Max your summer in Melbourne

Here's a guaranteed way to not cure your fear of flying: step inside a plane cabin recreated inside a 40-foot shipping container, don a pair of high quality binaural headphones and plunge headfirst into complete darkness. Flight – an immersive and truly terrifying Darkfield experience – returns to Melbourne by popular demand after a successful run in 2022. It takes you on a turbulance-filled journey through two worlds, two realities and two outcomes. Just know that there are many ways in which the plane lands safely – but will that be your final destination? Flight will run for a three-month season at the Art Centre Melbourne forecourt from December 13. Tickets are on sale now via the website. This review was originally written in 2022, when Flight was last in Melbourne – please be aware that some elements may have changed. You know the drill: check your boarding pass, find your assigned seat, stow your baggage in the overhead bin and fasten your seatbelt. Make sure your tray table is in the upright position, and make sure your window blind is open for take-off. On a monitor in front of you, a flight attendant in a blue uniform details the safety features of this aircraft. She explains that you should take a minute to find your nearest exit, bearing in mind it might be behind you. As she adjusts her pink scarf, she... wait a minute, wasn't her uniform blue? The screen flickers and she's back to blue, and you wonder if you imagined the pink. And then the lights go out. ...

We're just as sad as you are that cherry blossom season is over, but the good news is that it heralds the start of the cherry-picking season. And if you can't get enough of those sweet and juicy red morsels, then make your way to CherryHill Orchards this summer to pick and eat as many cherries as your heart desires. This year's cherry-picking season kicked off early on November 2 at CherryHill's 40-hectare orchard in Coldstream. On November 25, CherryHill's original orchard in Wandin East will follow suit and open its gates to eager pickers.  Sessions last for two hours, and cherries are charged per kilogram – trust us when we say these are some of the largest, sweetest cherries going around. And the fun doesn't stop at picking cherries; the orchard will host on-site food trucks and stalls hawking food and cherry-flavoured products. On top of the famed cherry ice cream, you can also shop pantry goods like cherry vinaigrette, cherry syrup, cherry barbecue sauce and cherry glaze. You can also bring your own picnic, or pre-order a box of goodies to enjoy on the orchard grounds. The sweet specialists at Mary Eats Cake have created three different-sized packs featuring treats like shakshuka quiche, cherry delight doughnuts and a selection of cheeses. And if you visit on a weekend or public holidays, you'll be treated to the sweet sounds of live tunes performed by a rotating line-up of local musos. The cherry-picking festival will run until late December at the Coldstream...

Ever wanted to participate in a séance? You can now do so in this performance which takes place in total darkness. Sounds spooky, right? You'll need to proceed with an open mind... Séance is a 20-minute sonic experience where your senses become vulnerable to persuasion. It explores the psychology of a group of people who have been bombarded with suggestible material, and asks that they believe in what might be conjured up into the room with them. Suddenly, the line between what is real and what is imagined becomes blurred. Séance will run for a three-month season at the Art Centre Melbourne forecourt from December 13. Tickets are on sale now via the website. This review was originally written in 2022, when Flight was last in Melbourne – please be aware that some elements may have changed. "It's only 20 minutes," I think to myself. "How scary could it get for 20 minutes?"  I'm sitting in a pitch-black shipping container with my hands on a table in front of me and noise-cancelling headphones over my ears. The headphones are the only sensory input I have – for now, at least. And what they're telling me is pretty damn scary. Séance is an immersive sound experience created by Brits Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, in collaboration with Melbourne team Realscape Productions. It relies on psychology and our inclination towards superstition to alter guests’ perception of reality, all while never leaving the shipping container.  But boy howdy, it sure feels like you are in a real...

