Winnie Stubbs

If you think there’s a heck of a lot of fab new Sydney openings right now, you’d be right. Top of my list to check out is Lo Presti’s, a loosely Mediterranean restaurant in Redfern run by Baba’s Place’s former head chef. The Observer Hotel has reopened after a three-and-a-half-year reno by the team behind the Duke of Clarence – and there’s darts, exclusively brewed beers and delicious-looking fish sandwiches – and you need to visit La Buvette. It’s a Parisian-style wine bar in Potts Point from the Bar Copains team. Got a date comin’ up? Head to The Heritage Room (pictured) in Martin Place for cheese, Tuscan salumi and rare wines. Enjoy. 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. Looking for something to wash it all down with? These are our favourite bars in Sydney right now. Keen to eat your way around the city? These are the best restaurants in Sydney, from hot newcomers to the OGs.

Spring update: Sydney sure is fun in springtime. Locals shed their jackets, plan weekend picnics filled with soft cheese and chilled natural wine, and return to rooftop bars in need of Vitamin D and fruity cocktails. Whether you’re catching up with a friend, planning a date, or looking for a spot to celebrate, Sydney’s best bars are where it’s at. These spots offer great drinks, warm hospitality and good vibes. From exciting newcomers to long-time favourites, this guide is curated by our local editors and writers, including Time Out Sydney's Editor Avril Treasure. Grab your sunnies, Sydney – it’s bar season. Editor’s picks: 🍸 Best for Martinis: Bar Planet 🤫 Best for speakeasy vibes: The Cumberland ☀️ Best for views: Opera Bar 🍷 Best for vibey wine and snacks: Famelia 🥃 Best for whisky lovers: Banchō Bar 😎 Best for friend's catch-up: Old Mate's Place 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. Our list of the best pubs in Sydney Check out our best restaurants here

We're all about a secret underground dive bar or two – but in a city as beautiful as Sydney, it seems like a damn shame to retreat into the depths for every tipple. From a sundowner by the harbour to a sunny rooftop in the Inner West, our town is awash with sky-high watering holes. So we've rounded up the best spots in the city to sip a cold one under a gorgeous open sky. But drinkers beware: Sydney's rooftop bars play host to some of the most contested seats in the city, so get in early for a spot in the sun.  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. For more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens. Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney.

Planning a trip Down Under? You've come to the right place. For almost six decades, Time Out has been inspiring people to get off the couch and discover the world's best experiences – and Australia is packed with them. Sure, you know the land Down Under for its pristine beaches and laid-back culture, but there's so much more to do beyond kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. To help you plan the ultimate trip, our team (including Australian Editor Melissa Woodley) have curated the ultimate Aussie bucket list. It covers must-see attractions, experiences, events and landmarks across the country, tried and tested by our team. So, whether you’re chasing art and nightlife in the city, spotting native wildlife on secluded beaches or hiking in remote national parks, here's your guide to the best things to do in Australia. Editor's favourite things to do in Australia: ⭐️ Best city landmark: BridgeClimb, NSW 🖼️ Best for culture: MONA, TAS 🍷 Best food + drink: Adelaide Central Market, SA 🌊 Best outdoor adventure: Whitehaven Beach, QLD 🐿️ Best wildlife encounter: Rottnest Island, WA Jump to list: Landmarks | Outdoor Adventures | Culture | Food & Drink | Wildlife 🇦🇺 The best tourist attractions in Australia🌊 The best beaches in Australia

There's a lot that goes into making a great pub. They need to furnish you with an excellent meal and friendly service, and a game of pool or darts doesn't go astray, and we're fans of weekly trivia. On a hot day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. Top-notch drinks are a must, obvs. There are a lot of rock-solid pubs in this city, and these are our picks of the bunch, pulled together by Time Out Sydney's local writers. Cheers! Editor's picks: 🍠 Best for a Sunday roast: The Bat & Ball ☀️ Best for a sunny beer garden: Courthouse Hotel 🍽️ Best for a delicious feed: The Dry Dock 🎸 Best for live music: The Duke of Enmore 🔖 Best for mid-week trivia: The Lord Gladstone 🍻 Best for a Sunday jazz : The Old Fitz 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. For something a bit less pubby, a bit higher end, see our picks of the best bars in Sydney. Want more? These are the best steaks in Sydney for $25 and under. Hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants. 

No shocker here, but Australia is home to some of the most spectacular walking trails on the planet. From multi-day treks through red deserts and family-friendly coastal day walks and lush rainforest hikes, the land Down Under offers every kind of landscape imaginable – and trust us, they’re all bloody good.  If you’re ready to lace up your boots, we’ve rounded up the best hikes in Australia to tackle this year. We've categorised them by state, complete with distance breakdowns, trail difficulty ratings and expert local tips. See you on the trails! Editor's favourite hikes in Australia: 🥾 Best multi-day trek: Larapinta Trail, NT 🌊 Best for incredible views: Three Capes Track, TAS 😍 Best hidden gem: Scenic Rim Walk, QLD ❤️ Best outback adventure: Ormiston Pound Walk, NT 🌳 Best for serious hikers: Thorsborne Trail, QLD JUMP TO:NT | NSW | TAS | QLD | WA | VIC | SA | ACT 🥾 The best national parks in Australia🌊 The best coastal walks in Australia

