Cockatoo Island Film Festival

Get ready because Cockatoo Island is about to add yet another chapter to its colourful history. For five days in October, the jewel of Sydney Harbour’s crown will be transformed into a state of the art cinema complex and cultural precinct.

From October 24-28, Australian and International filmmakers and celebrities will converge upon Cockatoo Island to share their work with each other and an audience of over 40,000 film lovers. 

1,000 of those patrons will have the opportunity to camp on-site and immerse themselves fully in this unparalleled cinema event, which includes nightly red carpet galas, glamorous parties, live music and the inaugural Cockatoo Island Classic yacht race.

Featuring the largest competitive film program in Australia, Cockatoo Island Film Festival is a showcase for foreign and local film productions, connecting the Australian and International screen industry and presenting a comprehensive program of panel discussions, forums and master classes.

Supporting the competitive selection will be premiere screenings of major new releases, classic cinema, a program devoted to young people and children, a special program of low-budget indie works, as well as raucous, rowdy, and outrageous midnight screenings. The festival promises to be the most surprising and entertaining festival experience on offer in Australia and beyond.

2012 NRL Grand Final Jackpot for Canterbury Bulldogs' lucky Charm Sam Perrett

BY rights, Bulldogs winger Sam Perrett could have been joining his ex-Roosters teammates on an end of season trip to the US about now. 

Instead, the reborn Kiwi flyer bagged a double in the grand final qualifier last night to help his new club Canterbury-Bankstown into the final weekend of September.

Perrett's second try was sheer brilliance, picking up a looping ball from team mate Greg Eastwood before dancing along the sideline and crossing in the corner.

As the replays showed, there was a matter of millimetres between Perrett's boot and the white stripe of the touchline.

But like everything Perrett has touched since his mid-season switch from Bondi Junction to Belmore, it turned out to be pure rolled gold.

"It was a huge atmosphere. You couldn't hear a thing out there between each other but somehow we managed to all be on the same page and execute what we wanted to," Perrett said.

"The move has been chalk and cheese. I felt like I absolutely needed that and it's been an absolute blessing from the moment I first spoke to Des and the club up until now."

On his dance down the sideline for his second try after some brilliant lead-up from Greg Eastwood, Perrett said: "I remember a young, nippier Greg Eastwood back in his school days was able to do that.

"I wasn't sure if he still had it in him so it was good to see that he's still got it."

On the prospect of beating the Storm, Perrett said: "I've got all the belief in this team but we're going to have to work really hard. It's going to be our biggest challenge absolutely."

Aside from the performances of Perrett and Eastwood, another unlikely star for the Bulldogs was fellow mid-season convert Krisnan Inu.

Having previously tasted grand final defeats with Parramatta and the Warriors, Inu, who landed four goals and picked up a try, said the Bulldogs could go one better.

"No disrespect to the last two teams I've played with but we've shown we've got the team to be in the grand final," Inu said.

See Double And Save This School Holidays!

 The school holidays can be a bit of a pinch on the wallet, so this September/October School holidays, come and see any two of our traditional IMAX Documentary films for just one low price!

Each film runs for approximately 45minute and titles include:
Born to be Wild 3D
To the Arctic 3D
The Last Reef 3D
Sea Rex 3D

See any two films for just:
*$20 per child
*$22 per senior/concession/student
*$25 per adult
*$88 per family (2 adults and 2 children)

Make the most out of your family outing! You can purchase tickets to any two documentary films that are programmed at the time of sale. It can be on the same day, or you can spread out your visit across two different days. You can see the films back-to-back or which a break in between, perhaps with lunch by the water or a play at Darling Quarter! Check out the new Darling Quarter playground right behind the IMAX building!

CLICK HERE for a printable version of our session times covering the 20th-26th September.

Ovo - Cirque Du Soleil Now On in Sydney

VO is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

It's love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye - and the feeling is mutual.

OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.

What the media say about the show

"Overhead and on-the-ground, OVO is a whimsical infestation.”
"It captivates as a vibrant, magical spectacle.”

Chicago Now

audience reviews

Average: 4.2 Votes: 275

Read all critics and reviews >>

BOOK Tickets

Sustainable Sydney Walking Tour

Get out and about green building style with the new Sustainable Sydney Walking Tour.

Co-developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Better Buildings Partnership, the Sustainable Sydney Walking Tour is a self-guided, street-level exploration of some of Sydney’s greenest buildings.

