Winnie Stubbs

Sun and surf aside, the Gold Coast’s diverse dining scene shines just as bright as its world-class beaches. Whether it's a casual evening with fish and chips by the water, a barefoot bite at the beach club or a special occasion dinner at one of the Goldy’s award-winning restaurants, these are the places you want to be seen. We’ve done the hard yards and rounded up the best restaurants on the Gold Coast right now. Leave your towels at the door and dig in. RECOMMENDED: These are the best luxury hotels and resorts on the Gold Coast.

August is almost 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. Want the Euro summer experience on a budget? Menzies at Shell House is serving up $25 bowls of handmade pasta all month long, Barangaroo’s Anason is offering $8 Aperols every weekday from 3pm until 5pm, and you could score 25 per cent off your bill at waterfront gems Catalina and Pilu thanks to a thrifty new app.For a nature hit this August, we’d suggest checking out Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, taking an icy dip at one of Sydney’s best ocean pools, or getting some mountain air on one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains. And, of course, it’s Olympics season – check out the best places to watch the Games from Sydney here, or get into the Parisian spirit at one of the best French restaurants in Sydney.  If you need some help warming up, head to this coastal sauna before it disappears, 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. Want to really capitalise off the cold? Check out our list of the best hot springs

As a city known for its healthy way of life, Sydney is unsurprisingly home to dozens of spas and skincare salons offering facial treatments to keep the signature sun-kissed glow alive even through the winter months. And while we can’t list them all, we can shine a light on a few wellness sanctuaries offering fantastic skincare rituals to help you feel like your glowiest self, all year round. Read on for our (by no means exhaustive) round-up of Sydney’s best facials. Want head-to-toe treatment outside of the city? These are the best day spas in the Blue Mountains. 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.

Whether you want to go all-in for transformative results or you're just in the market for brief spot of me-time, Sydney's palaces of self-rejuvenation have you covered. Spend a full day treating yo'self to the glow-up of a lifetime, or just duck in for a quick but life-giving massage. Either way, a much-needed dose of de-stressing bliss is your reward. If you feel the need to earn your extravagant spa day with some physical activity, sweat it out on Sydney's best walks or swim a few laps of the city's coolest ocean pools.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for tips on making the most of the city, straight to your inbox. Take your day of pampering out bush at one of the best day spas in the Blue Mountains.

Tucked away in CBD parks, a stone's throw from the harbour and in quiet suburban parks, these superb swimming spots have got your back(stroke). Many are open under strict "swim and go" rules, meaning lap swimmers will be happy, but loungers and sunbathers will need to look elsewhere to make a splash, like one of Sydney's fab beaches. If you’re not one for sand or waves, Sydney’s ocean pools will keep the high tide swell at bay.   RECOMMENDED: These are the best secret swimming spots in SydneyStaying dry? These are the best things to do indoors 

July is coming to an end, and with it a whole host of winter-themed happenings that have been keeping Sydney stocked in festive spirit through the city’s darkest days. This weekend is your last chance to eat melted raclette from a rooftop igloo, walk through luminous bushland on the banks of the Murray River and build a real-life snowman at this pop-up winter wonderland in the Hunter Valley – get amongst it while you can. If you’re up for doubling down on cheese-based activities, head to Carriageworks for the country’s biggest festival of fromage, or for a more diverse foodie experience, make your way west for the annual Bankstown Bites food festival. Keen to get moving? Join this retro-themed fun run around the harbour, or get a dose of ocean air on one of these secret coastal walks. Scroll on for our full list of everything you can get up to in Sydney this weekend. Want a quiet spot to swim? Check out Sydney's best secret swimming spots.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

This week is your last chance to see the star-studded cast of Chicago light up the stage at the Capitol, so we’d suggest hitting one of the city’s best happy hours then settling in for Sydney’s most delightfully seductive show. If you’re looking for an art fix instead, we’d suggest heading to the Art Gallery of NSW (it’s open late on Wednesday nights) to see this intimate collection of work by award-winning artist Marikit Santiago while you still can, then making your way to Darlinghurst for dinner. In training for this weekend’s retro-themed fun run? Check out our list of the best running routes in the city, or find company with one of Sydney’s best run clubs. Scroll on for our full list of everything you can get up to in Sydney this week. Want to make the most of this week in Sydney? How about starting the day with an icy swim at one of our city's best outdoor swimming pools, then booking in for dinner at one of the best restaurants in Sydney right now.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

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 in 2024. 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, you can rest assured that going to any of these incredible Aussie festivals will be a bloody good time indeed.  RECOMMENDED: The best musical and theatre shows to see in Australia in 2024. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

