Winnie Stubbs

There are plenty of exciting new restaurant openings to add to your hit list. My current favourites include a yum new Turkish and Middle Eastern mezze bar in Redfern called Mezepotamia, Newtown’s charming new fisherman’s den, Mister Grotto; a fire-powered Mediterranean diner from the Bar Copains team called Bessie’s; and Marrickville’s new Greek grill house that’s 100 per cent worth the hype, Olympic Meats. Oh, and the five-star Neptune's Grotto. Below, you’ll find Sydney’s best new restaurants. Hungry? I am too. Let’s dig in. 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.

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

Sydney’s cultural calendar is stepping up its game just as summer waves its final farewell, with Vivid lighting up the city from Friday onwards, Sydney Writers’ Festival live at Carriageworks, a whole heap of excellent plays and musicals lighting up Sydney's stages, and our city’s galleries welcoming some major new exhibitions for the winter season (our top picks include the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prize exhibition, the first solo museum exhibition by Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall and the incredible Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. As always, the best markets in the city will be serving up all the fresh produce you need for your long lunches, beer gardens across the city will be serving up weekend fuel, and the city’s best cinemas will be open for a dose of on-screen entertainment.Want to get rowdy? The Inner West Country Fest is back this weekend – bringing beer-fuelled fun to the breweries of the Inner West.If you’re keen to get some air this weekend, our round-ups of the best day hikes close to Sydndey and the best places to camp close to the city should help. Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney. Looking for weekday fun? These are the best things to do in Sydney this week.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

There’s a lot of creative fun to be had in the Harbour City this week – with the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes now showing at the Art Gallery of NSW, an incredible solo exhibition showing at the MCA, Sydney Writers’ Festival live at Carriageworks and a whole lot of excellent plays and musicals showing at theatres across the city.  If you’re low on funds but still want to find some fun, we’d suggest catching happy hour, then settling in for a free show – there’s free jazz in The Rocks this Thursday night, and these bars and pubs across the city have live shows most nights. Keen to keep moving? These are the best running routes in Sydney, and these are the city’s best gyms if you’d rather work out in air-con.  Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this week. Wether not looking so hot? These are the best indoor activities in the city. Mapping out your weekend? These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

As a city bursting with attractions, it’s an unavoidable fact that some of the things in your Sydney guidebook are bound to suck. Long queues, ridiculous prices and crowds of tourists are hardly going to make your trip to Sydney a memorable one – so ditch them all for these top-notch, local-approved sights and activities.  Below we’ve laid out a full range of tried-and-tested tourist stops around Sydney that are guaranteed not to be a let-down; they'll see you surfing at Bondi Beach, jetting across the harbour on a speedboat and watching humpback whales in the wild. Read on for our pick of the very best tourist attractions in Australia’s Harbour City. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:These are the best restaurants in Sydney.These are the city's best bars.And these are the very best places to stay the night.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

With its stunning beaches and glorious gardens, Sydney is a city with nature therapy on tap. And while a walk in the park or a splash in the ocean can be a good fix for all manner of ills, sometimes what you really need is an all-out indulgent spa day.  Thankfully, the Harbour City is home to some of the most incredible day spas in the country – palaces of rejuvenation ranging from a super-affordable communal bathhouse to a luxe harbourside spa in one of the city’s most high-end hotels.  Our editors – including yours truly, lifestyle writer and self-care enthusiast Winnie Stubbs – have valiantly volunteered to try out Sydney’s leading spas, and have put together this list based on how revitalised we felt as we stepped back into the real world. Every few months, we hunt down a new gem to add to the list – Sydney’s wellness game is on the up, and it’s our job to shout from the rooftops about the places that will make you feel like the best version of you.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.  RECOMMENDED:  Keen to head further afield? These are the best spas in the Blue Mountains. And these are the best facials in Sydney.Planning a mum-and-daughter day? These are the best afternoon teas in Sydney.

