Winnie Stubbs

The paramount rule in any spooky situation is to not be the denier. The jock who says, “ghosts aren’t real” is always the first one to get throttled by an angry apparition. So with open minds and willing spirits, we invite you to explore Sydney’s most haunted sites. These former insane asylums, abandoned roads, converted gaols and chilly tunnels may not appear to be the stuff of nightmares in the sensical light of day, but one too many shadowy coincidences coupled with gruesome histories have inspired us to get our ghost-hunting gear together and investigate.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: If you want some wraith-watching advice from a pro, check out these spine-tingling ghost tours operating in Sydney. If you need a moment of reprieve from the manic hunt, forget all these grisly tales while you get pampered at Sydney’s best spas. Want more spooky stuff? Check out how many of these classic Sydney landmarks used to be cemeteries.

We might be a little biased, but we don't believe there's a better place on earth to spend a day than in our beautiful waterside city. And while Sydney shines in the summertime, there's a lot of delight to be found in the colder months – including Vivid, which is lighting up the city right now.From coastal walking tracks to secret swim spots to swanky sky-high bars, Sydney is home to the kinds of settings that play host to magical memories every day of the year – from ordinary Wednesdays to the most important days of your life. Want to witness some world-class creativity? These are the city's best galleries, and these are the best plays and musicals on in Sydney right now. Feel like a spa day? These are the best day spas in Sydney. Want to get moving? This list of our favourite walks should help.Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney today. Want to get your weekend plans in order, right now? Check out our pick of the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.Rain putting a dampner on your plans? These are the best things to do indoors. On a budget? These are the Time Out team’s pick of 25 things to do in Sydney for under $25. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. 

There’s a lot of creative fun to be had in the Harbour City this week – with Sydney Film Fest bringing excellent cinema to our city’s screens, two major winter exhibitions now live at the MCA, a stunning photography exhibition live at the State Library,  the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes showing at the Art Gallery of NSW and a whole lot of excellent plays and musicals showing at theatres across the city. Plus, of course, there’s Vivid – which is lighting up the city with free gigs, interactive light trails, a retro roller disco and an incredible fire-powered kitchen (you’ll find everything you need to know about this year’s Vivid here).  If you’re low on funds but still want to find some fun, we’d suggest catching happy hour, then settling in for a free show – there’s free jazz in The Rocks this Thursday night, and these bars and pubs across the city have live shows most nights. Keen to keep moving? These are the best running routes in Sydney, and these are the city’s best gyms if you’d rather work out in air-con.  Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this week. Wether not looking so hot? These are the best indoor activities in the city. Mapping out your weekend? These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

There’s a whole lot of creative fun happening in the Harbour City this weekend. First up: Vivid – this weekend is your last chance to make the most of sparkly season, and we’re here to help with a guide to the best places to eat and drink, a hefty round-up of the best shows to see and answers to all of your FAQs. We’ve also got tips on where to eat with kids, the best dishes to order at Fire Kitchen and a whole lot more.If you'd rather stay indoors, Sydney Film Festival is bringing excellent cinema to our city’s big screens, and the super immersive Bubble Planet has landed at Olympic Park. Feeling fearless? Cockatoo Island is turning into an interactive fright town from this Friday 13. Plus, and our city’s galleries are playing host to some major winter exhibitions (our top picks include the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prize exhibition, the first solo museum exhibition by Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall, the incredible Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and a futuristic new exhibition at Artspace).  Want to warm up? These are the best pubs with fireplaces in the city, and these are the best day spas and bathhouses if you’re keen to get steamy.If you’re keen to get some air this weekend, our round-ups of the best day hikes close to Sydndey and the best places to camp close to the city should help. Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney. Looking for weekday fun? These are the best things to do in Sydney this week

The people of New South Wales are an outdoorsy bunch – and can you blame us? With our fantastic beaches, glorious national parks and stunning natural attractions, it’s no wonder we’re crazy for camping, hiking and generally being out amongst all that nature. And although a cold dip in the ocean is a delightful addition to a balmy spring or summer's day, the weather in this state is anything but reliable, which is why our naturally heated hot springs make for the perfect adventure. Here, you can stay blissfully warm in the great outdoors, regardless of what's happening in the skies. The majority are quite a drive from Sydney, mostly in the state’s far north, so why not make them the focal point of a getaway? Now all you have to do is choose which of the best hot springs and bore baths in NSW to visit first. Our editors (including self-proclaimed ocean addict Winnie Stubbs) have hopped between them to suss out the best spots for an open-air soak. We've removed the spots that are near-impossible to book, and have spotlighted instead cheap and free options – they're a bit of a drive from Sydney, but the journey will be worth it. Stay warm this winter with one of these magical winter escapes that are close to Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