Walk the city while learning how green buildings are contributing to the sustainability of the inner-city community and leading by green example in the design and construction of our built environment.

The walking tour takes approximately two hours if you choose to visit all six landmark Green Star buildings.

Linkin Park, Stone Sour Announce Soundwave Sideshows

Linkin Park are without a doubt one of the biggest names in modern music; their brand of modern metal has topped charts all across the planet constantly over the past decade so it makes sense that they find themselves very close to the top of the mammoth Soundwave Festival bill for 2013.

The band have just announced that, while they’re around, they’ll put on a couple of massive sideshows to make sure that any of their fans who missed out on tickets to the sold out Soundwave shows in Sydney and Melbourne will have ample chance to witness their powerful live show.

They will be joined by modern rock powerhouse Stone Sour, the “other band” for Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, a band who are a massive drawcard in their own right.

Both of these bands have massive Australian fanbases so tickets for these shows won’t stick around long; they go on sale next Friday. Both shows are licensed all ages events.

Dates are below:

Tuesday 26 February – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 27 February – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Good Charlotte - Sydney & Melbourne Gigs 2012

Look out fans; this September will be just like your birthday, when Good Charlotte bring their anthems back to Australia. Following the success of last years sell out tour, the band will play both Melbourne and Sydney before they head to Newcastle to play Fat As Butter Festival.

After eleven years, five studio albums, 10 million album sales and a shelf full of music and video awards, Good Charlotte’s return to Oz promises to be anything but forgettable.

Iconic tracks like ‘Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous’ and ‘The Anthem’, hit the up tempo hearts of fans to keep them moving. While their last studio album Cardiology, captured both a more personal side of writing, mixed with some of their biggest party anthem hits, including ‘Last Night’, ‘Sex on the Radio’ and ‘Like It’s Her Birthday’.

After a hectic couple of months residing in Australia and starring in Channel Nine’s The Voice, brothers Joel and Benji have returned to the States for a short time, to begin work on their debut album as The Madden Brothers (2013 release) before heading back to Australia.

With such a strong affiliation with Australia, audiences can rest assured Joel, Benji, Billy and Dean will conjure a party not to be missed!

Wicked Stars Reunite For New Musical

FORMER Wicked co-stars Rob Mills and Lucy Durack are teaming up again in the upcoming new musical Legally Blonde.

The Australian production of the hit stage show, which won an Olivier Award last year, premieres at Sydney's Lyric Theatre on September 21.

After wearing pink as the good witch Glinda in Wicked, Durack once again dons the bright feminine colour to play Elle Woods, the role made famous in the 2001 film by Reese Witherspoon.
"I'm ready to get back into the pink," she said.

"What they (Glinda and Elle) have in common is that they're misunderstood, but in different ways.
"I think they do have a lot of differences but they both love pink and they're both blonde."
Mills, who recently hosted Channel 10's revival of Young Talent Time, plays heartbreaker Warner, although he originally auditioned for the role of Emmett.

"I was like yeah, he's a dorky guy, he's a smart guy, he ends up with girl. I'm thinking I like that role," he said of Emmett, played by fellow Wicked alumni David Harris.

"I learned all the material and then as soon as I walked in they said 'nah'. I said 'What? I haven't even sang for you or done the scene'. I sang, I did the scene and they said 'no, come back on Friday for Warner'.

"I was pretty shocked but at the same time pretty chuffed that they thought I was handsome enough to play the role of Warner.

"I was really rapped to throw myself into something different.

"I didn't think I was right for that role at all, but maybe a bit of acting courses have paid off."
Jerry Mitchell, who directed and choreographed the Broadway production of Legally Blonde, helms the Australian version, which is a co-production of John Frost and The Ambassador Theatre Group.

Legally Blonde The Musical plays Sydney's Lyric Theatre from September 21 through November 25.
Tickets available through Ticketek.

Sydney's Foodie Crave Festival

Every October for the past 13 years, Sydneysiders and visitors come out in their thousands for the annual night noodle markets. They comprise pop-up Asian-style hawking in the very centre of the city, with Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and regional Chinese restaurant stalls tucked around the trees and fountains of Hyde Park - a signal that it's safe to come outdoors.

The night noodle markets are just one highlight of Crave Sydney International Food Festival - a month-long package of food and drink events across Australia's largest and arguably most dynamic food city and into regional New South Wales as well.

