Winnie Stubbs

The Sunshine Coast’s ever-expanding dining scene is a double-edged sword: how does one pick between so many fantastic restaurants? Seasonal and locally sourced produce take centre stage across all cuisines, with everything from modern Asian and Middle Eastern to seafood, spaghetti and steak.  Once you’ve ticked off all the hot spots on Hastings Street in Noosa, make your way south to Mooloolaba’s bustling waterfront for fresh prawns and Asian street food, the sunny town square of Peregian Beach for a paddock-to-plate long lunch, or the scenic hinterland to dine at new farm-to-table restaurant ēthos. Here’s our guide to the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast, straight from local tips and the well-fed experience of our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley. ☀️ The best things to do on the Sunshine Coast🌊 Your ultimate guide to Noosa🍽️ Where to eat in Noosa

No one’s accusing Sydney of being cheap, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t budget-friendly hotels to be found in this sparkling diamond of a city. We've rounded up the best affordable hotels in Sydney, from off-the-beaten-track four-star secrets to reliable chains that business travellers depend upon. We’ve also compiled the city’s neatest and most reliable go-to hostels for backpackers, many of which offer single and double occupancy and ensuite rooms, not just intimidating dorms. Be warned, peak season in Sydney has dizzying highs and even the most reasonably priced accommodation can spike over the New Year’s Eve period. So, shop around if you're looking for a place to lay your head over the holidays. RECOMMENDED:Can’t stretch to that? Pack your tent and check out the best camping spots near Sydney.Or book a glamping tent at this island campsite in the middle of Sydney Harbour.Otherwise, simply say YOLO to your bank balance and book one of the city's best luxury hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

August is upon us, bringing slowly extending hours of winter sunshine, wattle explosions and a host of creative and cultural activities set to warm us up in time for spring. This last month of the cold season will be delivering the goods, with an incredible round-up of theatre shows and art exhibitions keeping us entertained, and the city’s best restaurants and bars serving up happy hour specials and price-slicing deals to keep the cost of living woes at bay. For a nature hit this August, we’d suggest taking an icy dip at one of Sydney’s best ocean pools, checking out Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, or getting some mountain air on one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains. If you need some help warming up, head to Barangaroo’s pop-up harbourside sauna, or settle in with a glass of mulled wine at one of Sydney’s cosiest pubs. Scroll on for our full list of everything to do in Sydney this August.  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. Want to really capitalise off the cold? Check out our list of the best hot springs you can soak in across NSW, or lean into the seasonal spirit with one of these cool winter activities.

When city life feels a little too full-on, it’s natural to crave a moment in nature. To drink a glass of wine from a bath beneath the stars and wake up to the sound of birdsong. The tiny home movement is responding to that need, with architecturally beautiful tiny homes and cabins popping up all across the state – waiting to welcome you for a weekend (or weekday) reset. From six-person cabins on the outskirts of the city to cosy retreats for two hidden in the mountains, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful tiny homes and cabins close (and close-ish) to Sydney. Most are home to alfresco hot tubs or baths, and many are pet-friendly, so you can bring your doggo to frolic with you in the fields.  Want more? Check out our list of the best winter getaways you can take from Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, event listings and travel inspo, straight to your inbox.

The Emerald City is peppered with a whole host of dreamy stays – from boutique boltholes with rooftop pools overlooking trendy city suburbs to sky-high towers with uninterrupted views of the Opera House. To help you choose which is right for you, our team of writers (including Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs and Travel and News Editor Melissa Woodley) have shared their top picks for the best places to stay in Sydney – along with tips on how to make the most of your stay. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: These are the best glamping sites in NSW. These are the best camping sites near Sydney. And these are the best spots for a weekend away if you’re keen to get out of town. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

We might be a little biased, but we don't believe there's a better place on earth to spend a day than in our beautiful waterside city. And while Sydney shines in the summertime, there's a lot of delight to be found in the colder months.From coastal walking tracks to secret swim spots to swanky sky-high bars, Sydney is home to the kinds of settings that play host to magical memories every day of the year – from ordinary Wednesdays to the most important days of your life. Want to witness some world-class creativity? These are the city's best galleries, and these are the best plays and musicals on in Sydney right now. Feel like a spa day? These are the best day spas in Sydney. Want to get moving? This list of our favourite walks should help, and these are the best running routes in Sydney if you want to pick up the pace. Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney today. Want to get your weekend plans in order, right now? Check out our pick of the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.Rain putting a dampner on your plans? These are the best things to do indoors. On a budget? These are the Time Out team’s pick of 25 things to do in Sydney for under $25. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. 

