Cats - Coming Soon to Capitol Theatre Sydney

Following its triumphant return on the West End, the acclaimed revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical CATS is set to have audiences purring with pleasure when it comes to the Capitol Theatre from 30 October.

DELTA GOODREM is confirmed to play the coveted role of Grizabella in Sydney and will sing Memory, one of the most well-known songs of all time.

Receiving outstanding reviews from critics and bloggers alike, this new production extended its London season due to overwhelming public demand.  Now audiences here will see the 2015 Olivier Award-nominated revival, which reunited the original creative team and brought CATS back to the West End after a 12 year absence.

Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the show is alive with highly entertaining feline characters and wonderful witty verse, as the Jellicle Cats come out to play in a larger-than-life junkyard on the night of the Jellicle Ball.  One by one they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.

One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, CATS has enchanted more than 73 million people in over 300 cities around the world, winning numerous awards including Olivier and Tony awards for Best Musical.

Featuring a fantastical set, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magnificent score that includes the poignant hit song ‘Memory’, dazzling choreography and stunning costumes, CATS is a brilliant song and dance spectacular – you won’t believe your eyes!


‘Simply purrfect’. Daily Mirror, UK


From 30 October 2015 for a strictly limited season

View the Capitol Theatre Website for More Information 

Nearby accommodation from Metro Hotels:

Aspire Hotel Sydney
Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central
Metro Hotel on Pitt
Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour
Metro Apartments on King

Short Summer Escapes at Metro Hotels in Sydney

Sydney shines this summer. Book your Sydney short summer escape now with Metro Hotels in the CBD, Ultimo and Darling Harbour.



Take in a show such as Matilda the Musical or Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. How about some retail therapy or see Sydney light up with a Christmas light extravaganza.



Receive 10% off your next stay when you book online with Metro Hotels. Enter the promo code Summer123 when you make your booking at metrohotels.com.au

See all Metro Hotels Hot Deals

Be quick to secure your short summer escape to Sydney at www.metrohotels.com.au

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is Celebrating the Arrival of the First Koala Joey for the 2015 Breeding Season!

IT'S A BOY! We are celebrating our newest koala joey. This adorable baby boy is now beginning to explore the world outside his mother’s pouch after being born 14 January 2015!

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is celebrating the arrival of the first koala joey for the 2015 breeding season!

Let’s make sure we share this exciting news with all of our Sydney guests.

Quick Facts:

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 14^th January 2015

Parents: Erica and Jack

Current Home: Gum Tree Valley

Name: Fun fact coming soon!

Our adorable koala joey's favourite activities include eating Eucalyptus, hanging out with mum and sleeping!

Visit the Wild Life Sydney Zoo

Nearby accommodation at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour and Metro Apartments on King

Melbourne Tourism Week - Another Reason to Visit the World’s Most Liveable City

Melbourne Tourism Week - Another Reason to Visit the World’s Most Liveable City

The Melbourne Tourism Week presents yet another reason to visit Melbourne, the world’s most liveable city for the fifth consecutive year. The city just turned 180 and is celebrating its tourism industry and the diversity of experiences it offers with a number of events across the city.

While celebrating tourism, these events also exhibit the value of the visitor economy to Melbourne. 

Laura Cavallo, Chief Executive, Destination Melbourne said: “Melbourne Tourism Week is the opportunity to celebrate our amazing tourism industry which provides substantial contribution towards Melbourne’s social, cultural and economic well-being. 

On the back of Melbourne recently being awarded the world’s most liveable city title in 2015 for the fifth consecutive year, we are proud to celebrate Melbourne’s global success as a dynamic international destination. 

According to the latest National and International Visitor Surveys, Melbourne received an estimated 8 million domestic and over 2 million international overnight visitors for the year ending March 2015. That’s over 27,000 people Melbourne hosted per night during the course of that year. (This estimation doesn’t include the additional 16.4 million day trip visitors the city welcomed as well.) 

Considering the total domestic and international visitor expenditure for the year ending March 2015, it is estimated visitors spent $13.64 billion dollars in Melbourne, which is the equivalent of $37.3 million per day and $1.5 million per hour. That’s a significant economic injection which keeps Melbourne businesses sustainable and residents employed.” 

Regular tourists can also check out Mozo’s Travel Money section for money saving tips and the top deals in the market. 