Breakfast is served at Bondi, October 14, from 5.30am 

It's not every day you get a bill's breakfast on the beach at sunrise, complete with a live orchestra, Opera Australia principal soprano Lorina Gore and a dawn didgeridoo. Bill? That'd be Bill Granger, the father of Sydney breakfast with several iconic cafes across Sydney, two in Japan and the hit new Granger & Co in London. There's a limited number of front-row possies on the Bondi sand, complete with brekkie. Breakfast on Bondi was a new event for Crave in 2011 and ended up being a truly magical experience. This year promises to be even more thrilling.

Night Noodle Markets without the lines (October 3-5, 8-12, 15-10) 

The Noodle Box is a new ticketed space at the noodle markets, replicating a traditional Malay village. Drinks, live jazz and a Malaysian menu are all part of the deal in this exclusive area - the full noodle-market experience without the lines. It's reserved for groups, but individual tickets are available for two special nights, on October 8 and 15.

The World Chef Showcase (October 6 and 7)

Welcome to the pointy end, where a constellation of star chefs descends on Sydney to cook, demonstrate recipes and prepare collaborative dinners at our best restaurants. Very special guests include Italy's most highly ranked chef, the engaging contemporary genius Massimo Bottura (of Osteria Francescana in Modena); and celebrity pizza chef, Gabriele Bonci from a place called Pizzarium that's considered the best in Rome. What Bonci doesn't know about pizza . . . They're teaming up with Sydney's leading Italian chefs - Giovanni Pilu (Pilu at Freshwater) and Alessandro Pavoni (Ormeggio at the Spit) - for a special spotlight on Italy. Oh, and Antonio Carluccio's coming, too! The atmosphere across this weekend is extraordinary and the tastings at the chefs' demonstrations are, well, as amazing as you can imagine. It's like being behind the scenes in some of the top restaurants in the world.

Let's Do Lunch, weekdays through October 

Even the Food Festival team sneaks out to lunch at least once in October to try the set menu (with a glass of wine) at some of the city's best restaurants. The sum of $38 buys you a spot at the likes of Balla - a glorious new Italian restaurant in The Star casino with a brand-new hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, The Bather's Pavilion, also hatted, at Balmoral Beach, or perhaps The Bridge Room, a finalist in the best new restaurant category of this year's Guide, with beautifully light, fresh, creative contemporary cooking in an almost deco-style space. It's a great way to try out the top tables in town, without a top-table bill.

Get a booking at Momofuku Seiobo 

It's like bidding on eBay, logging on at 9.58am 10 days out from your desired dining date to see whether you can snaffle a table at Sydney's hottest 2012 opening. (Bookings are on-line only.) This tiny, funky restaurant with counter dining, a fantastic set menu and the wildest, most eclectic soundtrack is the brainchild of American-Korean chef David Chang, top of the charts in New York city.

Chang is a true original and Momofuku Seiobo reflects his personality perfectly. (Chang will also be speaking at the World Chef Showcase Talks and Thoughts program on Saturday October 6.) And the hugely original and delightful Christina Tosi, pastry chef in charge of all Momofuku's dessert menus in New York, will be in town to co-host a one-off dinner at Seiobo on Saturday October 6, also part of the World Chef Showcase weekend.

Check out Sydney's small bars 

They're hidden where you least expect it and feel like they've been there forever, even though the small bar scene is relatively new. The Prohibition-era look is everywhere, matching the hideaway feel of places such as Palmer & Co in Abercrombie Lane (cool cocktails and waitresses in flapper dresses) or The Baxter Inn in Clarence Street (no sign but you'll know it by the queue) with its spectacular whisky wall. Tucked into a laneway in still-very-happening Surry Hills is 121BC - an Italian wine bar with an excellent Italian share plates menu. Several small bars are offering a cocktail of the month through October - a cocktail with matched canape for $20. A great excuse for some bar crawling.

