Australian International Music Festival - Sydney 2015

Experience performing at Sydney’s magnificent Opera House, a memory that will last a lifetime!

Celebrating its 26th year in 2015 the Australian International Music Festival is one of the most popular and best attended events. With an average of 900 - 1,300 participants each year, there are groups from Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and the USA providing a fantastic musical and cultural experience.



This Music Festival is open to groups of all types but in particular Wind Bands, Orchestra, Choirs and Jazz Bands. As well as performing at the Sydney Opera House, participants will also perform at venues such as the City Recital Hall [affectionately known as Angel Place] and Darling Harbour.

World Projects South Pacific aim to expand your mind with workshops from world class clinicians flown in from around the world and cultural exchanges with other bands most of whom share your passion but speak another language, an experience not to be missed.

The concert hall of the the Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous in the world. World class acts such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Chick Corea, Simply Red, Stomp to Diana Krall perform here regularly. Even those who perform there often feel the awe of the Opera House.

For more info visit: http://www.worldprojects.com.au/musicAIMFsyd.htm

Dates Revealed for Rugby Sydney 7's Extravaganza

World Rugby and the Australian Rugby Union today announced that the inaugural Sydney 7s, secured by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will take place on the weekend of the 6th and 7th February, 2016.

Tickets for the festival of Rugby that will be the Sydney 7s leg of the 2015/16 HSBC Sevens World Series will go on sale to the general public from 9am, Thursday 10 September, 2015 via Ticketek.

The Australian Rugby Union also confirmed admission prices for the event with tickets available from a competitive $30 (One-Day General Admission ticket) for eight hours worth of world-class Rugby Sevens. Two-Day passes in general admission areas are available for $50. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets in reserved areas of the ground.

To be hosted at the 45,500-capacity Allianz Stadium in Sydney's Moore Park, the event will host 16 of the top-ranked Rugby Sevens countries in the world in a weekend of free-flowing, fast-moving action.


From the exciting Aussies to the flamboyant Fijians, the irrepressible New Zealand to the South African Blitzboks and the speed-kings of the USA to the old enemy England - the Sydney 7s will guarantee a weekend not to be missed.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said that the Sydney 7s will be a major highlight of the Sydney Summer Events Calendar.

“The Sydney 7s will attract rugby fans from around Australia and the world to our State, and promises to be a fantastic experience both on and off the field. The NSW Government is proud to have secured this event for Sydney through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and it will be one of the most anticipated events of the summer,” Mr Ayres said.

Sydney, which will host the Australian leg of the Sevens World Series for four years, will be the fourth stop on an extended Sevens World Series circuit. The Harbour City joins a host of iconic cities across the globe staging the event including Cape Town, Vancouver, Dubai, Paris, Las Vegas, Singapore and London.

Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver said: "There will be no better way to kick off a new season of Rugby in this country than the Sydney Sevens in February.

"2016 will be a bumper year for Australian Rugby fans - we have the re-vamped Super Rugby competition that will feature teams from Argentina and Japan; England touring here in June; and Rugby Sevens will make its debut at the Olympics in Rio in August.

"The global appeal of the game has never been stronger and we are looking forward to welcoming fans and players from 16 countries to the Sydney Sevens in the first weekend of February."

Away from the action, Sydney will be a hub of activity, with the Australian Rugby Union hosting a Festival of Sevens leading into the main event that will engage local communities that will leave a lasting legacy for the game in Australia’s biggest city.

International and inter-state visitors, will also have the opportunity to experience one of the most stunning cities in the world. Whether it be taking in a show at the Sydney Opera House, experiencing the golden sands of Bondi Beach or walking over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney's tourist hot-spots are not to be missed.

Fans can sign up for ticket alerts via www.sydney7s.com.au

Ticket Prices for the Sydney 7s:

Single Day
	Reserved	General Admission
Adult	$40.00	$30.00
Concession	$30.00	$25.00
Family	$80.00	$60.00
Two Day Packages
	Reserved	General Admission
Adult	$70.00	$50.00
Concession	$50.00	$40.00
Family	$140.00	$100.00

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Aspire Hotel Sydney
Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central
Metro Hotel on Pitt
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Metro Hotel Miranda
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Netball World Cup, Sydney 2015

With 64 games played over 10 days, fans will have more opportunities than ever before to enjoy the best 192 netballers from across the world, battle for netball’s ultimate prize.

Whether you choose to come to Sydney for the entire 10 days of the event, one day, or anything in between, the Netball World Cup will be an experience you’ll never forget!

