The Farmhouse on Oxley, Barrington CoastCredit: Nat Spada, The Palm Co.
The Farmhouse on Oxley is modern farmhouse with lofty ceilings, a beautifully furnished kitchen and bathtub with views,
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A new zoo with a pride of lions, a riverside Italian restaurant, a farmhouse retreat that can host the whole family and events to enjoy – there’s plenty of new adventures awaiting future travels in Sydney and NSW.
NEW STAYS
A debut for design
Uber-cool US hotel chain Ace Hotels is opening its first site in the Southern Hemisphere in Sydney’s Surry Hills. The chain was one of the first to prioritise design, art and culture in their concepts, and the Australian edition will have a ground-floor restaurant, bar and café, as well as a rooftop restaurant and gym. The hotel will launch in May 2022; bookings are open now.
Beachside chic on the North Coast
Yamba’s first boutique hotel, The Surf, is now open, with 12 on-trend rooms featuring terrazzo floors, timber furnishings and peach bathroom tiles. The highlight is the rooftop plunge pool and deck, replete with yellow-and-white striped lounge chairs with an incredible view of Main Beach and the coastline.
A riverside retreat
The Farmhouse on Oxley on the Barrington Coast can cater to both family reunions and a couple’s getaway. A modern farmhouse with lofty ceilings, a beautifully furnished kitchen and bathtub with views, it can be configured in multiple ways and is located on the riverfront and just a short drive from the beach.
Dine by the vines
Popular South Coast winery Cupitt’s Estate is expanding its accommodation offering, with 10 new suites available from November. Guests can enjoy a well-stocked bar, in-room dining and a produce hamper if they want total privacy or can dine in the on-site restaurant and taste wines at the cellar door, which are a short walk away. Some suites will have an outdoor bath overlooking the vines.
Ace Hotel Sydney, Surry Hills Credit: Anson Smart
Ace Hotel Sydney, opening May 2022.
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Ace Hotel Sydney, Surry Hills Credit: Anson Smart
Ace Hotel Sydney, opening May 2022.
NEW FOOD, DRINK AND ENTERTAINMENT
Dine under twinkling lights
Opening just in time for warmer weather, Watson’s is a new pub at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. Relax on the generous deck under century-old, fairy-lit fig trees with a cold craft beer and a spread of snacks to share. It’s the perfect spot for a meal before a seeing a gig at nearby Hordern Pavilion.
Spanish snack bar comes to Redfern
Spanish wine and tapas bar Bar La Salut is opening soon in Redfern from the owners behind Love, Tilly Devine and Ragazzi, in the former sports bar at The Norfolk. Natural wine and snacks designed for drinking will be the name of the game, with the chef inspired by the drinking scene in Barcelona.
A pop-up for good times
A pop-up bar with seven owners (all with many years of hospitality experience) was always going to have a lot of big ideas. About Time is opening on October 20 in the Sydney CBD and will only be around until late 2022. Expect a menu of Australiana classics, slushie cocktails and spritzes on tap, with 90s music and décor, and al fresco drinking until late.
Waterfront dining at Shellharbour
A new foreshore precinct is being developed in Shellharbour on the South Coast, opening in spring. The family-friendly Waterfront Tavern will spill out onto the Shell Cove boardwalk, with four different spaces including the Clubhouse for live music and events. The Waterfront Dining Precinct will be a harbourside strip of multiple dining options, all with spectacular marina views.
Rome by the river
Isola Riva is a stunning new restaurant housed in a boat shed on Wallis Lake in Forster. The head chef is from Rome and has created a menu of produce-led share plates. Try fritto misto (fried seafood), Wallis Lake oysters and mushroom arancini, paired with a cocktail menu of summery spritzes.
NEW EXPERIENCES
Meet the pride
The new Central Coast Zoo is opening this month, with its Savannah Sanctuary home to a range of African animals. The highlight is a pride of six lions, who have been rehomed here after performing at a circus together; the zoo had an enclosure built specifically so the animals could stay together. Meerkats, fennec foxes, servals and a leopard turtle also call the new zoo home.
Watson's, The Entertainment Quarter Credit: Will Taylor, Watson's EQ
Relax on the generous deck under century-old, fairy-lit fig trees with a cold craft beer and a spread of snacks to share.
