Flight attendants have been snapped sleeping in a “blanket fort” at the back of a Qantas A330 after a light malfunction meant the lights above their heads would not turn off.

This bizarre scenario was created because Qantas currently has more demand for transpacific travel than it has long haul jets. Because of this, the airline is running flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles on an A330, to keep up with demand.

Because of health and safety regulations (it’s a 7,161 mile trip, which takes over 14 hours) flight attendants must have time to rest. But A330s don’t have crew rest bunks. So flight attendants have been sleeping in a makeshift rest area at the back of the plane, in the last few rows of economy.

Because of a disagreement with the union representing Qantas flight attendants, it appears the flight attendants who have been running this A330 flight were a New Zealand based crew (according to Live & Let’s Fly).

Though this viral “blanket fort” incident was a one off (on other flights the lights were able to be turned off), so presumabely there were no blankets, flight attendants have regularly been sleeping in a makeshift rest area in economy for this route.

According to The Daily Mail, Qantas has said it is working on installing a new curtain that will create a private sleeping space.

Flight attendants will presumably be hoping Qantas can get hold of some more 787 Dreamliners or A380s for Across The Pond flights and save the A330 for trips to Bali… Either that or get a hold of some ear plugs and face masks…

• One Big Lesson Australia Can Learn From America’s ‘Return To Travel’ Boom
• Flight Attendant Reveals The Secret To Getting Special Treatment As A Passenger

The post Cabin Crew Go To Extreme Lengths To Get Some Sleep On Qantas Flight appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The auto industry’s race towards electrification has just heated up in a major way, with Germany’s BMW revealing that the seventh generation of their flagship full-size luxury sedan, the 7 Series, will see a fully-electric variant for the first time – the i7.

The new 7 Series is a seriously lavish new vehicle. The panoramic 31-inch BMW Theatre Screen in the rear is a particular highlight – it’s like a luxury cinema on wheels – as is the giant curved dash and the sumptuous, futuristic interior made with a high proportion of recycled materials.

It’s also huge. BMW is only offering a long-wheelbase version, and it’s almost 5.4m long: 10cm linger than the previous long-wheelbase 7 Series. It’s a total luxury barge in perfect ‘screw you’ BMW fashion.

The i7 variant is particularly impressive, with its 625kms of range, 400kW power figure and impeccable all-wheel drive. The 7 Series has always been about offering a buttery-smooth driving experience, and the i7 delivers that like no 7 Series that’s come before.

In short, it’s a great car. And it should make Mercedes-Benz very nervous.

The reason Mercedes – typically the king of luxury cars, with the S-Class being the gold standard for big luxury sedans – should be worried about the i7 is because they currently have no answer to it. Indeed, none of the other German car brands has electrified their top-of-the-line luxury sedan in the same way as BMW has.

Yes, Mercedes has the EQS, but as motor1.com puts it, “the EQS doesn’t quite match the extraordinary levels of ride comfort that its sibling, the S-Class, delivers”. They also say that it’s “frumpy”, “hunchbacked” and “looks like a runny egg”. Say what you really feel…

Conversely, the new i7/7 Series looks muscular; imposing; tank-like. BMW calls the design “monolithic” and we’d tend to agree – it’s the perfect look for a luxury land yacht. The spilt headlights look very cool, as does the large grille (although we’re not sure why car brands still insist on giving electric cars grilles… But that’s another discussion.)

RELATED: What The Apple Car Design Will Look Like, According To A Patent Spy

But this isn’t just about looks, it’s about what the i7 represents and offers. The EQS straight-up just isn’t an S-Class. Audi’s e-tron GT sedan is an awesome car, but it’s not an A8, nor is the e-tron SUV. The Porsche Taycan is even more awesome than the e-tron GT but it’s not a Panamera. You get the picture. But the i7 is very much a 7 Series.

This all might seem like a trivial difference but the fact you can get BMW’s biggest, most luxurious sedan in fully electric guise is actually quite significant.

It’s a vote of confidence in electrification from BMW and signals that going electric doesn’t mean you have to compromise on performance or comfort. EVs don’t need to be split off; ‘quarantined’ in their own model families. It’s normalising going electric. You’re just choosing a different donk, the same way you’d opt for diesel over petrol or a V8 over an inline-6.

It’s also easier for customers to wrap their head around when shopping for a new BMW – and might help take some of the stigma out of going electric. Again, all good things.

We’re just keen to drive one. Or be driven in one, under the circumstances.