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

If you’re looking for an easy way to make someone’s day, surprise them with a bunch of beautiful blooms. It’s one of the easiest and sweetest ways to earn a spot in their good books, especially if you’ve accidentally forgotten their special day (don’t worry, we’ve all been there). From birthdays and anniversaries to Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, we’ve rounded up all the best flower delivery services in Australia, all available for easy online ordering with same- or next-day delivery across the country. Pick from a fragrant range of fresh, seasonal and customisable bouquets, and add in locally sourced goodies, like candles, chocolate and wine, for extra brownie points. As long as you order by around midday, your flowers could be delivered around Australia that evening – so no one has to know it was a last-minute save. Want to really win them over? Here are the most romantic getaways in Australia This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

Are you more a glamper than a camper? If you prefer seeing the great outdoors from a luxury tent complete with bubble baths and fresh French linen, let this list serve as your bible. Our Sydney team – including culture-fiend Alannah Le Cross – have tried and tested the best glamping sites in and around Sydney; from a safari tent at Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore to the luxe 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 2025 holiday wish list for when you want to escape the urban hustle without losing the creature comforts. Your back will thank you.  Looking for more travel inspo? Check out the best Sydney camping spots and our top Sydney staycations, and then think about getting there with the best caravans and campervans to hire in NSW. 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.

Whether you need to get away from it all, stretch your legs a bit, or remind yourself of how tiny and insignificant you are in the immensity of Mother Nature, there’s only one thing for it: it‘s time to take a hike. Be it a month-long spiritual pilgrimage, a coastal amble or a mountain scramble, there are magnificent trails the world over – and we’ve rounded up some of the very best on the planet to help you plan your next great hike. From red rock canyons in the American Southwest to the bonnie lochs of the West Highland Way, there’s a hike, trek or trail on this list that’s calling your name. With each hike tried and tested by our editors and writers, we’ve got all the info on where to go, when to go and how long to set aside, plus tips and tricks and the best sights to look for along the way. All you need to do is pack your bags. These are the world’s greatest hikes, according to Time Out. Updated April 2025: We’ve added four new trails to this list to help you plan for summer hikes – and moved a certain Spanish pilgrimage to the top spot. RECOMMENDED:🌲 The best national parks in the world ⛰️ The best destinations for solo female travellers🌊 The most spectacular places to swim in the world🏝️ The best beaches in the world🚂 The best train journeys around the world

It's no secret that Sydney shines during the summer, but there’s something special about the way the Harbour City turns up its everything-but-the-beach offerings during the cooler months. This May, we’ve got giggly goodness courtesy of Sydney Comedy Festival, a sparkling line-up of excellent plays and musicals at theatres across the city, Sydney Writers' Festival taking over Carriageworks, a major new exhibition showing at the MCA and free jazz shows in The Rocks every Thursday evening. Oh, and the Archibald. Adding to the illumination is Vivid 2025 – the immersive wonderland which will be lighting up the city from May 23. Until then, you can get your luminous fix at Nocturnal (lighting up a beautiful prehistoric valley in the Blue Mountains until May 11). This month, we’ll also be spending our days stocking up on local goods at the best markets in the city, walking it out on one of these beautiful scenic trails in the city, and warming up with a Sunday roast as winter sets in. May the force be with us. 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.Want to get away? These are the best weekend breaks near Sydney, these are the best winter getaways in NSW, and these the best hot springs in the state.

If you didn’t know already, Australia is home to some of the most incredible hikes on the planet. From week-long treks through red deserts and green mountains to easy day hikes through rainforests and along beautiful beaches, the land Down Under has every possible kind of walk imaginable – and trust us, they’re all bloody good.  If you’re looking at lacing up your hiking boots this year, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best hikes and walks to do in Australia. Using the age-old philosophy of variety being the best spice, this list has a little bit of everything. From self-guided, kid-friendly day walks to life-changing multi-day treks that can be done independently or in a guided group, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful hikes in Australia. 🥾 The most epic national parks in Australia🌊 Australia's best beaches🤿 The best things to do in Australia

