Maya Skidmore

Planning your travels for the new year? You should absolutely factor in those long-standing bucket list entries, but if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, 2026 promises a world of brand-new travel experiences.  From sleeping over in an open-air museum to journeying through ancient landscapes on e-bikes, ziplining over glorious wildlife reserves and partying through a solar eclipse – yes, really – there’s a shedload of off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-box stuff happening over the next 12 months. Scroll on for our handpicked selection of the 26 coolest, weirdest and most exciting things to do in 2026.  RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest streets in the world🏘️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best cities in the world right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.

2025 is coming to close, and Sydney is gearing up to celebrate this fact in major style. With an abundance of sexy new wine bars, unfathomably epic hotel renovations and some seriously swish rooftop venues, it's clear that this stellar run of new openings mean we can expect some pretty impressive debut NYE parties this year. To help you choose between the good and the great, we’ve put together a round-up of the best parties to book this NYE – so you can ring in 2026 with a bang (or an intimate dinner – pick your poison). Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want to watch the fireworks without the hefty price tag? Here's our guide to the best free spots in Sydney to watch the NYE fireworks. Ready for a celebration right now? Here are our picks of the best bars in Sydney.

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) – and 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for Australia. As Time Out's Travel and News Editor, it’s my job to hunt down all the newest happenings across every Australian state and territory. From highly anticipated restaurants and hot new hotels to world-first hikes and blockbuster exhibitions, here’s our ultimate list of the 26 best new things to do in Australia in 2026. How many will you tick off? Editors' top picks for 2026: 🥾 Best new hike: Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, NT 🦁 Best new show: The Lion King, NSW 🖼️ Best new exhibition: Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, SA 🦘 The best places to visit in Australia🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia

Believe it or not, summer school holidays are here. And if the thought of keeping the kiddos entertained for the next two months sends you into a spiral, we've got you covered. There’s something here for the explorers, the budding scientists, the mini athletes, the musical prodigies, the artist and just about everyone in between. You'll find the ultimate round-up of activities and experiences happening in Sydney for kids and families this summer. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for somewhere affordable to eat out with the kids? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney. Or visit these kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

If the thought of joining the hoards of shoppers at malls in December gives you full-body chills, save yourself the bother and add these delightful Chrissie markets to your list. From art and design treasure troves to European-inspired food markets, these Christmas shopping pop-ups have all the yuletide cheer to make the season bright.  This year, you’ll find a magical weekly market popping up in Martin Place every Thursday to Saturday in December, festive foodie treats at Carriageworks, and a light-filled studio offering super-affordable (and beautiful) ceramics.Regardless of your holiday budget, it’s worth hitting at least one market for your annual dose of festive cheer – if only for the fondue.  As the silly season continues, we expect more markets to be announced across the city – we'll keep you posted here as soon as we hear more. Merry shopping! 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. Don't want to slave over a hot stove this Chrissy? These are the best Christmas Day lunches and dinners in Sydney.    

For those who don't have plans, it can be tricky to find a feed and some caffeine on Christmas Day in Sydney. Don't worry – we've rounded up a select few places that'll be open. (If you're looking for a more formal set feast, check out the best Christmas Day lunches and dinners in Sydney, put together by our Sydney Editor and former Food and Drink ed Avril Treasure, who knows a special, good-value dining deal when she sees one.) If you do decide to hit up one of the below venues for your Christmas Day brunch or lunch, it might be smart to give them a call first to check opening hours or check if you need to book. Happy holiday feasting! 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: If these book out, there's always yum cha! Here's a list of Sydney yum cha restaurants open on Christmas Day.

Summer 2025 update: From fun beer gardens to cold beers and hearty meals, Sydney’s pubs are where it’s at. Below, we’ve rounded up the best of the best. Bonus points if they’ve got air-con to keep you cool this summer. There's a lot that goes into making a great pub. They need to furnish you with an excellent meal and friendly service, and a game of pool or darts doesn't go astray. On a hot day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. Top-notch drinks are a must, obvs. There are a lot of rock-solid pubs in this city, and these are our picks of the bunch, pulled together by Time Out Sydney's local writers. Cheers! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. For something a bit less pubby, a bit higher end, see our picks of the best bars in Sydney. Hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants. 