There’s a certain bucolic scene that sparks a primal sense of calm: an evolutionary sedative  to the cells. When we’re presented with a scene that features high ground, water, trees and grazing animals, we automatically feel calmer: safe in the knowledge that all of our basic needs (for shelter, food and water) can be met. It’s that scene that presents itself at almost every corner in the Shoalhaven region. And here, our other, more indulgent baseline needs (for a good flat white, loaf of sourdough and Negroni) can be met too. It’s the kind of place where time slows down along with your heart rate. Where you step back in time to a world where everyone takes the time to learn your name – but where the joys of modern life are never too difficult to come by. It’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again. The traditional land of the Bhwerawerri, Budawang, Jerrinja, Murramarang, Tomikin, Wandi wandandian, Wodi wodi, Yuin and associated clans, this stretch of rolling hills and stunning coastline a few hours south of Sydney has been something of a hidden holiday gem for decades: the site of repeat visits for those lucky enough to discover it, but overlooked by many in favour of the state’s more well-known beach towns (Byron Bay, we’re looking at you). Now though, it’s undeniably on the up – with roadside motels morphing into high-end stays, and low-key pubs becoming hatted restaurants. But despite the region's ballooning offering, it still feels utterly, divinely unspoiled. 

Ah, food. Glorious, glorious food. There’s nothing more we’d rather travel around the world for.  Almost every state, city and even town in Australia has its own food and drink bash, bringing together the best chefs, farmers, producers and suppliers around the country. Whether you’re a wine wanker, a seafood seeker, a beer buff or a truffle hunter, there food and drink festivals in Australia are well worth the journey. Hungry? These are the best restaurants in Australia right now.

No matter where you are, or what you're doing in Sydney, it's guaranteed that if you look up at the right hour you'll (usually) be in for a bit of a treat. Whether it's the brilliant orange sunrises that come up every morning along our eastern seaboard, or the heart-meltingly beautiful pinks and magentas that bloom up over the West, every corner of the Emerald City has its own special moment wherever the sun is concerned.  Here, we have put together a list of all the best places, venues and locations you can get the very best look possible at Sydney's sunrises and sunsets.  You know what they say – they're never the same twice.  You can also get into prime location at one of Sydney's most spectacular lookouts, on of of Sydney's best easy day hikes, or from a boat on the water. 

NAIDOC Week is a big week for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike. It’s all about celebrating the richness and resilience of First Nations history and tradition, and drawing much-needed attention to the world’s oldest living culture and all the beauty that comes with it. This year, NAIDOC Week will run from Sunday July 7 to Sunday July 14. NAIDOC stands for 'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee', and was created in 1956 as a means of organising national events celebrating Indigenous culture. What is the 2024 NAIDOC Week theme? The theme for 2024's NAIDOC Week is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’. The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations cultures, passed down through generation despite enormous challenges. Fire is also a symbol of Indigenous culture's connection to the land, each other and traditions. It's about kindling the sparks of pride and unity, and igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving and sharing this cultural heritage that enriches this nation. What NAIDOC Week events are on in Sydney? Sydney’s Eora Nation will be coming alive this week with live music, art and cultural festivities and free events. Everybody, regardless of where they come from, is warmly welcomed to come along in celebrating what has always been, and always will be, Aboriginal land. Check some of it out, below... RECOMMENDED: How does the head of Bangarra keep the fire burning? Read our interview with Fr

Perched on a sun-soaked headland in northern NSW, overlooking Yamba’s Main Beach to the north and a sheltered cove to the south, you’ll find The Surf – standing like a glimmering spaceship in the laid back coastal town. While this boutique hotel’s high-end offering could seem out of place in such an easygoing surf town, The Surf has managed an almighty feat: offering an entirely indulgent experience without an ounce of pretension. After a magical two-night stay, we learned the secret behind The Surf’s success – unsurprisingly, it’s all about the people. Ever since David Mayne and his sons Andrew and Philip bought The Surf in 2009, they had a major refurbishment in mind for the formerly run-of-the-mill motel, which stood in a prime position in the town that played host to all of their family holiday memories. It wasn’t until the Mayne family came across Sydney-based design firm Design King Company that they decided to take the plunge – transforming the plot of land into an architecturally striking 12-bedroom boutique hotel. And with their close relative Garry Snodgrass at the helm as the most welcoming, funny hotel manager I have ever had the good fortune to meet, The Surf is serving up something incredibly special: an intimate hospitality experience, with luxury at every turn. Despite the high-end aesthetic, The Surf is determined to remain true to its laid-back, surf town roots: “It’s upscale but unpretentious,” Garry tells me. As a luxury hotel veteran (he managed the openi