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

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

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

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

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

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

Since it first opened its doors way back in 1997, Club 77 has firmly claimed its place among Sydney’s best nightclubs – acting as a reliable dance den for generations of Sydneysiders. Through the years that the lockout laws blighted our nightlife, the underground Darlinghurst icon delivered consistently good music and the kind of unfettered vibes you want at 2am, a few shots of tequila down. In 2022, the club (referred to mostly as Sevs) stepped up its game, introducing a new cocktail menu and two (two!) daily happy hours. All that’s to say: this place has done a lot for Sydney after dark. Now, to celebrate its 28th birthday, Sevs is doing even more: throwing a month-long program, bringing some of its favourite DJs back behind the decks for 19 nights of on-point parties. The birthday month will reach its peak with a high-energy party brought to life by the Bang Gang, the party collective responsible for a fair proportion of Sydney’s best parties back in the 2000s, when Sevs was in its infancy. The Sydney-born party collective will bring their signature brand of chaotic, electro-fuelled fun back to Club 77 on Friday, May 16 for a high-energy party with Tom Trago and a yet-to-be-announced special guest. Throughout the month, the beloved underground venue will also play host to a carefully curated line-up of local and international/interstate DJs, with Vancouver-based DJ D.Dee and Perth-based producer Mowgli joining Club 77 residents including Mike Who, Deepa, Barney Kato, Mazza

In France, Bastille Day is a day of revolution and feisty celebrations. In Sydney, it’s about all that too – but also, cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. In this year’s case it's also about cabaret shows, wine tours, acrobatics displays and a lot of live music. Vive la révolution! The four-day line-up of fêtes and activités will be unfolding beneath the banner of the Bastille Festival, a free, four-day celebration of the diverse culinary and cultural regions of France, whose major festival takeover of Sydney’s foreshore will be happening across The Rocks to Circular Quay, from Thursday, July 17 until Sunday, July 20.Unsurprisingly, foodies are especially well catered for here – expect French street-food favourites like raclette (melted, grilled cheese heaven), fresh crêpes, garlic-loaded escargot, umami-as-anything saucisson, and a selection of the nation’s most beloved cheeses. With more than 120 exhibitors and over 80 dishes on offer at this year’s fest, Sydneysiders can take a culinary tour of the land of love without leaving the 2000 postcode.  On top of all the food-based festivities, you can enjoy a tour of France's most reputable wine regions, all of which can be found around Circular Quay as part of the Bastille Wine Walk. The celebrations will be soundtracked by a gloriously French line-up of entertainment: with 100 free shows popping up around the Sydney foreshore over the span of four days. Dance classes, jazz shows, live acrobatics displays are among the highlights,

ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the first day the Australian and New Zealand troops saw military action in Gallipoli back in 1915. In recent times it’s become a day of commemorating and remembering all Australians who have served in war. What time is the Sydney ANZAC Day dawn service?  The annual dawn service held at Martin Place begins with the Catafalque Party and Band, followed by the ceremony from 4.20am by the Cenotaph. What time is the ANZAC Day march in Sydney? At 9am there is a march led by war veterans and their descendants, which will take place down Elizabeth Street. What time is the ANZAC Day commemoration service in Sydney? A commemoration service is held from 12.30 at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park by the Pool of Remembrance. What time is the ANZAC Day sunset service in Sydney? The sunset service takes place at the Cenotaph at 5pm. It is a shorter service to conclude the official commemorations, with the accompaniment of the NSW Ambulance Service Band. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox.RECOMMENDED: These are the best places to play two-up in Sydney.

The vibeYou’ll find this friendly neighbourhood café on a sun-soaked suburban street in Sydney’s east. Huge bifold windows open up onto the pavement, where wooden tables fill with mums and bubs with oat babyccinos, and runners fresh from the park (it’s just minutes from Centennial) fueling up with smoothies and loaded toasties. On the shelf by the door, you’ll find a colourful, mismatched selection of mugs donated to the café by the local community – if you ask for your coffee to take-away, you’ll be given one of these instead of a disposable cup. This zero-waste philosophy guides the ethos here, with reusable Huskee cups available to buy, and take-away food packaged in biodegradable paper and cardboard packaging.The food The planet-loving philosophy is also reflected in the all-day menu, which is fresh, seasonal and plant-forward (with the option to add halloumi, goats cheese, bacon or eggs if you need a hit of animal protein).The drinks As you’d expect from such a sustainability-focused operation, the coffee served here comes from a local roastery (Black Market Roasters) and there’s a good selection of specialty drinks, with turmeric and matcha lattes served in Huskee cups and smoothies and milkshakes served in glass jars (an extra $2 if you want to take away). Fresh juices come from Darlinghurst based juice king Simon Says Juice, and there’s a spicy turmeric shot that will make you feel like a paragon of health.Time Out tipOrder the gluten free bread – they source from non