Adelaide’s earned its moniker of being 'rad' for many reasons: world-renowned wine country, an astonishing amount of arts and culture festivals and a seriously impressive dining scene. But one of the South Australian capital's biggest drawcards is its collection of stunning shorelines that can’t be missed. The title of the best beach in Adelaide is sure to spark different answers amongst locals, but our local writers have picked the most beautiful and spectacular of the bunch. Each offers crystal-clear waters and a vibrant mix of attractions, eateries and bars just steps from the sand. Here’s your guide to the best beaches in Adelaide for some salty relaxation. Editors' favourite beaches in Adelaide: 😍 Most nude beach: Maslin Beach ☀️ Most family-friendly beach: Glenelg 🤫 Most dive beach: Port Noarlunga PSA: Ocean and beach conditions can change rapidly. Swimming at an unpatrolled beach is not recommended. Enter the water at your own risk and be aware of your swimming abilities. ☀️ The best things to do in Adelaide🏄 Australia's all-time best beaches

South Australia might not always steal the limelight in Australia’s "best beach" conversations – but it absolutely should. This sun-drenched state is home to some of the most spectacular coastlines in the country. Think sugar-white sand, jewel-toned water and beaches so peaceful you’re more likely to spot dolphins than crowds. From calm, family-friendly stretches near Adelaide to the wild, windswept edges of the Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas, every corner reveals something new. With more than 4,000 kilometres of coastline, the choices are endless. Whether you're chasing a secluded swim, a day of sandcastle-building with the kids or a scenic road trip filled with beach-hopping, South Australia delivers in spades. We’ve done the sandy scouting for you and rounded up the best beaches in South Australia. Pack your towel, your esky, your sunnies – paradise awaits. Editors’ favourite beaches in South Australia: ⚓️ Best beach for beauty: Flaherty Beach, Yorke Peninsula 🏖️ Best family-friendly beach: Glenelg Beach, Adelaide 💎 Best secluded gem: Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island PSA: Ocean and beach conditions can change rapidly. Swimming at an unpatrolled beach is not recommended. Enter the water at your own risk and be aware of your swimming abilities. ☀️ The best places to visit in South Australia🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia  

When it comes to extraordinarily beautiful places, Australia more than delivers. From pristine turquoise beaches and secret forests to pink lakes and an ancient oasis bubbling away in the middle of a red desert, this sunburnt country has every possible kind of perfect, natural destination that's humanly imaginable. And, as you can imagine, trying to pick just a handful of them is really bloody hard – but we've done our best. Here, Time Out's well-travelled editors have picked the most stunningly beautiful places you can explore in Australia. Chosen for their remarkable visual beauty, striking features and all-around breathtaking vibes, you can guarantee that a trip to one of these places is going to leave you reeling, gasping and (potentially) lost in a camera-clickin' frenzy. Now, all that's left is for you to go. Editor’s pick of the most beautiful places in Australia: ⛰️ Best for coastal beauty: Lord Howe Island, NSW 🌊 Best for outback beauty: Uluru, NT  🌅 Best hidden gem for beauty: Mungo National Park, NSW ✅ Aussie tourist attractions that don't suck🌊 Australia's best beaches of all time

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 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, prime swimming conditions (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure doesn't end with just one dip. Take the breathtaking Bay of Fires, crowned Tourism Australia's best beach for 2025; the picturesque Whitehaven Beach, recently named the world's best; or the blindingly white Hyams Beach, our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's personal favourite. Now, all that’s left is for you to discover the best beaches in Australia for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 The best places to visit in Australia

The five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a strange, awkward, in-between time for everyone. Most places have closed shop for the summer, while others have new holiday hours that are tricky to wrap your head around. No one knows what day it is. At this time of year, Sydney tends to feel more empty than usual, as most locals make a mass exodus to elsewhere, but if you plan on sticking around and having a lovely summer holiday at home, we've put together a list of all the coolest things for you to do in town between Christmas Day 2025 and NYE, 2026. Now, it's time for a swim. You're welcome.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want more culture? Check out our guide to the best art exhibitions and theatre and musicals on in Sydney this month. 

