Liv Condous

Whether you're coupled up, single or looking to spend Valentine's Day with your friends, there's something for everyone in Melbourne this February 14. From romantic dinners to bougie hotel stays, this city will be leaning into love, no matter what form it comes in. Plus, heaps of our city's most beloved attractions will be hosting special V-Day events, so there'll be plenty of fun ways to feel the love. If you're tight on budget – that's okay! Here are some cheap and free date ideas. And if you're looking for ways to keep the spark alive beyond just one day of romance, here are the most romantic things to do in Melbourne.  Check out our complete guide to Valentine's Day in Melbourne, where you'll find everything from Melbourne's best date night restaurants to the best places for a cheeky pash. 

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. Melbourne's arts and culture scene is alive and well with a dizzying line-up of events, shows, exhibitions and gigs, including the return of Van Gogh at the Lume, one-woman show Shirley Valentine (starring none other than Nat Bass herself), the adults-only Nocturnal: Museum After Dark, NGV Friday Nights and Shakespeare Under the Stars: Macbeth. Plus, Laneway Festival – with Charli xcx headling – hits Flemington Park on Friday, while Darkfield's Flight and Séance have had their seasons extended. Summer is upon us, 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 heat, there are plenty of other spots across the city that are ideal for escaping from the sweltering sun.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip arou

Melbourne comes alive on the weekend, so be sure to leave some room in your schedule to get out and experience the best of it! To help you make the most of your Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we've gathered all the hottest events, shows, gigs, exhibitions, openings and pop-up activations in one easy spot – you're welcome! In particular, don't miss the return of everyone's favourite foodie event: the Ice Cream Festival. Across 12 days you'll be able to sample 144 different flavours, including Limoncello Spritz and Nutella custard doughnut. The legendary St Kilda Festival is taking place on the foreshore, and you can expect live music and family friendly entertainment – and best of all, it's free! Werribee Open Range Zoo's Sunset Safari sessions are on until the end of March, and it's a chance to see zebras, giraffes and lions at their most active.   While Melbourne's weather perpetually keeps us on our toes, we get some absolute scorcher days in our city during summer. 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 heat, there are plenty of other spots across the city that are ideal for escaping from the sweltering sun.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more way

If there's one thing that Australia does right, it's really beautiful beaches – and a lot of them, to be precise. With a whopping 12,000 fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackled one beach per day. Assuming that your 32-year plan doesn't singularly involve beach hopping around Australia (although, we can of course, dream), we've put together a list of the best and prettiest beaches in Australia that you should visit this year – or at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected for its remarkable beauty, safe swimming conditioning (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure out doesn't end with just one dip. Some of these picks have been richly awarded in the past, while others are less mainstream – but rest easy knowing that every single one of them is well worth their salt, in more ways than one. Now, all that's left is for you to find out for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 All the best places to visit in Australia

March is a huge month in Melbourne, with a stacked schedule of exciting events to enjoy. The Labour Day long weekend will bring with it a ripper line-up of gigs and festivals across the city, including Live at the Gardens featuring Groove Armada, the (free!) Fed Square Summer Gigs and live music galore at Brunswick Music Festival.  This time of year is also when the Formula One Australian Grand Prix zooms back into town for a speedy four days of thrills and fun. And one of the most monumental events on our city's annual calendar rolls around again, with the arrival of Melbourne International Comedy Festival towards the end of the month.  But wait, there's so much more! Check out our list of fun events, new openings, theatre shows, food festivals and more below.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Planning ahead? Here's our guide to the best things happening in Melbourne in April.

With one month left of summer, it's time to pack your social calendar with all of the best warm-weather events our city has to offer. Snap up tickets to Sunset Safari at Werribee Zoo, gather your mates for a Moonlight Cinema session or hit up the Queen Victoria Summer Night Market, and enjoy some al fresco bevvies at Arbory Afloat. Other highlights of this month include massive cultural events like the beloved St Kilda Festival and the return of Asia TOPA. Plus, it's your last chance to catch smash-hit production of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. There's so much to do this month, and our February guide has the deets on all the fun things to do in Melbourne, including mega NGV art exhibitions, music festivals and more. Plus, there are plenty of free attractions, art exhibitions, theatre shows, activities for kids to get amongst as well.  Too hot to trot? Here are the best ways to beat the heat in Melbourne. Plus, it's Melbourne, so there's a chance it will rain. If so, consult our guide to Melbourne's best indoor activities instead. Planning ahead? Here is our guide to the best things to do in Melbourne in March.