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Watson's, The Entertainment Quarter Credit: Will Taylor, Watson's EQ
Relax on the generous deck under century-old, fairy-lit fig trees with a cold craft beer and a spread of snacks to share.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hamilton | Sydney Lyric Theatre
19 October-27 February, 2022
Hamilton created a revolutionary moment in theatre — blending Broadway theatre with hip hop, jazz and R&B to tell a story of American history. This unmissable event is being called a cultural phenomenon.
Come From Away | Capitol Theatre, Sydney
20 October-28 November
On stage at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, The Tony® and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of thousands of stranded passengers and the small town in Canada that welcomed them all.
Grafton Jacaranda Festival | Grafton
29 October-7 November
Celebrating the town's jacaranda trees that burst into purple clouds in spring, this festival has numerous wonderful events, including a ball, historic pub crawls, live music, art exhibitions, a queen crowning ceremony and more.
Jagged Little Pill | Theatre Royal Sydney
2-19 December
See the Tony® award-nominated Broadway rock musical, JAGGED LITTLE PILL, returning to Theatre Royal Sydney in December. Relive Alanis Morissette’s epic 1995 album and immerse yourself in 21st century America and beloved hits such as You Oughta Know and Ironic.
Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney Presented by KPMG | Sydney Harbour
17-18 December
The seventh event of SailGP season 2 will return to Sydney Harbour, with heart-stopping racing and a range of free and ticketed experiences on and off the water.
Girl From the North Country | Theatre Royal Sydney
5 January-13 February, 2022
On stage at Theatre Royal Sydney as part of Sydney Festival, this joyful musical reimagines the songs of Bob Dylan through a story of American life set in 1930s Minnesota. Tickets are on sale now.
Tamworth Country Music Festival | Tamworth
14-23 January, 2022
The 50th anniversary of Australia’s biggest country music festival will be an unmissable event, with the line-up including John Williamson, Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, all part of more than 2800 scheduled events.
True Grit | Lower Portland
5-6 March, 2022
With 30 obstacles to navigate over 10 kilometres, this military-inspired race is held at a farm on the Hawkesbury River. The obstacles will take you across grasslands, rainforest, swamps and sandstone cliffs.
Grafton Jacaranda Festival, Northern Rivers Credit: Destination NSW
Vintage car passing through a jacaranda-lined street in Grafton.
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Grafton Jacaranda Festival, Northern Rivers Credit: Destination NSW
Vintage car passing through a jacaranda-lined street in Grafton.
More News
Vivid Sydney 2024Credit: Destination NSW
The 'Nest' installation at the Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo during Vivid 2024. Artist: Leila Jeffreys & Melvin J. Montalban. An expansive circular structure welcomes you to bear witness to the ritualistic mating dance of the Brolga, one of only two species of crane native to Australia. Projected onto a transparent surface, the huge bird apparitions appear to float in the air and are visible from both out and inside the Nest.
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Calling All Dreamers: Vivid Sydney Wants You
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
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Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival, is calling on the best creative minds to submit ideas for next year’s event.
Vivid Sydney 2025 will take place from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025, with a program centred around the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream.
Artists, musicians, thought leaders and food creatives are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the opportunity to be part of Australia’s largest event and showcase their work to a mass audience across the festival pillars of Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “Since 2009, Vivid Sydney has grown to become Sydney’s vibrant cultural showpiece, driving significant visitation to Sydney and regional NSW and positioning our state as the arts and creative industries capital of the Asia Pacific.
“Vivid Sydney is more than a light show, it is Sydney’s living legacy that captures imaginations and shares with visitors and locals alike the very best talent from our creative, entertainment and hospitality industries.
“I encourage the brightest talents to join Destination NSW in creating an event that elevates the Harbour City as the Asia Pacific’s leader in world-class cultural experiences.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: “Vivid Sydney 2025 is pushing the creative boundaries across our theme of “Dream” to deliver another unforgettable global celebration.
“Dreaming is something we all do. It’s as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams don’t discriminate – they are borderless, ageless and endless. They can be personal or public. When shared, our dreams can become a movement. They can inspire, motivate, spark excitement and connection.
“The whole world dreams, it is something we have in common, something that unites us. Our human story is embedded in dreams, they help explain our existence and our past.
“We want the very best in homegrown talent to be part of our vibrant Vivid Sydney event program, with a unique opportunity to foster community connection, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity can enrich our lives.
