Things to do
A guide to Sydney events, attractions, outdoor adventures and more
What to do in Sydney
The best of Sydney
20 things to do in Sydney at least once in your life
Sydney’s a beautiful place to live and a glorious city to visit. We’ve picked out 20 things to do that show off our best side, from kayaking on the harbour and cocktails with a view to our favourite weekly markets, the best underground restaurant in the city and where to get your culture fix.
The best walks in Sydney
Coastal walks, bush walks, historical walks and inner city ambles: there are many routes to choose from to discover Sydney from a new angle. See our list of ten favourite places to wander and remember to pack a camera – these walks offer some of the best vantage points for snapping our city at its best.
The Sydney tourist hit list
Events coming up in Sydney
Skating at Cathedral Square
Ice skate in the CBD at St Mary’s Cathedral this winter
Haunted History Night Tours
Get creeped out on this after dark journey around Cockatoo Island
Sweet Street Dessert Festival
Sydney’s dessert masterminds are banding together for sugar-coated festival
Bondi Winter Magic
[Sponsored] This beachside winter bash will entertain the whole family, on and off the ice
Read the latest city news
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15 Vivid Sydney events you shouldn't overlook
The largest winter festival in Sydney – and now Australia – is celebrating its tenth year. The Vivid Sydney program includes big international artists as well as local legends in the music, arts and culture scenes. Now that you’ve read about the headliners, here are 15 events across the Vivid Live, Music, Ideas and Light programs that we think you shouldn’t overlook when you come to plan your days and nights out from May 25 to June 16. Find things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Melbourne winter festivals and events guide
There's something about Melbourne in winter. The moody afternoon light filtering through laneways; the warm glow of cosy wine bars; and of course, the plethora of events and festivals that keep the city buzzing. We guarantee you won't find an atmosphere quite as thrilling anywhere else in the country during winter – and whether you're looking for world-class restaurants and bars, blockbuster art and theatre, unique shopping experiences or exhiliarating sports, Melbourne has you covered. Hungry? Check out our checklist of the restaurants to visit during your winter getaway. To plan your ultimate Melbourne getaway, visit our Time Out Guru to get tailored recommendations on where to stay, what to eat and all the best things to do. What's more, we're giving away an art and food-filled winter weekend in Melbourne! Find out more (and throw your hat in the ring) here.
Bliss
Peter Carey’s Miles Franklin award-winning novel about a fallen 1980s ad man facing his own mortality has held a special place in Australia's collective heart since it was released in 1981. Bliss has been turned into a successful Barry Otto-led film and an opera staged by Neil Armfield, and will now become a play, penned by Tom Wright. It's no easy task for Wright, who'll have to find a way to bring all the weird and wonderful goings-on of Carey's novel to the stage (no word yet on whether he'll actually stage the famous scene where an elephant sits on a Fiat 500). Toby Truslove (ABC's Utopia) will star as Harry Joy, joined by Marco Chiappi, Will McDonald, Amber McMahon, Charlotte Nicdao, Susan Prior, Anna Samson and Mark Coles Smith. Malthouse Theatre’s artistic director Matthew Lutton will reunite with Wright for this surreal masterpiece after the pair adapted Picnic at Hanging Rock for the stage in 2016 and again this year. The ever inventive designer Marg Horwell will create this terrifying and hilarious vision of Australia in the '80s. Read our interview with director Matthew Lutton about bringing Bliss to the stage in 2018.
Lano and Woodley: Fly
It’s been 12 years since Colin Lane and Frank Woodley last performed together as the wildly popular comedy act Lano and Woodley. They split up back in 2006 after two decades to ensure that their real-life friendship wouldn’t suffer from spending every waking second working together. It seems the time apart has served them very well: not only is there a new freshness and energy to their act, but their split has also given them a very funny premise that plays directly into their dynamic. Col has agreed to the reunion on very strict conditions: firstly, he doesn’t want to appear on stage with Frank at any time. He doesn’t want the stress that comes with dealing with Frank’s nonsense, so he’s decided that they must tag-team the show. More significantly, he doesn’t want to do comedy anymore, but a serious play about the Wright brothers inventing the first successful aircraft. As you can imagine, things don’t quite go to plan as Col’s priggishness again comes into conflict with Frank’s childish wonderment (which is still innocent and joyful, even though he’s now 50 years old). The physical comedy is just as thrilling as it’s ever been – there’s a great bit with an electric shock collar – and they manage to make the 900-seat Playhouse at Arts Centre Melbourne feel very intimate. Fly is an impressive feat and a wonderfully constructed show. This is no mere cash-grab reunion tour – although I’m sure it will make plenty of money – but a superb and silly showcase for two comedians s