There’s a magic that's found on the banks of Sydney Harbour, alive within the sprawling expanse of saltwater that winds its way through the city. I’ve felt it when I’ve flown in after weeks away and looked down onto the maze-like waterways that push deep blue into the corners of the green-grey city, and on warm summer evenings, diving into the cool at Camp Cove and washing away the day as the sun sets behind the city skyline. Most recently, I felt it from my balcony at the Park Hyatt, looking out across Circular Quay as the last lights of the skyscrapers blinked out and a shy smattering of stars punctuated the sky. Across the water, the Opera House stood in its bold, unparalleled beauty – pearly white against the deep navy night – and apart from our words, the only sound was the gentle thrum of the harbour lapping at the city’s walls. Two floors below, in a warmly-lit dining room looking out across the boardwalk, the restaurant team who’d served us dinner cleared away the evening, and in that moment it felt as though the view of Sydney Harbour was solely ours. There are a lot of incredible places to stay in the Harbour City, but if you want to feel as though you’ve spent a night within its beating heart, stay here. I arrived just before sunset, walking through the city and right to the water's edge, where the Park Hyatt sits with quiet, dignified elegance beneath the shadow of the Harbour Bridge. Then, the view that stretched out through the floor-ceiling windows was alive wi

Expect shamelessly indulgent share plates served under sexy low lighting with a disco-heavy soundtrack. Start by ordering brioche buns loaded with prawns laced with yuzu tartare and furikake, plus delicately poached kingfish ceviche in smooth coconut and kefir lime. Can’t decide between the crispy pork belly and the Wagyu beef rendang? Surrender control and leave ordering in the hands of the team: they’ll surprise you with a series of excellently balanced dishes for a reasonable $69 per person.

Having earned five Tony Awards and secured its position as a Broadway smash hit, Peter and the Starcatcher – a Peter Pan spin-off that tells the magical story of the birth of Neverland – is hitting Australian stages for the first time in late 2024. After making its Australian debut at Canberra Theatre Centre in October, the fantastical show will arrive at Arts Centre Melbourne from November 8.  Telling the story of Neverland before it became what we know it as now, Peter and the Starcatcher is a whimsical exploration of imagination and nostalgia, described by the New York Times as “a blissful exercise in the make believe”. The stellar cast has now been announced and will include stars of both the screen and stage. Comedian and TV personality Pete Helliar will take on the role of Smee and Otis Dhanji (Aquaman, The Unlisted) will play Boy/Peter. Colin Lane of Lano and Woodley has been cast as Black Stache and Olivia Deeble (Home and Away) will play Molly.  Rounding out the impressive cast are Alison Whyte (Groundhog Day the Musical), Paul Capsis (The Rocky Horror Show), Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Hugh Parker (The Family Law) and Morgan Francis (Boy, Lost).  Originally written by the mind behind Jersey Boys and Adams Family, and developed by Disney Theatrical Group, the all-new production has been reimagined with direction from Australian David Morton. His award-winning theatre company Dead Puppet Society has been tasked with bringing the show to life for an Aust

Calling all science fans! If you’re fed up with the three-hour journey to Canberra to get to Questacon – Australia’s super-interactive National Science and Technology Centre – this is the news you’ve been waiting for. As part of South Eveleigh’s winter events series, Sydney is scoring its very own Questacon pop-up, alongside a series of other activations to keep Sydneysiders entertained through one of the city's coldest months. As a technology-focused precinct, South Eveleigh is using its month-long winter events series as an opportunity to spotlight the country’s leading technology and science organisations through community-facing events. And yes, Questacon is coming to town – though not for the whole month. Taking over the Locomotive Workshop Central corridor and Locomotive Street from Wednesday, August 7 until Saturday, August 10, Byte Wise - A Questacon Exhibition will bring the National Science and Technology Centre’s signature curiosity-inspiring stuff to Sydney. To form the exhibition, Questacon curators have put together 24 mind-boggling exhibits designed to “ignite curiosity, boost confidence, and deepen understanding of computational thinking in everyday life.” The immersive exhibition will explore key themes of computational thinking including programming, algorithms, patterns, irrational numbers, measurement, geometry, logic, and problem-solving. Alongside the Questacon pop-up, guests can expect to see a Brick Work Exhibit (with spectacular Lego sculptures), a s

