Cool Yule at Darling Harbour Brings the Magic of a Northern Hemisphere Winter to Darling Harbour

IMAGINE walking through a Narnia-like frozen forest with 350 white fir trees standing seven metres tall, a flurry of snow bursts, icicles and ghostly lighting, right in the middle of Darling Harbour.

The enchanted forest installation is one of the corner pieces of the inaugural Cool Yule, a month long winter festival.

Project manager Cathy Levins-Byres, from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, said she wanted everyone to rug up and “come out and get cold”.

“We wanted to really go a step further and create a winter playground to really get the message out there – winter is only beginning and we will take you through it,” she said.

“There are snow cones and snow pits, a giant inflatable iceberg floating in the middle of Cockle Bay Wharf and a giant snowflake.

“It’s all about cold and celebrating everything that is cold. We want you to get out, have fun and get your adrenalin going.

“A lot of families cannot afford to bring their children to see snow so we are trying to bring the snow to Sydney.”

The foreshore authority is also bringing in a snow-making machine – using a white vapour refrigeration system – to make real snow which will be released in blasts along Cockle Bay Wharf, the Harbourside promenade and the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge.

Ms Levins-Byres said activities were either free or very affordable, such as a cover charge of $5 for 20 minutes of play in the snow pits.

Cool Yule highlights also include an ice rink, firework displays and the Ice Men of Colorado, who will be chiselling away at huge blocks of ice creating extreme sculptures every evening in a show set to rock music.

“We are encouraging people after work to come out and have some fun,” Ms Levins-Byres said. “You do not just have to go home miserable because it’s winter.”

One of Cool Yule’s big drawcards will be an ice rink at Tumbalong Park featuring an Après Skate bar serving gourmet winter delights.

There will be a 25m Thredbo snow slide and a snow pit at the Australian National Maritime Museum’s forecourt to delight visitors.

Snow pit session times will be divided into age groups for two to six-year-olds, seven to 12-year-olds and everyone over 13 to ensure safe fun for everyone.

If you’ve ever wanted to fit inside a snow globe and let’s face it – who hasn’t? – then why not try out the life-size Air New Zealand Snow Globe which will provide an incredible backdrop for winter selfies.

There is plenty of entertainment for younger children, including the Monkey Baa Story Theatre which runs every Sunday.

As part of the festival, Cockle Bay will feature an inflatable iceberg, Palm Grove will be lit up with a giant snowflake and there will be an incredible frosty firework display featuring blue and silvery lights every Saturday.

Restaurants throughout the Darling Harbour precinct have also got on board and will serve wintry meals and drinks including mulled wine and hot toddies.

Spend $15 in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe or marquee to get a ride in one of the huge Lindt Lindor Zorb Balls at Darling Harbour Marina.

This is the first Cool Yule and is hosted by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority with partners and will be held at various spots in Darling Harbour from June 13 to July 13.

Find ideal Winter Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels 

Skating, Songs and Striptease Make for Chilly Winter Fun in Perth

The James St Amphitheatre is set to become an ice rink

It might be tempting to stay indoors, but a number of events around town are hoping to entice you out into the chilly weather during the winter months.

Need something to entertain the kids? A 250 square metre outdoor skating rink will be open in the James Street Amphitheatre from July 4 to 20, just in time for the school holidays.

If you’re a whiz on a pair of skates it could make for a romantic date, particularly if your loved one is less coordinated and needs to hold onto you for dear life. Adults can indulge in a little mulled wine or cider afterwards, while the kids (and the big kids) can renew their sugar high on hot chocolate and cookies.

It’s the first time Winterland has been held in Perth, though a similar event was held in Fremantle in 2012. More details are available here.

If a snowball fight is more up your alley, pack up the family and head to Bindoon this Sunday for the Wear Ya Wellies Family Fun Day at Edmonds Place Reserve. A "snow truck" will provide the winter-themed fun, along with quirky competitions such as "Welly Toss" and Tug-O-War.

The City of Perth will also host its own snowfield in Forrest Place starting 7 July, but it's only for kids aged under 12 and their parents.

Those who really want to heat things up might find some saucy inspiration among the acts at this year’s Perth City Winter Arts Season, which runs until the end of August.

Generally, winter is a time when most people want to be putting more clothes on and not taking them off, but if you’re willing to risk hypothermia, there are burlesque workshops running, as well as striptease shows by national and international performers.

Also part of the Winter Arts Season, a monthly supper club held in the undercroft of the Perth Town Hall on the last Friday of each month. The set-up is a bit of a do-it-yourself degustation with street food vendors selling their wares and local musicians providing the entertainment.