Closing Weekend Package:
Match tickets for Days 9 & 10 (15 and 16 August)
Medal Day Breakfast at Olympic Park
One $25 merchandise voucher

Closing Weekend Package:
Match tickets for Days 9 & 10 (15 and 16 August)
Medal Day Breakfast at Olympic Park
One $25 merchandise voucher

Closing Weekend Package:
Match tickets for Days 9 & 10 (15 and 16 August)
Medal Day Breakfast at Olympic Park
One $25 merchandise voucher

Opening Weekend:
Tickets for days 1, 2 & 3 (7, 8 and 9 August)
The Opening Ceremony
An Opening Ceremony Gift from NWC2015
One $25 merchandise voucher
Limited Edition NWC2015 Making History, Creating Legends Coffee Table Book

EVENT DETAILS: 

Venue: Allphones Arena, NSW

Date:  07 - 16 August 2015 

Tickets available at Ticketek

Metro Hotels have a range of Sydney Accommodation options available to be booked for this Netball World Cup in Sydney (Click on a Hotel or Apartment to Book)

New South Wales

Aspire Hotel Sydney
Metro Hotel Sydney Central
Metro Hotel on Pitt
Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour
Metro Apartments on King
Metro Hotel Miranda
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#Netball #NetballWorldCup #WorldCup #Sydney

Smoke-free outdoor dining comes into effect 6th of July 2015 - NSW

As of 6 July 2015, all commercial outdoor dining areas in NSW, including hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes will be smoke-free, under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000.

NSW Health director of the Centre for Population Health, Dr Jo Mitchell, said the ban represents the next step in the NSW Government’s efforts to protect the public from the effects of second-hand smoke. This means staff and patrons of hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to work and dine outdoors without being exposed to harmful second-hand tobacco smoke.

• From 6 July 2015, all commercial outdoor dining areas in NSW will be smoke-free.
• Smoking will be a banned within 4 metres of a pedestrian entry or exit from a hospitality venue (the ‘4 metre law’).
• The bans apply to any ignited smoking product including cigarettes, pipes and water-pipes.
• Penalties for non-compliance may apply:
• on the spot fines of $300 for individuals;
• $550 for an owner not displaying required signage in a commercial outdoor dining area;
• up to $5,500 for the business owner.

“There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. Research has shown individuals in typical public outdoor dining areas may be exposed to high levels of second-hand smoke,” says Mitchell.

“Creating smoke-free outdoor areas reduces exposure to second-hand smoke and can support those who have quit and are trying to quit. It also makes smoking less visible to children and young people.”

Under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, all ignited smoking products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and water-pipes will be banned in seated outdoor dining areas while food is being served, attracting on the spot fines of $300 for individuals and penalties of up to $5500 for occupiers who ignore the ban.

“There is strong public support for making outdoor dining areas smoke-free and a number of businesses have already voluntarily banned smoking in their outdoor dining areas, with positive results,” said Mitchell.

“A 2013 survey showed that 75 percent of respondents supported banning smoking in all outdoor areas of hotels, restaurants and cafes, so it’s not surprising to hear that many restaurants and cafes that have already gone smoke-free and have found strong support from the community and particularly families with young children.” 

NSW Health invites businesses to register on health.nsw.gov.au/smokefree for updates about smoke-free outdoor dining and to order free materials including an industry guide and mandatory outdoor ‘no smoking’ signage.

For information on how to quit smoking, visit www.iCanQuit.com.au or ring the Quitline on 13 78 48.

Sources:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/outdoor-dining.aspx
http://www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au/Food/News/NSW-to-introduce-smoking-ban-in-outdoor-dining-are

48 hours in Sydney: What to do, where to go

Paul Keating once said Sydney was the only place to live in Australia – the rest were camping out.

The New South Wales capital can certainly lay claim to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world. London and New York have a glamour, history and majesty about them, and San Francisco, Seattle, Auckland, and Vancouver have gorgeous natural harbours, but Sydney manages to combine big-city polish with verdant nature and the glory of the world that is its harbour.

The CBD needs a bit of a facelift and an energy infusion – it can be fairly lifeless on weekends. But if you stick to some of Sydney’s more natural attractions, choose some of its new and exciting restaurants, try some small bars and take a trip out to some of the city’s lesser known foodie suburbs, you’ll have an incredible 48 hours.

Friday / Saturday Nights:

4pm: kayaking, Point Piper

Head down to Rose Bay, towards the Point Piper end, and you’ll find the Point Piper Kayak Centre – which is essentially a shed under the shade, filled with kayaks and standup paddleboards. We are given the option of choosing fast, “racing” kayaks – easy to tip over – or the more sturdy, old-fashioned variety.