If you needed another reason to take up running – Sydney’s hobby-of-choice in the era of cost of living stresses – we might just have it. The Sydney Harbour 10k is back for its 12th year, and this time, it’s looking brighter than ever.  On Sunday, July 28, hundreds of Sydneysiders will line up on the starting line to take on either a 5km or 10km run along Sydney’s stunning harbour, all in the name of charity. This year, the race is taking place to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), who are celebrating their 40-year milestone. Since 1984, ACRF has invested more than $174 million across 82 research projects all aiming to further research into cancer treatment and prevention, and this year’s run is set to raise thousands more.The Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10k launched in 2012, and in 2019, a 5k route was added to the race to make it more accessible for less experienced athletes. Last year, the beautifully scenic fun run levelled up – with runners encouraged to dress as superheroes for their charitable jog across the city. And this year, things are looking even brighter – with participants in the '80s-themed 'Retro Run' encouraged to dress in their gaudiest '80s getup.  The team behind the event are describing it as “a running event that’s more than just a race… a time-travelling experience, a throwback that merges fitness, fun, and nostalgia.”Runners of all ages are welcome, with neon, spandex and big hair are very-much encouraged. Pre-race, runners wi

There’s something different about the way a child views the world – a sweet naïveté, a rose-tinted lens. It’s the expansive joy of a busy beach on the first day of summer, when the holidays seem to stretch ahead of you for eternity. It’s the sense of transcendent awe that comes over you when you take a moment alone to look out across a river and realise, for the first time, that other people’s lives carry on without you there. If we could bottle those feelings, offer adults the chance to tap back into the intensity of emotions in their freshest form, we’d be millionaires. And while that kind of neurological wizardry is currently impossible, there’s an exhibition popping up in Sydney offering the next best thing. Little Sydney Lives is a photography exhibition featuring the work of some of Sydney’s best young photographers, and if you want a taste of childhood nostalgia, we’d suggest adding this to your hit list.  Part of City of Sydney’s Art and About program, this year’s competition saw more than 284 entries submitted by children aged between 5 and 12 from across the Harbour City, with a total of 21 photographs making the finalists’ exhibition. The collection of photographs capture the essence of childhood – a big sister shrouded in sunlight, a handstand on the football field, a backyard bonfire. Among the shortlisted images, there’s a gloriously colourful picture of sunbathers on the slab at Wylies Baths, a perfectly framed shot of five Swans players approaching the SCG, an

If you’re in your single era, you’ll know that Sydney’s dating landscape is changing, with run clubs and pickleball tournaments (actually a thing) carrying the mantle that the sweaty, beer-stained nightclubs of Kings Cross used to. In fact, the role that booze plays in our romantic sojourns is rapidly decreasing, with more and more Sydneysiders turning to more wholesome pursuits, with – let's face it – mixed results.  Here to offer Sydney’s sober-curious singletons an experience akin to the vodka-fuelled nights of old (minus the liver-damage), House of Angostura Bitters has partnered with Sydney-born events business Dating Apps Suck – for an evening of alcohol-free, flirtatious fun.  Taking over Lil Sis – Chippendale’s intimate wine bar – the Angostura Sober Dating event will kick off with an inclusive singles mixer (for people of any and all sexual orientations), followed by a speed dating event for those who identify as straight.  A $45 ticket will score you a delicious bitters-infused dinner and three non-alcoholic cocktails – all set in a beautiful space, accompanied by a bevy of other alcohol-free hotties. It’s all going down on the last Thursday of dry July (Thursday, July 25), so if you’ve been missing the thrill of getting giddy with a stranger during a month off the sauce, this might be the balm you need.  Dinner sessions are two hours long, so you can either join the inclusive singles mixer (from 6pm until 8pm, with a suggested 5.30pm arrival) or the hetero speed da

Calling all curious minds – TEDxSydney is coming back to town, and this year it’s taking a revised, multi-day format. The new approach to TEDx represents the team’s mission to help Sydneysiders’ actively connect and facilitate change. Details at this point are thin on the groung, but from what we can know so far, TEDxSydney 2024 is looking intriguing, and far more interactive (and accessible) than past events. Instead of a one-off event playing host to a series of speakers, TEDxSydney 2024 will comprise a series of intimate discussions, curated in partnership with the University of Sydney.  Kicking off on the evening of Thursday, June 27 at Luna Park’s Big Top, the first salon event for TEDxSydney 2024 will focus on the topic of Net Zero: examining various approaches to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The new, intimate format will encourage pst-talk discussion, with Susan McMahon, CEO of TEDxSydney, explaining that the new format will allow for  “meaningful discussion and facilitate the exchange of ideas that drive action, innovation and leadership.” The next event on the TEDx calendar is set to take place in Parramatta on Thursday, August 29 – with this event being the annual TEDx Sydney Youth event – curated by young visionaries and designed to "inspire an intergenerational audience". Here, expect guest speakers including Chloé Hayden, James Parr and Elliot Ulm to examine the role that the younger generation is set to play in shaping our future.  The next s

