Winnie Stubbs

Summer update: Let the good times roll with our fresh guide to Sydney’s best bars – perfect for your summer sessions. From frosty Martinis to fun and fruity Piña Coladas, cold ales in sunny beer gardens and vinos in sexy wine bars – whatever you’re after, whatever the occasion, you’ll find it all here. This list represents our picks of the best bars in Sydney right now, from fresh faces to tried-and-tested temples of great drinks, curated by our local editors, drink writers and fellow booze hounds, including Time Out Sydney's Editor Avril Treasure. We’re looking for quality above all, with fun, flavour, atmosphere, creativity and options at every price point. Cheers to you, Sydney. Editor’s picks: 😎 Best for a vibey drink and a snack: Paradise🥂 Best for bubbles with a view: Nick & Nora's🍓 Best for a non-awkward first date: Arcadia Liquors💥 Best for when you wanna impress: Henry Deane🍻 Best for beer on a sunny rooftop: Old Mate’s Place🍹 Best for an excellent cocktail: Silver’s Motel 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. After a watering hole that's a bit more casual? See our list of the best pubs in Sydney, here. After a meal? Check out our best restaurants here.

Summer 2026 update: I think we can all agree pubs are great. From sunny beer gardens to the community they create, the cold beers they pour and the schnittys they serve, Sydney’s pubs are warm, welcoming spaces built for a good time. And even better if they’re pokie-free. Below, we’ve rounded up the best of the best. Bonus points if they’ve got air-con to keep you cool this summer. 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! 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. Hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants. 

Here in Australia, January 26 has very different meanings for different people. For First Nations people, the day marks the beginning of colonisation and is sometimes called Invasion Day or Survival Day. For recent migrants, January 26 is the day of many citizenship ceremonies across the country. However you choose to spend it, we've picked out the main events taking place on the public holiday in 2026.Left planning your long weekend trip too late? These are all the public holidays in NSW in 2026, and here's how to maximise your leave.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Want to escape the city? These are the best camping sites near Sydney.These are the best places to camp by the beach in NSW.And these are the best day hikes close to the city.

Australia is a nation rich with incredible artists and mind-blowing exhibitions. Whether you favour sculpture, painting, photography or textiles, there’s something for every kind of artistic persuasion ready to pop off at Australia’s biggest art exhibitions in 2026. We've rounded up just a few Aussie wonders that have us pre-booking flights in eager anticipation.  A summer standout is Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson's Presence at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, where huge, shimmering interactive installations reign supreme. We're also excited to peruse a never-seen-before-in-Australia glittering jewel collection from Cartier at the NGV in the winter months, and explore Rememory during the 25th Biennale of Sydney (which Time Out named the world's best exhibition to see this year). Scroll on for our pick of the best art exhibitions in Australia in 2026. Our editors will update this guide as new exhibitions are announced. 🖼️ The best art galleries in Australia👀 The best museums in Australia

Believe it or not, summer school holidays are here. And if the thought of keeping the kiddos entertained for the next two months sends you into a spiral, we've got you covered. There’s something here for the explorers, the budding scientists, the mini athletes, the musical prodigies, the artist and just about everyone in between. You'll find the ultimate round-up of activities and experiences happening in Sydney for kids and families this summer. 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 visit these kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

The first month of the year kicks off with the return of the inimitable Sydney Festival, which is coming back to the Harbour City with incredible shows and visual art installations from January 8. For pre-show fuel, we’d suggest checking out one of the best happy hours in the city, and if you’re keen to keep going, this list of our favorite late-night spots in Sydney should help.In other good news, Sydney’s summer of open air flicks is showing no signs of slowing down, with January welcoming the 2025 Westpac OpenAir Cinema season, fresh new programs at Moonlight Cinema, Mov’in Bed and North Sydney’s Sunset Cinema and Australia's biggest short film festival popping up in Bondi for its 35th year.  Looking for a venue for an al fresco feast or one by the sea? These are the best waterfront restaurants in Sydney, these are our best beer gardens, and these are our best rooftop bars. Plus, you can check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants here, the city's best bars here, the best pubs here and the best cheap eats here. If you’ve got a boost of new-year-new-me energy, sweat it out on one of our city’s best running routes or at one of the best gyms in the city. Keen to get out of town? These are the best day hikes close to Sydney, and these are the best camping sites close enough for a night away under the stars. Feel like getting out of Sydney for the day (or a few)? Consider a trip to Scenic World – a year-round adventure playground that demands a spot on your tranqu