• Meet BMW’s Cool Electric Car That Can Change Colour
• Audi’s New Electric Sports Car Leaves Australian Luxury Buyers With Quite The Predicament

The post BMW’s New Electric Luxury ‘Barge’ Should Have Mercedes-Benz Nervous appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

As RyanAir flights start revving, bus tours start booming and pub crawls start heaving, tourists are now flocking back to most of their usual haunts.

Speaking of this – and though it might sound weird to say – the Mediterranean has an image problem. From Malaga to Magdaluf, when you think about the Mediterranean, many people think of parties, sunburnt brits, Airbnb wars, long-suffering locals… and Barcelona.

But there’s a whole lot more than that to the Med. You don’t have to go to some far-flung place like The Maldives or a Monastry in Tibet to escape the masses. The Mediterranean has, to mention just a few cool hideaways, the Aeolian islands, Camogli, Punta Ala; the list goes on…

As for that ‘quietly amazing’ list, we’d like to make another suggestion: Kaş, Turkey. Kaş is so cool (and so far so little known) we reckon it could be one of Europe’s last refuges from over-tourism.

RELATED: Venice Discovers True Nature Of Its Overtourism Problem

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black and White (@safari_times)

Kaş is Turkey’s number one Scuba diving destination. But it’s a whole lot more than that. It’s a refuge from overtourism. Why? Mostly thanks to its geography.

Kaş is the beneficiary of rough charm and the absence of a nearby airport.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ЮЛЯ ПРО ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ (@travel.freestyle)

As CNN Travel wrote yesterday: it’s a seaside town that stayed relatively unknown to outsiders until the early 1980s. It was in this time period that sailors cottoned onto it, mooring their yachts at the harbour to restock.

According to CNN Travel, “Backpackers from Europe and the Antipodes soon followed.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Özge Seçil (@oozgesecil)

In a lucky twist of fate for foodies and music lovers, “In between, exiled sons from wealthy Istanbul families made Kaş (a word meaning eyebrow in Turkish) their home, bringing with them a love of music, good coffee and nature,” CNN Travel reports.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kas.maviyolculuk (@kostaboattrip)

Kaş gives you the chance to do as much or as little as you want. You can snorkel, swim or sunbathe at its beaches, take a boat trip to its Blue Grotto, go diving on Assi island, see the Hellenic architecture of the Antiphellos Ancient City, go shopping at the Kas Bazaar, kayak over a sunken city at Kekova and see the Lycian Rock Tombs.

You can also paraglide. Or go bar hopping in the old town (or visit the nearby beach, Kaputaş Plajı). The town is also famous for its bougainvillea-covered houses and Ottoman-style balconies.

A beautiful, unspoilt paradise indeed. Let’s just hope it doesn’t turn into Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach any time soon.

• Forget Saint-Tropez: Turkey Is Now The Centre Of The Luxury Yachting Universe
• Calista Luxury Resort: Hotel Industry Thriving In Turkey

The post This ‘Secret’ Turkish Hideaway May Be Europe’s Last Refuge From Overtourism appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The initial cost of a Bugatti is enough to bring water to the eyes of many of us, but if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford one, how much does it cost to maintain ownership?

It’s a question we imagine will keep you up at night. But fortunately, TikTok user @aacarsandexotics has given us the answer. Using the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport as an example, a limited edition variation of the iconic Bugatti Chiron supercar, @aacarsandexotics goes on to reveal how much it costs to change various fluids, brakes and tyres.

Put simply, you’re going to need a lot of cash to keep your Bugatti on the road. But, if you can afford the initial $3.6 million to park a Chiron Pur Sport on your drive, it’s highly like you’re going to be able to afford the regular service bills.

WATCH the cost breakdown of owning a Bugatti below.

All cars, no matter the brand or value, require routine fluid changes. Things like oil and brake fluid, for example, are changed at pre-determined intervals. In the case of the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, it’s claimed a fluid change is required every 14 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. The cost? US$24,952. A stark contrast to the couple of hundred dollars most of us will hand over to our local mechanic.

The TikTok user goes on to say that, at the same time as your fluid change, you’ll need to change the carbon blade magnesium wheels, which he adds in the comments section is “for safety reasons, so they are in optimal condition.” Four of those come in at $49,904 – without tyres.

If you want tyres – and you will, to ensure your Pur Sport complete with its 1,479hp and 1,180lb/ft of torque, remains planted to the road at all times – Bugatti recommends fitting your Pur Sport with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 TR tyres. Michelin itself describes these as a tyre “engineered for ultra-high performance of sport and hypersport cars, smashing lap times.”

All that performance doesn’t come cheap, of course, as a brand new set of 4 will set you back an extra $41,919. That’s a total of $91,823. For that money, you could get yourself a Volkswagen Golf R, with around $30,000 change. @aacarsandexotics does say that you can get a set of ‘standard’ tyres for $7,984. The Michelins are for those who really want to get the most out of their multi-million dollar supercar.

