Winnie Stubbs

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 winter standout is the never-seen-before-in-Australia glittering jewel collection from Cartier at the NGV, along with the blockbuster Monet to Matisse exhibition in Adelaide. 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

Good news, springtime lovers: we’re in the last month of winter for the year, and it’s shaping up to be a goodie. August kicks off with a bang, with the world’s largest fun run going down on Sunday, August 9. If you’re doing the City2Surf (like me), here’s everything you need to know. I better start stretching. It’s nearly cherry blossom time, with Auburn’s magical festival returning this month at Sydney’s Auburn Botanic Gardens. Book your tickets and see the whole park covered in a bubble-gum-pink blanket of flowers. It’s still whale-watching season – there are plenty of places to see the big beauties in Sydney! Here are some of our faves. This last month of the cold season will be delivering the culture goods, with an incredible round-up of theatre shows keeping us entertained, and the city’s best restaurants and bars serving up happy hour specials and price-slicing deals to keep the cost of living woes at bay. For a nature hit this August, we’d suggest taking an icy dip at one of Sydney’s best ocean pools, or getting some mountain air on one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains. If you need some help warming up, work your way through our guide to Sydney's best Sunday roasts, or settle in with a glass of mulled wine at one of Sydney’s cosiest pubs. Calling all Ted Lasso fans: Woollahra’s Lord Dudley is transforming into the Crown & Anchor this month (Aug 5-7) with themed pub grub, trivia, darts and free pies for the first 100 people through the door.Scroll on for our fu

Want to win ‘favourite child’ status this Father’s Day? Put down the novelty socks and jocks and give Dad what he really wants: quality time with you, good grub – and, a chance to crack those terrible dad jokes along the way. This year, Father’s Day in Australia falls on Sunday, September 6, so there’s still time to plan a special day that your dad deserves (or even an uncle, grandpa, father figure in your life). Whether Dad’s idea of bliss is an early-morning ocean swim, a lazy pub session, a trip to the fish markets, a brewery tour or dinner somewhere delicious, we’ve rounded up plenty of ways to celebrate the father figures in your life – with plenty of free/cheap options, too. 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 READS: Six magical spots to see springtime blooms in NSW – from cherry blossom to tulips These are the best motels in NSW worth the roadtrip Sydney Harbour has a dreamy new wood-fired sauna – and the cold plunge is the ocean

Here at Time Out, we love all hotels equally: the flashy five-stars, the cool boutiques, the well-thought-out budget stays. But some are, undoubtedly, better looking than others. Whether ‘beautiful’ to you is a secluded jungle lodge or an eco-cool city stay, a kitschy motel or a reawakened royal residence, we’ve got them all on this list (and then some).  Now, it goes without saying that any list of the world’s most beautiful hotels is entirely subjective and by no means exhaustive. But what we can offer is real-life experience: every place on this list has been visited by one of Time Out’s editors, writers and hotel experts. From Punjab to Palermo, California to Costa Rica, we can guarantee that each hotel packs serious wow factor, and you’ll have an excellent stay at them all.  The world’s most beautiful hotels at a glance 🏰 Best heritage hotel: Ashford Castle  ⛰️ Best for show-stopping scenery: The Hiramatsu Karuizawa Miyota 🌺 Most beautiful gardens and grounds: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze 🎨 Best for avant-garde art and design: Jackalope Hotel 👑 Best for all-out maximalism: The Fifth Avenue Hotel 🏊 Most beautiful pool: The Phoenicia Malta 🏙️ Most beautiful city-centre hotel: Le Pavillon de la Reine How did we choose the world’s most beautiful hotels?  Our global team of editors, writers and hotel experts spend a lot of their time reviewing hotels in their corner of the world. Every hotel on this list has been selected for a reason: show-stopping scenery, beautiful i

Looking for a fab new restaurant to check out? You’ve come to the right place. The other week I went to Trattoria Da Orazio – a new Italian restaurant from chef Orazio D’Elia in Rushcutters Bay – and it was excellent (order the bombetta pugliese and whimsical dessert platter). Surry Hills fine diner Arthur has reopened after a big reno – still serving a 100 per cent Aussie menu across food and drinks, now in a more accessible way (and a happy hour with $3 prawns!). And you need to make a booking at Ashe – the new Southeast Asian grill from the Bentley Group, led by talented chef Khanh Nguyen. It’s my pick of the new openings of 2026 so far. 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.

