The best things to do in December in Sydney

Film director James Cameron is best known for his blockbusters Titanic and Avatar, but did you know he’s also an avid deep-sea explorer? Not only has he completed 72 deep dives in submersibles (specialised vessels designed for underwater travel) but he’s also led eight major expeditions. His most recent was a record-breaking dive to the bottom of the ocean in the Deepsea Challenger, the submersible he co-designed and co-engineered.  The deep sea is one of the least explored parts of the Earth, so the Australian National Maritime Museum, in collaboration with the Avatar Alliance Foundation, has developed an immersive exhibition to showcase his history-making expeditions.  Experience moments from Cameron’s greatest underwater adventures through large cinema-scale projections, artefacts and specimens from his expeditions. There’ll also be hand props and costumes from the 1997 film Titanic on show, including the Heart of the Ocean diamond, plus underwater recording, lighting and communication tech from Cameron’s 1988 film The Abyss.  James Cameron - Challenging the Deep is on now until February 2, 2025. Tickets are on sale now with discounts available for concessions and children and family passes on offer. All tickets include access to all of the museum’s other exhibitions. Grab yours over here. 

UPDATE, DECEMBER 9: Clearly, we can't get enough of this ridicoulously funny show! Titanique has just announced that this Sydney-exclusive season has been extended all the way through summer, until March 30. Prepare to board! Read on for our critic's five-star review:  Ah, the Titanic. An unsinkable cultural icon, the “Ship of Dreams” has appeared in almost as many movies and stage productions as the songs of Canada’s queen of the power ballad, Céline Dion. It’s even got a two-and-a-half-hour (surprisingly serious) movie musical adaptation based on Maury Yeston’s Titanic: the Musical. Although, none can hold a candle to the cultural impact of James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster – you know, the one with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. So, with nostalgia being such hot property right now, it was only a matter of time before we got the camp-as-hell musical fantasia-made-for-and-by-the-gays that is Titanique. Created by Marla Mindelle (who originated the role of Céline Dion – well, as imagined in this show), Constantine Rousouli (who originated the role of Jack) and director Tye Blue (whose countless industry credits include working on the casting team of RuPaul’s Drag Race), Titanique is revisionist history at its best. Loaded with Céline Dion’s greatest bangers, it casts Queen Dion herself (played so wonderfully by cabaret legend Marney McQueen here in Aus) as the narrator of the tragic tale, who continuously places herself at the center of the action – quite literally –...

Head across the hallway to your besties’ apartment and get ready to giggle – everyone’s favourite '90s sitcom is setting up shop at The Fullerton Hotel, and you can get involved. The Friends Experience is taking over level one of the CBD hotel from Thursday, September 26 – so you and your friends will soon be able to relive unforgettable moments from the show, for the ‘gram or just for the mems.  More than 25 years after it first graced our TV screens back in 1994, it’s safe to say Friends is still one of the most beloved shows of all time – it’s certainly our go-to comfort watch. Now, those craving more of the show’s hilarious energy can perk up their days (geddit?) by staging a photoshoot in the show’s iconic coffee house, settling into Chandler and Joey’s ultra-comfortable recliners, or taking a seat on what is perhaps the world’s most recognisable couch.  And of course, you can’t recreate Friends without also striking a pose in Monica’s spotless kitchen and splashing around by the famous fountain from the opening credits.  The Friends Experience has attracted more than a million visitors around the world, and now it's our turn. The 45-minute nostalgic experience will set you back $25 per person, and the interactive sets are suitable for all ages. You can find tickets over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. In the mood for a...