Other essential changes will eventually include the brake discs, brake pads, brake fluid, air duct coolers, turbochargers (there are 4) and the fuel tank. All of these goodies will sting you with a bill for $209,698.

That brings the total cost for just four years of ownership (according to the video creator) to $384,946. Pocket change no doubt for the eventual owners of the 60 models of Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport.

The Chiron Pur Sport joins the base Bugatti Chiron and its Chiron Sport siblings. While the overall design remains true to the original Chiron, some notable tweaks include a fixed rear wing, as opposed to the motorised version on its siblings. The top speed of the Chiron Pur Sport is actually lower than the Sport’s, 217mph compared to 261mph, but it’s able to reach that top speed slightly quicker thanks to a tweak of the gear ratios.

For numbers fans, the Chiron Pur Sport will hit 60mph in 2.3 seconds, 100mph in 4.3 seconds and will complete a quarter-mile drag in 9.4 seconds. With those kinds of figures, a combined fuel economy of 10mpg doesn’t actually sound too bad.

You can find out more about the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport here. Best get saving.

• How Much It Costs To Fuel A $600 Million Superyacht
• What It Costs To Have Your Own Private Jet Like Dan Bilzerian

The post How Much It Costs To Own A Bugatti appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Movies make the world go round and there are some great new movies being released this year in Australia.

And let us tell you, some of the movies slated for release in Australia this year look simply awesome! From highly-anticipated sequels to animated comedies to blockbuster action films; we guarantee you’ll be visiting your local cinema a lot in 2022!

Here are the best upcoming movies, all being released in Australia this year, that you simply must go and see.

Bullet Train

• Release Date: 4th of August

Bullet Train, based on the novel, Maria Beetle, has a stellar ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Joey King, Andrew Koji, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, Masi Oka, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Karen Fukuhara, Bad Bunny and Sandra Bullock. The film is an action-thriller about five assassins who, whilst on a train, realise their assignments all interconnect, and will be released on the 4th of August.

Nope

• Release Date: 11th of August

After the success of Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele returns with another horror film he’s written and directed called Nope. There haven’t been many plot details announced about Nope aside from the following short synopsis: “Residents of an isolated town witness a mysterious and abnormal event”. The film will star Daniel Kaluuya — who starred in Get Out — Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun. Nope is sure to shock and terrify viewers when it’s released on August 4th.

Black Adam

• Release Date: 20th of October

A superhero film based on the DC comics of the same name, Black Adam is intended to be a part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Black Adam is actually a spin-off of previous DC film Shazam! and will focus on Shazam’s archnemesis, the anti-hero Black Adam, played by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The film will be released on the 20th of October.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

• Release Date: 10th of November

A sequel to Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be the 30th film in the MCU. Hardly any details about the plot have been announced; many fans are anxious to see what happens, especially considering Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa/Black Panther in the MCU, sadly died in 2020, and it has been announced that the role of T’Challa will not be recast and will not even appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film will hit theatres on November 10th.

Avatar 2

• Release Date: 15th of December

Avatar 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the record-breaking, Oscar-winning film Avatar, which was released over ten years ago in 2009. James Cameron has returned to direct, write, and produce the film, which will see Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles from the first Avatar. Avatar 2 will be released on December 15th.

Movies Previously Released In Australia 2022

Nightmare Alley

• Release date: 20th of January

With a star-studded cast, Nightmare Alley is a crime drama, directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film is a neo-noir dream, or rather nightmare; pun fully intended. Starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley is delightfully thrilling. It was released in Australian cinemas on the 20th of January.

Death On The Nile

• Release Date: 11th of February

Death On The Nile, the sequel to the 2017 movie, Murder On The Orient Express is based on the 1937 book of the same name by legendary author Agatha Christie. Directed by and starring Kenneth Branaugh, Death On The Nile also stars Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Rose Leslie, Ali Fazal, Emma Mackey and Letitia Wright, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Death On The Nile was released in Australia on February 11th.

Uncharted

• Release Date: 17th of February

Fans of the extremely popular Uncharted video games rejoiced when it was announced that a movie based on the games was coming to our screens. The movie acts as a prequel to the games and tells the story of how a young Nathan Drake, played by Tom Holland, first met his sidekick Sully, played by Mark Wahlberg, as they embark on a dangerous quest to seek the lost treasure of El Dorado. Uncharted hit Australian cinemas on the 17th of February.