Photography enthusiasts, this one’s for you. The globally renowned (and virally-popular) photography brand Fujifilm has just opened the doors to the Fujifilm House of Photography – an epic space in Sydney CBD that’s so much more than a camera store. The interactive space is one of three ‘House of Photography’ spaces around the world, and the only one in Australia. Guided by the Fujifilm mission to inspire the younger generation to “capture moments, and create memories”, the space is designed with the TikTok generation in mind. Keen to get snapping? Read on. Alongside its retail offering, the sprawling space in the centre of Sydney is home to a hireable studio, dedicated print room and a community hub where photography-fans can connect with Fujifilm X-Photographers and influencers through workshops and events. The program and spaces have all been designed to inspire creativity, with Shaun Mah, General Manager, Electronic Imaging & Optical Devices Division at Fujifilm Australia, explaining: “Our aim is to reignite these passions as hobbies for the younger generation…Creativity is not just our focus; it's our key to unlocking the potential of tomorrow." The main function of the space is to connect photographers with Fujifilm products, and rather than simply offering a typical shopping experience, shoppers have the opportunity to sit down for one-on-one personalised consultations with Fujifilm expert team members. If you’re keen to line up your own photo shoot, you can do exactly

Since its launch in London’s hyper-trendy Shoreditch back in 2015, Flight Club – the company now responsible for darts-centric drinking dens the world over – has been offering a joyfully interactive drinking experience to darts enthusiasts and novices alike. Now, Flight Club has welcomed its first Sydney outpost – housed in a heritage-listed building in The Rocks.At all of the UK-born brand’s 20 plus venues, carefully-designed spaces play host to a heap of different styles of social darts, but Flight Clubs aren’t just about throwing arrows. The  (designed to honour 1800s vintage fairgrounds with a nod to London’s high-end drinking holes) are bars above all else – with the availability of fun, perfectly-competitive darts-based activities a welcome bonus. Flight Club’s first Aussie outpost opened in Perth back in 2021, and its success necessitated the launch of a second venue in nearby Fremantle, just two years later. And earlier this year, Flight Club made its way to the east coast, with the Sydney outpost (which opened in May 2024) pre-empting an anticipated opening in Melbourne, slated for later this year.The sprawling, vintage-inspired setting and carefully curated menu (think loaded share plates and expertly-executed cocktails) makes Flight Club Sydney so much more than a novelty destination. If you’re one of the Sydneysiders who regularly spends hours waiting for the single darts board in your local pub to free up, you’ll want to get here ASAP. Got a hot date? A family di

Inner-city surfers, rejoice. After years of anticipation, Sydney’s first-ever wave park is finally open – welcoming shred-ready visitors for year-round, consistent surfing – deep in Sydney’s west. As well as the world-class wave park, the sprawling 3.6-hectare, $75 million complex is home to a surf academy, swimming pool, skate pad, Rip Curl retail store and a health and wellness centre – plus one excellent diner (and another still yet to come). Dining at Urbnsurf is brought to you by the people behind Potts Point stalwart The Butler, CBD hotspot Bopp and Tone and North Sydney’s beautifully executed indoor-outdoor diner Rafi – with the first venue (Sandy's) open now, and the second (the Urbnsurf iteration of Rafi) set to open this winter. When we visited for a sneak peek, we tried the fish burger from Sandy's Californian-inspired menu, and it’s hard to imagine a more perfect post-surf feed. Just metres from the water, Sandy's is offering all-day dining in a pastel-hued, open-air setting – the perfect addition to Sydney's urban beach. Grab a table in front of the wave park for a big post-surf breakfast, or book one of and seven poolside cabanas for a plate of tacos and a Margarita in the sunshine. Rafi Urbnsurf, the sibling to North Sydney’s award-winning colourful diner, will be swinging open its doors on Thursday, July 25. And while Urbnsurf is undoubtedly pretty cool – year-round waves to shred! No sharks! – truthfully, we’ve got love-heart eyes for Rafi. Just like Rafi in