Let’s just start by saying I’m not a D&D player. I’ve played a couple of times with my family, led by my teenage son as Dungeon Master, but that was just to show interest in something he loves. So I do understand the basics – that said, you don’t need any prior knowledge of D&D to get swept up in the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. If anything, this show is probably the best way I’ve found so far to get a better grasp on the complex game that is D&D. This is an interactive show that began in New York as an Off-Broadway production – the same director, Michael Fell, also rehearsed with the Australian cast. In what ways is it interactive? The story lies in the audience’s hands, as well as with the roll of the 20-sided dice.  As you enter The Studio at the Sydney Opera House, you pick a coloured sticker from a basket. Depending on what colour you choose, you get aligned with one of the three classes: Warrior, Mage (Wizard) or Assassin/Entertainer. Throughout the show, you make decisions for the character in your assigned class, mostly by choosing options via your mobile phone (after scanning a QR code) – and sometimes just by yelling out. (Top tip:Make sure you turn up with a fully-charged phone.) You answer polls and take part in little games to choose what character the actors play, then make decisions or see the outcomes of characters’ actions. Dice rolls are directed by the Dungeon Master, played by the charismatic Cody Simpson-lookalike William...

There’s something so intriguing about exploring the depths of the ocean, because we don't get many chances to check out what's down there. If you’re not a diver but you’ve always wanted to see what happens underneath the ripples of the water's surface, check out this ocean photography exhibition that's returning to the Australian National Maritime Museum.From November 28, the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition will feature all of the winners and finalists of the prestigious prize, which is led by the London-based Oceanographic Magazine.  The exhibition will display 118 of the most awe-inspiring wildlife shots ever snapped, immersing you in the otherworldly magic of the ocean and bringing you face-to-face with some of the sea's most majestic creatures. Particular highlights will no doubt be getting your peepers on the winning image from photographer Rafael Fernández Caballero. His incredible photo of a Bryde whale feeding on a heart-shaped baitball was taken in Baja California Sur, Mexico during the Mexican sardine run. The stunning shot was chosen from more than 15,000 images by a panel of expert judges.  There are plenty of other award-winning photos on display across 10 categories, including the Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year and the Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year.   Tickets are on sale now with discounts available for concessions and children and family passes on offer. All tickets include access to...

Just as the warmer days have started setting in, Sydney Harbour has welcomed a glorious new addition – in the form of a free-to-access swimming pool in the heart of the city. Pool by Pier Bar is bringing beach club energy to the Harbour City – with guests at Pier One’s airy indoor-outdoor venue invited to cool off in a pop-up harbourside swimming pool. Running until Friday, January 31, the pop-up swimming pool is transforming the sun-soaked corner of harbourside into an adult playground. Order drinks and summery snacks – like Pier Bar’s signature Margaritas and golden bowls of calamari and soft shell crab – and settle in for a perfectly-fuelled afternoon spent in and out of the water. The pool is netted, so you don’t need to worry about any unwanted friends, and there are towels available to hire at $10 a pop if you don’t want to carry a damp towel home.  Group numbers are capped at 25, but if you want to gather a group of 24 for a day of drinks by the harbour – go forth. The view of the sunset from Pier Bar – dropping behind Walsh Bay and bathing the pier in buttery light – is one of the best in Sydney, so it’s worth staying all day. Access to the pool is free, but a minimum spend of $75 per person applies for groups of ten people and more. Keen? You can book over here.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want more fun? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. And these are our favourite...

The Australian Museum’s blockbuster summer exhibition, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, is landing in Sydney with one of the most impressive gold collections to ever tour the globe.  Open from November 23, this blockbuster exhibition will take you back in time with over 130 artefacts showcasing the daily lives, spiritual practices and extraordinary achievements of societies in ancient Peru. In addition to the stunning gold collection, you’ll find other priceless treasures on display, including exquisite jewellery and funerary objects unearthed in royal tombs. The exhibition explores civilisations that predate the Incas, including indigenous groups who lived in the Andes mountains and the desert coastal strip of Peru as far back as 10,000 BCE. The exhibition dives into their rich history, including their fascination with natural life cycles, birth and death. (Our team dived deeper over here, and in the video below.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sydney (@timeoutsydney) Upgrade your visit with a thrilling VR experience that takes you on an expedition to the Incan city of Machu Picchu for an add-on fee. Using cutting-edge technology, you’ll explore this UNESCO World Heritage site from the comfort of 360-degree motion chairs, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and sensations of this mysterious city in the sky—all without leaving Sydney. If you want to delve deeper, an exciting series of expert-led talks and...