The Batman

• Release Date: 4th of March

Yes, another Batman movie; this time starring Robert Pattinson as the crime-fighting vigilante. The Batman is not an origin story but follows Bruce Wayne in his second year of being Batman as he pursues the serial killer, The Riddler. Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell also star in the film, which was released on the 4th of March.

Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre

• Release Date: 18th of March

Directed and written by Guy Ritchie, Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre is a spy action comedy starring Jason Statham as the super spy, ​​Orson Fortune. The film’s premise is that Fortune recruits Hollywood’s biggest movie star for an undercover mission. Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre also stars Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone and Hugh Grant, and was released in Australian cinemas on March 18th.

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

Release date: 22nd of April

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent stars Nicholas Cage, who plays a fictional version of himself in the action-comedy. The supporting cast includes Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan, Ike Barinholtz, Jacob Scipio, Lily Sheen, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tiffany Haddish. The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent was released on the 22nd of April.

Morbius

• Release Date: 1st of April

The Sony Pictures film, Morbius had been in the works since 2017 and is the first live-action film adaptation of the pseudo-blood-sucking vampire, Morbius, from the Marvel comics. Starring Jared Leto as the titular character as well as Matt Smith, Jared Harris, Adria Arjona, Michael Keaton, and Tyrese Gibson, Morbius was released on April 1st.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

• Release Date: 7th of April

The third film in the Fantastic Beasts franchise — which acts as a prequel to the Harry Potter series — Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is set in the 1930s and the story leads up to the wizarding world’s involvement in the ‘muggle’ World War II. Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, and Katherine Waterston reprise their roles, while Mads Mikkelsen replaces Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was released on the 7th of April.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

• Release Date: 6th of May

The highly anticipated sequel to Doctor Strange and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Benedict Cumberbatch reprise his role as Stephen Strange. The film follows the events of WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Loki, and is a deep dive into the multiverse; a concept explored frequently in the Marvel comics. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was released on the 6th of May.

Top Gun: Maverick

• Release Date: 27th of May

After more than thirty years, the best-living testing pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, returned to the silver screen. The sequel to the immensely popular Top Gun film, Top Gun: Maverick, sees Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their roles and follows Maverick as he trains top gun graduates. Top Gun: Maverick was released on the 27th of May.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie

• Release Date: 27th of May

Based on the Emmy-winning animated series, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a musical-comedy and sees the original voice cast from Bob’s Burgers reprise their roles. The film follows Bob and Linda struggling to keep their restaurant afloat after a ruptured water main leaves a huge sinkhole out front, while the kids, Tina, Gene, and Louise, try to solve a mystery. The Bob’s Burgers Movie was released on May 27th.

Jurassic World: Dominion

• Release Date: 10th of June

The highly anticipated third instalment to the Jurassic World films, Jurassic World: Dominion stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Iconic actors, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neil and Laura Dern, who appeared in the first 1993 Jurassic Park movie, also star in the film reprising their respective roles. The film’s plotline is humans dealing with dinosaurs being on the mainland and, naturally, wreaking havoc. Jurassic World: Dominion was released on June 10th.

Lightyear

• Release Date: 17th of June

Starring Chris Evans as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, Lightyear is a computer-animated Toy Story spin-off. The film acts as an origin story for Buzz Lightyear, the human who inspired the toy of the same name. Taika Waititi also has a voice-acting role in Lightyear, which was released on the 17th of June.

Thor: Love and Thunder

• Release Date: 8th of July

Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth Thor film and the 29th film overall in the MCU. Following the events of Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, the film explores Jane Foster taking on the mantle and powers of Thor.

Taika Waititi returned to direct and the film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jaimie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, and Vin Diesel. Thor: Love and Thunder was released in cinemas on the 8th of July.

Be sure to check out our full Thor: Love and Thunder review.

• Best Movies On Binge
• Best Films Available On SBS On-Demand

The post Movie Releases In Australia 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lots of things have changed over the last two-and-a-bit years thanks to The Spicy Cough but one thing’s remained pretty consistent: the Australian property market is on fire.

Sydney and Melbourne continue to rank in the top ten least affordable places to buy a house in the world (#3 and #6, if you’re curious), and other cities such as Hobart and Canberra have increasingly started to feel the crunch. This has been in no small part fuelled by COVID border closures and an otherwise sluggish economy making investing in property ever more alluring.

Byron Bay in particular has seen stratospheric property price increases, with already high property values seeing an over 210% increase over the last 12-18 months – a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Kooks and locals across the country have been clutching their açaí bowls, hoping their town doesn’t become the next Byron.

