Big Appetite? Visit the Sydney International Food Festival

After months of brisk winter weather, Sydney welcomes spring with open arms throughout the month of October by hosting the internationally acclaimed Crave Food Festival- the perfect dawn on a summer season ready to rise over Australia's biggest city. According to DialAFlight, one of the UK's leading travel operators, there's still time to book cheap flights to Sydney and join in the festivities- however you'll have to hurry.

Always popular within the local community and visiting tourists alike, the festival annually draws thousands of food lovers to its vast range of stalls, bars and specially organised events. This year's festival has so far lived up to its high expectations, with hundreds of extraordinary food events taking place across much of Sydney and the wider New South Wales region.

But there's still so much more to come- and great restaurant offers available too.

The most popular events at the festival are the night noodle markets- held weeknights from 5pm to 9pm. Here thousands congregate amongst dozens of fabulous food stands to taste different delicacies from around the globe. From the hot spices of India to classic sausage and mashed potato in the UK, the festival proudly provides an extensive range of cuisines fit for every tummy.

New for the 2011 festival: Breakfast on Bondi will see thousands hit Sydney's most famous beach, early at dawn on Sunday 23rd October, to celebrate..... eating breakfast. This 'bring your own breakfast' picnic event will host live orchestral music besides the waterfront and include food markets and appearances from guest celebrity chefs too.

With the gloomy British winter weather looming ever nearer, there's no better time to book a flight down-under and visit one of the world's most popular food festivals in one of the world's most famous cities.

Shows Australia: Madonna To Tour Australia

Madonna will tour Australia in April, 2012 according to a leaked Live Nation document.

Live Nation is the touring company Madonna signed with after leaving Warner Music.

Fansite drownedmadonna.com published a scan of the document. It include the following dates:

April 5, Sydney, ANZ Stadium
April 12, Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium
April 15, Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
April 18, Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
April 24, Perth, Patersons Stadium

According to the document Madonna will also play Auckland, New Zealand on March 31, 2012.

Madonna has only toured Australia once before. She was last here in 1995 for The Girlie Tour

Shows Australia: Madonna To Tour Australia

Australia to Renew Focus on Indian and Chinese Middle Class Tourists

Australia is set to renew its focus on wooing the cash rich middle class population of India and China at the Australian Tourism Directions conference in Canberra. According to a PTI report, the conference, to be held from tomorrow, will also analyse the progress of plans to double overnight visitor spending to USD 140 billion by 2020.

“Now more than ever we need to remain focused on the big picture improvements that can enhance the long-term competitiveness of the sector,” said Martin Ferguson, Federal Tourism Minister, Government of Australia. He added that the conference will renew the industry's focus on Asia and the rise of China as Australia's most valuable tourism market.

“It will also examine the need for more and better hotel accommodation, for higher investment in destinations and for increasing aviation capacity,” Ferguson said. Andrew McEvoy, Head, Tourism Australia will discuss the challenges of ensuring that Australia creates a long lasting appeal to global travellers.

A new report released by Tourism Research Australia has revealed that tourism's total contribution to the Australian economy in 2009/10 was USD 71.7 billion, or around 5.6 per cent of GDP.

Darling Quarter set to open in September

Sydneysiders and tourists will soon be able to enjoy the new Darling Quarter precinct in Darling Harbour as the eagerly anticipated project prepares to officially open on Saturday 24 September.

A Lend Lease and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority partnership, the precinct will be presented to the public in an opening day ceremony emceed by James Kerley and featuring kids’ favourites Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star, live Nickelodeon Slime Time shows, Lah Lah Live, and a 2DayFM live cross.

As well as providing an “eclectic mix” of new dining options for grownups, the precinct will introduce a new 4,000 square metre playground for children, the biggest in the Sydney CBD area, according to Lend Lease.

Additionally, from December, an urban light installation at Commonwealth Bank Place will become interactive for all visitors of the precinct, affording the public an opportunity to “direct” their own light performance on a large ‘vertical stage’.

Lend Lease says the Darling Quarter will continue to evolve after its initial presentation with a programme of events already planned from September onwards.

(Source: eTravelblackboard, September 2011)

Melbourne Tourism News: Tiger Airways Resumes Services With Flights Between Melbourne and Sydney

Tiger Airways Australia has resumed domestic services with the return of flights between Melbourne Airport and Sydney.

Following the reinstatement of Tiger's Air Operator's Certificate by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the airline will now focus on reassuring the Australian public that safety is the airline's highest priority, whilst providing Australia’s most affordable airfares along with an enhanced focus on reliability.