Winter is well and truly here, and there are plenty of ways to lean into the seasonal spirit in Sydney this weekend – with festivals, music pop-ups and magical winter markets all listed below.There are also a heap of excellent exhibitions live at our city’s galleries – our top picks include the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prize exhibition, the first solo museum exhibition by Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall and the incredible Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. If you're ready to send it well into the night, head to one of these late night bars of one of the city's best dancefloors. Need somewhere to recover? These are the best pubs with fireplaces in the city, these are Sydney’s best Sunday roasts, and these are the best day spas and bathhouses if you’re ready to get steamy.Keen to get some air this weekend? Our lists of the best day hikes close to Sydndey, the city's best beer gardens and the best places to camp close to the city should help. Want to stock up on fresh produce to fuel you for the weekend ahead? Check out our round-up of Sydney’s best markets – you’ll have way more fun than you would at the supermarket. Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney. Looking for weekday fun? These are the best things to do in Sydney this week.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

There’s a lot of fun to be had in the Harbour City this week – with major winter exhibitions now live at galleries and museums across the city and some excellent plays lighting up our theatres.  Looking for a special spot for dinner this week? These are the best restaurants in the city right now, and these are our favourite underground bars. If you’re low on funds but still want to find some fun, we’d suggest catching happy hour, then settling in for a free show – there’s free jazz in The Rocks this Thursday night and live shows at these bars and pubs most nights.Keen to keep moving? These are the best running routes in Sydney, these are our favourite hiking trails in Sydney, and these are the city’s best gyms if you’d rather work out in the warm. Plus, Barangaroo is hosting a month of (mostly free) wellness sessions by the water. Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this week. Wether not looking so hot? These are the best indoor activities in the city. Mapping out your weekend? These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

When it comes to special places to stay, NSW boasts a dizzying range of options. You can stay in boutique hotels and reimagined motels, beachside villas and winery thrillers, cute campgrounds and flashy glampgrounds, five-star resorts and places with tennis courts. What we’re trying to say is, you’re spoilt for choice.  But what if you’re looking for a more out-of-the-ordinary place to lay your head? We’re here to help. Here's our carefully curated selection of the kookiest, coolest, most whimsically odd places you can stay in NSW – from a pimped-out treehouse to a bonafide movie set. So, where will you book first? Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Ready to flash some cash on your next trip? Head to one of the most luxurious places to stay in NSW.Want to get cosy? These are the best cabins and tiny homes in NSW. On a budget? These are the best coastal campsites in NSW.

Ah, the sunrise – a gentle, daily reminder that the days start coming and they simply do not stop coming. It’s as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. That being said, Australia is a wonderland for sensational cracks of dawn along the eastern and western seaboards alike.  Peep Brisbane’s Mount Coot-tha for altitudinous urban views, take Pinky Beach in the west for ground-floor spectaculars or even watch the sunrise from a kayak on Sydney Harbour. Wherever you may be, these are the best sunrises in Australia that'll have you saying ‘top of the mornin’ to ya’, indubitably. 🌅 The best sunsets in Australia😍 The most beautiful places in Australia✨ Where to go stargazing in Australia

We might be a little biased, but in our humble opinion, Sydney's got it all. Can you think of many other cities in the world that rival its natural beauty, rich heritage and history that dates back thousands of years, and its creative, culinary and cultural offerings by world-class pros. In fact, there's so much to see, do, sip and ponder here, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. Worry not, dear reader – we're making it simple for you. Our team (including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs and Editor in Chief Alice Ellis) sifted through every good time the Big Smoke has to offer and put together a Sydney bucket list for the ages. The activities we've chosen will give you a super varied experience of the city – everything from the tourist attractions that are actually worth your time to secret swimming spots that locals know and love.Whether you're a new arrival or a born-and-bred local, this 2025 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city's must-do activities will help you experience Sydney from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now, or save your cash at one of the best happy hours in the city. Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.

A visit to the beachside neighbourhoods of Bronte and Tamarama is about as quintessential a Sydney experience as you could ever hope to find. Sun, sand and surf – the holy trinity of life in the Harbour City – are perhaps the biggest draws. The ever-popular Bondi to Coogee Coastal Path make the Bronte to Tama clifftops some of the most-strolled in the city, and the ridiculously beautiful Bronte Baths offer one of the best saltwater lap pools (and sunrise spots) in the city. But there’s more to this corner of Sydney than just a day at the beach. Among the residential streets, you’ll find some of the city’s most charmingly stress-free brunch spots and a handful of lowkey drinking holes for a sundowner as dusk moves in from the west.  Recommended: A local's guide to Bondi. 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. 

