Alec Jones

Sydney has a side that isn’t always immediately visible to first-time visitors. When you touch down, you’re drawn to the stunning harbour and beaches, and the diverse food scene. But, if you’re a traveller drawn to the culture beneath the prettiest attractions, the good news is, Sydney has an electric creative and cultural scene.  Alice has lined up 10 of her personal favourite stops to get you tuned in to the city’s history, First Nations’ culture and rich art scene.

VINYL MEDIA COMPETITION SCHEDULE ABOUT THESE COMPETITION TERMS  This Competition Schedule contains the specific terms applying to this Competition. The Vinyl Media General Competition Terms, available here, also apply.  Together, this Competition Schedule and the General Competition Terms form the terms and conditions of the Competition. If there is any inconsistency, this Competition Schedule prevails. COMPETITION Competition name:MG4 EV Urban x Reese’s Australia pop-up at Ghost Festival Masthead / brand:Time Out Competition page:https://neflytia.top/sydney/things-to-do/mg4-ev-urban-x-reeses-australia-pop-up-at-ghost-festival PROMOTER Promoter:Time Out Print and Digital Publishing Pty Ltd ABN:50 125 441 812 Address:121 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 COMPETITION TYPE This Competition is a: X Game of Chance — winner selected randomly ☐ Game of Skill — winner selected by judging entries against stated criteria WHO CAN ENTER? Eligible residents:Residents of NSW Minimum age:18 years Other eligibility requirements:None ENTRY PERIOD Competition opens:10am AEST on October 27 2026 Competition closes:11:59pm AEST on November 9 2026 Entries must be received during the Entry Period. HOW TO ENTER To enter, an eligible Entrant must: Correctly guess how many bags of Reese’s Pieces fit in the boot of an MG4 EV Urban Entry page / method:[Insert URL or other entry mechanism] Maximum entries:One entry per person Purchase required? ☐ Yes X No Creative material required? ☐

One of the many beautiful things about Sydney is the way its hospitality scene works in every season. But if we had to pick its prime…the summer months really bring out the best menus across town. Be it a plate of fresh seafood by the water or a fruity cocktail high above the ground, you’re bound to find a dish (or drink) worth writing home about during a Sydney summer. So, if you’ve got a big appetite and time in the calendar, allow us to introduce ten Sydney venues to hit up during the warmer months.

COMPETITION RULES THIS COMPETITION IS ORGANISED BY… Time Out:(the Organiser) Print and Digital Publishing Pty Ltd  (ABN 50 125 441 812) 121 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 In association with:(the Prize Provider) NEL Restaurant Pty Ltd ABN 13600592149 75 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney NSW 2000 WHAT’S THE PRIZE? Three winners will each receive one double pass (six seats in total) to attend The Feline Feast at NEL Restaurant, Sydney, on Monday, November 2 2026. Each double pass includes entry for the winner and one guest (both aged 18+) to enjoy a complimentary 12-course degustation with matching wines, created by Chef Nelly Robinson and inspired by the launch of Fancy Feast Gems. The value of the prize is approximately AUD$600 per double pass (AUD$300 per person), for a total prize pool value of approximately AUD$1,800. This prize is referred to as the Prize Package in these rules.   👉  There are a few additional conditions from the Prize Provider which apply to this Competition and Prize Package:   The prize is valid only for attendance at The Feline Feast at NEL Restaurant, Sydney, on Monday, 2 November 2026. Winners and their guests must be aged 18 years or over.  Reservations are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be redeemed for cash or substituted for another experience. Winners may be required to reconfirm attendance prior to the event, and failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the prize. Due to the bespoke nature of the menu, only vegetaria