The events lined up through the week include:

Sunday 30 August: Melbourne Day

As Melbourne turns 180, the city will liven up with festivities including live music, Aboriginal didgeridoo performances, free ferry trips and more.

Tuesday 1 September: Melbourne Tourism Industry Exchange

Over 60 exhibitors from Melbourne and the surrounding areas will showcase their products to more than 500 tourism professionals who greet and entertain the millions of visitors to Melbourne every year. The event will take place from 1-4pm, Zinc at Federation Square. 

Wednesday 2 September: Local Council Tourism Breakfast

The focus of this event is on investment attraction and building a healthy visitor economy. The keynote speakers are Stan Liacos, Director - City Futures at City of Greater Bendigo and Mark Wilsdon, Business Manager at MONA gallery in Tasmania. The event starts at 7am, Aerial, South Wharf. 

Thursday 3 September: MTILP roundtable with the Minister for Tourism 

The Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program (MTILP) participants will be take part in an exclusive round table discussion with the Hon. John Eren MP, discussing key issues and opportunities for the industry as its future leaders.

Saturday 5 September: Discover your local Visitor Information Centre (VIC) 

As the face of the tourism industry in the local community, Melbourne’s VICs are encouraging their local businesses and residents to come in and discover not only the role the VIC plays but what they can discover in their own backyard.

Metro Hotel on Pitt Hosting ‘RUOK?’ Day

Metro Hotel on Pitt Asking ‘RUOK?’

Property Manager of Metro Hotel on Pitt, Simon Wanstall and a number of Metro Hotel’s Sydney staff participated in the recent City2Surf in Sydney, raising over one and a half thousand dollars for Oz Harvest. This amount enables over 3,000 meals for people in much needed assistance.

So far this year, the small team at Metro Hotel on Pitt have collectively raised over $3,000 in a variety of causes, and donated their spare time to help out Sydney’s most disadvantaged homeless.

Simon and his team are great devotees to the local community in Sydney and will be holding a number events leading up to“RUOK?” Day on September 11th, 2015.

“The welfare of our guests, colleagues and loved ones is important here at Metro Hotel on Pitt. During September we will be holding a series of events to encourage conversation, promote friendship and comradery and hopefully raise the awareness of the campaign to ask RU OK?” said Simon. “Our mantra borrowed from www.RUOK.org.au, is that it isn’t okay to ask to borrow someone’s toothbrush, but it is okay to ask RU OK?” he added.

Metro Hotels has a strong history of ensuring their workforce is given the opportunity to talk to someone should anything not be okay through their Employee Assistance Line and Metro Hotel on Pitt is delighted to further strengthen this link and communication about mental health.

Events for the hotel team will include; coffee making classes, bread making experience, “sushi” rolling class, wine tasting, tea tasting. They will also be holding trust based games and talking a lot more about the stigmas behind this simple question.

Metro Hotel on Pitt website: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/metro-hotel-on-pitt-asking-ruok/

Simon Wanstall - Property Manager of Metro Hotel on Pit

More about RUOK Day

In 1995, much-loved Barry Larkin was far from ok. His suicide left family and friends in deep grief and with endless questions.

In 2009, his son Gavin Larkin chose to champion just one question to honour his father and to try and protect other families from the pain his endured.

Are you ok?

While collaborating with Janina Nearn on a documentary to raise awareness, the team quickly realized the documentary alone wouldn't be enough.

To genuinely change behaviour Australia-wide, a national campaign was needed. And from this realisation, and with Gavin and Janina’s expertise and passion, R U OK? was born.

Gavin remained a passionate champion of the fact a conversation could change a life, even as cancer ended his in 2011.

His and Janina’s legacy is ensuring all Australians realise a little question can make a big difference to those people struggling with life.

For anyone suffering from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, please visit Beyond Blue's website www.beyondblue.org.au/ for support or call 1300 22 46 36

Top 9 Things To Do At The Royal National Park

Photo Credit: Andy Richards/NSW Government

Top 9 Things To Do At The Royal National Park

Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD. Located at Audley, just 32km from Sydney city, the park offers incredible beauty and natural diversity just minutes from the highway and train station.

The Royal National Park is the world's second oldest purposed national park (after Yellowstone in the United States), and the first to use the term "national park".