Sydney is often referred to as the Harbour City, but a better name might be the Town of a Hundred Beaches. There are countless golden stretches scattered along the length and breadth of Sydney’s many shores (exact figures vary based on who you ask, as some disappear with the tides or are all but impossible to reach). But such an array of sandy riches can make picking the right beach to visit a bit of a head-scratcher. To help you out, we’ve cast our discerning eyes across pretty much every beach in the city, awarding points for accessibility, natural beauty, range of facilities and unique charms. Here are 50 of the best beaches in Sydney. Grab those beach towels and dive right in. JUST REMEMBER: There have been a lot of drowning incidents at NSW beaches – if you swim at unpatrolled beaches, you put yourself at risk. You can search patrolled and unpatrolled beaches near you over here – as well as other surf safety issues. Hate crowds? Here's our guide to the best secret beaches in Sydney. The city also has a heap of fab harbour beaches – as well as dog-friendly beaches. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

Whether you’re a visitor planning your very first visit to Singapore, or a Singaporean mapping out a special occasion in the city, choosing a hotel in Singapore is an important (and sometimes overwhelming) task. With so many spectacular stays to choose between – from the world-famous Raffles to new boutique stays like 21 Carpenter – it can be challenging to decide which is best for you. To help you determine which hotel to book for your next visit or staycation, our team of local editors (including Time Out Singapore Editor Cheryl Sekkappan, Regional Content Director for Time Out APAC Nicole-Marie Ng and local writer Dewi Nurjuwita) have tried and tested the city’s top-ranking hotels to determine which are worth your time.The list has been overseen by Winnie Stubbs, Travel and Hotels Editor APAC and self-confessed hotel obsessive. Each hotel has been chosen based on amenities, design and proximity to the city’s highlights – with many hotels on the list within walking distance of the best restaurants and bars in Singapore.Read on for our guide to the very best hotels in Singapore right now. Our Hotel Editor's picks for the best hotels in Singapore: Best boutique stay: QT SingaporeBest hotel for families: Mandarin Oriental SingaporeBest luxury hotel: Raffles Hotel SingaporeBest beachside stay: Capella Singapore RECOMMENDED: The best Singapore attractions to visitThe best rooftop bars in SingaporeAirport hotels in SingaporeThe best luxury hotels in Singapore At Time Out, all of

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 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, or save your cash at one of the best happy hours in the city. Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels. 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.

More hotels mean more excuses to pack a bag, right? With fancy five-star stays and design-led boutique properties cropping up all over town, you’d be remiss not to test-drive a few. After all, who doesn’t want to be the first to swan-dive into a crisp king bed or wrap themselves in a robe so fresh it hasn’t yet seen a room-service tray? This year, our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley has checked into two of the country's most exciting new arrivals: Hamilton Island’s first new stay in nearly 17 years, The Sundays, and Sydney’s most anticipated inner-city stay, The Eve Hotel – both earning glowing five-star reviews. Next, we have our eyes on the African-inspired Monarto Safari Resort in South Australia and the coastal-luxe Mondrian Gold Coast. Scroll on for the full roll call of Australia’s newest hotels – and the ones still teasing us from behind construction fences. 🌴 Australia’s best resorts and lodges⛺️ The best free campgrounds in Australia

Sydney is no slacker when it comes to Italian food (just take a look at all these red-hot places here). And our pasta game is very strong. But when it comes to our pizza restaurants, we reckon they may be a slice above the rest. Whether you're a sucker for traditional Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and topped with beautiful produce, get around NY-style slabs so big you can fold them in three, or you're hungry for a Sicilian-style slice with a thick and fluffy crust, Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Sydney Editor Avril Treasure, have pulled together the best places to get your fix – and these are the venues that are topping the class. 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. Hungry for more? Here's our pick of the very best restaurants in Sydney right now. Love Greek food food? Us too. Check out the finest Greek eateries in Sydney.

Melbourne is home to its fair share of super-luxe hotels, but there are also hidden gems in every corner of the city where you can rest your head for less than $200 a night. From super central sky-high towers like Oaks on Collins to charming stays on the fringe of the city like The Plough Hotel, Melbourne's budget hotels prove that you don't have to drop 500 bucks a night to enjoy a good night's sleep within striking distance of Melbourne’s best bits. To help you find your best affordable stay, our team of local editors (including Time Out Melbourne Editor Leah Glynn) have tried and tested Melbourne’s most well-located low-cost hotels, and Time Out Travel and Hotels Editor Winnie Stubbs has checked the list over to make sure it delivers.For an even more affordable night in the city, share a room with friends (and try to book at least a few weeks in advance). Another top tip from Time Out Melbourne’s team of local editors? Don't be afraid to trade space for location – you're only sleeping, after all. Read on for our guide to the best budget hotels in Melbourne.  Editor's quick picks: Best fully equipped home-away-from-home: Oaks on Collins Best for making new friends: YHA Melbourne Central Best boutique city stay: Brady Hotels Central Melbourne  Best quirky neighbourhood stay: The Plough Hotel Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  These are the best places to go camping near Mel