COMPETITION RULES THIS COMPETITION IS ORGANISED BY… Time Out:(the Organiser) Print and Digital Publishing Pty Ltd  (ABN 50 125 441 812) 121 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 In association with:(the Prize Provider) BRR Agency Pty Ltd 93 121 083 805 102 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000 WHAT’S THE PRIZE? A voucher redeemable for 5x tickets to Trick or Drink during Ghost Festival 2026. Includes entry and drink passes at four participating venues for five guests between October 29 and November 1 2026.  The value of the prize is approximately $270. This prize is referred to as the Prize Package in these rules.   👉  There are a few additional conditions from the Prize Provider which apply to this Competition and Prize Package:   Participants must be aged 18+. Voucher must be used on pre-booked tickets to Trick or Drink before November 1 2026, bookable at https://ghostfestival.com.au/trick-or-drink-exp/. WHEN CAN I ENTER THE COMPETITION? Start Date: AEST 12:00 am on 15 October 2026 End Date: AEST 11:59 pm on 21 October 2026 HOW DO I ENTER? Step 1: Follow @timeoutsydney and @ghostfestivalsyd on Instagram and tag the friends you’d bring with you in the comments. Step 2: That’s it! Just make sure you submit your entry before the comp closes.    👉 By uploading your entry, you understand that you are entering the Competition and agree to these Competition rules. WHO CAN ENTER? The Competition is open to all residents in Sydney over the age of 18, except employees of Tim

We moved on from film photography a little too quickly. Sure, it’s convenient to compile every photo into your phone, but to hold – really hold – a memory printed into physical media will always beat digital. Physical media is on the rise again, including film cameras, and film proprietor Fujifilm wants to help us all reconnect with our best memories. We don’t mean just fondly leafing through a photo book; we mean actually going back to where the photo was taken. Fujifilm is inviting any and all photographers and memory-makers to literally print their way back in time. You can print a photo, or any eligible printing product, as long as it’s printed at a participating retailer – then submit your receipt on the competition website. Doing so will put you in the running to win $10,000 to take you back to the site of the photograph, wherever it may be. An overseas trip with friends? An island where you got engaged? A night out in Japan? You name it, you can go back there. All you need to do is print at Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Big W, Camera House, or any participating retailer (see the full retailer list here), keep your receipt, then upload it on the competition website with an answer to the question: In 25 words or less, what person or place would you love to see again, and why? Each transaction is one entry. Fujifilm’s Print Your Way Back competition runs from 7–31 October 2026. Submit your entry online for your chance to win. T&Cs apply, see fujifilmphotos.com.au/return. Op

Some say Champagne on ice is sacrilegious, but not in sunny Southern France. There, locals say it’s better to drink Champagne on the rocks so it’s ice cold. Moët and Chandon have created a Champagne specifically crafted to be enjoyed on ice – Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial. And you’ll be able to sip it poolside at an exclusive pop-up on the Gold Coast. Moët and Chandon is bringing this icy varietal, designed in partnership with fashion icon Pharrell Williams, to the Gold Coast’s Mondrian Hotel. A longtime collaborator with the Champagne brand, Williams redesigned the Ice Imperial bottle with a fabric-inspired label dotted with golden pearls.  Throughout October, you’ll be able to enjoy the return to the warmer weather with those unique and limited-edition bottles – served as a summery pour over ice alongside curated snacks. This Champagne – the first of its kind as an ice-elevated blend – was inspired by sun-soaked Saint Tropez, and it’s a mouthful of tropical fruit flavours that are best shared with friends on a sunny day. Where better to find that sun than the Gold Coast? Visit the Mondrian Gold Coast to try Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial between 1-31 October 2026. For more information, visit the website.

If there’s one thing Australia manages to have in both quality and quantity, it’s beaches. But like many things in life, there can only be one best-in-class beach. For Australia, that rule was bent slightly when its best beach of 2026 was actually awarded to a collection of beaches: Bate Bay – a stretch of beaches in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, including Cronulla, Elouera and Gunnamatta Bay. Cronulla wasn’t one to rest on its laurels after that win because, as of this month, it’s now home to a 12-month trial of Sydney’s first-ever beachside special entertainment precinct, as part of the NSW Government’s multi-step plan to improve nightlife across NSW. Found everywhere from Enmore Rd to Hornsby, these precincts allow local businesses to stay open later, with more flexibility around late-night noise levels. For Cronulla, that means new venues like Nelly Robinson’s coastal-inspired NEL sibling NOA, contemporary Asian eatery Isora, the day-to-night Meadow Music Room and the hybrid pizza and Mexican-serving Retro will be at the heart of the precinct, inspiring vibrant summer dining and a lively entertainment scene.  And if you’re in the mood to move, sources tell us that the Sutherland Shire is the crown jewel of Sydney’s next boot-scooting craze. It’s an area where you can get line-dancing lessons from not one but at least five local venues, including Northies at Cronulla and The Prince at Kirrawee.  If you need a proper bucket list to make the most of the year of late nights to c