Melbourne Tourism News: Tiger Airways Resumes Services With Flights Between Melbourne and Sydney

Barangaroo Hotel Axed? Sydney Hotel News

The luxury hotel to be built over Sydney Harbour as part of the $6 billion Barangaroo project is doomed after a review of the development ordered by the state government.



The findings of the review into Barangaroo, which will be considered by cabinet today, include a recommendation that the developer Lend Lease be urged to move the hotel to another part of the Barangaroo site as a ''demonstration of goodwill''. The landmark hotel, a cornerstone financial project, was not part of the original concept plan for Barangaroo but was included in Lend Lease's amendment in August last year.



A decision to locate the hotel over the harbour should be reviewed according to the report. ''It is the view of this review that the decision to select Lend Lease's non-conforming bid with the hotel in the harbour was consistent with good commercial practice and probity guidelines,'' the report says. ''But it looked and felt like an ambush to a number of those who had invested in the process leading up to the concept plan.”



The hotel, Sydney's first international premium hotel for more than a decade, was described by Lend Lease as being integral to the vibrancy of Barangaroo.

Sydney Named ‘Most Efficient Airport’

Sydney Airport has welcomed a four percent increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the first six months ending 30 June 2011.

The $381.8 million in earnings was lead by the 1.9 percent increase in traffic growth for the period, despite natural disasters disrupting the first and second quarters of the year.

Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said the outstanding performance for the first six months was recognised by the Air Transport Research Society, which named Sydney Airport the most efficient airport in the Oceania region as part of a global airport performance benchmarking and excellence awards.

“I am delighted to have commenced in my new role as managing director and chief executive officer of Sydney Airport. I look forward to working with our valued airline partners to deliver the products and services they need to serve their passengers and ensure Sydney Airport continues to be Australia’s premier gateway,” Ms Mather added.

The total revenue from all areas of the business increased by 4.4 per cent over the previous corresponding period (pcp) to A$472.4million, this was assisted by the domestic capacity additions by Jetstar, the commencement of wide-body A330-200 services to Perth by Virgin Australia, and the upgrade of six weekly services to Perth with B747-400 aircraft by Qanats.

(Source: eTravelblackboard, 21st July 2011)

Sydney Number One in Lonely Planet Guide

Sydney strides in at number one, ahead of the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree and Melbourne, in the 20 Top Experiences of East Coast Australia in the new 4th edition of Lonely Planet's East Coast Australia guide book.

The 4th edition provides all one would expect from Lonely Planet - including detailed destination guides with insider tips, maps and in-depth reviews of the East Coast's best attractions, accommodation, events and travel experiences.

Byron Bay, The Blue Mountains, Montague Island and the Hunter Valley join Sydney in the 20 Top Experiences of East Coast Australia and Sydney's nightlife receives a special mention in the top 20 list, which references the "mix of stylish lounges, buzzing nightclubs, old fashioned pubs and indie rock bars" that make Sydney the nation's nightlife and entertainment capital.

(Source: Insights, 20th July 2011)

Ash Costing Tourism $10m a Day: Industry

The volcanic ash cloud over the eastern parts of Australia is costing the tourism sector more than $10 million a day, an industry group says.

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive John Lee said the return of the ash cloud was causing havoc across the country, after the major airlines suspended services in and out of the key hubs of Sydney and Melbourne.

"Our estimate for the wider tourism industry along the east coast and bottom part of Australia, the daily impact will be over $10 million," Mr Lee said on Tuesday.

He said tourism operators and those working in the aviation industry would be most affected.

"This has been a very, very tough year for the tourism industry," Mr Lee said.

"This is nearly the straw that will break the camel's back for this industry."

Mr Lee said service cancellations would not only affect domestic markets but also major international markets in China, the USA and the UK.

"For the wider tourism industry, we understand (there will be) over $10 million in costs for losses each day this continues," he told reporters at Sydney Airport.

"These costs will increase."

A Qantas spokeswoman said earlier on Tuesday the delays were "serious" but the airline did not yet have a figure on costs.

Virgin Australia, Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger all cancelled flights around Australia on Tuesday and some international services due to the risks posed by the ash cloud.

The airlines have also warned more flights will be cancelled on Wednesday, particularly at the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra ports.

The ash cloud from Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano caused six days of disruptions last week as the plume made its way over Australian and New Zealand airspace.