The dimly lit, perfectly grungey bar above The Bank Hotel has long been a hub for live music in the heart of Newtown. This week, Waywards is re-establishing its place among the city’s go-to nighttime destinations, with a fresh new events program and a (partially) fresh new name. Enter: Wayards Ballroom.  Open late every night of the week (until 2am on Mondays and Tuesdays, until 4am Wednesday through Saturday and until 12am on Sunday), the buzzy Inner West venue will play host to a curated line-up of weekly events spanning comedy to club nights. Swing by on Tuesday evenings for live comedy, with the comedy line-up ranging from stand-up shows to improv comedy cage fights. Wednesdays will see Waywards Ballroom light up with a sexy AF queer club night brought to life by Birdcage, and Thursdays will see a diverse mix of local talent take to the stage.  On Friday and Saturday nights, Waywards Ballroom will turn up the volume with live music from local and inter-state acts, with the dancefloor kicking off well into the morning. Indie club night ‘Glitch’ will pop up every Saturday night, bringing big 2000’s energy to the dancefloor until 3am.The people behind the place have described it as “curated chaos”. Sounds good to us. You can learn more and check out what’s on this week over 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. RECOMMENDED: Want more evening entertainment? These a

Following a record-breaking 2025 event, Sydney Writers' Festival has announced that it’s switching things up – bringing a series of literary events to Sydney’s State Library throughout the year. Launching this September, the program will feature more than 70 events, with headline speakers including game-changing activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown, plus a range of beloved Aussie authors including Hannah Kent and Michelle de Kretser. Backed by $1.5 million in funding from the NSW Government, the year-round program is the first stage in what Minister for the Arts John Graham has described as “a comprehensive strategy to support the writing and literature sector,” which “aims to boost the writing industry in NSW, and strengthen the cultural heartbeat of our city.” Alongside the series of talks, workshops and readings (which kick off on September 18, with more events yet to be announced), the partnership between Sydney Writers’ Fest and the State Library will see a dedicated literature hub brought to life within the library – creating opportunities for more Sydneysiders to connect with books and storytelling. The initiative will also work to support emerging writers in NSW, with the Festival CEO Brooke Webb citing the shared aim to “champion more writers, inspire readers, and nurture vibrant literary communities across NSW.” Why now? According to Sydney Writers’ Fest, overall book sales are higher now than pre-2020, with 73 per cent of people aged under 30 reading for ple

Working in the travel industry in London, there were a few hotels whose timeless appeal was unquestionable. The Langham – a grand, Grade II heritage-listed palace in the heart of London’s historic West End – was one of them. Known as Europe’s first “grand hotel,” The Langham London opened its doors in 1865 – the first hotel in Europe with hot running water, and the first British hotel to offer afternoon tea (the between-meals indulgence that screams “luxury hotel”). 160 years on, the brand is still pretty untouchable – with heritage-listed high-end hotels now dotted around the globe. At the opulent Sydney outpost, those original Langham hallmarks (heritage features, a beloved afternoon tea and, yes, hot running water) have been elevated to 2025 standards, with the sense of old-school, above-and-beyond hospitality still alive and strong. A stay here is like a sleepover at your wealthy auntie’s lavish mansion, with a team of expert hosts on hand to attend to your every whim. Why stay at The Langham Sydney? The Langham is the hotel you’d book for someone looking for a traditional hotel experience. Spa day followed by afternoon tea? Sorted. Champagne in your room, served on a private balcony overlooking a historic terraced street? Done. And though it’s an excellent spot for an indulgent vacay (I noticed a lot of mum-and-daughter pairings; it ticks all of the ‘girly getaway’ boxes), the close proximity to the city and mansion-away-from-home feel make it a popular choice for (cashe

Self-care can be a time-consuming business. For your average working Sydneysider, finding space in your week/month/year for a blow-dry and a manicure can be a mammoth achievement. Enter: Loop Beauty – a one-stop shop that combines treatment sessions and streamlines self-care from a beautifully curated space. Co-founders Alaleh Schembri and Sahel Hosein opened Loop Beauty to fill the gap that they, as time-poor women, saw in Sydney’s beauty space. Step through the shiny glass doors, and you’ll leave with all of your beauty boxes ticked and time to spare. Treatments range from hair colouring (they specialise in balayage and blonde) to eyelash tints, but their signature is the manicure and blow-dry combo. The friendly team of stylists will get to work on your manicure while you’re having your hair washed, and within 45 minutes, you’ll have fresh new nails and a super sleek blowout. Though there’s a focus here on efficiency, you won’t have to compromise on quality. Nail treatments include BIAB, SNS, and shellac, with shades from Chanel, Dior, and Hermès. For your blow-dry, the team uses Oribe and Kérastase products, so you’ll leave with nourished, butter-soft locks. Towards the back of the salon, you’ll find the fully licensed bar space, which can be booked out for private events. If you’ve been tasked with planning a hen do or a birthday party with a group of the girls, this might be the solution.You can check out the treatment options and book over here.  Stay in the loop: sign

