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Tiger Trek is now open at Taronga Zoo to get you insanely close to these remarkable animals

An Indonesian-themed experience is now open at Taronga Zoo to get you frighteningly close to Taronga’s Sumatran Tiger conservation and education program. A simulated plane cabin will transport you to the jungles of Sumatra to begin your education journey about how choosing Certified Sustainable Palm Oil will have a role in saving this tiger species….

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Saint Lucia is Windsor’s new Caribbean barbecue and rum bar (Melbourne)

Caribbean influences sit alongside flavours from Cuba and Southern America at Windsor’s recently opened Saint Lucia, which popped up on Chapel Street earlier this year. The tropical-minded BBQ and rum bar offers a soulful, colourful space to Melbourne’s famously dynamic hospitality scene, illustrated with eclectic trinkets and lush greenery. With an inclusive dining experience (vegetarians…

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Sydney to host a pop-up IceBar this summer

Some people love to plan for Sydney’s famously beautiful summer season early in the year, no less the organisers behind IceBar, a new pop-up bar experience set to stretch across five days in January 2018. IceBar, a space operating at minus five degrees, will be location in the CBD and offer respite from the the…

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Newtown’s new Sicilian pizzeria is offering 100 free slices this week (Sydney)

Sicilian-style pizza by the slice will be landing in the heart of Newtown as of later this week as Ballaro opens on King Street. Drawing on the lively street food culture of the famous Mediterranean island, the new venture from Daniele Arnone and Stefano Zanco will be adding something distinctive to the plethora of multicultural…

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An open-air Aboriginal arts, crafts and bushfood market is coming to Barangaroo (Sydney)

Aboriginal arts, crafts, bushfoods and entertainment are heading back to Sydney’s stunning harbour headland park at Barangaroo Reserve on Sunday 24th September. Blak Markets, a dedicated pop-up market showcasing many aspects of Aboriginal culture, will pop-up at Stargazer Lawn on the day, kicking off at 10am and wrapping up at 4pm. The open-air market will…

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Foodora is delivering free cheese kits straight to your door every Sunday of September

Delivery service Foodora has teamed up with the folks behind Cracker Barrel for a new campaign designed to encourage people to be less glued to their phones and more in-tune with each other. In an attempt to bring back “real conversation”, the well known Australian cheese brand, which is produced locally by Warrnambool Cheese and…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Scalphunter “Life Sucked” (2017)

Set to fire up in Brisbane this week, Perth’s Scalphunter have got BIGSOUND well and truly in their sights; with two hectic shows lined up, best believe this group is ready to shake things into submission ahead of the release of their debut album Lies. From it comes new single “Life Sucked”, which we are stoked to…

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A two day tunnel party is coming to Milsons Point (Sydney)

A street party in Milsons Point that isn’t New Year’s Eve? We’re down for that. Across two days in October the affluent harbourside Sydney suburb will be hosting a two-day interactive pop up designed along the theme of “Now and Then, New and Old”, borrowing patches of the 20s, 70s, 80s and 90s for an…

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How to cook the perfect steak with two-time winner of best steak in the world, Dany Karam of Black Bar & Grill

Across Australia this weekend, thousands of barbecues will be lit up on Father’s Day to show appreciation for the paternal figures in our lives. To help you look like a pro and impress at the dining table this weekend, learn the best secrets and tips from two-time winner of best steak in the world chef…

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Ex-Merivale chef leads the charge at Liverpool’s new Macquarie Bistro (Sydney)

Helping refresh and refocus a big player in Liverpool’s dining scene, chef Leigh Mcdivitt (ex-Merivale) has teamed up with Clayton Ries to head the big renewal of the Macquarie Hotel’s bistro. The team have moved on from Collin Fassnidge’s Banksia Bistro to transform the new project into a star dining destination for the greater Western…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Lost Tropics “Charlie’s Van” (2017)

When it comes to local Sydney bands fast making a reputation for themselves as a formidable live band on an as-of-late struggling music scene, Lost Tropics are ones to watch. Out of The Shire, the indie pop group have brought influences ranging from The Strokes to fellow Sydneysiders Sticky Fingers together in producing a sound that…

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Interview: Citizen Kay faces up to and accepts his vulnerabilities on Belly of the Beast

Last week, Citizen Kay released his new album in Belly of the Beast. The first studio album since 2015’s With the People, this has been a record that not even the Canberran was fully aware of during its conception. Created out of a mining of emotions that came spilling out during writing and recording sessions held largely out…

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Sydney Contemporary announces pop-up restaurant and bar programme

Across the Carriageworks multi-art precinct this September, Sydney Contemporary will have a lineup of food and drink menus for the art-loving public to enjoy each day of the fair. Kylie Kwong of Billy Kwong and Mike McEnearney of Kitchen by Mike have been announced as two of the pop-up restaurants to be featured amidst the…

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Newtown Good Food Fair to bring the party to the streets this October (Sydney)

Around 30 stallholders will soon come together to celebrate Newtown’s unique, cultural and eclectic offering of drinks, food and the pub scene. The event returns for its fourth year to showcase the areas community spirit and party vibe. On Sunday the 8th of October guest can expect to relish in the likes of Bloodwood, Bovine…

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The Collaroy acquired by Merivale (Sydney)

Along with Papi Chulo in Manly and The Newport in Pittwater, The Collaroy is now under the ownership of Merivale as they advance their Northern Beaches portfolio. Justin Hemmes, CEO of Merivale, says, “The Collaroy is in a truly spectacular location, with sweeping views of the ocean and sand literally at its door step. This…