The ridiculously spectacular landscapes of NSW are a playground for hardcore hikers. But if you’re a less seasoned trekker – keen to get outside, but not quite ready to go full bush – there are still plenty of opportunities to experience the great Aussie wilderness without venturing too far from the bright city lights.RELATED READ: These are the seven ‘Great Walks’ of NSW In the national parks that sit on the city’s fringes, you'll find a whole heap of wonderful hikes that are perfect for first-time hikers not willing to commit to a full expedition. To bring you the best easy(ish) walks in the area, our team of local editors (including outdoors enthusiast, Travel and News Editor Winnie Stubbs) have laced up our boots and tested them out, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.RELATED READ: These are our favourite bushwalks in the Blue MountainsRead on for our list of the best easy day walks in NSW.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:This stunning trail close to Sydney is the perfect intro to overnight hiking Want more outdoorsy inspo? These are the best weekend escapes close to Sydney. And these are the best camping sites close to Sydney

Choosing the right hotel in Melbourne can be an almighty task. With so many incredible stays to choose between – from charming historic gems to super modern sky-high towers – it can be an overwhelming challenge to decide which one is right for you.Every traveller has their preference, but to make the job of deciding a little easier, our team of local experts have hotel hopped their way around the city to bring you our guide to the very best hotels in Melbourne. Many of the stays included in the list are favourites of Time Out Melbourne Managing Editor Leah Glynn, with our Travel and News Editor Winnie Stubbs (self-confessed hotel obsessive) chiming in and checking the guide to make sure it’s up to scratch.Whether you’re looking for a playful stay right in the CBD action (W Hotel, we’re looking at you) or somewhere more boutique in Melbourne’s buzzy inner north (Standard X), we’ve got your back. Read on for our guide to the best hotels in Melbourne.   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 MelbourneAnd these are our favourite glamping sites in VictoriaTime 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 help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Some of Sydney’s best eats are found in this lively part of the city, from a smoky Egyptian steeet food spot to New York-style diners and a moody izakaya that looks straight out of Tokyo. Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Editor Avril Treasure, have eaten their way around King Street and beyond to bring you this guide to Newtown's best restaurants. And if you're thirsty, check out our guide to Newtown's best bars here. 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: The best Sydney restaurants for your dining hit list

The Blue Mountains region – the stunning, World Heritage-listed national park on the western edge of Sydney – is a go-to weekender destination for Sydneysiders looking for a nature reset, an indulgent spa escape, or an adrenaline-fuelled adventure. And for good reason. The magnificent prehistoric valleys are home to some of the best hiking trails in the state, as well as magical swimming spots and spectacular waterfalls. In the charming towns that punctuate the region, you’ll find cute cafés, perfect pubs, stacked vintage stores, and a good selection of day spas and bathhouses to help ease your mountain-weary muscles. If you’re looking for somewhere to rest your head after all that exploring, we’re here to help. From a gorgeous rustic cottage to an ultra-luxurious boutique hotel, the Time Out Sydney team (including Editor-in-Chief Alice Ellis, who has a house in the region) have tried and tested the best Airbnbs and hotels in the area. Time Out Sydney's Travel and News Editor (and self-confessed Blue Mountains enthusiast) Winnie Stubbs has overseen the list to make sure it's up to scratch – read on for our definitive guide to the best places to stay in the Blue Mountains. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants and cafés in the Blue Mountains.  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 help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our aff