There's nothing quite like frolicking through a vibey night market on a balmy summer evening. Enter: Coburg Night Market, a beloved institution that's returning in 2025 for three sweet days. Free to enter, dog-friendly and bursting with artisan goodies, mouth-watering food and amazing live music, it's a guaranteed good time. Running from December 11-13, the Coburg Night Market will pop off at Bridges Reserve on Bell Street, courtesy of Merri-bek City Council. With amazing food trucks, local makers and free live music and entertainment going until late, there's no better way to get your Christmas shopping done, all while simultaneously adding sparkle to your end of week.  This year, you can expect to dance to an epic music program curated by local respected DJ and creative producer MzRizk. There will be an extensive line-up of impressive local talent from the city's north taking to the main stage all weekend, including the soulful vocals of Miss Katalyna and Kee’Ahn on Thursday night, DJ General Feelings opening on Friday, and Saturday wrapping up with colourful Latin dance beats by way of Amaru Tribe – plus many, many more. On Thursday and Friday the doors open from 5pm to 10pm, and kids will especially enjoy attending on Saturday, with the market open from noon to 10pm. There will be heaps of family-friendly creative activities going on, including Counihan Gallery putting on a postcard-sized drawing sesh that'll get displayed in its windows in January, and a DIY jewellery wo

Alert! The Queen Victoria Summer Night Market is back, and believe it or not, this year marks its 25th anniversary – making it the longest-running night market in Melbourne's history. Running every Wednesday night, the beloved institution has returned in its full, summery glory. You're invited to wander through open-air stalls, feast on an incredible selection of global street food and drinks, purchase gorgeous goodies and just soak up the good vibes. This year, more than 100 shops, stalls and bars will light up the market sheds across a bumper 15-week season. Foodie highlights include Sri Lankan street eats favourite and 25-year icon, Drums Sri Lankan Street Food; gourmet meatball subs from Mr Baller; charcoal-grilled lamb, chicken and halloumi-stuffed pita pockets from the Cypriot Kitchen; popcorn prawns and fried oysters from George the Fishmonger; flame-grilled Brazillian meats from Braz Oz Brazilian BBQ; and crispy bubble waffles and towering soft serves from Oz Waffle.  When you get thirsty, head to the Traditional Lemonade Stand for nostalgic fresh-pressed citrus, or for something stronger, to Brick Lane Brewing Co., for locally brewed beers and Mojito slushies. You can also grab a Blood Orange Spritz from Compa Tequila or a Limoncello Drop from Bella Spritz. As always, you can expect roving performers, pop-up fruit and veggie stalls, 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

Whack on something striking and dust off your dancing shoes as the much-loved NGV Friday Nights returns to dazzle Melburnians this summer. Every Friday night, the NGV will open its doors after hours to show off the gallery's coolest new kid: Westwood | Kawakubo, an epic exhibition tracing five decades of radical self expression through the eyes of two of fashion's most trailblazing designers: Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo, the visionary behind Comme des Garçons.  Westwood | Kawakubo is a showcase of more than 140 boundary-breaking designs. Many are drawn from the NGV’s own holdings – an extraordinary cache of 300-plus Kawakubo pieces and more than 100 by Westwood – making this one of the most important showcases of their work anywhere in the world.  The exhibition is arranged thematically, moving from punk’s anarchic spirit in the 1970s to the avant-garde silhouettes of today. Expect explorations of their shared obsessions with historical dress, radical cutting techniques and subversions of gender norms, alongside rare runway footage, archival photography and film. Grab a bubbly from the Moët and Chandon Champagne Bar, sink a signature summery cocktail at the Four Pillars Bar, or taste a Yarra Valley wine from the Yering Station Wine Bar. There will also be share-style snacks floating around, and a pop-up Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Cart, because, obviously. Eclectic live music and epic performances will also be popping off in the gallery, with renowned Aussie DJs like Bre

Driving around the neighbourhood hunting festively adorned houses is a Christmas tradition for many families, but you can take things to a whole new level with a visit to Adventure Park’s Christmas Festival of Lights. If you think suburban streets hung with festoons are impressive, your jaw will be on the floor when you behold more than 3.3 million twinkling lights. Until December 24, Adventure Park will sparkle to life with Victoria’s largest Christmas lights display. In 2025, there are six new installations, live entertainment a refreshed Santa's Village and plenty more to amaze the little ones. This year, the new Santa's Village will include two big zones packed with glowy gingerbread houses, singing reindeer and dancing polar bears. These are in addition to six spectacular new light displays that will glitter around the lake, including glowing lunar lanterns and an amazing interactive piano feature. As always, Santa will be in attendance, ready to star in professional family photos and supervise the kids as they post letters destined for the North Pole. And if your senses are still looking for more stimulation, simply jump on one of the eight on-site theme park rides, including the classic tea cups and ferris wheel. You can book in for the weekends in early December, and from Thursday, December 18, right through to Christmas Eve. Find out more here to secure your slice of the Christmas fun. Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to what's on this week. 

