Travel & Lifestyle

Dumplings in the Desert: A Dim Sum tour of Las Vegas, Nevada

When you think about where to get yourself some great Chinese dumplings and Dim Sum, it’s fair to say that the American desert doesn’t immediately come to mind. Nonetheless, Las Vegas in Nevada proves to hold a secret treasure trove of some of the best dumplings in North America, with plenty of options on the…

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Disneyland Hotel Review: What it’s like staying at the iconic resort in 2024

As long as I can remember I’ve wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. I was lucky enough to frequent the park as a kid, but never got to stay in the iconic hotel that expanded on the experience of visiting on the park. That was until earlier this year. So what is it like…

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Los Angeles is coming for New York and Chicago with its own style of pizza

Three of the USA’s biggest and brightest cities, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, each have their own unique style of pizza. Yes, you read that correctly. Los Angeles has a signature pizza style, and it’s only now gaining traction outside of The Golden State. The classic New York slice is so ubiquitous that you’d…

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Hinterland

How an Iowa music festival keeps finding the next big thing

Deep in the heartland of the United States rests a valley, north of sprawling cornfields but south of the intersections that connect the country’s four quadrants. For 11 months and 3 weeks, it is just a grassy hilly field. But for three days in August, it transforms into Hinterland. Hinterland began in 2015 as a…

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7 Essential Items to Pack in Your Hand Luggage

Packing for a trip can be stressful, but having the right essentials in your hand luggage can make all the difference. With flight delays and lost baggage being common occurrences, having your most important items with you at all times ensures you’ll be prepared no matter what travel mishaps come your way. Read on for…

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Flight Review: Porter Airlines’ Embraer E195-E2 service from Toronto (YYZ) to Las Vegas

Over the last year and a half, Canada’s Porter Airlines has been rapidly expanding its services, debuting a wide variety of new routes on the brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. They started flying those jets (the first in North America to do so) in February of last year. Up until that debut, the airline had…

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Air Asia to Nairobi Route

AirAsia X takes Australians on an African safari

You know the image. A huge burning sun laying to rest over a horizon lined by giraffes, elephants and zebras painted in silhouette. The howl of a hyena. Roar of a lion. For many Australians, the intoxicating promise of an African safari seemed like a dream forever out of reach. Until now. On 1 July…

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From Adele to Gaga: The modern pop artists reinvigorating the classic Las Vegas Residency

With the the launch of the hi-tech Sphere and a multitude of modern new experiences in Las Vegas, it may seem that the classic “Las Vegas Residency” isn’t getting the attention it once did. But the reality is, more major artists are performing in the city than ever before, each bringing in tens of millions…

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Hotel Review: YOWIE curates an impeccable boutique experience on Philadelphia’s South Street

Opening on Philadelphia’s South Street last year, YOWIE describes itself as a “hotel and shop focused on curating small collections from friends, independent artists, and designers”, with their very own cafe WIM offering coffee and light meals. The “invisible service” boutique hotel offers 13 unique rooms, that sit above the coffee shop and store, and…

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Falling Through New England: Chasing the changing leaves in one of the world’s most beautiful regions

Last Fall, I was lucky enough to travel through the northeast of the United States  – an area known as New England – with my Mum. It was a trip we’d planned to do for many years. Originally, in the Spring, as the leaves on the streets were freshly growing and the flowers freshly blooming;…

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Dumplings arrive at Disneyland: Din Tai Fung opening in Downtown Disney California

Outside of their locations in Hong Kong and Shanghai, one doesn’t think of dumplings when planning a trip out to Disneyland. But this all changes this week as one of the world’s best, Michelin star winning, dumpling spots Din Tai Fung opens at Downtown Disney in California. With the soft launch taking place earlier this…

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Flight Review: Air Canada’s updated Airbus 321-200s are changing the in-flight experience

Air Canada have been giving their Airbus 321-200s a much needed overhaul, from head to tail, featuring everything from larger baggage compartments, to a camera on the tail and belly – a first for a narrow body aircraft. This will help bring the aircraft up to the standard of their newer narrow body aircraft, both…

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Dining Icons: Is celebrity-favourite L.A restaurant Giorgio Baldi worth the hype?

Welcome to ‘Dining Icons’ where our writers take a look at some of the world’s most iconic food and drink experiences – both reputable and under-the-radar – and report back to answer the simple question: is it worth it?. For our first edition, we’re taking a look at Giorgio Baldi, an Italian restaurant just outside…

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Disney Wonder confirms 2025-26 season in Australia and NZ for its “Disney Magic at Sea” Cruise

Disney Cruise Line – which finally arrived in Australia and New Zealand last October – have just confirmed their ship Disney Wonder is set to return for a third season on our shores in 2025/2026. Having already completed its first season, and with a second already announced for October 2024 through February 2025, the confirmation…

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Meet the five lands of Universal Studio’s new Orlando theme park Epic Universe [Updated with Dark Universe Reveal!]

June 2024 Update: The park has revealed all about the Dark Universe land… we’ve added those details below! May 2024 Update: We now have video of Super Nintendo World! Read on to see it all…. April 2024 Update: Epic Universe have unveiled a deep dive look into How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk….