Cupid’s day of love is coming up. Forget the ridiculously overpriced red roses and take your loved one out for a delicious meal at one of Sydney’s most romantic spots instead. Don’t have a hot date? No worries. Take your best friend, your mum, or yourself out for a great night. And if you don’t believe in Valentine’s Day (fair), these gems are romantic year-round for your next date night.  So, how did we pull together this guide? All the venues are cosy and intimate, vibey and have low lighting (none of that fluorescent doctor’s waiting room stuff). And, of course, they all serve top food and drinks with warm, relaxed service – so your night can flow with ease. From classy cocktail bars to chic wine haunts and candlelit restaurants, you’ll find Sydney’s sexiest spots below. Bring a pack of mints and you're good to go. 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. Want to take the pressure off? This is our guide to Sydney's best restaurants. Wooing on a shoestring? These are the best cheap eats in Sydney.

From glitzy musicals and Shakespearean reimaginings to fresh new plays and laugh-out-loud comedies, Sydney’s theatre scene is packed with reasons to put down the remote and head out. Whether you're after a big night out, a thought-provoking drama or a show that'll leave you grinning all the way home, these are the best theatre shows and musicals to see in Sydney this month. Did you know Australia’s last remaining pub theatre is right here in Sydney? Found below Woolloomooloo's 150-year-old Old Fitzroy Hotel, the Old Fitz Theatre is the place for boundary-pushing shows from some of the city's most talented creatives. If you find yourself with a free night and feel like something different – and supporting indie work – check out what's on here. Scroll on for the best musicals, plays and more to see in Sydney this month. RELATED READS: It’s guaranteed laughs galore at the Comedy Store Make Tuesdays more fun with this affordable comedy show in the Inner West

Camping is truly one of the best ways you can spend a weekend out of Sydney, but if you prefer seeing the great outdoors from a luxury tent complete with bubble bath and high thread-count linen, let this list serve as your bible.Time Out Sydney's team of local outdoors enthusiasts (including Travel and News Editor Winnie Stubbs) have tried and tested the best glamping sites in and around Sydney; from a safari tent at Taronga Zoo to the see-through spherical confines of Bubbletent Australia.Each one of these glamping spots have been assessed by our editors based on their luxury, nature immersion and all-round wow factor. Add them to your 2026 holiday wish list for when you want to escape the urban hustle without losing the creature comforts. Your back will thank you. A notable mention goes to Reflections Holidays, who operate 60 (super comfy, super afforable) glamping sites across NSW – from Byron Bay to Seal Rocks. I stayed at their Bonny Hills site with my family on a recent cycling holiday, and the site hit all of the right notes without blowing our budget. 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 camping sites near SydneyThese are the best luxury stays around NSWAnd these are the best motels in NSW worth the road trip

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 will be 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

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

One of Australia's biggest NYE parties is so back – and if last year's lightning-fast sell-out is anything to go by, you'll need to move fast if you want to score tix. Beyond the Valley (BTV) has just unveiled the line-up for its 11th edition, with global dance titan John Summit, noughties icons Black Eyed Peas and rave superstar KI/KI leading the charge. Presented by Untitled Group and Triple J, the four-day camping festival has become a summer rite of passage for Victoria’s dance fans, drawing tens of thousands of people to Barunah Plains every year. To kick off its second decade in action, BTV is going big. Topping the bill is John Summit, one of the biggest names in dance music right now. Fresh from headlining Tomorrowland, selling out London's O2 Arena and Los Angeles' Kia Forum, and racking up more than one billion global streams, the Chicago-born DJ and producer will take on BTV’s hottest slot: the New Year's Eve countdown into 2027. Joining him for an Australian-exclusive performance is Black Eyed Peas. The six-time Grammy-winning group behind beloved poppy hits like 'Where Is the Love?', 'Boom Boom Pow' and 'I Gotta Feeling' will serve up their signature singalong anthems that are so perfectly primed for festival crowds. Electronic music fans will be looked after too. Dutch DJ KI/KI – a megastar in the global dance music scene right now – will return for an extended three-hour set. British grime pioneer Skepta is also back for his first BTV appearance since 2019/20.T

