Maya Skidmore

There’s no doubt about it, Sydneysiders can’t get enough of Italian food. And who can blame us? There’s something about a bowl of perfectly al dente pasta paired with a luscious, rich ragu that just hits the spot. And while Italian cuisine differs throughout the 20 incredible regions – broadly speaking, the northern regions eat more rice and polenta, while down south they feast more on seafood – Italians share a love of beautiful, seasonal produce; they choose simplicity rather than overcomplicating dishes and cook with soul. No wonder we love it so much. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent options for Italian dining in Sydney. Time Out’s food writers and editors – including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, who has eaten her way through Sicily, Sorrento, Rome and Florence – have picked our favourite eateries, covering all bases. The only catch? They just need to provide a feel-good environment and dishes you’ll want to come back for. From casual red-sauce joints and classic pizzerias to fine-dining restaurants, you’ll find them all here. 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. Not in the mood for pasta? Here are our picks of the best spots for Greek and French food in Sydney.

Believe it or not, we're already back at the school holidays, and if the thought of keeping the kiddos entertained for not just two, but six weeks sends you into a spiral, we have you covered this summer with an ultimate list of the best activities and experiences happening in Sydney for kids and families.  Check out something for the explorers, the budding scientists, the mini-athletes, the musical prodigies and just about everyone in between.  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 the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

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. At this time of year, Sydney tends to feel more empty than usual as most locals make a mass exodus for elsewhere, but if you plan on sticking around and having a lovely summer holiday in a whole city that you're likely to get (probably, mostly) to yourself, we have put together a list for you of all the coolest things for you to do in town between Christmas Day and NYE. 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. 

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

If cruising on a large, luxurious vessel to exotic destinations is your kind of adventure, you’ll be pleased to know that in Australia, the options are pretty endless. Although cruises aren’t for everyone, they can be a pretty excellent way of exploring far-flung places while still maximising your time off.  We've found the best Australian cruise routes and companies that each offer up something a little different for the curious cruiser. Whether you're after a family-friendly Disney adventure with Bluey, a seriously luxe trip to the Great Barrier Reef or an epic journey to New Zealand, there's an Australian cruise experience out there for everyone. Now, all that's left is for you to buy a large sun hat and channel Jennifer Coolidge circa White Lotus, season two – just without the sticky ending bit (obviously).  🚘 The most epic Australian road trips to do before you die☀️ Australia’s most incredible resorts and lodges🤩 The hottest new hotel openings in Australia

When it comes to extraordinarily beautiful places, Australia knows how to deliver. The world's biggest island has global street cred for its abundant mindblowing beauty. 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, our well-travelled Aussie writers 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. ✅ Aussie tourist attractions that don't actually suck🌈 Follow the rainbow to Australia's most colourful landmarks🌊 Australia's best beaches for sun, surf and sand

While dreams of sleeping beneath unpolluted starry skies, swimming on secluded beaches and snuggling by a campfire sounds pretty good to all of us, the thought of battling spiders, dirt floors and zero showers can shatter it real quick. Enter: Glamping – your solution.  In Australia, the opportunities are truly endless for all those who like their wild nature escapes with a side of fluffy luxury. Whether it's reclining in a private bubble bath beneath a rainforest canopy, dipping into a rainwater plunge pool next to Uluru, or sleeping in clean sheets next to one of the world's most remote coral reefs, the dreamy glamping spots Down Under are both epic and aplenty. All you've gotta do is hit the road.  ✅ The best caravan parks to hit up in Australia⛺️ All the best free campsites for your travels🚘 The most epic Aussie road trips to do before you die

If there's one sure-fire way of injecting joy into your year – it's festivals. Gathering with like-minded people in rainbow-festooned palaces full of amazing music, glittering performances and zesty food sounds like utopia to us – which is why it's a blessing that Australia has an incredible array of festivals on offer, one for every season of the year. In this list, we round up the best festivals that we reckon you should check out Down Under this year. Starting with those that are on earliest in the year and ending with those at the end, each of these festivals has been selected for its scale, its astonishing visuals, and its commitment to seriously good times. From music to comedy to wild light displays in the Outback, rest assured that going to any of these incredible Aussie festivals will be a bloody good time indeed.  🎭 The best musical and theatre shows in Australia🎨 Australia's best art galleries🍔 The best food festivals in Australia

