Travel & Lifestyle

Known for its beaches, theme parks and seafood, Australia’s second largest state Queensland remains a popular tourist destination all year-round. It’s a big place with an abundance of things to do and places to see. And at the moment its Southern most city is home to the 2018 Commonweath Games. However, if you don’t want…

Just in time for the very anticipated Commonwealth Games, The Star Gold Coast has officially begun the launch of their new luxury suite hotel The Darling, kicking off with an unsurprisingly lavish launch night earlier this month. Located at the front of the long-standing Broadbeach Island property, The Darling is the crown jewel of a…

Hi, hello. My name is Campbell Burns and I’m based in Newcastle, NSW. I lead Vacations, a music project I started about two years ago. I sent out an application to perform at SXSW towards the end of 2017, about two weeks before the closing date, completely on a whim. About a week later I…

Less than an hour and a half south of the Gold Coast, where the Commonwealth Games are about to be held, and the home of Bluesfest, is a hotbed for innovative gastronomy and creative enterprises in and around Byron Bay. The landscape is constantly evolving and flourishing, yet within the much loved laid-back coastal and…

Opened in 2016, the on site restaurant at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Mari Restaurant blends together Japanese and Californian flavours for a truly original menu offering. They serve an evolving menu throughout the day, from breakfast, through to lunch and dinner – every menu getting slightly more Japanese flavoured than the…

The 180-room DoubleTree by Hilton, situated in the heart of Melbourne CBD, quickly became an institution for both locals and visitors shortly after it debuted in 2014. Reflecting design inspiration from its location opposite the historic Flinders Street Station, the boutique-minded property is a perfect example of soaking up the surrounds with subtle, charming flourishes…

Come April 3rd, Uber will be launching their super budget-conscious UberPOOL service in Australia, specifically the inner-city suburbs of Sydney ahead of a planned nationwide roll out. The service has proven to be incredibly popular in cities like L.A, Austin and New York, with savings of up to half the price of a usual UberX….

It’s had an extensive history in only 100 years; from office building to WWII VA hospital to a nightclub, but now the Fulton Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is home to a hotel that not only allows guests to recharge in contemporary luxury but also detox and unplug from the digital world. Renaissance Hotel is located…

Sydney’s Central station is currently undergoing a massive transformation, and soon the thriving Central precinct will welcome an IHG boutique hotel, Hotel Indigo. It’s a few years in the making with an opening date of 2021, but when the 168-room hotel does arrive, it will be adding a hint of contemporary style to Central’s rich…

Jack’s Creek are a big name on the steak scene right now. The New South Wales producer first rose to global recognition when they won the World’s Best Steak competition in 2015, following that up with another win in 2016 and a win for the World’s Best Fillet Steak in 2017. High demand was expected,…

Returning with an extended program this year, Tasting Australia will once again thread through the majestic surrounds of Adelaide beyond with a culinary experience led various chefs, winemakers, distillers and producers. The unique multi-day gastronomic celebration, which highlights not only South Australia’s exceptional beauty but also tastes from around the country, will include various events…

McDonald’s have moved on up from Angus to something a bit more expensive, introducing a burger that they say is made with 100% Australian-bred Wagyu, upping their already stacked “Gourmet Creations” range with the Wagyu Beef Burger. Though it sits at almost double the price of a Big Mac, offered from the menu for a…

Gaggan Anand’s progressive Indian restaurant in Bangkok has once again topped the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants following a lively ceremony which celebrated and named the finest dining destinations across the continent. Although it was unsurprisingly Japan that emerged as the country with the most entries, including Tokyo’s highly awarded Den in the second…

You on point Vans? The renowned sports and apparel brand have this week announced a special collaboration collection with none other than the legendary A Tribe Called Quest, hooking up with The Thread Shop – a merchandising company from ATCQ and Sony Music – for sneakers which celebrate, pay tribute and honour the style, art…

The newly opened Avani Metropolis Residences in Auckland’s CBD marks a significant debut for the hotel and resort brand in this part of the world. Along with an even newer Australian property on the Gold Coast, the reputable Avani name has officially stepped onto the Trans-Tasman scene, looking to bolster Minor Hotels’ steadily growing portfolio…

