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.
Australian icon The Ghan has been roaming Australia’s countryside for decades now, but for the first time ever the train will be leaving on a special epicurean adventure to the world-renowned Clare Valley. Straight from October 8, the single-day itinerary will be a complete food and wine-focused adventure, designed to showcase a new railway journey…
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Smaller producers have been profoundly impacted these past two years as the devastating triple punch of bushfires, Chinese tariffs, and the global pandemic has shaken the local wine industry. I don’t even need to tell you important it is to support your favourite winemakers at a time like this, so the arrival of a new…
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Health-coaching fitness bands have been competing nicely with more specc’d out smartwatches for a few years now, and Whoop has been the main driver of that. It’s then no surprise that the next iteration in the company’s range, Whoop 4.0, is getting plenty of hype thanks to a heavy list of features helping boost value…
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Right now, with relaxed restrictions regarding small outdoor gatherings, Sydneysiders have one thing on their mind. Picnics. And some of the city’s best restaurants are moving quickly to adapt, introducing picnic hampers, having bake sales, and putting together produce to make picnic planning that much easier. Although not much can rival getting produce direct from…
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With Shane Delia’s recently launched Providoor Sydney has been going off lately, locked-down Sydneysiders have been getting used to getting food boxes delivered from some of the city’s best restaurants. Pre-proportioned ingredients are all ready to cook up into a hearty, restaurant-quality meal. It was only a matter of time before other restaurants hopped onto…
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It’s hard to see how JBL could have arrived at a better design for the latest in their tiny JBL Clip series. The JBL Clip 4 looks infinitely more attractive than its preceding models – a petite oval speaker with a fabric grille all over it, attached to a built-in carabiner that can hook onto…
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Arlo’s Essential series has completely redefined the reliable smart home security brand. I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the balance of price and performance with devices like the Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera and Arlo Essential Doorbell. It’s no surprise that the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera continues the series’ dominance over the category, offering a lot…
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The convenience, and now safety, of having stuff delivered straight to your door has been one of the major things helping us get through health-mandated lockdowns since March of last year. And if anything, it’s also exposed just how flawed and backed up a lot of these systems are. Ordering from Coles and Woolies online…
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Consuming alcohol might help slow the brain down and shed a bit of that lockdown anxiety, which explains why alcohol brands have been making bank this year, but rarely does drinking one come with the knowledge that you’re also making a positive impact on the world. C.A.N is out to change that. Australia’s newest vodka…
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The Sonos Beam may hold court when it comes to budget-friendly, compact soundbars but Bose has emerged with a solid competitor that, in many ways, is one of the best. That’s no surprise really; Bose has always been impressive when it comes to packing audio prowess into more than just traditional Bluetooth speakers and headphones….
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You know what’s coming around this Sunday 5th September, and by now you should know what kind of last-minute gift you want to pick up for the old man. Yep, Father’s Day is going to be an important one this year. If he’s like most people in Australia right now, Dad is locking down amongst…
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Sennheiser’s pedigree when it comes to superior sound cannot be denied. Their Momentum 2 earbuds are still some of the best on the market, despite being released a few years ago. They’ve since started playing around on the lower end of the price spectrum, attempting to provide value that stretches beyond the price point. The…
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JBL’s Charge series has always justified popularity, and no more was that true than for the Charge 4. It’s still one of my favourite portable, durable speakers to take on a short trip away. The Charge 5 is a meaningful improvement over its processor, edging that out and reiterating JBL as a company that really…
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The creator of the 2020 Olympic/Paralympic centrepiece is building stylish public toilets and looking at the city like a cat. With the Olympics and Paralympics proving a welcome distraction from the current issues impacting our daily lives right now, Kengo Kuma, is a man you should know. He’s the Japanese architectural icon behind the Japan…
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For many Aussies this year, Father’s Day will be spent in lockdown. And while that’s unfortunate, there’s still plenty you can do to make your dad, or dad figure, feel like a billion bucks on Sunday 5th September. If you’re in Sydney CBD, you should definitely be ordering up one of those Man Tea boxes…