To bring a little musical joy to the Harbour City through the cooler months, Sydney’s historic waterside precinct The Rocks is hosting free jazz performances every Thursday throughout autumn and winter – with live performances by musicians from around Australia. Jazz Sessions in The Rocks will run from 6pm until 8.30pm every Thursday from Thursday, April 3 until Thursday, September 25 – so there’s plenty of time to catch the star-lit shows.  Want to keep the music going? From 8.30pm until 10.30pm every Thursday, ocal distillery Hickson House Distilling Co  will be hosting a later-night jazz set, and serving up an excellent dinner deal: $35 for a signature cheeseburger and fries, paired with a masterfully crafted gin and tonic. The line-up so far includes harmonic duo Aaron Flower and Kate Wadey, the dynamic vocalist Leah Berry and Sydney-based ensemble Zodiac Quartet.The events are free to attend and there’s no need to book. You can learn more over 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:  Want more evening entertainment? These are the best bars and pubs in Sydney for live music. And these are the best shows to catch in Sydney this month. Need fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this week

Now in its 13th year, the Palestinian Film Festival Australia will return to Melbourne from May 7-11 with a bold program of films that offer a powerful exploration of resilience, love and freedom in the face of ongoing war and dispossession. “This year’s program is guided by a deep emotional pulse,” say festival director Naser Shakhtour. “It’s about the power of Palestinian cinema to speak from the rubble, to conjure memory and to imagine freedom. These films reflect not just the struggles, but the resilience, beauty, and strength of Palestinian culture.” The ten-film program will spotlight a selection of both new voices and acclaimed international works, following through on the festival's mission to share Palestinian art and culture with Australian audiences. Highlights include The Teacher, an emotionally charged drama from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Farah Nabulsi about a Palestinian schoolteacher torn between compassion and resistance; To A Land Unknown, which tells the story of two Palestinian friends stranded in Athens and driven to extremes in their quest for escape; and the documentary Yalla Parkour, which explores the powerful connection between a filmmaker and a parkour athlete in Gaza.   The Melbourne leg of the Palestinian Film Festival will be held at Cinema Nova, and you can view the full program and plan your cinema trips over here. It will also travel to Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Brisbane. Looking for more things to do? These are the best things to do in Melbo

Earlier this week, Time Out released their list of the best cities in the world for culture, and Sydney ranked in fifth place. According to 18,500 survey respondents (locals living in cities around the world, including here in city) and Time Out's global team of arts and culture editors, Sydney has more to offer on the culture front than London, New York, Barcelona and, yep, Melbourne. Following the announcement, NSW Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham, MLC released a statement shedding a little more light on how Sydney’s cultural landscape has been blossoming to lead to this result.In his statement reflecting on Sydney’s super-high ranking on the global leaderboard, Minister Graham noted how Sydney’s nightlife has bounced back since the lockout laws were lifted back in 2021. But the removal of the lockout laws isn’t the only regulation change that’s been implemented to boost Sydney’s cultural landscape – with recent vibrancy reforms (largely driven forward by Sydney’s 24-hour economy commissioner, Mike Rodrigues) having helped the city make big strides. "Since coming to government two years ago we’ve been fighting to bring Sydney back to life, which has involved cutting lots of red tape that was holding back small venues through to large cultural events," says Minister Graham. The Minister notes some of the initiatives:  The introduction of Special Entertainment Precincts across the city and beyond; New rules introduced for tenants moving int

There’s a lot of change afoot in Western Sydney. Parramatta is undergoing a huge suburb-wide makeover, Sydney Olympic Park is due to grow by more than 400 per cent over the next 20 years, and there’s a whole new CBD (the first major city to be built in Australia in more than 100 years) appearing on the doorstep of Western Sydney’s new international airport. Now, draft plans have been revealed for another new development: a 41.32-hectare block of land (with space for 550 dwellings) in Austral, a small suburb around 15 minutes from the new airport. Stretching across 41.32 hectares, the plot of land at 10 Gurner Avenue is one of the largest ever landholdings in Austral, and has sold for a record $119.5 million. The new owners are one of Western Sydney’s largest residential developers, responsible for some of the biggest residential developments in the area. As of early May 2025, Castle Group have seven major housing development projects under their belt, totalling more than a thousand homes. Now, they’re working on a mega development set to transform the suburb of Austral – with an estimated 550 new homes due to be built on the site. Photograph: Supplied | Castle Group The population of Austral – which was 12,656 in 2024, according to the census – is already growing rapidly, with forecasts predicting it would increase by more than 42,000 people by 2026 (that's a population increase of more than 330 per cent in just two years). According to Castle Group, their vision for the si