Australia is home to thousands of very special waterfalls that we reckon everyone should go and chase at least once. However, if you don't have endless waterfall-seekin' time on hand, we understand. To make things easier, we've picked out the most incredible waterfalls that you should visit in Australia in your lifetime. Whether it's marvelling at a thundering plume of water that's hundreds of meters tall, frolicking beneath a silver sparkly cascade, or getting a free shoulder massage in the middle of the wilderness, we can promise that you won't be bored. Now, all you've got to do is blast some TLC and hit the road.  ☀️ The dreamiest hot springs Down Under👙 The best natural pools in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches

Do you possess freakishly accurate knowledge of the Simpsons oeuvre? Do you know your Australian cricket captains better than you know your own uncles? Are you totally up to date on current affairs and '90s pop culture? Use all the weird, wonderful and utterly useless facts in your arsenal to win cash, booze and glory at one of Sydney's best pub trivia nights, where knowledge really is power. The Time Out team has hit the streets (and the pubs) to bring you our guide to the best pub trivia nights in Sydney, where good times and random facts reign supreme. Round up your gang and may the best team win. 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. Like drinking up high? These are Sydney's best rooftop bars. And for something closer to sea level these are our favourite beer gardens in Sydney.

In a country as ridiculously vast as Australia, the only way to really see everything is to do it on your own set of four wheels. The humble road trip is kind of a quintessential Aussie cultural practice, with our nation's abundance of gorgeously scenic drives, bizarre roadside curios and secret nature spots making any kind of long road trip more than the average drive. We've rounded up the best Australian road trips that you should drive away on at least once in your life. Whether you're after a wholesome day trip from Sydney, a week-long adventure or a multi-week trek that'll make you feel like an intrepid National Geographic explorer, there's something on this list for everyone. Now, all that's left to do is pack snacks, download some podcasts and let yourself loose on the open road. 🌈 The most beautiful places in Australia🚘 Here are the best day trips from every capital city🥐 All the best bakeries to stop at along the way

Noosa easily ranks as one of Australia’s most beloved beachside towns, and for good reason. Surrounded by the lush hinterland of Noosa National Park and boasting one of only two everglade systems in the entire world, this place is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. You can swim with humpback whales, surf world-renowned waves, scale majestic cliff faces and zoom along the coastline on a thrilling jet boat ride.  Translating to “shadows” or “shade” in the language of the native Kabi Kabi people, Noosa also offers plenty of places to escape the sun. The resort town’s main strip, Hastings Street, buzzes with local boutiques, all-day cafés ideal for people-watching, bougie spas and gorgeous galleries. Whether you’re after a sandy-toed getaway or a soothing spa retreat, our list of the best things to do in Noosa has you covered. ☀️ The best hotels in Noosa🍹 All the coolest restaurants in Noosa🌴 The 5 best beaches in Noosa

If the idea of a chilly European-style Christmas market really gets you going, then boy, do we have the marché for you. From Friday, December 13 to Saturday, December 22, the organisers of the epic Bastille Festival are back with their European-themed extravaganza’s Christmas edition – falling snow included. Le Jolly Market – a classic European winter market, complete with wooden chalets, melted cheese stations and a glimmering Christmas tree – is popping up this year in a sparkly new super-central location.The annual festive affair will be bringing a whole heap of European charm to Belmore Park – an often overlooked pocket of green in the heart of the city. You’ll find Belmore Park just opposite the Eddy Avenue exit of Central Station, and from December 13 until December 22, it will be transformed into a Christmas-themed wonderland.  Guests can expect food stalls slinging all the European favourites: fresh crepes, cheese fondue and – naturally – a whole lot of wine. Other foodie highlights include escargot, moules frites and cute-as-anything Christmas pastries. With five wine bars and 40 food stalls, plus 35 stalls offering everything from handmade ceramics to locally-crafted spirits, this is your one-stop-shop for a dose of festive cheer. Plus, you’ll find a whole heap of gifts for less than $20 – an affordable way to add a little affordable European charm to your Christmas haul. Le Jolly Market will be open to the public from 5pm until 10.30pm every evening from December 1