As we return to the sunny side of the year, there’s one thing on all our minds: a change of scenery. Sunny long weekends are coming up fast, and we’re prepping our calendars with day trips, weekends away and adventures. If your holiday savings are looking a little light, maybe it’s time to opt for a local getaway in Vic instead?  Thanks to Victoria’s half price travel until 1 January 2027, this is possible and much more affordable than a flight. Half price travel means every single public transport fee (excluding ferries and subsidised regional bus services) will be slashed down the middle. All you need to do is tap on or buy a ticket as you always would. No matter if it's on a myki or a contactless payment, every fee on trains, trams, buses, V/Lines and coaches is automatically being halved, even concessions. That means a full day of transport anywhere on the network is down from $11.40 to $5.70 on full fares, or $2.85 for concession. It’s a prime time to leave the car at home or book a heavily discounted trip and explore across the state’s network. With nothing more than a few dollars thanks to the half-price offer, you could zip up for a wildflower-studded visit to the Grampians via train to Ararat and a coach to Halls Gap; or enjoy all the colours of the rainbow in Bendigo’s fields and flower arrangements, which is less than two hours on the train.  Photograph: Supplied | Transport VictoriaVIC Metropolitan Tram EClass Need a long winery weekend? Kick off a Yarra Valley 

To celebrate its Birthday Bash, Kris+ by Singapore Airlines is boosting its earn rate to 10 miles per dollar at participating Kris+ partners across Sydney and Melbourne from October 1-31.  The Kris+ network spans dining, retail and lifestyle, meaning you can earn miles while doing plenty of the things you were already planning to do. And with more than 300 partner outlets around Australia spanning retail to dining and tech – including national retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys – there are plenty of opportunities to make everyday spending work a little harder.  Those miles can add up surprisingly quickly. A Scoot flight to Singapore can start from as little as 12,500 miles – around $1,250 of spend at the boosted October earn rate. Members can also redeem miles or use them to offset purchases at participating Kris+ outlets.  Photograph: Supplied | Kris+ by Singapore AirlinesUsing the Kris+ by Singapore Airlines points program And to top it off? Joining is free, and you can score a $10 reward by joining today with code KPTIMEOUT26 – simply download the Kris+ app and start earning when you spend with Kris+ partners. There’s no minimum purchase required to access the boosted earn rate, so even the little purchases can count.  Coffee today, Singapore tomorrow? We can work with that.

There’s something about spring that makes us want to get out of Sydney and explore. Suddenly, spending a weekend somewhere outside the city seems like an excellent idea. Even better? You can let NSW TrainLink do the driving. ​ If you’re planning your next holiday, NSW TrainLink’s regional train and coach network connects travellers to more than 365 destinations across NSW and beyond. Just pick your destination, secure your spot online – which’ll save you 5 per cent on the trip, too – and let NSW TrainLink do the rest.  Instead, you can settle in, watch the scenery roll by and concentrate on deciding what you’ll do when you arrive.  For travellers dreaming of their next regional adventure, there has never been a better time to experience the convenience of NSW TrainLink. Book online and save 5 per cent at NSW TrainLink.