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The modern smart home has plenty of essentials. A smart security system, maybe a few voice assistant enabled speakers, some smart lighting for the backyard, and app-connected kitchenware. Although perhaps none has become more of a must-have than a good, high-end robot vacuum cleaner. The technology behind these nifty little things has come a long…
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With wellness tech steadily growing and getting stronger as a sector, there are many choices on the market for those seeking premium massage guns to help with muscle recovery, relaxation, and improve circulation. In the past few years, the demand for these massage guns have skyrocketed. There’s a few choices out there, but the general…
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Modern thinking has long aligned furniture and home design with wellness, and with work-from-home becoming a better established approach to daily life it’s important to look at the ways we can design our spaces to better complement stress reduction, mindfulness, and an overall feeling of wellbeing. Koala slots into that mentality nicely, seeing as it…
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I love personal air conditioning. I know that’s a strange thing to say, but ever since owning the Dyson Pure Cool Me, a portable air conditioner that selfishly focuses on me has become a summer essential. Can Close Comfort’s Cool Focus compete? It definitely tries too, and does a bang up job doing so, offering…
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Let’s be blunt here. LG isn’t the first brand that comes to mind when you think of the hyper-competitive market for true wireless earbuds. Personal audio is always going to be a fiercely competitive scene, but dominators Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Apple, Samsung, and JBL are always going to come out on top. That’s not to…
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There are plenty of kitchen gadgets on the market if you’re after quick and easy slow-cooked meals which require very little effort. Always has, always will be. But there’s something uniquely satisfying about Zega Intelligent Cookware and their nifty little (little in effort, medium in size) app-enabled pot – the currently $199 Zega Digital. For…
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JBL entered the soundbar game a few years ago, but their output to date has invariably paled in comparison to the likes of Sonos, Sennheiser, and Bose. The JBL Multibeam 5.0 is a swift, impressive change to that, bringing the notoriously party-minded audio brand and shaping it nicely for a home cinema experience. The Dolby…
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Father’s Day is right around the corner, coming at you on Sunday 5th September. Old man itching to get out? Where are you going to… oh. Wait. If you’re in Sydney right now you don’t many options because, you know. And while there is a small possibility of easing some restrictions for anyone fully vaccinated…
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Sydney being in lockdown doesn’t mean locals can’t experience their favourite restaurants. In the past few weeks the state has already seen the launch of Melbourne-born service Providoor as well as a healthy selection of Sydney lockdown takeaway options. One new service adding greatly to that is ChefPrep, a new online marketplace that has partnered…
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With Aussies itching for the day when international borders finally open up, hopeful planning is one of the best things to do right now. Money will most definitely be an issue once that day comes, so being on the lookout for competitions, like this new one run by Flight Centre Australia, is a wise move…
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Michelin starred chef Heston Blumenthal has come on board to help Grill’d pick up their increasingly impressive plant-based game. Using Fable, a mushroom-based meat, Heston has helped create four new burgers in a bid to add to the chain’s already stacked offering, which in the past few years has been fast moving towards redefining fast-casual…
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Looking to switch up that shopping cart? Every so often the AU will be looking to 5 quick news bites we think Aussies should be across, whether that’s something as small as a new supermarket essential or a city-specific needt-to-know to keep you eating you eating well each day of the week. Kit Kat Teams…
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Can a Nespresso machine be any easier to use in 2021? Although the Nestle has a seemingly endless collection of models now, it’s hard to imagine how they could make a more straight-forward coffee machine than they have in the past. Pop a pod in and you’ll be typically rewarded with an excellent, velvety smooth…
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Australian made, female founded company NORT Beer has pushed forward with a world’s first, launching a non-alcoholic Pacific Ale in a substantial move for the low-to-no alcohol movement that has swept the industry over the past few years. NORT is already well known throughout Australia as a locally-brewed 100% crafted non-alcoholic beer, so it’s not…
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TCL have completed their high-value mid-range line with the recent released of the TCL 20+ smartphone. Given TCL Electronics make some of the best TVs on the market, not only does phone have a large 6.67″ HD+ screen that’s clear and crisp, but also sports a range of features making it an incredibly slick Android…
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