Sydney is jam-packed with gyms. From small studios to big mega-chains, single-service boutiques to multi-service offerings, and everything in between. The amount of choice can be overwhelming. Luckily, our Sydney Editor Alice Ellis has worked in the fitness industry, so she knows what separates a mediocre gym that you'll probably be wasting your money on, from a gym that you'll be motivated to attend so you can actually achieve the results you're after (whether that's building strength, losing weight, getting your stress in check or joining a new connecting with people). This list has been curated by all our Time Out Sydney editors and writers, who've covered a lot of ground when it comes to Sydney gyms. Read on to find the right gym fit for you. Looking for a healthy feed? Here's our guide to healthy eateries that don't suck. Prefer to pound the pavements? These are the best run clubs in Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do in Sydney, travel inspo, food and more, straight to your inbox.  

We might be a little biased, but in our humble opinion, Sydney's got it all. Can you think of many other cities in the world that rival its natural beauty, rich heritage and history that dates back thousands of years, and its creative, culinary and cultural offerings by world-class pros. In fact, there's so much to see, do, sip and ponder here, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. Worry not, dear reader – we're making it simple for you. Our team (including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs and Editor in Chief Alice Ellis) sifted through every good time the Big Smoke has to offer and put together a Sydney bucket list for the ages. The activities we've chosen will give you a super varied experience of the city – everything from the tourist attractions that are actually worth your time to secret swimming spots that locals know and love.Whether you're a new arrival or a born-and-bred local, this 2025 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city's must-do activities will help you experience Sydney from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now.  Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels or Airbnbs. 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.

June is here, and although winter isn’t known as Sydney’s prime time, there’s so much keeping the sunny city’s sparkle alive through the cooler months. With Vivid running until June 14, Sydney Film Festival lighting up screens across the city, and an excellent theatre line-up, this month is set to be pretty glittery, ice-cold temperatures aside. For the ultimate magical evening this month, we’d suggest hitting one of the city’s best happy hours before catching a show at the Opera House and then refuelling at one of the city’s best restaurants. Plus, whale watching season is setting in – these are the best spots to see them from Sydney.There's also a huge wine fest taking over The International, a laneway party lighting up the alleyway behind the Ace Hotel and a magical winter ceramics market (with free coffee) going down at ClayGround. If you're out on a coastal walk this June, stop by one of the Boathouse venues – they've serving up $12 Aperols and Margs all month long. Keen to get out of town? Our guides to the best cosy cabins and glamping spots should help. Scroll on for our full round-up of the best things to do in Sydney this month. 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.  Make the most of this crisp time of year and adventure to one of these incredible natural hot springs in NSW, and then make sure you head on one of these glorious winter getaways close to Sydney.

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

Broken Hill isn’t the kind of place that immediately springs to mind when you think about holidaying in NSW. There are no five-star hotels or sexy glamping sites, no ocean pool or beachside kiosk. Broken Hill is the opposite of a tourist trap: it’s a down-to-earth mining town whose charm is alive in its genuine, true-blue attitude and unpretentious sense of fun.Despite the lack of holiday gimmicks, if you ask me, this is a place that every NSW resident needs to visit, at least once in their life. Known by the traditional owners of the land (the Paakantji, Mayyankapa and Nyiimpaa people) as Willyama, Broken Hill is Australia’s longest-operating mining town. It’s also the place that Priscilla, Queen of the Desert pulled up back in 1994, a role that has secured it an honorary title as one of the state’s queer culture capitals. Sitting beneath the shadow of a 7-kilometre mound of mining debris, this colourful town is a beautifully bizarre confluence of worlds, and a visit here will teach you so much about what it means to live in NSW.  Keen? Read on for our guide to where to eat, drink and stay in Broken Hill. 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 outback destinations in NSW. These are the best weekend breaks from Sydney. This is why Broken Hill was ranked as the second best tourist town in Australia in 2024.

The word sustainability gets thrown around a lot – and so it should. We know our oceans are filled with plastic, the Earth is warming each day, and weather conditions are becoming more and more destructive. The good news is that Sydney’s restaurants, bars and cafés are taking sustainability seriously – not just talking the talk by posting an Instagram tile, but doing the hard, often more costly and time-consuming work to do their bit to care for our planet. From cutting down on emissions to drastically reducing waste, reusing water, working with local suppliers, cooking with whole animals and using biodegradable packaging, Sydney’s top spots are paving the way for a greener future. Below, you’ll find some of our favourite sustainable venues in Sydney. 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 READ: These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney.

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.

