Liv Condous

Summer is in full swing, which means the longest school holiday period of the year is upon us. In Victoria, kids get to have a break until late January. So if you don't want bored children on your hands, you'll need a few ideas up your sleeve for how to keep them entertained. But fear not, we've put together a list of the best family friendly things to do right now, so you won't have stir-crazy kids running around the house. Looking for more things to do? Here’s what’s happening across Melbourne this week. 

Among South Australia's many eclectic and exciting events, Adelaide Fringe stands proudly as the biggest festival of the calendar year, not to mention the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere. In 2023, it made history as the first-ever Aussie festival to sell more than one million tickets, and has only gotten bigger since. Running from February 21 to March 23, the 2025 program will feature more than 6,000 global artists performing across 500 venues in an impressive 1,400-plus shows. Spanning from Whyalla across the state to Naracoorte and beyond, you can expect an incredible mix of cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops and interactive experiences.  As always, The Garden of Unearthly Delights and Gluttony, will transform Adelaide’s eastern parklands into buzzing hubs full of food, music and eclectic energy. Crowd favourites from 2024, including Sleeps Hill Tunnel and The Dome, will also return for an extended season, while 2025 brings hundreds of new shows to discover. Lucky for you, we’ve found all the best ones for you to book at Adelaide Fringe this year. 🌳 All the best things to do in Adelaide🎉 Our guide to the festivals happening in Australia✨ Where to stay in Adelaide

This year, Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29, and rings in the Year of the Snake. For many, this is a time to get together with friends and family to wish for good luck and a prosperous year ahead. We've rounded up some of the best Lunar New Year festivities on offer across Melbourne, so gather your loved ones and book ahead to ensure you don't miss out. Kung hei fat choy!  Lunar New Year is a great time to explore the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, and to eat your weight in dumplings at the best dumpling spots in town. 

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure. The arrival of January brings a bunch of fun-filled, summery activities and events in Melbourne, here are all of our top recs for things to do this month. Right now, the Australian Open is in its closing week, with the AO Live festival soundtracking the finals. The fabulous Midsumma Festival is in full swing, here are our picks of the best events to see. Other ideas for things to do this weekend are the beloved Moonlight Cinema and the Outsiders street art exhibition. It's a long weekend in Victoria, so it's the ideal time for a getaway, check out our suggestions on the best spots here.  If you're feeling like a theatrical night out, Melbourne's stages are packed with ripper productions right now. Catch Beauty and the Beast, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and Sister Act on our city's main stages, as well as The Wind in the Willows at the Royal Botanic Gardens.   Summer is in full swing, and while Melbourne's weather perpetually keeps us on our toes, we get some absolute scorcher days in our city. When the mercury rises, cool off by taking a dip at one of the many places to swim, like outdoor pools, swimming holes and beaches. Or if you're looking for a different way to beat the

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure. The arrival of January brings a bunch of fun-filled, summery activities and events in Melbourne, here are all of our top recs for things to do this month. Right now, the Australian Open is in its closing week, with the AO Live festival soundtracking the finals. The fabulous Midsumma Festival is in full swing, here are our picks of the best events to see. Other highlights for this week include the beloved Moonlight Cinema and the Outsiders street art exhibition. Plus, both of the NGV's galleries have colourful exhibitions on display, with Rekospective: the Art of Reko Rennie and Yayoi Kusama.  If you're feeling like a theatrical night out, Melbourne's stages are packed with ripper productions right now. Catch Beauty and the Beast, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and Sister Act on our city's main stages, as well as The Wind in the Willows at the Royal Botanic Gardens.   Summer is in full swing, and while Melbourne's weather perpetually keeps us on our toes, we get some absolute scorcher days in our city. When the mercury rises, cool off by taking a dip at one of the many places to swim, like outdoor pools, swimming holes and beaches. Or if you're looking for a different way to

Australia is pretty hard to beat when it comes to natural landmarks and epic experiences. However, it’s hard knowing which ones live up to the hype. Our Travel Editor, Melissa Woodley, has drawn on her adventures across every state and territory to curate this list of Australia’s top tourist attractions, spanning from the East Coast to the West.  While the Big Banana didn’t make the cut this time around, you’re sure to be amazed by these spectacular sights, including the world’s largest coral reef, the oldest continually surviving rainforest, and the best sunset-watching location on Earth. Start compiling your great Australian bucket list. 😱 The best places to visit in Australia right now🌈 All the most beautiful places to explore Down Under🌊 Australia's best beaches

While we may not be as well-known for our sandy shores as some other cities (cough *Sydney* cough), we've still got a couple of solid options that have have Melburnians flocking – towel, hat and beach cricket set in hand – when the weather heats up.  So in the name of research, we've beach-hopped across the city to find the best spots where you can soak up the sun, sand and surf. Whether you're into 'grammable locations, secluded gems or somewhere you can partake in water sports (Melbourne editor, Leah Glynn, is a big fan of stand-up paddle boarding at St Kilda Beach), these are our picks of the best beaches in Melbourne. Keen to eat beachside? Here are Melbourne's finest waterfront restaurants. Want to hit the beach, sans clothing? These are Melbourne's best nudist beaches.

