Travel & Lifestyle

Everything you need to know about Virgin Australia’s new “Economy X” domestic class

Virgin Australia is set to follow in the footsteps of US partner airline Delta by offering a new “enhanced” economy experience, by way of “Economy X” – a domestic equivalent to “Economy Space +”, which launched on Virgin’s international services last year. Those who fly Delta may also know the service as “Economy Comfort+”. Basically,…

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Sepia to close in December as Chef Martin Benn and Vicki Wild plan Melbourne restaurant

Three-hatted fine dining institution Sepia, one of Sydney’s most celebrated and popular dining hotspots, has made a big announcement. The team driving the restaurant, acclaimed chef Martin Benn and his partner Vicki Wild, will not only be departing the venue after eight incredibly successful years and numerous awards (they’ve maintained three hats every year since…

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This private property is letting guests glamp among the olive groves at The Grampians (Victoria, Australia)

Luxury camping platform Under Sky are launching an immersive experience in Victoria’s The Grampians to encourage travellers to immerse themselves in the famously picturesque area. Beginning from 1st April and running up until 7th May, they’ve teamed up with family-run Mount Zero Olives, a private property located on at the Northern park of the Grampians…

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OzHarvest branches into the UK with help from Jamie Oliver & the Duchess of Cornwall

OzHarvest, the charity dedicated to reducing food waste and eliminating hunger, has landed overseas to tackle this growing issue on a global scale. UKHarvest is now a thing, and has the full support of some pretty influential people – HRH the Duchess of Cornwall as patron, as well as Jamie Oliver and his foundation. The…

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Win a double pass to Wanderlust 108, the world’s largest yoga and lifestyle event

Wanderlust 108 is the world’s largest yoga and lifestyle event, and it’s back in down under for a third year! Explore the idea of Wanderlust even further when it comes to town especially when the day itself will be a world first; a mindful triathlon. This involves is a five kilometre walk or run, a…

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Nike Air VaporMax finally launches in Australia

Sneaker freakers and running junkies rejoice – seven years in the making, the Nike Air VaporMax has finally arrived. Landing this week in Australia, the shoe is now available to shop at Nike.com, Hype DC and Footlocker – and we’re sure these kicks will disappear pretty quickly. This year marks 30 years of the Nike…

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The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017: positions 51-100 have been announced

In case you haven’t heard, the highly authoritative World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony is being held in Melbourne next week. Often referred to as the definitive ranking of culinary excellence across the globe, the anticipated list will be released on Wednesday 5th April after much deliberation by an anonymous panel made up of over 1,000…

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Stayz are now letting you pay for your holiday with exercise

Australian holiday rental site Stayz have today launched an unprecedented new concept which could change the way holiday-makers pay for their accommodation. Instead of exchanging cash for their temporary digs, people can now pay for their holiday home with every step they take. In other words, the more active you are, the cheaper your holiday….

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Exploring the six most interesting food museums in Japan (because that’s a thing)

Spend a little time in Japan and you’ll quickly realize it’s a food obsessed nation. From local specialties to unique twists on pretty much everything edible the country’s love for food is potentially unmatched anywhere else in the globally. Given their serious love for eating it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Japan is potentially…

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Mrs Sippy and Veuve Cliquot are now doing bottomless champagne brunches in Double Bay (Sydney)

One of Double Bay’s most endearing venues, Mrs Sippy, has teamed up with Veuve Cliquot for “The Brunch at Mrs Sippy” to give a little refresh to their regular schedule. Brunch has long been a preferred pastime for Sydneysiders and now Head Chef Andreanne Pelletier will be serving a new menu with a bottomless Veuve…

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Burgapalooza is bringing Sydney’s best to Marrickville this weekend

With last years inaugural event a runaway success, the well-connected team behind Hashtag Burgers are itching to bring Burgapalooza 2017 and stretching it to much bigger scale. Whereas last year’s burger-focused festival was rooted in Manning Bar, this year brings the two-day eat-a-thon to Marrickville’s leafy Fraser Park (after nonsensical complaints from Newtown locals) with…

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Lobo Plantation are throwing a huge open-bar rum cocktail party this Saturday (Sydney)

Free Rum cocktails? Free food? The team over at Lobo Plantation, Australia’s current reigning “Rum Bar of the Year”, must be feeling mighty generous. The reason for this is fairly simple: there’s going to be a big overhaul to their cocktail list, so they thought it best to celebrate with a huge, completely free party…

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Interview: finding our true north with Wanderlust 108 festival director Jonnie Halstead

Wanderlust 108 is the world’s largest yoga and lifestyle event in the world and, in returning for it’s third Australian and New Zealand tour, is set to bring an air of inspiration and exploration to Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne. We cannot wait to dive into the concept of Wanderlust even further when it comes…

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There’s a new Australian gin made entirely from botanicals grown in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden

Gin: one of the most adaptable and customisable spirits in existence, drawing on various botanicals for vastly different flavour profiles. The art of crafting gin has been used to connect different expressions to different times, places and cities, and the latest release in Australia’s ever-growing artisan Gin scene is anchoring it in the most Sydney…

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After six years Potts Point’s beloved Gastro Park will close in May (Sydney)

The team behind highly awarded and consistently inventive Potts Point restaurant Gastro Park has announced last service on May 20th of this year. After what has been perhaps the busiest year of new high-profile openings Sydney has seen in quite some time, Gastro Park and chef-owner Grant King have become the latest locally treasured restaurant…

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Ever wanted to search the Himalayas for the elusive snow leopard? Now you can.