Whether you’re a Sydneysider planning a special-occasion staycation, or a visitor mapping out your first trip to the Emerald City, finding the right hotel in Sydney is a very important task. If you’re looking to book a stay that’s extra indulgent – willing to splash the cash on a high-end experience – choosing the right spot is even more crucial. Luckily for you, we’ve got a team of hotel aficionados who are committed to trying and testing the very best luxury stays in the city, and deciding which ones are worth your hard-earned cash (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it). Our expert team includes connoisseur of fine things Time Out Sydney Editor Avril Treasure and Sydney-based travel whizz Melissa Woodley (Time Out Australia’s News and Travel Editor). Each hotel has been checked for its luxe credentials by Time Out Sydney's Travel and News Editor (and self-confessed hotel obsessive) Winnie Stubbs. From a celeb-approved harbourside palace (Park Hyatt Sydney) to a stunning beachside stay with a rooftop magnesium pool (Elysium Manly), these are the best luxury hotels in Sydney for a super-special stay. Editor's quick picks: Best for beach lovers: Elysium Manly Best for harbour views: Park Hyatt Sydney  Best for indulgent spa breaks: Capella Sydney Best dog-friendly luxury stay: Pier One 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:Want more options? Here's

Ah, the sunrise – a gentle, daily reminder that the days start coming and they simply don't stop coming. It’s as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. That being said, Australia is a wonderland for sensational cracks of dawn along the eastern and western seaboards alike.  From glowing coastal horizons to dramatic mountain lookouts, watching first light hit our landscapes is worth every lost minute of sleep. So here are the best sunrises in Australia that'll have you saying ‘top of the mornin’ to ya’, indubitably. JUMP TO:NT | SA | WA | NSW | QLD | VIC | TAS | ACT 🌅 The best sunsets in Australia✨ The best stargazing spots in Australia

Spring has sprung – and, somehow, so have the school holidays. Again. (Seriously, where has 2026 gone?) If you haven’t lined up anything to keep the kids entertained and out of your hair, fear not. We’ve rounded up plenty of things to do across Sydney, from big-ticket shows to fun, free activities the entire family will enjoy. With Daylight Saving Time about to kick in, there’s plenty to do around our Harbour City. Make the most of those longer days with a picnic to see the spring blossoms and jacarandas in bloom, a day spent at any of our beautiful beaches (hello, fish and chips followed by a dripping icy pole), or a visit to the all-new Wild Things Kids’ Festival at the Sydney Opera House, with loads of free events. So, slip-slop-slap on that sunscreen – and your sense of adventure. Let the school holidays begin. 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. Looking for somewhere affordable to eat out with the kids? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney. Or try any of these activities that are absolutely free to do.

Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee and we love nothing more than donning our finest sport-luxe activewear and catching up with mates on a weekend morning over eggs, fritters and crusty artisan sourdough. So, whether it's a reward for tackling one of Sydney's most beautiful walks, an indulgent hangover fix after a night at one of the city's best bars, or a workday coffee stop, these are the best Sydney cafés, according to our in-the-know Time Out Sydney writers, including Editor Avril Treasure. We'll have one B&E roll, please.  Editor's picks: 🍳 Best for scrambled eggs: Piña 💚 Best for matcha: Parami 💥 Best for trying a new café: Adelaide’s Kitchen 🥞 Best for pancakes: Happyfield ☕️ Best for on-point coffee: Primary Coffee Roasters 🐶 Best for breakfast with your dog: Havenstone Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Is it lunch time? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants right now.

Looking to stay in style on your next Australian getaway? You've come to the right place. Our Great Southern Land is packed with exceptional stays, from new boutique hotels with heated infinity pools to revamped classics boasting buzzing rooftop bars and close proximity to our country's best attractions. But with so many options, finding the best hotels in Australia requires a bit of insider knowledge. That's where we come in. Our expert team of travel writers, including Time Out Australia's Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley, have visited every state and territory to bring you this ultimate guide to the best places to stay in Australia. Whether you’re looking for a photogenic city staycation or a coastal resort away from the crowds, these are the top-rated hotels to book in Australia right now. Editors' favourite hotels in Australia: 😍 Best for harbour views: Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW 🌊 Best for urban escape: The Calile Hotel, QLD 🤩 Best for heritage glamour: Capella Sydney, NSW ⭐️ Best hidden gem: COMO The Treasury, WA 🏝️ Best bucket-list stay: InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef, QLD JUMP TO:Sydney | Byron Bay | Perth | Melbourne | Gold Coast | Brisbane | Adelaide | Hobart ☀️ The best resorts & lodges in Australia🤩 The best things to do in Australia🌏 The best places to visit in Australia Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do allow us to bring

