Travel & Lifestyle

The Mercure Gold Coast Resort is in that perfect spot that’s only a short drive away from Broadbeach (it’s about $17 by taxi between the resort and Pacific Fair) but far enough to offer absolute peace and tranquility. And that’s exactly what you get here; it’s so peaceful and idyllic that a part of me,…

It’s been the moment fans have been waiting for for five years – after going on an indefinite hiatus in 2011, Canadian heroes Wolf Parade are back! It’s been reported that the band will be releasing new music in 2016, and they have already announced a pile of shows in May! 5 nights at the…

Increasingly popular hotel booking app HotelTonight has recently launched in Australia following high demand, and it’s opened up some pretty big possibilities where last minute bookings, staycations, and travel is concerned. Now, Australians have access to a directory of last-minute deals from some of the country’s most well-known and regarded hotels, and the price cuts…

According to the latest Cruise Lines International Association stats, over one million Aussies took a cruise holiday in 2014. And with a population that’s projected to reach 24 million shortly (according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics)… well that’s just a huge proportion of cruise lovers. Although ocean cruises lead the way, river cruising numbers…

Ottawa’s iconic RBC Bluesfest – which, like its Australian equivalent, is far more eclectic than its name suggests – has unleashed an incredible lineup for 2016, with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Wolf Parade, The Cult, Bryan Ferry, Half Moon Run, Ben Harper, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Monkees and many,…

As most Sydneysiders know, it’s pretty hard to find a decent curry in this city, but that’s quickly changing across town, with a great example being the truly authentic fare at Manjit’s in Balmain. The reputable dining destination has built up a large local following with traditional but distinctive Indian food whipped up by a…

Various famed wine regions across New South Wales will be showcasing their all over three days this weekend as The Sydney Morning Herald Cellar Door returns to Hyde Park (South) for it’s packed 2016 edition. Starting Friday evening, the event will present a comprehensive and diverse look at the State’s wine regions, with particular attention…

Just how right was and/or is Paterson 213 years later about the enchanting great open plains that conquer New South Wales? With the help of Destination NSW (visitnsw.com) and a Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander, Lachlan Mitchell and his mate Eashan Vijayakumaran, close out their 5 day round trip across New South Wales to Deni Blues…

Qantas will soon make free in-flight wi-fi available to its passengers, delivering internet that is as fast as broadband connections on the ground. The announcement came on Tuesday that Qantas would trial the service on its Boeing 727 fleet in late 2016. The trial will see if aeroplanes fitted with modems and antenna will be…

Being an Australian overseas leaves you target for long open-ended conversation with two types of people – those who love Australia and haven’t been, and those who love Australia and have been. However, when I hear someone say they’ve been to Oz, and then proceed to tell me they saw Sydney and Melbourne – for…

With SXSW just around the corner – which takes place in Austin, Texas in March – we’re often asked the best ways to take the journey to Texas from Australia. Some are from people in a rush, others are from people who want to take the time to get there. Here are a few of…

I’ve always been fascinated by Theme Parks, especially in America. The stories of how the parks originated and have since grown and thrived is often as interesting as the rides themselves. Six Flags: Fiesta Texas, located just outside of San Antonio, is no exception, with the origins of the park dating back some 25 years,…

This May, we’ll be heading over to the annual music festival and conference Canadian Music Week, held in the fine city of Toronto. Last week, we let you in on the best ways to get to Toronto from Australia, and now today we’re taking you through a day in the fine city. What to do, where to…

As part of our brand new section AU Abroad, we bring you a birds eye view of the world of travel. In this article series, we let you in on the best airlines to fly with. Having already covered the Virgin Australia route, today Johnny Au looks at the service offered on Qantas’ A380 service…

French luxury hotel brand Sofitel is instantly recognisable around the world, synonymous with high-end, ultra-comfortable accommodation and the expected features that come with such a high standard, including the service. Located a stone’s throw from the beach at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, this Sofitel is by far no exception to said standard, large and…

It’s not hard to see why P&O Cruises as a brand has stayed at the forefront of conversations about luxury cruisers, especially when you’re actually on board one of their ships. The cruise line has always been one of the first to leap forward with the times, responding to the common criticism that cruise ships…