Summer is here, and to celebrate the first Saturday of the silly season, the City of Sydney is throwing a pool-centric extravaganza that's almost too good to be true. For the entire day of Saturday, December 6, you can enter all of the City of Sydney's amazing pools for free. That's right. $0. Also, they're slinging free gelato too. This is not a drill.  The Summer Open Day will pop off at six pools and world-class aquatic centres across the City of Sydney, from 6am to 8pm. With free gelato scoops getting slung at select pools from 11am to 2pm, and free icy poles at others all day (while stocks last), you can bet your bottom dollar that this is one Saturday where you're in for a treat.  Plus, to add to the fun, all the pools on the roster have some kind of fun activation, activities, games and special deals that will be running all day. From lawn games and a hammer challenge, to an ultimate Zumba party, there's no end to the summery surprises and all-round good times to be had on December 6, 2025.  The Summer Open Day is also an exciting opportunity for Sydneysiders to have a peek into the newly renovated Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, which is finally ready for swimming business. A gelato cart, games and one-day only specials on memberships and swim lessons will all be available at what is arguably Sydney's snazziest swimming pool.  Participating pools are: Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, The Domain Prince Alfred Park Pool, Surry Hills Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo Victoria Pa

Field Day is a Sydney institution. Devotees of the sunny New Year’s Day event will likely be tucking themselves into bed just before the year ticks over on December 31, sober and ready for a wild day of music and festival madness. This popular festival is back for its 25th year on the decks, and it looks like it's going to be a particuarly fresh one.  Kicking off in the Domain on Monday, January 1, Field Day 2026 is exhibiting all signs of shaping up to be a really excellent party. International music arts and homegrown talent will both take to the main stage to sling high energy dance music to Sydney revellers. From young dancers to more seasoned party professionals, Field Day is an inclusive, dance-focused space where hydration is key, and good vibes are a must.  This year, there's an exciting new kid on the block. Enter: Camp Ground, a special stage that'll be solely dedicated to shining a (literal) light on Sydney's queer talent. Curated by, and for, Sydney's LGBTQIA+ communities, this new wing is set up to add an extra, bright dimmension to a legacy institution.  So who are the big names we’ll be holding out for? Start the New Year with Aussie icons and Aria winners, The Presets, 'Shooting Stars' duo Bag Raiders, rising producer STÜM, and Berlin-based techno power-house Patrick Mason. UK-grown talent includes London's BL3SS and the Irish Belters Only, while Aussies are represented by Atomic Kiss, Chase Zera and Djanaba, plus lots, lots more.  Remember to pack your water

In 2025, we're all rolling around in the screen-fuelled dystopia of the AI-verse, and things are feeling pretty weird. Strangely convincing videos and eerily-real (yet not quite) photos have taken over the internet, and with it, our collective perception of reality. Whether it's the current US President or your mum, there are few folks on the planet today who aren't grappling with the inane and mysterious powers of artificial intelligence. It is this truth that has launched the MCA's newest exhibition, aptly titled Data Dreams: Art and AI, an immersive and first-of-its-kind art show that will sweep through a series of interconnected gallery spaces in the MCA from November 21, 2025 through to April 27, 2026. Featuring the groundbreaking works of ten otherwordly artists from all around the world, Data Dreams is setting itself up to be a guide for all of us confused, bumbling humans who have suddenly found ourselves thrust into the AI age. Through immersive installations, AI-films and hallucinatory imagery, the exhibition aims to make you really and truly question what it means to exist in the AI era, and what we can expect from the years to come.  You'll be pointed through Big Questions, like how technology influences power, how our algorithims are shaping each of our individual world views, and how to navigate an illusory "reality".  The artists asking you to expand your mind come from all over, and each of them have something very fascinating to say. From palawa artist Angie

The Potter has been at the forefront of the Australian art scene for over fifty years. Opened in 1972, and undergoing an extensive renovation between 2018 and 2024, The Potter has just freshly reopened to the public in 2025, and it's looking pretty good. One of the imprtant homes of the University of Melbourne's vast art collection, The Potter is located in a building on Swanston Street in Carlton, and is home to an impressive, 18,000 strong collection of First Nations, modern Australian and international art and historical artefacts. This new-and-improved iteration of the gallery continues to hold onto its established status as one of Australia's leading art collections. In 2025, it is home to a continuing roladex of exhibitions, public programs and arts fellowships that are aimed at elevating the work of artists, curators and students at the University of Melbourne, and far beyond.  Admission is free.        