COMPETITION RULES THIS COMPETITION IS ORGANISED BY… Time Out:(the Organiser) Print and Digital Publishing Pty Ltd  (ABN 50 125 441 812) Level 2, 223 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 In association with:(the Prize Provider) Hunter Street Hospitality  (ABN 79 607 717 206) Lvl 2, Cleland Bond Building 33 Playfair Street, The Rocks 2000 WHAT’S THE PRIZE? A prize voucher valued to be spent at two Melbourne dining venues – 7 Alfred and Bar Ferdinand – six months after the issue date, for one or multiple steak frites and cocktail dinners. The value of the prize is approximately $500 AUD. This prize is referred to as the Prize Package in these rules. 👉  The Prize Package is subject to the Prize Provider’s terms and conditions available at: https://hunterstreethospitality.com.au/privacy-policy/  👉  There are a few additional conditions from the Prize Provider which apply to this Competition and Prize Package: The prize will need to be booked/used six months after the issue date. It can be used multiple times; however, if the available balance is overdrawn, the difference will need to be paid by another method. Prize voucher will be treated like cash, and will not be eligible for replacement or refund. It is also unable to be redeemed for cash. WHEN CAN I ENTER THE COMPETITION? Start Date: AEST 12:15 am on 11 September 2026 End Date: AEST 11:45 pm on Wednesday, September 30   HOW DO I ENTER? Step 1: Fill out your details in the entry form found here. Step 2:

Sydney’s flagship architecture event is back for 2026, opening the doors to our city’s historically significant and architecturally inspiring spaces for one day only: Sunday, November 1. It’s the best day of the year for lovers of architecture, design, history, photography and storytelling to experience – plus those who simply enjoy a good stickybeak behind the scenes. Every year, thousands of ticketholders jump at the chance to explore these heritage spaces, skyhigh office towers, inspired hospo fit-outs, luxury hotels and civic buildings. Presented by Museums of History NSW, Sydney Open is a once-a-year opportunity to visit many spaces that are generally off-limits to the public, packed with opportunities to learn and hear stories from the architects, designers and people behind the scenes at these spaces, and take as many photos as you can.  This year’s program, ‘built for the curious’, so far includes City Recital Hall, City of Sydney Fire Station, The Mint, Prefecture 48, Clarence Place, Sydney Masonic Centre, Machine Hall, Hinchcliff House, Royal Automobile Club of Australia, and Kimpton Margot.  Plus, the second drop of buildings – which has just been announced – includes The Lands by Capella, Grace House, Deutsche Bank Place, Judge's House, Kimpton Margot, King + Kent, Machine Hall, The Press and many more. The day is designed so you can choose your own architectural adventures. Your ticket gives you an all-access pass, unlocking the doors to over 40 buildings and pro

As a multicultural megacity, Singapore can feel like a lot to absorb at once. If you’d rather dip your toes than dive right in, Conrad Singapore Orchard is a home away from home that can double as a comfortable and convenient base for you to enjoy the best of Singapore’s offerings.  The hotel is built around an airy, luminous atrium (architecture nerds will spot the style of the late great John Portman) located at the top of Orchard Street, between some of Singapore’s most popular neighbourhoods and attractions. Singapore Botanic Gardens and ION Orchard Mall are both just a 15-minute walk away, and the local MRT station puts the entire city in easy reach. Inside the hotel, a biophilic design encloses almost 450 rooms, catering for everything from business trips to group getaways. Conrad also boasts ten different restaurants and bars, including exciting concepts like the world-famous cocktail bar Manhattan and the Michelin-starred Summer Palace.  And that's not all – there's also a reimagined arvo tea at the lush Tea Lounge, an Italian-leaning fare in a communal setting at Basilico, an eight-seater Edomae-style sushi spot and a premium Korean barbecue restaurant. Like Singapore’s famous foodie scene, the hotel draws from all over Asia to fill your appetite.  And if you’re sweating the itinerary, Conrad Singapore Orchard can also play tour guide thanks to the Conrad 1/3/5 programme. These are six exclusive itineraries that mix in-house and local experiences into one, three- or

