Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.
After a successful debut in 2022, three-day Gold Coast festival Promiseland is back. And not only that, but it’s dropped what may one of the most surprising and exciting line ups of the year. This comes after weeks of serious chatter in the music industry about the future of broad-spectrum music festivals such as Splendour…
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Smartwatches still have a long way to go as a category and taking a more hybrid approach is the right way forward when it comes to mass adoption. As such, Withings is leading the charge when it comes to a device untethered to any one ecosystem (like Apple and Samsung). This puts the ScanWatch 2…
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Having to recharge a battery on a security camera is a pain. It’s always a pain. I’ve tested so many of these products over the years and will always prefer a wired connection simply because having wireless is just not worth the extra effort. I’m a forgetful person. Most people are forgetful people. It’s not…
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When it comes to the hyper-competitive market for truly wireless earbuds, there are three brands I think do it better than anyone else in the game. Sony, Jabra, and Sennheiser. All have their strengths (and weaknesses). Sony is the best when it comes to processing and noise cancelling, Jabra own it when it comes to…
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Welcome to AU Favourites, a new monthly column where our writers highlight several things they’ve been loving lately. Whether it’s a good read, new tech product, or even a piece of furniture. We’re lucky enough to go hands on with a lot of things across the many areas that we cover on this website. We…
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Each year, James Beard hands me some fresh FOMO on a silver platter. The USA’s most prestigious culinary institution works similar to Michelin but is generally broader in criteria. In the past, I’ve been much more satisfied with something that’s been James Beard-approved rather than just Michelin-approved. Now, that’s not to say Michelin isn’t reliable,…
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Splendour in the Grass, which was scheduled to take place at North Byron Parklands from July 19th to July 21st, has been cancelled. Yes, not postponed. Cancelled. It’s been a wild few years for Australia’s most iconic multi-day festival, from pandemic delays to mudslides. Plus, there was a whopping 30% decline in attendance last year….
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Yep, WFH is still a thing and we’re constantly having to design our own work station so we can be as efficient as possible. One of the keys to this is a good laptop stand, so we got in touch with our mates at TwelveSouth and figured we’d do a little reader giveaway. We’ve for…
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Have you tried the new menu at Jana? Picked through the fresh seafood at Thermidor, had a nightcap at Vecina, or experienced the just-as-good-as-Totti’s offering at Alfies? If you’ve eaten your way around Sydney’s big-ticket restaurants, it’s time to get the drive on up to Newcastle. Because this sunny seaside town, fast climbing the ranks…
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Dreaming of an island vacation? Fiji Airways has stepped in to make that dream a much more affordable reality with its latest flight sale, cutting airfares on services between Australia, Fiji and the rest of the Pacific from now through to next year. Jump on the sale now and you could score a flight from…
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I’m staring up at the 67-metre tall Al Wasl Plaza as elaborate video works slide across the steelwork panels; a call to Prayer echoes through the air. The structure, which designers Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture revealed for Expo 2020 Dubai, is the perfect centrepiece for Dhabi Dubai. This small-scale light and arts festival…
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We live in a world where cynicism is constantly mistaken for wisdom or rationality. No one really cares when you tell your own story, unless they can see themselves in it. The best storytellers know this, which is why they’re adept at creating art that is relentlessly human. This is what separates a truly great…
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Since 1990, G Adventures has been leading people around the world as one of the biggest tour operators in the travel industry. From National Geographic itineraries across the Galapagos Islands, to wildlife tours in Madagascar, this company has kept an adventurous spirit for decades. And continues to find new ways to open up the world,…
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Welcome to AU Favourites, a new monthly column where our writers highlight 5 things they’ve been loving lately. Whether it’s a good read, new tech product, or even a piece of furniture. We’re lucky enough to go hands on with a lot of things across the many areas that we cover on this website. We…
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A new design-forward hotel brand is set for Australia and New Zealand, initially opening properties in Christchurch and Byron Bay. Drifter, a unique hybrid hotel concept, will add a unique lifestyle brand to these frequently visited locales, with plans to grow steadily with two more properties earmarked for 2025. Drifter Byron Bay and Drifter Christchurch…
