Category: COLLABORATION

Queensland’s most spectacular beaches

Updated: 18/08/2021

In a state with an area of 1,852,642 km², travellers will find themselves in tropical utopia when in Queensland. The state is home to the most spectacular areas of natural beauty, with over 25,000km of incredible coastline to enjoy and more than 10,000 breathtaking beaches to explore. Since the number of stunning beaches can be overwhelming, we have narrowed down the list of the most amazing beaches in the state. Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island Nudey Beach is situated on the South-West shores of Fitzroy Island ? a 339-hectare paradise island just a 45-minute Fast Cat ride away from the Cairns Marina in Tropical Queensland. Located within the calm sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef which is home to many beaches, Fitzroy Island is surrounded by a wide array of flora and fauna, and is covered in dense tropical rainforest, of which 95% is listed as a protected National Park. Before rewarding yourself with this enchanted part of the island, you may fancy yourself with a 45-minute stroll through the tropical rainforest vegetation from Welcome Bay where you’ill be surrounded by dense tropical rainforest and coastal woodlands. With its clean, gorgeous stretch of pristine white sand and crystal-blue, calm waters, it is no surprise that Nudey Beach was crowned as Australia’s Best Beach for 2018. Nudey beach is ideal for those who chase beaches for a time of reflection and relaxation. Whether it’s laying out a towel and feeling up some of the year-round warm tropical weather or swimming and snorkelling amongst the vibrant marine… Read More

Category: COLLABORATION, TRAVEL

Tags: australia, australian beaches, Best Australian beaches, Best beaches in Queensland, Queenslands best beaches

The best beach in Perth: Travellers’ guide to Perth’s best beaches

by James Banham

Updated: 28/11/2022

Perth is home to some of the best beaches in the world, which explains why it is a major tourist destination that draws millions of domestic and international visitors each year. Of all the major cities in Australia, Perth has the highest number of sunny days, providing the perfect weather to take a quick dip and cool off at the beach. With a great number of beach destinations in Perth, some of them have not been named yet, and remain secret gems that are waiting to be explored. Here, we’ve teamed up with our friends from Be. Fremantle to cover some of the glorious beaches in Perth that are worth visiting over and over again: Scarborough Beach Located just 20 minutes from Perth City, there is no excuse not to visit Scarborough Beach. The shore is lined with restaurants, apartments, surf shops, and ice cream kiosks so there is definitely a vibrant hub of activity to enjoy. The long stretch of gleaming sand makes it the ideal place for sunbathing or for basking in the beauty of the pristine waters. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the activities you can do in Scarborough Beach – you can go surfing, fly a kite, and even have a picnic on the grassed areas. A new addition to the Scarborough Beach landscape is the Scarborough Beach Pool that looks out onto the West Australian coast. The facility has a geothermally heated pool, and a leisure pool for people who want to take swimming lessons. A highlight… Read More

Category: COLLABORATION, TRAVEL

Tags: australian beaches, best beaches, the best beaches in Australia

All about the fastest trains in the world

by James Banham

Updated: 18/08/2021

The advent of the modern passenger train has transformed the ways we travel the world. Of course, technology has continued to advance since the introduction of these “iron horses” during the middle 19th century. Some trains are built with speed in mind, which means that journeys, which in years gone by would take days to complete, now take mere hours. What are some of the fastest trains in the world and what features will they provide to the average passenger? Let us take a look at a handful of examples. The Fuxing Hao Roughly translated to “rejuvenation” in English, the Fuxing Hao is able to reach speeds of 249 miles per hour; not bad for those who wish to travel between Beijing and Shanghai in under five hours. The train is able to accommodate 556 passengers and its speed has halved the amount of time that would normally be required to travel between these two cities. Whether used for business or pleasure, there is no doubt that the Fuxing Hao will impress any rider. The Shanghai Maglev As this train is able to attain blistering speeds of up to 500 kilometres per hour (267 miles per hour), the Shanghai Maglev is currently considered to be the fastest commuter rail car on the planet. As the title suggests, this unit employs the force of magnetic levitation in order to propel passengers between locations. This also signifies that the ride itself is extremely smooth when compared to traditional gauged tracks. Still, this technology came at a price…. Read More

Category: COLLABORATION, TRAVEL

Tags: bets fast trains, fast train, fast trains, the f fast trains

ARTS & CULTURE

Yayoi Kasuma makes more history at NGV Melbourne

22/11/2024

By James Banham

This summer, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne invites you to lose yourself in the extraordinary universe of Yayoi Kusama.