There are a lot of things to smile about in the Harbour City. Our restaurant scene is exceptional (feat the second-best steak restaurant in the world), our cultural offerings are world-class (Sydney recently ranked as the fifth-best city in the world for culture) and our beautiful beaches speak for themselves. And now, we’ve got confirmation that our reasons to smile are on the up – with Sydney’s ranking on the global Happy City Index jumping a huge 41 places in just 12 months. Now in its sixth year, the Happy City Index ranks 200 cities around the world using 82 indicators across six categories: governance, environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing and health. These cities are then awarded gold, silver or bronze status based on their overall ranking. While no Aussie cities cracked the top five (those went to Copenhagen, Zurich, Singapore, Aarhus and Antwerp), every single Australian capital city made the top 200. With Sydney smiles on the increase, our city’s ranking rose from 116th place in 2024 to 75th place in 2025 – that’s definitely something to smile about. In last year's Happy City Index, Sydney’s score put us in the "bronze" tier of cities globally – and our city ranked considerably lower than other major Australian cities (with Brisbane ranking 21st, Melbourne 41st, Perth 61st and Hobart 87th). This year, things are looking happier (perhaps surprisingly?), with Sydney now ranking in the silver tier as Australia’s fourth-happiest city, outranking Brisbane, Go

When Airbnb launched in 2007, it changed the game when it comes to how we holiday. Treehouses, tiny houses, yurts, boathouses, castles and even ice hotels are now just a click (and maybe a cheeky flight) away. Now, Airbnb is shaking up the scene again with its latest revamp, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences and services that could totally transform the way we travel. Again.  The major update is ‘Airbnb Services’ – a brand-new feature that pretty much lets you book all the extras you’d crave on a holiday in the one app. Think massages, private chefs, PT sessions, personalised photoshoots and more. Sounds like exactly what your next gals' getaway or honeymoon trip is calling for, right? There are already more than 10,500 offerings across 260 cities around the world, including Sydney and Melbourne, with more Aussie destinations to follow.Wondering what you can book for your Sydney staycation? Read on. On the ‘Airbnb Services’ tab in Sydney, you can book a private chef to cook you a Mediterranean feast from the comfort of your accommodation, or book a professional photographer to photograph you on a journey around the city’s most iconic sites. Alongside the ‘Services’ function, Airbnb has relaunched its ‘Airbnb Experiences’ function – unveiling a fresh line-up of cultural, culinary and creative experiences, all curated and led by local experts. Fancy heading on a guided scenic run through Sydney Harbour, training with a Navy officer on Bondi Beach or taking a pottery clas

From Icebergs sunrises to Totti’s puffy bread to Pymble’s newly-famous Old Baby Cake, Sydney is a mine of TikTokable content. And it turns out, one of the world’s most TikTok-famous natural wonders is just outside of our city’s walls – with the Greater Blue Mountains area ranking as the 18th most iconic natural wonder in the world, according to the platform. Yep, TikTokers are showing the Blue Mountains to the world. To determine the most TikTok-famous Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, travel site Kuoni analysed content made at or of more than 180 official UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, ranking the most popular TikTok locations. To ensure their results were accurate, the researchers compiled a seed list of all official Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, then tallied up the number of TikTok posts featuring relevant hashtags (including nicknames and common spellings associated with each site). According to the data, the Greater Blue Mountains region is currently the 18th-most TikTok famous natural wonder in the world, the most famous in all of Australia. With its far-reaching valley views, stunning cliffscapes and rich eucalyptus forests, the Blue Mountains has officially secured its spot as a social media favourite – just behind America’s Yellowstone National Park, and beating Australian icons including the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. As of April 2025, 60,132 TikTok posts have been made about the beautiful national park on the western edg