Choosing the best hotel to book in Sydney is a delicate art – whether you’re a visitor experiencing the Emerald City for the very first time or a local on a wintery weekend staycation. With so many options to choose between – from beachside boltholes (like the boutique hotel overlooking Watsons Bay) to a trendy converted brewery with a rooftop pool – it can be tricky to decide which hotel is right for you. At Time Out Sydney, we’ve dedicated a good few years to making that task a little easier – picking out the very best hotels in the city based on location, design creds, facilities and that undefinable something that can take a hotel from good to great. Whether you’re looking for a celeb-approved escape with uninterrupted views of the Opera House, a boutique guethouse by the beach, or an old-school luxury palace that will have you feeling like a princess, our team of writers (including Editor-in-Chief Alice Ellis and Sydney Editor Avril Treasure) have tried and tested the best hotels in Sydney. To confirm that they should make the cut, this list has been carefully edited by self-confessed hotel addict Winnie Stubbs, Travel and News Editor APAC for Time Out. Read on for our definitive guide to the best hotels in Sydney. 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 glamping sites in NSW. These are the best camping sites near Sydney. And these are the be

One of Sydney’s favourite neighbourhood parties is coming back this October, and it’s celebrating its 15th birthday with a blow-out. From October 21–24, the laneways of Parramatta are on track to become one giant street party with Parramatta Lanes landing back in Sydney's second CBD. The free four-day festival will bring live music, immersive art, skateboarding and some of Western Sydney’s best street food to Parramatta CBD, with ARIA Award-winning icon Genesis Owusu, US poet Aja Monet, Japanese duo Stereo Champ and rising local acts among this year’s music line-up. As with any good party, there will be lots to eat, too – from woodfired pizza and handmade pasta to charcoal-grilled skewers and piping-hot dumplings. Alongside the food and music, you can check out illuminated sculptures, immersive installations, mini golf, DJ sets, karaoke and skateboarding activations.Parramatta Lanes will take over Parramatta CBD from October 21 until October 24. You can find out more and plan your weekend 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: Sydney's new Powerhouse Parramatta museum is throwing a 23-day opening festival Here’s a peek inside the new Western Sydney International Airport Construction on Sydney's new harbourside swimming spot is underway

There are few cafés that feel quite as woven into Sydney’s café culture as Paramount Coffee Project. Since first opening its (perfectly industrial-chic) doors back in 2013, this Surry Hills stalwart has helped shape the city’s increasingly design-conscious coffee scene – setting the standard for what we ask for from our breakfast spot. More than a decade later, it remains a neighbourhood institution – sitting pretty in the airy foyer of Paramount House and spilling out onto what we reckon is still one of the coolest streets in the city. The vibe Housed within the Paramount House precinct, steps from Surry Hills’ myriad design agencies and boutique architecture firms, this is the place you come to brunch with Sydney’s most stylish. The space is minimalist without feeling sterile, with cavernously tall ceilings, polished concrete, white subway tiles and timber details providing a very aesthetically-pleasing backdrop for the steady stream of trendy locals and coffee-devoted travellers who pass through each day.The food With an admirable commitment to sustainability (and giving the people of Sydney what they want on the brunch front), the menu changes with the seasons, with a few signatures (including the beloved house-made banana bread) staying put year round. The current spring menu is a mix of PCP signatures and newer seasonal plates, including crumbed eggs on A.P. sourdough with slow-braised ham hock and kale, fried chicken and waffles with maple bacon gravy, a spring salad w

In early 2023, the curtains came down around Manly Pacific: a stunning, design-forward reimagining of a huge, 200-plus-room hotel on the shores of one of Sydney’s most famous beaches. The $30-million renovation project, led by Australian designers Coco Republic, transformed the sprawling site into one of Sydney’s most lusted-after luxury stays, complete with a beautiful rooftop pool, a sophisticated cocktail bar, a playful all-day diner and an Italian restaurant that quickly secured its position among the city’s best. Now, the hotel has entered a new chapter under Elysium – the Aussie-born luxury hotel brand (launched by Manly Pacific's existing owners), which made its debut in Noosa last year. Fans of Manly Pacific (myself very much included) will be happy to hear that much of the experience remains: warm, exceptional service and a stay that makes a convincing case for barefoot luxury. Returning to the hotel post-rebrand, I was pleasantly surprised to find it even more note-perfect than I remembered: refreshed rooms and suites, new locally sourced artwork and floral installations, a signature Elysium scent that laces every moment with luxury, and a team that goes above and beyond to make every guest feel like a very well-cared-for friend. It's still every bit a high-end hotel, made even more delightful with a distinctly Manly energy: calm, confident and balancing wellness with all the pleasures of a great luxury hotel stay. The difference now is in the details, from person

The beating heart of the Central Coast, linking the quickly-growing coastal region to the centre of Sydney via a (pretty damn scenic) direct train line, Gosford is on the up and up. And Voco Gosford – a brand-new 28-storey tower in the centre of town – is leading the charge. There is, undeniably, something that feels a little strange about the presence of a sparkling metropolis in such a sleepy town, but after spending a night here, it’s hard to deny that this well-appointed mega venue is a huge boost to the area.  What is Voco Gosford like? Rising up into the sky in the heart of the small town, Voco Gosford is a coastal-inspired hotel overlooking Brisbane Water – home to 130 rooms, six food and drink venues and plenty of spaces for events. It’s a seriously polished base for exploring the Central Coast, with the foreshore, beaches and national parks all within easy reach, and a huge rooftop pool primed for slow holiday mornings. What are the rooms like at Voco Gosford? Ranging from King Standard and Bay View rooms to Premium Balcony rooms, Queen rooms and King Suites, there’s a whole lot to choose from on the rooms front – meaning it’s a really great option for big groups looking for a base on the Cenny Coast. Lots of the rooms have private balconies and water or mountain views, and the influence of the surrounding area is beautifully evident in the design: all sandy tones and touches of ocean blue. Designed by Melbourne-based interiors firm Hecker Guthrie, the simple aesthet