Ready for something new to file under “Bucket List Experiences”? Luxury safari company &Beyond has launched a new 13-day winter expedition to India’s Himalayan region of Ladakh that takes guests on the search for the elusive snow leopard. The trip will take you to the majestic region of Ladakh, situated on the northern border of…

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Nine things you never knew about Austin, Texas

I recently returned from Austin, Texas, where I was attending the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Film, Interactive and Music Festival. The visit was my 10th to the city, though given I’ve only ever visited the city to attend festivals and conferences (the other being the iconic Austin City Limits Festival which happens in October),…

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From New York to the Lesser Antilles: What I learned travelling solo in Barbados

I’m an Australian who’s lived in New York for the last nine months, and two months in I managed to lose my passport and visa. I replaced the passport, but $300 and three arguments you only have with government employees later, I had to replace my visa too. I had to leave the country to…

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Bali tops honours list of Travellers’ Choice Destination Awards, while Sydney beats Melbourne

TripAdvisor has announced the winners for the Travellers’ Choice Destination awards. This year’s awards honoured 418 destinations in 24 lists across the globe. Sydneysiders will be pleased to know Sydney has taken the number one spot for Australia, with Melbourne following closely behind in second place. World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island took the #3 spot….

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Review: Four Seasons Kyoto is a masterpiece framed by an 800-year-old pond garden

Not every property can claim a setting which features a genuinely breathtaking 800-year-old ikeniwa (a pond garden), but Four Seasons Kyoto is far from your typical luxury hotel. Fairly fresh-faced in one of Japan’s most historical cities, having opened in October of last year, this property stands perfectly located in Higashiyama-ku, near plenty of temples…

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Darlo Country Club launches Parisian inspired St-Germain brunch sessions (Sydney)

This past weekend was the beginning of a new weekly series at Darlinghurst favourite Darlo Country Club. The St-Germain Brunch Club will help transform the venue into an old-world Paris vibe with live music, a curated menu and, of course, bespoke Elderflower infused cocktails from now until September. Guests are transported to a 1920s Parisian…

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Review: 12-Micron is a stunning new entry on The Streets of Barangaroo (Sydney)

What is Australian cuisine, and in particular, modern Australian cuisine? At 12-Micron, this means creating a space that showcases the very best this country has to offer, from the cuisine to the interior, from the produce to the plates they ultimately sit on. This is what Barangaroo’s latest stands for right down to its namesake,…

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Woollahra’s popular Buzo finds a fresh face as Jersey Road Bistro (Sydney)

Woollahra’s Buzo is taking on a new name for a new chapter, recently transforming into Jersey Road Bistro, a new venture led by Head Chef Jason Dean. Chef Dean, along with Sous Chef Chris Cho (ex-Oscillate Wildly), have elevated the food from its Italian roots to a modern bistro style menu, focusing on Australian producers…

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Review: Neil Perry’s “Jr By Night” menu at Sake Jr. is a unique contemporary Japanese hybrid

After 4pm each day, Saké Jr transforms into Jr by Night, a unique and compelling menu created by Neil Perry that is a postcard for a casual-fast food Japanese experience. Blonde wood maneuvers into industrial, polished concrete with black power outlets spaced every few metres to let you work and recharge as the aromas of ramen broth and…

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Bar Odessa is Sydney’s new luxurious underground bar

With celebrated chef David Tsirekas taking care of the food, Sydney’s ambitious 1821 already has a lot going for it. Now they’ve gone and opened up a slick looking basement bar downstairs, a bunker bar named Odessa, with luxury notes of gold and velvet to match a menu that reads with a hearty list of…

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Melbourne’s getting an unofficial Studio Ghibli party in May

To celebrate 32 years of some of the best, most unique and heartfelt animation to ever grace our screens, the very discerning folk at Supersmall Club will be hosting a massive (unofficial) party dedicated to none other than Studio Ghibli. The iconic Japanese animation film studio has inspired a pop-culture soiree of the kind Melbourne…

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Qantas to start streaming Stan as part of their in-flight entertainment

Starting in just a few weeks, Qantas will be rolling out a new partnership with Stan which will see the Australian SVOD service incorporated into the airline’s in-flight entertainment. When the roll out is completed all domestic Qantas flights will have full access to Stan’s comprehensive library available for passengers travelling across the country. The…

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Forget the “City of Churches”. Why Adelaide should be known as the “City of Festivals”

Last year when I visited South Australia I completely bypassed the city and went straight to coastal town Middleton. While Middleton was stunning and reminded me a lot of Perth, I was very eager this time around to unveil the mystery around the city of Adelaide itself. Mad March has become nationally recognised as the time…

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Crafted Live: Wollongong’s first ever BBQ, craft beer and music festival announced for April

This Easter, Wollongong is grilling up to become a part of the growing barbecue scene as Crafted Live: Brewed & BBQ’d launches at MacCabe Park. The Australian Barbecue Alliance (ABA) has sanctioned this one of a kind event to showcase low n’ slow competition BBQ, along with a heady dose of a craft beer &…

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Review: Introducing Souk, Melbourne’s newest secret laneway gem

Situated just off Flinders Lane, Bligh Place’s newest resident Souk has completely transformed the atmosphere of what used to be a quiet and simple little street, into an eye-catching retro entrance into Melbourne’s newest late-night laneway getaway. At first glance, with a large pink neon sign splashed across its industrial front door, the Middle Eastern…

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