Travel & Lifestyle

In a move that will offer Australian and New Zealand travellers more options when it comes to flying over to Hawai’i, Hawaiian Airlines have entered an expanded codeshare agreement with Virgin Australia. More than a dozen Australia and New Zealand cities will benefit from this broader range of flights to Hawai’i, as well as the…

As the final season of HBO’s monumental Game of Thrones creeps ever so closer, an exciting announcement has ensured fans of the hit TV show will still be able to ride the wave of crushing character deaths, extreme violence, and pouncing sers long after this forthcoming string of episodes is done and dusted. As reported…

Going down every Thursday in April, Panhead’s Chief Beer Engineer, Mike Neilsen will be sharing some of Panhead’s weird and wonderful brews, not to mention a custom beer inspired by the home of The Workshop, Oxford Street. Alongside free shows curated by Volumes, featuring The Pinheads, Buzz Kull Sophiegrophy & Godtet, plus a beautifully-beery custom…

If you were told you there was a cookbook out there with a whopping 550 Turkish recipes you might be slightly taken aback. While the regionality of cuisines like Italian, Thai and Japanese have really taken off in the past few years, upping the recognition that there are many vastly different types, Turkish has never…

Highly awarded airline Emirates will be officially landing in Porto later this year, making the increasingly popular coastal city it’s second destination in Portugal and upping access for Aussie travellers wishing to discover this increasingly popular destination. The new service, operated by a Boing 777-300ER aircraft in a three class cabin configuration – 8 private…

The fast food gods at KFC have been flirting with Mexican hybrid foods lately, birthing what they are describing as a “one-in-a-lifetime” special called “chachos” – obviously a portmanteau for chicken nachos. And it seems Melbourne’s late-night locals are going to be the lucky ducks to receive this unholy creation, as KFC pull up their…

Etihad Airways have announced a new partnership with tech giant Panasonic to jointly develop and trial several new wellness solutions aimed at enhancing the in-air experience for passengers. And the first of those solutions will be a newly developed program worked up by Panasonic and Detalytics aimed at addressing the issue of jet lag. Dubbed…

Come June of this year, the famed Michelin Guide, which has been reliably guiding gastronomy travel for over a century, will launch its first ever regional U.S edition when it comes to California. Announced early last month, Michelin and Visit California teamed up to charter this unprecedented expansion, prepping the Michelin Guide California 2019 which…

In a relatively quiet area of East Perth is where you’ll find Mantra on Hay, not as central as some of Mantra’s – well, now Accor’s – other properties in the “most isolated city in the world”, but close enough that you don’t feel like you’re missing any of Perth’s increasingly energetic social scene. It’s…

As part of Marriott’s highly regarded “Autograph Collection”, the one of a kind Press Hotel in Portland, Maine is a shining example of the kind of magic one can spark when channeling a building’s history into something new and exciting. In this case, it’s the site of the old Portland Press Herald newspaper, the state’s…

US airline Delta has been delivering daily service between Sydney and LAX since 2009, around the same time that “V Australia” – Virgin Australia’s then international brand – was introduced to the same route. The competitors then partnered up in late 2011, with each airline offering codeshare on the trans-Pacific route. This allowed for seamless…

On the Western edge of Perth’s densely packed CBD, opposite the vibrant piazza of Kings Square, and a short walk from the nightclub lined streets of Northbridge and Perth’s busy RAC Arena, stands the modest Peppers Kings Square. It’s a hotel that boasts an enviable, dynamic location and has a lot to offer guests and…

Uluru, one of the most famous rock formations in the world, and one of Australia’s most essential sites/sights, stands solidly in the scrubby dessert of the Northern Territory. Its presence is really like no other natural landmark in the country: powerful, spiritual, beautiful, inspiring. Located about 335km south west of Alice Springs, it is one…

There are a string of new budget carriers popping up in Canada, but the two major players in the market remain Westjet and Air Canada; with each airline placing the “Encore” and “Express” brands alongside some of their shorter routes. Towards the end of last year, I tried out the service from WestJet Encore, on…

Set in the heart of Downtown El Paso, and having just opened up mid last year, is the new hotel and convention centre from Courtyard by Marriott. Sitting in a hub of museums and just around the corner from the El Paso train station, the 9 floor hotel boasts a stunning outdoor pool that overlooks…