When the sun's shining, all you really need are a few ingredients for the perfect summer party: good food, beer and music. The Suburban, an independently owned pub in Ringwood, totally got the memo – which is why it's collaborated with the good folks at Mountain Culture Beer Co to host a super cool pop-up – 'the Backyard' – until the end of February.  Every Wednesday to Sunday from noon until late, Ringwood's Civic Lane will be home to 10 taps of Mountain Culture's best-loved craft beers, DJs and live musicians, and heritage-listed street art. Brimming with cool warehouse vibes, the Backyard is set to be the number one hang-out spot for Ringwood locals and those sensing the pop-up's bright aura from further afar. Street foods on offer include classic burgers (we're drooling over the smash patty and the KBBQ chicken options), hearty rice bowls (pick tofu, salmon or beef), sea salt-dusted hot chips, ice cream and more.  Love an ice-cold pint or two? Mountain Culture Beer Co has won the GABS Hottest 100 for the past two years in a row, so you can bet a frothy one here will hit the spot. “To partner with Mountain Culture, one of the best breweries in Australia, showcasing 10 taps of their incredible beers is very exciting for us at the Suburban," says Andy Croucher, the pub's director. "This worldclass street art has been largely unseen. Written on one of the walls is: ‘Stories have to be told, or they will fade away,’ and I think that says it all. There are stories in this...

The term 'immersive experience' gets thrown around a lot these days, but a new attraction making its Aussie debut in our city can definitely claim the phrase – because it requires visitors to rely on their own five senses as part of a unique journey.  Sensas first opened in France and has since wowed visitors around the world, including Spain, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. And now, it's Melbourne's turn to share in the experience. Round up at least three mates, because this attraction is all about working as a team – so you're goint to want to choose your companions wisely. Together, you'll navigate through six themed spaces filled with sensory based challenges that are designed to create a rollercoaster of emotions.  From rooms in pitch-black darkness to playful games – and plenty of 'grammable moments – you'll use all your senses to complete a variety of team-based tasks. Yes, even taste!  In addition to the fun and frivolity, the experience also promotes an important message. Designed to be an accessible environment, Sensas aims to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by people with disabilities, via the opportunity to experience sensory-deprivation. And even better, as players earn charms through each challenge, they'll also be raising funds to be donated to local charities.  Sensas opens in South Yarra on December 6 and tickets are on sale now here. You can find out more about the experience on the website.  Looking for more things to do in...

Whether you’re yet to grace restaurateur Chris Lucas’ opulent Society with a visit or you’re a die-hard dinnertime loyalist, it’s well worth a look in for a weekend lunch. From Friday to Sunday in the afternoons, the swish restaurant is hosting the Society Social, an extravagant multi-course affair featuring a generous array of savoury dishes and a roving dessert trolley to dazzle you at the end.  The offering was inspired by Lucas’ recent adventures in Paris and New York, cities where palatial dining rooms reign supreme and lunch is a social occasion in and of itself. Expect a fine dining experience but with a casual, unstuffy air and minus the enormous price tag (it costs just $77 per person for your choice of two courses or $99 if you opt for a third). You’ll start with artisanal housemade bread and butter and a rainbow of market-fresh crudité hand-picked daily from local farms. Opt for a crisp disc of radish dunked into taramasalata or a tree-like cauliflower bud smothered with smoked eggplant or crème fraiche. Repeat and relish the lavish assortment of textures and flavours before easing into your meal with one of Society’s signature drinks – or a bottle of Champers to make it a long and lazy one.  If you’ve got your eye on another varietal, just ask for the beverage director Loic Avril and his team of sommeliers, one of which will assist you in selecting the perfect drop from the impressive 10,000-bottle cellar. A selection of Society’s cult favourite snacks follow,...

Summer in Melbourne means many things, but one of our favourites is that it's cherry season. These juicy fruits make the perfect Christmas present, dinner table centrepiece or beach snack.  Victoria's cherries are ripe for the taking from early November to mid-January, depending how the season goes – there's even a cherry-picking festival dedicated to grabbing as many of these ruby gems as possible. But another option is to support and explore eight regional orchards across the Yarra Valley and Ranges, Upper Goulburn Valley and Macedon Ranges. Some will offer you the chance to go cherry-picking, and you can also purchase freshly picked fruit at all of them. There are more than 80 varieties of cherries in Australia alone, and you’ll get to try types like Stella, Regina and Sweet Georgia, to name a few. These cherries are heart-shaped with dark maroon skin. They’re sweet and rich in flavour and will make the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas celebration. Make sure to check the websites or contact the orchard prior to your visit. It’s always best to ensure they have availability and will be open as they are weather dependent.  For more information, you can download your Victorian Cherry Trail Guide here. Happy picking!  Still craving a healthy snack? These are the best places to go fruit picking in Victoria.