In case you missed it, the Olympic Games are starting soon. Very soon, in fact – with the Olympic Opening Ceremony kicking off at 8.24pm local time in Paris – that’s 4.24am AEST here in Sydney tomorrow morning (Saturday, July 27). In case you were wondering where to catch the big kick-off spectacular (or any of the subsequent sporting showdowns), we’ve got updates – with the government today announcing extended trading hours for all licensed venues across NSW. According to these new rules, any licensed venue in the state can stay open to the public through the night – as long as they’re screening an Olympics event on-site.  The measure has been introduced by the NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham, who cited the eight-hour Paris-to-Sydney time difference as a reason for changing the times that Sydney sports bars shut their doors. According to the minister, “All NSW pubs, clubs and bars are eligible venues for the Olympics extended trading hours, and do not need to apply individually to open when they screen the Games live.” So if you’re a bar-owner with a good TV, you might be in for a night shift. While this rule applies only to venues that will be screening the Olympics over the coming weeks, the extension of trading hours points to the government’s six-pronged plan to amp up Sydney’s nightlife. Along with supporting venues to provide more live music, later into the night, this plan involves operating designated special entertainment precincts thro

If you were wondering what happened to the global phenomenon Khalid since his last album dropped in 2019, you’re not alone. The American musician – whose soulful melodies blend confident R&B beats with impossibly catchy pop-style hooks – has been relatively quiet for the past few years, after sky-rocketing to fame straight out of high school with hits including 'Young, Dumb and Broke' and 'Location'. Now, aged only 26, Khalid has announced that he’s launching his third album – and he’s revealing it to the world right here in Sydney. Location? No other than the iconic Sydney Opera House. After last performing to a crowd of more than 30,000 people at Qudos Bank Arena back in 2019, the Grammy-nominated musician is pairing things back for his album launch – performing the highly anticipated new album Sincere to an intimate audience of 2,500.On August 5 and 6, the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall will become an intimate 2,500-seat venue for Khalid, who previously performed to over 30,000 people in Sydney during his last visit. When is Khalid’s Sydney show 2024? He’ll be performing two intimate shows at the Sydney Opera House on Monday, August 5 and Tuesday, August 6 – just a few weeks away. When do Khalid Sydney tickets go on sale? Tickets are on sale now, with general sales for the Sydney shows starting this Thursday, July 25 at 12pm via the Sydney Opera House website.  Are there presale tickets for the Khalid Sydney shows? For the artist who’s been described by Pitchfork as “th

Since work began for Sydney’s metro back in 2017, we’ve been keeping keen tabs on the multi-billion dollar project, which is set to be one of the largest and most efficient metro systems in the world. Alongside estimations of the super-fast journey times and confirmation of the line connecting Western Sydney, the NSW government has just released details on a new Metro superhub at Martin Place in Sydney CBD – set to open next month. So what is a Metro superhub when it's at home? It's basically an underground interchange station where all the different lines connect, so you can get off there and get wherever you want to go. Housed 25 metres below the city, the landmark station – one of six new stations along the Metro City and Southwest line connecting Chatswood and Sydenham via Barangaroo – will feature 3,000sqm of retail and dining outlets over three floors. Metro passengers will be able to travel from Martin Place to Central in four minutes, and will be able to get to Sydenham in Sydney’s Inner West in just 11 minutes. Photography: Supplied | NSW Government The Sydney Metro City and Southwest line is set to cost $21.6 billion, with construction well underway – meaning sections of Martin Place Plaza remain closed to allow for the work to go ahead.  “Fifty thousand people have worked on this project from start to finish, so the state-of-the-art station is a testament to their brilliant work,” commented Minister for Transport Jo Haylen on the project. Martin Place metro stati

Back in February, it was revealed that the Bankstown to Sydenham train line will be closed for 12 months while it’s converted to become a stretch of Sydney’s driverless metro system – which is slated to open as soon as August. And now, as work on Sydney’s metro network continues, more details have been revealed about what the NSW Government's rail-replacement plan is when the year-long metro conversion starts in a few months' time. In terms of timings, though the government is currently estimating the closure to begin 'between July and October 2024', with the opening date for Sydney Metro slated for early August, it's looking like the closure will come into place sooner rather than later. “This is going to be a disruptive 12 months for the people of Canterbury Bankstown and for the Inner West, but there is light at the end of the tunnel," says NSW Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen. “Communities that rely on the T3 line are going to have a tough time. That’s why we’ve worked to deliver as many alternative public transport services as possible, including high-frequency Southwest Link bus services with multiple routes. "We’re also looking out for passengers in the west to help them through this tough 12-month conversion. Bankstown will get a new T6 Train service to Lidcombe and there will be a direct train service from Liverpool to the City via Lidcombe, Berala and Regent’s Park.” The shutdown of the rail line will mean reliance on a rail-replacement bus between Bankstown and S