Step back in time when you take a ride on Puffing Billy – a perfectly preserved steam train – as it chugs through the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Lakeside, Gembrook and Menzies Creek. It may not be the speediest journey (once a year you can actually race the train on foot – and win, if you're quick enough), but ol' Billy will take you through the lush forest setting in style. Puffing Billy offers a range of experiences, including a full-day journey to Lakeside or Gembrook, to shorter trips to Menzies Creek which comes with entry to the Menzies Creek Museum. The museum is home to over 80 exhibition pieces and gives visitors a glimpse of the past including rare operational railway artefacts. Don't miss the time-honoured tradition of dangling your arms and legs over the sills of the open carriage on a train ride. No matter how old you are, this is a thrill that's hard to top. To check the train timetable and book your spot, head to their site. All aboard! Check out our unofficial guide to Melbourne's best (and worst!) train stations.

If you're looking for a wellness hub that's tailormade for the future, you can't look past Therapy Wellness Center in Eltham.  Having freshly opened its doors in 2025, Therapy is a cutting-edge holistic health facility that hosts an impressive service menu, ranging from cryotherapy, neurofeedback and hyperbaric oxygen to sound healing, psychology, IV drips and EMDR therapy. This is definitely a level-up from sipping bad green tea and tepid spa water.  In keeping with the futuristic wellness theme, all treatments at Therapy are totally personalised to you through the centre's signature 'Brain-Body Diagonistic' service, meaning you can expect properly healing personal attention. Hop through Therapy for a series of avant garde treatments usually reserved for L.A. influencers, dine like a proboiotic-friendly queen at resident 'Therapy Kitchen' (where we're told gut-friendly meals, adaptogen elixirs and therapeutic teas are the mainstay) and generally invest in your wellness in a way you likely haven't before. It's definitely worth it.  Want more wellness and spa action in Melbourne? Here's our top picks. 

If you're looking for a wellness hub that's tailormade for the future, you can't look past Therapy Wellness Center in Eltham.  Having freshly opened its doors in 2025, Therapy is a cutting-edge holistic health facility that hosts an impressive service menu, ranging from cryotherapy, neurofeedback and hyperbaric oxygen to sound healing, psychology, IV drips and EMDR therapy. This is definitely a level-up from sipping bad green tea and tepid spa water.  In keeping with the futuristic wellness theme, all treatments at Therapy are totally personalised to you through the centre's signature 'Brain-Body Diagonistic' service, meaning you can expect properly healing personal attention. Hop through Therapy for a series of avant garde treatments usually reserved for LA influencers, dine like a proboiotic-friendly queen at resident Therapy Kitchen (where gut-friendly meals, adaptogen elixirs and therapeutic teas are the mainstay) and generally invest in your wellness in a way you likely haven't before. Your body will thank you for it. For more info and to book in for a treatment, head to the website. Want more wellness and spa action in Melbourne? Here's our top picks. 

If you're a razor-sharp competitive at heart, or just really love sports, billiards and throwing darts while guzzling a coupla' cold ones, you can't go past Club9 in North Strathfield.  This epic sports bar has been generating waves for its array of a whopping 34 tournament-grade pool tables, two competition-level shuffleboards and four precision dart boards, providing a sporty haven for all kinds of game players.  Come for the fresh pizzas, craft beers and signature cocktails, and stay for a day (and night) of friendly competition with old mates, knowing that in this social space, you're bound to make some new ones.  It doesn't matter if you're a pro or just looking for a fun night out that involves more than just sitting round a table at a pub. Club9's got it all.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: These are the best pubs in Sydney right now. Get around the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.  

In exciting news for Canberran thespians and culture vultures everywhere, the grand design for the incoming Canberra Lyric Theatre has just been made public. And, it looks pretty bloody good.  The ACT Government has allocated $28 million to the design and enabling works for a state-of-the-art new Lyric Theatre that will be added to the existing Canberra Theatre Centre precinct. This epic cultural venue was designed through a collaboration between COX Architecture, First Nations designer Yerrabingin, Charcoal Blue theatre consultants and Arcadia Landscape Architecture, with construction underway from November 2025. After extensive engagement with First Nations, LGBTQIA+ and local community groups, this reimagined theatre has Country and community rooted firmly at its innermost heart. The theatre is slated to become a living extension of Country, blending all of Canberra's diverse worlds and peoples together into one dynamic physical space.   Photograph: Supplied | COXCanberra Lyric Theatre render “As a project of national significance, it was vital that the design harmonise with Canberra’s civic fabric while also affirming the role of cultural infrastructure in shaping a shared identity – one that’s shaped by our First Nations heritage as well as the diversity of contemporary Australia", said Joe Agius, COX director and project lead.  The soaring and sculpted architectural design is set to be a totally sustainable, Green Star build that has been carefully crafted to frame v