Dim sum and duck at Mr Wong 

Have a drink at Palmer & Co (above) then head to the talk of the town - Mr Wong, the brand-new, new-look Cantonese restaurant with old-style classic dishes such as steamed prawn dumplings, drunken chicken and, of course, roast duck. The fit-out is breathtaking - a mix between colonial Shanghai and an ultra-modern Hong Kong diner, and the food is fantastic, thanks to chefs Dan Hong, Jowett Yu and Eric Koh (formerly of London's Hakkasan). During October, you can come for a "surprise Saturday lunch" here - and try a sample menu of highlight dishes for $55 per head.
Explore Greater Sydney and beyond

Little Italy, Little Korea, Little Shanghai . . . Sydney has so many distinctive food villages and precincts, often dominated by one particular culture. During October, roads get closed, stalls are set up in the street, bands and performers come out to play and we revel in the flavours of the world, right on our doorstep, at a series of community festivals. There's South American in the suburb of Fairfield (October 13) and at Darling Harbour (October 6), Korean in Strathfield (October 28) and Italian at Haberfield Primavera (October 14). If you're in the Byron Bay region on October 6, check out Sample at Bangalow - a feast of local produce and food stalls.

For more details on all of these events, see cravesydney.com. Noodle Box tickets are available only via showbiz.com.au/cravesydney

Whale gets airborne at Bondi Beach during Festival of the Winds kite festival

Aerial migration: giant kite in the shape of a humpback whale soars above Bondi Beach during the annual Festival of the Winds at Bondi Beach, Australia's biggest kite festival

Start of sidebar.

Running annually for more than 30 years, the Festival of the Winds is one of Sydney's most popular annual events.

Kites fly in the sky during the annual Festival of the Winds festival on Bondi Beach: Australia's largest kite flying festival.

 

This year a dazzling aerial armada of colourful cartoon characters, animals, flowers, fighter box and delta kites packed the skies above Sydney's most famous beach.

Kites fly in the sky during the annual Festival of the Winds festival on Bondi Beach: Australia's largest kite flying festival.

 

Australian and international kite flyers showed off their kite flying skills as children made their own creations at one of the kite making workshops, and tentatively launched them into the skies.

A surfer enjoys ths view as a giant tiger kite soars above Bondi Beach during Festival of the Winds. Australia's largest kite flying festival.

 

Organised by The Australian Kiteflyers Society, the event featured food stalls from all over the world, free dance workshops, puppet shows and kite-flying demonstrations.

Kites fly in the sky during the annual Festival of the Winds festival on Bondi Beach: Australia's largest kite flying festival.

 

Members of the Society showed off their own creations along with designs from China, India, Malaysia and Japan.

A young girl flies a kite during the annual Festival of the Winds festival on Bondi Beach, Australia's largest kite flying festival.

 

Springtime in Sydney often provides the perfect conditions for kite-flying, with glorious blue-sky days and consistent light winds.

Kite mecca: a dazzling aerial armada soars above the sky during the annual Festival of the Winds kite flying festival on Bondi Beach.

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Sydney, Get Ready For the Slide of Your Life

IT'S billed as the world's best water park - and it's right in the heart of western Sydney.

These are the first images of the attractions to be featured at Sydney's own Wet'n'Wild water park - which is being touted as the best of its kind on the planet.

Construction on the park - at Prospect adjacent to the M4 - begins today.
Due to open in December next year, the water park will feature a massive beach and the latest in waterslide technology - from a giant "tornado" ride to the world's tallest looping tube complex and a double SkyCoaster.

Wet'n'Wild Sydney will be home to a total of 42 slides and attractions. The $115 million project is set to create the equivalent of 300 full-time jobs in construction and a further 300 when it is up and running.

The first excavations began yesterday at the 25ha site, with Premier Barry O'Farrell formally commencing the construction with officials from Village Road Show Limited, which is building the project. One of the highlights of the water park will be a 150m surf pool and 70m wave pool with 3m swells.

Combined, the pools will be nearly as long as Freshwater on the northern beaches.
"This will be Australia's best beach. It's got no rips and no sharks," Wet'n'Wild Sydney general manager Chris Warhurst said.

Mr O'Farrell said that Wet'n'Wild is predicted to attract around 900,000 visitors a year - including 20 per cent from overseas and interstate - and generate more than $500 million for the NSW economy in the first 10 years of operation.

"Whichever way you look at it, this is terrific news for Sydney, it's terrific news for western Sydney," he said.

"They're about to put a beach within reach of everyone who lives in western Sydney."
But don't expect Mr O'Farrell to be the first to line up for one of the rides.

"I am not volunteering to go on any of those turbo rides," he said.

An onsite water retention pond, part of the park's environmental management plan, will cover 90 per cent of water used for amenities and irrigation at the site and water loss will be minimised through the park's "splash out" slide designs.