We opt for the later. It’s a gloriously sunny day on the harbour, with little breeze. We head left towards Double Bay, giving us superstar views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (and a glimpse of the Opera House sails) and pull up our kayaks on the beach at Shark Island. There are few boats out on the harbour this afternoon and the paddling is peaceful – almost meditative.

But be warned: weekends can get hectic with pleasure crafts and you need to have your wits about you to avoid harbour traffic including ferries.

Kayaks start at $20 for the first hour then drop to $10 an hour after that.

6pm: drinks at Australian 18 Footers League, Double Bay

After kayaking, wander around to Double Bay where this small yacht club boasts a big view of the harbour. It’s relaxed, with mostly outdoor seating, and far away enough from the Friday-night city hordes to grab a good table.

Harbourside bars abound in Sydney and there’s none more popular than the Opera Bar in the Sydney Opera House complex. If you want more of a buzz than Double Bay can offer and are happy to fight for a table, take a ferry from Double Bay to Circular Quay and follow the noise (it is noisy!) to the Opera Bar.

8pm: dinner at Acme, 60 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay

One of the most unusual, and delightful dining experiences in Sydney is the newly opened Acme. It’s an Italian restaurant – but not Italian as I’ve had it before.

The team behind the restaurant promise “interesting and affordable pasta” which includes macaroni and bucatini with pig’s head and egg yolk or goat, spicy nduja and fresh mint. This is not novelty food but a wild mixture of flavours and a fusion of styles that work. We love the roasted carrots with ricotta and almonds, steamed pipis, lime, pepper and carpaccio parmigiana.

We nab a window seat so we can watch the passing parade of revellers heading into Kings Cross (if you’re there early enough you can see the fantastic sunset over Paddington) and enjoy wines from regional NSW.

9.30pm: drinks in Surry Hills

After dinner, take a cab into Surry Hills to experience some of Sydney’s classic old pubs.

We drink at the Hollywood Hotel in Foster Street, Surry Hills, where there’s a mirror ball and friendly bar staff but none of the hipsters sometimes associated with this part of town.

We also drop into the Shakespeare Hotel, a fairly rough-and-ready drinking establishment that has been particularly popular with the journalists who work in nearby Holt Street and theatre staff from Belvoir. Once again, it’s unpretentious and there’s good, cheap food available upstairs.

If you feel like a late night, book a room at George Street karaoke bar Mizuya or Surry Hills’ Ding Dang Dong. Love of late-night karaoke seems to be a particularly Sydney thing – perhaps feeding into Sydneysiders’ narcissistic fantasy of being a rockstar celebrity.

Source: http://www.msn.com/en-au/travel/article/48-hours-in-sydney-what-to-do-where-to-go/ar-AAbVHSA

An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson 2015

Get your Cosmic Calendars out – we got a badass coming over here!

In August 2015, Australian audiences will be treated to the highly-anticipated Australian return of astrophysicist, author, and all-round favourite person, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson!

A strong proponent for the importance of scientific education and rational thinking in society, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is bringing the wit and wonder of his genius to Australia in August 2015, courtesy of Think Inc. – the team behind the 2014 Australian tours of Dr. Michio Kaku and The Amazing James Randi.

Since 1996, he has been the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. The center is part of the American Museum of Natural History, where Tyson founded the Department of Astrophysics in 1997 and has been a research associate in the department since 2003.

Tyson served on a 2001 government commission on the future of the U.S. aerospace industry, and on the 2004 Moon, Mars and Beyond commission. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in the same year. From 2006 to 2011, he hosted the television show NOVA ScienceNow on PBS. Since 2009, he has hosted the weekly podcast Star Talk. In 2014, he hosted the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a reboot of Carl Sagan's 1980 series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences awarded Tyson the Public Welfare Medal in 2015 for his "extraordinary role in exciting the public about the wonders of science"

Tickets: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=NEILDEGR15

Dates & Location:

• Fri 7th Aug 2015 - VIC: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 
• Sun 16th Aug 2015 - QLD: Brisbane Event at Courier Mail Piazza
• Sat 22nd Aug 2015 - NSW: Hordern Pavilion Sydney 

Free Kids Admission Weekend at Australian Museum and Powerhouse Museum

Deputy Premier, the Hon. Troy Grant MP, today announced a NSW Government initiative making general entry for children (under 16 years) free at both the Australian Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse). To celebrate, both museums are throwing open their doors to ALL visitors for a Free for All weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June. 