If you've ever dreamed of running off with the circus, this one’s for you. After a record-setting season in Brisbane that saw more than 120,000 tickets sold, Cirque du Soleil’s spectacular new show has landed in Sydney for its final Aussie encore. It's already got a big thumbs up from none other than Robert Irwin, who described it as “just next level”, and now the wildly impressive Luzia is pitching up under the Big Top at the Entertainment Quarter until February 9, before it ships off to New York City.Originated some 40 years ago in Canada, Cirque du Soleil is the world-leader of live circus – and as with every Big Top show they roll out, Luzia features ridiculously impressive acrobatics and stunning visual effects, with this particular show transporting spectators to a vibrant and surreal Mexico-inspired setting. Morphing from a vintage movie set to the aquatic depths of the ocean, and from a hazy dance hall into an arid desert, the stage brings Mexican landscapes (and seascapes, and atmospheric indoor settings) to life through an immersive, spellbinding show. The poetic narrative of Luzia was crafted by playwright Julie Hamelin Finzi, and the transporting story is brought to life under the direction of author, director, choreographer, lighting designer and actor Daniele Finzi Pasca. On the acrobatics front, you can expect trapeze artists, hoop divers, football freestylers and contortionists to defy the laws of gravity – all set within a magical dreamlike setting...

Jaws were on the floor earlier this year when the Art Gallery of New South Wales announced that it had secured Australia’s biggest and first-ever retrospective exhibition dedicated to the one and only René Magritte. Opening at the end of October, and sticking around until February 2025, consider Sydney art fiends' summer plans settled.  The exhibition titled ‘Magritte’ is part of Sydney’s International Art Series spanning 2024 and 2025. Getting in on the action are the state gallery’s Cao Fei: My City is Yours, and the MCA's Julie Mehretu exhibitions.  You could consider Magritte the master of symbols, and you’ve likely seen his plastered all over the place: clouds, bowler hats, pipes… well, *not* pipes, to be precise. The exhibition takes art lovers and history fanatics through 20 years worth of Magritte’s paintings, starting from the 1920s in the height of the surrealist movement. More than 100 works make up the showing, and they’ve been flown in from all over the world including from the MoMA in New York, the Musée Magritte in Brussels, Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art, plus other museums and even some private collections too.  Magritte opens at the Art Gallery of NSW in the South Building’s Lower Level 2 on October 26 and will be there until February 9, 2025. The exhibition is a ticketed event, and prices start from, $30 for members and $35 for adults, or you can save some pennies by purchasing two for one tickets on Wednesday nights or this ultra pass to all...

Summer is setting in, and while us Surry Hills-based office workers are forced to seek our weekday sunshine in Prince Alfred Park (no terrible fate, especially if you can fit in a swim), those based in the harbour-front precinct of Barangaroo can get active with a series of free community activities.  On Wednesday lunchtimes (up until Wednesday, December 18), Barangaroo Reserve will play host to a series of free-to-attend First Nations-inspired yoga classes. Led by proud Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr woman Jacqui Jarrett, Yoga on Country takes place on Stargazer Lawn at 12.30pm every Wednesday, and is a magical way to connect with the land and waters that we see and touch every day. The 60-minute classes celebrate First Nations cultural beliefs, inviting participants to listen, learn and breathe. You’ll need to register if you’re keen to join, and you can do that over here. If you’re looking for a less introspective lunchtime activity, there’s a free Pickleball tournament going down at Harbour Park Community Recreation Space every Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime. The 20-minute games take place between 12pm and 2pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays – you can register (either as a two-person team, or solo to be paired up with another player) over here.  Keen to get moving on the last day of the working week? Barangaroo Run Club meets every Friday morning, with runners meeting at Hickson Park at 7.15am. The hour-long sessions range from slow-paced jogs to high-impact training drills,...