In case you missed it, Sydney’s transport system is getting a major upgrade, with the development of the new Sydney Metro fast underground rail network. As well as new trains, there will be new station locations, and the network will dramatically decrease journey times from certain parts of Sydney to others (though not without some disruption, more on that here). Sydney’s shiny new metro system has reached a few major milestones, with all 45 metro trains in the current fleet having now completed at least one return journey between Tallawong and Sydenham at operational (AKA, break-neck) speed, the first station now complete at Waterloo, and a proposed opening date slated for August 2024. What is the Sydney Metro? The Sydney Metro is a new transport system currently being built beneath the city. Featuring high-speed driverless trains, the system is set to dramatically improve the ease and speed with which Sydneysiders move around the city – running beneath the harbour and whizzing commuters from North Sydney’s new Victoria Cross Station under the harbour to Barangaroo in three minutes. Other stops on the metro line include Castle Hill, Macquarie University and a major superhub in the CBD at Martin Place. With frequent, super-fast services, the metro is set to make commuting throughout Sydney a more simple (and speedy) experience. Construction has and will continue to cause some not insignificant disruption to our transport system (especially for people on the Bankstown to Syden

A tiny (and beautiful) piece of Sydney history has been restored, with Darling Harbour’s ornately beautiful fairground carousel opening up again to the public after eight years out of action. The return of the heritage-listed carousel coincides with the launch of Darling Harbour’s Olympics live site, which will be hosting huge public screenings of the major sporting events over the coming weeks. So if you find yourself in this harbourside corner of Sydney soon, we’d suggest swinging by the carousel and stepping back in time. Out-lived only by the vintage carousel at Melbourne Zoo, the Darling Harbour carousel is thought to be the second-oldest carousel in the country – arriving by ship in the Harbour City way back in 1897. After travelling around the state bringing joy to regional fairs under the ownership of a family of showmen, the carousel was bought by the NSW state government in 1988, living at Darling Harbour 2015. The ride was temporarily decommissioned to make way for construction in the area, which included the hotly anticipated launch of W Sydney and the enormous IMAX. Although these additions to the city are exciting (W Sydney is one of the city’s most luxurious stays, and the IMAX is home to the third-largest screen in the world), there’s something special about the return of this charmingly vintage carousel – eight years after it closed. Photograph: Supplied | Darling Harbour An electric motor now powers the machine with the original steam boiler and engine int

Stretching for 12,145 square kilometres, bordered by spectacular mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, and punctuated by a stunning natural harbour that pushes its sapphire sparkle deep into the city, Sydney is a place of loud, unfettered beauty. As editors at Time Out Sydney, it’s our job to shine a light on the brightest and best that this city has to offer – from headline shows at our largest venues to the magnificent restaurants that make Sydney’s food scene one of the world’s best. But it’s also our job to spotlight the lesser-known gems that hide within our city – the venues, parks, experiences and pop-ups that lie off the beaten track. This month we turned to our readers to share the Sydney spots that they think go unnoticed. And though the question to share Sydney’s hidden gems garnered some less-than heartening responses – including “an affordable rental property”, we think our readers have some pretty stellar insights to share. Read on for the Time Out Sydney readers’ round-up of Sydney’s best-kept secrets... Parramatta Gaol“Just did a ghost tour of Parramatta Gaol – really cool. Noticed it was only locals on the tour, so I would guess not everyone knows about it. You need to book in advance as tickets sell out. Some really creepy and scary things happened the night I went. There was a whistle that followed us around, a strange presence in some cells, and my daughter felt a hand grab her leg, and no one was near. The ghosts certainly wanted us to know t

Located right on the southern border of Sydney, the Royal National Park is one of our city’s most easily-accessible and stunningly beautiful day trip destinations – a dreamy protected reserve spread across 15,091 magnificent hectares, right on the ocean. And while we always knew that the RNP was a safe bet for nature-lovers looking to find their fix (with some even spotting platypuses in the wild as a result of a recent conservation project), thanks to a new world-first scorecard-style survey, we now have a super accurate record of the creatures calling the RNP home. Australia’s oldest national park (and the second-oldest national park in the world), the RNP has received its first health report, with the publication of an EcoHealth Scorecard. Designed to systematically integrate ecological health data (recorded by 40 permanent monitoring sites complete with cameras and acoustic monitoring) with financial data, the ‘park health scorecard’ system is a world first.  Based on findings from the first health report, things are looking good for Sydney’s RNP – with a diverse range of flora, ‘good’ or ‘very good’ water quality across 70 per cent of waterways, and a healthy population of animals, some of whom use the park as a refuge. According to the scorecard, Sydney’s Royal National Park is home to 45 native mammal species and 488 native species of plants. The monitoring technology also identified the Krefft’s glider, the yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat and the threatened eastern p