Dust off your sequins – a glittery-as-heck night of disco, circus and cabaret is taking over the Sydney Opera House this winter. Showing in the Studio from July 24 to September 13, Velvet Inferno is the very sparkly new evolution of the hit Australian production Velvet, promising wildly impressive acrobatics, powerhouse vocals and a solid soundtrack of disco anthems. The brilliant Marcia Hines will own the role of The Diva, with beloved multidisciplinary star Brendan Maclean taking on the fan-favourite role of Country Mike. Joining the Velvet family for the first time is singer-songwriter KYE as Gloria, whose coming-of-age story unfolds beneath a sparkling Studio 54-inspired mirrorball. The circus line-up is just as impressive. Expect next-level hula-hooping from Craig "Hula Boy" Reid, the Australian debut of Ukrainian roller-skating duo Duo Stardust, plus terrifyingly impressive aerial performances from Oleg Tatarynov and Zoe Marshall. Hyper-talented vocalists Emma Feliciano and Mateja Sardelis round out the cast. Soundtracked by disco classics including It's Raining Men, If You Could Read My Mind and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), Velvet Inferno reunites the original creative team behind the global hit: director Craig Ilott, musical director Joe Accaria and choreographer Amy Campbell. More than a decade after Velvet first wowed audiences, the production continues to tour internationally, with an ongoing residency in Hamburg. Tickets start at $49.90. You can learn more an

Big news for dance music fans of Victoria: the famously fun touring festival Spilt Milk has just announced its 2026 Vic location, and it’s officially heading to Geelong/Djilang. Australia's biggest regional touring music festival has locked in a new five-year home at Kardinia Park, with support from Visit Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong keeping the event in the region until 2030. For context, Spilt Milk is a younger-leaning music festival that specialises in big name acts – with line-up alumni including Lorde, Post Malone, Childish Gambino, Flume and Doechii. After four mega successful editions in Ballarat, the one-day fest is making the move to Geelong, where it's set to bring tens of thousands of fans – and a major economic boost – to the city each December (popping up this year on Saturday, December 19).So who’s appearing this year? Scottish superstar Lewis Capaldi will headline Spilt Milk's 2026 return to Victoria, marking his first Australian festival run since his triumphant Glastonbury comeback and sold-out arena tour. He'll be joined by four-time Grammy nominee RAYE, fresh off the release of her chart-topping second album, alongside electronic heavyweight KETTAMA, US rapper Baby Keem, indie-pop favourite Maisie Peters, genre-bending pop star Remi Wolf and beloved Aussie outfit DMA'S, plus a stacked supporting lineup of emerging local and international acts.You can check out the full line-up (and sign up for presale access) over here.Stay in the loop: sign up

How does happiness impact the body? It’s a question that’s crossed all of our minds at one time or another: floating in the ocean or gloriously exhausted after a long run around the city. This year, a globally-renowned exhibition dedicated to answering that question is landing in Sydney. Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness will open in The Rocks on September 17, inviting visitors to explore the links between physical health, emotions and overall wellbeing. Created by plastination pioneer Dr Gunther von Hagens and curated by Dr Angelina Whalley, this blockbuster exhibition explores what happiness actually looks like inside the human body. Through real donated human specimens, interactive displays and multimedia installations, you'll discover how everything from stress and resilience to movement, ageing and social connection leaves its mark on our anatomy. Highlights include an Anatomical Mirror that lets you see where your organs sit inside your own body, side-by-side healthy and diseased organs, brain health displays exploring conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and a photographic series examining longevity across 100 years of life. Since launching, Body Worlds has attracted more than 58 million visitors across 175 cities worldwide, with more than 270,000 Australians already stepping inside the exhibition during its stints in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. Tickets start from $35 for adults and $20 for children, with general sales opening on July 29. Keen to get in