Here's a guaranteed way to not cure your fear of flying: step inside a plane cabin recreated inside a 40-foot shipping container, don a pair of high quality binaural headphones and plunge headfirst into complete darkness. Flight – an immersive and truly terrifying Darkfield experience – returns to Melbourne by popular demand after a successful run in 2022. It takes you on a turbulance-filled journey through two worlds, two realities and two outcomes. Just know that there are many ways in which the plane lands safely – but will that be your final destination? Flight will run for a three-month season at the Art Centre Melbourne forecourt from December 13. Tickets are on sale now via the website. This review was originally written in 2022, when Flight was last in Melbourne – please be aware that some elements may have changed. You know the drill: check your boarding pass, find your assigned seat, stow your baggage in the overhead bin and fasten your seatbelt. Make sure your tray table is in the upright position, and make sure your window blind is open for take-off. On a monitor in front of you, a flight attendant in a blue uniform details the safety features of this aircraft. She explains that you should take a minute to find your nearest exit, bearing in mind it might be behind you. As she adjusts her pink scarf, she... wait a minute, wasn't her uniform blue? The screen flickers and she's back to blue, and you wonder if you imagined the pink. And then the lights go out. ...

We're just as sad as you are that cherry blossom season is over, but the good news is that it heralds the start of the cherry-picking season. And if you can't get enough of those sweet and juicy red morsels, then make your way to CherryHill Orchards this summer to pick and eat as many cherries as your heart desires. This year's cherry-picking season kicked off early on November 2 at CherryHill's 40-hectare orchard in Coldstream. On November 25, CherryHill's original orchard in Wandin East will follow suit and open its gates to eager pickers.  Sessions last for two hours, and cherries are charged per kilogram – trust us when we say these are some of the largest, sweetest cherries going around. And the fun doesn't stop at picking cherries; the orchard will host on-site food trucks and stalls hawking food and cherry-flavoured products. On top of the famed cherry ice cream, you can also shop pantry goods like cherry vinaigrette, cherry syrup, cherry barbecue sauce and cherry glaze. You can also bring your own picnic, or pre-order a box of goodies to enjoy on the orchard grounds. The sweet specialists at Mary Eats Cake have created three different-sized packs featuring treats like shakshuka quiche, cherry delight doughnuts and a selection of cheeses. And if you visit on a weekend or public holidays, you'll be treated to the sweet sounds of live tunes performed by a rotating line-up of local musos. The cherry-picking festival will run until late December at the Coldstream...

Ever wanted to participate in a séance? You can now do so in this performance which takes place in total darkness. Sounds spooky, right? You'll need to proceed with an open mind... Séance is a 20-minute sonic experience where your senses become vulnerable to persuasion. It explores the psychology of a group of people who have been bombarded with suggestible material, and asks that they believe in what might be conjured up into the room with them. Suddenly, the line between what is real and what is imagined becomes blurred. Séance will run for a three-month season at the Art Centre Melbourne forecourt from December 13. Tickets are on sale now via the website. This review was originally written in 2022, when Flight was last in Melbourne – please be aware that some elements may have changed. "It's only 20 minutes," I think to myself. "How scary could it get for 20 minutes?"  I'm sitting in a pitch-black shipping container with my hands on a table in front of me and noise-cancelling headphones over my ears. The headphones are the only sensory input I have – for now, at least. And what they're telling me is pretty damn scary. Séance is an immersive sound experience created by Brits Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, in collaboration with Melbourne team Realscape Productions. It relies on psychology and our inclination towards superstition to alter guests’ perception of reality, all while never leaving the shipping container.  But boy howdy, it sure feels like you are in a real...

