Things to do
A guide to Sydney events, attractions, outdoor adventures and more
The politics of bushfood now
It's now easier to find lemon myrtle in a bar in Surry Hills than it is in the Byron Bay bushland. Of course, Indigenous Australians were cultivating bushfood tens of thousands of years before René Redzepi came along. For many Aboriginal communities, bushfoods are totemic and essential – not a gourmet fad. While plenty of crops are protected by IP Rights, the laws around Aboriginal lore and knowledge are shaky at best. Do we want the world to become obsessed with crocodile fat without really understanding it?
Muck in at the urban farm
Food scraps come from the restaurant on site, Acre, plus leftovers can be brought in by locals through a community-composting program. They’ve got chooks on site too, which is fun for kids and handy for composting.
Five great reasons to go to Homeground Festival
First Nations culture is front-and-centre stage at Sydney Opera House over two days in October, as Homeground Festival takes over the area with a program of free music, dance and culture.
101 things to do indoors
Get out and undercover with our guide to indoor activities, from entertainment parks to sport and fitness, classes and talks and cultural venues that are warm and dry all year round. Because fresh air is overrated...
What to do in Sydney
The best of Sydney
The Sydney Bucket List
Time Out Sydney editors have selected their favourite things to do in Sydney right now, from activities that show off our city at its best – like kayaking on the harbour or taking high tea with a view – to our favourite weekly treats, such as the best markets around town and the best hidden bars in the city. Take a read through our list and get cracking on that ultimate to do list.
The best yoga studios in Sydney
Ashtanga, yin, vinyassa, hatha, bikram – whatever your style, Sydney's got it. Here are the best yoga studios offering a relaxing place to work on your poses. Reward your efforts with Sydney's healthiest breakfasts, or try something completely different and check out the best kayaking spots.
Escape rooms in Sydney
Puzzle rooms are taking Sydney by storm. Every time we check, another two seem to be popping up out of nowhere – and each one raises the bar with new ideas inspired by the hundreds of escape rooms found across the world. (Apparently Hungary is the place to go for the ultimate mystery room binge – there are more than 100 rooms in Budapest alone). The concept is simple: solve a variety of puzzles placed in and around the room before your allotted time runs out. Each room has a different theme and stimulates all senses, demanding a variety of problem-solving skills. Time Out took the challenge of visiting nine rooms in the city. Whether we got out in time? Well, that's a different matter.
Things to do when it rains in Sydney
Just because the skies are falling, doesn't mean you have to sit around doing nothing... We may be a city that struggles when the heavens part but look hard enough and there's a bunch of fun to be had in a downpour. The key is staying out of it with these great rainy day activities:
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
Louis Theroux Live on Stage
Everybody's favourite documentary maker will share stories about his fascinating body of work in an Australia-wide speaking tour
Made in Sydney: Music Makers and Innovators
Celebrate the creators that make Sydney fantastic
Emerge Festival
The month-long festival features cultural performances, kids’ events and street parades
EB Games Expo
Australia’s premier gaming event lets you play games that haven't been released yet
Time Out Talks: The Politics of Bushfood Now
The second in our Time Out Talks series sees Indigenous leaders and culinary experts discuss native Australian ingredients
Fairs and festivals
The Wellness Festival
After a popular run in Melbourne and Brisbane, the one-day festival of health and wellness is coming to Sydney with a line-up of pep talks, lunchtime workouts and a healthy marketplace. Hosted by Australian model and presenter Laura Dundovic, the program includes speakers who’ll talk on the importance of nutrition, movement, professional development and emotional health. Melissa Ambrosini will run through tips on how to access your inner ‘Mean Girl’, Stylerunner founder Julie Stevanja will share her tips on how to build your own brand, and Brown Paper Bag nutritionist Jacqueline Alwill will talk about the effects of stress on gut health. Plus, publisher and author Lisa Messenger will give her insights into how to break the rules and live life to the full, Matcha Maiden founder Sarah Holloway will talk about ditching the corporate job to turn her hobby into a career, and the Base Body Babes Diana and Felicia will host a sweaty workout session during lunch.