If you're trying to plan your next twelve months around when the kids are at school or on holidays, it's a good idea to mark the dates in your calendar ahead of time, so we've laid them out for you below.  When the school holidays hit, if you're searching for things to do to keep the kids entertained, check out the best school holidays activities in Melbourne. Or here is our guide for the best things to do for kids year-round.  Here are the key dates you need to know about the Victorian school holidays and school term dates for 2025.   What are the Victorian school holidays and term dates for 2025? Term 1: Tuesday, January 28 to Friday, April 4 (students start Wednesday January 29 in public schools) Easter school holidays: Saturday, April 5 to Monday, April 21   Term 2: Tuesday, April 22 to Friday, July 4 Winter school holidays: Saturday, July 5 to Sunday, July 20   Term 3: Monday, July 21 to Friday, September 19 Spring school holidays: Saturday, September 20 to Sunday, October 5   Term 4: Monday, October 6 to Friday, December 19 Summer school holidays: Saturday, December 20 to January, 26 2026   RECOMMENDED:  Mark your calendars: these are the Victorian public holidays for 2025 PSA: here's how to use your annual leave to maximise your holiday time in 2025

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

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.

Are you the owner of something furry, fishy or scaly? Then you won't want to miss the Pet Show, which is returning to the Melbourne Showgrounds on March 1 and 2.  The event will bring together all the best bits of the pet industry, uniting the worlds of dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles and small animals, with a range of experts and exhibitors in attendance. You'll have the chance to learn about how to become an even better pawrent, or perhaps find your next fur baby.  There'll be plenty of entertainment, including educational discussions, grooming competitions, live demonstrations, a scales and tails touch zone, and a dazzling performance by Dr Katrina Warren and her WonderDogs. Plus, there'll be food trucks to fuel your fluffy adventures and special activities for kids.  And on Sunday, March 2, you can catch the Canine Disc Australia Competition. Be amazed as talented dogs soar through the air, showcasing their precision and agility whilecatching flying discs. To find out more about the event, head to the website.  Looking for more things to do? Here's our guide to what's on right now. 

One of the city's most beloved street parties is back for its 37th year, with another weekend of vibrant festivities. On February 22 and 23, the Greek Antipodes Festival will take over Lonsdale Street – aka Melbourne CBD's unofficial 'Little Greece' – for two days of Greek street food, traditional dancing, live music and the event's first-ever silent disco. You can expect a delicious array of Greek food vendors – like the iconic Stalactites, one of Melbourne’s longest-running Greek restaurants – serving up everything from sizzling gyros and souvlaki to loukoumades and other sweet treats. And you know the ouzo will be flowing, too. Rena Morfi and Xylourides will headline the main stage on Saturday and Sunday night, respectively, along with various other dance, music and cultural performances. Some of the city's biggest Greek chefs will turn it on for live cooking demonstrations, and don't forget to bring your dancing shoes for the Zorba 'Til You Drop dance competition. For more details, check out the website.  Looking for more things to do in Melbourne? Check out our guide to what's on here. 

The younger sister festival to December's much-loved Meredith Music Festival, Golden Plains is also held at the Supernatural Amphitheatre in Meredith. You can expect no commercial sponsors, free range camping, BYO, and a 'No Dickhead' policy over two days and two nights.  The full line-up for 2025 is absolutely stacked with in-demand international artists as well as local favourites. The headliners for this year are revered singer-songwriter PJ Harvey and breakout post-punk Irish band Fontaines DC. Across the three day program, they'll be joined by 2ManyDJs (otherwise known as Soulwax), rising popstar Magdalena Bay, beloved Aussie Thelma Plum, Sofia Kourtesis, Hermanos Gutiérrez, dance music royalty Robin S and heaps more. You can see the full-line-up in all its glory here.  Golden Plains will run over the long weekend of March 8-10, 2025. To find out more about the festival, head to the website.  Want to know what other festivals are happening soon? Check out our guide to the best music festivals happening in or around Melbourne.

