sets and so much more.  Plenty of industry experts are expected to make appearances including photographers Adam Ferguson, Trent Mitchell, Sydney Low; filmmaker Gabriel Gasparinatos; film editor Matt Villa ASE ACE; and Sony Digital Imaging ambassadors Colin Jeffs, Meghan Maloney, Craig Parry and Ann Odong.  Tickets are available as a morning pass or afternoon pass for $20. See it all with an all-day pass for $30, or upgrade

This September, Newcastle’s flagship arts festival, New Annual, is set to return over ten days with a roster of innovative art and live performances in the heart of the city.  From September 27 to October 6, a stacked program of national touring artists and local talent is set to take over the city, starting with the epic First Night Street Party. Head down to King Street for DJ sets, local bands, food trucks, and unmissable performances from headliner Gamilaraay man Mitch Tambo and the soul-stirring Tower Divas. There’s also Wayfinder, a new show from contemporary dance centre Dancenorth Australia, that fuses dance with music and visual arts; Truth to Power Café, a live performance exploring the topic of power through art and audience contributions; The Birth & Death of Stars, a theatrical world-music experience from MZAZA; The Cord, a contemporary dance performance by acclaimed First Nations choreographer, Jasmin Sheppard; Concertante, an intimate performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto by Omega Ensemble; and performances by Newcastle’s Youth Orchestra.  There are also plenty of free events in the line-up including ‘Scrub Club’, a ten-day participatory project at Quandamooka artist Megan Cope’s Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House, where you can contribute to future oyster reef art projects. Plus, Belongings, an immersive installation sharing the stories of six local refugees and an immersive theatre show celebrating humpback whale migration through a parade of giant illumi

The magical Kryal Castle is set to transform into Frozen Kingdom these winter school holidays, as part of Ballarat's Winter Festival. A spellbinding kids program is taking place across three fun-filled weeks of the festival, inviting kids to meet dragons, battle evil queens, and discover the tale of the kingdom’s long-lost princess.  Step into a storybook world where a kingdom has been overtaken by an evil snow Queen who has cursed the land with an eternal winter. The adventure begins at Jesters Theatre with the tale of the kingdom's icy past and a hero foretold, at The Story of the Lost Princess theatre show which you can catch at 11am or 1:15pm. Make your way to Trial By Fire at the Main Arena where knights will battle with steel and flame to defeat the evil Queen. Once the battle is won, stick around for a dragon meet and greet where you can pat these ferocious, fire-breathing creatures. Plenty of other family-friendly activities will also be going down across the day. Try your hand at mystical potion making by signing up for a lesson at the Wizard Classroom for $20. Be transformed into a princess or creature with face-painting on offer for $10. Or, brush up on your medieval skills at the Archery range, Axe throwing range and Knight school where you’ll be equipped with a sword and shield and taught battle tactics under the tutelage of Kryal Castles Master-at-Arms. Don’t leave home empty-handed, stop by the snowflake ornament making workshops, where you’ll be given dough an

It’s not an easy task to hunt down non-mainstream movies to watch at home, especially when you’re looking for films from outside of the western world, and especially not for free (well, legally anyway). Luckily, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is back, with an eclectic selection of 23 films available to stream online all around Australia.Returning from June 5 to July 3, this global initiative has dropped a rich program of cutting-edge films for every movie buff – including thrillers, dramas, comedies and documentaries. Plus, some past JFF hits will be returning,  and for the first time, there are also two dramatic series joining the selection.For those that can’t get enough of Japanese cuisine, The Zen Diary is a gentle film on isolation and gastronomy that feeds the soul. If slow-paced is your style, then don’t look past the romantic film We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, which follows a couple over five years and was written by a recent Cannes winner Yūji Sakamoto.Watch women challenge gender stereotypes in I am what I am, where a young woman seeks to live a solitary life, and in the action-comedy Baby Assassins, two high schoolers are also highly trained assassins. Anime fans should check out Anime Supremacy!, where two directors – one a rookie and the other a hotshot – are tasked with bringing the next big anime shows to life. Meanwhile, in BL Metamorphosis, two women strike up an intergenerational friendship when they bond over manga.For the kids, the classic animated film K