In this natural haven, open ocean, sandstone cliffs and wetlands meet grassy woodland, rainforests, coastal heathland and eucalypt forests. You will also find some significant geological sites, including fascinating beach ridges at Cabbage Tree Basin.

1. Bushwalking and Hiking

The perfect escape for hikers, beginners or those who enjoy a scenic but challenging walk, you can't go past bush walking throughout the Royal National Park. There are numerous walking trails, for walkers of different levels and of different landscapes throughout the park. Over 100 kilometres of walking tracks take in a wide range of scenery - from forests to valleys to beaches - so you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to taking photos.

The most popular walk is the Coast Walk, which wraps around the park's eastern edge and delivers breath taking coastal scenery. It is a 30 kilometre track, beginning from Bundeena to Otford, or vice versa. It's recommended that walkers allow 2 days for the walk.

Coast Walk

Photo Credit: http://www.cronullabeachyha.com

2. Boating and Canoeing 

The park offers two different landscapes for boating - the river system or along the coast line. Towra Beach is an area of protected wetlands, sand flats and seagrass that can only be reached by boat or paddling. A tranquil beach that's great for padding and exploring, so pack a picnic or build a sandcastle by its calm waters. Any visitors will mostly be of the winged kind; rare migrating birds wade the coastline. To reach Towra Beach, you'll need to bring your own canoes or kayaks.

If you’d like to go on a boating or paddling adventure inside the park, you can launch your canoe or kayak from the nearby boat ramp at Fitzpatrick Park.

Inside the park resides the Hacking River which offers affordable boat and canoe hire for a fun filled day out to explore the river system. Boat and canoe hire at the Audley Boat Hire starts at AUD$20 for 1 hour hire to $40 for a day hire. At the end of the river is a beautiful waterfall and rock beds - great place to rest and relax.

Audley Boat Hire (inside Royal National Park): http://www.audleyboatshed.com/index.html

Hacking River

Photo Credit: http://blog.thinadoukasphoto.com

3. Picnics and BBQs

When you’re pining for the feel of sand between your toes, take the family and head to Wattamolla Beach picnic area. With loads of options to keep everyone happy, this is a popular place to base yourself while you’re exploring the park. Unpack a picnic under the shade of the cabbage tree palms and do some serious unwinding, or have a delicious barbeque.

Cabbage Tree Basin is a great place for relaxing and to have picnics. The area even offers gas barbecues so you can cook up a feast.

If you’re looking to escape the city for a relaxing day near the river, head to picturesque Reids Flat picnic area. When it’s time for lunch, spark up a free gas barbecue and cook up a feast, then enjoy it on a rug or one of the nearby picnic tables.

Fitzpatrick Park is another excellent place for picnics and barbeques. Let the kids to kick a ball or throw a frisbee to work up an appetite. After a tasty picnic or barbecue lunch, relax on your picnic rug, take in some sunshine or set off on an exploration of the park.

Wattamolla Beach

Photo Credit: NSW Government

4. Cycling

Lady Carrington Drive is an easy bike trail that follows the Hacking River upstream from Audley. Cycling over 15 creeks, each identified by its Aboriginal name, you’ll pass blue gums, turpentines and patches of rainforest. Keep your ear out for the mimicking call of the lyrebird and your eyes peeled for lace monitors and echidnas.

Loftus loop trail is a 10km trail that is bound to get your heart rate up. You’ll cover 8km of trail, along with 2km of designated bike track. Terrain changes from flat, wide trails to steep, single-track trails that can be a little rocky under your tyres. There are some steep sections around Temptation Creek, so it’s best to walk these if you’re an inexperienced rider. This diverse terrain makes Loftus loop trail one of Royal National Park’s most enjoyable cycling trails.

Lady Carrington Drive

Photo Credit: David Finnegan/NSW Government

5. Swimming, Surfing and Snrokelling 

Wattamolla Beach lagoon offers safe and enjoyable calm waters for snorkelling, swimming and liloing for the whole family. After enjoying a barbecue lunch, go for a walk along one of the beach tracks, with a prize for the first to see a sea eagle or oystercatcher.

Wattle Forest picnic area offers a beautifully scenic place for a swim for the family. You could be tempted to while away a lazy afternoon in the shade by the river, serenaded by the cockatoos and currawongs, or join the kids for some swimming.