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. When I walk into Tida with my mum and cousins, it’s like being plunged into a sweet saffron sea that makes me want to cry (in a good way, I promise). As a second-generation Iranian-Australian, I grew up going to Iranian restaurants run by friends of my grandparents on Sydney’s north shore. These restaurants were old-school formal palaces, made for the older generation who’d recently arrived in Australia. But when I walk into Tida, it’s a fresher, younger Iranian world that I recognise, and it makes me feel emotional. Tida (whose name translates to “daughter of the sun” in old Persian) is a new-ish introduction to North Willoughby’s high street – an intimate space with a handful of communal tables and warm, hand-painted golden-yellow walls. Its young owners wanted their restaurant to look and feel like a dining room in an Iranian home, because, as they tell me, “we can’t go back to ours”. Every part of Tida has been lovingly created by a friend, from the thoughtful scattered artworks to the homey display cabinets. There’s a real sense of love and care here, and it extends to the patrons who sit comfortably in long, languorous conversations around the small white tables, sipping black tea and forgetting they’re in a restaurant on the side of a major road. It’s

If the late-December dash to buy Christmas presents isn't your bag, you might be keen to start your gift finding mission in November – and you can do exactly that at the ‘Sydney Made Art & Design Markets’, which are back in a big way for the 2024 season. As a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting Sydney’s creative scene, this market is all about peddling art and design treasures hand-made by Sydneysiders in the beautiful Town Hall.   This one-day-only mega market will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, November 23, and will be showcasing the curated wares of more than 76 makers and designers from all across Sydney. Shoppers will be able to peruse photography, slow fashion, natural skincare, ceramics, jewellery, bespoke stationery and art pieces, among many other curious treasures. The historic space will also be filled with live music acts throughout the day, and entry is by donation, which will go towards supporting an entirely volunteer-run community event.  You can stay up to date with all the happenings with the Sydney Made Art & Design Markets on their Facebook page and via their website.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Craving more market action? Check out our list of the best markets in Sydney that happen all year-round.

If you love Christmas, meeting rescue puppies and frolicking with fellow dog people and their dogs in the sunshine, you need to pop the aptly named ‘Santa Paws’ event into your calendar, stat. On Sunday, November 17, this one-day event in Centennial Park is a big, canine extravaganza that’s all about raising funds for rescue dog charity, Ozzie Tails of Hope. All dollars raised on the day will go straight to animal rescue charities across Australia. Last year, over $20,000 was raised – a figure we reckon we can up, this time round. The goodness of the cause isn’t the only sweet thing on the cards at Santa Paws. You can meet rescue dogs and puppies who are up for adoption, take part in doggy yoga, snaffle snacks from food trucks, tick off your Christmas pet photography needs (you know you’re interested) – and even take part in a ‘Strike-a-Paws’ contest (with prizes for the best dressed). It starts at 8am, and runs until 1pm – and it's all going down on at Centennial Park's dog park (at the corner of Grand Drive and Loch Avenue) on the Bondi Junction side. Best of all, this festival is totally free, and open to everyone. You can pre-register yourself and your pooch for the many fabulous contests and activities that’ll be popping on the day by clicking right here. Whether you walk away with a permanent new furry friend, a festive pet portrait – or just get the chance to downward dog with a particularly adorable poodle-cross, Santa Paws is the perfect way for every pooch fan to la

It's a universally acknowledged truth that a heady swig of gin makes for a jolly good time. The wonders of this diverse and delicious liquor are known to many of us, but when it comes to finding out where the very best joints in Sydneytown to swill ’em actually are, we can often come up lost. That is, however, until now.  Enter: Gin Journey – the sauced-up baby of British-born Leon Dalloway, Gin Journey founder and all-around lord of all things liquor, who has been charming fans of the devil’s drop with his educational bar crawls from London to Sydney since 2013.  Gin Journey is Dalloway’s original invention, with this tried and tested explorative experience taking you on a guided tour of Sydney’s boutique distilleries and hidden gin bars, including Young Henrys, Ester Spirits and Unexpected Guest Distillery. A gin flight is included at each stop, along with an artisan gin cocktail to smooth its way.  Throughout the tasting tour, Dalloway will share fun facts about the popular tipple's fascinating history, from its checkered days as ‘mother’s ruin’ to its present-day ascendancy and the botanical bonanza of contemporary Aussie gins. Expect good chat, delicious (and extremely high quality) gin moments, and to leave at the end of the day feeling more than pleasantly buzzed.  Margarita Journey is the latest addition to Sydney’s boozy block, following the exact same base model as its gin-heavy sister, but with an obvious tequila-esque twist. In three hours, you’ll tick off hot spo

