Things to do in Sydney today

The Met Gala might be behind us, but the biggest annual event of Sydney’s fashion calendar is just around the corner. Australian Fashion Week (AFW) will be taking over Carriageworks this month – transforming the cavernous post-industrial space into a central hub of talks, workshops and runways featuring everyone from emerging student designers to Australia’s fashion royalty from May 13–17.  And though it might seem like an exclusive concept, don’t let the epic outfits intimidate you, there are plenty of ways you can get involved with Sydney’s biggest celebration of style. The spectacular showcase of design was once an industry-only event, but now they've opened the doors – it is no longer only restricted to the fashion world’s elite few. Though not every runway offers tickets to the paying public, many do – with the varied program also featuring panel discussions, consumer activations and other special events and parties. (Hot tip: There is no cover fee required to hang out at the festival hub, suss out the brand activations, grab a refreshment at the pop-up bars and settle in for some people watching.) AFW 2024 will feature boundary-pushing runway shows alongside presentations from new and well-established names alike. Though Carriageworks will serve as the hub, additional AFW-related events will be popping up across the city, and runways will be streamed virtually at australianfashionweek.com. On opening night, after a Hair Masterclass presented by Shark Beauty, a Sustainab

The Harbour City does a good line in immersive light experiences, and if you can’t wait until Vivid takes over the city later in May, Luna Park is here to help. The iconic attraction’s newest installation – Sonic Neon – is now open, with tickets on sale until the end of June. Housed in Crystal Palace – a building which dates all the way back to 1935 – Sonic Neon will take visitors on a journey through eight different rooms, with state-of-the-art visuals and a layered soundscape creating a transportive experience. Illuminating more than 150 metres of the historic building, the experience will feature more than 26,000 lights set to a pulsating soundtrack using state-of-the-art technology that’s never been used before in Australia. Tickets to the event are available now, which you can purchase online or in person. Plus, save money by purchasing bundles like the Unlimited Rides Pass and Lunaverse Superpass, which includes Sonic Neon, Dream Circus and unlimited rides.  The family-friendly rave and experience will run daily from 10am. Tickets for the self-guided Sonic Neon experience (estimated to take around 30 minutes) start at $29 per person. If you’re keen to secure your tickets, you can do so over here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more things to do, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Keen for more luminous fun? This immersive experience is coming to the Blue Mountains Lightscape will be taking over t

As evidenced by the major weather events that continue to threaten communities across Australia (and the world), the climate crisis isn’t going anywhere. And while it’s easy to feel despondent in the face of climate change, there are incredible people and organisations taking action – harnessing modern technology, regenerative farming techniques and collective action to slow down the crisis. This month, founders, researchers, students and community organisations will be coming together in Sydney for the Harbour City’s first Climate Action Week – taking place between May 13-19. Here's everything you need to know. The inaugural Climate Action Week Sydney (CAW.SYD) comes following successful events in London and New York, which have seen forward-thinking people and organisations unite for seven days of education and connection, exploring how they can accelerate climate action around the world. Bringing together climate start-ups, community organisations, students, research institutions,  investors, NGOs, corporate organisations and the broader community, CAW.SYD will feature a program of events designed to inspire, educate and empower. Under themes ranging from policy to finance, First Nations perspectives to climate tech, the week-long event will involve everything from panel discussions to hands-on workshops, surf lessons to career fairs. Some highlights from the CAW.SYD 2024 program include a plant-based Sunday brunch with speakers sharing insights on the topic of regenerativ

In excellent news for sauna lovers, what began as a dreamy pop-up has now become a (relatively) permanent feature at Manly’s Quarantine Beach. The 10-person Finnish sauna from Cedar the Salt will be stationed on the shores of Sydney Harbour throughout the winter – offering a very Scandinavian experience from arguably the most stunning sauna location in the city. Sydney's first pop-up seaside Finnish sauna launched as a thirteen day pop-up, but due to huge demand (around 150 sauna-goers per day), it will be staying put until spring. A 45-minute ocean-side sauna experience will set you back $35, and you’ll have easy access to the ocean to cool off between steams. If you’re keen to take over the entire sauna for a celebratory sweat, private sauna sessions are also available, and there's a soundbath experience available for those who went to level up their relaxation. If you want to make the seaside sauna a regular component of your wellness routine, you can nab a pack of three, five or ten sauna sessions.  The sauna is open from sunrise (between 6.30am and 7.15) until sunset (around 4.30pm), seven days a week, with the current closing date currently estimated at "springtime". Keen? You can learn more and book your session over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.   RECOMMENDED:  We tried this beautiful affordable bathhouse. These are Sydney’s best spas.These are the best da

A borderline psychedelic, kaleidoscopic environment awaits you at this major solo exhibition by one of Australia's foremost contemporary artists, Dale Frank, presented across two floors at The National Art School gallery in Darlinghurst.  Growers and Showers (free to visit until June 1, 2024) is filled with bold colours, glossy abstract paintings, and highly experimental assemblages that play with unexpected surfaces like shattered glass, mirror, foam, human hair, CDs and foil ducting. (If you have an aversion to creepy clowns, proceed with caution.) Coloured lights, incense, and soundtrack personally picked by the artist himself (it’s Foreigner’s 1997 debut album, on rotation) further alter the atmosphere of the space, creating an immersive viewer experience that tests the boundaries of abstraction. Presenting 45 large-scale paintings, sculptures and installations created over the past decade – including nine never-before-exhibited works – this significant survey exhibition delves into Frank’s enduring commitment to experimentation and ongoing investigation into the potentiality of painting, alongside his multidisciplinary approach. Speaking with Katraina Cashman, Senior Curator of NAS Galleries, she explains that the artist's use of pop culture references and unconventional materials serve to challenge and stimulate the viewer's senses, eliciting a physical response that lingers long after the encounter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sy