Prior to this, I have never heard of anyone flying Malindo Air and I’ve only ever seen anything about the airline on billboard adverts scattered around Kuala Lumpur. I fly the KL to Singapore route a lot with other airlines, so how does Malindo compare to the likes of Jetstar, Singapore Airlines or Air Asia?…

I can’t take my eyes off the bedhead in my Deluxe River View Room. First my phone scans it – vertically and horizontally (because social media demands both orientations now) – and then my eyes. I’m mesmerised. The scene of gold, Elephants and gods painted across dark wooden panels, is the most striking feature of…

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) hasn’t had the best of reputations in recent years, but as Malaysia’s flagship full-fledged carrier: the show must go on. Over the years though, MAS has had to stop serving a lot of their European routes, however their London route still remains and is (and has always been) their most popular. But…

Sydney has now left summer behind (I assume anyway – climate change) and we’re now getting to that point where hiding away in a restaurant or bar for an absurd amount of time is perfectly acceptable. Extended breakfasts, long lunches, endless dinners – all totally reasonable as the weather turns to shit. That’s why we’ve…

It’s always worth paying close attention when a Las Vegas production signs on for a substantial extension, even years after it has already been playing in the same spot. It means the show has become its own sizable piece in the endless jigsaw of culture, class and crass that is a typical night on the…

The “hotel within a hotel” concept has been done before in Las Vegas; it didn’t work out particularly well for Marriott’s famously funky W brand – although location had a lot to do with it – but the concept has proven viable before, particularly with long-standing favourite Nobu Hotel. It’s an interesting approach to redefining…

Every year at SXSW, US chef Rachael Ray puts on one of the best events – “Feedback” – which takes over Stubb’s BBQ on the Saturday, open to the public, and an invite only “Feedback House” that runs for a few days in accompaniment. Of course the food is amazing, but the music is even…

Kyushu, the southern island of Japan is an excellent destination for tourists who’ve had their fix of Honshu (mainland Japan) and are seeking something a bit more local. Oita is a prefecture within Kyushu that is rarely referenced by travellers outside those who chase onsens, and although that may be a selling point, there are…

Last year we were lucky enough to attend Luck Reunion festival in Texas; an event held during SXSW about an hour out of Austin on Willie Nelson’s ranch in Luck, Texas. Aussie artist Ruby Boots was among the impressive line-up this year, and now Australia’s own Angie McMahon will be joining the 2019 event –…

Tucked off Wickham Street in the Fortitude Valley is one of Brisbane’s finest and newest hotels, sitting comfortably alongside a slew of great dining and entertainment options in the city’s famously bustling district. The hotel in mention, Ovolo The Valley in many ways sits at the heart of this, surrounded by an area of Brisbane…

For all you jet-setting music fans out there, you’ll see plenty of Aussies hitting the stages of international festivals this year. From Coachella in California to Lollapalooza in Paris, you’ll be spotting Australian acts around the world. Here’s just a few of those destination festivals that you can expect to see some homegrown bands dominating…

There’s been a lot of changes to some of the world’s best airlines of late that have seen them change in flight offerings and add in charges for choosing seats ahead of check-in to their lower economy tickets. Singapore Airlines has been no stranger to the latter, but how does their service stack up for…

Carriageworks host an excellent farmers market every Saturday. They also feature chefs’ masterclasses which showcase the markets excellent and sustainable produce. Duncan Welgemoed of Adelaide’s Africola hosted the March edition with Shannon Martinez from Fitzroy’s vegan mecca, Smith & Daughters. They cooked up delicious dishes that were influenced by different cultural influences and fused together…

The team at Alexandria’s Textbook Boulangerie-Patisserie are known for making some of the most delicious croissants in the entire country, among many other treats. It’s why there’s queues out the door on most days, and that kind of buzz is only set to grow during Mardi Gras weekend with the introduction of the Golden Gaytime…

It’s that time again, where pride, diversity and strength take centre stage as the fabulous Mardi Gras rolls into town. Not just all about the parade itself anymore, the celebration has become about Sydney, it’s people, and it’s venues coming together to showcase and highlight the city’s effervescent LGBTQI community all week long. Right up…