I think, after a few years of (pretty enjoyable) searching, I’ve finally done it – I’ve found Sydney’s best facial. Hiding up a set of warmly-lit stairs, seconds from the buzz of Oxford Street, Riya Studios is the latest addition to Sydney’s beauty and wellness scene, and wow – I didn’t realise we needed it. The immaculately designed skin and wellness space, owned and operated by skincare guru Mariya Makas, takes a holistic approach to crafting glowing complexions – combining bespoke facials with acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, super hi-fi new techniques and the most wildly divine facial massage you’ll ever experience. It’s on the more expensive end of the scale, but this is a genuinely exceptional treatment with a perfect curation of products. If you’ve got the cash to splash on a facial, splash it here – your face will thank you.If you're after a treatment that delivers equal parts results and relaxation, the studio's signature Aerolase Facial is the one – I fell asleep several times during my treatment, and left with skin that looked almost glassy. The experience begins with a luxe cleanse and gentle enzyme treatment using Mariya’s fave biotechnology-led skincare brand Epicutis, before a gorgeous sculpting facial massage to melt away any remaining tension. The hero of the treatment is the Aerolase Skin Rejuvenation Protocol, a next-generation laser designed to improve overall skin quality while targeting concerns like uneven tone, texture, redness and congestion

Sydney is pretty infamous for its eye-watering house prices, but when it comes to making money from property, the Harbour City has been knocked off the top spot. New figures from Domain’s latest Profit and Loss Report reveal that Brisbane is now Australia’s most profitable housing market, with 99.5 per cent of house resales recording a profit in the first half of 2026. Although Sydney has been nudged into second place for profitability, it still delivers the biggest median profit in the country. Need this de-coding? Read on. Essentially, while Brisbane might be winning on the percentage of profitable sales, Sydney homeowners are still sitting on some seriously hefty gains. According to the report, Sydney houses that were resold for a profit generated a median gain of $739,500 – comfortably ahead of Brisbane’s $629,056. Some 97.6 per cent of Sydney house resales were profitable between January and June this year, meaning only 2.4 per cent sold for a loss. The catch? Sydney’s gains are growing much more slowly than they are elsewhere in the country. Sydney’s median house profit increased by just 5.8 per cent, compared with a whopping 41.9 per cent rise in Perth and a 21.4 per cent increase in Adelaide. And Sydney’s unit market tells a slightly different story. While 88 per cent of Sydney unit resales were profitable, the median gain was $199,000 – well below Brisbane’s $385,000. According to the report, twelve per cent of Sydney units sold at a loss, compared with just 0.5 per

Melbourne’s west continues to grow and develop, and the booming area just hit another major transport milestone, with the opening of a brand-new station and the removal of two level crossings in the growing suburb of Melton. The new Melton Station is now officially open to passengers, following a three-week construction blitz that saw trains shifted onto two new rail bridges over Exford and Coburns Roads. The result? Melton is now officially boom gate free, and there’s a whole lot more in the works. The Melton Station project marks the 93rd and 94th level crossings removed across Victoria, following the recent removal of crossings at Ferris Road in Melton and Hopkins Road in Truganina. And it's a pretty big deal for local drivers. According to government stats, more than 73,000 vehicles passed through the four crossings every day, with commuters regularly stuck waiting as boom gates came down for almost half an hour during the morning peak. According to the Victorian Government, the shiny new Melton Station has been designed with the suburb’s rapid growth firmly in mind. The elevated station has four platforms, with lift and stair access via a 16-metre-wide underpass, and the underpass will give locals a much safer way to get from one side of the rail line to the other. The platforms are longer, too, and have been future-proofed for nine-car VLocity trains, which are set to start running to Melton from next year. Modelling says that’ll increase capacity on peak services by a