Oscar, Grammy and Tony award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz has come on board with Princess Cruises to revamp their approach to theatre, helping them in a first-of-its-kind cruise industry partnership to develop a whimsical music revue titled Magic to Do, performed exclusively across the cruise line. The partnership comes as the cruise line attempt to modernise…

Much dispute has arisen over who exactly created one of the most famous and endearing cocktails in the world, the classic margarita. Many say it first popped up around 1938 when bartender Carlos “Danny” Herrera dreamed up the cocktail for a dancer named Marjorie King, who claimed she was allergic to all spirits except Tequila,…

Melbourne’s Highpoint Shopping Centre will be the site of a large community dinner this Wednesday 24th February as the first ever for non-profit initiative The Welcome Dinner Project, part of grass-roots movement joiningthedots aimed at connecting newly arrived Australians with established local residents over a shared feast. This comes after Highpoint was announced as a…

It has been officially announced that on April 7 of this year, Universal Studios in Hollywood, California, will open the doors to their newest attraction, The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. To announce the opening date, the team at Universal Studios celebrated by illuminating the grand centerpiece of the Harry Potter-themed installation, Hogwarts Castle. You…

Melbourne’s Brighton has welcomed in Cucina & Co., the new Italian restaurant from Riccardo Bianchini (Caffe’e Cucina) aimed at fresh, classic and traditional flavours showcasing what Italians do best: pizza e vino. The 65-seat venue will be offering a seasonal a la carte menu which brings it back to simple Italian cooking with wood-fired pizzas,…

Multi-award winning Irish Whiskey, Teeling Whiskey, launched their entire range in Australia last year, and they plan to launch a new limited edition expression, The Revival 15 Year Old Single Malt in the near future, just in time for St Patrick’s Day and released to commemorate their opening of the first new distillery in Dublin…

Cheese, drinks and you. The perfect trio, non?  For lovers of cheese, cider, wine or beer, you’re in for a treat, with the return of the Fromage a Trois, on Sunday 6 March 2016. Back for the third year, the Fromage a Trois  festival will be held on the grounds of the historic Werribee Park Mansion, a mere 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD….

Well this one is sure looking like a winner. Next month, as part of the 21st Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS), the city’s picturesque Carlton Gardens will play host to the show’s very first “Gardens by Twilight”, a hungry blend of fire acts, glow performances, street buskers, music, food, and drink set in…

We return to Australia for today’s Flight Review, for the rather brief journey from the Gold Coast to Sydney with Qantas’ discount airline, Jetstar. Airline: Jetstar Route: Gold Coast to Sydney, JQ409 Seat: 12F (Window seat, exit row, of a 3-3 configuration in Economy) Aircraft: Airbus A320 Scheduled Flight Time: 1 Hr 30 Minutes (Approx.) On…

Before this month of February comes to a close, famed Sydney hub Kings Cross will be celebrating it’s community with the two-day Kings Cross Festival, staged by the Potts Point Partnership (PPP) for locals and visitors alike. Many a change has occurred in Kings Cross this past year thanks to #CasinoMike and his lockout laws,…

Across three of their venues, Beer DeLuxe are staging an ambitious competition aimed at finding and discovering the best of the best when it comes to home brew enthusiasts, seeking to award one lucky amateur brewer with the “Best Home Brew” award. Dubbed Home Brew Heroes, the initiative will sort through plenty of home brew…

New York emcee Action Bronson is just as deft in the kitchen as the studio, and he has been taking that knowledge of the culinary world and applying it to his latest web show with Munchies, “Fuck, That’s Delicious” for a few episodes now. The latest entry takes the effervescent rapper to meet one of…

It’s the freakin’ weekend, the second last of summer for this year as a matter of fact, and Sydney’s vibrant weekend culture isn’t fading one bit with the start of the big Mardi Gras festival as well as the big rally planned for Keep Sydney Open. There are plenty of delicious, fun, and interesting things…

Arnott’s iconic Tim Tam goes through changes every now and then, necessary because demand for these timeless biscuits won’t die down. There’s something about those velvety logs of chocolate encasing various flavours that still fills tourists with envy and Australians with pride, and it was only a matter of time before the brand’s next step…