We’re calling it: 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for travel in Australia. In a country that buzzes from sunrise to sunset, you’re guaranteed to find new and exciting things happening no matter where you wake up (or wind down). As the Travel and News Editor for Time Out Australia, it’s my duty to scope out all the newest happenings across every state and territory. From epic tours and highly-anticipated restaurants to the hottest new hotels and hidden gem exhibitions, here’s our ultimate list of the 25 best new things to do in Australia in 2025. How many will you tick off? 🦘 The 30 best places to visit in Australia👀 10 major Aussie moments to look out for in 2025🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia

If you're keen to ring in the New Year with an actual bang, catching Melbourne's NYE fireworks is a great way to do it. But rather than paying big bucks to get into one of our city's many rooftop bars, there are loads of spots you can view them for free. Get yourself a prime position on the St Kilda Foreshore or the banks of the Yarra River and prepare your oohs and ahhs. There will be a fireworks display at 9.30pm for children, as well as the big light show at midnight.   Heading out for dinner beforehand? Here's our list of the best New Year's Eve feasts. Don't miss the best parties in Melbourne either.

When it comes to discovering a new fragrance, chasing after alluringly-scented strangers to ask what they’re wearing is a tried-and-true method. But whether you’re too shy to ask or they’re too quick to escape, it’s not always feasible. Instead, you can peruse a selection of unique, rare and beguiling scents at one of Melbourne’s perfume stores. Visit one of Melbourne’s best fragrance boutiques to get advice from the olfactory experts on choosing an every day scent or adding to your personal collection. Melbourne is blessed with a plethora of perfume shops, to choose from, so we’ve assembled this list for fragrance hobbyists, scent wardrobe curators and casual spritzers alike. Or if you want to really shop around, we've included a list of the best local online fragrance stores too.  Ready for retail therapy? Shopping on Chapel Street has it all, check out our guide here. Or if you're feeling thrifty, here are the best vintage stores in Melbourne.

Whether you've got a spreadsheet full of present ideas finalised in October, or you're the type to wait for inspiration to strike on December 24, we've got a gift guide to suit all your gift-giving, stocking stuffing needs.  Want some more festive sparkle? These are the best places to see Christmas lights. Plus, where you can buy a real Christmas tree in Melbourne.

Whether you've got a spreadsheet full of present ideas finalised in October, or you're the type to be hanging out waiting for inspiration to strike on December 24, we've got a gift guide to suit all your gift-giving, stocking-stuffing needs. Spread the festive cheer with our round-up of goodies to suit every personality type. 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: Need to cool off after a big Christmas lunch? Hit up one of Sydney's best beaches.

While summer is mostly a time that's filled with fun-filled activities and socialising, for families with children, it can also be a real challenge to keep the little ones entertained while they're not at school. But fear not, this summer the NGV is helping to keep the kids occupied by helping them unleash their inner artist, with the return of their free summer kids festival.  This year children and teens can look forward to a wide range of free events like performances, hands-on workshops and art-making activities, all inspired by the gallery's latest exhibitions.  Kicking off with a jam-packed launch day on January 11, when kids will get free entry to the Cats and Dogs exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre. Plus, there'll be more pet-themed fun at Fed Square, including live dog shows, craft activities, face painting and a film screening of best in Show to round of the day.  Across the rest of the week-long festival, the NGV will hold pet portrait workshops and pet-themed storytime sessions. Over at NGV International, kids can take part in art workshops make creations inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama in the new blockbuster exhibition.  The 2025 NGV Kids Summer Festival will run daily from Saturday, January 11 to Friday, January 17. Check out the NGV website for all the details.  Looking for more family-friendly activities these school holidays? Find heaps of things to do for kids here. 