Sydney’s immersive art scene is on the up and up, with Balloon Story, Museum of Illusions and Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat all alive and kicking in the Harbour City. Now, there’s more. Landing right in the middle of the CBD, DigiPark is a brand-new digital playground that blends science, art, education and entertainment into one futuristic, all-ages experience. Fresh from huge success across Asia, this is the first DigiPark to open in Australia, bringing 19 interactive attractions to Level 5 of Westfield Sydney, just steps from the centre’s ever-busy food precinct. Highlights include the Space & Time Cube, a trippy 3D holographic tunnel that pulls you into a swirling world of light and colour, and the Orbital Cinema (7D) – a flying adventure powered by a massive 180-degree curved screen, motion seats and special effects like wind, vibration and water spray (no VR headset required). There’s also a 3D Figurine Creator Studio, where you can scan yourself and walk away as a custom mini digital avatar, plus dreamy installations like Wandering Planet, Cosmic Space and the Holographic Studio, which blur the line between reality and the virtual world. According to DigiPark’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Jacques Wong, the venue is designed to hook everyone from curious kids to culture-hungry adults – with VR, holograms, kinetic light art, digital play and 3D printing all under one roof. Open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm, DigiPark welcomes all ages (kids under 12 will n

Sydney is stepping up its game when it comes to immersive experiences, with the Art Gallery of NSW’s Mike Hewson exhibition attracting global attention, Museum of Illusions landing with a splash in the CBD, and now, a huge new playground formed of 500,000 carefully curated balloons opening its doors at Sydney Olympic Park. Fresh from a record-breaking New York season that turned the Park Avenue Armory into a 30,000-square-foot fantasy universe, this joy-fuelled, art-meets-play exhibition has arrived in Sydney.Balloon Story is a fully immersive journey through time and imagination, where every room is built at cinematic scale using hundreds of thousands of biodegradable balloons. You’ll wander from prehistoric jungles and dinosaur-filled landscapes to ancient civilisations, underwater worlds and cosmic cities, all sculpted entirely from air and colour. For the Australian season, expect all-new local content too, with balloon-built tributes to some of our most iconic buildings, places and stories. Hailed overseas as “the most joyful exhibition of the year”, Balloon Story is designed to delight. It’s hugely photogenic and clearly engineered by people who take balloons very, very seriously (we’re talking an international team of creative directors, balloon engineers and immersive design pros). Keen? The team suggests that visitors allow around 60 to 90 minutes to explore the whole experience – though don’t be surprised if the kids hang around for longer trying to get the perfect

At the height of Sydney summer, when the pull of the shoreline feels almost instinctive, the Australian National Maritime Museum is inviting Sydneysiders to come to the beach – not just as a place, but as a shared concept. The centrepiece of the museum’s summer program, The Beach, is part exhibition, part all-ages playscape – a gloriously Australian celebration of our beloved ocean-side spaces. “The Beach invites us all to come together – gently – to reconnect with the coastal rituals that shape Australian life,” says museum Director and CEO Ms Daryl Karp AM. That gentle invitation carries extra weight this summer. Following the horror of December 14, the museum faced difficult conversations about whether to proceed. In the end, the decision was made to continue – not in spite of what happened, but because of it.RELATED READ: These are our favourite beaches in Sydney “Our beaches are places of connection and belonging,” Karp says. “The shoreline has always been a place where we all meet – just open skies and shared sand – a place of joy, togetherness and shared fun.” In that spirit, The Beach reclaims the coast as a symbol of what binds us together, even when that sense of ease has been shaken. Inside the museum’s Lighthouse Gallery, a distinctly Australian summer unfolds. Digital projections ripple across the walls, a breezy soundscape hums in the background, and interactive rockpools and a towering sandcastle (minus the sand) invite play. Works by artists including Anne Zah

Calling all Sydney-based cinephiles. Flickerfest – Australia’s biggest competitive short film festival – is returning to Bondi Beach for 2026, taking over Bondi Pavilion from January 23 to February 1. Now celebrating its 35th year, the iconic festival will once again deliver a ten-day program of short films, screened both under the stars and inside the Pavilion’s theatre. The 2026 program showcases around 200 short films across 23 curated festival sessions – each handpicked from a record-breaking 3,700-plus entries submitted from more than 100 countries. At the centre of the festival are Flickerfest’s prestigious (Academy Qualifying) competitions, with 111 short films competing for major awards – including Best International Short Film, Best International Animation, Best Australian Short Film and Best Documentary. As you’d expect, Australian cinema features big on the 2026 lineup, with 60 local films selected for the Best of Australian Competition. The homegrown picks will screen alongside 36 international films in the Best of International Competition and 15 thought-provoking works in the Best of Documentary Competition. A further 100 shorts will also screen across various showcase sessions, with many films premiering at the event.Alongside the main competitions, Flickerfest’s popular themed programs are also back. These include FlickerUp, celebrating youth filmmaking from creatives aged 18 and under; Rainbow Shorts, spotlighting LGBTQI stories from around the world; a First