There’s always a lot going on at Sydney’s favourite house. So much so that it can be hard to keep track – with new headliners dropping every other week, and huge events taking over the various venues seemingly out of nowhere.  Keen to go to a show under the sails over the next few months? We’ve rounded up a few top picks in the Sydney Opera House winter to spring season:  Badu Gili: Healing Spirit, a stunning illumination of the sails This dynamic projection will light up the Eastern Bennelong sails with First Nations artwork five times a night, every night until Friday, December 12. Backstage tours, a peek behind the curtain Explore the inner workings of Australia's most famous buildings on one of these expert-led tours. Dates: DailyTickets: From $48 The Play That Goes Wrong, a beloved piece of slapstick theatre Celebrating ten years of dominating the West End, this slapstick masterwork is bringing big giggles to the Drama Theatre this winter.Dates: Thursday, July 24 - Sunday, August 3 Tickets: From $89 Emily Sun and Slava Grigoryan, an intimate classical performance Internationally acclaimed violinist Emily Sun and multi-ARIA-winning guitarist Slava Grigoryan will perform a magical, serene showcase of mesmerising classical pieces as part of the Opera House’s intimate Utzon Music series.  Dates: Sunday, August 3Tickets: From $69.90 + booking fee.  Generations and Dynasties, a celebration of First Nations storytelling These intimate events (held in the Utzon room, a gorgeo

Calling all arts enthusiasts. This September, Sydney’s multidisciplinary arts hub is opening up its doors to the largest and most diverse art fair in the country. Back for its ninth iteration, Sydney Contemporary is popping up at Carriageworks from Thursday, September 11 until Sunday, September 14 2025. There’s a full four-day program of installations, performances, talks and panels, plus – naturally – a whole lot of incredible art ready to be claimed. As the largest fair to date, this year’s event will also feature a brand new ‘Photo Sydney’ sector, a whole program dedicated to aspiring young artists (appropriately titled ‘Kid Contemporary') and works by more than 500 artists.  First things first: art. As always, Sydney Contemporary will bring together some of Australia and New Zealand’s best galleries, with gallerists and individual artists putting forward a curation of works that speak to the festival’s bold, creative spirit. This year’s booth highlights will include a surreal, grocery store-inspired solo exhibition by New Zealand based installation artist Mike Hewson (presented by Michael Lett), a kooky, thought-provoking installation by Shen Shaomin (featuring 2,000 mechanical carps, with canned carps available for purchase) and the first solo Sydney exhibition of acclaimed Melbourne-based artist Julia Ciccarone. Other top picks on the gallery front include Neon Parc, Ames Yavuz, EG Projects and Sydney’s own Olsen Gallery. The debut of ‘Photo Sydney’ will bring a curatio

August isn’t always the easiest month in the Harbour City, so to inject a little light to one of Sydney’s darker months, Barangaroo is bringing a heap of wellness-inspired activities to the waterside precinct for four nourishing weeks. ‘Barangaroo You Wellness Month’ will run from Friday, August 1 until Sunday, August 31, with a line-up of free activities centred around health, movement and mindfulness ranging from sound baths to HYROX-style training sessions. Plus, they're giving away 20 free Scandi-style sauna sessions. Keen? Read on.One of the key pillars of Barangaroo’s wellness month program is ‘Wellness on the Water’. For the month of August, Sydney’s sauna on wheels Cedar and Salt will be in residence at Marrinawi Cove, so you can book in for an icy swim in the harbour followed by a Scandi-style sweat session. Don’t have the cash to splash? Barangaroo will be giving away 30 free sauna sessions – you’ll need to sign up to their newsletter and be online when free sessions go live at 9am on Wednesday, July 23. If you miss out on scoring a free sauna session, you can still score a free coffee if you head down to Marrinawi for a dip between 7am and 11am on Friday, August 1.  Other highlights of the program include weekly yoga sessions every Wednesday lunchtime led by Jacqui Jarrett, a proud Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr woman, elder and a traditional owner of the Sydney Basin, weekly talks (also on Wednesday lunchtimes) from experts in the wellness space including founder of Bo

In early 2023, the curtains came down around Manly Pacific: a stunning, design-forward reimagining of a huge, 200+ room hotel on the shores of one of Sydney’s most famous beaches. The $30-million renovation project, led by Australian designers Coco Republic, has transformed the sprawling site into one of Sydney’s most lusted-after luxury stays, complete with a beautiful rooftop pool, a sophisticated cocktail bar, a playful all-day diner and an Italian restaurant that’s quickly securing its position among the city’s best. It’s every bit a luxury hotel, but with a distinctly Manly energy – calm, confident, and focused more on wellness than indulgence. Here, you’ll find detox shots at the breakfast table, massage therapists and personal trainers on hand for private sessions, and a friendly team who are more than happy to bring a Peleton bike up to your room, or sub it out for a bottle of chilled rosé. Why stay at Manly Pacific? If this hotel was hidden in a dark, urban backstreet, it would still be worth a stay. The rooms are divine, the facilities are impeccable and the flagship restaurant (Cibraria) has firmly secured its position as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. As it happens though, the location is one of its main drawcards – steps away from one of Sydney’s very best beaches, with incredible views across the sparkling ocean and super easy access to the best restaurants in the area.  What are the rooms like at Manly Pacific? With 213 rooms, nine suites and