Winter is well and truly here, and if you’re keen to embrace festive energy in Sydney, you don’t need to look too far. Just across the bridge in North Sydney (steps away from Victoria Cross Metro Station), a very wintery fiesta is going down for ten magical days – complete with a 20-metre toboggan slide and 50 tonnes of real snow. Yes, you’re reading that right. Kicking off on Friday, June 27, the Greenwood’s Snow Festival will see the sprawling North Sydney venue transformed into a winter wonderland – with a program of seasonal events to transport us into (even) colder climbs. This year’s snow-themed event line-up includes an Aspen-themed launch party (Friday, June 27), poutine-fuelled Canada Day celebrations (Saturday, June 28), Winter Night Markets (June 30 - July 4), a Mario Kart racing event (Wednesday, July 2) and a very special appearance from a Shania Twain tribute band (Tuesday, July 1).Keen to get involved in the cold? You can learn more over here. Want to be the first to know about what's on in Sydney? Sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter, delivered direct to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want more winter fun? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Sydney this winter.Or get cosy at one of these cabins close to the city.Or transport yourself to Paris at this epic festival of all things French.

Need a new profile pic? We’ve got you.  One of the world’s biggest immersive experiences has just landed in the Harbour City – serving up a fun, surreal backdrop for your Instagram grid glow-up . Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience is open now at Paddington Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park, offering Sydneysiders a transporting, ultra-Instagrammable experience. Already experienced by more than two million visitors around the world, with sell-out runs in Milan, Los Angeles, London and Brussels, Bubble Planet is a fantastical world of optical illusions, cutting-edge virtual reality experiences, giant bubbles, and next-level immersive projections. Visitors to the Sydney site can expect to embark on a dreamlike journey through more than 10 otherworldly rooms, home to giant bubble domes, LED underwater-style wonderlands, selfie hubs and VR dreamscapes.  Almost 10,000 tickets were sold ahead of the official opening, so we expect this one will be another sell-out run for the people who brought the incredible immersive Van Gogh experience to Sydney back in 2020. Session at this bizarre immersive world run for between 60-90 minutes, and the experience is suitable for people of all ages – with kids under four welcomed in for free. Keen? You can learn more and snap up tickets over here.    Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want more activity inspo? Here’s what’s on in Sydney

Calling all whisky fans. This winter, whisky expert Matt Bailey (National Ambassador of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Australia) is hosting the dinner of your dreams: a five-course degustation with whisky pairings to match. Intrigued? Read on. On Thursday, June 26, Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour’s sky-high restaurant The Ternary will play host to the glorious whisky-fuelled dinner, with a five-course menu crafted by The Ternary Head Chef Robin Rana, and spectacular views across the city skyline. Each course will be served with a carefully selected dram of whisky to perfectly complement the flavours, and Bailey will be on hand to provide insights into each unique drop.The event will kick off with welcome cocktails from 5.45pm, and will run until 10pm. Tickets start at $175 for Accor Plus members, or $210 for the general public. Booking is essential – you can snap up your tickets over here. Want to stay the night? You can check out Novotel’s room options over here. 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: These are the best bars in Sydney. And these are Sydney’s best restaurants. 

Winter is setting in in the Harbour City, and things are getting chilling in more ways than one. As a former penal centre, Cockatoo Island is one of Sydney’s most spooky sites at the best of times, and this winter they’ll be amping up the chill factor, with the launch of two immersive ‘Tunnels of Terror’ and a heap of other spooky experiences. It’s all kicking off on Friday, June 13 (the spookiest date of them all), with ‘Fear Island’ taking over Cockatoo Island all weekend long – here’s what to expect. From Friday through Sunday, Sydney’s brutalist industrial island will play host to spooky food stalls, a pumping bar serving up blood-bag cocktails (delicious) and a team of scare actors bringing the spooky stories of the island to life. There will also be makeup artists on site to get you looking scary, dance classes teaching Micheal Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ dance and an outdoor cinema screening scary movies under the stars.But the main event is taking place in the long, dark tunnels that run through the centre of the island. Dubbed the Tunnels of Terror, the two concrete tunnels that run through the island will be transformed into terrifying immersive scary experiences. Details on what to expect from the Tunnels of Terror are thin on the ground, but if you ask us, the names say it all. First up, ‘The Haunted’: we’re pretty sure we can do the maths on what that one might look like. The second tunnel experience, The Asylum, is named after one of Cockatoo Island’s former functions.

The Day Spa by Chuan at the Langham Hotel, formerly known as the Observatory Day Spa Sydney, is the spa you visit to step back in time. Housed on the very bottom floor of the timelessly grand hotel, this spa feels like it’s straight from the “girls trip” playbook.  The star feature here is the 20-metre indoor pool. And star is the operative word – the pool sits beneath a ceiling that mimics the night sky, quietly twinkling and inviting you to float into another realm. Gently heated and surrounded by a sandstone and marble lounging area this pool area is the kind of place you want to stay all day. On the far wall, there’s a beautiful mural of what looks like Bondi Beach in the 1920s. Treatments range from express facials to full-body re-sets, with the Chuan ritual epitomising the offering: a total escape of a treatment that includes a herbal salt scrub,  relaxing back, neck and shoulder massage and a detoxifying facial.But in my opinion, the most unique and incredible offering at The Day Spa by Chuan is the IV treatment from IV Nation  – Australia’s first in-hotel IV therapy experience. These intravenous treatments are designed to support hydration and wellbeing from the inside out, so the shine from your spa treatment isn’t just skin deep. My treatment included vitamins C and B12 as well as zinc, magnesium and other elements that our body needs to feel well.Need a total body reset inside and out? This is your place – just check the timings, as the IV treatments are currently