Australia is home to the world’s oldest living and continuous culture. First Nations people have been vital custodians and inhabitants of Australia for millennia, with Indigenous Australians tracing their lineage and culture back multiple thousands of years.  It's long been believed that the ancestors of today's Indigenous Australians, the Sahul people, first reached the continent around 65,000 years ago. However, a new genetic study from the University of Utah suggests their arrival may have been more recent – around 50,000 years. The research conducted by Jim Allen, an Australian professor of archaeology at La Trobe University, and James F. O’Connell, a professor of anthropology at the University of Utah, re-analysed archeological sites and existing Neanderthal DNA in modern humans. Their findings indicate that the Sahul people most likely arrived by sea between 43,500 and 51,500 years ago. This conclusion is supported by evidence that all modern humans, including Indigenous Australians, carry one to four per cent Neanderthal DNA from a single interbreeding event with Neanderthals during that period. Archaeological evidence also aligns with this later timeline: most sites across Australia date to between 43,000 and 54,000 years ago, reinforcing the idea that the first human settlement occurred more recently than previously thought.  Photograph: Tourism NT | @betsybiglapUbirr The exact number of years that humans arrived in Australia has long been subject to scientific de

For most living things on the planet, seasons are kind of a big deal. They've marked the way Earth’s many inhabitants have lived their lives for millennia. Up until recently, scientists have taken it as a given that seasons = consistent, universal and home to distinct growing periods that we all benefit from.  But, after scientists have had a (lengthy) squiz at Earth from space, it turns out it isn’t as simple as it seems — and South Australia is in the hot seat.  A new study released by Nature Journal has revealed that there are certain parts of the world where seasons dramatically differ between locations that are just several kilometres apart, generating major ecological consequences for humans, animals and plants alike. This is called 'seasonal asynchrony'.  After studying 20 years' worth of satellite footage, scientists have successfully tracked two decades' worth of seasonal progression across the globe – a thing that's known to the science world as 'phenology', and to most humans, the simple turning of seasons. After gazing down at the Earth from space, the researchers discovered there are certain 'hot spots' spread across the world where seasons are out of sync in a fairly dramatic way.  Photograph: Grebenkov via Wikimedia Commons They found that this is the case across five of Earth’s Mediterranean climate regions, one of which is found in Australia. Although the name conjures up visions of Greek wine and pasta, the Mediterranean moniker is for climates where winte

If you're a fan of trippy, immersive experiences, you're probably also going to be a fan of the Museum of Illusions, a magical place that's home to mind-bending rooms, strange optical illusions and bizarre holograms that make you question reality in the most delightful way possible.  With more than 60 locations in 28 countries around the world, the Museum of Illusions has been a roaring, global success since its inception in 2015. And now for the first time ever, it's coming to Australia. To Sydney's CBD, to be totally exact.  With a brand-new George Street location that will span 9,000 feet, Aussie magic-seekers will get the chance to dance through a wild set of 80 interactive exhibitions come December.  Museum of IllusionsMuseum of Illusions What's inside Sydney's Museum of Illusions?  We've got it on good authority that you'll find some pretty amazing treasures inside the Museum's mysterious walls. From gravity defying rooms and gigantic 3D illusions to weird holograms, it's clear this is a museum experience that'll excite most folks, from curious kids to museum-loving adults.  Excitingly, the very first Australian edition of the Museum of Illusions will also house bespoke Sydney and Aussie-inspired rooms and features that you won't (obviously) be able to see anywhere else on the planet.  This includes the 'Reversed Room', an immersive space inspired by a classic Australian pub, the 'Building Illusion' that's designed to reflect some of Sydney's most iconic architecture,

In exciting news for the many residents that live around Moore Park, the Minns Labor Government has revealed a plan to transform Moore Park Golf Course into a whopping 20-hectare public park, community green space and golf course. Staged openings will commence before the end of 2026, with work expected to be completed in late 2028. At its core, this development is designed to be a vast, green backyard for one of Sydney’s most populous regions. Estimates show that by 2041, the population within 5km of the new park will rise to around 790,000, making Moore Park South one of Australia’s most densely populated spots – driving the need for public green space that can match this projected growth. Paul Scully, the minister for planning and public spaces said: “Delivering Moore Park South is about creating a backyard for the thousands of current and future residents living in one of the densest communities in Australia. Improving access to green open spaces has a direct link to improved physical and mental health outcomes for our communities so we must continue to pair homes with investments in our public spaces," he added. Paul Scully | Moore Park SouthArtist Render of Moore Park South Supported by a $50-million investment, Sydneysiders can expect to frolic through a new community sports field, enjoy public running, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, a 9-hole public golf course, 90-bay driving range, a mini putt-putt range, plus a whole lot more. Right now though, the park