Midsumma Festival, one of Melbourne’s most loved celebrations of LGBTQIA+ communities, is returning once more in 2025 with an electric three week-long party. The festival explores and platforms queer culture, amplifying marginalised voices through visual arts, theatre, film, cabaret and much more.  From January 19 to February 9, Melbourne will come alive with around 200 performances and events held across the city, all responding to this year’s theme of ‘collective identity(s). Highlights of the 2025 program include Thirty-Six at Fortyfivedownstairs, Truth to Power Café at Theatre Works and Feeling Afraid as if Something Terrible is Going to Happen at Arts Centre Melbourne. Browse the full program here.  It all kicks off when the free Midsumma Carnival opens the festival on Sunday, January 19. Alexandra Gardens will play host to all sorts of performances, lip sync extravaganzas, a dog show, food stalls, pop-up bars and more. As the sun goes down, DJs will take over the entertainment stages to turn the carnival into one massive dance party.  Then, the signature Midsumma Pride March is happening on Sunday, February 2, which will see tens of thousands of marchers and onlookers gather in St Kilda in support of LGBTIQA+ communities. The parade, which runs through Fitzroy Street and Catani Gardens, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Closing out the festival is Victoria’s Pride, a massive, glitterific street party that will transform Fitzroy’s Gertrude and Smith Street Preci

At the beginning of each summer, thousands of people from far and wide descend upon a farm in rural Victoria, as it morphs into an unlikely musical microcosm. Home to a delicious brand of goat’s cheese and less than 1,000 permanent residents, the township of Meredith also hosts a festival that faithfully defies the odds. The national music festival scene may be in upheaval, but the 32nd edition of Meredith Music Festival was a testament that this indie event has mastered the method for delivering a sold-out success.  With vivid memories of the 2023 mud bath and a chaotic weather forecast ahead, the collective resolve of attendees to have a great time remained intact – such is the loyalty of the average Meredith-goer. After a rambunctious kick-off to the festival from Greek punk band Frenzee, local indie duo Good Morning kept the energy cruising along nicely, with a set that carried the spirit of the weekend ahead. As they piled mates onto the stage for their last song, it was clear they were having a whole lot of fun.   Mk.gee’s crashing guitar chords and growling vocals stilled the crowd in awe as the light of the festival’s first day faded. But it did feel like he should’ve swapped slots with Americana darling Waxahatchee, who followed him, as her sweet songs would’ve been a beautiful soundtrack for the sunset. Enigmatic psych-rockers Glass Beams’ rolling riffs seemed to glide out across the amphitheatre as they led an entranced audience into the late-night bracket. Genesis

If we're totally honest with ourselves, the part of Christmas that gets us most excited is the food. If you can relate, then you don't have to wait until December 25 to indulge, as the Good Food and Wine Show is putting on a special Christmas edition to satiate our craving for festive treats.  The three-day market will celebrate all things food and wine with festive flair, with live cooking demonstrations from beloved celeb chefs, plenty of tastings and stalls so you can get your gift shopping ticked off.  There'll be more than 150 vendors showcasing artisan products, as well as providing inspo for your Chrissy lunch menu. Sample and sip delicious food and drink, and grab gifts for your loved ones (or yourself). Plus, dessert expert Kirsten Tibballs and MasterChef favourite Emelia Jackson will be dishing out tips and tricks on the live cooking stage, as well as other culinary pros.  The market will run from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8. Find out more and purchase a ticket for $15 on the website.  Looking for more Christmas markets for festive shopping? Check out our recs here. 

The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival will return in October 2025 as a one-day event suitable for participants across all levels of fitness. Sign up to walk, run or wheel your way to the finish line and help raise funds for a good cause.  The festival takes place on Sunday, October 12 and marks the 45th instalment of Melbourne's largest marathon. Participants can choose from six distances, each finishing on the grounds of the MCG. Decide if you're up for a 3km walk, 5km or 10km run, a half-marathon or the full 42 kilometres either by foot or by wheelchair. The half and full marathon tickets sold out in 24 hours, but there are still ways to race, and the other distances are still open for entrants.  Ahead of race day, all participants will have access to an array of fitness products, stores and offers from Nike and other sponsors, including Gatorade and BMW, at the Runners Expo on the MCG concourse.  The event is all for a good cause, raising money for hundreds of charities. Racegoers can once again fundraise for a cause close to their hearts, including the festival’s new premier charity partner Beyond Blue, helping to raise awareness and reduce stigma and discrimination around mental health.  The cost to participate varies by event. To register, visit the Nike Melbourne Marathon website. Need to get fit first? Here are Melbourne's best gyms.