“Each year Vivid Sydney aims to deliver unparalleled artistic brilliance and we look forward to welcoming the inspirations within our community that will help shape Vivid Sydney 2025 into a show-stopping cultural phenomenon.”
The Vivid Sydney EOI outlines opportunities for artists, designers, creative industry professionals, equipment suppliers, architects, engineers, promoters, restaurants, event companies, chefs, producers and educational institutions to present their ideas, designs, concepts and interest for inclusion in the annual event.
Light and Cross Art Form EOIs will close on Monday 2 September 2024 with Ideas, Music and Food closing on Friday 27 September 2024.
This year’s Vivid Sydney attracted 2.42 million attendees, making it the third largest on record. Highlights included a record-breaking opening night and the busiest single night in the festival’s history on Sunday 9 June.
While Vivid Sydney 2024 attracted millions of people from across Australia and the globe, it also had a profound impact on the creative minds who helped bring the event to life, including Sydney’s retail, hospitality and accommodation sectors.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
Leila Jeffreys the artist behind popular Vivid Light 2024 installation Nest said: “Thank you to Festival Director Gill Minervini and all at Vivid Sydney for giving me and my artistic collaborator Melvin J. Montalban the opportunity to create art on a scale that we could not have achieved on our own.
“I visited Nest many times throughout the festival and was always moved to see people from all walks of life and ages stand together to witness the courtship dance of the Brolga, a moment where we all felt the link between the natural world and the human journey.”
Tekno Train creator and composer Paul Mac said: “When I set out to create Tekno Train I wanted to make an experience that fused my love of techno and trains with lights and to share this joy with as many people as possible. The positive reactions I have received from people on the train, as well as the drivers, guards, and random folks on social media has absolutely blown me away.
“Vivid Sydney 2024 has been an unexpected career highlight, and I am forever grateful to everyone who helped bring this together.”
Club Broadway MC & Music Producer DJ Dan Murphy said: “Bringing our Club Broadway show to a Vivid Sydney audience has been an absolute joy. We loved making our show accessible to a whole new audience who love the world of musical theatre.
“Vivid Sydney is such an amazing and important festival for our city, and we were thrilled to be on the program. From old to young, we had them all on the dancefloor for Club Broadway at Tumbalong Park. The night was absolutely magical and a great way to celebrate our community.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
Service and Creative Skills Australia (the Jobs and Skills Council for Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality) CEO Natalie Turmine said: “Vivid Sydney showcases brilliantly our talented and vibrant creative arts, tourism and hospitality workforce, demonstrating the wealth of exciting career opportunities available in this sector.
“Thank you to all the creative artists, technicians, performers, hospitality staff and event organisers for delivering another successful Vivid Sydney.”
Plate it Forward CEO and restaurateur Shaun Christie-David said: “Vivid Sydney shows the diversity of Sydney, shining a positive light on our city, culture and produce. As a social enterprise hospitality group, it was a privilege to partner with Vivid Sydney to bring the 2024 festival theme humanity to life through food. Food is all about sharing, love, respect and community.
“There is so much pride, joy and power that can be found in food, it is a platform to celebrate culture, make meaningful connections and create jobs. Through working with Vivid Food and selling more than 1000 tacos, more than 1500 meals will be donated to community kitchens for people in need.”
Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said: “Between the lights, the music, the ideas, the food and the incredible vibe…Vivid Sydney has once again delivered a spectacular event for visitors and locals of all ages, with the big winners being local tourism and hospitality operators.”
“The bright lights of Vivid Sydney have showcased first-class hospitality, creativity and our beloved Sydney CBD and Harbour icons to audiences across the globe, demonstrating the value and huge potential of this event and the need to continue investing in world class events.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
Accommodation Australia’s Michael Johnson said: “Once again, the juggernaut that is Vivid Sydney illuminated the city, shining a light on the beauty and culture of the city.
“Over the course of the event, hotels in the CBD enjoyed 75 per cent occupancy with bookings reaching as high as 90 per cent on weekends. There is no denying major events such as Vivid Sydney, that have the capacity to draw a high level of overnight visitation in the middle of winter, create an incredible boost for the city’s visitor economy.”
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
For more information and to submit an Expression of Interest for Vivid Sydney 2025, go to www.vividsydney.com