If you really, really love jacarandas and don’t mind a bit of a trek to see them at their bloomin' best, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival might be just the thing you’re looking for.  Kicking off on Friday, October 25 and running until Sunday, November 3, this purple blossom explosion is perfect for everyone who wants a maximum level of jacarandas in their lives. Grafton is a 6.5-hours drive north of Sydney, and it's home to an abundance of jacaranda trees. With more than 2,000 of the lilac flowering trees calling this Northern Rivers town home, you’re in for a big, fat, flowery time.  Running every year, this festival is somewhat of an institution, and in 2024, it’s looking like it’ll be quite the event. With 12 days of festivities planned, visitors can expect some blockbuster blossoming fun. Whether it’s a Venetian carnival, a ‘50s and ‘60s ‘Retrofest’, highland dancers (in tartan, obviously), a jacaranda fun and colour run, or a spectacular jacaranda float parade, this festival looks like a pretty good time.  With food trucks galore, the chance to wander through purple sweet-smelling lanes at night, and getting to (allegedly) meet the royal family amongst vivid lilac blooms, it looks like this festival is a definite crowd pleaser, no matter who you are, or what you like doing with your time. You can check out the whole program right here. Head up for the most wholesome spring break, some sweet small town vibes, and plenty of purple. You won’t regret it. Stay in the loop: sign

Does the thought of standing behind a tumbling, enchanted waterfall while surrounded by twinkling glow worms sound like a fairytale to you? For all us Sydney and NSW dwellers, this dream is also very much in reach. Horseshoe Falls is a waterfall tucked away in Hazelbrook in the Blue Mountains. (There is a shortage of parking, so you're best off coming via public transport.) There's a track with four main waterfalls to explore, but our top tips are checking out Horseshore and Glow Worm Nook Falls. Follow the path towards the waterfalls, and the first one you'll reach, within about 15 minutes, is Horseshoe Falls, which has a horseshoe-shaped cave overhang. Keep walking for another 15 minutes or so, and you'll reach Glow Worm Nook Falls, where you can explore behind the waterfall looking for glow worms. Both these sections of track are suitable for kids, too.  If you want to maximise your glow worm action, there are loads to see at the first stop, Horseshoe Falls, if you head there in the dark – a daunting prospect that's best left to the more adventurous among us who own powerful torches to light the way on the walk there (but, and this is very important, not inside the glow worm cave itself), good walking boots to minimise slipping, and perhaps even a safety beacon. When the sun goes down, the cave behind the waterfall is said to come alive with a veritable galaxy of thousands and thousands of glow worms.  More warnings: It is absolutely vital that you do not touch the glow

An oasis of glamping tents, cabins and shady lush campground, this village-like property is tucked away right by the Yellow Water Billabong. In a national park as vast as Kakadu, the need for petrol, food, water and shelter is more pressing than most. At Cooinda Lodge, you can find all of the above in one space, and there is a variety of accommodation options available. Whether you glamp in one of the elevated outback retreats, sleep in one of the luxe air-conditioned lodge rooms that accommodate up to four people (and come with a mini-fridge, squishy pillows and TV) or camp in a luxury tent, you’re in for a simply gorgeous time. 

Cooinda Lodge’s on-site restaurant, this cosy timber paradise is full of golden light and good times. In the morning, you can get stuck into a succulent breakfast buffet and swill back delicious barista-made coffees in ‘Mimi’s Restaurant’, while at lunch you can snaffle down a proper pub lunch, with all the classics up for grabs, alongside ice-cold schooners. For dinner, get involved with barramundi ceviche, smoked buffalo, crab and prawn linguine, and fries with Kakadu plum salt. Keep the night rolling with drinks under the fairy lights at Barra Bar and Bistro. 

A ten-minute drive from Cooinda Lodge, this incredible river cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong along the heritage-listed South Alligator River takes dreamy adventure to a whole new level. There are six departures per day, and the most popular times are sunrise and sunset, this being the best time to see wildlife. We recommend going at dawn when the air is soft and oceanic and all the animals are starting their day. See colossal crocs swimming through fields of pink water lilies, sea eagles diving for fish, and tiny bird lovers hopping across gigantic floating lily pads. With one of the dynamic and hilarious Yellow Water guides driving the boat, you can be confident that not a single animal fact, sneaky croc or colourful story will pass by unaccounted for.