Vivid is doing things differently this year. For Vivid Sydney 2025, it’s not all watching the Opera House turn technicolour and wandering around The Rocks looking at the lights (though that’s still very much worth doing). This year, sparkly season is going beyond the big, CBD landmarks and lighting up one of Sydney’s trendiest inner city neighbourhoods: the Hollywood Quarter. First up, let there be light. From now until the closing night of Vivid (Saturday, June 14), the streets of HQ will glow with neon-toned nods to the world of cinema. Wander the neighbourhood and trace luminous movie soundtrack lyrics and famous quotes; this one’s a Vivid light display for cinephiles.  Then, there’s the event program – which is taking over venues across the neighbourhood with ongoing and one-off events. Every Saturday of Vivid, the Hollywood Hotel will be hosting live music and DJs in its moody ‘Vivid After Dark Lounge’, with snacks catered by nearby Butter served until 11pm. Around the corner, Golden Age is transforming into a dreamlike realm for the duration of the festival, with live music, performance art and kooky, obscure installations inspired by the beloved late director David Lynch. The Vivid line-up at Golden Age includes a performance by Marcus Whale and Nini Voss covering Lynch originals, and they’ll be screening dream-inspired movies in the next door cinema throughout sparkly season. The Soda Factory is also stepping up its entertainment game for the duration of Vivid, hostin

For a lot of Sydneysiders, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth building – the Art Deco tower that cuts its distinctive curve into the heart of the CBD – is part of the furniture: an historic red-brick stalwart that’s stood 20-storeys tall in the city’s beating heart since 1966. If you’ve passed it in recent months though, you’ll have noticed something different – a warmly-lit, distinctly modern energy pouring onto Philip Street. In October 2024, Sydney’s oldest five-star hotel reopened its doors after a $77-million makeover. After staying the night, I can confirm that the site-wide reimagining involved so much more than a surface-level polish. With A-grade dining options, a sexy-as-hell (and surprisingly affordable) bar and 436 beautifully redesigned bedrooms, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is reclaiming its place among the best high-end stays in the city. Why stay at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth? When it opened its doors back in 1966, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth was Sydney’s very first five-star hotel – welcoming a glittering guest list that ranged from royals to movie stars. As time ticked by, the historic hotel began to lose a little of its sparkle – with age taking its toll. After the mega site-wide refurbishment, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is back in a big way – firmly securing its position as one of the city’s best hotels. And while the hotel’s historic standing and famous alumni would be reason enough to add this one to your staycation hit list, there are so many other factors that make thi

Just as winter begins to rear its head in the Emerald City, the annual festival of lights, music, ideas and more rolls around: lighting up the city with a multidisciplinary program that gets bigger and brighter every season. Vivid Sydney 2025 is no exception, with a glittering program of lights, music, food and ideas that’s not only sparkly, but surprisingly subversive. Inspired by the theme of Dream, Vivid Sydney 2025 will use art and experience to interrogate and expand our understanding of what it means to dream: literally and figuratively. From Friday, May 23 until Saturday, June 14 2025, expect the city to be transformed into a glittering wonderland of art, inspiration and ideas – with Vivid’s signature light displays acting as a vehicle to usher in a boundary-pushing series of events. This year’s program features thought-provoking discussions, insightful film screenings, immersive street kitchens, interactive artworks and so much more. This year, Vivid-goers can expect a redesigned festival footprint, with the (totally free) light walk being presented across five distinctive zones including eight buildings and landmarks that have never been illuminated before (as well as the return of some old favourites, like Martin Place). For Vivid Sydney 2025, there’s also an expanded Vivid Music program (with Vivid Live returning to the Opera House with big names including Sigur Ros, Marlon Williams and Ezra Collective. We can also expect an interactive Stranger Things experience a