Do you love a plate of fresh seafood? A nice, cool glass of white wine? They do go together beautifully, and that culinary combo is front and centre at A Taste of New Zealand, an exclusive dinner event taking over the kitchen of The Boathouse Balmoral. The popular eatery is teaming up for a coastal-inspired night of NZ-inspired food, and wine from New Zealand winery Cloudy Bay, celebrating its latest pour: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2026. Diners who secure a seat (it’s bookings only and is happening on October 15 at 6pm) will be in for a sensory trip across the ditch. In the kitchen, chefs Kia Kanuta and Ty Bellingham will be preparing a menu of the South Pacific’s bounty – think Pacific oysters, Tasmanian abalone, ocean trout and yellowfin tuna. You’ll return to dry land for dessert at least, with a twist on a Kiwi (and Australian) summer classic: burnt pavlova. Each course will be paired with Cloudy Bay wines, including Pelorus, Te Koko, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, with Cloudy Bay winemaker Dan Sorrell leading the journey through Cloudy Bay’s flavours and varietals. The Boathouse Balmoral’s A Taste of New Zealand dinner is taking place from 6pm on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Tickets are on sale now for $250 per person, and you can get yours here.

Michelle Lim Davidson might be most recognisable from the small screen – specifically ABC’s The Newsreader – but she’s shifted (at least partly) from performer to playwright with her Griffin Theatre Company-developed writing debut, Koreaboo, playing at Melbourne’s Malthouse until October 10.  In this comedy of colliding cultures, directed by Jessica Arthur (The Dictionary of Lost Words, GAME. SET. MATCH), Davidson also stars as Hannah, a 30-something-year-old woman who’s travelled to South Korea to meet her estranged birth mother (Heather Jeong). But when she arrives in Seoul, ready for the warm embrace of her long-lost culture, she finds her Umma is a workaholic more interested in running her convenience store than connecting with her Australian-raised daughter.  Umma considers her estranged daughter a “koreaboo”, a foreigner who’s come to Korea to chase the culture craze. So, Hannah has until the end of a sweltering summer to change her mind and find the motherly figure she’s been yearning for all these years. Fresh off the back of a Brisbane run and its 2025 Sydney premiere, Koreaboo will make its Victorian debut at Malthouse with preview showings from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, October 10. In her 2025 Time Out review of Koreaboo, Time Out’s Sally Lewis wrote, “As we witness these two women get to know one another, we are reminded that parenting doesn’t stop when we turn 18. Just because we grow up, build careers, fall in love, and raise our own families, it doesn

A celebration of all things Suntory has transformed the basement of Sakura House into Suntory House – where drinks from across Japan and the world are front and centre until October 3, 2026. Suntory is one of the biggest names in the global drinks industry, and you’ll be able to order any one of their crowd favourites alongside Japanese-style share plates at this limited-time residency in this top CBD bar. Suntory House is broadly inspired by the Japanese concept of nomikai: informal, communal after-work drinks. Expect spirits, RTDs, cocktails (especially highballs) and beer on tap alongside a food menu inspired by konbinis and izakayas – think chicken karaage, Balmain bug katsu sandwiches, aburi salmon handrolls and more. If you’re into your spirits, you’ve probably sampled Suntory-owned labels like Roku Gin, Toki Whisky, Haku Vodka, Laphroaig and Jim Beam. And if you prefer your drinks carbonated, it’s unlikely you’ve never tasted a -196 RTD or a crisp Japanese beer like Suntory The Premium Malt’s. Suntory House is open daily from 5pm, but Wednesday visitors will be treated to Hi-Kara Wednesdays presented by Suntory “Kabukin” Whisky. As part of this promotion, you can order a Suntory Kabukin Whisky Highball with chicken karaage for just $25. It’s all on offer for a limited time only – you have less than a month to visit and see it firsthand. Suntory House is taking place inside Sakura House daily from 5pm until October 3, 2026, walk-ins only. For more information, visit the

Theatregoers, ballet fans and lovers of all things gothic, there’s a union of all your interests out there, and it’s making a bloody return to Sydney this September and November. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest takes the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance. The Australian-made BIG Live production has played sold-out seasons in London’s West End, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Singapore, breaking the all-time record for the largest attended single production of Australian-made ballet. But it’s back on familiar hunting grounds now, and will spread its tale of dark romance and bloodlust, thanks to acclaimed performances by an alumni cast. That starring cast includes returning performers Ervin Zagidullin as Dracula and Abbey Hansen as Mina Harker, supported by renowned guest artist Adamzhan Bakhtiyar as Dracula in select performances. They’re choreographed by BIG Live Co-Founder Joel Burke, who, with Dracula, wanted to create a ballet that could be enjoyed by veteran and newcomer audiences alike. And as for the music, core to any ballet show, Dracula is scored by the Emmy Award-winning composer Jason Fernandez, and features classical works from maestros like Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy.  Expect fiery passion, bared teeth, captivating physicality and the kind of gothic grandeur that only Dracula himself could conjure. A strictly limited season will play at the State Theatre from September 22-27,