Embracing Indigenous culture through local bush tucker, Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel’s resident restaurant offers the finest feed you'll find in Kakadu. You can fuel up for the day with a hot buffet breakfast and barista-made coffees; enjoy a light lunch with sparkling wine; or head here for the star in this particular crown: dinner. With an emphasis on locally sourced flavours and produce, you can eat your way through crocodile spring rolls, seared barramundi steak and bush-spiced kangaroo fillet in the cavernous formal dining room. 

Make this your first stop before plunging into the wilds of the national park. Kakadu is a pretty massive place, so getting the ropes before tackling it head-on is a good idea. Located off the Kakadu Highway in Jabiru, this is an excellent place to refresh after a long highway drive, with lush greenery and a café welcome sights for weary travellers. Head into the gorgeous visitor’s centre to chat with the friendly staff, get an idea of where you’d like to go on your trip, and wander through the very cool resident museum, where you can squiz a crocodile skeleton and a giant olive python (spoiler: not a live one).  Time Out tip: You’ll also need to buy a national park pass before entering Kakadu, which you can grab at Bowali Visitor Centre.

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

For many of us in Sydney, the thought of travelling up into the Red Centre feels like a magical stretch of possibility and wild adventure. Now, the siren’s call of the great red north has become even louder, with the introduction of the Red Centre Light Trail, an amazing six-day road trip from Uluru to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon that is full of glittering light shows, installations and sparkly experiences that all look set to enthral, awe and light up an already very spectacular place.  We all know Vivid in Sydneytown, but the thought of gazing at wild light projections in the middle of a desert is something else entirely. The vast distances between Alice Springs, Uluru and Kings Canyon are usually marked by long, arid stretches of land with very little breaking the landscape up. Now, travellers will get a whole extra dimension added to an already epic adventure.  The installations will pop up on the way as you drive the main tourist loop between these iconic Australian locations, however there are some special highlights that look particularly notable.  Photograph: Getty Images/ Voyages Indigenous Tourism AustraliaAnangu share the Mala story, from Kaltukatjara to Uluru, through a drone, sound and light show designed and produced by RAMUS At Uluru, you will be able to see Wintjiri Wiru, a choreographed drone show that uses lasers and light projections to a re-telling of ancient Anangu stories. Made in close collaboration with the local Anangu community, this reflection

Whether you’re one for a teeny-weeny boutique stay in the mountains or a glitzy suite in a city-centre skyscraper, Australia is full of some pretty jaw-dropping hotels. In news that has us brimming with pride, two of our nation’s very best have just been honoured on this year's World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Brisbane property The Calile Hotel took out the title of the Best Hotel in Oceania for the second year running, while Hobart’s The Tasman made its top 50 debut. Stacking up against some seriously impressive resorts, hotels, palaces(!) and chalets around the globe, The Calile, which you'll find in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, scored an outstanding 25th place in the line-up. This is a drop from its 12th-place ranking in the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list in 2023, with the rankings voted on by 600 industry leaders, including hoteliers, travel journalists and luxury travellers. Photograph: Sean Fennessy While you might not immediately associate Brissie with luxury (no shade, guys), The Calile Hotel has made its mark since opening in 2018, drawing in well-heeled clientele from all over the world to the River City. There’s a lot to love about the Calile, with its distinct architecture that perfectly marries curved concrete with pops of tropical lushness. You’ll find a palm tree perched against sleek brickwork at every turn, courtesy of the genius design acumen of firm Richards and Spence. Not to mention that 30-metre pool you would have seen on Instagram, or Hellenika, t