It’s hard to name a more iconic Australian live music venue than the Sydney Opera House. In fact, I dare you. And while the Concert Hall, Utzon Room and other architecturally stunning indoor spaces have their merits, a show on the Opera House forecourt – out in the air, with views across the harbour – is beyond special.Last year, the Sydney Opera House On The Steps series brought some of Australia’s most beloved musicians to the Opera House forecourt, with Crowded House, Troye Sivan, Missy Higgins and Tina Arena performing outside of the country’s most famous building, as well as global acts including Two Door Cinema Club, Declan McKenna and Glass Animals. For anyone lucky enough to attend, the On The Steps shows were a highlight of Sydney summer 2024 – gorgeous amber sunsets and joyful crowds gathered on the Mayan-temple-inspired steps to see their favourite artist perform in front of one of the world’s most beautiful city skylines. Now, the organisers have confirmed that On The Steps is coming back for 2025, with this year’s line-up looking better than ever.So far, only four acts have been announced, with more due to drop over the next few weeks and months.The first act confirmed to light up the steps for the 2025 summer season will be the iconic Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, who will be performing a one-off show on Wednesday, December 3. Franz Ferdinand’s forecourt show will be the first time they’ve performed in Australia since 2018, when they brought their distinct

For a few special days every year, Sydney comes alive with writers, journalists, public intellectuals and book lovers – who gather for the Emerald City’s long-standing celebration of literature, reading and ideas: the Sydney Writers' Festival. This year marks the 28th birthday for our city’s most beloved celebration of words, and the festival’s 2025 theme is In This Together: a theme that emphasizes the power that literature has to connect us. Featuring more than 200 events, and welcoming more than 40 international guests as well as more than 100 Australian authors, this year’s festival will bring fascinating conversations to Sydney from Monday, May 19 until Tuesday, May 27. The beloved Inner City arts centre Carriageworks will act as the hub for this year’s festival, with additional events  popping up at Sydney Town Hall and The State Library of NSW.Big names taking to the stage for this year’s event include David Nicholls and Liane Moriarty (who will appear in-conversation), Jeanette Winterson (who will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of her landmark novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit), Marian Keyes and the incredibly insightful philosopher A.C. Grayling.If you’re on a starving artist budget, fear not: the program features more than 50 free events (with 30 taking place at Carriageworks) including a lecture series examining topics ranging from China’s cultural revolution to the shape of Australian politics.  For budding writers and readers, there’s a whole day dedicate

If you can’t quite hack the requisite international airfare and/or annual leave to explore the Amazon, meet polar bears, or go deep sea diving right now, there is another method for getting up close and personal with some of the world’s most incredible animals.  For the 60th year in a row, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will arrive in Sydney on loan from London’s Natural History Museum. Taking root at the National Maritime Museum, this stunning collection of photographs will be on show in Sydney from Thursday, May 15 until Sunday, October 19.  This incredibly prestigious photography event is centred on drawing attention to the wild beauty and fragility of the natural world. This year, judges had to look at a baffling 59,228 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories, and were faced with the near-impossible task of whittling these down to just over 100 photo finalists. The images that made this year’s exhibition captures mesmerising snapshots of fascinating animal behaviour and stunning secret moments in the hearts of the world’s most unreachable places.The prestigious Grand Title this year went to Canadian Marine Conservation Photojournalist, Shane Gross, for his incredible underwater image of a community of western toad tadpoles. The award for Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year went to German photographer Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas for his up-close image Life Under Dead Wood. Of the talented Aussie photo

The Met Gala might be behind us, but the biggest annual event of Sydney’s fashion calendar is just around the corner. Australian Fashion Week (AFW) will be taking over Carriageworks for four fabulous days – transforming the sprawling post-industrial space into a central hub of talks, workshops and runways for Australia’s fashion royalty.AFW 2025 kicks off on Monday, May 12, and will run until Friday, May 16. While 2024 saw the event open up to the public – with many shows, talks and pop-up bars available to attend without any affiliation with the fashion industry – this year’s event is more of an industry-focused affair. The not-for-profit model is designed to boost Australia’s fashion and design industries, bringing emerging designers and students together with some of the biggest names in the industry including Alix Higgins, Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti, Aje, Romance Was Born and SIR. the label. And though it’s designed for the fashion industry, don’t let that intimidate you – there are plenty of ways us mere mortals can get involved with Sydney’s biggest celebration of style.  First up, Second Life Markets (one of Australia’s most beloved vintage and second-hand markets) is popping up at Machine Hall with a huge archive sale, bringing an impeccable curation of clothes and accessories to the stunning CBD space from Saturday, May 10 until Sunday, May 11 (book your tickets here). Two weeks later, on Saturday, May 24, Machine Hall is playing host to a huge boundary-blending