The Koorie Heritage Trust are bringing back their one-of-a-kind festive celebration, Koorie Krismas, with a fun-filled free event this weekend in the heart of the city. It's a jam-packed Christmas party with live music, DJs and dance performances, as well as a special, magical appearance from Koorie Klaus. There's a huge line-up of First Nations performers, including the Djirri Djirri dancers, musicians Pirritu Duo, DJ PGZ and lots more.  If you’re needing to get your Chrissy shopping ticked off, Koorie Krismas has you covered too. There'll be a wide array of Indigenous-owned businesses selling their creations, including Melbourne faves like Clothing the Gaps and Haus of Dizzy, as well as crafts and art pieces that would look perfect under anyone’s tree this Christmas. Or you can make your own handmade gift, with workshops on wreath-making with Indigenous flora, customised Krismas cards and badge making.  It's all happening on Saturday, December 14 at Federation Square, from 10am to 3pm. Find out more on the website.   Looking for more festive fun? Check out our guide to celebrating Christmas in Melbourne. 

Melbourne's Christmas Wonderland is the perfect festive family event to get you excited for Santa's visit, and features carnival rides, a thrilling circus performance and much more festive cheer. The extravaganza event is sure to delight your little ones, jam-packed with activities to enjoy. There's a roller skating rink, a teacup ride, carnival games, Christmas jumping castles and a 30 minute circus show. Plus, you can meet Rudolph and other festive characters, make crafts with cheeky elves, play in the ball pit and try sweet treats from Mrs Claus’ Bakery. Of course, the big man himself will also be making appearances and taking photos, so make sure everyone in the family is on his nice list!  The event has the new location of Caulfield Racecourse, information on session times and tickets are available on Ticketmaster.  Looking for more ways to celebrate Christmas in Melbourne? Check out this festive guide. 

There's a certain charm to awkward family photos – the crying baby, the couple who are forcing smiles after a tiff mere seconds before the snap, the grandpa who just can't seem to stop blinking – they're candid moments immortalised forever. Now, you can recreate this magic with festive flair at a photography studio in Melbourne's south, which has a niche for awkward Christmas portraits.  If you're not mad keen on queuing up for yonks at your local shopping centre to see Santa for all of three minutes, Studio Hampton has an alternative offering. It's running awkward Christmas portrait sessions right up until the big day, complete with kooky '80s-style hairdos and the ugliest of festive jumpers.  You can pose for a holiday portrait with a twist with the whole fam (even your fur babies!) at Studio on Hampton, where photographer Charlotte Thompson will capture the awkward snaps, embracing the chaos and imperfection while having fun along the way.  Thompson's aim is to take the stress out of capturing a perfect shot by encouraging families to be a bit silly and create unique memories, rather than forcing their kids to sit on a stranger's lap and hoping for the best. Bookings are $80 for up to four people for a 30 minute session, or book two consecutive sessions for bigger groups. Importantly, the studio will supply the mandatory ugly Christmas jumpers. You'll take three instant photo prints to take home, ready to go straight on the fridge.  The Awkward Christmas Portraits pop-up

We'll never stop talking about the many reasons that make Melbourne worth visiting – but if you don't live close by, the logistics of planning a trip for something like a big concert or sporting event can be an ordeal. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels across the city that make for a great, accessible go-to place for an overnight stay – and the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park is one of them.  The hotel's location is ideal – it's a short walk from St Kilda Road and the many trams that service the area, so it's easy-peasy to get into the CBD, Melbourne's arts precinct and beyond. Plus, you won't feel like you're in the middle of a concrete jungle, if that's not your thing. It's also opposite Albert Park's expansive lake, which is a beautiful spot for a leisurely stroll. Even better, the famed St Kilda Beach is a mere seven-minute drive away.  But if you'd rather relax at the hotel, you're set in that respect, too. You can drink and dine on-site, and chill out with a swim in the indoor pool or at the fitness centre which has a sauna and hot tub. Windows Restaurant is open daily, offering gourmet buffet breakfast and an à la carte breakfast and dinner menu. For a pre-dinner drink or night cap before bed, Mortimer's is a modern spin on an old school gin bar, with an extensive wine and cocktail list.  The stylish rooms feature a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator, a work desk and a modern bathroom. Many rooms boast views over Albert Park or Port Phillip Bay – I stayed in a Superior Lak