She’s baaack! After a whirlwind, sell-out Australian tour in 2023, Abbie Chatfield returns with The Trauma Dump Tour…Goes Regional – so strap yourself in, because it’s sure to be a wild ride. The TV star, podcaster, radio host, ambassador and entrepreneur is doing a 13-city tour that starts in Hobart this October and wraps up in Darwin at the end of November. So what, exactly, will Chatfield be speaking about on stage? She'll be sharing stories about her own past relationships, as well as conversing with the crowd. Spoiler alert: you can read our review of her Melbourne show here. When is Abbie Chatfield going on her regional Australian tour in 2024? Following a sell-out series of shows in 2023, Abbie will take The Trauma Dump Tour...Goes Regional to 13 cities across Australia including: Odeon Theatre, Hobart – October 11 Canberra Theatre, Canberra – October 18 Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul – October 19 The Events Centre, Caloundra – October 23 The Star Theatre, Gold Coast – October 24 West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul – November 1 Costa Hall, Geelong – November 2 Civic Hall, Ballarat – November 8 Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo – November 9 Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle – November 16 Glasshouse Port Macquarie – November 17 Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns – November 22 Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin – November 23 When do Abbie Chatfield tickets go on sale in Australia? Tickets for what could be a potentially scandalous show go on sale from noon / 12pm local time o

If you’ve ever dreamt of exploring the land before time (friendly dinosaur babies not guaranteed), boy, is there a place out there for you: Kakadu National Park. Tucked into the Top End of the Northern Territory, this World Heritage-listed park has been home to the Bininj and Mungguy people, the keepers of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth, for 65,000 years.  A trip to Kakadu is one that makes you fall deep, and it will stay firmly with you long after you leave. Here’s your ultimate guide to prepare for the trip.  Where is Kakadu National Park? Kakadu National Park is located in the Top End of the Northern Territory, around 171 kilometres east of Darwin.  How far is Kakadu from Darwin? The drive from Darwin City to Kakadu National Park’s northern entrance takes around one hour and 45 minutes, while reaching Jabiru, the main township, takes around two hours and 45 minutes. Travelling in a 4WD (four-wheel drive) is highly recommended, as the park’s terrain can be rugged and challenging, especially during the wet season. How big is Kakadu National Park?  Kakadu is the second largest national park in Australia, behind the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park in Queensland. It covers 19,804 square kilometres, stretching almost 200 kilometres long and more than 100 kilometres wide. To put it in perspective, Kakadu is half the size of South Korea, nearly twice the size of Switzerland or Belgium, and four times the size of Yellowstone National Park. How old is Kakadu

Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience back to Australia, a country she last graced with her stratospheric stage presence back in 2013. A break in the Melbourne sporting calendar has sparked rumours that the global megastar could be taking to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in October, while a pause in Qudos Bank Arena's major events line-up from October 5-17 points to potential Sydney shows (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light. Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later.  When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has not yet announced dates for Australia, however, tour promoters have previously hinted there will be Australian dates, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as well as New Zealand. The star has teased a potential

Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience back to Sydney, a city she last graced with her stratospheric stage presence back in 2013. With the break in the Melbourne sporting calendar sparking rumours that the global megastar could be taking to the MCG in October, Sydney-based fans are asking what this means for us. A pause in the Qudos Bank Arena major events line-up between October 5 and October 17 (when Olivia Rodrigo will be taking to the stage) points to potential Sydney shows (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light. Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later. And with the huge global fascination with her genre-bending album Cowboy Carter, fans are hopeful that another world tour will be on the cards. When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has no

Update May 21, 2024: Could this *finally* be the moment all Aussie Beyoncé fans have been waiting for? Ever since our queen and saviour dropped her country album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29, there's been a renewed interest in her tour plans. And now, rumours are swirling that suggest Queen B could bring her concert experience to the MCG – which would see her join the ranks of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift who have both recently played sold-out shows at the iconic stadium. With the AFL Grand Final taking place on the last Saturday in September and the cricket season firing up in early November, it leaves October wide open for a potential gig (excuse us while we go clear our schedules). For now, it's all part of the whisper network, but you know we'll bring you the latest info as it comes to light.  Please, Bey, don’t break our souls.  What are the next dates on Beyoncé's World Tour? The superstar wrapped her Renaissance World Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2023. There don't appear to be any other dates on the Renaissance World Tour site, but the word "World" has always hinted at the fact that she'll be hitting up other continents sooner or later.  When is Beyoncé touring Australia? This is everything we know: Beyoncé has not yet announced dates for Australia, however tour promoters have previously hinted there will be Australian dates, with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as well as New Zealand. The star has teased at a potential Sydney t