There’s always a lot going on at Sydney’s favourite house. So much so that it can be hard to keep track – with new headliners dropping every other week, and huge events taking over the various venues seemingly out of nowhere.  Keen to go to a show under the sails over the next few months? We’ve rounded up a few top picks in the Sydney Opera House winter to spring season:  Backstage tours give you a peek behind the curtain Explore the inner workings of Australia's most famous buildings on one of these expert-led tours. Dates: DailyTickets: From $48  Table Top Shakespeare will turn pantry items into Shakespearean stars Forget actors – this delightfully bonkers production has vases, jars, Dettol bottles and salt and pepper shakers taking centre stage. Six performers from acclaimed UK theatre company Forced Entertainment will retell Shakespeare’s most iconic tales using whatever they can find in the pantry, with plenty of relish, marmalade and dish soap along the way.Dates: September 22–27Tickets: $75 Curious will bring some of the world’s biggest thinkers to the Opera House Keen to expand your mind? The Sydney Opera House’s ideas festival, Curious, will reurn with a line-up of influential thinkers, comedians, creatives and chefs exploring everything from the mysteries of consciousness to family drama, the past and what the future might hold.Dates: October 4 & November 4Tickets: From $39 A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen will serve up a family story with a side of curry Part theatr

Art enthusiasts, assemble. Australia’s biggest contemporary art event is back at Carriageworks in Redfern from September 3-6. Sydney Contemporary has returned with a Champagne-fuelled bang, featuring stunning works by more than 500 artists from 33 countries, represented by 100 galleries. The ambitious program is made up of large-scale installations, impressive works, photographs, performances and talks. And for the first time ever, Sydney Contemporary has spilled beyond the walls of Carriageworks, with public artworks popping up across the city. Fair director Zoe Paulsen says this year’s massive 10th edition is filled with “celebration and discovery, the familiar and the unexpected.” While the fair itself will take over Carriageworks as usual, this year's highlights extend to two beautiful waterfront spots. Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie has a striking new installation at Sydney Fish Market, while Joan Ross's bold video work will transform Pier Pavilion at Barangaroo – inviting passing Sydneysiders to engage with contemporary art outside the traditional gallery setting. Inside Carriageworks, expect everything from monumental sculptures and immersive textile installations to kinetic works and live performances. Melbourne duo The Huxleys will debut a joyous new performance piece, and Mike Hewson (the visionary behind AGNSW's universally loved exhibition The Key's Under The Mat) will transform the Carriageworks café with his signature immersive approach. Other headline names exhib

It’s been a big twelve months for Sydney on the art front – with the 25th Biennale of Sydney being named the best exhibition in the world worth travelling for, the beloved Brett Whiteley Studio re-opening in Surry Hills, and Mike Hewson’s Key’s Under the Mat changing the way we think about galleries. Mercifully, we’re not stopping there. This spring, one of Australia’s most celebrated artists is getting the blockbuster retrospective treatment that only the Art Gallery of NSW can offer, with Nolan: Origins landing this spring, exploring the formative years of Sidney Nolan’s career. Bringing together more than 150 works from public and private collections, the exhibition traces the period from the late 1930s to Nolan’s departure for the UK in 1953 – the years in which he developed the bold, distinctive style that would help redefine Australian art. According to the gallery, the major drawcard is Nolan’s iconic Ned Kelly series, with all 27 paintings reunited in Sydney for the first time in more than 60 years. The series sees the bushranger transformed into a mysterious, almost mythical figure, and remains one of the defining achievements of Australian art. But there’s plenty more to discover, from Nolan’s early modernist works developed at Melbourne’s Heide to his vivid paintings of the Wimmera, K’gari, outback Queensland and Central Australia. The exhibition will also explore his fascination with Australian legends, including the Burke and Wills expedition, as well as his haun

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 Parcels, Ruel and Jimmy Barnes all performing outside of the country’s most famous building, as well as global acts including Franz Ferdinand, Loyle Carner and Boy and Bear. This year, On The Steps will return to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt from December 1 to 12, bringing nine nights of live music to what we think is the country’s most magnificent stage. Now in its fifth year, the Live Nation series has become something of a Sydney summer fixture, pairing big-name acts with that crazy-good Harbour Bridge-and-Opera House backdrop. For 2026, the headliners are particularly stacked. American punk-rock heavyweights Rise Against will kick things off on December 1, joined by fellow genre legends Dropkick Murphys, before Mercury Prize-winning electronic artist James Blake takes over the Forecourt on December 2. Then it’s over to Sydney’s own DMA’S on December 3, bringing their indie-rock anthems home, followed by British alt-rockers Wolf Alice on December 4. Fresh from taking home Group of the Year at the 2026 BRIT Awards, th