May the 4th is a special date for any Star Wars fan, but in 2025 it'll be one to remember. A brand-new Lego Star Wars exhibition is making its world premiere, and it won't be in a galaxy far, far away but right here in Melbourne.  Lego Star Wars: the Exhibition at Melbourne Museum comes from revered Lego genius Ryan 'Brickman' McNaught, who's back with his latest mind-boggling project of massive Star Wars brick creations – some standing at a whopping four metres tall.  There'll be Lego replicas of many of the iconic characters, fan favourite scenes, spacecraft and more, from both the classic films and newer releases. Plus, the exhibition will include interactive brick-based activities inclusive of all ages.  While there's still some time to wait for the exhibition opening, building has already begun, and it's expected it'll take more than 25,000 hours to finish and use a wild 8 million Lego bricks. If you can't contain your excitement, you can see a special preview of one of the impressive Lego models right now. Until December 2, a three-metre-tall red X-wing spacecraft is on display in the museum's foyer. It's made of an astonishing 64,759 bricks and took 382 hours to build – which is just a taste of the scale of the full exhibition.  "Fans will be blown away by the scale of the experience," Brickman says. "Building these iconic scenes and characters in Lego Star Wars form is an extremely complex task – taking the humble Lego brick and using it by the millions to translate

It's always nice having a waterfront view when staying at a hotel (if you ask us, some places throw the term around a little too lightly), but at Crowne Plaza Melbourne, you couldn't possibly get a better vantage point for sweeping views of the Yarra River. When they say riverfront, they really mean it.  In fact, the prime position is unique to the hotel – it was built in 1989, when planning permits allowed for construction atop the actual river, which explains why it sits right on the water's edge. These days, such a building could never be constructed. So if you're looking for a Melbourne hotel that allows you to admire our city's main waterway, this is the one. The site of the hotel also has special significance – it was part of the original port of Melbourne, which was used by sailing vessells from 1854 to 1930.  While the hotel has history, it's keeping up with the times. It underwent a swanky reno in 2020, unveiling an impressive 432 modern guest rooms and suites, a cocktail bar, heated rooftop pool and more.  It's a stay that's especially ideal for tourists and travelling professionals – perched on the edge of the CBD and Docklands, it's close to the action of Southbank (if you have a riverview room, you can watch Crown's evening firey spectacle on the opposite bank), and very well connected to public transport. If your visit is a combo of work and play, the ‘Go-To Hubs’ around the hotel provide flexible working spaces with Wi-Fi and USB outlets. Plus, one of the hotel

Picture this: a balmy summer night in Melbourne spent filling your belly and quenching your thirst from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. If that sounds right up your alley, then mark November 20 in your calendar, because that's when the Queen Vic Market's much-loved Summer Night Market returns.  This year, more than 100 shops, stalls and bars will light up the open-air market sheds across a bumper 15-week season. Foodie highlights include the candied tanghulu fruit skewers from Swirle, gourmet meatball subs from Mr Baller, savoury Japanese-style pancakes from Kicca Okonomiyaki, lamb, chicken and halloumi-stuffed pita pockets from the Cypriot Kitchen and brownie gelato sandwiches from Lickt. When you get thirsty, head to the Happiness is Mojito Bar for refreshing Mojitos in loads of different fruity flavours. You can also grab a froff from Brick Lane, a vino from Rewine or a Spritz from Bella Spritz. As always, you can expect roving performers, pop-up activities (like sunset yoga!) and a rotating line-up of homegrown talent playing live music on the market's main stage. After sipping and snacking, be sure to explore the dozens of stalls selling locally sourced and handmade products including jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares.  And for the month of December there'll be a whole lot of holiday cheer to soak up, with Santa and his trusty elf sidekick roaming around and posing for festive pics. Don't miss 'Snow Time', which is t

It's become a Melbourne tradition: every spring, we get overly invested in the journey of skyscraper dwelling falcons, and their new hatchlings. We were overjoyed when, back in October last year,  Melbourne's most famous birds of prey hatched three fluffy bundles of joy in their Collins Street high rise nest. Just six weeks later, the three fledglings flew the nest. The livestream was switched off, and falcon watch was finished for another year. But, it turns out that the story didn't end there. In fact, the most dramatic part was yet to come.  Just a couple of days after the hatchlings took their first flight, one of them got into a sticky situation. Somehow, the falcon fledgling became stuck behind a glass balcony screen on a CBD skyscraper. Thankfully, it was reported to Wildlife Victoria, who were able to come to the rescue.  But, when the rescuers tried to release the falcon in Fitzroy Gardens so it could freely fly away, it couldn't flap one of its injured wings. So, the falcon was taken to Melbourne Zoo's vet clinic to be examined, and then it was moved to Healesville Sanctuary's Raptor Rehabilitation Centre. There, it received special care until it was flying fit again. It was freed in the Yarra Valley in early December, so it could fly off to flourish in the wild.  Peregrine falcons have been nesting at 367 Collins Street since 1991, with the building becoming the bird's favourite spot to lay their eggs. A livestream of their nest began in 2016, but went viral during