Warm Up This Winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Treat yourself and your partner or friend to an indulgent break, and unwind this winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt in the heart of Sydney.

As an added bonus during winter, Metro Hotel on Pitt is offering every guest that checks in a complimentary hot drink* from the hotel restaurant. This includes your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and mashmallows, and is valid from July 1 – August 31, 2001.

Whether visiting Sydney to see a show, enjoy a dinner, attend a sporting event or simply to enjoy an overnight stay in a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Metro Hotel on Pitt, is an ideal, affordable accommodation choice for business and leisure visitors to the city.

Warm Up This Winter at Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

Sydney Airport Passenger Numbers up in May

PASSENGER traffic at Sydney Airport in May was up 4.2 per cent on the same month last year, with particular growth in international travel.

The airport's majority owner MAp Group said today the number of international travellers that used Sydney airport in May was 853,000, up 7.8 per cent on May 2010.

Domestic passengers totalled 1.96 million, up three per cent on the previous corresponding period.

MAp said international traffic increased as a result of continued growth in the number of Australians travelling abroad, plus more travellers to Australia from markets including China, Malaysia and Thailand.

Passenger traffic at MAp's other airports in Europe also rose in May, the company said.

Mick Fanning and Sally Fitzgibbons amongst expected starters for world surfing tour event at Manly

Sydney will host a major lead-in event to next year's world surfing tour with a bumper $500,000 contest to be held at Manly Beach.



The inaugural Australian Open of Surfing will run from February 11-19, and will include Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) six-star events for men and women.

Two-time world champ Mick Fanning said the event would be a good warm-up for next year's ASP tour opener on the Gold Coast in February-March.

"I've been going to the US Open for years and the job they do over there makes the athletes feel super special," he said.

"So I think this event will be on my radar ... it's a good lead-up event to the world tour."

The Australian Open will also absorb the final event of the world junior championship, which will move from from its traditional home at Narrabeen.

The event will be open to all world-ranked professional surfers, with big names Fanning and Sally Fitzgibbons all likely starters.

The Mars Volta - Show Dates for Sydney

If your idea of a good time is having your mind blown by a relentless force of psychy/prog guitar freak outs and a frenetic lights-and-lasers eye blast, then get stoked because El Paso rock prodigies The Mars Volta have unveiled three headlining performances on the side of their appearance at Splendour In The Grass in late July.

Fronted by founding members guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala over the last ten years the band's epic live show has become the stuff of legends. If you're a fan of the band don't miss your chance to catch them. (Unless you live in Brisbane; because if that's the case you aren't getting any Splendour In The Grass side shows??)

Mars Volta tour dates:
Wednesday 3rd August – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 5th August – The Barton Theatre, Adelaide
Sunday 7th August – Palace Theatre, Melbourne

More Info

Find Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels

Become a Sydney Local in a Day!

My Sydney Detour is the first tour company to offer a unique chauffeur driven, guided tour of Sydney in a classic Australian luxury vehicle; the ‘air conditioned’ 1964 EH Holden Premier, that connects travellers with everyday Australians.

“Sydney tourism has changed forever” says Richard Graham, the 28-year-old entrepreneur that has spent the last two and a half years working on this unique tourism concept, “travellers can now access a side of Sydney they never knew existed; visit local art galleries and amazing modern residential architecture, take an insiders look at our cafe culture, walk along our breathtaking rugged coastline and feel what it is like to sink their toes in the sand of our pristine harbour side beaches, all in an unforgettable Detour around Sydney!”

On offer are 2-Hour, 3-Hour, 5-Hour and 10-Hour Detours and are ideal for filling in time before a flight, to a full day ultimate experience that takes you deep into our Australian bush by boat.

Also included; professional photography, all food and drinks, accredited tour vehicle, personal travel insurance, entry fees and a personalised photo book for our 5-hour and 10-Hour Detours.

There is a maximum of three people per Detour, with prices starting from $193 per person.

No other tour that guarantees such a comprehensive, genuine and authentic in-depth look into Sydney.

(Source: Travmedia.com 19th May 2011)

STEELY DAN & STEVE WINWOOD in Sydney - Tuesday 25 october - 6pm

After dazzling audiences with their first ever Australian tour back in 2007, jazz rock icons STEELY DAN are returning for an encore tour with music legend STEVE WINWOOD.

The Sydney Entertainment Centre is pleased to offer a very special package for this one-off event, a Dinner & Show Package which includes a delicious and freshly prepared 3 course meal catered by our Executive Chef. This VIP event gives you exclusive access and use of a private function room featuring live music entertainment. Also included is a beer, wine and soft drink package, souvenir lanyard, along with your GOLD ticket for $265.00 per person!