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to find yourself in the Supernatural Amphitheatre in mid-December, you’ll be familiar with the magic of Meredith. The beloved three-day, two-night music festival is an annual pilgrimage for a lot of music-loving Victorians (and beyond, myself included), and the recently-dropped line-up for this year’s event is looking seriously stacked. Meredith 34 will take over the famous pocket of countryside on Wadawurrung Country near Meredith from December 11-13, with a genre-hopping bill that runs from indie rock and punk to electronic, soul, hip-hop and (in true Meredith form) everything in between. Topping the bill this year is the shape-shifter that is Dijon, making his Australian debut with his cosmic blend of soul, R'n'B and rock, while hyper-pop provocateur underscores will bring her gloriously chaotic live show to the festival for the first time. We can also expect a very welcome return from Melbourne legends Eddy Current Suppression Ring, back at the 'Sup a decade after their last appearance.Elsewhere on the line-up, we can expect indie anthems from The Dandy Warhols, genre-bending neo-soul from Hiatus Kaiyote, and a big dose of dancefloor euphoria courtesy of DJ Seinfeld. New York hardcore outfit Show Me The Body, South London chaos merchants Fat Dog, electronic pioneer Suzanne Ciani and Detroit dance heavyweight Marcellus Pittman are among the other headline acts. Aussie favourites Killing Heidi are back too, alongside D Train, Ella Thompson,

The Adina tagline is Living Made Easy – and based on the rooms, facilities and thoughtfully location-specific aesthetic of the Adina properties I’ve stayed in, it totally checks out. Stepping into the designer lobby of Adina Bondi, you’d be forgiven for mistaken you were heading to your friend’s luxe new beachside home. Right in the beating heart of Bondi, home to 111 apartment-style suites, Adina Bondi is the perfect base for anyone who wants a commitment-free sample of life in Australia’s most famous beachside ’burb. What is Adina Bondi like? Sitting right in the heart of Bondi’s buzzy Hall Street, within the 33,000-square-metre complex known as The Hub, Adina Bondi Beach is a breezy, beachy hotel-apartment hybrid in a next-level location. It’s the sort of place where you can wake up, grab a top-tier coffee (our rec is Makuto), spend a day in the waves, then wander home with a bottle of wine for balcony drinks without ever needing to get in a car.  What are the rooms like at Adina Bondi? As per the Adina ethos, the vibe here is apartment living with hotel service. The 111 studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are designed to give you a heap more elbow room than your average hotel room, with kitchens and laundry facilities making them perfect for longer stays and multigenerational trips. There are sofa beds and rollaway beds for larger groups, while various studio and one-bedroom apartments can be interconnected to create bigger spaces with extra bedrooms and b

There’s a lookout on the edge of the Jamison Valley called Sublime Point, and I’d argue it’s the most aptly named spot in the Blue Mountains. In its philosophical sense, the sublime describes something so vast and beautiful it borders on overwhelming – even terrifying. Stand here, gazing across an endless sea of knotted eucalypts framed by towering sandstone escarpments, and the meaning becomes pretty immediately clear. In my opinion, it’s not the only place in the BMs that inspires that feeling, either. You’ll find the same heart-stopping sense of wonder at Echo Point, where the Three Sisters rise from the valley to your left and bright red parrots swoop between the trees. And just a few steps away from Echo Point, you’ll encounter the word's other, less philosophical meaning. Fresh from a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, Lilianfels represents the sublime in the more familiar sense: impeccably designed and luxuriously appointed, it’s a note-perfect countryside escape. What is Lilianfels like? Grand, glamorous and gloriously old-world. Originally built in 1889 as the summer residence of Lieutenant-Governor of NSW Sir Frederick Darley, the heritage-listed estate has been serving as a mountain getaway mainstay for decades. Now, after a multimillion-dollar makeover, the appeal goes far beyond the hotel’s historic bones and immaculately manicured grounds. Service is first-rate, rooms are Instagrammable-as-heck, and the Martini trolley is ready for your post-hike hang by the fi

There’s a lot of incredible art to see in Sydney, but if you’re open to a getaway this springtime, we’d suggest heading up the coast to Newcastle – the coastal city that’s transforming into a creative wonderland for its multidisciplinary contemporary arts festival, New Annual. Across 10 days (from September 25 until October 4), the festival will bring together 402 artists, 40 events and seven new commissions – celebrating the stories, landscapes and creative energy that make Newcastle (traditionally known as Muloobinba) so special.This year, the coastline will take centre stage – with sunrise theatre, open-air exhibitions and works that (actually) shift with the tides. At Dixon Park Beach, acclaimed theatre-maker Roslyn Oades will present Sea Stories, an intimate sunrise experience exploring friendship and life by the ocean, while Penelope Green’s Ocean Rituals will turn the Bathers Way into an outdoor photographic exhibition. At Canoe Pool, Izabela Pluta’s monumental new commission Cavitation will evolve with the changing light, weather and waves, accompanied by live dance performances from Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub.Come sunset, Newcastle Ocean Baths will once again become one of Australia’s most spectacular gig venues for SOAK: Live at the Baths. Curated by Urthboy, the free concert series will feature performances from Hermitude, Claire O’Brien, 92Wrld, Kobie Dee and Karen Lee Andrews. Beyond the beach, the city’s pubs, parks and cultural spaces will come alive with