While it may not be the prettiest body of water, we couldn't imagine Melbourne without the Yarra River. She may be muddy brown in colour, but we don't think that should detract from her worth as the centrepiece of our city. When we heard the north side of its CBD banks will be getting a nice facelift, we were all for it, because we want the Yarra's edge to live up to its full potential of being a beloved waterfront area to enjoy. Now, there's news that the much-anticipated improvements have been pushed back. A tale as old as time.  The City of Melbourne kicked off construction on the transformation, called the Greenline Project, last year. It's a grand plan to spruce up the CBD part of the Yarra's banks, with the makeover consisting of 4 kilometres of interconnected promenades, parks, open spaces, native plants, cultural activations and environmental renewal between the section of the river's banks between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge. The plan was to finish construction on the first part of the project before the end of 2024, so it didn't clash with the Australian Open and Moomba Festival taking over Birrarung Marr for summer. But unfortunately, this didn't happen. Due to this setback, it'll take until the end of 2025 to finish this first part of the project, which includes making changes to the eastern part of Birrarung Marr, with the construction of a new boardwalk, seating and shady trees to attract people for a nice riverside stroll. This is the easternmost sectio

As an ancient tome once said: "the years start coming and they don't stop coming". 2025 has arrived and while the new year might spark a touch of existential dread about the incessant passing of time, on a lighter note, it also means that we have another twelve months of super exciting events to enjoy across Melbourne. The annual calendar is always packed with fun-filled gems to look forward to, plus there are some monumental moments – like superstar artist tours – that will hit our city this year. We've whipped around the Time Out Melbourne office and asked the team which major event they're most excited for in 2025, so read on for our top picks.  The Australian Open "I’m always so excited for this time of year since moving to Australia – it’s become my favourite! This will be my third Australian Open that I’ll get to experience live, and this year I have high hopes for Iga Świątek. I’m not just excited for the matches, though – the activities around the event are always fun." Ania Majdan, project manager   Kylie Minogue "Australia’s most iconic export is returning to Melbourne for two huge shows at Rod Laver Arena in February. The first time I saw Kylie was when I was a wee child in 2003, so I couldn’t be more excited to see her more than 20 years on." Saskia Morrison-Thiagu, branded content writer  Melbourne International Comedy Festival "What’s not to love about Australia’s comedy Christmas? You can expect hundreds of shows across more than a hundred venues, making it sup

It's been a long time coming. But believe it or not, Melbourne's Metro Tunnel is opening this year. We understand if you're feeling sceptical about this – don't feel bad, the Airport Rail Link saga has given many of us trust issues. What we can guarantee is that the Metro Tunnel is currently on track to open on time, as the project has recently entered its final stage. So, it's probably okay to actually get excited now!  The final stage before the new train network is ready to open is the trial operations phase of the project. The Metro Tunnel has been in the process of testing since mid-2024, and essentially the staff are now doing practice runs of using the trains, and all the many, many other procedures that go with opening a brand-new, massive piece of transport infrastructure.  Trial operations include carrying out 200 different 'procedure validation exercises', trialling everything from radio communications to fire evacuations. Three of the five new underground train stations (namely Anzac, Parkville and Arden) are ready to open, so staff are able to conduct these trials in fully-functioning stations. The trials will also make sure that the swish new technology being used, like the automated glass doors on platforms and live real-time train updates on the digital screens, are functioning flawlessly.  Construction works are still ongoing on the last two stations to be completed, Town Hall and State Library, forcing the closure of the busiest section of Flinders Street f

Sporting history is being made in our city this summer, with the return of the Women's Ashes. Our Southern Star gals are ranked as the number one team in the world right now, and now they'll take on the poms. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in sport – the Australia vs England Ashes contest – and the rivalry isn’t any less fierce when it comes to the Women’s Ashes. The Women’s Ashes started way back in the summer of 1934-1935 (though there was no trophy until 1998). Ninety years on, Australia is looking forward to hosting England for the 2025 multi-format Women’s Ashes series – with a range of seven different games held across the country, with two held right here in Melbourne. starting in Sydney on January 12, followed by games in Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra, then culminating in a Test match at the MCG from January 30. So if you're keen to support our Aussie ladies and women's sport, read on for everything you need to know.  What’s the format of the Women’s Ashes? Unlike the Men’s Ashes, which is a Test Series, the Women’s Ashes is made up of a series of different game formats. Including one-dayers and T20 games in the mix attracts a range of different audiences to the Women’s Ashes (read: not everyone is interested in Test cricket – the shorter formats open it up to other audiences). The 2025 Women’s Ashes will feature: 3 x ODIs (One Day International games – 50 overs for each team, played in one day) 3 x T20 games (Twenty20 games – 20 overs for each team, pl