If you’re really into the local music scene, the Hidden Treasures series will run every Thursday in July. It’s the fourth time the event has been held in Fremantle with a variety of acts scheduled to play in venues a little left of centre, including the Navy Club and the Fremantle Workers Club.

Finally, for something more sedate and (most importantly) free, Brookfield Place in the city will be illuminated once more for this year’s Winter Lights Projections.

From 12 to 28 July, a number of Perth’s historic buildings will be lit up with scenes of snow and ice. For more information, click here. 

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Opera in the Reservoir | Spring Hill, Brisbane | August 1st to 30th, 2014

Opera in the Reservoir. The Spring Hill Reservoir, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. Friday 1 August 2014, 7:30pm – Saturday 30 August 2014, 10:30pm

Brisbane’s Heritage-listed Spring Hill Reservoirs are set to become the new home for a leading Australian private opera company after being locked up and unused for decades.

Devoted to creating performance events in unusual, breathtaking spaces the Underground Opera Company (UOC) has provided a platform for professional singers and the audiences that love them for seven years.

Following negotiations over two years with the Brisbane City Council, UOC has the approval (and the keys!) to enter, clean and establish a purpose-built, high-quality performance space inside the Reservoirs. The interior is a stately, Victorian-esque space with pseudo-gothic arches and partitioned quarters conducive to comfortable, intimate seating.

A season of thirty (30) performances will be held throughout August 2014 to launch the new venue, with a maximum of 120 audience numbers per show.

“The Reservoirs are the ultimate space for our company – they are underground, rustic, earthy, conducive to good acoustics and have a special place in the historical heart of Brisbane people”, said company Director Bruce Edwards.

Built in 1871, the Reservoirs were once the main store house for drinking water extracted from hollows within Spring Hills, drawn up by the recently restored Spring Hill Windmill (Brisbane’s oldest surviving building, also Heritage-listed).

A quite achiever until recently, UOC has hosted events throughout Australia in natural, breathtaking spaces including the Jenolan Caves (Jenolan), Capricorn Caves (Rockhampton), Bli Bli Castle (Bli Bli), the Workshops Railway Museum (Ipswich), the Central Deborah Gold Mine (Bendigo) and in just a few weeks, the Hard Times Mine (Mt Isa).

“We are incredibly proud and grateful to be provided this significant opportunity by Brisbane City Council and are ecstatic to bring world-class concerts and events to the backyard of all Brisbane people”, said Mr Edwards.

Tickets for the launch season will be available for purchase from TODAY 6 May 2014 via Ticketmaster. www.ticketmaster.com.au

Our audience have said-

"I laughed, cried and cheered. Do not miss these incredible concerts!"  D. Morgan

"I never thought I would enjoy Opera so much.  Underground Opera has just converted me!"  M. Boyd

"I have seen Opera concerts all around the world and Australia and this one certainly ranks as one of the best." R. Williamson

Get a group together for a great night out or make a perfectly romantic evening for just you and your partner.  

Get Tickets HERE

See you at the show!

'Game Of Thrones: The Exhibition' confirms Sydney dates

Now that the fourth blood-soaked season of HBO’s Game Of Thrones has come to a close, fans are no doubt left wondering what to do with themselves until season five. As previously announced, however, those based in Sydney have an extra helping hand in the form of Game Of Thrones: The Exhibition, which has now confirmed its running dates of July 1 to July 5.

Being hosted at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the joint HBO-Google Play production will be open to the public, free of charge, between 10am and 8pm on its operating days. Launch day – Tuesday, July 1 – will have slightly later hours, running from 11am to 10pm.

The exhibition will feature a range of authentic costumes, props, armour and weapons seen on the show, and an Oculus Rift-powered immersive experience that puts users in the boots of some poor sap guarding the frozen, gargantuan Wall, and give attendees the opportunity to get their face snapped while lounging about on the world’s most uncomfortable-looking chair – the Iron Throne.

The announcement comes in conjunction with the release of Game Of Thrones’ fourth season on Google Play today, which includes a slew of exclusive content for Aussie buyers including the featurette A Slave To Grammar: Creating The Valyrian Language, which is a must-watch for anyone who wants to craft insults only other giant nerds will understand. A collected edition of the first three seasons is also available.

Source: http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2014/06/17/game-of-thrones-the-exhibition-confirms-sydney-dates/

Perth’s Kings Park & Botanic Garden named one of the world’s top 10 best parks

There’s no need to head to New York, Paris or Barcelona - one of the world’s top parks is right here in Perth.