Grab the popcorn, Sydney Film Festival (SFF) is back this June, and the program has finally dropped. You’re in for a bumper line-up of films from around the world, an opening night gala and plenty of the filmmakers stopping by as guest speakers, there’s surely something to excite film fans of all candy stripes. Cannes contenders Four features competing to take home the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year will also make their Australian debut at SFF. Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Emma Stone for Kinds of Kindness, a triptych fable that’s another likely Oscar contender. Meanwhile, All We Imagine as Light, a tale of two connecting relationships from director Payal Kapadia, is also the first Indian film to make it into the competition in three decades. Laugh along during Marcello Mio as the meta comedy pays homage to the great Marcello Mastronianni or catch the latest film from director Miguel Gomes Grand Tour, which chronicles a romantic pursuit across Asia.  Hot Hollywood hits From Hollywood, The Bikeriders is a crime-thriller starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy that follows a Midwestern motorcycle club as they evolve over the course of a decade. Set in the misty forests of North America, Sasquatch Sunset is a no-dialogue film about a family of sasquatches embarking on an absurd and epic journey, starring an unrecognisable Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough.    The line-up also includes The Outrun starring Saorise Ronan; the fantasy epic Al

It's been almost 27 years since a certain bespectacled boy came out from under the stairs and learnt of his snake-conversing, broomstick-flying, billions-making powers. And he's as popular now as ever, spawning films, spin-off films, toys, games, apps and multiple stage adaptations – only one of which is, well, actually authorised. Whether you missed Melbourne’s record-breaking four-year run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, or you’re just looking to fill the void, Potterheads are in for a treat. Who wants to sit through six hours of theatre anyway? Potted Potter – the hilarious show that condenses the entirety of the Harry Potter series into a tight 70 minutes – is ready to reunite Aussie audiences with the antics of Harry, Ron and Hermione. (We are assuming show creators Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner glide over a lot of the endless camping that takes up an enormous amount of Deathly Hallows.)  The show has been touring for more than 15 years, and has even played Off Broadway and on the West End. Now, Potted Potter is returning to Australia for the fifth time with a stint at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from April 24–May 5. So go on, relive Harry's days at Hogwarts. Although the show wasn't written by You Know Who, what it lacks in intellectual property compliance it more than makes up for in laughs. We're pretty sure Fred and George Weasley would approve. Tickets range from $69 to $89.95 and times vary, book yours here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out

It’s not new news that Australia’s friend, the koala, is listed as an endangered species, due to the effects of things such as land-clearing, cars, dogs, feral cats, prolonged droughts, bushfires and disease. In fact, a parliamentary inquiry found they may be extinct in NSW by 2050 – a tragedy that conservation groups are working madly to help reverse. The latest, though, is that a new koala conservation centre is opening in south-west Sydney, backed by $5 million in funding.The NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe, announced the new koala care facility, which is set to open at the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Sciene’s Camden campus, to support koalas in the Macarthur region. The funding is set to be distributed across several key areas, with $500,000 dedicated to securing expert assistance and wildlife rehabilitators. The remaining funds will focus on three main areas: koala rescue, rehabilitation and conservation. Plus, the initiative aims to introduce on-call vet care and advice, access to facilities, upgraded clinical equipment and biosecurity seclusion areas. The new facility has been hailed as a “game changer” by Professor Jacqui Norris, Head of School and Dean, who says, “We want future generations to be able to step into bushland in south-western Sydney and see koalas in the wild.” Hear, hear. If you want to help support koala conservation efforts, you can buy merch or donate at Save the Koala. Stay in the loop: sign up for o

In case you haven’t noticed, Sydney’s speed limits have been gradually dropping in recent years. Nowadays, 75 per cent of local and regional streets in the City of Sydney have a 40 kilometre an hour speed limit or lower – up from just five per cent of roads in 2004. And now, even more roads are set to fall under this 40km/h mandate, as the NSW Government works with the City of Sydney to make the city safer.  The speed-limit changes are set to affect local and regional streets that currently have a 50km/h limit, in areas including Glebe, Forest Lodge, Beaconsfield and Waterloo. Some sections of roads in Annandale, Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland and Woolloomooloo are also set to drop, with larger roads such as motorways excluded.  The lower speed limits are all about reducing the number of crashes and increasing survival rates, as studies have shown survival rates for people hit by a vehicle drastically improve at lower speeds like 40km/h. “When people drive at safer speeds it reduces the number of crashes and their severity, improves safety for people walking and riding and helps to support better place-making,” says Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO. “Not only will our streets be safer as a result of these important changes, they’ll be quieter and have less exhaust emissions.” The Lord Mayor says the City of Sydney will continue to work with Transport for NSW to reduce speed limits even further – down to 30km/h – in the city centre and other high-activity areas where there