Garie Beach picnic area is the spot for swimming and surfing the waves in the warmer months. It’s an ideal spot for birdwatching, so bring the binoculars for a chance to glimpse an albatross, sea eagle, and the rarer peregrine falcon as they cruise on the updraft from coastal breezes. Please note, Garie Beach does not have lifeguards on duty.

Garie Beach

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

6. Beaches

If you want a day at the beach, the Royal National park offers an array of beaches to choose from.

• Jibbon Beach - offers scenic grounds, Aboriginal tours, fishing and swimming areas.
• Garie Beach - ideal for swimming, fishing and picnics on this gorgeous and family-friendly beach.
• Wattamolla Beach - a calm lagoon and sheltered cove with a sandy bar at the inlet, perfect for snorkelling.
• Werrong Beach - a secluded beach paradise for nudists.

Wattamolla Beach

Photo Credit: Andy Richards/NSW Government

7. Jet-skiing 

Morgans Creek picnic area is a riverside picnic area in Georges River National Park. It’s large and grassy, so an excellent choice for families with children who like lots of space to roam. Popular with anyone who likes to play on the river, you’ll find waterskiers and jetskiers as well as boaters and fishermen out enjoying the water. A dual width boat ramp and easy access from the carpark means you will be out on the water in no time. So take your jet ski down for an awesome ride.

Morgans Creek

Photo Credit: Andy Richards/NSW Government

8. Fishing

Fitzpatrick Park is just the place for a spot of family fishing – cast a line to try your hand at catching a luderick, mullet or mulloway. For beach fishing, you can't go past Wattamolla Beach for a spot of fishing. Jibbon Beach also offers a fantastic spot for fishing on the sands. Reids Flat picnic area provides a calm area for fishing.

Reids Flat

Photo Credit: Andy Richards/NSW Government

9. Whale Watching

Head to Garie Beach for a spot of whale watching in the winter. Every year, humpback whales and southern right whales migrate along the NSW coastline. They head north throughout June and in the first week of July, and return southwards from around September to November. If you're unsure of when to go to spot them, try a walking tour. Sydney Coast Walks (formerly known as Royal Coast Walks) provides expertly guided half day, full day and overnight walking and hiking adventures through Royal National Parks, enabling guests to reconnect with nature and experience the wonder of whale watching.

Sydney Coast Walks: http://www.sydneycoastwalks.com.au/

Whale Watching Sydney

Photo Credit: NSW Government

Accommodation 

Looking for suitable accommodation near the Royal National Park? Then look no further than the
Metro Hotel Miranda, strictly non-smoking, conveniently located in the Sutherland area and only a 10 minute drive to the Royal National Park. Situated in the premier corner position, our hotel suites have kitchenettes and magnificent views over Sydney city. The hotel is located across from Westfield Miranda and cafes and shops. Sutherland Hospital is only a 3 minute drive away from the hotel. For those coming by public transport, the hotel is only 5 minutes walk from Miranda train station.

Metro Hotel Miranda is the only hotel near Cronulla which does not impose minimum night stays.

Location: Cnr Kingsway and Jackson Ave, Miranda NSW 2228 Australia
Book Metro Hotel Miranda Online: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/hotels/new-south-wales/metro-hotel-miranda/welcome/

Hugh Jackman Announces Broadway to Oz National Tour

HUGH Jackman is returning home for a national concert tour. 
  
The Hollywood star has announced a five-city arena concert tour in November and December, Broadway To Oz, based on his hit Broadway show, Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway.

The Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award winner promises a high-octane show taking audiences on a journey through his life so far, performing along with choirs, dancers and musicians.

“Anybody who knows me knows that keeping secrets is not my forte ... today is the announcement of a true bucket list moment for me,” Jackman told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

The production will showcase some of his biggest hits, including The Boy from Oz and Les Miserables, as well as a nod to his role as Wolverine in the X-Men film franchise.

“Broadway To Oz is a dream come true. This is THE show I’ve always wanted to bring home,” he said, promising fans, “You will get to know the real me.”

Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness and daughter Ava were present for the big announcement.
The eight-date concert tour will kick off in Melbourne on November 24, continuing on to Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

TOURING NOV & DEC 2015 

Tickets go on sale on Monday August 31 from Ticketek.