Kings Park and Botanic Garden has been ranked the sixth best in the world, according to the latest rankings from TripAdvisor, based on the opinions of travellers on the international review site.

At No.6, the Perth attraction beat other well-known tourist sites including Park Guell in Barcelona (No.7) and Luxembourg Gardens in Paris (No.10).

The world’s top park was Stanley Park in Vancouver, followed by the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs and New York City’s Central Park.

The Perth park’s views and open space have been a consistent hit with TripAdvisor reviewers, being rated a “must-do” for a visit to the WA capital.

“Having travelled widely I have to say that I can’t stay away from Kings Park. Such a beautiful place and the views across the city, particularly at night are simply breathtaking,” wrote SimonHat from Middlesbrough in the UK.

“Perth should be proud of this wonderful place,” wrote PestoKing from Wodonga, Victoria. “You could spend hours here, next time we will.”

WA minister for the environment and heritage Albert Jacob said it was great that tourists were enjoying the garden overlooking inner-city Perth.

“We are thrilled to not only be ranked sixth in the world in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for Attractions, but also to read the amazing reviews posted on TripAdvisor by visitors from all over the world every day,” he said.

“Kings Park is a place of inspiration, relaxation, recreation and wonder; something we proudly share with interstate and overseas visitors.”

Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/perths-kings-park-botanic-garden-named-one-of-the-worlds-top-10-best-parks/story-e6frfkp9-1226957455562

Cool Yule: Darling Harbour's 'Icemen' ready to sculpt away

Edward Fraze and Don Harrison Jr, aka the "Icemen", have readied their tools - now all they need is a big ice block. Photo: Brendan Esposito

Darling Harbour has a pair of pocket aces up its sleeve in its attempt to draw families and tourists to the precinct as the mercury dips: two "extreme ice sculptors" from Colorado. 

Armed with chisels and chain saws, "Icemen" Edward Fraze and Don Harrison jnr will give three live sculpting performances from Tuesday night until Friday. 

The pair will have just 30 minutes to transform large slabs of ice, weighing up to 150 kilograms, into winter-theme pieces, and Fraze says audiences can expect a "very high energy, very intense performance".

"As the performance starts, one of us will take one part of the sculpture and the other will take the other part, and we just go to town. We almost race each other," Fraze said. 

The duo "like to improvise along the way", and Fraze hinted that a menagerie of icy polar bears, penguins and other snow-loving creatures would grace the Harbourside Amphitheatre before melting down to a puddle – eventually. 

While Sydney's winter is substantially milder than the Americans are used to, a supply of dry ice and water will slow the melting process. 

The free Extreme Ice Show is part of Darling Harbour's Cool Yule festival, which runs for four weeks until July 13. Other activities include a snow pit, an open-air ice-skating rink, a 25-metre inflatable snow slide, firework displays and a frozen forest installation. 

NSW Government announces $7.2 million to transform the Australian Museum

The Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Troy Grant MP today announced $7.2 million for the transformation of the Australian Museum.

The Australian Museum, the nation’s oldest and one of the most important scientific research, educational and cultural institutions, will receive $4.7 million over two years to complete a Master Plan to develop the current museum site. The New Australian Museum Master Plan will include new spaces dedicated to education and learning, a large temporary exhibition space to host international blockbuster exhibitions as well as a dedicated gallery to display the Museum’s internationally significant Pacific collection.

A further $2.5 million has also been granted to implement Stage 1 of the New Australian Museum which will significantly improve the visitor experience and accessibility. The planned works in Stage 1 include a new entrance on William Street, a new gallery space highlighting biodiversity, as well as a new rooftop brasserie with spectacular views over the city to the harbour.

Mr Grant said, “The NSW State Government recognises the importance of the Australian Museum to the city, the state and the nation and is funding these important works and future planning to ensure the Australian Museum can deliver a world-class visitor experience to the people of NSW and to interstate and international tourists.”

Kim McKay AO, CEO and Director of the Australian Museum said, “We are excited to receive this funding from the NSW Government which will allow us to immediately begin transforming the museum. The visitor experience will be markedly improved by moving the main entrance to William Street. Our permanent gallery space will be added to for the first time in over 30 years with the creation of 632 m2 of exhibition space on biodiversity featuring more than 400 animals.

“This is our first step in a visionary long-term Master Plan for the entire Australian Museum site. The planning funds will allow us to develop detailed plans over the next two years. I’m also delighted we can make immediate changes to transform the visitor experience – with a new gallery, new entrance, improved visitor circulation and new rooftop brasserie,” Ms McKay said.

Source: http://australianmuseum.net.au/media/Museum-transformation