There’s a lot of foodie fun to be found in Sydney, but if you’re craving a gourmet escape from the city – one that will let you really connect with what you’re eating and where it’s come from – we’ve got just the ticket. This spring, Meet the Makers South Coast Festival will pop up in and around the charming market town of Milton in the magical Shoalhaven region – offering visitors the chance to eat, drink, connect and create with some of the region’s top chefs, providores and artisans. Although food is the key focus, there’s so much more in store – here’s everything you need to know about this celebration of creativity just south of Sydney. Kicking off on Saturday, September 6 with a magical long lunch at Barn on the Ridge (a gorgeous, rustic venue with sweeping views of the rolling hills), the festival will come to life every weekend throughout September – with a super diverse program spanning wine-blending workshops to a natural beauty masterclass. The first Saturday of the fest will start with a mushroom foraging walk through beautiful coastal bushland. Once you’ve foraged, head to the opening lunch which will bring together more than 10 local producers, with a stacked canape station, a decadent dessert bar, wine tastings and live musicians soundtracking the afternoon. From there, head to Bannisters by the Sea which is hosting a series of pool bar pop-ups throughout the festival (Bannisters is the official hotel partner, so this is where you’ll want to situate yourself fo

The state’s largest independent arts festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, is back for 2025 – with more than 460 events hitting our stages for one very entertaining month. Presented across the city throughout September 2025, the dynamic program spans theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, street festivals, literature and poetry – and it's looking fun. This year, Sydney Fringe Festival is presenting a city-wide playground of entertainment, with ten key hubs hosting immersive theatre shows, boundary-pushing cabaret, comedy galas, dance shows, live music performances and so much more. Time Out's picks: 10 of the best shows to see at Sydney Fringe Festival 2025Spanning a full four weeks from September 1 - 30 (with some select events occurring in the lead-up), the Sydney Fringe program includes a heap of interactive, community-focused events, including a free street party taking over The Rocks on Thursday, September 4 and a child-friendly ‘Kids Fringe’ popping up in The Entertainment Quarter for the school holidays.  You can learn more and plan your Sydney Fringe experience 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 show? Here’s our list of the best theatre to see in Sydney this month.

Flower fiends, your time is approaching. As spring beckons in the Southern Highlands, the charming Corbett Gardens will transform into a tulip-adorned wonderland – with Tulip Time Festival showcasing a breathtaking display of 80,000 hand-planted tulips in a dreamy garden in the heart of Bowral. The flower-themed festival will run from Friday, September 12 until Monday, October 6 – with so much more than just tulip-based delights on offer. Alongside the tulip displays (80,000 of the beautiful colourful plants will be lighting up the gardens), guests can expect market stalls, daily entertainment and delicious foodie options.  Back for its 65th year, Tulip Time Festival will welcome guests between 9.30am and 4.30pm every Sunday to Friday, and until 6pm on Saturdays – giving you plenty of time to stroll among the flowers and find a spot to set up a picnic in the gardens.A visit to Tulip Time Festival is the perfect excuse to explore the rest of what the region has to offer, with the Southern Highlands home to some of the most beautiful gardens, quaint towns and adorable cellar doors in NSW. Tulip Time Festival tickets for adults cost $18.50 when booked online ($20 at the gate), with youth and concession tickets costing $12.50 when booked online and $13.50 at the gate. Carers and kids under 12 visit for free. You can learn more and book your tickets over here, but if you rock up on the day, you should be able to score a ticket at the gate (card payments only).  Stay in the loop: s

Back in 2023, the doors to the world’s largest LEGO store opened in the centre of Sydney, and LEGO fans across the city went wild. Set across two floors in Pitt Street Mall, the 900 square metre space is a veritable mecca of play – complete with a minifigure factory, storytelling table, pick and build wall, and some pretty next-level LEGO structures (built by Ryan ‘the Brickman’ McNaught – the only LEGO certified professional in the Southern Hemisphere). Among the masterpieces is a model of the Sydney Harbour Bridge built from 278,964 bricks, and a 303,719-brick Opera House mosaic which took 1,058 hours to build.LEGO passport holders (yes, that’s a thing) can add the largest Lego stamp to their collection, and shop brand new releases, collectable sets and unique minifigures.Inside the mega-colourful LEGO universe, you’ll be just as likely to see children crafting their perfect figurine friend at Australia’s first LEGO minifigure factory as you are to come across a middle-aged architect taking notes on the epic building structures that line the store.  “Every new store contributes to the LEGO Group’s global mission of inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow,” explains Troy Taylor, vice president and general manager, LEGO Australia and New Zealand. The store itself is inspired by the brand's signature aesthetic: screens showing playful clips from Legoland line the walls, and between shelves stacked with LEGO-laden boxes, you’ll find koalas and kookaburras formed from