Venture out as night falls and immerse yourself in the many wonders of our world at Melbourne Museum, welcoming those of us with nocturnal tendencies after dark. The museum will open its doors after closing time for Nocturnal: Museum After Dark, a series of exclusive adults-only evenings that returns in 2025, held on the second Thursday of each month. Explore the museum's major feature exhibitions as well as the permnanet ones, and be enlightened by tours, curator talks and trivia. Once you've satisfied your curiosity, enjoy a bev, play drag bingo and have a boogie with some local DJ favourites soundtracking the night. Each monthly event has a different theme and activities, so there's always something new to discover. Highlights include a special Valentine's Day event, a collab with Melbourne International Comedy Festival, a NAIDOC Week event, plus much more.  Tickets are $32 for adults, $30 for concession or $27 for museum members. To find out more about the Nocturnal event series or to buy tickets, head to the Melbourne Museum website. Want to explore more exhibitions? Take a look at our list of the best ones in Melbourne this month. 

Did you know that Ballarat is home to thousands of begonias, including more than 500 unique varieties? In fact, the impressive collection is the rarest in the Southern Hemisphere. They're all housed in the city's historic botanical gardens, and to celebrate this floral feat, the city has hosted the Ballarat Begonia Festival annually since 1953.  When is the Begonia Festival happening in Ballarat?  If you're keen to see the colourful (and highly 'grammable) flower fest in full bloom, make your way to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the Labour Day long weekend from March 8-10. How long is the Begonia Festival on for?  The floral festivities run across three jam-packed days, so you'll have ample opportunity to explore the vibrant floral displays that fill the historic botanic gardens.  What's on at the 2025 Ballarat Begonia Festival?  Alongside the colourful blooms, there will be a line-up of demonstrations, live entertainment, market stalls and food trucks. This year's headline act is 'The Last Numbat' – a large-scale, interactive performance installation that uses puppetry to explore connection, community and collaboration. Created by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, it's the first time magical creation has been seen on Australia's East Coast. A roster of celebrity presenters and industry experts – including Costa Georgiadis, Liam Downes, Mindy Woods and Millie Ross – will host talks on the main stage, and there will be plenty of activities to keep the kids busy. Plus, there wil

Flowers can brighten up any day, but what can make it even brighter is the simple pleasure of getting to pick them yourself. Beloved community garden CERES is spreading this blooming joy throughout the warmer months, welcoming visitors every weekend to come and harvest a fresh bunch.  On Friday and Saturday mornings from 9.30am, head to the Coburg site for the Festival of Flowers, where you can pick your own blooms at Joe's Market Garden. There are blossoming sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos to choose from, and you'll be able to build a beautiful bouquet with up to ten individual stems. Sessions are $30 and while walk-ins are welcome, bookings are recommended. You can book a spot here.  Plus, there'll also be special floral events held on some Saturdays, including workshops on how to put together the perfect bouquet, flower vase arranging with floral experts and even eco-dyeing tote bag classes for kids. Book your place in an upcoming workshop here.  And because nothing says romance quite like a beautiful bouquet, CERES is also hosting some romantic floral-themed events. Weed Dating is back, with a session running on February 1. On Valentine's Day, there'll be a special evening flower picking session, as well as drinks, wood-fired pizzas and DJs creating a swoon-worthy vibe.  The Festival of Flowers will run until the end of April, with U-pick flower sessions happening every weekend. Find out more on the CERES website.  Are you a floral fanatic? Here's a guide on where to see b

CERES is sowing the seeds of love, inviting Melbourne singles to get a little grubby in the garden while meeting new people. If you've got a green thumb and are looking for a special someone to share your veggie patch with, then ditch the dating apps and grab a shovel to get digging.  At Weed Dating, you can get down to the root of your dating desires with potential like-minded suitors (and weed out the wrong ones) at the picturesque urban farm Joe's Market Garden in Coburg. There'll be facilitated conversations and activities, and whether you find a new lover, friend (or anything in between), you can go for your first coffee date at CERES Farm Gate store afterwards.  The event is open to anyone over the age of 18 and warmly welcomes all genders and sexualities. Previous Weed Dating catch-ups have already grown some bloomin' good success stories, so your chance of love blossoming is strong. There's typically monthly events, you can find upcoming sessions here and find all the details on the CERES website.  Wondering where to go for a dinner date? Here's our list of the best date-night restaurants.  