Can you believe another quarter has come and gone? Us neither. To mark the occasion, we’re back with your quarterly rental market update, and this time, there’s a little good news for renters. According to Domain’s September Quarter 2026 Rent Report, rental prices have stalled across most Australian capital cities, despite ongoing shortages of available properties. Combined capital city house rents held steady at $700 per week, while unit rents rose by $10 to $690. Although annual rent growth remains positive at 7.7 per cent for houses and 6.2 per cent for units, much of that increase reflects price hikes earlier in 2026. For Melbourne renters, the latest figures bring a pause in rental price growth, rather than a drop in prices. According to Domain, median weekly asking rents for both houses and units held at $600 in the September quarter. House rents rose 3.4 per cent over the past year, from $580 to $600 a week, while unit rents increased 4.3 per cent, from $575 to $600. Both remain at record highs, meaning renters are still paying historically high asking prices, even if rents haven’t risen since June. Melbourne's rental vacancy rate also edged up from 1.2 per cent in June to 1.4 per cent in September, matching the rate recorded a year earlier. And although that's a slight improvement for house-hunters, it still points to a tight market with limited options for prospective tenants. Melbourne isn't alone in seeing rental growth hit pause. According to the report, Brisbane,

We didn’t need reminding that Victoria’s hotel game is strong, but it’s always nice to get some validation from a non-biased global cohort. Earlier this month, four Victorian hotels earned a place on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards list for Australia and New Zealand – more than any other state in Australia. Now in its 29th year, the annual awards are based on votes from the publication’s UK-based readership, celebrating the hotels, destinations and travel experiences that have left a lasting impression on travellers. Leading the Victorian contingent is The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, which claimed second place on the Australia and New Zealand list with a score of 99. Occupying the upper levels of an 80-storey tower in the CBD, the hotel is known for its sweeping views across the city, Port Phillip Bay and the Dandenong Ranges, alongside its sky-high infinity pool, top-tier spa and modern Australian restaurant, Atria. W Melbourne also made the top five, landing in fourth place with 97.24 points. Located on Flinders Lane, the design-led hotel brings a very playful energy to the CBD, with 294 rooms, a collection of bars and restaurants, and that ultra-Instagrammable pool deck with next-level city skyline views. Further afield, Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill placed 14th with a score of 93.7. Set across 34 acres of gardens, orchards and vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula, this country-house-style retreat is made for slow weekends filled of cellar-door visits, lo

It’s been a while between drinks at Garden State Hotel, but the Flinders Lane fave has just unveiled a two-tiered rooftop garden, right in time for the warmer months. Ten years after first opening its doors, the multi-level venue has had a pretty hefty refresh – scoring a new all-season rooftop and a revamped cocktail bar for after-dark drinks. Here’s what we know so far. Open now at the CBD institution, the Rooftop Garden sits above the venue’s existing beer garden – taking Garden State’s signature shrub-shrouded drinking zone skywards. The two-level, 300-person space includes an open-air lower terrace and a raised mezzanine with seating for up to 40 guests, connected by mosaic sage-green tiled stairs. “Melburnians love a good rooftop, so we’re excited to bring this new elevated space to Garden State in time for spring warming up,” says venue manager Katie Saxton. “It’s a unique setting on Flinders Lane, with its own personality, while still feeling completely at home within Garden State.” Aesthetic-wise, it's gloriously garden-coded: all wicker chairs, leaf-patterned umbrellas, layered plants and patterned flooring. And because Melbourne weather doesn’t like to make things easy, a retractable roof and heating mean the rooftop can be used throughout the year, not just when the sunshine decides to show. Photograph: Supplied | Zennieshia ButtsGarden State Hotel The refresh also brings a new mood to The Observatory, Garden State’s cocktail bar, which has been reborn as a more

I’m a sucker for an international supermarket, and I know I’m not alone. For me and fellow foodies, few holiday rituals beat trawling the aisles for exotic treats, mystery tins and the occasional unidentifiable dusty packet of something delicious. And now, mercifully, we don’t need to travel to Europe for the hit. This spring, the family responsible for bringing Broccolini and Calypso mangoes to Australia back in the 1980s have bestowed another gift upon us from the sun-soaked shores of Italy – this time in the form of a gloriously well-stocked supermarket: Super Mercato. Hiding within the walls of Double Bay’s Cosmopolitan Centre, Super Mercato is the supermarket we’d find if Erewhon and an Italian fine food store had a baby. With a focus on healthy, high-end produce, its beautifully designed shelves are stocked with a carefully curated line-up of gorgeous Mediterranean foodstuffs and locally sourced Australian produce. And with that, Sydney’s summer dinner parties have had a serious upgrade. From pre-prepared pasta sauces from Barbetta to Perello olives and top-tier dips, cured meats, olive oils, butters and fermented products (as well as stacks of fresh Australian-grown fruits and veggies), the focus here is on seriously high-quality food that makes you feel good. And feeling good is crucial. Anthony and James Simonetta, who founded Super Mercato alongside their dad Michael and their friend Simon Hamilton, are very much in the business of helping Sydneysiders to feel their