It's not every day that Adelaide becomes home to world-famous pieces of priceless art, but come July 2026, things are changing. For the first time ever, Australians will get the chance to see 57 incredible paintings by giants of American and European art in the 19th and 20th centuries on home soil. We're talking the likes of Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh, Degas, Cezanne and Picasso, plus many prolific others, all coming together in one mammoth exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA).  Titled: Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, this wild exhibition will showcase works that usually live at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, charting the development of modern art in Europe and North America. Starting at the beginning of the 20th Century, art-gazers will get to feast their eyes on a striking visual story showing the evolution of art as we know it, from the early days of Impressionism, Cubism and Surrealism, all the way through to Abstract Expressionism.  You can expect to see masterworks including Vincent Van Gogh's 'Wheat Fields with Reaper', Claude Monet's wildly famous 'Water Lilies' and Henri Matisse's 'Dancer Resting', amongst many others. Photograph: Supplied | Toldeo Museum of Art | 'Water Lilies' by Claude Monet c.1922 Excitingly posted to warm up winter in 2026, this exhibition will kick-start a series of major, arty moments for Adelaide over the winter months until 2029, known as the AGSA Winter Art Series, with people all over South Australia getting exc

It's a truth universally acknowledged that NSW is home to some bloody good wine, and after the 2025 NSW Wine Awards that just went down, it's more clear than ever.   For everyone who likes a good drop, you'll be pleased to know that NSW's extensive wine community recently gathered together at the ICC Sydney for a big, splashy night of wine awards that were all about turning the spotlight onto the very best of NSW's winemakers.  A whopping 21 trophies were handed out to 13 different wineries, with wines from five different regions taking home prizes. Orange and the Canberra district were awarded five each, Riverina got two and Mudgee went home with one, but the top dogs in 2025 were unequivocally the Hunter Valley, taking home a wild eight trophies on the night.  The Hunter Valley has long been lauded as one of Australia's greatest wine regions, and on brand, it was the Hunter's own First Creek Wines who was awarded the top prize in 2025.  Photograph: Avril Treasure So, what's NSW's best wine, you may ask? None other than the 2023 Single Vineyard Wills Hill Road Chardonnay, created by First Creek Wines – a family-owned and operated winery in Pokolbin – led by the current 2025 Halliday Winemaker of the Year, Liz Silkman. This drop was received enormously well, with wine chair judge Adam Walls describing this chardy as “standing alongside the best Chardonnays in Australia and one that captures all that is great about modern-day NSW Chardonnay". High praise indeed. First Creek

In breaking news, beloved national treasure Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park has just been selected by National Geographic as one of the best places to visit in the world in 2026, making it the only Australian mention in the well-renowned list.  In their annual Best of the World feature, National Geographic's team of editors, photographers and travel writers thoughtfully pull together the most colourful, obscure and dreamy destinations across the globe that they think are worth exploring in the new year. For 2026, the list is popping with wild and far-flung destinations from every corner of the planet, all the way from a sperm whale reserve in Dominica to the Black Sea Coast in Turkey.  In exciting news for Australians, our very own magnificent Uluru made the cut – and we're obviously not surprised. Chosen by National Geographic because of its immense Indigenous significance and ability to viscerally connect you with the world's oldest living culture, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa is a unique and deeply special place that has been sacred to the Anangu people for at least 30,000 years.   Photograph: Supplied | Tourism Australia Adding to the excitement, in 2026, visitors will get the first-ever chance to sleep inside the national park overnight. While people have always been able to camp *near* Uluru, it's been heavily prohibited to pitch a tent within the park bounds. Now, through a collaboration between Anangu Traditional Owners and Tasmanian Walking Company, there's an amazing opportuni