With spectacular celebrity-approved palaces overlooking the harbour and magical beachside boltholes hiding in sun-soaked coves, Sydney’s hotel scene is already pretty unparalleled. In fact, in the most recent hotel awards from renowned travel media brand Travel and Leisure, it was revealed that 50 per cent of Australia’s best city stays are right here in Sydney. But the Harbour City isn’t stopping there. Later this year, doors will open at the first Australian outpost of 25hours Hotels. 25hours Hotel The Olympia is due to open in the heart of Sydney's Inner East this spring – here’s what we know so far.  First things first: location, location, location. If you’ve spent any time in the Darlinghurst/ Paddington area in recent weeks, you’ll have seen the scaffolding begin to come down around the huge heritage-listed building on the corner of South Dowling Street and Oxford. The former theatre (initially opened in 1911 as ‘West’s Olympia Theatre’) has spent the past few decades as a palace of entertainment, becoming Sydney’s first twin cinema in the 1970s before briefly reverting back to a live theatre venue in 2014. Photograph: Supplied | 25hours Hotel The Olympia This year, the building will officially begin its new chapter as a hospitality mecca, with the 109-room hotel set to welcome a Santa Monica-inspired rooftop bar, a coffee shop celebrating Sydney’s café culture, a sexy, film noir-inspired cocktail bar and an intimate restaurant. All four dining spaces in the hotel wil

Sydney's train network has had a rough run over the past year, with a series of strung-out disputes between the unions and the NSW Government leading to industrial action, and a whole lot of unhappy commuters. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, with rail workers agreeing this weekend to a new Enterprise Agreement that should bring the disruptions to an end. As an apology to the people of Sydney for the months of chaos, Transport for NSW is offering two full days of fare-free rail (and metro) travel across the state – with the free travel period starting this Thursday (July 31). According to Transport for NSW, more than 2.2 million passengers are expected to take advantage of free journeys across the two days, with the NSW Government encouraging Sydneysiders to make the most of the network and support both Sydney’s hospitality scene and regional businesses – without the travel costs. (NB: For NSW TrainLink journeys, you’ll still need to book a ticket to secure your seat, and you’ll be refunded on the day.) Free travel for two days is a bonus, but the real win here is the renewed stability expected across the NSW train network. After months of negotiations, 92 per cent of rail workers voted in support of the Enterprise Agreement, which will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for formal approval. Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said the outcome is “a win for our staff but an even bigger win for the travelling public.” “With this certainty, Sydney Tr

Sydney has no shortage of sleek co-working spaces, excellent cafés, steamy bathhouses or incredible places to work out. But if you want to find everything in one place – a gym, recovery zone, physio centre, co-working space and health food café – you’re in for more of a challenge. Enter: Virgin Active’s brand-new Bondi Westfield outpost, a world-first concept from the global brand that brings all your wellness needs under one (exceptionally beautiful) roof.   Photograph: Supplied | Virgin Active   Officially open this week, Virgin Active Bondi Westfield is the brand’s first “all-day social wellness destination.” Spread across a vast 2,500-square-metre area, the new space features everything you’d expect from a Virgin Active gym – a high-spec gym floor, fitness studios and luxury changing rooms – plus additional zones and services that transform your in-and-out workout into an all-day experience. Co-working spaces and a business lounge are open for guests to plug in and get their work done; a huge wellness zone (complete with Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, hydrotherapy spa, cold plunge, and heated slab), and a semi-private recovery suite (featuring new-age recovery equipment like trigger point guns and compression boots) are available to help you bounce back from your workout; and the on-site café serves up seasonal, sustainably sourced fuel.   Photograph: Supplied | Virgin Active The fitness offering here includes a tight selection of classes – innovative Reformer Pilate

We had just been thinking out loud that ginger pop star Ed Sheeran was due for a visit Down Under – after all, it's been more than two years since he played to crowds of 110,000 and 108,000 over two nights at the MCG in March 2023. Well, after teasing a return to "Oz" during performances in Europe, Sheeran has officially confirmed the details of his 2026 Aussie tour. And yep, he'll be coming to Melbourne. The beloved singer-songwriter will bring his Loop Tour to Marvel Stadium in February – and we're looking forward to hearing fresh tracks from his new album Play, like ‘Sapphire’ and ‘Old Phone’, along with all the classics (we’re manifesting ‘Shape of You’ and ‘Give Me Love’). So if you're keen to grab tickets, here's everything you need to know.  When is Ed Sheeran playing in Melbourne? Sheeran will take to the stage at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium for three massive shows on Thursday, February 26; Friday, February 27; and Saturday, February 28. Will he go for a fourth show? The demand certainly is high, so who knows?! We’ll keep you posted if and when extra dates are announced. When do Ed Sheeran Melbourne tickets go on sale? General release tickets for his Melbourne shows go on sale at 3pm local time on Tuesday, July 29 via Ticketek. Is there an Ed Sheeran pre-sale? Absolutely. Telstra Plus Members can access presale tickets for Sheeran’s Melbourne shows from Friday, July 25 at 11am. Frontier Members can access presale tickets from 12pm on Monday, July 28. How much are Ed Sh