Cruelty Free Festival
If you’ve ever wondered if there’s more you could do to help animals, the Cruelty Free Festival is a good place to start. From an ethical fashion parade to speed dating for animal lovers, the Cruelty Free Festival offers a full day of activities and entertainment that promote cruelty-free lifestyle options. Visitors can browse the marketplace, listen to speakers on the main stage or enter the rescue animal photo competition. Stallholders include Suzy Spoon’s Vegetarian Butcher, Sea Shepherd Australia, the Cruelty Free Shop, Gogo Vego and Greyhound Rescue. It’s $5 entry for adults and free entry for kids under 12, plus the whole event is dog friendly. Can't wait? Find Sydney’s best ethical shops. Eat our favourite vegan burger. Check out Sydney's first vegan pub.
Laneway Festival
St Jerome's Laneway Festival has managed to go from just that – a festival in the backstreets of Melbourne for friends – to an internationally renowned tastemaker in a matter of year. 2017 will be no different, when the festival returns to the Sydney College of the Arts for a day of grassy fun.
Sydney Festival
If you were in Sydney in January, you’d have seen the Flaming Lips play a free concert in the Domain, built a giant cardboard tower in Darling Harbour, watched ferries race under the Harbour Bridge and you’d have ridden a flying fox at Barangaroo – all thanks to Sydney Festival. The annual cultural celebration is the big one in Sydney’s summer must-do list, and the festival’s contemporary programming always manages to surprise. Events take place across Sydney and Parramatta, attracting an audience of over 500,000 each year. In 2017, it’ll be the festival’s 41st year and they’ve already announced shows from multi-award winning artist PJ Harvey, who is playing the new ICC venue in Darling Harbour, plus the homegrown musical Ladies in Black – a toe-tapping trip back in time based on the comic novel by Madeleine St John. Look out for more announcements when the full program is released on October 26.
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Liveworks
Liveworks festival is the main event in Performance Space's annual program, showcasing local, interstate and international artists pushing the frontiers of art and performance. In 2016, artists include dancer/choreographer Kristina Chan, who offers a meditation on impermance in the era of climate change, 'A Faint Existence'. Mish Grigor (of the collective post) will give 'The Talk' – in which she re-enacts awkward conversations about sexuality she had with her family members. Visual artist Ross Manning will transform CarriageWorks' public spaces into a psychedelic landscape with his installation 'Melody Lines'. Meanwhile Indigenous acoustic outfit the Stiff Gins will give a music-based performance about Indigenous artefacts held in museums.Experimental musician and composer Jon Rose will showcase his extraordinary collection of hand-built instruments for 'The Museum Goes Live'. Taiwanese performance artist River Lin will ask visitors to nominate 'unclean' parts of their bodies in a work titled 'Cleansing Service'. And there's more besides: check the website for the complete line-up. For a limited time CarriageWorks is offering an Earlybird discount of 20 per cent off all tickets for Liveworks.
Made in Sydney: Music Makers and Innovators
In this edition of Made In Sydney series General Assembly will be focusing on the city's vibrant music and nightlife scene by hosting a panel of music makers and innovators. Chad Gillard, the co-founder of one of Sydney's most loved record labels Future Classic will be on the panel alongside some other industry buddies. Considering he's played a part in launching the careers of the likes of Flume, Jagwar Ma and Wafia, you know the guy's going to have some pretty excellent insights on the Sydney scene and beyond. After the panel wraps up there will be drinks and tunes right into the evening. The evening is free but RSVP is essential.
A three-course French lunch for just $45
Café Ananas down in Phillip Street is a restaurant inspired by the cuisine of the South of France. In the spirit of the longer days and warmer temperatures that are upon us, they’re now offering a weekday three-course express lunch at the wallet-friendly prix fixe of $45. Your entrée is a beet salad, ricotta ravioli or Niçoise tuna pan-bagnat. For mains, you can have the grilled Wagyu bavette steak, Champagne risotto or fish of the day. Finish it off with a vanilla crème brûlée or selection of ice cream and sorbet. So head to Café Ananas to savour the fresh flavours of French cuisine as well as Sydney Harbour views. Your lunch break can be a real escape – one that doesn’t take all afternoon, or bust the budget.
Win a trip to India with Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is giving one lucky person a spot on their 15-day Classic Rajasthan tour, departing March 19, 2017. The prize includes return airfares from any Australian or New Zealand major city to Delhi and offers an intimate small group experience as you travel through the romantic northern Indian province of Rajasthan. Tour highlights include tiger spotting in Ranthambore National Park; camel riding through the desert in Pushkar; and a visit to the Taj Mahal. Accommodation is included and ranges from fortified mansions to camping under the stars. Competition opens September 15 and closes October 27, 2016. To enter, simply fill out your details here. Good luck!