Consider the size and scope of a “discovery” focused destination event like Iceland Airwaves. The reputable decades-old showcase festival has grown to such an extent that it now spreads not just through, but beyond Reykjavik and has become not only a platform for rising talent in live music, but also a way to highlight the…

Consider yourself a fan of classic films like Rebel Without a Cause, My Fair Lady and Casablanca? Well you’ll soon be able to get a deeper look into the creation and stories behind these great films, as Warner Bros. Studio in Hollywood are set to launch a exclusive classics themed tour. To celebrate 95 years…

A stunning U-shaped pool offering far-reaching views over Brisbane River and the city, a cosy private cinema, luxury private spa rooms for hire, and ultra-modern apartments in two of three thirty-storey towers that have been built across 5000 square metres. FV by Peppers is an enormous and incredibly impressive development from Australian real estate mogul…

It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years since Ku De Ta first unveiled its swanky beachfront bar and restaurant in Bali’s Seminyak. With bright red umbrellas and an infinity pool overlooking the Tasman Sea, it was the first of its kind. A decade later, it was joined by another; Potato Head Bali. These days,…

Melbourne’s Pretty City recently packed their bags for another short sojourn to the USA where recording of new music, as well as a cheeky stop at SXSW awaited. The band’s new album Cancel the Future is out tomorrow and in coming months, Pretty City will be out on the road (in Australia and abroad) with this new bad…

In the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, and within walking distance or a short car ride to some of our amazing food highlights, is one of the city’s newest hotels. Opened a few weeks prior to our stay, Distrikt Hotel is a flair of New York City, yet with dedication to make Pittsburgh the hero. Scott…

Our Golden Friend have emerged as one of Melbourne’s premiere artist management companies and with SXSW off an running, the music festival has provided the perfect platform for the company to show off their talented roster. Bringing Jade Imagine, RVG, Totally Mild and Jess Ribeiro to Texas, Our Golden Friend will be hosting a must-attend party at the Australia…

As we take a seat for dinner at Rockpool Bar & Grill, Neil Perry reminisces how Sundays are set aside for family dinners and sharing a beautifully cooked roast at the table together. This nostalgia and sense of family are what have inspired the new Sunday roast menu with large format meat as the hero…

Seen Niseko and done Hakuba? Next time you plan a ski trip in Japan, add Akita to your itinerary Nestled on the top corner of Honshu, Japan’s main island, sits Akita. The area has a lot to offer in terms of winter sports and culture. A prefecture often overlooked because of its rural setting, and…

Travelling business class is the luxury way of flying around the world, and Emirates have upped the game on cabin style and configuration. The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft has been fitted out with new wider seats and set in a 2-2-2- configuration, with the two class layout providing 38 business class seats and 264 economy class…

Solander Dining and Bar is one of the latest to prop up the bustling food and drink precinct down on Sussex, bringing the area a 72-seater restaurant and bar as part of new boutique hotel West Hotel Sydney, a property that is part of the refined Curio Collection by Hilton. Located at 62 Sussex Street,…

Later this month will see a new restaurant open at designer hotel Ovolo Woolloomooloo as award-winning U.S chef Matthew Kenney focuses his long history of advocating for plant-based cuisine to Sydney with Alibi. Adding something incredibly unique to the envied scene at Woolloomooloo wharf, the new restaurant will take over most of the ground floor…

Get ready to take a piece of acclaimed chef Josh Niland (of the consistently excellent Saint Peters) home with you. April this year will see the opening of Fish Butchery on Oxford St in Paddington. Dubbed ‘butchery’, the Saint Peter team aim to position it as a modern fishmonger, offering dry handled fish, produce that…

Sydney-born dessert and social media phenomenon Tella Balls Dessert Bar has finally opened up one of its deliciously sugary stores in Melbourne. The newly launched dessert bar, which is located at Melbourne Central, follows the successful launch of the brand in QLD last year, bringing more than just Sydneysiders a menu that’s chock full of…

Slane Irish Whiskey has launched in Australia ahead of St Patrick’s Day, coming all the way from the legendary Slane Castle with 300 years of family history and 147 years of whiskey-making behind it. The whiskey, which goes through three types of casks, should immediately bring Irish whiskey enthusiasts a new favourite seeing as the…