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From The Who to Alicia Keys and Katy Perry: The chart-topping artists taking over Broadway

Right now New York’s iconic theatre district – Broadway – may have the most amount of chart-topping artists represented in its catalogue than ever. And this was well recognised at this weekend’s Tony Awards, with the two most nominated productions being Hell’s Kitchen, featuring the catalogue of Alicia Keys, and Stereophonic, with original music from…

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Home Cooking & Sweet Treats Show is set to cook up a storm in Melbourne!

Things are heating up in the kitchen, with just two weeks to go till the Home Cooking Show and Cake, Bake, and Sweets Show come to Melbourne for a weekend of workshops, recipes, demonstrations, hands-on experiences and, of course, plenty of food and drink. The show will run from July 5th to 7th at the…

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First Drive: CUPRA take us through Catalonia in their new electric SUV, The Tavascan

Since 2018, CUPRA has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s fastest-growing car brands. Originating from Spanish manufacturer SEAT’s motorsport division, Cupra Racing, the move for the brand to launch in its now standalone form has led to growing popularity in a number of markets, including Australia. CUPRA’s line of vehicles brings the performance dynamics…

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Here’s how you can visit Walt Disney’s 1950s Apartment in Disneyland California

Whether you’ve seen the movie Saving Mr. Banks, heard the folklore or have noticed the lamp yourself, chances are you know that Walt Disney had small apartment near the entry to Disneyland in California. Situated above the Fire Station that sits on the left hand side of the park’s entry, Walt would be able to…

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Hotel Review: The Pierside is the perfect base for Santa Monica

While a spate of skyscraping new-builds has given Downtown L.A. a much-needed kick into modernity, Santa Monica hasn’t added much to its hotel count over the last few years. The city of Santa Monica has around 40 hotels, including a few eye-popping grand dames like The Georgian Hotel (with its unforgettable candy blue exterior), the…

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Korea’s “Eternal Nature” gallery comes to Las Vegas: A look inside America’s first ARTE MUSEUM

At the end of November last year, Korea’s large scale digital art gallery – ARTE MUSEUM – opened their first (and still only) location in North America, on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s part of a burgeoning trend of immersive experiences in the city, and sits amongst seven locations for the gallery around the world….

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Pixar Place Hotel Review: Exploring an Animation Fan’s Dream Resort at Disneyland California

As one of those kids who, in the mid-90s, got to see Toy Story in cinemas, having their minds blown by the possibilities of 3D animation in feature films, I can safely call myself part of the OG Pixar generation. And since then their hit rate has been second to none – with a catalogue…

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First Ride: Universal Studios Hollywood’s 60th Anniversary Studio Tour – What makes this limited time update so special?

In our ongoing first ride series, we update you on the latest rides and attractions at theme parks around the world. Today we take you to Universal Studios Hollywood, and their updated, limited time only, 60th Anniversary Studio Tour experience. The iconic Hollywood film studio has been offering backstage experiences since 1915. But it would…

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15 World’s Fair and Expo attractions and rides you can still visit today

The “World’s Fair” – known outside the United States as “World Expositions” or just “Expo” – used to be a big deal. A real big deal. It would attract tens of millions of visitors to a city over a number of months (generally three to six – but sometimes over multiple years), featuring dozens of…

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Is this the best way to watch the sun set in Honolulu, Hawaii?

With clear views of the sunset over the horizon of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, it’s hard to argue there’s any bad place to watch the sun set here. But on my recent visit to the iconic tourist destination, I may have found the best way to watch it – Holokai Catamaran Company’s nightly Sunset Sail….

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Genie+ Disneyland California Guide: Is it worth it? And how do the Lightning Lanes work? [UPDATED!]

In December 2021, after more than 20 years of the “FastPass” system (which this feature length documentary will tell you all about so I don’t have to), Disneyland scraped their relatively groundbreaking – if imperfect – queue cutting system, in favour of “Genie+”. The system was to take advantage of new digital technologies and allow…

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Pixar Fest returns for an encore at Disneyland California: What to expect in 2024

This past Friday (26th April), under the theme of “Celebrating Friendship and Beyond”, Disneyland kicked off Pixar Fest 2024 – six years after the first took over Disney’s two California parks. The event comes almost three months to the day that the park unveiled the brand new Pixar Place Hotel, and less than three months…

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Fiji Airways flight sale

PSA: Fiji Airways just dropped return flights to Fiji for less than $600

Fiji Airways, known for having one of the most extensive networks in the world, has just dropped a surprise sale that’ll run from now until 17th May. With a flexible travel window of 12 months, it marks one of the best ways for Aussies to jump of overseas and, most importantly, control when they actually…

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Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman officially opens on Waikiki Beach (and it’s very, very good)

Honolulu’s Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (which I reviewed earlier this year) has recently undergone a more than US$80 million renovation. It’s seen the iconic resort (with its origins dating back to the 1950s) reimagined with updated rooms, facilities and the addition of the much lauded Monkeypod Kitchen restaurant – now the fourth location in the…

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Liquid Death healthy sodas now available in Australia for the price of one soul

We discovered recently that renowned US-based healthy beverage brand, Liquid Death, is now available in Australia. Known for their engaging taglines such as “Murder Your Thirst” and “Death To Plastic, the brand has grabbed the attention of celebrities such as Tony Hawk and Travis Barker who both recently collaborated with them. Travis Barker released a…

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