Why rush to see The Great Mughals at V&A: a celebration of opulence, art and culture

22/11/2024

By James Banham

Today, the Victoria and Albert Museum opens the doors to a landmark exhibition, The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence. For the first time in a major show, the monumental artistic achievements of the Mughal Empire’s ‘Golden Age’ (c. 1560–1660) take centre stage, showcasing the splendour, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange that defined one of the world’s greatest empires. The Glory of the Mughals The Mughal dynasty, rooted in Central Asia, was founded in 1526 by Babur, a Timurid prince who carved out an empire stretching from modern-day Afghanistan to the edges of southern India, and from Gujarat to the borders of present-day Bangladesh. At its zenith, the empire was known for its staggering wealth, progressive governance, and artistic innovation. Focused on the reigns of three of the dynasty’s most celebrated emperors—Akbar (r. 1556–1605), Jahangir (r. 1605–1627), and Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658)—the exhibition illuminates a period when the Mughal court transformed into a cultural powerhouse. These were the rulers who commissioned masterpieces like the Taj Mahal and fostered an artistic legacy that blended Persian, Indian, and European influences. Unveiling the Court’s Creative Mastery At the heart of the exhibition are over 200 objects, breathtaking in both their beauty and their historical value. Visitors can expect to marvel at exquisite paintings, intricately illustrated manuscripts, luxurious textiles, vibrantly hued carpets, and dazzling objects crafted from mother of pearl, jade, rock crystal, and precious metals. Many of these treasures have been hidden from public view for decades, making this a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in the artistry of… Read More

A Golden Adventure awaits at the Australian Museum with new Machu Picchu Exhibition

21/11/2024

By Danielle Kirk

Sydney, prepare yourselves for a cultural gold rush. From November 23, the Australian Museum is rolling out its latest blockbuster, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. This dazzling exhibition is your passport to ancient Peru, featuring 134 priceless treasures from the land of the Incas and 14,000 years of history. Think glittering jewels, royal tomb artefacts, and a VR journey to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It’s more than a history lesson—it’s a time machine with all the bells, whistles, and human sacrifice relics you could dream of. Following the success of the Ramses Exhibition at the Australian Museum (fun fact, it became the highest grossing exhibition in the State’s history, selling over 500,000 tickets!), Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is created in partnership with Peru’s Museo Larco, Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon, and Neon Global, taking you on a journey through five ancient Peruvian empires, spanning over 3,000 years of rich history. Parts of the collection have only been shown in four other cities around the world, in fact, some of the artefacts have never left Peru before, and now we’re lucky to set sights on them in Sydney. Expect to see the most opulent Andean gold collection to ever leave Peru, intricate ceremonial masks, and objects that whisper secrets of long-lost rituals. For the tech-savvy explorers, the Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor VR experience will transport you above the clouds for a bird’s-eye tour of the legendary citadel. Guided by the… Read More

NGV Architecture Commission 2024: Home Truth by Breathe

14/11/2024

By James Banham

In a bold reimagining of Australian home design, Home Truth by Breathe has been announced as the winner of the NGV Architecture Commission for 2024. This captivating installation takes the form of a labyrinthine house-within-a-house, challenging the notion of ever-expanding home sizes in Australia. At the heart of this design is a powerful message: rethink how we build to create more sustainable, higher-quality, and community-orientated living spaces. Home Truth invites visitors to step into a space that questions the ethical and ecological ramifications of the sprawling, oversized homes that have become prevalent across the nation. An external frame mirrors the silhouette of the average Australian home, which, at 236 square metres, ranks as the largest globally. Nestled within this silhouette is a serene timber structure, representing a smaller, more sustainable living footprint. This juxtaposition of scales is not just an architectural statement but a call to action. By contrasting these two structures, Home Truth shines a light on how smaller, more considered homes could help reduce suburban sprawl, mitigate environmental impacts, and enhance community wellbeing. It is a thought-provoking invitation for audiences to consider alternative, sustainable housing models that could lead to positive lifestyle changes. Visitors entering through the expansive garage door of the larger house find themselves navigating a maze of rooms and corridors, eventually arriving at the intimate timber retreat. This wooden haven offers a space for meditation and reflection, presenting a tangible vision of a more sustainable housing future. Constructed from framing pine and Saveboard, Home Truth uses materials emblematic of current… Read More

LOEWE PRECO SS25 SUNA FUJITA CERAMICS RGB CROPPED 4X5 3 5

Suna Fujita, LOEWE & Melbourne Art Fair to exhibit works

14/11/2024

By James Banham

In an exciting fusion of art and fashion, Melbourne Art Fair has announced a groundbreaking partnership with LOEWE, the esteemed luxury fashion brand renowned for its dedication to craftsmanship since 1846. This collaboration brings to life an exquisite preview of Jonathan Anderson’s renewed partnership with the Kyoto-based ceramist duo, Suna Fujita, marking a world-first exhibition in Australasia. The LOEWE x Suna Fujita collection made its debut with an intimate showcase at LOEWE’s Melbourne Collins Street store, offering an exclusive viewing experience of twenty whimsical ceramic pieces. These delicate works, celebrated for their intricate hand-painted scenes featuring ocean creatures and cosmic animals, seamlessly blend artistry with everyday function, transforming accessories and ready-to-wear items into enchanting works of art. Fair Director Melissa Loughnan expressed her enthusiasm for this creative union, stating, “This partnership is a reflection of Melbourne Art Fair and LOEWE’s shared commitment to supporting living artists and creatives, and an exciting precursor to the 18th edition of the Fair, which promises to be one of our most dynamic and anticipated showcases yet.” The collaboration not only highlights the playful essence of Suna Fujita’s ceramics but also underscores the vibrant art scene that Melbourne Art Fair champions. Launching today, the LOEWE x Suna Fujita collection is available both in stores and online at loewe.com, continuing until 29th December 2024. This artistic venture paves the way for the 18th edition of Melbourne Art Fair, set to take place from 20-23 February 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fair will present a remarkable assembly of… Read More