Werribee Open Range Zoo is bringing back its Sunset Safari for a seventh season, inviting visitors to embark on an immersive safari adventure at dusk when the animals tend to be at their most active.  Every Saturday until February 22, visitors can hop on a bus at the zoo and watch as the summer sun sets and illuminates the open range. You'll get to witness majestic animals like zebras, ostriches, giraffes and lions as they roam the savannah, and learn from zoo guides about efforts to protect them from endangerment and extinction. And for the first time ever you'll be able to spot a precious southern white rhino calf, with baby Jabulani joining the herd of adult rhinos. “Sunset Safari comes around just once a year and it’s getting better and better,” says Dr Mark Pilgrim, the Werribee Open Range Zoo director. “It’s a truly unforgettable experience and such a wonderful opportunity to see these iconic animals up close during Melbourne’sdazzling summer evenings.” In addition to the after-hours safari tour, you can also explore the walking trails (among meerkats, monkeys and wild dogs) at dusk and catch live performances of drums, song and dance. Food and beverage options include an African-inspired barbecue, à la carte dining and cocktails at Hippo Beach (these are all sold separately). The Sunset Safari experience runs from 5.30pm to 9pm on Saturday nights, and costs $62 for adults and $32 for children. Head to the Zoos Victoria website to purchase your tickets.  Looking for mor

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

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.

We wholeheartedly believe that Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world – but we'll acknowledge that there's no doubt we're biased. That's why it's always wonderful when it turns out that other people feel the same way about this city as we do.  Earlier this year, Time Out surveyed thousands of readers to determine its global list of the world’s best cities and our city was crowned as the fourth best worldwide – so there's plenty of people who are on our wavelength about Melbourne being top-notch. Now, we’ve got a new title to share – consultancy firm Resonance has released its annual list of the best cities in the Asia Pacific region, and Melbourne has ranked in the top ten. Resonance's rankings of Asia Pacific's best cities assess more than 140 metropolitan areas, which qualify by having a population of more than one million people. To determine which cities should rank among the best, the team at Resonance analyse a number of factors – from air quality to prosperity – as well as recommendations by locals and visitors. They then use their findings to rate the "liveability" and "loveability" of a city, to order their final rankings.  Melbourne ranked in ninth place overall, scoring shout-outs for its impressive sights and landmarks, including the graffiti-splattered Hosier Lane and colourful Brighton Bathing Boxes. The Victorian capital’s easy access to 21 world-class wine regions, like the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula, and major sporting events, like th

The words intimate and arena aren’t a complimentary pair – it’s hard to imagine feeling a closeness emanate around a cavernous space filled with thousands of strangers. But when psych-rock band Khruangbin play Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena as part of their world tour later this month, that’s the feeling the band will seek to create for their audience.  The three-piece band’s vocalist/guitarist Mark Speer, who plays alongside vocalist/bassist Laura Lee and drummer Donald Johnson, explains that this vision ties to the concept behind their fourth studio album, A La Sala.  “[It’s] a very intimate sounding record…  we're going to try and turn that arena into an intimate living room,” says Speer.  An arena-sized living room might seem far-fetched, but if you’re familiar with Khruangbin’s live shows, you’d agree that they’re the type of act that could pull it off. Having seen them play the expansive outdoor space of Sidney Myer Music Bowl in 2022, I can attest that their smooth, warm sound effortlessly enveloped the thousands of people in the audience.  On this latest tour, which will also stop in Sydney and Brisbane, the Texan outfit are playing a two-act setlist – with the first half devoted to showcasing the band’s new album in its entirety. A La Sala was intentionally designed to create a experience that’s evocative of listening to music in your living room – which explains why its title translates from Spanish as ‘to the room’. Photograph: Jackie Lee Young Speer says after