In partnership with NetflixWith its buzzing nightlife scene, cutting-edge cultural landscape and incredible cuisine, South Korea is quickly becoming a top holiday destination for Sydneysiders looking for an inspiring and delicious escape But if you don’t have the dosh to fund plane tickets all the way to Seoul, fear not. In the heart of Sydney’s CBD – specifically along the Haymarket stretch of Pitt Street – you’ll find Sydney’s very own Koreatown: home to a vibrant mix of Korean restaurants, shops and bars serving up Big Seoul Energy in spades. And Squid Game fans, listen up! To celebrate the final season of Netflix's hit series, Netflix will be putting on some very special Squid Game experiences in some of the following Koreatown venues: Sil Bi Jip The good times seriously roll at this lively, affordable Korean street food diner and bar. Our advice? Order a round of Somaek (soju and beer cocktails) and the owner Dennis will make them at your table – splashing Korean beer into soju with lively theatrics. Alongside a strong line-up of tasty street food-style dishes and affordable drinks, you’ll find retro games and live music every Saturday from 7pm. Butchers Buffet  The name of this beloved Korean BBQ spot tells you all you need to know. Pile your plate up high with unlimited fresh cuts of beef, pork and chicken, then get grilling – all-you-can-eat seatings last for 90 minutes, and you’ll fill your belly for less than $50 per person. Hama Film X Kono Karaoke This photobooth

It’s been a spectacular start to the winter in the skies above NSW, and we're not just talking about Vivid – a naturally occurring light display (the Aurora Australis) sparkled over regional parts of the state on the very first day of the new season. Now, the astro gods are delivering once again, with this month’s Strawberry Moon set to be the highest full moon over Australia since 2006. Here’s how you can catch the final full moon before the winter solstice in June When is the Strawberry Moon in NSW 2025? The Strawberry Moon will reach its full peak on Wednesday, June 11 at 5.43pm, Sydney time. While it technically peaks in the early evening, we expect viewing will be best after sunset – so rug up, head outside and admire the bright glow of the moon late into the night. You can find the exact time the full moon will peak where you live here. What is a Strawberry Moon? A Strawberry Moon is the name given to the full moon that happens in June each year. Despite the name, the moon doesn’t actually glow pink or red. The name originates from Native American traditions, where the June full moon signalled the start of wild strawberry harvest season in parts of North America. The 2025 Strawberry Moon is getting extra attention thanks to a rare astronomical event called the major lunar standstill. This event happens once every 18.6 years and causes the moonrise and moonset to occur at the most extreme northern and southernmost points. In the Northern Hemisphere, the moon will appear

Summer is officially over, and here in Sydney, the event calendar of the cooler months is dominated by one word: Vivid. The multidisciplinary festival of lights, music, food and ideas has returned to the Harbour City for 23 sparkly nights this winter, promising its most creative and boundary-pushing program to date. Reimagined for 2025, the festival is unfolding across five immersive zones – Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and Inner City, and Martin Place and the CBD – with a massive 75 per cent of the events program (and the entire Light Walk) completely free. Whether you’re travelling from overseas or interstate, or just a local keen to see what’s new, we’re here to guide you on the best things to see, places to stay and dining experiences to book at Vivid Sydney 2025. When is Vivid Sydney 2025? Vivid is on now, set to illuminate Sydney across 23 dazzling nights from Friday, May 23 until Saturday, June 14, 2025.  What to see at Vivid Sydney 2025? In 2025, Vivid Sydney is bringing us a reimagined program of light, music (you can check out this year's wildy-good music line-up here), ideas and food – all centred around the open-ended theme, ‘dream’. If you’re only in town for one night, the impressive Vivid Light Walk is a must, guiding you past all the biggest and best light projections from Circular Quay to Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. There's also a film-inspired light walk in Surry Hills' Hollywood Quarter, and some stunning imme

In case you missed it, Sydney is scoring a new international airport. Based in the suburb of Badgerys Creek, 41 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD, the architecturally impressive new Western Sydney Airport (WSI) is set to be able to accommodate 10 million passengers every year when it opens in late 2026 – with plans to grow in line with Western Sydney’s growing population. With capacity to expand and a pre-approved 24-hour licence (unlike Sydney’s existing airport, which works on a curfew to reduce noise pollution for residents), WSI is set to eventually become Sydney’s largest airport, handling more than 80 million passengers every year (a similar size to London’s Heathrow). So where will all of those passengers be going? This week, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has authorised the preliminary flight paths for WSI – here’s what we know so far...The newly announced flight paths are due to arrive in Sydney over suburbs including Botany, Canterbury and Bella Vista, with departing flight paths flying over suburbs including Glenfield, Revesby and Bronte, and most flight paths flying over the Blue Mountains. You can check out the map below and via this link. The next stage in the planning process will involve a detailed design stage led by Airservices Australia, which will involve simulation testing, ongoing safety assessments and community consultation aimed at prioritising operational safety and noise management. WSI Aerlabs