If you’re craving something surreal to snap you out of reality for an hour or so, Sydney’s recently opened Museum of Illusions has got your back. The first Aussie outpost of the global concept, this interactive exhibition invites visitors to step into gravity-defying rooms, giant 3D illusions, mind-bending perspective zones, holograms and other sensory experiences – in a vast space spanning over 900 square metres in the heart of the CBD.With more than 80 unique exhibits to explore, the museum doesn’t directly follow its global siblings – it’s packed with bespoke Sydney-inspired rooms that you won’t find anywhere else. There’s a ‘Reversed Room’ inspired by a classic Aussie pub, a ‘Building Illusion’ which echoes Sydney’s iconic skyline, and an immersive exhibit called ‘Following Eyes’ – a playful nod to sunscreen-slapping beach days. Part science, part spectacle, part pure fun, the Museum of Illusions is perfect for families, curious minds, and any office worker who’s finding the return to work a little tricky. Whether you’re chasing an escape from the here and now or an Instagram goldmine, or you’re just keen to see your friends wobble in a room that defies gravity, it’s a one-stop shop for awe, giggles and head-scratching wonder. The experience is open now at 413 George Street in Sydney’s CBD, with regular admission tickets for $47 and family tickets offering slightly reduced rates. We’d suggest giving around 60–90 minutes for wandering, posing, and rethinking the laws of ph

Budget conscious movie fans, this one’s for you. For the fourth year running, Darling Quarter’s free open-air cinema is back – complete with dog-friendly seating and high-quality headphones for crystal-clear audio.Kicking off this Thursday, January 8, the free open-air cinema will run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until January 25, with the varied film program featuring big releases and old-school favourites. Through a new partnership with HBO Max, this year's program features family faves like The Wizard of Oz and Space Jam alongside newer hits like Superman, Fantastic Beasts, and A Minecraft Movie.  Though screenings are free, it’s worth booking a place – with free unallocated seating and beanbags available to hire for an extra $10. This year’s movie experience sees the upgrade of all new headphones, meaning you don’t have to worry about the ambience of the area impacting your audio experience (though sound will be played through large outdoor speakers too). For a cinema snack, moviegoers can order Click and Collect from some of Darling Quarter’s fave eateries – including Churrascaria, Dopa and Gelatissimo.  With a flat evening parking rate of $21 per car, this is hands down one of the most affordable cinema experiences you can have in the Harbour City. Keen to spend those extra dollars on another movie-style experience? Darling Harbour’s magical carousel is a short walk from the cinema, you’re welcome.You can learn more and reserve tickets over here. Stay in

Sailing obsessives, speed demons and sunset enthusiasts, listen up. The world’s fastest sailing race – the Sail Grand Prix – is returning to the Harbour City for 2026, and this time it’s levelling up the cinematic value. For the first time in Rolex SailGP Championship history, the spectacle is going twilight – with super-fast foiling action lighting up Sydney Harbour for two adrenaline-fuelled nights on the last weekend of February.Now in its seventh consecutive year, Sydney remains SailGP’s longest-running stop – and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a better stage. Picture the world’s largest SailGP fleet ever assembled flying across the water in colourful catamarans just metres from shore, as the late summer sun melts behind the city skyline. Not sold yet on the idea of watching a boat race? I hear you – as a sailing novice and a card-carrying F1-skeptic, it took a trip to the Auckland event for me to truly understand the appeal of the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, but I can wholeheartedly say it’s one of the most exciting, impressive sporting events you will ever witness. One of the things that makes SailGP races so addictive is how close you can get to the action, and never more so than in Sydney. Here, racing unfolds right across the harbour, with various vantage points turning the city into a giant grandstand. The mixed-gender teams are wildly athletic, and the fact that the Aussies happen to be consistently high-achievers (winning the first three championships, and coming

Looking for an affordable, culturally-enriching day out in the Harbour City? We’ve got you. To help Sydneysiders and visitors make the most of the city, Transport for NSW has launched a totally free, super insightful walking itinerary that you can use for a car-free day out in town, and we reckon it’s a pretty solid guide to your next day out.You can use Transport for NSW’s Walks Near Me map to follow the Sydney Culture Walk itinerary that links Sydney’s favourite cultural institutions.  This is a great thing to do, whether you want to be a tourist in your own town, you’re a visitor here, or you have kids to entertain (and tire out) during the school holidays.  First up, head to the Sydney Culture Walk landing page and map out your route. If you’re keen to really capitalise on cultural insights, kick off your journey at Circular Quay station’s brand-new ‘Culture Station’ (you’ll find it beneath the train platforms, just opposite Wharf 5), where the team can offer advice, pamphlets and tickets. From there, the Sydney Culture Walk will unfurl like your own personalised greatest-hits playlist of Sydney’s cultural scene. Not sure where to head? Below is your cheat sheet to the star stops – but the Walks Near Me platform will help guide your way: Sydney Opera House Art Gallery of New South Wales State Library of NSW Hyde Park Barracks Australian Museum Sydney Observatory RELATED READ: 9 must-see landmarks on a self-guided walking tour across SydneyYou’ll find the full Sydney Cul