It turns out, Sydney isn’t just a pretty face. The annual IMD Smart City Index has revealed the world’s “smartest” cities for 2026, and the Harbour City has climbed ten places to land at a solid number 22. Wondering how we got there? The annual global index ranks cities according to how effectively they use technology to improve everyday life and tackle the big urban headaches, from traffic and housing to public safety and sustainability. Rather than counting robots or tech billionaires, the rankings are largely shaped by how residents themselves feel about the infrastructure, services and technology available in their city. We’ve got a feeling our shiny new metro system might have something to do with our recent jump. In this year’s rankings, the Harbour City jumped from 32nd place in 2025 to 22nd out of 148 cities this year, earning an overall A rating. Sydney scored particularly strongly for the technology available to residents, receiving an AA rating for its technology factor, while its infrastructure and structures received an A. Photograph: Felicity JenkinsArt Gallery of New South Wales   So, what exactly is Sydney doing right? Residents gave particularly positive feedback on the city’s digital services and connectivity. The report found strong support for free public Wi-Fi improving access to city services, while Sydney also scored well for technology that helps residents feel safer, online tools that make it easier to start a business and internet speeds that meet

Growing up, two of my favourite bedtime storybooks were about fish: The Rainbow Fish (a whimsical reflection on the importance of generosity) and The Fish Who Could Wish (a fun, fanciful tale about an entitled little fish whose most unattainable wishes come true). There are times when I feel a little bit like the lucky orange protagonist from the latter, and my recent trip to Lady Elliot Island – the southernmost island of the Great Barrier Reef – was one of them. As I jumped off a boat into the sparkling waters, and kicked my flippers on the surface of the ocean as reef sharks and turtles and real-life rainbow fish drifted through the depths below me, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d wished this lovely, delightfully aquatic life into existence. I also couldn’t help but wonder about the role that these books might have played in the childhood of Amy Gash – Island Custodian of Lady Elliott Island, and daughter of the man responsible for making the island the pioneering eco-tourism gem that it is. If her wish was to create a place where frazzled souls could come to reset, then it seems that wish has come true. After first visiting in 1980, Peter Gash took custodianship of Lady Elliot Island back in 2005, and set about turning the island into what it is today: planting more than 20,000 trees, developing a hybrid solar power station, and introducing a raft of conservation and sustainability initiatives. As we explored the paths that weave through the now-thriving native bushland

The Hunter Valley is already pretty good at the whole long-lunch, wine-tasting and weekend-away thing – but soon, you’ll be able to add cold plunges, reformer Pilates and pickleball to the itinerary. A major new resort is set to transform 340 acres of the region into Australia’s largest integrated resort wellness precinct, with the first new facilities opening from October 2026. Keen? Us too. Here’s what we know so far. Avani Cypress Lakes Resort is the latest project from global hotel operator Minor Hotels, which is giving the existing Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and adjoining Elysia Wellness Retreat a pretty impressive makeover. Once complete, the sprawling resort will become the largest Avani property in Australasia, with 204 rooms and suites. And while you can absolutely still spend your weekend doing nothing more strenuous than moving between the cellar door and the restaurant, there’ll be plenty of options for those who like their holidays with a side of self-improvement. The revamped resort will still feature its signature 18-hole golf course, plus two restaurants and 24 meeting and events spaces. But the new additions are where things get particularly interesting: expect three pickleball courts, an outdoor cinema, a pool bar complete with DJ booth, ten Pilates reformer beds and outdoor cold-plunge pools. Photograph: Supplied | Minor HotelsAvani Cypress Lakes Resort The big drawcard is AvaniWell, which will make its Australian debut at Cypress Lakes. Rather than asking