Metro Hotels offer various nearby accommmodation options

Professional Bull Riders Sydney Invitational

This is NOT a rodeo. This is the one and only Professional Bull Riders - 100% Bull Riding ACTION from go to WHOA!

What to Expect:

Three hours of dazzling bull riding drama on the dirt, featuring 14 Australian and 8 international PBR champions.

Bucking up a storm of unadulterated pure brute, Australia's bovine thugs brawl fiercely against the bull riding gladiators atop their monster backs.

Eight seconds is all they have to last, but it's the longest eight seconds you'll ever experience - every ride could be their last!

22 bull riders, 52 buck outs, and a night you'll never forget.

See what you won't see anywhere else: the fastest-paced, colossally adrenalin-pumped action that pits man against beast in the toughest sport on earth!

Purchase tickets from www.ticketek.com.au or 132849


WHEN: 4 Jun 2011, 7:30PM - 10:30PM

Acer Arena: Sydney Olympic Park Olympic Boulevard (cnr Edwin Flack Ave), Homebush Bay, NSW, 2127

Buy Tickets: http://www.ticketek.com.au or 132849

Find Sydney Accommodation

Mechanical Symphony to Scare off Opera House's 22,000 Unwanted Neighbors

Often found roosting together, hanging upside down by one foot from outstretched tree branches, the furry, gray-headed flying foxes are a popular attraction at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.

But soon the endangered species -- also known as fruit bats -- will no longer be able to call the Opera House’s 30-hectare back garden home.

Despite a last-ditch legal bid from animal welfare groups to allow the flying foxes to roost in peace, the Federal Court recently upheld the federal government’s approval for the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust to begin evicting the bats.

In May, the flying foxes will be blasted with the recorded sounds of chainsaws and tractors for 10 minutes every hour. The goal: to disrupt the bats' sleep and force them to move away from their harbor-side nests to alternative daytime roosts.

The Trust argues the colony of some 22,000 flying foxes is destroying historic trees and plants. So far, it says, they have killed 30 palms and 28 mature trees –- including a rare, 153-year-old Kauri Pine -- and damaged 300 more.

If the flying foxes are not relocated, it warns, more heritage trees and palms would be threatened and the area may be closed down for health and safety reasons.

The court's approval comes with conditions: the operation must be supervised by an independent group of observers, and it can only be carried out until July to avoid interrupting the bats' mating season.

“The relocation is planned to be a win-win for the flying foxes and the Royal Botanic Garden,” says the Trust’s executive director, Dr. Brett Summerell.

Dr. Summerell insists the flying foxes will relocate to familiar areas away from homes –- including one existing camp at Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve. Residents and farmers will not be affected, he says.

“We will be conducting extensive monitoring of the flying foxes' movements and have procedures in place in an effort to prevent them from settling in unacceptable locations,” Dr. Summerell says. “We’re conducting the most extensive scientific research study ever on this threatened species, contributing to conservation work to protect them.”

Read more: Opera House's bats get moved along | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/sydney-opera-houses-neighbours-22000-bats-be-evicted-962070#ixzz1KlzIZK90

Justin Bieber v Bob Dylan: Has the Biebs got what it takes to take out the Master?

ONE is lionised as the songwriter of his generation while the other faces the challenge of keeping a generation of fans after they grow up.

Both the master Bob Dylan and the apprentice Justin Bieber will inspire fanatic devotion among their many admirers when they perform in Sydney this week.

Fresh from his acclaimed sets at the annual Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Dylan performs two concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre from tonight while Bieber will stage a two-night stand at Acer Arena from tomorrow.

While Dylan's Baby Boomer fans may express their adulation with vigorous cheering and applause, you can count on your ears ringing from the piercing screams that will greet Bieber's every move.

Bieber fever shocked Sydney a year ago when thousands of hysterical tweens and teens unexpectedly arrived at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for a television appearance and later caused mayhem at Sunrise's Martin Place studios where police cancelled a show for safety reasons.

Since then, armed with a debut record My World 2.0 Bieber has become as much a social media star as he has a chart-topper - his fans have downloaded more than 24 million singles and his YouTube videos have been viewed at least 1.5 billion times.

Like Lady Gaga, he is rewriting the pop rule book and knows a few daily Twitter or Facebook updates have more power to keep the fan fires burning than radio playing his breakthrough hit Baby three times a day.