When Slow House opened on Curlewis Street back in 2021, it was among the first of a wave of new wellness spaces taking Sydney by storm. Here, the focus was on quiet, ritualistic bathing – with the key treatment (the Signature Slow) encouraging guests to take things at their own pace, from the seclusion of a private sauna room. Though guests at the original Slow House are welcome to spend time in the communal spaces – with ice baths large enough to fit six people at a time – it’s generally a place you come to spend time alone, a haven of self-guided self-care.Almost five years later, the Bondi-born wellness brand has taken a new tack – with Slow House 2.0 (now named 38° The Bathhouse) open beneath a shiny new gym right on the Bondi beachfront. Although the aesthetic here is similar – all muted neutral tones and soft, organic curves – this new, larger outpost is a place where connecting with other people is paramount. ‘Slow House The Bath House’ is a social space with body-and-soul enriching side effects, and it’s exactly what the busy beachside suburb has been crying out for. You’ll find the sprawling subterranean space at the end of a long corridor framed by a mirrored ceiling that mimics an ocean at sunset – it’s immediately surreal, and somehow completely, perfectly Bondi. Warm lighting illuminates the main room, which is home to three magnesium pools (each sitting at different temperatures for different therapeutic benefits), a large Finnish sauna, a steam room, two ice ba

If you’re looking for a way to spend January 26 that centres culture, creativity and community, Blak Powerhouse belongs firmly at the top of your list. Back for its fourth iteration, this celebration of Blak excellence is returning to Sydney for 2026 – away from its original Powerhouse location (the Ultimo site is currently under construction), but with its biggest line-up yet. Set to light up Manning House at the University of Sydney on January 26, the free, all-ages event has announced an impeccable roster of First Nations artists, led by ARIA Award-winning rapper (and winner of the inaugural NSW First Nations Music Prize) BARKAA and powerhouse rap collective 3%. Now in its fourth year, Blak Powerhouse is an annual celebration of Blak pride, joy and cultural strength – and it’s quickly become one of the city’s most meaningful dates on the cultural calendar. Presented by Powerhouse and Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors, Blak Powerhouse 2026 is about far more than live music. Kicking off at 6pm, the evening will unfold as a beautifully diverse celebration of culture, featuring DJs, dance performances, panel discussions, weaving workshops, interactive art installations, market stalls and short film showcases – all designed to create space for connection, learning and community.RELATED READ: Here’s a sneak peek at Powerhouse Parramatta The night will open with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Aunty Nadeena Dixon, a Gadigal, Dharawal, Yuin and Wiradjur

Golden hour in Sydney is a magical time; when the glare of the day fades and the dropping sun coats the city in a buttery glow. And there’s one particular spot in Sydney that seems to catch the light perfectly – a fail-safe sunset spot with views across the Harbour, and one of the best places to stargaze when daylight disappears entirely. We’re talking about Sydney Observatory, and for five Fridays this summer, golden hour at this spot is ramping up to the next level – elevated by a series of three-hour live music sets programmed by the creative people behind Powerhouse. Sunset Variations will kick off on Friday, January 30 with an ambient Afrofuturist performance by Ethiopian Australian sound artist, Nū, to set the tone as the light disappears from the sky above the Harbour City.  Next up, on Friday, February 6, experimental electronic artist e fishpool will soundtrack sunset with a mesmeric performance. Friday, February 13 will welcome the cinematic compositions from the Aarti Jadu Ensemble, performing alongside Emma Ovenden and George Worthy. Then, on Friday, February 20, Luritja singer-songwriter and visual artist Keanu Nelson will take over the heritage site with a spell-binding performance as an ode to his Papunya roots. The series will come to a close with a powerful set from the Setwun: Celestial Bodies on Friday, February 27. The soulful, percussive showcase, led by composer and multi-instrumentalist DJ Josh Panakera-Molony, will blend jazz, groove and dance music ov

If you were under the impression that Sydney’s summer fun peaks in December, think again. Every summer, right after the dust settles from the Harbour City’s sparkling NYE fireworks display, Sydney Festival is waiting to take over the city with a hefty helping of fresh arts and culture. This is your chance to get in on an almost-month-long program overflowing with avant garde performances, immersive art installations, phenomenal live musicians and parties that rock on well into the night. This year, the annual event is turning 50 – and if you were expecting a quiet midlife moment, think again. This summer, from January 8 to January 25, the city is throwing itself into a full-blown cultural block party, cracking open five decades of artistic history and inviting everyone in for a look at what’s next. Under the direction of Kris Nelson, who’s stepping up for his first year at the helm, the 2026 program is a sprawling, joy-sparking mix of theatre, music, dance and art.  At the heart of this anniversary edition is a deep dive into connection across generations, playing out through a (delightfully off-the-wall) theatre program. There’s the world-premiere roller-derby spectacular Mama Does Derby, which will see Virginia Gay and Clare Watson transform Sydney Town Hall into a full-scale rink for a tender, sweaty mother-daughter story. There’s Dear Son, bringing Thomas Mayo’s powerful collection of letters to the Belvoir stage with music, dance and theatre-makers Isaac Drandic and John