The Harbour City has really been stealing the spotlight when it comes to running over the past few weeks (yes, we all saw footage from the glorious City2Surf and Sydney Marathon), but according to a new global ranking, Melbourne is officially the best city in the world for running in 2026 – beating 59 other cities to take the top spot. The ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which assessed 60 cities around the world to work out where runners have the best combination of infrastructure, environment, affordability and lifestyle. Melbourne scored 56.70 out of 100, putting it comfortably ahead of second-placed Sydney, which scored 53.91. Keen to understand the methodology? Researchers assessed ten key metrics, including the number of running trails, air quality, safety, running events, marathons and half-marathons, rainfall, sunshine hours, cost of living and interest in running clubs. For the global ranking, they also factored in physical inactivity rates. Each factor was collected and then normalised to a score between zero and one, then those scores were combined to give each city an overall score out of 100.  The data was sourced from a bunch of different places, including AllTrails for running routes, IQAir for air quality, Numbeo for safety and cost of living, Ahotu for running events and races, climate data for rainfall and sunshine, Google search data for running club interest and the World Health Organisation for physical inactivity rates. Photograph: Chip

If you've been spending your morning commute on a rail replacement bus, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Sydney Metro extension from Sydenham to Bankstown, we've got some very good news: the Southwest Metro has officially completed its final five-week Trial Running program. The milestone brings the long-awaited line another step closer to welcoming passengers, after more than 130 “operational scenarios” were put to the test across the network, with the extended line expected to open next month after final checks have been ticked off.Intrigued about what the testing situation involved? Here’s what we know. According to Transport for NSW, the intensive program was designed to see how the Southwest line performs under a wide range of real-world conditions, including multi-agency emergency responses, service disruptions and other scenarios that could occur once passengers are on board. One of the biggest tests was a major emergency exercise that had been more than 12 months in the planning. It simulated a fire on a moving train, which came to a controlled stop near Bankstown Station. Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police and Transport for NSW were involved, with around 300 volunteers safely evacuated from the train. Phew. Now that Trial Running is complete, the team can move into the next stage of operational readiness testing, which will include running driverless trains for set periods to assess how the network performs under different scenarios.  There are still a few finishing t

ICYMI, American football is coming to Melbourne – and not just for a pre-season cameo. For the first time ever, the NFL is bringing a regular-season game to Australian soil, with the iconic MCG set to swap handballs for touchdowns when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams on Friday September 11, 2026. Whether you’re a die-hard NFL fan or you’re just keen to see what happens when American footie takes over the 'G, here’s everything you need to know. Why is the NFL in Melbourne big news? This will be the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Australia, making it a pretty major moment for American football Down Under. When is the NFL in Melbourne? The NFL Melbourne Game will take place on Friday, September 11, 2026. What time is the NFL in Melbourne? Kick-off is scheduled for 10.35am on Friday, September 11. Gates at the MCG will open from 7am, so there will be a whole heap of time to get through the gates and soak up the atmosphere before the game gets underway. Where is the NFL in Melbourne? The game will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Who's playing at the NFL in Melbourne? It’s an all-NFC West showdown, with the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Los Angeles Rams. How to get tickets for the NFL in Melbourne? Tickets are now on sale, with general admission and hospitality options available through official ticketing partner Ticketmaster. You can buy tickets through Ticketmaster, or find all official NFL Melbourne ticket information at Ticketmaste

Sydney does a very good line in green spaces, but if you’re keen to explore somewhere off-the-beaten-track this spring, we’d suggest making a beeline for the Southern Highlands. On the outskirts of Bowral, the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens is a 13.5-hectare cool-climate garden with a pretty special backstory: it’s being built from the ground up by the community, rather than being purely established and funded by the government. Opened in 2013, the not-for-profit garden is still very much a work in progress, relying on volunteers, grants, donations, memberships and fundraising to bring its ambitious vision to life. And that’s part of the charm – you’re not just visiting a finished garden, you’re watching one grow. RELATED READ: These are the best national parks near Sydney Where are the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens? The Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens are at 1 Old South Road, Bowral, on the north-eastern corner of Kangaloon Road and Old South Road. It’s an easy addition to a Southern Highlands day trip, particularly if you’re already pottering around the storybook streets of Bowral. The gardens cover 13.5 hectares and are still developing, with some areas already established and others earmarked for future planting and landscaping. What are the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens like? The clue is in the name: this is a cool-climate botanic garden, designed around the Southern Highlands’ distinct seasons. Spring and summer bring colourful blooms, autumn brings the