"AUSTRALIA ... we are coming ... and there might be some surprises," he posted at the weekend with a link to his song Next 2 You featuring Chris Brown, also touring Australia.

Some fans have even coerced their parents into spruiking for hotel rooms to get closer to Bieber as well as for tickets which range from $95 to $285 for the Bieber Fever Ultimate VIP package.

Dylan fans also paid $95 for their Sydney Entertainment Centre cheap seats, with the front rows costing just $175 to see a living legend perform classics including Like A Rolling Stone, A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall and Tangled Up In Blue.

Of course their extras for the evening will include dinner and drinks. The Beliebers will buy T-shirts, iPod skins, dog tags, towels, bracelets, tracksuit pants and a teddy bear.

Baby face v Baby boomer

Justin Bieber

- AGE: 17

- ALBUMS: One studio album, two remix collections and one compilation

- CAREER: Signed to Island records in 2008 after discovered on YouTube

- SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Disney "It girl" Selena Gomez

- Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People 2011

- MENTOR: Usher

- SOCIAL MEDIA: 9,141,770 Twitter followers; 25,986,403 people like him on Facebook

- AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: Seven concerts

Bob Dylan

- AGE: 69

- ALBUMS: 34 studio albums plus live and compilation recordings

- CAREER: Signed to Columbia Records in 1961

- SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: Two ex-wives and six children

- Named one of Time's 100 Most Important People of the Century

- MENTOR: Woody Guthrie

- SOCIAL MEDIA: 42,275 Twitter followers; 2,376,779 people like him on Facebook

- AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: Nine concerts

Mary Poppins Takes Off

When casting began in Australia, Hunt-Ballard was performing in Jersey Boys, playing Frankie Valli's lover.

``I loved being in the show and I'm a loyal employee,'' she says. Months later, however, after hearing the producers were still having trouble finding their leading lady, her agent suggested she audition.

The creative team was back in Europe, working on the Dutch production, so Hunt-Ballard auditioned for their assistants, who sent a video of her to producer Cameron Mackintosh in London.

``She's marvellous,'' says Mackintosh. ``When I went to Australia for the auditions, I didn't see anyone who was unique in their own right.

``I saw many talented people, but a lot of them had been doing pop musicals like Wicked, which is a different kind of singing and playing -- really `big' rather than the very precise way of acting and singing and the other-worldly quality Mary needs.

``I saw (Verity's audition tape) and thought: `This girl's got something.' So I said: `Let's fly her to Amsterdam' we were doing Mary Poppins there and when we saw her, we knew we'd found someone very, very special. Thank God!''

After a sell-out season in Melbourne, Mary Poppins is previewing in Sydney ahead of its red-carpet opening on May 5.

``I'm so excited to be opening it in Sydney,'' says Hunt-Ballard, 29, who won rave reviews in Melbourne.

Asked if she ever shudders at how close she came to not auditioning, she smiles serenely.

``As I get older, I think more and more that we don't have too much control over what's going on, and you're swept on the wind -- as Mary Poppins is.

``I worked very hard to establish a career, and have been working professionally for 10 years, but I'm very grateful a role has come along that extends my particular skills.

``One of the great challenges is that Mary Poppins is not of this earth. Because she's practically perfect, everything she does needs to look effortless -- and that's a huge challenge when you're singing, dancing and acting as well as having to wear a corset.

``The costume is quite heavy too, so it takes a lot of stamina.''

Composer George Stiles, who co-wrote the new songs for the show with lyricist Anthony Drewe, says: ``Verity is stellar. She's quite simply one of the best there's ever been.''

``She's very witty,'' says Drewe. ``Some girls play it too stern and some are too soft, but Verity has really nailed it.''

View the Metro Hotel Sydney Central Mary Poppins Accommodation Package

Katy Perry Set to Play the Logies

THE list of nominees for this year's Logie Awards is pretty bland, but we can reveal that at least the night will start with a bang.
Katy Perry is confirmed to open the awards ceremony at Melbourne's Crown Casino complex on May 1, performing her chart-topping hit Firework.

Perry will be in Australia as part of her California Dreams World Tour, with sold-out performances at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on May 4 and 14.

Classical music superstar Andre Rieu is tipped to attend the Logies, with 'tween heartthrob Justin Bieber also in Australia.

Shane Bourne will be the host, and awards will be presented by Chris Lilley, Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Murdoch, Lisa McCune, Deborah Mailman, Shane Jacobson and Megan Gale.

Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels