Travel & Lifestyle

The short flight from Sydney to the pacific paradise of Fiji is one of the most frequented for keen Australian travellers looking for a quick and budget friendly escape. Fiji Airways, which has a codeshare agreement with Qantas, has long been known as one of the better and more comfortable ways to get there. So…

Summer is nearing and what better way to welcome the warmer days than soaking up panoramic views over Bondi Beach while sipping botanical cocktails? Icebergs, one of Bondi’s most iconic dining destinations has transformed its intimate terrace into an elegant summer garden. They’ve collaborated with Ketel One Botanical to offer a curated list of unique…

With all this talk about the new NYC to Sydney direct route that Qantas are proposing to launch in the coming years – and the Air New Zealand direct NYC to Auckland route that’s going to get us one step closer in October 2020 – I can’t help but wonder if there is a better…

I’ve always loved the theatricality of music; that indescribable feeling it can provided when presented with a bit of bombastic flair. But I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a production bring so much life to its soundtrack, as David Byrne has achieved  with his American Utopia show – which is currently enjoying a 16…

Rose Bay favourite I Maccheroni has relocated to Woollahra, squeezed into a site that comes with its own lofty culinary standards. Standing on Jersey Road, the slim two-storey Victorian-era building that now hosts this fantastic Italian eatery glows with the reputation of having previously housed both Pinbone and Buzo. Now, the location is once again…

With a history tracking more than two decades, The Table Bay still shines like the brightest, most vigorous star on Cape Town’s impressively eclectic Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Gorgeously dressed in an impeccable façade of yellow, blue and white, its an immense feature of the waterfront’s colourful scene, screaming luxury from across the bay and…

Plaza Premium Group have announced that they will be adding not one, but two Sydney Airport openings to their extensive network in 2020. In the first quarter, the 70-passenger capacity Plaza Premium Lounge Sydney, and in the third quarter, the Australian-first Aerotel Sydney hotel. These openings are part of a US$55 million global expansion plan,…

One of the absolute highlights of the live music scene in Australia in 2018 was catching Rackett. Their high-energy glam punk rock was incredibly great fun. It was always a night of immense passion, great musicianship, and total commitment. At the core was their lead singer Bec Callender, the driving force behind the band. A…

New Caledonia’s flagship carrier Aircalin is now the first airline in the Asia-Pacific to fly the new Airbus A330neo. Operating on flights between Sydney and New Caledonia’s capital of Noumea, the new aircraft is defined by its innovations, said to vastly improve performance and comfort. A330neo’s centrepiece is new generation Trent 7000 Rolls Royce engines,…

Replacing the spectacular Flying Fish at the apex of Jones Bay Wharf is an ambitious meeting of two accomplished culinary champions, ambitiously clashing Japanese and Chinese flavours at the behest of The Star Sydney, debuting their very first off-site restaurant. Chase Kojima (best known for Sokyo) and Victor Liong (best known for Lee Ho Fook)…

They may have just been crowned champions of Major League Baseball, but the city of Washington D.C. has plenty to celebrate year round, given they’re one of America’s finest hubs for live music – boasting some of the country’s best live music venues, in a thriving scene. It may not at all be what you’d…

Perth’s newest hotspot brings the famous HYDE brand from buzzing locations in L.A and Miami down to the world’s most isolated city. A collaboration between Accor and sbe Entertainment Group, Hyde Perth Kitchen & Cocktails, located in the shiny new Art Series Hotel The Adnate, aligns with the brand’s playful, party-minded “casual by day, classy…

Aussie duo Divide and Dissolve (Takiaya Reed & Sylvie Nehill) have been making impressive moves overseas, and tomorrow they’re set to embark on an absolutely massive tour of North America – as well as throw in a couple of support slots with Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The shows come as the “Ambient drone duo” release the first single…

Back in September, I flew with the Luton based budget airline easyJet from Amsterdam to Berlin’s budget terminal, Schoenefeld. It’s putting it mildly to say that budget airlines in Europe get a bad rap – but unlike a lot of other places on the planet – I’m looking at you North America – the price difference…

For those of you who are passionate connoisseurs, growing gin-thusiasts or just looking to learn more about the botanical spirit, Gin Palooza is this month’s event worthy of your attendance. After a successful first event earlier this year, the Australian Gin Distillers Association is returning the celebration of gin to Paddington Town Hall from 23 to 24 November….