It's official: winter is well and truly here. The shortest day is approaching, the ocean's getting cooler, and rooftop bars are being replaced by cosy pubs on our weekend hit lists. And though we love to complain about how terribly-insulated Sydney homes are, winter in Sydney isn’t all that bad. One particularly beautiful thing about the colder months in the Harbour City is the spectacular splashes that punctuate the ocean thanks to the annual whale migration. Keen to catch a sight of one of the ocean’s gentle giants? Save on whale-watching boat rides and you watch them sail up the humpback highway from the coast. Read on for everything you need to know. When is whale-watching season in Sydney? Whale-watching season in Sydney runs from May until late July, and again from August until November. The whales of NSW begin to make their journey north in May (humpbacks begin passing Sydney from mid-May), with peak whale-watching season in NSW being between June and July. If you don’t get the chance to spot a whale as they head up the coast, you can catch the mothers and calves on their southbound journey between August and November. During their northbound migration, the whales travel closer to the coast, so it’s worth getting in early. What is the best time for whale watching in Sydney? Opinions on the best time to see whales in Sydney vary, with some experts claiming that whales are more active early in the morning, and others stating that you’re more likely to spot the breaching

It’s not a newsflash that NSW is home to some incredible holiday destinations. In 2024, our sunny state was the top holiday destination in Australia – with domestic and international visitors spending $53.2 billion across NSW. There are myriad towns and villages to visit – from magical coastal idylls to quirky outback towns – and while we all have our personal favourites, it’s interesting to know which towns are ranking as the key tourist hotspots in the state. Every year, the NSW Tourism Association awards the top tourism towns in NSW – recognising the towns that consistently deliver “warm hospitality, memorable experiences and a strong sense of place”. Keen to know this year’s winners? Read on. For the second year running, the coastal town of Kiama in the magical Shoalhaven region has taken home gold – ranking as the Top Tourism Town (the overall award for towns with a population of more than 5,000). If you're visiting, we'd suggest checking out the biggest blowhole in the world. The nearby town of Shellharbour ranked in second place, and the north coast town of Ballina (home of the big prawn, and the airport gateway to Byron Bay) took home bronze. The NRMA People’s Choice Award for best tourism town went to Newcastle, a destination that was ranked as one of the world’s hidden gem destinations by Time Out editors.  Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSW The next award, for the best Small Tourism Town in NSW (for towns with a population of between 1,500-5,000 people) went

When I first visited Sydney, aged four, I was blown away by the playgrounds. If you asked four-year-old me, there’s nowhere in the world that does playgrounds better. But Sydney has a lot more to offer the younger generation than slides and swings. The Harbour City is home to gorgeous family-friendly beaches, pubs and restaurants that cater specifically for families and world-class swimming pools designed to help teach our younger generation how to swim. And, according to a new study, 50 per cent of the best places in the country to raise a family are right here in Sydney. A recent study by health insurance company iSelect analysed government data to find the best areas in Australia to start a family, comparing five key factors: child development, childcare availability and cost, local healthcare performance and birth rates. According to the study, five out of the ten best places to raise a family are right here in Sydney. The semi-rural suburb of Dural-Wisemans Ferry in Sydney’s north west ranked second nationally, offering plenty of childcare spots (1.74 per child), strong healthcare and a high fertility rate, scoring a total index score of 93.42 out of 100.The Inner West suburb of Leichhardt – best known for its excellent array of Italian eateries – ranked as the third best place to raise a family in the whole country. The friendly, buzzy suburb stands out for its early childhood development offerings, with nearly 88 per cent of children on track in terms of cognitive, lan

There are myths they tell you about the outback. They tell you it’s barren, they tell you it’s bleak, they tell you there’s nothing to do but look out across the red earth and ponder what it means to be here, what it means to be human. When I visit Broken Hill, I learn the place proves those statements wrong in so many ways. And in the most profound, heart-wrenching and reality-affirming ways, it proves them right.  Known by the traditional owners of the land (the Paakantji, Mayyankapa and Nyiimpaa people) as Willyama, Broken Hill is Australia’s longest-operating mining town. A huge deposit of minerals (mainly silver, lead and zinc) beneath the city led to the establishment of the country’s first industrial mine back in 1885, and it’s been operating ever since. The city’s main streets are named after minerals ('Oxide Street' and 'Cobalt Street'), and many of the heritage buildings that line the main drag are (or were originally built as) drinking holes for the mining population.  Referred to by various monikers including "The Silver City", the "Oasis of the West", and the "Capital of the Outback", Broken Hill was given its English name by the explorer Charles Sturt because of its location close to the Barrier Range. And maybe there’s something in the term 'broken' that allows the town to subvert expectations.Keen to visit? Check out our ultimate guide to where to eat, drink, stay and play in Broken Hill. Photograph: Peta Devine | Silverton Outback Camels In 1994, Broken Hil