Back in 2023, we shared the designs for the city’s newest boutique hotel: Hannah St Hotel – and our audience of hotel enthusiasts added it firmly to the top of their staycation hit lists. Now, the team behind the designer hotel (property developers Time & Place, in partnership with TFE Hotels) have officially opened the doors, with a quiet, very Melbourne underground opening. Sitting on the banks of the Yarra in the heart of Southbank, Hannah St Hotel is home to 188 uniquely styled rooms, designed by Melbourne-based design firm Flack Studio (the same people behind Sydney’s perfectly moody, tastefully trendy Ace Hotel). When describing the feel of the new hotel, Flack Studio’s David Flack explains how the team “wanted to create a building that feels like it’s always been here. Something that’s part grand hotel, part underground bar, part cultural clubhouse – with spaces that feel layered and nostalgic, but completely of now.” Photograph: Supplied Alongside the 188 boutique bedrooms, the $150 million hotel is home to a 25-metre lap pool and extensive wellness spaces, including a steam room, sauna and designer gym. The beating heart of the hotel is The Clubhouse: a “hub for creativity” featuring co-working spaces, meeting rooms, social lounge spaces, a sun-drenched terrace for evening drinks, an intimate Izakaya-style dining room and even a podcast recording studio. On the food and drinks front, we can expect big things – with the hotel’s five in-house venues (a Euro-inspire

Hidden between the hills of Victoria’s volcanic west, the Byaduk Caves are one of Australia’s largest lava tube networks, and arguably one of the most incredible natural wonders in the state. Formed thousands of years ago by flowing lava, this eerie underground system stretches for around 24,000 metres, creating a spectacular network of caves – a surreal reminder that regional Victoria is home to cinematic landscapes that genuinely rival what you’ll find on an expensive overseas journey. Where are the Byaduk Caves? The Byaduk Caves are located in western Victoria, around 40 minutes south of Hamilton and roughly a four-hour drive from Melbourne. They sit within the Byaduk Cave Reserve, part of the wider volcanic landscape that stretches across the region. What’s special about the Byaduk Caves? These caves aren’t your classic limestone caverns – they’re lava tubes, created when molten rock cooled on the surface while hot lava continued to flow beneath. The result is a series of dark, twisting tunnels with rocky floors, low ceilings and an otherworldly vibe. They’re also home to bats and unique ecosystems, making them as ecologically fascinating as they are visually striking. Can you go inside the Byaduk Caves? Yes – but only some of them, and with care. A number of caves are open to the public, while others are gated or closed to protect wildlife and ensure safety. There’s no lighting inside though, so if you’re heading in, you’ll need a torch (or headlamp), sturdy shoes and a

Long weekends are precious things – those rare windows where you can properly switch off without burning through your annual leave. If the idea of something less fast-paced (and arguably more satisfying) than a city break appeals, a few days on two wheels might be just the ticket – especially if you have someone else handling the logistics (and the luggage).  Australian Cycle Tours is one of a few tour operators who have nailed the brief, with a series of three-day cycling holidays that fit perfectly into a long weekend. These are journeys for everyday riders, not Lycra-clad pros: e-bikes are available, luggage transfers are included and the routes are built around great food, scenery and places you’ll actually want to explore.Here are three of the best three-day cycling trips in NSW to bookmark for your next long weekend escape.RELATED READ: These are the best weekend getaways close to Sydney Northern Rivers Rail Trail and Tweed Coast Short Break Distance: Around 80–100 kilometres over three daysLocation: Northern Rivers / Tweed Coast If your ideal long weekend involves subtropical scenery, cute hinterland towns and the odd beach dip, this one’s the go. Along the converted railway line, expect lush farmland, old-world railway corridors and a good share of coffee stops. It’s an easy, varied ride that packs a lot into three days without ever feeling rushed – perfect for riders who want maximum payoff for minimal effort. We’d suggest booking a post-cycle soak at Banya in nearby

Sydneysiders, stay cool. After a tough few Styles-free years in the Harbour City, the drought is officially coming to an end. It's been three years since Harry Styles last performed in Sydney as part of his Love On Tour, and since that wrapped up, sightings of the international megastar have been few and far between – aside from popping up to run the odd marathon or being papped with Zoë Kravitz. But when Styles dropped the surprise announcement about his upcoming fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, on January 16, we knew something bigger was brewing. And now, in the best Friday news any of us could ask for, Styles has revealed plans for a massive seven-city, 50-show global residency titled Together, Together – with Sydney *squeal* scoring two shows. Best of all, it's happening THIS YEAR. Oh, and as if that wasn't enough to send us into a spin, Styles will also release his much-hyped new single 'Aperture' at 11am AEDT today on Friday, January 23. So, alert the group chat and get your game plan in action – these tickets are gonna go quick. Here's everything we know about Harry Styles' Sydney shows so far. When is Harry Styles in Sydney?  The music gods have blessed Sydney with not one but two shows as part of Styles' Together, Together tour. He’ll be lighting up the Accor Stadium on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. When do Harry Styles Sydney tickets go on sale? General ticket sales for Harry Styles' Sydney shows will begin at 2pm AEDT on Friday

