Travel & Lifestyle

Hotel Review: Dream Downtown Hotel – New York City

Located between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District on the West side of Manhattan in what was once the National Maritime Union headquarters, a building sticks out with a unique design – like a cruise ship sitting amongst the concrete waters of New York City. This is the home of the not-so-inconspicuous, hip boutique hotel Dream…

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Seven reasons why we can't wait for the Calgary Stampede

With history and tradition that stems back to the late 1800s, the Calgary Stampede is one of the world’s longest running events. Part rodeo, part exhibition, part Easter Show-esque carnival, part music festival, the Stampede kicked off in Calgary, Alberta, Canada today, starting an impressive ten day event that will bring in over a million…

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Eating with the AU: Grill’d Nourish & Flourish Burger launch with nutritionist Lola Berry

Grill’d Ambassador Lola Berry with celebrity personal trainer Dan Adair There’s nothing like a good burger, one that barely fits in your mitts or your mouth, the crunch of fresh ingredients and soft bun giving way as you bite into it, catching driblets of juicy goodness before they stain your shirt. Yep, there are a…

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Five places to enjoy your evenings in San Antonio, Texas

After you survive the day in San Antonio you can read about my day HERE, then it’s time to head out on the town for the evening. There are a myriad of options in the city, and if you know where to look there’s even quite a lot of what you don’t expect. And while…

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Flight Review: Air Canada – Los Angeles to Toronto (AC786)

We continue our Flight Review series, this time flying from Los Angeles to Toronto via Air Canada. Click through to check out Editor Larry Heath’s service review, covering everything from in-flight entertainment and meals to comfort and hot tips for traveling… Airline: Air Canada Route: Los Angeles to Toronto (Pearson International) Seat: 26D (Aisle in…

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A Day in San Antonio, Texas: Part Two – Touring the missions, visiting El Mercado and eating plates and plates of tacos.

When it comes to rich cultural history, there are few cities in America with more to offer than San Antonio, Texas. Situated less than 90 minutes drive from Austin, Texas, San Antonio used to be one of the State’s best kept secrets. But now, it’s one of the fastest growing cities in the USA, with…

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A Day in San Antonio, Texas: Part One – Hitting the Alamo and travelling the River Walk to the Pearl Brewery

When it comes to rich cultural history, there are few cities in America with more to offer than San Antonio, Texas. Situated less than 90 minutes drive from Austin, Texas, San Antonio used to be one of the State’s best kept secrets. But now, it’s one of the fastest growing cities in the USA, with…

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Hotel Review: Ace Hotel – Midtown, New York City

It’s almost midnight as I arrive at the Ace Hotel, jumping out of a taxi, having flown into Newark Airport on the other side of the Hudson. I walk past someone taking a selfie with a man who I assume is famous; he is ushered into a car moments later (then again, with Uber, who…

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Six things you have to eat when in New York City

In our new regular series on AU Abroad, we take you around the world and deliver you our culinary picks for the things you just have to eat when you head to some of our favourite cities. We continue this series in one of the best cities to eat in the world: New York. You…

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Travel News: The long awaited Union Pearson Express arrives at Toronto International Airport

Much like Melbourne, for a city with one of the best public transport systems in the world, the airport seems to have been neglected over the years in Toronto, Canada. In the past, to get downtown from the airport it took a bus, a couple of trains and roughly over an hour to get to…

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F&L News: Oscar Gorosito introduces a new dining experience at the Bridge St Garage Bar & Deli in Sydney's CBD

In the venue’s biggest update since it opened its doors in August 2013, the Bridge St Garage Bar and Diner in Sydney’s CBD has just launched a brand new, fully equipped second bar and deli at the back of the diner. Opening up to the public earlier this month on June 9th, the new Bridge…

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Eating with the AU: The Smoking Panda’s first birthday – CBD (Sydney)

The Smoking Panda is one of those blink and you’ll miss it places, a nameless sign stamped with a cute furry panda is the only clue that this hidden gem of a bar even exists. Which is just the sort of thing to be expected from its cheeky collaborators barman/mad scientist Grant Collins (White Hart, The Powder…

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Jumping with the AU: Big Air Festival – Sky Zone’s 1st Birthday Party – Alexandria (Sydney)

Sky Zone came to our backyard, took one look at that lone, depressingly rusty trampoline drowning in overgrown lawn and decided Australia needed more awesomeness in its life. In the spirit of one upmanship they took a stadium, lined it with trampolines (and padding you know, for safety’s sake) and said ‘hey kids, have at it!’…

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Event Recap: The Cake Bake and Sweets Show – Olympic Park (Sydney)

Gravity defying tea cup cake, cake decorating championship finalist Sydney Olympic Park Stadium braced itself over the weekend when it opened its doors to thousands of sugar-crazed patrons for the annual Cake Bake and Sweets Show. Three glorious days of sweet treats and basically anything that goes in, on or around a cake is hardly…

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Harry Potter and Hogwarts are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in Spring 2016