Village Roadshow will pay $7 million to upgrade roads around the site, which it will lease from the government. Annual visit passes will cost $79.99, with prices for single visits yet to be announced.

The Relaunch of Sydney Aquarium

These school holidays, Sydney Aquarium will officially reveal the results of a nine-month, $10M overhaul and open its doors as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium – now home to a spectacular new $5M ocean tunnel and the world’s largest variety of sharks and rays.

Go on a journey of amazing discovery through 14 newly-themed areas including the Shark Walk, the Tropical Bay of Rays, Discovery Rockpool, Mangrove Swamps, South Coast Shipwreck and the new ocean tunnel walk-through, Shark Valley. See our famous residents in their new homes including sharks, dugongs, platypus, rays, penguins, turtles, clownfish and our crabzilla Japanese Spider Crabs.

Both kids and parents alike will have the chance to face their fear on the new Shark Walk and walk over a huge variety of sharks, before journeying deep under the sea and exploring the depths of Shark Valley – home to a giant whale skeleton and the tumbled-down ruins of an ancient Lost City temple, as the giant face of a temple guardian emerges in front of you.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is located at Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour. Visit www.sealifesydneyaquarium.com.au

When:

• Between Friday 31 August and Tuesday 30 October from 09.00 to 20.00

Sydney Aquarium is open from 9am ’til 8pm daily. Last entries are STRICTLY 7PM.
Sydney Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums and we recommend that you allow around 90 minutes for your visit.

Where:

Sydney Aquarium, 1-5 Wheat Road Aquarium Pier Darling Harbour 2009 Venue details

Cost:

Adult: $35.00
Children: $20.00
Concession: $28.00
Family: $110.00
Book online now and save up to 30%!

Website:

http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

More Info:

Sydney Aquarium
Reception
(02) 8251 7800
hepzibah.cook@hausmann.com.au

How to get to this event:

Darling Park Monorail Station, Explorer Bus Stop 20, Darling Harbour Ferry Stop

Sports Events Australia: 2012 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival - 16th Sep...

When is the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival?

The 2012 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival will be held on Sunday 16 September.

What is the date of the 2013 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival?

The 2013 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival will be held on Sunday, 22 September 2013.

Who can enter the event?

Anyone can enter the event whether you are an elite athlete, club runner, gym member, or simply someone who enjoys a social walk or jog. The event has four different distances to chose from so there is a run to suit all fitness levels and they all go over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Who owns the event?

This event is owned by Athletics Australia, a not-for-profit organisation responsible for managing the sport of athletics in Australia. It is important to note that all profits from the event go back into the community through Athletics Australia’s programs making this event one of the only true charitable running events in the country.

Why was the event started?

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is the only remaining legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It started in 2001 when the NSW Government approved the continuation of a marathon in Sydney to promote fitness and health for the NSW community and to position Sydney as an international tourist destination. Twelve years on and the Blackmores Sydney Marathon and Running Festival is one of the most spectacular running events and marathons in the world.

How much has been raised over the years?

We are delighted to report that the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival has raised over $9.6 million for charitable causes raising a record $2.4 million in 2011. Our target for 2012 is $2.5 million.

How can I fundraise and run for free?

To get your entry fee refunded simply reach the individual target set for your event. Click here to learn how you can help us meet our overall fundraising target of $2.5 million and also how you can run for free.

What does my entry fee cover?

Besides a great day out with your friends and family, your event fee goes towards staging one of the most challenging events within Sydney, including extensive road closures, policing and other vital infrastructure to ensure a successful event for participants and non participants in Sydney.

Your event kit contains your race bib, timing chip, clothing bag, useful event information as well as a load of sponsor goodies. Each entrant will also receive free public transport to and from the event by showing your event bib. Each finisher will also receive a quality commemorative medal featuring an Australian athletic legend. Marathon finishers will also receive a finishers t-shirt for their efforts.

Can I volunteer to help?

Not participating, but still want to be part of the action and have some fun? Why not join the Suncorp Bank Volunteer team? Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, meet people with similar interests and of course have fun and help some amazing people achieve their individual goal on event day. Click here to get involved >>

Will the event be broadcast on TV?

The 2012 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival event broadcast will be on Channel 9 on Sunday, November 18 2012.

Who can I contact for more information?

Visit our contact us page for all the details you will require.

Find Out More at the Offical site