At Time Out Sydney, we’re professional fans of the Harbour City, committed to claiming this city’s crown as the best in the world. And while we don’t need any more convincing, it’s always satisfying when Sydney’s appeal is confirmed by an external source. Lo and behold, Sydney has just been handed another international seal of approval, with Tripadvisor naming the Emerald City the fourth best place to visit in the South Pacific for 2026. The ranking comes from Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2026, which crown the very best destinations based on a year’s worth of glowing reviews from travellers around the world – and fewer than one per cent of Tripadvisor’s eight million listings make the cut. In other words: this isn’t just hype, it’s hard-earned global love. Landing in fourth place, Sydney sits in seriously good company. The only destinations to outrank it in the South Pacific are Viti Levu in Fiji, Auckland, and New Zealand’s adventure darling Queenstown. Not far behind? Melbourne, which came in at number five, while Western Australia’s Margaret River rounded out the top 10 at number 10 – meaning Sydney didn’t just perform well globally, it also topped the leaderboard among Australia’s capital cities.According to Tripadvisor, Sydney’s appeal lies in its rare ability to be many things at once. You can swim at Bondi in the morning, coastal-walk it to Coogee by lunchtime, and be sitting pretty with a good Martini and a view of the Opera House by sunset – all without le

Luxury travellers of Vic, we’ve got news. It's been a long time coming, but the first ever luxury river cruise in Australia will officially debut this summer, departing from regional Victoria and sailing along the Murray in five-star style.  The winding 2,508-kilometre river will soon be home to a luxury 20-cabin vessel offering sightseeing cruises for 38 passengers at a time. The cruises will set off from the Port of Echuca, which was once Australia’s largest inland port and now is home to the world’s largest collection of paddlesteamers.  Almost ready to sail, the PS Australian Star stretches for 35 metres, with a design that fuses heritage charm with contemporary luxury. And besides being Australia's first five-star river cruise experience, it's also the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only wood-fired, five-star accommodated paddlesteamer in the world.  Once on the water, the paddlesteamer will be powered by a 9.5-tonne, refurbished wood-fired steam engine that's more than 100 years old, made back in 1907 by Richard Garrett & Sons.  Robert Blackburn/Rob Blackburn   "Australians love cruising, and they love the Murray River – but they want comfort and facilities akin to those on European rivers," says Craig Burgess, the Murray River Paddlesteamers director.  The 20 cabins will be a mix of both queen and king suites and queen and twin bed cabins, and all accommodations will open up to a verandah. On board, there will also be a fine dining restauran

Hidden between rainforest-clad escarpments and rolling dairy country, Kangaroo Valley is the kind of place Sydneysiders daydream about on a Wednesday afternoon when the buzz of the city starts to grind. It’s lush, quietly dramatic and blissfully old-school, with misty mornings, heritage bridges and enough bougie food options to keep city-dwelling weekenders happy. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, wine-fuelled lunches, or a reset button, this magical little village is worthy of a place on your getaway hit list. Where is Kangaroo Valley? Kangaroo Valley sits in the NSW Southern Highlands, about 160 kilometres south of Sydney, resting in a valley between Nowra on the South Coast and the Highlands towns of Bowral and Moss Vale. It’s famously hemmed in by steep escarpments, which makes the drive in feel like you’re slipping into a secret world. What are the best things to see in Kangaroo Valley? Start with Hampden Bridge, Australia’s last surviving wooden suspension bridge (and the most photographed icon in the village). Nature lovers should make a beeline for Belmore Falls, Carrington Falls and Fitzroy Falls in nearby Morton National Park, especially after rain when they’re thundering. The green paddocks and misty hills around the village call for long, meandering walks and long alfresco lunches (Kangaroo Valley General Store has you covered on the picnic front). If you’re craving an ocean fix, the beaches of Shoalhaven are within easy reach.  What are the best things to do in

Update Thursday, January 22: Two days ago, Earth was hit by the strongest solar radiation storm since 2003, lighting up skies across the country with spectacular Aurora Australis sightings on both January 20 and 21. The dancing lights were most prominently spotted in Tasmania and along the Victorian coast – from Werribee South Beach to Port Phillip and the Mornington Peninsula. The Aurora was also visible at Stanwell Tops and the Blue Mountains in NSW, Aldinga and Sellicks Beaches in South Australia, and even as far inland as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, among many other locations.Today, the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) issued another alert confirming the severe geomagnetic storm is still in progress. According to the alert, the "Aurora may be observed during local nighttime hours in good observing conditions at high latitudes." The best chance to spot the lights is after dark (if skies are clear), around 65 minutes after sunset. 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 glo