When the sun's shining, all you really need are a few ingredients for the perfect summer party: good food, beer and music. The Suburban, an independently owned pub in Ringwood, totally got the memo – which is why it's collaborated with the good folks at Mountain Culture Beer Co to host a super cool pop-up – 'the Backyard' – until the end of February.  Every Wednesday to Sunday from noon until late, Ringwood's Civic Lane will be home to 10 taps of Mountain Culture's best-loved craft beers, DJs and live musicians, and heritage-listed street art. Brimming with cool warehouse vibes, the Backyard is set to be the number one hang-out spot for Ringwood locals and those sensing the pop-up's bright aura from further afar. Street foods on offer include classic burgers (we're drooling over the smash patty and the KBBQ chicken options), hearty rice bowls (pick tofu, salmon or beef), sea salt-dusted hot chips, ice cream and more.  Love an ice-cold pint or two? Mountain Culture Beer Co has won the GABS Hottest 100 for the past two years in a row, so you can bet a frothy one here will hit the spot. “To partner with Mountain Culture, one of the best breweries in Australia, showcasing 10 taps of their incredible beers is very exciting for us at the Suburban," says Andy Croucher, the pub's director. "This worldclass street art has been largely unseen. Written on one of the walls is: ‘Stories have to be told, or they will fade away,’ and I think that says it all. There are stories in this...

The term 'immersive experience' gets thrown around a lot these days, but a new attraction making its Aussie debut in our city can definitely claim the phrase – because it requires visitors to rely on their own five senses as part of a unique journey.  Sensas first opened in France and has since wowed visitors around the world, including Spain, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. And now, it's Melbourne's turn to share in the experience. Round up at least three mates, because this attraction is all about working as a team – so you're goint to want to choose your companions wisely. Together, you'll navigate through six themed spaces filled with sensory based challenges that are designed to create a rollercoaster of emotions.  From rooms in pitch-black darkness to playful games – and plenty of 'grammable moments – you'll use all your senses to complete a variety of team-based tasks. Yes, even taste!  In addition to the fun and frivolity, the experience also promotes an important message. Designed to be an accessible environment, Sensas aims to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by people with disabilities, via the opportunity to experience sensory-deprivation. And even better, as players earn charms through each challenge, they'll also be raising funds to be donated to local charities.  Sensas opens in South Yarra on December 6 and tickets are on sale now here. You can find out more about the experience on the website.  Looking for more things to do in...

Whether you’re yet to grace restaurateur Chris Lucas’ opulent Society with a visit or you’re a die-hard dinnertime loyalist, it’s well worth a look in for a weekend lunch. From Friday to Sunday in the afternoons, the swish restaurant is hosting the Society Social, an extravagant multi-course affair featuring a generous array of savoury dishes and a roving dessert trolley to dazzle you at the end.  The offering was inspired by Lucas’ recent adventures in Paris and New York, cities where palatial dining rooms reign supreme and lunch is a social occasion in and of itself. Expect a fine dining experience but with a casual, unstuffy air and minus the enormous price tag (it costs just $77 per person for your choice of two courses or $99 if you opt for a third). You’ll start with artisanal housemade bread and butter and a rainbow of market-fresh crudité hand-picked daily from local farms. Opt for a crisp disc of radish dunked into taramasalata or a tree-like cauliflower bud smothered with smoked eggplant or crème fraiche. Repeat and relish the lavish assortment of textures and flavours before easing into your meal with one of Society’s signature drinks – or a bottle of Champers to make it a long and lazy one.  If you’ve got your eye on another varietal, just ask for the beverage director Loic Avril and his team of sommeliers, one of which will assist you in selecting the perfect drop from the impressive 10,000-bottle cellar. A selection of Society’s cult favourite snacks follow,...

Summer in Melbourne means many things, but one of our favourites is that it's cherry season. These juicy fruits make the perfect Christmas present, dinner table centrepiece or beach snack.  Victoria's cherries are ripe for the taking from early November to mid-January, depending how the season goes – there's even a cherry-picking festival dedicated to grabbing as many of these ruby gems as possible. But another option is to support and explore eight regional orchards across the Yarra Valley and Ranges, Upper Goulburn Valley and Macedon Ranges. Some will offer you the chance to go cherry-picking, and you can also purchase freshly picked fruit at all of them. There are more than 80 varieties of cherries in Australia alone, and you’ll get to try types like Stella, Regina and Sweet Georgia, to name a few. These cherries are heart-shaped with dark maroon skin. They’re sweet and rich in flavour and will make the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas celebration. Make sure to check the websites or contact the orchard prior to your visit. It’s always best to ensure they have availability and will be open as they are weather dependent.  For more information, you can download your Victorian Cherry Trail Guide here. Happy picking!  Still craving a healthy snack? These are the best places to go fruit picking in Victoria.