Here's a Melbourne fun fact for you: our city is home to a flourishing herd of Asian elephants. You might have paid them a visit at Melbourne Zoo over the years, but with the birth of three new calves in recent years, the herd had outgrown their enclosure and were ready for bigger and better things. Luckily, the team at Zoos Victoria had planned for the growing elephant clan, with the construction of a ginormous, world-class habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo. It's been a long time coming, but the herd has finally made the big move.  Photograph: Jo Howell After a lot of careful planning, the historic operation to transport the elephants across Melbourne was a huge success, with the six adult elephants and three calves riding in trucks on a 40 kilometre voyage from Parkville to Werribee over the course of five days. It was an intense logistical mission – the elephants were transported in air-conditioned shipping containers, which were lifted by cranes onto and off the trucks. Excitingly, this is the very first time that Werribee Zoo has been home to elephants.  Photograph: Jo Howell Werribee Open Range Zoo elephant trail project officer and zookeeper Lucy Truelson said the elephants were enjoying their new surroundings and "celebrating" in their new home.  "They’re playing, exploring the landscape and they’ve slept beautifully. All these things show us that they’re content, confident, happy and thriving," Truelson says.  Their new $88 million enclosure is the elephant equi

Legendary composer Hans Zimmer is the mastermind behind some of the most memorable and beloved movie soundtracks of all time, and he's bringing his musical magic to Australia for a national tour. The five-time Grammy Award winner penned the scores for blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Inception, Dune and many more – and you could hear them live and loud played by a full orchestra when his tour comes to Melbourne later this year.  Find out everything you need to know about the upcoming Hans Zimmer 2025 Australian tour, including ticket info, below.  When is Hans Zimmer going on his Melbourne, Australia tour in 2025? Hans Zimmer will play two huge Melbourne shows as part of his 2025 tour of Australia. He will perform at Rod Laver Arena on April 29 and 30, 2025.  When do Hans Zimmer Melbourne tickets go on sale? General sale tickets are available from 12pm on Wednesday, February 12, via Ticketek. According to Frontier Touring, all dates for this tour have been announced, and the presale allocation sold out in one day due to overwhelming demand. So basically, get in quick!   How much do Hans Zimmer tickets cost? The most affordable D reserve tickets start from $119 and prices go all the way up to $259 for A reserve aisle seating. For mega fans, there are also a range of VIP packages, starting from $449. What are the dates for Hans Zimmer's 2025 Australian tour? Zimmer will touch down in Brisbane first to perform on April 24, and then take to the stage in

Even if you don’t think you’ve heard of Hans Zimmer, you’ll have heard from Hans Zimmer. The legendary composer is the mastermind behind some of the most memorable and beloved movie soundtracks of all time, including Interstellar, Inception and The Lion King. And in excellent news for music fans, he's bringing his musical magic to Australia for a national tour. Backed by a spectacular live orchestra, the five-time Grammy Award winner will be performing live in Sydney later this year. Keen? Find out everything you need to know about the upcoming Hans Zimmer 2025 Australian tour, including ticket info, below.  When is Hans Zimmer going on his Sydney, Australia tour in 2025? Hans Zimmer will play two huge Sydney shows as part of his 2025 tour of Australia. He will perform at the Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 2025. When do Hans Zimmer Sydney tickets go on sale? General sale tickets are available from 12pm on Wednesday, February 12 – you can score yours here. According to Frontier Touring, all dates for this tour have been announced, and the presale allocation sold out in one day due to overwhelming demand. So basically, get in quick!   How much do Hans Zimmer tickets cost? The most affordable D reserve tickets start from $119 and prices go all the way up to $259 for A reserve aisle seating. For mega fans, there is also a range of VIP packages, starting from $449. What are the dates for Hans Zimmer's 2025 Australian tour? Zimmer will touch down in Bri