The 2023 World Happiness Index has just been released, and this year, Australia came out on (sort of) top.  Every year, Gallup, a consultancy and market research firm, in association with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford (UN), release a World Happiness Report, which ranks more than 140 nations from most to least happy. They gather data by asking people from each country to rate their life satisfaction over the previous three years on a scale from one to ten.  2023’s ranking results were drawn from 2020, 2021 and 2022 (all quite grim years, really), and are indicative of how people all over the world experienced the pandemic.  Which country is the happiest in the world? For the sixth year in a row, Finland took out first place for the world’s happiest country. The small northern European nation has long been heralded as one of the cheeriest places in the world. They are followed by Denmark in 2nd place, Iceland in 3rd and Israel in 4th.  Where did Australia rank in the happiest countries list?  Our great southern land ranked 12th on the list this year. This is the same as it was in 2022, but we dropped down from our position of 11th in 2020. The highest we’ve been in the last decade was in 2016, when we were ranked 9th globally. This year, we were (damnit) just beaten by New Zealand and Austria in 10th place and 11th place, while Canada followed behind us in 13th.  How do they decide which country is happiest?  The World Happiness Report uses six indi

Stargazers of Melbourne! We bring good news. Melbourne's skies are set to fizz with an extremely bright meteor shower that goes by the name of Eta Aquariid. This celestial event has been 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 weekend, peaking early on Monday morning. That start-of-week meeting might suffer, but this year’s show is predicted to be the best in the 21st century. The Eta Aquariid shower is a fast-moving and notoriously unpredictable show, and scientists say that according to their models, the meteors should be unusually active this year – with their high speed also making them appear brighter to the naked eye. Plus, this year’s show is set to be especially spectacular to witness based on its timing; coinciding with a new moon on May 7, the skies will be particularly dark, meaning catching sight of something sparkly will be easier than ever. If you're keen to see these celestial sights for yourself, here's what you need to know.  How can I see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower from Melbourne?  The best way to see them in Australia 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

January 2024 update: GOOD NEWS! The platypuses reintroduced into the Royal National Park seven months ago are well and truly thriving in their new habitat. Ten platypuses were released into the area in May, after being locally extinct for 50 years. Each of the creatures carries an acoustic tag that pings listening receivers up and down the rivers of the Park – the latest data confirms that nine of the ten animals are adapting well to their environment. The tenth platypus has gone a bit rogue, venturing beyond the team’s tracking capabilities – the team says she's done this before, and they're confident she's exploring further-away creeks she has previously visited. Visitors to the Royal National Park are now regularly reporting platypus sightings. The team will continue to track the creatures, including measuring breeding success. ***** Platypuses are one of Australia’s most ridiculously adorable residents. With their duck bills, little flippers and all-round slightly magical quality, the sighting of one of them in the wild is, these days, akin to a small miracle (which is why the recent news of their discovery in Sydney's Hills District is so incredibly remarkable). Now, however, the chance of Sydneysiders getting to see one of these cuties IRL has suddenly become (marginally) more likely. The curious sight of this iconic semi-aquatic monotreme was once a common occurrence in the rivers of the Royal National Park on the traditional lands of the Dharawal. However, following a

Sydney commuters – we've been hearing for so long about the upcoming new underground metro; it's hard to believe that it'll ever actually open. But the time is actually coming, for real. Speed testing in the tunnels under Sydney Harbour has proved the metro trains can travel twice the speed of our regular trains, accelerating from a standstill to a speed of 100 kilometres per hour within about 15 seconds.  Next year, the turn-up-and-go metro trains will get you from the massive new Victoria Cross underground station at North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes. Two minutes later, the tester train pulls up at another new station at Martin Place. “Extensive testing has been underway on the City and Southwest metro line since April 2023," says NSW Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen. "So far more than 2,500 hours and 12,500 kilometres of testing has been completed as we countdown to the opening of the next exciting stage of metro.”   Photograph: SuppliedSydney Metro workers at new station There are six new, accessible city stations that will open in 2024. One of the other newbies is Waterloo Metro Station, which is now 95 per cent done. From Waterloo, passengers will be able to get to Central in two minutes, Barangaroo in eight, and North Sydney in eleven.  At the moment, lifts, escalators and station signs are all being finalised at Waterloo.   RECOMMENDED: This new Sydney CBD metro station has been named in recognition of the land's traditional custodians Declaring itself