Summer is officially over, and here in Sydney, the event calendar of the cooler months is dominated by one word: Vivid. The multidisciplinary festival of lights, music, food and ideas will return to the Harbour City for 23 sparkly nights this winter, promising its most creative and boundary-pushing program to date. Reimagined for 2025, the festival will unfold across five immersive zones – Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and Inner City, and Martin Place and the CBD – with a massive 75 per cent of the events program (and the entire Light Walk) completely free. Whether you’re travelling from overseas or interstate, or just a local keen to see what’s new, we’re here to guide you on the best things to see, places to stay and dining experiences to book at Vivid Sydney 2025. When is Vivid Sydney 2025? Vivid is set to illuminate Sydney across 23 dazzling nights from Wednesday, May 23 to Wednesday, June 14, 2025.  What to see at Vivid Sydney 2025? In 2025, Vivid Sydney is bringing us a reimagined program of light, music, ideas and food – all centred around the open-ended theme, ‘dream’. If you’re only in town for one night, the impressive Vivid Light Walk is a must, guiding you past all the biggest and best light projections from Circular Quay to Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. The best part? The Light Walk will be free for everyone to enjoy this year, along with 75 per cent of the festival’s events. Music lovers can look forward to free live

If you spend any time walking around Sydney, you’ll know the unique sense of fear that comes from being overtaken, at speed, by a teenager on a chugging, Mad Max-style e-bike. Souped up e-bikes are a bit of a menace if they're on our pavements, but, along with e-scooters, they’re a relatively environmentally-friendly way to get around. And while some of our city’s key transport routes are under construction (we’re looking at you, Sydenham to Bankstown metro conversion), the more transport options we have, the better. Now, the NSW government has put forward a plan to allow e-scooters onto shared paths across NSW – plus new rules for e-bike riders.  The NSW Government’s “e-micromobility Action Plan” was floated back in October, providing a potential framework to legalise the use of e-scooters on Sydney’s shared pedestrian and cycle paths. Today, the plan is being submitted, with the state government set to move forward with the new approach. The “safety-focused framework” involves the introduction of new rules and speed limits for e-scooters on shared paths, a review of road rules and dedicated work to limit e-bikes modification and battery fires.The new plan – informed by recommendations from a recent Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-scooters and e-bikes – involves legalising the use of e-scooters on shared paths with a default speed limit of 10-20 kilometres per hour. According to the plan, e-bikes and e-scooters will also be allowed to travel on roads that are signpos

On Saturday, April 26, I saw a shooting star. It was the first one I’d seen in years, and it cracked me open – reminded me that the real magic of the universe is hiding in plain sight. It helped that I was sitting on the edge of the second-widest canyon in the world, drinking wine that had been made at a vineyard down the road and watching a crackling fire warm a tin bathtub that looked out over the far-reaching, prehistoric valley. We were staying the night at Bubbletent Australia, and as the fire painted a pattern in the darkness and a pair of kangaroos hopped up the hillside, reality felt like a distant memory. Photograph: Winnie Stubbs | Time Out Sydney I’d known of Bubbletent Australia long before I visited. It’s a (delightful) part of my job to track down the most interesting accommodation options in NSW, and the idea of these surreal spherical tents perched on the edge of the Blue Mountains had intrigued me for years. After a night in their newest tent – watching lightning throw clouds of colour into the sky, sharing a secluded hill with just herd of goats and a couple of curious kangaroos – I can confirm that this place will blow your mind. If you’re looking for a quirky stay – something different, something out of the ordinary – this is it.Clouds set in not long after I saw the shooting star – smothering the galaxy that sparkled above us – so I can’t personally vouch for Bubbletent’s key calling card. Located more than three hours out of Sydney, the Capertee area

In August of last year, the new stretch of the Sydney Metro City line opened, and Sydney went wild. The superfast driverless train system has transformed how Sydneysiders travel between the North Shore and the Inner West, but the Sydney Metro isn’t stopping there. Once it’s complete, the Sydney Metro network is due to comprise 46 stations – with the existing line extending all the way to Bankstown and a 23-kilometre line connecting to the new Western Sydney Airport. Alongside the new Western Sydney Airport metro line and the Sydney Metro City line extension, there’s another major metro route currently under construction: Sydney Metro West. This 24-kilometre line – running from Sydney CBD to Westmead – is due to open in 2032, and construction has just reached a major milestone. Deep beneath the CBD, the excavation for the huge Hunter Street Station – which will be the final station for the new line – is now complete. This station is due to be the busiest on the Western Sydney line, which is expected to double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. According to Transport for NSW, the Hunter Street Station will see 10,000 people per hour move through it during the morning peak by 2036. As well as the subterranean metro station, the development of the Hunter Street precinct (in the heart of the CBD, with access points between O’Connell Street and Bligh Street and on the corner of George Street and Hunter Street) also involves the construction of Hunter Stree