From The Lion King and Dune to Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator, prolific film composer Hans Zimmer is the mastermind behind some of the most memorable and beloved movie soundtracks of all time. Now, the five-time Grammy Award winner is bringing his musical magic to Australia for a live national tour in April 2025.  You can hear his most thrilling film scores live and loud, performed by a full orchestra in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. With tickets set to sell out, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Hans Zimmer 2025 Australian tour.  Is Hans Zimmer coming to Australia?  Yes, Zimmer will play five shows as part of his 2025 tour of Australia. He’ll kick off the tour with a show at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Thursday, April 24. The composer will then do two shows at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on April 26 and April 27, before wrapping up his tour with two Melbourne shows at Rod Laver Arena on April 29 and 30. When do Hans Zimmer Australia tickets go on sale? General sale tickets are available from 12pm local time on Wednesday, February 12, via Ticketek. According to Frontier Touring, all dates for this tour have been announced, and the presale allocation sold out in one day due to overwhelming demand. So basically, get in quick!   How much do Hans Zimmer tickets cost? The most affordable D reserve tickets start from $119 and prices go all the way up to $259 for A reserve aisle seating. For mega fans, there is also a range of VIP packages, starting

The 365 party girl herself, Charli xcx must have made a beeline straight for the airport, the airport after she pulled up and cleaned up at the Grammys. Because now she’s Down Under with Laneway Festival, and after kicking off in Auckland on February 7, she’s gonna be turning up the club classics across five Aussie capital cities – Brisbane (Feb 8), Sydney (Feb 9), Melbourne (Feb 14), Adelaide (Feb 15) and Perth (Feb 16). After watching the chaotic fun of brat summer from afar, it’s finally your turn to party with Charli. But does trying to figure out the meaning of brat summer just make you go “girl, so confusing!?” It’s ok babe, we’re here to help with our ultimate guide to channelling brat energy at Laneway. (Plus, we reckon we have a good idea of what Charli will be getting up to in ‘Straya.) The do’s and don'ts of brat behaviour, Laneway edition Wear a strappy white singlet, no bra, and speed dealer sunnies  As a style, brat is the antithesis of the clean girl aesthetic. Be gone, polished Barbie girls, it's time to go feral! When speaking on the brat look, Charli herself has described it as: “Just, like, a pack of cigs, and, like, a Bic lighter, and, like, a strappy white top. With no bra. That's, like, kind of all you need.” (Anything leather is also very brat, but a biker jacket probably isn’t an advisable choice in the Aussie summer heat.) Embrace messy hair, smudged eyeliner and Y2K lipgloss  Brat is not about keeping it prim and proper, so don’t hold back. Mosh your

Beloved country music star Luke Combs has returned to our shores, riding the wave of his international acclaim and breaking a record as the first country musician to have a stadium tour in Australia.  If you're heading to his concert this weekend, there's a few things that'll be helpful to know before you go. Yee-haw! When is Luke Combs' concert in Melbourne? Luke Combs will step on stage at Marvel Stadium for his first Melbourne show on Friday, February 7. He'll perform a second show on Saturday, February 8, 2025.  How to get to the Luke Combs Melbourne concerts Marvel Stadium is right next door to Southern Cross Station, so public transport is by far the best option to get to the gig. Simply walk over the convenient footbridge to get from the platforms to the stadium entrance. For info on how to plan your public transport journey, head over here.  What time will Luke Combs come on stage? Gates open at approximately 5pm, and the music will kick off at 6pm, with three opening acts performing. Luke Combs will take to the stage at 8.45pm, and should wrap up around 10.30pm.  What can I bring to the Luke Combs Melbourne show? There are specific rules for what you can and can’t bring to Luke Combs' concert in Melbourne. Here are the main things to remember. You can bring: Prams, pushers, eskies, bags and other belongings, however they must be able to fit safely under the patron’s seat without impeding access. Patrons are encouraged to travel without bags but, if a bag is necessary

Melburnians recently sweltered through three days of oppressively hot days, hitting 40 degrees in the peak of the heat. After that long stint of feeling hot and bothered, the cool change finally provided some much-needed relief. If you felt like the heatwave was especially boiling for a typical Melbourne summer, you were spot on. It turns out that it actually broke a weather record as the hottest three-day period in a decade. So no, you weren't being dramatic when you felt like you were legitimately melting.   The last time Melbourne recorded a similarly scorching heatwave was back in February 2014. We'd be fine with waiting another ten years for it to happen again. The temperature began to soar on Saturday, February 1, before reaching a sizzling top of 39.3 degrees in the CBD on Sunday, February 2. Monday's top temp was 37.8 and Tuesday peaked at 37.3 degrees. In the 'burbs, it was even hotter. We're scared to look at our electricity bills after having the aircon blasting for so long.  The extreme weather meant Melbourne met the requirement for a 'severe heatwave' classification, which is characterised by at least three days of unusually high maximum and minimum temperatures. Thankfully, on Tuesday afternoon the temperature swiftly dropped a stark ten degrees, with the cool breeze emulating the collective sigh of Melburnians all over. But it's set to be a relatively short reprieve, with the forecast predicting a top of 31 degrees on Thursday, February 6.  If the high tempera