Calling all Sheerios! The rumours are true. After teasing a return to “Oz” during his tour of Europe, beloved singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has officially confirmed the details for his 2026 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He’ll be bringing his sweet, heart-wrenching melodies to Sydney’s Accor Stadium for two huge shows this coming February – here’s everything you need to know. When is Ed Sheeran playing in Sydney? Initially, Sheeran announced that he'd be performing two shows in the Harbour City – due to take to the stage at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14. Due to huge demand, he's added a third show the following night, Sunday, February 15. When do Ed Sheeran Sydney tickets go on sale? General release tickets for his Sydney shows go on sale at 1pm Sydney time on Tuesday, July 29 via Ticketek. Is there an Ed Sheeran pre-sale? Absolutely. Telstra Plus Members can access presale tickets for Ed Sheeran’s Sydney shows from Friday, July 25 at 11am Sydney time. Frontier Members can access presale tickets from 12pm on Monday, July 28. How much are Ed Sheeran tickets? Ticket prices start at $109.90 for D Reserve seating, with Front General Admission standing tickets costing $249.90. Who is the support act for Ed Sheeran’s Sydney show? The support acts haven’t yet been released, but Sheeran’s team are promising that his new live show will be “filled with surprises, new music, as well as his biggest hits.” We’ll keep you posted once more info i

No matter how hard you try, you’ll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Whether you’re into gallery-hopping and museum-exploring, then hopping from underground bar to world-class restaurant, or you prefer to spend your days hiking and soaking in the sun, this city’s got it all. But picking the absolute best thing to do? That’s the hard part. Personally, I’d choose an icy swim in an ocean pool or a long hike through the mountains. Meanwhile, my mates reckon nothing beats ferrying from Sydney Harbour to Manly and snorkelling at Shelly Beach. We like to think we’re the experts, but if you’re looking for the most universally loved attractions, Tripadvisor’s annual Travellers’ Choice Awards are a great place to start. Already this year, Tripadvisor has revealed the highly-anticipated winners for the world’s best beaches, hotels and destinations. And now, they’ve just unveiled the Top Attractions for 2025, which celebrate tourism operators that have achieved the highest volume of above-and-beyond reviews over the past 12 months. With more than 8 million listings across their site, landing a spot in the top ten is a pretty epic achievement – and four Sydney attractions made the cut.It’s no huge surprise that Sydney Opera House made the top 10, with our city’s most famous house ranking as the third-best attraction in Australia. Keen to get involved? These are the best things to see and do at Opera House this season. The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge came in sixth place (as an attr

When the latest stretch of Sydney Metro opened back in August, Bella Vista – the leafy suburb in Sydney’s Hills Shire – became a whole lot more accessible, with a direct metro line zipping straight there from Martin Place in just under 45 minutes. Now, there’s a new reason to catch the metro out to the Hills, with Bella Vista set to welcome a huge new entertainment venue ready to host everything from techno-soundtracked club nights to major sporting events. Intrigued? Us too. With the telling name ‘Bella Live’, the multifunction new venue is dedicated to hosting live events, with the aim of becoming “the beating heart of entertainment in the Hills.” Occupying a massive 1,029m² former warehouse, it’s been engineered to host major touring acts – with three main rooms kitted out with custom audio systems, LED stage lighting, projection-style immersive lighting, and an AV system integrated throughout. Photograph: Supplied | David Griffen Sydney-based architecture firm Archebiosis Architects was tasked with the design – bringing to life a warehouse-style space that combines an edgy, industrial aesthetic with sleek, modern design features. The result is a vast, super-club-style space complete with a 17.5-metre bar and a huge 10 x 8-metre stage flanked by VIP booths. Wondering what’s coming up? At this stage, the program (which will kick off with a huge opening night on Saturday, August 9) features weekly Friday club nights, an Oktoberfest celebration on Sunday, September 28, and

Back in early 2024, Transport for NSW confirmed that they’d begun working on the long-awaited (and debated) Oxford Street cycleway. Today, the first stretch has officially opened to cyclists. The one-kilometre stretch of cycleway runs along the northern edge of Oxford Street and partly along Liverpool Street, connecting Hyde Park (on the edge of the CBD) to Taylor Square in the heart of Darlinghurst. The dedicated two-way cycle path connects cyclists to the existing Bourke Street, Liverpool Street, and College Street cycle paths, which is expected to benefit the city’s cycling population. According to the City of Sydney, around 3,000 cyclists travel along Oxford Street every day—a number that’s expected to double now that the first stage of the cycle route is open. When the project was announced, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore described Oxford Street as the most dangerous road for cyclists in the entire city, citing the fact that it’s home to the highest number of bike accidents. Photograph: James Lauritz | Copyright State of New South Wales (Transport for NSW) The cost of the first stretch of the project has been estimated at $18.5 million, with the extension along the rest of Oxford Street (for a further 1.8 kilometres as far as Centennial Park) yet to be officially confirmed. Opinions on the cycleway are mixed, with cyclists thrilled they no longer have to navigate buses and cars along the busy throughline into the city, but some residents and business owners are opposed