Aussies love to travel, and one thing that we can all agree on is that life always feels a bit more exciting when you've got a holiday booked in the future to look forward to. If you're like us, you spent some of the holiday season planning your next getaway to deal with the return back to reality. It turns out that a lot of Australis were doing the same thing, as Webjet reported that bookings for domestic trips surged by 106 per cent in the week following Boxing Day. The travel website has just revealed data on travel bookings made in the weeks following Christmas, and Melbourne is the number one destination for Australians looking to get away this summer. It makes total sense to us – summer in Melbourne is packed full of exciting things to do, including the highlight of our annual calendar, the Australian Open. Our city really thrives this time of year, and we love to see that everyone is keen to get in on the action.  Another trend that WebJet found from the data was a boom in last-minute holiday bookings, with Aussies seemingly spending their Christmas money on last-minute getaways. Of all the travel bookings made by Australians in the seven days following Boxing Day, 87 per cent were scheduled for January. The top travel destinations for the remainder of summer were Australia’s big cities, with Melbourne taking the top spot – with 19 per cent of flights booked heading to our city. Sydney ranked as the second-most popular destination for domestic travel in January, with

UPDATE: after it was announced in November 2024 that Chapel Street Festival would return for the summer, a statement contained in an Instagram post published by the organisers on January 10, 2025, said the event "will no longer proceed". The statement followed: "we remain dedicated to bringing this exciting celebration to life at a later date". Watch this space for more updates.  If your birth year starts with the number two, there's no chance you'll remember it – but back in the day, the Chapel Street Festival was a thriving community street party that celebrated all the elements of the buzzing precinct, from fashion to nightclubs. Can't imagine it? Watch this gem of a YouTube video featuring an archived segment of a TV show documenting all the colour of the event. Noughties nostalgia aside, it looked like a great time. And in 2025, it's back bigger than before.  On February 23, the festival is expected to draw a whopping 100,000 Melburnians to the famed strip. Chapel Street will be divided into six separate sections, so attendees can easily seek out whatever their heart desires. At the Anthem Park stage there'll be live bands and DJs, and at the Pillars you'll find fashion and art showcases. Of course, there'll be a food court section with stacks of stalls, including some from top restaurants like Mr Miyagi and Hawker Hall. Plus, a classic car show will feature more than 50 hot rods, complete with Chap laps. There will also be a wellness area with yoga, pilates and a spirit

The Australian Open is arguably the biggest event on Melbourne's annual calendar, with thousands of locals and tourists alike flocking to the monumental grand slam to get a taste of the tennis action. Not only is the event huge in hype, but also in scale, and it can be daunting to visit – even if it's not your first time. So to help you get across the most important details, we've put together a comprehensive guide including all the essential information that you should know if you want to visit the Australian Open. When does the Australian Open 2025 start and end? The official dates for the 2025 Australian Open tournament are Sunday, January 12 to Sunday, January 26. Where is the Australian Open held? The Australian Open tournament is held at Melbourne Park, situated between the CBD and the suburb of Richmond. Melbourne Park is made up of three major arenas, namely Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena. For the Australian Open, there are a whopping 39 tennis courts in total, including extra, smaller arenas like Kia Arena and 1573 Arena. The gates to Melbourne Park open to the public for each day at 10am.  How can I buy tickets for the Australian Open? You can purchase tickets for the Australian Open online via Ticketmaster. There are several ticketing options, including allocated seating in arenas, or ground passes. Daytime ground passes provide access to almost the whole tournament, except for Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas, and start from $59. Gro