Housing market and general cozzie livs crisis aside, we reckon Sydney is a pretty good city to call home. And this month, we’ve got another certification to back up our claim  – with the Harbour City just ranking as the top Australian city on the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index. Sydney’s 13th-place ranking puts it in the top five per cent of cities worldwide, offering some pretty solid proof (alongside the recent run of perfect sunsets) that we really do live in one of the world’s best cities.RELATED READ: Sydney has been voted in the top 5 cities in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers For context, the annual index assesses 1,000 of the world’s largest cities across five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. Rather than measuring liveability alone, it considers a city’s broader economic performance, workforce, environmental conditions and institutions. Sydney scored 88.3 overall, with its strongest results in governance, where it ranked 13th globally, and quality of life, where it placed 17th. Its economics score ranked 26th, while human capital came in at 63rd and environment at 68th. According to Oxford Economics, Sydney’s large economy and concentration of corporate headquarters help drive its strong performance. The city is Australia’s largest by GDP and attracts international businesses, students and skilled workers. Its quality-of-life result is supported by factors including relatively low crime, long life exp

If you need a reason to mix up your restaurant routine, we’ve got you. On a laneway just off Flinders Lane, a new Japanese restaurant – ÉN – has opened its doors, bringing Japan’s Kappo dining (a sort-of seasonal tasting menu experience) to the CBD. Founded by Paawan Engineer, of Mill Place Merchants and Cuff, alongside chefs Takuro Abe and Shiro Fukushima, ÉN takes its name from a Japanese word that can describe connection, bonds and fate. The idea carries through to the restaurant’s approach, which aims to bring diners closer to the craft behind each dish. For the uninitiated, Kappo translates loosely to ‘to cut and to cook’. Rather than specialising in one discipline, the way specialised sushi or teppanyaki restaurants do, Kappo draws on the full breadth of Japanese cooking – from grilling and simmering to steaming and frying. At ÉN, this takes shape through a creative line-up of dishes showcasing premium Aussie and Japanese produce. Photograph: SuppliedEN Melbourne team   The menu is led by Abe, who brings more than 25 years of experience across Japanese and Australian kitchens, and Fukushima, whose career spans more than three decades. Both chefs have worked at some of Melbourne’s most well-established Japanese dining spots, including Warabi at W Melbourne. Sushi fans, rejoice: sushi is a particular focus – with the kitchen drawing on Edomae, the traditional Tokyo style that uses techniques such as zuke (marinating fish to deepen its flavour) and shime (curing fish wit

Update Wednesday, October 7: NOAA has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for Friday, October 9, with potential aurora sightings across Tasmania and Victoria, plus parts of NSW, the ACT, South Australia and Western Australia. The best chance to spot the lights is 75 to 90 minutes after sunset, with the Southern Lights spotted over the weekend in Victoria and Tasmania. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing the Southern Lights from NSW. What is the Aurora Australis? The Aurora Australis is a breathtaking natural light display that glows across the southern skies, also referred to as the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). It occurs when charged electrons from the sun collide with gas molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are first launched from the sun’s surface, then accelerated again by Earth’s magnetic field, creating glowing waves of colour that ripple through the night sky. Where in the world can you see the Aurora? Bright, beautiful and bedazzling, the Aurora Borealis is a big-ticket bucket list item for pretty much everyone on Earth. Only those who have witnessed the Northern Lights with their naked eyes can truly understand its ethereal magic. But you don’t need to fork out on a ticket to Scandinavia to see the dramatic natural light display IRL. Australia has its very own version, called the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights – and this year, we could be in for the brightest display in 20 years. Here’s eve

Martini fans of Melbourne, there’s another reason to raise a glass. Caretaker’s Cottage – one of our favourite bars in the city – has once again made the cut on the World’s 50 Best Bars list – and retained its title as the Best Bar in Australasia. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Caretaker’s Cottage has appeared in the world’s top 50, although its latest position at No.45 globally is a drop from No.19 last year.  Hiding inside a heritage cottage beside Wesley Church, Caretaker’s Cottage has become something of a Melbourne cocktail institution – known for its intimate setting, vinyl-heavy soundtrack and gloriously unfussy approach to hospitality. The bar pairs its small footprint with serious cocktail creds, and its monthly-changing drinks menu (and general vibe) keeps us (and a lot of other cocktail-loving Victorians) coming back. Photograph: Supplied / Caretaker's CottageDJ booth at Caretaker's Cottage.   It was a big night for the team behind Caretaker’s Cottage, not just for the one venue. Three Horses, the group’s sherry-focused bar just along Little Lonsdale Street, has been named the Campari One to Watch. The award is given to the bar the 50 Best team thinks is most likely to break into the main 1–50 ranking in the future. Three Horses currently sits at No.84 on the extended 51–100 list – so we’ll be watching this space in 2027. Despite the Melbourne double act, Caretaker’s Cottage is the only Australian bar in this year’s main top 50.  At the very top of the lis