There are a few events that reliably punctuate Sydney's annual calendar, and bring a uniting kind of energy to the city every year. The City2Surf – the 55-year-old fun run that takes over Sydney for one Sunday every August – is one of them. The annual event (currently officially titled the Voltaren City2Surf) sees runners of all abilities take on a 14-kilometre race through the city, winding up on the world-famous shores of Bondi Beach for what inevitably unfolds into a gloriously sweaty pub crawl. If you’ve signed up and are wondering what to do next, we’re here to help. When is City2Surf 2025? This year’s race will take place on Sunday, August 10, 2025, with runners leaving the starting line at staggered intervals between 7.35am and 9.55am. Where does the City2Surf go? The fun run takes athletes (and non-athletes, no slow-shaming here) on a 14-kilometre route through the city’s east: starting in Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD, then running along William Street through Kings Cross, along New South Head Road through Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay and Rose Bay, up the infamous ‘Heartbreak Hill’ (a two-kilometre incline into Vaucluse), along Old South Head Road past Dover Heights, then along Military Road and Campbell Parade to the finish line in Bondi Beach. Photograph: Supplied | Brendon Thorne Can you still register for City2Surf 2025?  Entries for the 2025 City2Surf opened at 11am AEDT on Wednesday, March 26 and are now closed. That being said, you can still participate if you're

Thrift shoppers of the Harbour City, we’ve got good news. After opening their first Sydney store in Western Sydney’s Hoxton Park back in May 2024, the global thrift superstore Savers has announced two additional Sydney store openings. Camperdown in Sydney’s Inner West will be the next lucky suburb, with a big Savers store due to open on July 31. Two weeks later, Savers Marsden Park will open its doors – bringing Sydney’s total Savers store count up to five. Keen to cash in? Read on. Since their first Sydney store opened in Hoxton Park in May of 2024, Savers has gone on to open a further two stores in the city: a first-of-its-kind “thrift boutique” in Darlinghurst and another huge hub in Auburn. The announcement of the additional two stores shows some pretty remarkable expansion for the brand – with five stores opening in the space of 12 months. Photograph: Supplied | Savers As with the other Savers stores across the city, the Camperdown and Marsden Park stores will be home to thousands of pre-loved items at super affordable prices, with most items listed for less than $10. Due to their size, both stores qualify for the Savers title of "thrift superstore", with thousands of new items arriving every day. Spanning 2,000 square metres, the Camperdown Store will be Savers’ first-ever three level site in Australia, and it’s likely to become a go-to for students – just a short walk from the heart of Newtown and from the University of Sydney.  Savers’ fifth Sydney store will open i

Think Sydney drivers are the pits? You’re not alone. A new survey from family safety app Life360 has just dropped, revealing what Aussies think of drivers around the country. The survey asked Australians to share which state they think is home to the worst drivers, and NSW copped the most flak – with NSW drivers ranking as the worst in the country.  The survey asked more than 2,000 Australian drivers to assess their own driving ability, reveal the most annoying driving behaviours, and decide which state they think is home to the country’s worst drivers. According to the study, 89 per cent of Australian drivers think they’re “excellent” behind the wheel, but only 7 per cent of us trust other people on the road – something here isn’t adding up. The results show that 43 per cent of Aussie drivers judge other drivers based on their number plates, with NSW assumed to be home to the worst drivers, followed by Victoria, then Queensland, then the Northern Territory.  So, what are NSW drivers doing to grind everyone's gears? Drivers here in NSW were called out for aggressive driving (51 per cent), habitual speeding (47 per cent), and plain rudeness (37 per cent). Here’s the leaderboard for worst drivers, according to Australian drivers: NSW (34%)  VIC (22%)  QLD (17%) NT (10%) WA (8%) SA (4%) ACT (3%) TAS (2%) Ready for the plot twist? Despite NSW being the national scapegoat, Life360 app data revealed that the highest proportion of dodgy drivers are, in fact, based in ACT – with t

Residents of Sydney’s West, your commute is about to get a whole lot easier. After closing its gates back in October 2024, Bankstown Station is almost ready to re-open—this time, as a super-speedy metro line. The Bankstown to Sydenham train line conversion was initially estimated to take just over twelve months, with the opening date slated for late 2025. After what Transport for NSW described as a “complex and difficult project” (with industrial action impacting the timeline), it was confirmed that the Sydenham to Bankstown metro extension won’t be open until 2026. Now, we’ve got good news – with the NSW Government today announcing that Bankstown Metro Station (which will become the first major metro-train interchange in South West Sydney) has entered “the final straight to completion.” According to the NSW Government, work on Bankstown Station is now 80 per cent complete – with new metro platforms lined by 36 safety screen doors installed, and the station on track (pardon the pun) to open in 2026. The work has involved rebuilding the 115-year-old former train station to create an interchange connecting the metro and train networks, with installation of a huge paved concourse and 170 metres of metro platforms. Work on the 90-metre plaza (complete with shops and cafés) that will provide a pedestrian connection between the north and south sides of Bankstown is due to begin soon. Once operational, metro services will run from Bankstown every four minutes at peak times, connecti