The first month of the year has flown by, and the break we had over the holiday season feels like aeons ago now. It's not so fun getting back into the routine of regular life, but one way to feel better about it is to book in another holiday to look forward to, stat. Luckily, there are cheap flights up for grabs right now, so you won't have to break the bank to make that happen. Qantas has just launched a mega sale on international flights – with 400,000 flights reduced across the majority of its global network. Keen for a Euro trip? You could fly from Melbourne to London and back for $1,749.  Among the routes on sale, other holiday hotspots include New York (with return fares from Melbourne  starting at $1,699), Bali (with return fares from Melbourne starting at $679) and Los Angeles (with return fares from Melbourne starting at $1,199). Want to explore Asia? You could fly from Melbourne to Tokyo for $949 return, or to Hong Kong and back for $999. If you’ve been saving up Qantas points, you’re in luck – sale fares can be redeemed using points. If you'd rather travel luxe, business and premium economy seats are also included in the sale, with premium economy flights from Melbourne to LA starting at $3,299.  The sale will run until Monday, February 10 – but the peak routes will likely sell out fast. Discounted flights are available for travel between Wednesday, February 5 2025 (that’s tomorrow, in case you’re in the mood for a last-minute getaway) until January, February 15 2

If you live in Victoria, chances are you're aware that there's a major heatwave happening right now. The temperature began to soar on Friday, January 31, and reached a scorching top of 38.6 degrees in the CBD on Sunday, February 2. Melbourne heatwave With the sweltering weather continuing into Monday and Tuesday, and the nighttime temperatures still uncomfortably warm, Melbourne has met the requirement for a 'severe heatwave' classification. This is characterised by at least three days of unusually high maximum and minimum temperatures. It's expected to peak with a top of 40 degrees on Monday, February 3. The cool change is expected on Tuesday afternoon or evening, with temperatures for the rest of the week ranging between 25 to 30 degrees.  Melbourne storms If the extreme heat wasn't enough to deal with, a rain deluge dumped on Melbourne on the evening of Sunday, February 2, with dramatic thunder and lightning. Areas across the metropolitan region received between 10 to 20 millimetres of rain. In combination with damaging winds and flash flooding, thousands of Victorian homes were without power late on Sunday night, including many in Melbourne's outer south-eastern suburbs. Thankfully, by Monday morning the wild weather conditions had eased and there aren't any further storms forecasted.  Melbourne continues to live up to its reputation of truly unpredictable weather. While the temperature continues to climb, stay cool indoors – if you don't have aircon at home, here are the

In yet another blow to Australia's music festival scene, it's just been announced that Groovin' the Moo (GTM) has been cancelled for 2025 – the second consecutive year that the event will not run.  Last year, only two weeks after the line-up reveal, the festival announced it would not go ahead. Organisers sited poor ticket sales as the major deciding factor in cancelling the festival, which haven't been strong enough to support the costs associated with running the nationally touring event. Prior to the shock cancellation, the festival toured across the country for 17 years, beginning back in 2005. It hit up cities that typically don't host major music events, like Adelaide, Canberra, Bendigo, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast and Bunbury.  In an Instagram post the GTM account shared on January 31 2025, organisers gave the following statement on the festival cancelling for another year: "Groovin' the Moo won't be happening in 2025, while we work on finding the most sustainable model for Australia's most loved regional touring festival." When the event was cancelled in 2024, organisers commented: "we hope to be able to bring Groovin' the Moo back to regional communities in the future". But now, it seems very uncertain when that future will arrive.  This cancellation comes just one week after Splendour in the Grass organisers announced the festival would also not be returning in 2025, after it was also cancelled in 2024 due to "unexpected events".  Watch this space for any further upda