Maya Skidmore

Buckle up, mates! Australia is set to rock 2026 with a jam-packed schedule of music festivals, cultural celebrations, food fiestas and sporting events. Our Travel and News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has handpicked the ultimate list of the biggest and most exciting events happening across the country in 2026. From sizzling summer food feasts and dazzling winter light displays to vibrant spring flower festivals, there’s something worth travelling for in every state and territory. Start submitting those leave requests and planning your next getaway around these key events across Australia in 2026. Editors' favourite events in Australia in 2026: 🎶 Best for music: Party in the Paddock, TAS ⚽️ Best for sport: AFC Women's Asian Cup  🍷 Best for food and drink: Pair'd Margaret River, WA 😱 The best new things to do in 2026🌎 The best places to visit in Australia

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. Our nation's abundance of gorgeously scenic drives, bizarre roadside curios, small town bakeries and secret nature spots makes any kind of long road trip more than the average drive. Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has teamed up with some well-travelled writers to bring you this list of the best road trips in Australia that you should drive away on at least once in your life. Whether you're after a wholesome day trip from the city, a week-long adventure along the wild west coast or an epic outback odyssey that'll make you feel like an intrepid National Geographic explorer, this list has something for everyone. So, what are you waiting for? Pack snacks, download some podcasts and let yourself loose on one of the best road trips in Australia. Editors' favourite road trips in Australia: 🚙 Best for first timers: Great Ocean Road, VIC ☀️ Best for families: Great Barrier Reef Drive, QLD 😍 Best for hidden gems: The South West Escape, WA 🚘 The best day trips in Australia🥐 The best bakeries in Australia

As it turns out, the land of sun and good weather also doubles as a hotspot for world-class sporting events. Year-round, Australia welcomes the world’s top tennis players, race car drivers, runners, sailors and sporting superstars to play on our glorious home turf. While our winter sports are a far cry from Canada’s frozen hockey or England’s Premier League, our national leagues, like the AFL and the NRL, still pack out pubs and have put Australia on the international sports map. But it’s in summer that Australia's sporting scene truly shines with the likes of The Ashes, the Australian Open and the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. So even if being sporty isn’t your thing, strap in for some premium entertainment at one of the best sporting events in Australia. Editors' favourite sporting events in Australia: ☀️ Best for summer: Australian Open, VIC ⛵️ Best for non-sports fans: Sail Grand Prix, WA/NSW 🏉 Best for a mini getaway: AFL Gather Round, SA 🏃🏿‍♂️ The best marathons in Australia🏆 Your guide to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics

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.

It's a truth universally acknowledged that Australia has beaches that are beyond beautiful. With a whopping 12,000 beaches fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackle 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 at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected by our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley for its remarkable beauty, prime swimming conditions (read: you won't see a beach with saltwater crocs on this list) and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure doesn't end with just one dip. Now, all that’s left for you to do is check out the best beaches in Australia for yourself. Editors' favourite beaches in Australia: 💙 Best of all time: Whitehaven Beach, QLD 🤍 Best hidden gem: Stokes Bay, SA 💚 Best views: Wineglass Bay, TAS QLD | NSW | WA | TAS | VIC | SA  🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 The best surf beaches in Australia

Dreaming of sleeping beneath starry skies, swimming in secluded beaches and snuggling by a campfire – but without the spiders, dirt floors and lack of showers? Enter glamping – the perfect way to experience Australia’s wild side with a touch of luxury. Whether it's reclining in a private bubble bath beneath a rainforest canopy, dipping into a rainwater plunge pool with Uluru in the background, or sleeping on fresh sheets next to one of the world's most remote coral reefs, the best glamping spots in Australia are both epic and aplenty. All you've gotta do is hit the road.  Editors' favourite glamping spots in Australia: 💕 Best couples retreat: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA ☀️ Best for families: Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay, NSW 💎 Best luxury: Longitude 131, NT WA | NSW | VIC | NT | TAS | QLD | SA ✅ The best caravan parks in Australia⛺️ The best free campsites in Australia

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

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.

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 biggest and best music festivals in 2026🛍️ 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.

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

As a city bursting with attractions, it’s an unavoidable fact that some of the things in your Sydney guidebook are bound to suck. Long queues, ridiculous prices and crowds of tourists are hardly going to make your trip to Sydney a memorable one – so ditch them all for these top-notch, local-approved sights and activities.  Below we’ve laid out a full range of tried-and-tested tourist stops around Sydney that are guaranteed not to be a let-down; they'll see you surfing at Bondi Beach, jetting across the harbour on a speedboat and watching humpback whales in the wild. Read on for our pick of the very best tourist attractions in Australia’s Harbour City. 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:These are the best restaurants in Sydney.These are the city's best bars.And these are the very best places to stay the night.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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 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.  