Update Thursday, January 22: Two days ago, Earth was hit by the strongest solar radiation storm since 2003, lighting up skies across the country with spectacular Aurora Australis sightings on both January 20 and 21. The dancing lights were most prominently spotted in Tasmania and along the Victorian coast – from Werribee South Beach to Port Phillip and the Mornington Peninsula. The Aurora was also visible at Stanwell Tops and the Blue Mountains in NSW, Aldinga and Sellicks Beaches in South Australia, and even as far inland as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, among many other locations.Today, the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) issued another alert confirming the severe geomagnetic storm is still in progress. According to the alert, the "Aurora may be observed during local nighttime hours in good observing conditions at high latitudes." The best chance to spot the lights is after dark (if skies are clear), around 65 minutes after sunset. As if the past few months of supermoons haven't been enough of a celestial spectacle, today, the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) issued another Aurora alert. Here’s everything you need to know about seeing the Southern Lights from Victoria. 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 ethere

Melbourne has long worn its liveability badge with pride, and according to new global research, it’s still very much earned. A January 2026 report by digital entertainment platform JB has ranked Melbourne among the top ten most liveable cities in the world, rubbing shoulders with European heavyweights like Zurich, Copenhagen and Vienna – and standing as the only Australian city to make the cut.RELATED READ: Melbourne is among the most affordable capital cities in Australia to buy The study examined 45 cities worldwide across six factors that shape everyday life: quality of life, safety, healthcare access, air pollution, unemployment and disposable income. While Zurich claimed the top spot overall (with residents saving nearly $4,000 a month and unemployment sitting under three per cent), Melbourne’s showing proves that life here still stacks up exceptionally well on the global stage. On the quality of life front, Melbourne scored 198.3, placing it firmly in the upper echelon, ahead of cities like Edinburgh (197.5) and Boston (186.4), and not far behind Munich (194.2) and Seattle (194.6). That score reflects the lived experience locals know well: a city that balances culture, green space, food, sport and a general sense of ease (aside from when it comes to getting tickets to the AO final, but that’s by the by).In the healthcare stakes, Melbourne clocked 73.3 out of 100, outperforming overall winner Zurich (70.1) and Seattle (68.7), and sitting comfortably alongside cities like

There’s something about international airports that makes every person feel like the main character – a kind of romance in the scale and anonymity. When the terminal is totally abandoned – a cavernously quiet, architecturally stunning space with far-reaching mountain views – that feeling is infinitely amplified. Thanks to a very special invite, that’s exactly what we experienced yesterday when we got a sneak peek around Sydney’s genuinely stunning new airport, which is on track to open towards the end of this year. The word stunning is one that we’re guilty of throwing around a lot, but in this case it’s absolutely accurate. The architecture firms tasked with bringing the project to life (Cox Architecture, Woods Bagot and Zaha Hadid) were encouraged to celebrate the local environment, resulting in a masterfully designed space framed by floor-to-ceiling windows opening up onto expansive views of the Blue Mountains. The mountain views are the show-stealers, but the nods to the local environment are woven the whole way through the design: the terrazzo tiled floors are studded with pebbles from the Nepean River, the tall, organically shaped pillars mimic the shapes of local tree trunks, and the walls are formed by carefully mismatched slabs of sandstone from a quarry in the Central Coast. On a more structural level, a lot of the stone used to form the foundations of the building came from the tunnelling of the Westconnex, and the beautiful aluminium suspended ceiling (the largest

Back in 2014, the Australian Federal Government committed to transforming a greenfield site on the western outskirts of Sydney into a huge international airport. Now, the architecturally striking terminal at the new Western Sydney International airport (WSI) has been revealed (we got a sneak peek inside), the airfield, landside and terminal major construction works are now all officially complete, the flight paths have been revealed (along with an interactive noise-mapping tool) and it’s all on track to open in late 2026. Curious? Us too. So, we reached out to the team for the lowdown on what to expect at Sydney’s shiny new airport. Why is Sydney getting a new airport? As one of the most desirable holiday destinations in the world (ranked number one for winter sunshine, and among the very best cities in the world back in 2025), Sydney is an in-demand place to be, so making our city more connected is pretty crucial for the city’s economy. As well as providing a boost to our tourism industry, a new all-hours airport will help connect Sydneysiders with the world – especially those living in Western Sydney. According to a spokesperson from WSI, the population of Western Sydney is set to reach about 3.2 million over the next decade; and with a population comprising 170 different ancestries, a well-connected airport is vital (the average Western Sydney resident is estimated to take 2.6 international trips per year). Photograph: Supplied | Trevor Mein Where is Sydney’s new airport