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When it comes flight prices, it’s all about competition. The more airlines flying in and out of a country, the better it is – for your budget at least. It’s a big deal when a major airline makes its debut in any market for the first time, and so one of the biggest news stories…
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I just don’t think I’m an island person. Throw me into a warehouse rave in New York City and I’ll thrive. Take me driving through the dizzying hills of Tuscany and I’m good. Tell me about “island time,” however, and I’ll let out an audible groan. I’m not a patient person when I’m travelling. So…
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There’s no point throughout Sampha’s generously paced, highly detailed performance at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion where it feels like the UK singer has made any sort of mistake or taken a wrong turn. From the smart lighting to the composition of his achingly vulnerable songs, the man demonstrated exactly why he has emerged as one of…
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Scheduled for the tail-end of March, Souled Out by Whatslively will visit Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Perth with a solid line-up of on-trend R&B acts. I’ve typed similar sentences many times over the past decade, and I’ve watched sadly as R&B-flavoured festivals folded. Soulfest is the most obvious one, and slow ticket sales in…
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You knew it was coming. And yes, megastar DJ and not-Taylor-Swift Fred Again didn’t just fly to Sydney to play one show. Last night Fred again.. made history at the Sydney Opera House – becoming the first-ever artist to announce, sell out, and perform at the iconic venue, all within 24 hours. Announced on Instagram…
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After seven mammoth nights in Australia – three in Melbourne, followed by four in Sydney – Taylor Swift has officially ended her the down under leg of her Eras Tour. And with it, she’s debuted a whole lot of exclusive mashups that have been the envy of fans worldwide. While Aussies usually draw the short…
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Chug, Chug, Chug! The prevailing chant of The Eric Andre Show Live as the famed absurdist comic brought his touring live show to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion this past weekend. Andre is right. Aussies love chugging things. And so each and every guest – singer Donny Benet, comedian Nikki Osbourne, and a few audience members –…
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Ergonomics still counts for a lot when it comes to working. Your desk is your sanctuary when you’re working, and decluttering is one of the top productivity hacks that is consistent throughout contexts. A messy desk is a chaotic mind, and a chaotic mind is one with endless distractions. That’s why it always pays to…
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In some of the world’s greatest cities, such as New York and Tokyo, locals heading to hotels to eat and drink well is a thing. It’s a big thing. From Dowling’s in The Carlyle (NYC) to Nadaman in Shangri-La (Tokyo), some of the best meals I’ve had overseas have been in hotels. Sydney has always…
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It’s not weak to admit that you lack motivation right now. Yes, sure, social media and toxic positivity have made it so we feel instantly ashamed and overwhelmed when we aren’t operating at our peak. But that’s largely bullshit. Identifying that you need a push, and then seeking that push – even if it takes…
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Sydneysiders, I know what’s on your mind when you book into The Gidley’s moody bar area. You want that superlative signature burger. You know, the one with such a strong cult following that the popular steakhouse sells around 500 of them each week. That winning combination hasn’t changed over the years. A classic bun with…
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Qantas has launched its popular double status credits offer today so you can each elite status much quicker in 2024. The promotion is the airline’s most popular year-on-year with many Qantas Frequent Flyers waiting patiently for the airline to launch the generous offer before they start planning their travel. It’s a smart way to fly…
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While Koala are still renowned for being the mattress-in-a-box brand in Australia, many still forget that the business is steadily growing into a bit of a one-stop-shop for simple, neutral furniture that straddles the line between affordability and quality. Much has been said about Koala’s exceptional service, transparent delivery and quality builds. And since we’ve…
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Remember when Devon Cafe and Three William Street were helping Sydney compete quite fiercely with Melbourne’s famously progressive cafe scene? All of the sudden laneway bars started to pop up over the city to take care of the night owls (at least until the lockout-law-mandated-cessation-of-service). But by day, these increasingly creative cities were taken good…
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Hobart is the most underrated capital city in Australia. There’s no question. Direct access to some of the country’s finest produce has given the city’s dining scene a standard to rival the world’s greatest food cities. It’s small, walkable and incredibly relaxing. And Hobart also plays host to some of the most interesting and exciting…
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