Buckle up folks, because Western Australia's very own Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trail has just finished stage two of construction, meaning that 68 kilometres of incredible mountain bike terrain are now officially open for business.  Located just an hour's drive from Perth, Dwellingup is a gorgeous town that's one of only two 'Accredited Trail Towns' in the state. With an abundance of soaring forests, curving rivers and wildlife, it's a renowned spot for outdoor adventure seekers from all over Australia looking for beautiful hikes, wild swimming holes and now, unparalleled mountain biking.  As part of the new, multimillion-dollar Dwellingup Adventure Trails initiative, a huge variety of mountain bike trails have been built in the region over the last three years, ranging from gentle 1.6-kilometre beginner tracks to a hardcore 18-kilometre trail for seasoned riders. These smooth, well-maintained trails are designed to maximise any mountain biking experience, taking adventurers through towering native forests and past gorgeous natural attractions, including Lane Poole Reserve (a section of the famous Bibbulmun Track) and along the pristine banks of the Murray River. Photograph: Tourism Western Australia On top of being a biking paradise, Dwellingup Adventure Trails has created an incredible series of bushwalks through this beautiful landscape, while also updating existing ones. There are also plenty of opportunities for kayaking and canoeing adventurers on the Murray, meaning

If there's one thing that transcends all human difference, it's the united exhaustion of waiting by a baggage claim after a flight. The endless pacing! The panicked rush! The deep horror! And, of course, the classic nightmare of waiting for your luggage, only to be met with an evil, empty baggage carousel and the sad realisation that your bag is actually headed somewhere far, far away. Like Perth, or Timbuktu. It is this particular scenario that makes Melbourne Airport's whopping half-a-billion dollar redevelopment of its baggage claim process so very welcome. Constructed over the course of the year amidst the chaos of an operational international airport, the new system is a wild 3.6 kilometres long – the same length as the airport's longest runway.  Testing is currently in process for this new, world-class baggage system that is said to be able to double the existing baggage system's capacity for travellers, bringing the total number of bags that can be processed in one hour up from a current 1,800 to a huge 4,000.   Photograph: Alexandr Podvalny/Pexels Better yet, it will feature state-of-the-art technology that will have the ability to provide airlines with the tracking and status of people's bags from the moment their luggage gets checked in. Goodbye, lost baggage mayhem.  With international arrivals to Melbourne at a record high, with 1,032,448 arrivals recorded in October 2025 alone, it is clear that a solid baggage system is a necessity for an airport that is only c

There's nothing quite like The Ghan. Known for its iconic northbound travel route that curves through the ochre sands of outback South Australia and up into the crimson heart of the Red Centre, The Ghan railway has made a respected name for itself as one of the most prestigious and deeply Australian travel experiences on Earth. In 2025, it was ranked among the world’s best luxury train journeys – and now, it’s taking the experience to an entirely new level. Photograph: Journey Beyond | The Ghan In 2027, The Ghan's northbound itinerary is set to expand for the first time from its usual two-night offering to a three-night, four-day experience that speeds up from Adelaide to the tropical wonders of the Top End. This new offering is designed to get people moving slowly and intentionally through the magic of Australia's heartland country, immersing themselves deeply in the wild and dreamy beauty of the landscapes that stretch from South Australia to the Northern Territory. What's in the new 2027 itinerary? For the first time ever, Journey Beyond Rail has announced a new route, titled 'The Legendary Ghan 2027'. Kicking off in Adelaide and ending in Darwin, this one is made for travellers who want to soak up as much time as possible in the Red Centre, but still luxuriate within the glam lap of The Ghan. The 2027 route begins with a bougie dinner in an acclaimed South Australian wine region. Afterwards comes the big star moment, a full day exploring the 600-million-year-old landsca

The year is wrapping up, and so is pretty much everything around us (and no, we're not just talking about Spotify). The real estate and property experts at Domain have released their own end of year wrap, revealing some intriguing and valuable insights – including which Aussie suburbs ranked among the most popular in 2025.  The annual report relied on the analysis of a year's worth of site views on domain.com.au, zoning in on the highest views per residential listing for apartments and houses across Australia. This data is significant, because it reveals the kinds of areas that are gaining momentum and harnessing the most amount of interest for prospective buyers, both in Melbourne and nationwide.  Unsurprisingly, most of the top suburbs across Australia's major cities were wealthy and prestigious areas that are less interest rate sensitive. Domain chief of research and economics, Dr Nicola Powell, says that most of the buyers for these areas are people looking to upgrade to their next property, and are determined to find their new home in a distinct suburb, refusing to stop looking until they do.  There's also a lot of people who are perusing property for a bit of fun (but may not be able to make the jump IRL, just yet), a factor that Dr Powell says will inevitably drive views to listings in places that she calls “the creme de la creme of Australia’s real estate”. Property dreamers, we see you.  Photograph: Visit Victoria | Albert Park In Melbourne, the results reflect exa

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