“Kids Free is an exciting initiative of the NSW Government to create more opportunities for children and families to experience arts and culture,” Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Troy Grant said. “With school holidays starting that weekend, visiting a museum is a great way to get the kids out of the house and into the arts’’ he said. Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Kim McKay AO, said that removing the entry charges for children would ensure access for every young person across the state. “Museums are places of learning, wonder and discovery and I’m delighted that we are now able to remove general admission charges for children thanks to the State Government’s support.

There should be no barrier for young people to learn and be inspired,” McKay said. “Families will save as much as $8 per child per visit, which is a fantastic bonus, particularly for larger families, making a visit to museum significantly cheaper than one to the movies or other forms of entertainment. In addition to family entry, students attending the museums as part of a school excursion will also enjoy free general admission positively impacting hundreds of thousands of school students across the state,” she said. 

Throughout the Free for All weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, visitors to the Australian Museum will be among the first to see the new indigenous exhibition, Bayala Nura (Yarning Country), which complements the recently opened Garriagarrang (Sea Country) and participate in activities including Aboriginal animal totem craft and making animal masks. As a special bonus, admission charges to the Australian Museum’s popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will also be waived over the weekend, a saving of $51.00 for a family of four. 

Favourite galleries such as Skeletons, Dinosaurs, Surviving Australia, Birds and Insects and Planet of Minerals will also be open along with the recently opened Pacific Spirit gallery, and visitors will be able to take a sneak peek at Wild Planet, a new animal gallery opening in August featuring some 400 animal specimens and biodiversity displays. 

“Museums have a vital role to play in engaging children and their parents in our natural world -­‐ they explain who we are, and it’s those early museum experiences that become seared into our memories and help inform our decisions about the natural world in the future,” she said.

Activities available for all visitors to the Australian Museum on 27 & 28 June, 2015

The FREE for ALL weekend puts a spotlight on what happens daily at the Australian Museum. Alongside favourites such as the Skeletons, Dinosaurs, Surviving Australia, Birds and Insects, Search & Discover and Planet of Minerals, visitors will be among the first to experience the brand new exhibition, Bayala Nura (Yarning Country) in the newly refurbished heritage gallery, First Australians. Bayala Nura complements the recently opened exhibition, Garrigarrang (Sea Country) highlighting Indigenous Australian culture.

In addition, the newly opened preview exhibition Pacific Spirit brings rare masks and other stunning objects from the Museum’s Pacific collection out on display. These exhibitions draw on the Museum’s extensive collections to showcase the history, cultural diversity and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and provide a glimpse of the Museum’s extensive Pacific collection, one of the world’s largest.

While you’re here, remember to see striking photographs of wildlife and nature from the around the world in the ever popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The photographs celebrate an amazing array of animals and highlight pressing environmental issues such as animal extinction and the destruction of natural landscapes. And as a special promotion for this weekend only, visitors can receive a 20% discount off the full price of membership. Members receive special benefits such as our Explore Magazine, discounts at our Shop and Cafe, Private Members Lounge, Free National Geographic Traveller magazine, 10% discount when you book with Adventure World holidays and giveaways and deals through the fortnightly newsletter.

Centrally located opposite Hyde Park in Sydney and a short walk from Museum Station, the Australian Museum was established in 1827 and has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and cultural studies, community programs and exhibitions. Experience all this and more when you visit the Museum as part of FREE for ALL at the Australian Museum on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June.

KIDS ACTIVITIES on the FREE FOR ALL weekend. 27 and 28 JUNE, 2015. • Come and learn about Indigenous Australian totems and make your own animal mask to take home at Aboriginal animal totem craft on Level 2. • Explore our wild planet in Surviving Australia and get up close and personal to some of our native Australian wildlife –snakes, baby crocodiles, lizards and skinks.

• Meet some legendary Australian creepy crawlies in Search and Discover.
• Discover Australia’s unique and abundant bird life in the Birds and Insects gallery.
• Budding palaeontologists can complete their museum expedition with a visit to the Dinosaurs gallery where they can touch 100 million year old dinosaur fossils.
• Come face to face with the Museum’s very own Muttaburrasaurus dinosaur, Winny-­‐saur.
• Find out about Winny’s busy life at the Museum, as well as what life was like for Australian dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago, then have your photo taken with Winny-­‐saur.
• As well as nurturing young imaginations, Australian Museum will also look after young tummies.

The new cafe on Level 4 will offer healthy hearty food and drinks along with stunning views over the city for the whole family.

See the Australian Museum Website