Earlier this year we had the pleasure of attending the first ever New Colossus Festival in New York City, a boutique showcase festival sitting in the city’s Lower East side in the days before SXSW. It gives travelling bands from Australia, Canada and around the world the opportunity for an extra showcase on their trip…

In Spring Hill, Brisbane, you might have driven past a white building with a fairly unique, cascading design. If you spotted it, you probably thought it was an ordinary office building. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve driven past it without noticing it. But office building it it not. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s been sitting…

In what must be the most epic Australian rock triple header to ever hit Canada (and Milwaukee), DZ Deathrays, Hockey Dad and Horror My Friend are joining forces to tour the country this December. For DZ Deathrays, the tour comes off the back of their current Australian tour, which sees them touring with Polish Club,…

Singapore’s widely acclaimed The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts has officially stretched outside of the lion city with its debut in Sydney. The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, taking over the historic address of No.1 Martin Place, site of the former General Post Office Building, has been tastefully transformed into a luxury 416-room hotel set to become one…

One of New Zealand’s most iconic wine regions will once again be on full display during the one-day 28th annual Toast Martinborough festival, scheduled for Sunday 17th November. The long running festival of wine, food and music amongst the vines will highlight the spirit of Martinborough’s passionate wine community and task the participating vineyards in…

With 2019 rolling to a close, it’s already time to start planning what Australian events you want to hit up in the first quarter of 2020. First up, the consistently excellent (and sell-out) gin festival of Juniperlooza will be back for Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of February. Taking over The Boatbuilders Yard and Polly…

When one thinks of the music industry in the US, there are three cities that immediately comes to mind: LA, New York and Nashville. The vast majority of music companies are based there, and on face value a lot of the creativity is happening there, too. Historically that’s not wrong – but in 2019, it…

Everyone likes free ice-cream, even more so when it’s the flavourful Ben & Jerry’s. The ubiquitous ice creamers are celebrating their 10th anniversary this November by giving away some scoops. Although this one won’t be as simple as just rocking up and asking nicely. This weekend (2nd and 3rd Nov), anyone named Ben or Jerry…

Aussie singer/songwriter Kim Churchill is no stranger to Canada – in fact the brand new EP Forgetting, which he released last week, was recorded there. And this week he’s landed back in the great north to celebrate the new album, with a run of shows that will take him across the entire country through November,…

Gold Coast legend Bobby Alu recently returned from a massive 17 date tour of North America, supporting fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd. Taking in dates throughout the USA and Canada, it came just before the release of Alu’s brand new record Flow – and an Australian tour which he kicked off this past weekend. Now back…

If you have ever wanted to go behind the scenes of the iconic Sydney Opera House, and blend your own gin as you soak up Harbour-side views, then you’ll want to get around this exclusive Gin & Tour experience coming early next month. Archie Rose Distilling Co. and the Sydney Opera House have collaborated on…

New York City’s iconic 1,454 foot Empire State Building has undergone an enormous change, revealing the second phase of its completely reimagined “Observatory Experience”, which now includes the city’s only museum open seven days a week from 8am to 2am. A 10,000 square foot series of galleries now occupies the second floor of the mammoth…

Once you become dedicated to a certain flight network, you find that you tend to travel the world on a lot of the same airlines. But every now and then, you’re thrown a surprise in your journey that means you don’t get the points you were hoping for, but you do get the chance to…

According to Japan’s tourism organisation, JNTO, Australians were the highest spending tourists in Japan in 2018, dropping an average of 242,050 yen per person (or AUD $3,075) per visit. After 2020, Japan is expected to hit 40 million annual tourists, so we can only expect that number to grow. Us Aussies love to spend in…

Entering an immersive world of alt-circus performers and steampunk oddities, watching in awe as one of the most beautiful coastal walks in the world is transformed by art, and taking part in deep, serious and playful discussions about what goes on in a city after the sun sets. These are just a few of the…