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Fratelli Fresh finds new home at Entertainment Quarter (Sydney)

The Entertainment Quarter, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, has welcomed an Italian favourite Fratelli Fresh to join the precinct. Rockpool Dining Group brings this 300-seat indoor-outdoor restaurant to life with an inviting open kitchen and, beer and wine garden. “The Entertainment Quarter is the perfect, convenient location for one of our largest Fratelli Fresh yet,” says…

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Darlinghurst gets a dedicated hot wings bar with cold tinnies (Sydney)

This weekend Sydney is getting a back-alley restaurant dedicated to buffalo wings and ice cold tinnies. Opening August 26th, Wings X Tins will open its doors to serve insane chicken wings and the biggest collection of ice cold tinnies. Wings X Tins is the product of two wing obsessed mates, Anthony MacFarlane & Alfredo Perez,…

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Primus Hotel to open their lush rooftop pool bar to the Sydney public

It’s been their hidden secret since the luxury property opened last year, but now the luxurious Art-Deco Primus Hotel in Sydney CBD has decided to share their New York inspired Level Seven rooftop bar with the wider public. Focused on positioning the urban oasis as a stylish champagne and cocktail destination, the heritage hotel will…

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QT Melbourne’s Pascale Bar switches up their cocktail menu with winter classics (Melbourne)

It’s been almost a year since the last time we first walked through the glossy brass doors of QT Melbourne, and up the sapphire blue stairs to Pascale Bar & Grill. While our last visit focused on the luxurious venue’s food offerings, this time we decided to sample their seasonally updated cocktail menu. Built adjacent…

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Ten-day Orange Wine Festival returns this October (Sydney)

The Orange Wine Festival returns October 13th for ten days to celebrate the regions cool climate wines. The festival will showcase vineyards and cellar doors from the Orange region while also highlighting restaurants and produce form the area. Orange is a three and half hour drive from Sydney located in the Central Wesy of New…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: Gaspar Sanz “Watch You Go” (2017)

Taking a galactic approach, Sydney’s Gaspar Sanz  bring us their new music video for “Watch You Go”. Taken from the band’s self-titled debut EP, the song itself builds on great electronic production, while the guitar and vocals highlight the same type of swag bands like The Delta Riggs inspire. The clip itself screens like an old…

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Fountaineer performs “The Cricketers” live at Young Henrys for the AU Sessions

During out recent catch up with Fountaineer‘s Tony White in Sydney, the songwriter and frontman performed “The Cricketers”, taken from the band’s new album Greater City, Greater Love at Young Henrys. The album is out now and you can find out more about it with our interview with Tony, here. Check out this exclusive AU Sessions performance below!…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Ria Hall ft. Kings “Barely Know” (2017)

New Zealand artist Ria Hall has a profile that is surging upward in her homeland but for many of us over the pond, we’re only just becoming introduced to her music and it’s pretty timely – her debut album, Rules of Engagement, is just around the corner. Hall’s latest single release comes in the tune “Barely Know”;…

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The Best Gifts for Dad in Australia this Father’s Day

Father’s Day fast approaches on Sunday, September 3rd, and those who plan early can often find some of the best gifts around. Make sure you’re not leaving these ones to the last minute, because they are surely going to be the popular gift choices as the big day creeps towards us. From a beer curating…

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Batch Brewing Co.’s Iain McKelvey on running a community minded brewery & producing damn good beer

We at the AU are honoured to have Batch Brewing Co. on board as sponsors for our upcoming 9th Birthday Party in Sydney. Now a staple of the Marrickville scene, we caught up with Iain McKelvey to talk about the origins of the group, running a community minded brewery and producing damn good beer… How did Batch Brewing Co. get…

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The Long Room transforms into The George on Collins

The iconic George building’s basement bar, The Long Room, recently underwent a huge $4million transformation to become The George on Collins. During its 12 years of operation, the bar was a hotspot for after work drinks for many of Melbourne’s young corporate hustlers. But owners Greg Kahan and Simon Jones decided it was due time…

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You can now get meat pie burgers in Melbourne

We’re surprised someone didn’t think of this sooner to be honest. Melbourne’s popular St Kilda Burger Bar (STKBB) are slinging a different kind of burger special to celebrate the AFL finals series, pushing out a very, very ‘Strayan hybrid food that takes the ever-loved burger and mashes it up with a meat pie. Dubbed “The…

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The Australian Winter Road Trip: Byron Bay to Kingscliff (Part Two)

Teaming up with Camplify and Destination NSW, we are discovering the very best winter vibes of Byron Bay and NSW northern coast, tasting the culinary scene, and enjoying the region’s stunning natural landscapes. In the second half of our trip along the east coast (look back on the first half) we plunge into the thriving culture and experience…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Horace Bones “The Rats” (2017)

Horace Bones are fast gaining a reputation for their live shows; vocalist Oisin Kelly emanates a kind of fascinating instability, the band at once formidable and so, so enjoyable. Today, we bring you Horace Bones contained in a recording, an exclusive premiere of their third single for 2017, “The Rats”. Danny Cockburn‘s grinding and gritty bass riffs underlie…

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Interview: Queens of the Stone Age’s Mikey Shoes talks Villains & the hunt for an individual creative authenticity

Only weeks ago, Queens of the Stone Age marked their return to Australian shores with a blistering run of shows that saw the Americans begin to introduce fans to their new album Villains, due for release this Friday. A few hours before their final show in Melbourne took place, I was ushered into artist catering, where bass…

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