The housing crisis in NSW is no joke (we're all feeling it), so in an effort to deliver more affordable homes, more quickly, the NSW Government has announced the first trial sites for modular homes – with seven sites across NSW set to welcome residents to high-spec, super-compact homes over the next 12 months. Depending on the results of the trial, these architecturally-designed small scale homes could be the future of social housing in NSW. This comes off the back of their announcement last month about the biggest investment in public housing in the state’s history.  Photograph: Supplied | NSW Government Thanks to a $10-million investment, three sites in Wollongong and four sites in Lake Macquarie will each become home to five modular social homes, set to be ready for residents by early 2025. If you’re wondering what a modular home is, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin: a home built from pre-made sections which are fitted together to form a modular building, which can be transported and installed onto a site in one fell swoop. This method of construction makes the homes super-efficient and affordable to build, and these easy-to-build, energy-efficient homes could become a key pillar of the government’s new approach to tackling the housing crisis, pending how well these first trial sites go.   Photograph: Supplied | NSW Government "These initial sites are a crucial first step towards revolutionising public housing delivery and we anticipate this demonstration proj

Ever found yourself in static traffic on the way to Sydney Airport, sweating on whether or not you'll make your flight? In good news for people in a certain part of Sydney, a brand-new toll-free road connecting St Peters Interchange to the International and Domestic Terminals of Sydney Airport is opening soon – here’s everything you need to know about the new addition to Sydney’s road network. Named Sydney Gateway, this $2.6 billion project is set to transform the way Sydneysiders travel to and from the Airport – providing up to 100,000 vehicles every day with a toll-free connection between Sydney Airport and the WestConnex M8 tunnels at St Peters Interchange. The project has been gradually opening in stages since November 2023, with the new Deborah Lawrie Flyover into the airport’s Domestic Terminals, plus two stunning Twin Arch Bridges close to the International Terminal and a new and improved Airport Drive already open to motorists. Now, the final stage is approaching completion – with Transport for NSW confirming that the project is now more than 90 per cent complete, and hinting at a late-August opening date. Photograph: Supplied | Transport for NSW As well as providing a more efficient route to the airport, Sydney Gateway will provide relief for nearby communities by diverting traffic that has previously travelled through local streets in Mascot. According to Transport for NSW, the new roads will provide an alternative route for around 10,000 big and noisy trucks a d

Marrickville – the suburb deemed one of Australia's very coolest by yours truly here at Time Out – is the next area to gain Purple Flag status. The Illawarra Road and Marrickville Road sections of the suburb have been officially recognised by the global-accreditation program, Purple Flag, which marks areas as great spots to hang out at night, based on vibrancy, safety, accessibility and a diversity of options.   It's also been announced that the Purple Flag program (which has been trialled through a few Sydney suburbs) is set to go statewide. After four successful pilots in YCK laneways in the CBD, the Parramatta Eat Street precinct, and Lakemba’s Haldon Street, the program is set to go state-wide. Intrigued? Read on. Back in early 2023, YCK laneways in Sydney CBD was chosen as the Harbour City’s first Purple Flag district, joining more than 90 locations in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and New Zealand as a recognised night-time zone. As well as helping signify the night-time offering of a precinct to visitors, the Purple Flag program also provides a set of criteria for businesses and councils to help improve their offering – with guidance given on how to improve transport access, security, lighting and diversity of experiences. Before being granted Purple Flag status, precincts are assessed on all of these categories, meaning our night-time offerings across NSW should start to look a whole lot more accessible, varied, safe and exciting as the program is rolled out across the state

If the leisure landscape of NSW is dominated by one thing, it might just be our swimming spots – from super-calm beaches to surreal hot springs, our state is home to some pretty spectacular places to submerge. And though the outdoor swimming pools that hide within Sydney’s parks have their perks, there’s something special about the ocean baths that punctuate the coast. In fact, the Harbour City is home to more ocean baths than anywhere else in the world – with 70 of the world’s 150 known ocean pools located in NSW, and 30 right here in Sydney. And while Icebergs is undoubtedly the most Instagrammed, and the baths at Bronte (which are currently closed for major maintenance) offer a pretty unparalleled sunrise, there’s an ocean pool outside of Sydney that’s arguably even more remarkable. On the southern edge of Merewether Beach in the up-and-coming coastal town of Newcastle, Merewether Baths stretch into the ocean for 50 metres – making them the largest ocean pool in the Southern Hemisphere. Here’s everything you need to about this very special swimming spot. How big are Merewether Baths? First things first, let's address this one – the claim that makes these ocean baths so remarkable. In its entirety, Merewether Ocean Baths spans 50-metres by 100-metres, making the pool the largest ocean bath in the country (and the Southern Hemisphere). Where are Merewether Baths? The baths are located in the south-east corner of the coastal town of Newcastle – the second-largest city in NSW.