No plans for New Year’s Eve in Melbourne yet? Now you do. Following its debut last year, New Year’s at the Bowl is returning to Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the surrounding Kings Domain gardens on December 31 – and this year’s line-up has us ready to dance. What’s the line-up for New Year’s at the Bowl 2026/2027? Melbourne is ringing in 2027 with Major Lazer headlining, marking the group’s first Australian show since 2015. They’ll be joined by DJ Seinfeld (Live), CC:DISCO!, Helena Hauff, Todd Terje (DJ), Close Counters, Miami Horror, Don West, Yung Singh, Adriana, Surusinghe, Flight Facilities (DJ), Maden Lane, Claire O’Brien and MZRIZK. PBS FM’s Milo Eastwood will host and soundtrack The Bowl, and a special guest will be revealed for the midnight countdown. What time is New Year’s at the Bowl? The party will kick off in the afternoon on Thursday, December 31, 2026, with music running across three stages until 1.30am. The Bowl will host the main-stage action, Garden will focus on live music, soul and disco, and the 360-degree Sundial will delve into deeper club sounds. How much are tickets for New Year’s at the Bowl? Limited early bird GA tickets start from $169.90 plus fees. There’s also a limited Moshtix Ticket Request available for $179.90 plus fees. And if your birthday falls on December 31 or January 1, you can apply for a complimentary GA ticket by emailing nyatthebowl@livenation.com.au. When do tickets for New Year’s at the Bowl go on sale? GA tickets will go on sale fr

With the news cycle as it is right now, it’s really no wonder why 'Quietcations' are one of the coolest travel trends to come out of the 21st century. More and more, people are escaping their loud city lives for remote islands free from crowds, cars and chaos. If your noise-cancelling headphones need a break, a new study has revealed the world's quietest island destinations - and one of them is right here in NSW. To pull together the rankings, BookRetreats.com evaluated 100 of the most incredible islands against the European Environment Agency's description of a quiet area: a pleasant soundscape, where unwanted sound is absent or at least not dominant. Using open satellite and mapping data, it scored each destination on six criteria: rich nature, few roads, low air traffic, uncrowded space, dark night skies and natural coastal spots. According to the final ranking, the absolute quietest island in the world is just a short hop across the ditch. Nicknamed the 'Land of Glowing Skies,' New Zealand's Stewart Island took out the top spot with a total score of 94.6 out of 100. As the world's southernmost International Dark Sky Sanctuary – where just 2.3 per cent of the island registers any artificial light – it has no main roads, a population of just 500 residents and 280 kilometres of untouched trails to explore. The highest-ranked Aussie spot – and fourth in the world – is the stunning Lord Howe Island, located less than a two-hour flight from Sydney. With a strict cap of 400 visi

There’s a lot of development in the works for Melbourne’s west – it is Australia's fastest-growing region, after all – and now we have another major update. The Victorian Government has just given the green light to a major new community in Melton East set to take shape over the next 20 to 30 years. Here’s what we know so far.This month, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved the Melton East Precinct Structure Plan, paving the way for almost 12,000 new homes, seven schools and more than five MCGs’ worth of parks and reserves. Once it’s fully built, the new suburb is expected to be home to more than 36,000 people and support around 1,600 jobs. And, importantly for anyone who has ever endured the daily commute through this area, the plan also includes a serious amount of infrastructure. Among the proposal are three new arterial roads, 14 intersections and five bridges, alongside new cycling and pedestrian links. According to the Victorian Government, we can also expect to see new shopping facilities and four community hubs, designed to put everyday essentials closer to where people live. The precinct will be developed in two stages, with homes to be delivered alongside the infrastructure needed to support them. The approval forms part of the Victorian Labor Government’s ten-year greenfields plan, which aims to make space for 180,000 new homes across the state over the next decade, with this particular development expected to take around 20 to 30 years. Melton East isn’t the