When a friend visits Sydney from out of town, chances are you don’t rush to tell them about how good it is to get a picture in front of the ferries at Circular Quay, or splash in the waves at Bondi Beach. Sydney’s icons are famous enough – and it’s our hidden gems, the places that Sydneysiders carve out time for outside of our own 9-5, that are really worth recommending. With that in mind, we got top picks from some of Sydney’s favourite people. First up: the man behind Sydney’s fastest mullet. Electrician turned ultramarathon runner Nedd Brockmann, who’s lived in Randwick for the past four years, has shared his top spots to run, recover and refuel in the Harbour City. FYI, over at Sydney.com you can now book a place on a Brockmann-approved running tour around the CBD, then schedule a recovery session at Surry Hills bathhouse Capybara before booking in for dinner at one of the athlete’s favourite restaurants in the city, Luke Mangan’s Luc San in Potts Point.  Olympian Jess Fox's top Sydney itinerary is also active. Jess’s perfect day starts with kayaking at dawn on Sydney Harbour, flying across the Jamieson Valley with Scenic World’s Beyond Skyway experience, then heading to Theo’s Rooftop in her local area, Penrith, for sunset drinks. Conveniently, her itinerary is also, available to book via the Sydney.com site.Turns out Aria-winning artist Budjerah is an adventurous guy, because he recommends a sunrise balloon ride over Camden, followed by a surfing session at URBNSURF, ro

Ok, nobody panic – it's officially the first big Aurora Australis sighting of the season, which was sparked by a severe geomagnetic storm. And we could not be more excited! To help you prepare for this magical and rare phenomenon, we've pulled together the ultimate guide to seeing the famed southern lights before the disappear once more. Trust us, this is one ethereal light show you don't want to miss. Recommended: the best spots to see the Aurora Australis in Victoria  Will the Aurora Australis be visible in Melbourne and Victoria tonight? The storm first sparked on Sunday, June 1 – and while it's expected to weaken over the coming days, there's still a good chance of catching the Aurora Australis tonight (Monday, June 2) in parts of southern Australia, including Melbourne and Victoria.  To keep track of it, this website has a few maps of the atmosphere and gives an Aurora prediction a Kp number, a measuring system that goes from zero to nine (zero being very weak and nine meaning strong auroras are visible). Plus, according to the BOM, which also issues Aurora alerts, it's looking like we're in for a "minor storm" tonight. Sounds good to us! For more real-time updates, this Facebook group provides info on when you can see the southern lights right across Australia. Where can I see the Aurora Australis in Melbourne and Victoria? The general advice for any Melburnian is to get as far away from the city lights as possible. If you can't do that though, aim for an elevated vi

Sydney drivers, we’ve got news: tolls on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and across the Harbour Tunnel are set to rise, but before we start complaining, it’s worth getting some context. The NSW Government has explained that they’re redirecting funds to create a fairer toll road network for Sydney – which currently sees a big burden of toll fees falling on car-dependant workers in Sydney’s west. According to the NSW Government, all extra revenue collected from the inflation-linked increase will go into the NSW Government’s toll relief scheme, and help make driving across Sydney fairer and more affordable for all. This is only the second time since 2009 that Bridge and Tunnel tolls have increased (the last time was fairly recently – in October 2023), compared with far more frequent toll rises elsewhere in the city (for instance, tolls in the city’s west rise “every quarter or every year”, according to Minister for Transport John Graham.According to the NSW Government, the cost of commuting in Sydney’s west has risen at a much faster rate than for the inner city, with the toll cost of an average weekday peak-hour return trip from Liverpool or Campbelltown into the CBD (via the M5 South-West, M5 East and Eastern Distributor) rising from $12.60 in 2009 to $39.10. As a point of comparison, the  toll cost of an average weekday peak hour return trip from Neutral Bay to the CBD (via the Harbour Bridge) has risen from $4 in 2009 to $4.41 today. This next toll increase won’t be huge, with pea

In 2024, Sydney Airport welcomed 41.4 million passengers. In the first three months of 2025 alone, 10.4 million people passed through the airport’s three terminals. With so many travellers passing through, it’s no wonder that Sydney Airport’s lost property bank is overflowing with valuables. Behind the scenes at the airport, there’s a team of people working to reunite travellers with their lost treasures, with more than 7,000 items successfully returned last year alone. But not every lost lamb finds its shepherd, and the team are always left with a heap of unclaimed items. So, every year, the airport auctions off the items that haven’t been claimed – to raise money for charity – and this year’s auction is going live real soon. More than 2,000 unclaimed items are going to be auctioned off online, with bidding starting at just $10.  Proceeds will help provide families facing cost-of-living pressures with free swimming lessons and water safety programs through the Inner West Council Aquatics team. So what sorts of treasures are in store? There are 250 laptops up for grabs, 250 pieces of jewellery and watches, 80 handbags, 60 Kindles and three surfboards, to start with. Some of the more unusual items include a violin and The Lord of the Rings book collection. Photograph: Supplied | Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction | Hayden Buchanan From Tuesday, June 10, the online auction will start accepting bids on the first round of items. The auction times and categories for this year’