Following its success at The Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and at Universal Studios Japan, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open at the world’s original Universal Studios Park, in Hollywood, in Spring 2016 (Autumn in Australia, should we get technical). Though this has been known for a…

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More flights to cross the pacific as Qantas and American Airlines expand their trans-Pacific relationship

There was some big news yesterday for those of us who travel to the US. Qantas and American Airlines (AA) announced they’d be expanding their trans-Pacific relationship, which will introduce AA to the popular and competitive Los Angeles to Sydney route for the first time, while Qantas will return to flying direct from Australia to…

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A world first Puss in Boots family coaster and the return of Battlestar Galactica at Universal Studios Singapore

The world’s newest Universal Studios Theme Park – Universal Studios Singapore – turns five years old this year, and there have been a few new additions to the park to celebrate. Towards the end of last year, a new Puss in Boots themed show “The Dance for the Magic Beans” launched that preceded “Puss in…

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F&L Guide: Where to find the best laksa in Sydney

Photo by Dan Freeman As anyone in Sydney would know, it’s well and truly Winter time in the city, and there are few meals that warm the body up as well as a good Laksa. Around the city, there are plenty of places to get your fill, but where can you get the best? Our…

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Melbourne Burger Spotlight: Easey’s – Collingwood (Melbourne)

As far as burgers go, Jimmy “The Burger Lord” Hurlston, also known as the man behind Jimmy’s Burgers, just may be the most experienced and well-traveled guy in history. He has spent years trekking all over the world tackling one of the most famous food creations of all time, attempting to eat, record, and review…

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Hotel Review: Four Points by Sheraton at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport, California)

When it comes to an overnight airport stay, there are only three things that really matter: convenience, comfort and cost. Is it easy to get to from the terminal? Will my well earned (and usually rather brief) sleep be a pleasant one? And will I be keeping things within budget? In this respect, Four Points…

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Behind the Scenes: Head Chef Chris Irving teams up with AMCS to host David Thomas Conservation Oration at The Gantry

Chef Chris Irving can claim some pretty incredible career achievements, including organising a banquet for the Queen, consulting for the Spanish Noble family, feeding the Beckhams and working alongside Chef Gordon Ramsay for four years. His hard work has led to an illustrious career and status that he’s used to champion the adoption of ethically…

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Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates their 50th anniversary with Springfield, a new Fast and the Furious ride and more

Following the massive success of the seventh installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise, which is currently the fourth highest grossing film of all time on the international box office charts (and the number one film of all time in China!?), Universal Studios Hollywood have revealed more details about their forthcoming “Fast & The…

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Sydney Food Truck Focus: Happy as Larry (Italian)

Sydney has a new food truck, and it just so happens to be delivering some of the best pizza in the city thanks to its authentic Italian recipes and a woodfire oven built right into the impressive architecture of the truck – which sees two levels sit inside a shipping container. Going by the name…

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F&L Feature: Searching for the best Eggs Benedict in Australia

Some six and a half years ago, I discovered what at the time was the best Eggs Benedict I’d ever had. And it was at a place quite unsuspecting. World Bar on the Melbourne Southbank. Everything about the dish was perfect, to the point I’d schedule in earlier flights than I’d need whenever I flew…

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Hotel Review: Executive Queen Room at the Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel (Texas)

Situated along San Antonio’s famous Riverwalk, the Wyndham couldn’t be better located for the visiting tourist. A short walk to the city’s entertainment area and tourist hotspot The Alamo, the sizable 410 room hotel, spread over 21 floors, serves as an excellent port for both business guests, tourists and their families. As with any hotel…

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Boutique island festival "Your Paradise" set to return to Fiji in for 6 days and 5 nights this November

After the likes of Alison Wonderland, Jack Beats, Carmada, Hayden James, Peking Duk and Touch Sensitive kicked things off in 2014, the second annual boutique Island Festival “Your Paradise” is set to return to one of Fiji’s most beautiful islands on Malolo Lailai. The festival will return with an incredible lineup – yet to be…

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Cucina Vivo – Broadbeach (Gold Coast)

Further to our look at Kiyomi last week, we also explored the other new restaurant leading the charge in the $345 million transformation that is sweeping through Jupiters Gold Coast. Italian restaurant Cucina Vivo is in stark contrast to Kiyomi in design; whereas the neighbouring Japanese restaurant is dimly lit and moody, Cucina is endearingly…

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The Theme Park Traveller: Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio)

I’ve always been fascinated by Theme Parks, especially in America. The stories of how the parks originated and have since grown and thrived is often as interesting as the rides themselves. Six Flags: Fiesta Texas, located just outside of San Antonio, is no exception, with the origins of the park dating back some 25 years,…

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Tour Diary: Toddy from King Parrot hits the USA from California to Seattle and Salt Lake (March/April 2015 – Part Two)

San Diego, California is a beautiful place! A laid back kinda vibe, nice beaches and friendly folk. This was our first show in a string of dates through this beautiful state! Tonight’s venue is called The Casbah, so it was pretty cool to literally ‘rock the Casbah’ just one time in our musical careers, even…

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