In case you’ve been living under a rock (or couch surfing because the housing market is insane), nailing down a place to live in Sydney is notoriously hellish. But for the first time in what feels like forever, Sydney renters have something to celebrate: rental price increases for both houses and units have finally stalled. According to Domain’s September 2025 Rental Report, for the first time in six years, Sydney’s house rents haven’t risen for five straight quarters. This is the longest period of stability Sydney’s seen in almost a decade, with the average weekly house rent price holding strong at $780 since June 2025. This is just a $10 increase from the average price of $770 in September 2024.  The September 2025 report reveals that although rents remain at record levels across most capital cities, growth has plateaued, with year-on-year growth slowing to 3.2 per cent – the weakest since 2021.  While house rents were the first to stabilise, unit rents are finally catching up, with the median Sydney unit rental price sitting at $750 per week. However unlike Melbourne and Adelaide where rent costs have totally flattened, Sydney apartments are still seeing minor quarterly increases.  Despite this good news, it’s clear to anyone renting in Sydney right now that the housing affordability crisis is far from over, with Sydney continuing to take the lead as the most expensive place to rent in Australia.  For comparison, this is how Sydney compares to the rest of the nation. How m

When it comes to Sydney’s housing affordability crisis, things tend to get contentious.  Whether you’re feeling worn out by Saturday mornings spent traipsing around dingy apartments with rents that make you want to cry, given up on the dream of ever buying because you can barely afford a car spot, or, as some members of the Inner West community are feeling, enraged at the prospect of your neighbourhood changing forever because of a major new development, you can probably agree on one thing: Sydney’s housing situation is less than ideal.  In an effort to address this, Inner West Council recently passed ‘Our Fairer Future’ plan, which aims to deliver 20,000 to 30,000 new homes to the Inner West over the next 15 years. This decision was met with significant community backlash in the Inner West, with local residents concerned that the ‘Fairer Future Plan’ would eradicate a sense of community, hurt heritage institutions and businesses, and fail to provide adequate green and park space.  As a result of the community protests, the plan underwent significant amendments, with the most notable being the reduction of 5,000 proposed homes in Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and Ashfield.  Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne noted that some of those homes would be redistributed to the Parramatta Road corridor, which will accept a total of 8,000 new homes as part of a partnership between the Council and the NSW Government. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons | Bidgee “Our Fairer Future Plan will stop the e

Attention celestial sighting enthusiasts! May has an exciting spectacle in store for stargazers. Melbourne's skies are set to sparkle with a super bright meteor shower called Eta Aquarid, described as “the second best meteor shower of the year for Australian sky watchers” by astronomy experts. The annual meteor shower – which is formed from debris from Halley’s comet – will light up the sky above Australia this week, peaking in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7. The Eta Aquarid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable show, with their high speed also making them appear brighter to the naked eye.  If you're keen to see these scintillating sights for yourself, here's what you need to know.  How can I see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower from Melbourne?  Melbourne stargazers will have their best chance at seeing the Eta Aquarids between 2am and 5.40am local time from Monday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 7. The meteor shower is set to reach its maximum around 2am on May 7. The best way to see them is to scan the northern horizon near the point of the Aquarius constellation, where the meteors are set to emerge from. You’ll know you’re looking in the right place if you're looking at a spot where there's not much else to see except Saturn, which will also be particularly bright. Importantly, you'll need a cloud-free sky and quite a lot of patience, as meteor sightings can be quite sporadic.  When will the Eta Aquarids meteor shower be at its peak? Though the meteor shower i

Cancel your plans and beeline for the east. After years of delays, one of Sydney's most beautiful harbour beaches has finally reopened to the public. Sitting on the edge of national parkland on the banks of Sydney’s sparkling harbour, Shark Beach at Nielsen Park has long been one of the Eastern Suburb’s most treasured swimming spots. But since March 2022 it has been tightly closed to the public, inciting mass frustration among locals who desperately want to dive back into their favourite turquoise cove as warmer days approach.   In glorious news for swimmers, the stunning harbour cove – and its onsite café – has just reopened.  Photograph: Supplied | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Getting to this point of completion hasn’t been as easy ride. Reconstruction work was originally meant to be completed by December, 2022 – but the wettest Sydney year on record, contractual delays and the discovery (and removal) of a hefty 3,600 tonnes of asbestos put big delays on progress. The construction work that’s been taking place over the past few years has involved improving accessibility to the beach – with a new wheelchair accessible pedestrian ramp and a separate ramp to allow maintenance vehicle access to the beach, plus additional seating along the promenade. The sea wall was raised by 50 centimetres, with wave deflectors integrated to protect the park  (and recently renovated kiosk) from sea level changes. Now, the beach is back welcoming visitors, though we expect these first few