Theatregoers, ballet fans and lovers of all things gothic, there’s a union of all your interests out there, and it’s making a bloody return to Melbourne this September and October. Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest takes the centuries-old story of the world’s most famous vampire and turns it into a tragedy told through dance. The Australian-made BIG Live production has played sold-out seasons in London’s West End, Edinburgh, San Francisco and Singapore, breaking the all-time record for the largest attended single production of Australian-made ballet. But it’s back on familiar hunting grounds now, and will spread its tale of dark romance and bloodlust, thanks to acclaimed performances by an alumni cast. That starring cast includes returning performers Ervin Zagidullin as Dracula and Abbey Hansen as Mina Harker, supported by renowned guest artist Adamzhan Bakhtiyar as Dracula in select performances. They’re choreographed by BIG Live Co-Founder Joel Burke, who, with Dracula, wanted to create a ballet that could be enjoyed by veteran and newcomer audiences alike. And as for the music, core to any ballet show, Dracula is scored by the Emmy Award-winning composer Jason Fernandez, and features classical works from maestros like Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Debussy. The performance will play at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from September 10-19, and after a brief Sydney stint, again from October 1-25. Expect fiery passion, bared teeth, captivating physicality and the ki

Ever since Graham Chapman galloped across the silver screen as King Arthur (with the help of one trusty sidekick and an even trustier coconut) the world has loved Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In 2004, original Python Eric Idle turned the show into a glittering stage musical called Spamalot and the rest, as they say, is history. With three Tony Awards in its saddlebag and global fans made among lovers of classic Python and musical theatre alike, this particular production originated with a sell-out season this year at Planet Royale in Perth. Now, it's galloping into NSW for a limited Sydney season. This time it features the likes of legendary Aussie actor and comedian Stephen Curry (The Castle) as King Arthur and celebrated theatre star Marney MacQueen as the Lady of the Lake. You'll find its first stop at Pyrmont's Sydney Event Centre from October 15-18, before it gallops to Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre from October 22-25. Expect plenty of love for the all-time comedic chops of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, reinforced by squires packing coconut shells and sight gags, as well as big Broadway numbers and a bunch of (non-threatening) audience participation. On second thought... let's not go to Camelot... It's a silly place.  You can get tickets for Monty Python's Spamalot here for the Sydney Event Centre (Oct 15-18) and here for Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre (Oct 22-25).

Sydney, get ready to be seduced all over again. The daring, darling queen of punk-kabarett Bernie Dieter and her globally touring gig, Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett, are making a triumphant return to a Sydney stage. Bernie and her loyal band of bombastic bohemians will be bringing their fiery brand of energetic excess and peak physique to Carriageworks from October 8 to November 8. If you've not yet had the pleasure on a previous visit, you’ll find yourself transported to the smoky Berlin Underground with a show that Time Out's Guy Webster described as "a 100-minute feast for the eyes" in his five-star review of the Melbourne show earlier this year.With an inimitable skill for curating a menagerie of sideshow talents and for holding an audience in the palm of her hand, Bernie Dieter herself has been called “an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter in sequins”. Featuring an electrifying live band and a mix of Bernie’s original songs, imaginative covers, and brand-new music, expect a riotous evening that pushes physical boundaries, embraces non-conformity and sits comfortably on the edge of danger.  In Webster's Melbourne review, he continues, "With each act, Club Kabarett continues the radical queerness of its namesake, emphasising a diverse set of performers and styles taken straight out of Weimar Germany and revitalised with a modern flare. There is an element of danger retained from the Weimar age as well as signature BDSM bodices, spike