Universities are places of serious enlightenment, where you can uncover your life's purpose – or perhaps the limits of your alcohol consumption. These revered educational hubs are often at the forefront of innovation, and one of the realms that they're paving the way forward in is sustainability. New data has revealed that Australia is playing quite a big role in the trailblazing work of this movement, with three of our nation’s top universities ranking among the best worldwide for their sustainable practices.  Earlier this year, the QS World University Rankings dropped its list of the world’s top universities for 2025, with six Aussie institutions landing in the top 50. Now, the prestigious higher education analytics firm has released its rankings of the universities leading the way in social and environmental sustainability. To determine the rankings, QS scored 1,800 global universities across categories such as environmental research, good governance and environmental education. Photograph: Michael Kai | Solar panels at the Southbank campus are some of the 11,000 panels installed at 44 locations across four University of Melbourne campuses The University of Melbourne secured a spot in the top ten worldwide, tying for ninth place with the University of Manchester on the sustainability rankings. This marks the second consecutive year that the Victorian institute has claimed this position, earning an impressive 98.3 points overall. This included 88.8 points for environmenta

Calling all thrillseekers – if you want to take your adrenaline rush to the next level, there's a unique experience that'll be right up your alley here in Victoria. Australia's first via ferrata trail has reopened for summer, and it gives a new meaning to breathtaking.  RockWire is a guided rock climbing experience that traverses the highest peak of Mount Buller in regional Victoria's alpine area. Situated in our state's High Country, this region is known as one of the most beloved snow spots, but in summer, it can be enjoyed in a whole different way. Photograph: Tourism North East A via ferrata is a trail that climbs steep cliff faces, using a steel cable wire and harness. The term translates from Italian to 'iron path' – it originated in Italy during the second world war as a way for soldiers to travel through the Dolomites mountain ranges.  This climbing experience certainly isn't for the faint-hearted, but as they say, fortune favours the brave. Because the reward for taking on the heights of this climb is incredible views of the surrounding mountain range. All you need is the courage (and a decent level of fitness) to take it on – no climbing experience is required, as you're guided by a skilled instructor.  It sounds a little treacherous, but it's truly super safe. Climbers are attached to a cable at all times, which is permanently fixed into the mountainside. So it's the perfect adventurous activity for adrenaline junkies who prefer to get their thrills in a safe way

If you didn't get quite enough down time over the festive season, don't fret. Victoria's next public holiday will roll around before you know it, and you'll be able to kick back with an extra ten days off work this year. With the days that public holiday dates fall on for 2024, we get a lovely five long weekends, and if you chuck in an annual leave day here and there you could gain three more. We recommend planning some weekend getaways to look forward to, stat. Or if you're dying for a longer break, here's how you can strategically use your annual leave to maximise your time off this year. Luckily, we get quite a few long weekends this year, thanks to the days that our public holidays have fallen on. Either way, let the good times roll. Below are Victoria's public holiday dates for 2025.    January Australia Day/Invasion Day: Monday, January 27 March Labour Day: Monday, March 10 April Good Friday: April 18  Easter Saturday: April 19 Easter Sunday: April 20 Easter Monday: April 21 ANZAC Day: Friday, April 25 June King's Birthday: Monday, June 9 September Friday before AFL Grand Final: Friday, September 26 (TBA) November Melbourne Cup Day: Tuesday, November 4 December Christmas Day: Thursday, December 25 Boxing Day: Friday, December 26   RECOMMENDED:  Melbourne's ins and outs for 2025: what's hot and not for the new year, according to our team Here's your holiday inspo for 2025: these are the Victorian destinations on our editors' bucket lists The V

Nabbing the title of one of the best beaches in Australia is no easy feat, let alone the best in the whole wide world. With more than 12,000 coastal gems dotted across the country, our beach standards are super high Down Under, so it makes sense that our sandy shores consistently rank among the best worldwide. But it's a stiff competition, so if you’re looking for the best of the best, you can trust the travel gurus at Lonely Planet to settle the score. Their fresh list of the world’s best beaches for 2025 has just placed two Aussie gems right at the top – and one of them is right here in Victoria.  The runner-up for the world’s best beach in 2025 is the one-and-only Squeaky Beach in regional Victoria. The crown jewel of Wilsons Promontory, this protected slice of wilderness is fringed by Victoria’s largest marine national park. Its 700-metre shoreline boasts crashing waves, crystal-clear waters, colourful granite boulders and quartz sand that, quite literally, squeaks when you walk across it. In February 2024, Squeaky Beach was also named as the best beach in the country by Tourism Australia, so now it can add another feather to its cap.  Photograph: Mark WatsonMark Watson | 2018 Topping the list as the best beach on Earth for 2025 is Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach, with its glistening azure waters and silica-white sands. It’s not the first time this otherworldly beach has topped 'best beach in the world' lists, and it’s easy to see why. Hidden within the World Heritage-li