It was a windy Wednesday evening when I arrived at Sense of Self – flustered by the mid-week workload, the weird weather and city life in general. Stepping off South Dowling Street into the immaculately converted warehouse, air laced with a blend of essential oils and a sort-of osmosis calm, I bumped straight into two friends who had just emerged from the subterranean palace beneath my feet, and I’ll be honest – I thought they were putting it on. The overt zen that they were embodying didn’t seem like something anyone could, realistically, achieve at 5pm on a Wednesday in Sydney, but lordy was I wrong. After two hours spent between the saunas, steam room and magnesium-enriched pools, I floated up the stairs with a similar sense of cellular-level stillness. There’s something in the water at Sense of Self – it is, somehow, so much more than a bathhouse, it’s a certified reset. After first teasing plans for Sense of Self Surry Hills last year, the beloved Melbourne-born bathhouse has opened its first Sydney outpost inside a sprawling converted warehouse on South Dowling Street, and it's a true gift to this fast-paced city. The 1,200-square-metre space was designed by architecture practice Ritz & Ghougassian, and self-care offering aside, it’s a feat of architectural beauty. The cavernous building features more than 90,000 hand-laid bricks used alongside the building’s original windows – retaining something of the old warehouse’s industrial character as a grounding shell to the

We don’t believe it either, but it’s true: we’re already well on our way through 2026, which means it’s time to start plotting those 2027 holidays. If maximising your time OOO is high on your priority list, we’ve got some good news: with a little strategic annual leave planning, you can turn 28 days of annual leave into 66 days off in Victoria. The trick is to make the most of Victoria’s public holidays, from Labour Day and the King’s Birthday to the AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup Day. There are also some particularly generous Christmas and Easter configurations in 2027. Bookmark this cheat sheet, pick your next long-weekend escape and get those leave requests in before your coworkers do. January: Australia Day Take one day of annual leave on Monday, January 25 and you’ll get four days off from January 23 to 26. January 23-24: Weekend January 25: Annual leave January 26: Australia Day public holiday If you want to stretch this one further, you can take January 27-29 off too, giving you nine days off for four days of annual leave, from January 23-31. March: Labour Day Victoria’s Labour Day falls on Monday, March 8, making this one of the easiest long weekends to stretch. Take four days of annual leave from March 9-12 and you’ll get nine days off from March 6-14. March 6-7: Weekend March 8: Labour Day public holiday March 9-12: Annual leave March 13-14: Weekend March-April: Easter Easter is already a four-day weekend in Victoria, thanks to Good Friday, Easter Satu

Believe it or not, we’re already three-quarters of the way through the year, which means it’s time to start plotting your 2027 holidays. If maximising your time OOO is high on your priority list, we’ve got good news: with a little strategic annual leave, you can turn 23 days of leave into 56 days off in NSW. From Easter long weekends to a very generous Christmas break, 2027 has plenty of opportunities to stretch your annual leave. Bookmark this public holiday cheat sheet, pick your next getaway and get those leave requests in before your coworkers do. January: Australia Day Take four days of annual leave and score nine days off between January 23 and 31. January 23-24: Weekend January 25: Annual leave January 26: Australia Day public holiday January 27-29: Annual leave January 30-31: Weekend Annual leave used: four daysTotal time off: nine days March: Easter Take four days of annual leave and score 10 days off over the Easter long weekend. March 26: Good Friday public holiday March 27: Easter Saturday public holiday March 28: Easter Sunday public holiday March 29: Easter Monday public holiday March 30-April 2: Annual leave April 3-4: Weekend Annual leave used: four daysTotal time off: 10 days Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSWhills of NSW   April: Anzac Day Here’s an especially handy one for NSW in 2027. Anzac Day falls on Sunday, April 25, and the NSW Government has confirmed an additional public holiday on Monday, April 26.  Take four days of annual leave and scor

As if Box Hill wasn’t already bursting at the seams with epic places to eat, it’s just upped its game – with a new mega development opening this spring, home to a stacked line-up of eateries. The $360 million mixed-use precinct Sky Sqr has been brought to life by the team from Golden Age Group – a development firm that’s been pretty hands-on with the evolution of Box Hill over the past decade. For context, the group previously developed Box Hill’s 36-storey Sky One tower – and says Sky Sqr is intended to build on that presence in the area.Wondering what to expect? The precinct is already home to a solid line-up of restaurants, shops and other businesses, with more in the works. Panda Hot Pot is now trading, along with Hanok BBQ, Kasumi Wagyu House, Nava Thai, Chan’s Dessert, MQS Secret Kitchen and Yunmi Chicken Soup Rice Noodles. Nong Geng Ji Chinese Restaurant – a beloved Shenzen-born restaurant chain – is also making its Australian debut at Sky Sqr. Photograph: Supplied | Golden Age GroupSky Sqr   Beyond food, the precinct is set to include a mix of health, beauty and entertainment businesses, alongside homes and workplaces. The new development is part of Box Hill's continuing evolution into what we reckon is one of Melbourne's buzziest (and most delicious) suburbs.   With more businesses still to open, Sky Sqr isn't quite finished yet. You can learn more about what to expect over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of t