Communal bath houses are in – with Bondi Junction's Xtra Clubs kicking off the movement last March, the stunning subterranean Slow House opening up beneath Bondi Beach in November, and One Playground's super-affordable Urban Oasis bringing communal saunas to Sydney's Inner City. Now, another has joined the ranks – with Soak Bathhouse Alexandria now open in a huge, light-flooded space in the city's Inner South.When Soak Bathhouse revealed plans for their stunning Bondi Junction bathhouse way back in 2023, Sydney’s spa lovers went a little bit wild – keen to get a taste of the bathhouse experience that’s been keeping Brisbaneites and Gold Coast residents in zen for a good few years now. And although the Bondi Junction space is still yet to open, Sydneysiders can now get their fix from the Inner City space.  Photograph: Winnie Stubbs | Time Out Sydney Soak Bathhouse Alexandria – a sprawling 700 square metre bathhouse – is one of the brand’s biggest locations yet, and is home to a huge warm magnesium pools (heated to 34 degrees celsius), a hot magnesium spa (heated to 38 degrees celsius), a cold plunge pool, a huge dry cedar wood sauna and a steam room. Alongside the communal bathing space, Soak Alexandria also offers private therapies including infrared sauna sessions, LED therapy treatments and massages. Photograph: Supplied | Soak Alexandria The sprawling self-care palace is housed within a new $230-million development designed by renowned Aussie architecture firm Wardle,

Calling all animal lovers! Think you need to travel all the way to Africa to go on safari? Think again. The animal experiences available in NSW are just as diverse and wonderful as our landscapes, which provide plenty of places to have close-up encounters in the wild. But if you’re hoping to spot more than roaming wallabies and roos, our top wildlife parks also offer the chance to see Tassie devils, giraffes, echidnas and even cheeky quokkas. Want to know the best spots to see them all in one place? New research has just unveiled the most picturesque wildlife locations in the world, and the top spot is right here in NSW. The researchers at Titan Travel recently published a Wildlife Safari Index, which aims to spotlight the best destinations around the world for animal lovers outside of Africa. They compiled a list of locations offering the ideal balance of diverse wildlife, endangered species conservation and accessible travel, then ranked them across categories like most affordable, top-rated and most Instagram-worthy. The top scorer? Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney's west.Located deep within Sydney’s sprawling west – just a 45-minute drive from the CBD – Featherdale boasts the world’s largest collection of native Australian wildlife. With more than 2,000 native animals, including 68 endangered species, the park puts a big focus on conservation – but also on unforgettable hands-on encounters with its (generally) cute mammals. You can hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos, pa

Yearning for a holiday? Join the club. Thankfully, Jetstar has zoomed to our rescue – they've brought back their famous Return for Free sale as part of their 21st birthday celebrations. The sale's offering is simply in its name: book a flight to one of the idyllic destinations (with domestic and international routes included), and your flight home will cost you nothing. Here’s the lowdown.The Jetstar Return for Free Birthday Sale will launch to the general public at midnight tonight (Tuesday, May 6) and will run for just 48 hours, ending at 11.59pm Melbourne time on Thursday, May 8 (unless already sold out). Want early access? Club Jetstar members have access to the sale from noon today (Tuesday, May 6). You can become a Club Jetstar member and book your cut-price escape over here. Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSWCape Byron Lighthouse With more than 80 domestic routes and heaps of international routes included in the sale, it might be tricky to pick your destination. In the mood for a Byron Bay getaway? You could fly there and back from Melbourne for $99. Want an island escape? Flights from Melbourne to Bali in the sale start at $239 (with $0 return fares) and flights from Melbourne to Phuket start at $266. Travel dates vary for each route, but include early September 2025 until late March 2026 for domestic travel, and late May 2025 until late March 2026 for international flights. Find out more here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newslette