But there’s already one idyllic coastal local that looks like it’s heading that way: Noosa Heads, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Noosa Heads has always been a pretty exclusive part of the world but the last 12 months have seen house prices rise dramatically. According to Heatmaps, the median house price in Noosa Heads has risen by $400,000 over the last 12 months to $1.72 million.

For perspective, that’s 1.17 million above the median house price for Queensland, which only rose by $30,000 to $550,000 in the same period. (By the way, as 7 News reports, the median house price nationally is $1.07 million, which just shows how mental Australian property prices are.)

RELATED: Melbourne Man Finds Genius ‘Loophole’ That Outsmarts Australia’s Brutal Housing Market

A recent property sale has underscored just how in-demand Noosa Heads has become. 32 Noosa Parade, a rather dated waterfront property that the current owners only paid $90,000 for the land back in 1985, is tipped to sell for over $17 million.

If it achieves that, it would beat the Noosa record set in October last year when a four-bedroom home at 41 Picture Point Crescent sold under the hammer for $16.45 million, Domain relates. We might need to sit down and have a strong soy cap…

• Why Every New House In Sydney Looks Like A Postmodern Monstrosity
• Bruce Willis Has Sold Off An Incredible $86 Million Property Empire

The post ‘From $90,000 To $17 Million’: This Town Is The New Byron Bay appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The Australian fitness industry has made leaps and bounds in recent years. And now we’re on the cusp of another breakthrough, Fitness Playground Co-founder Justin Ashley has told DMARGE.

DMARGE spoke to Justin to find out how Australians’ relationships with gyms look in a post-COVID world, where people are exercising for reasons other than wanting to look like a Marvel superstar.

Justin told us there is a big gap between what the industry was like back in the day vs. what it needs to be now, and moving into the future.

Gyms were formed from bodybuilding back in the 80s. Justin explained: this was “really where gyms originated from.” If we then fast forward 15-20 years from now, however, Justin hopes we’ll have moved away from this limited perception of what a gym has to be about, and towards gyms being “at the forefront of preventative healthcare.”

That’s not to say there is anything wrong with bodybuilding; it’s just that gyms can be useful for a whole lot more than that.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fitness Playground (@fitnessplaygroundaus)

The big question, though, is: how do we pull the blinkers off? According to The Heart Foundation, we’re not a healthy nation. Even as our gym culture has switched from Arnie posters and DMX rap to F45 and Crossfit, cardiovascular disease still currently affects more than 4 million Australians, causes 1 in 4 deaths and costs the Australian economy 5 billion each year (more than any other disease).

According to Justin, today we’re at a tipping point. Justin said that “what we can do in next 10 years will determine how quickly we can move to a place where the Australian government ensures that consumers can start to see that going to the gym is the best thing you can do for mental health.”

“Exercise is the best cure or enhancement for any mental health issues outside of pharmaceuticals. We’ve got major issues in that area and exercise is a solution to most of these things.”

Justin Ashley

“At the moment in our industry there’s a huge movement in that space. AUAactive – the newly formed Fitness Australia – has entered into agreements with Medibank Private and Bupa and where they’re driving towards is connecting the fitness industry and allied health industries and bringing them closer together to work on the preventative health measures. So there have definitely been major leaps and bounds in those areas.”

Justin added: “Gyms’ biggest issue is we actually don’t do a good enough job in many cases of ensuring that our members actually get results.”

“As most people know half of the members at many gyms don’t even use their membership.”

Justin Ashley

“I think the way we’re going to be able to move forward to be taken seriously and to be the leaders in preventative health is to actually design and build experiences that members actually show up to and want to use.”

“The second part of that is can we use biometrics, which I think is the future of health and fitness generally, to actually measure and track the health of our members.”

“If we can show we’re getting more members using our facilities [and] that the use of our facilities improves their health then there is going to be a direct cost saving to the government, so less sick people.”

“That’s the chain of events that needs to take place and hopefully we can play a part in it.”

Justin Ashley

Justin also shared with DMARGE that the gym is much more of a social meeting place than it was a few years ago. He told DMARGE: “I did a class in London the other day – a cycle class with about 50 people. 80% of that class were groups or pairs of friends who were all under the age of probably around 35.”

“It was quite a young demographic who were going and doing an exercise class together – it appeared to be a social event. You could sort of see the people there were using that as a social outing as opposed to going to the movies or the pub.”

Justin Ashley

“We’ll see that more and more. If we think back 20 years the social hangout ground for most people between 30 and 40 years old in particular after work was the pub. But now I think so many people my age and younger are going to the gym after work on weeknights.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fitness Playground (@fitnessplaygroundaus)

Why? According to Justin, there’s a natural flow where people use that as their social outing. He also attributes it to the industry now focussing more on making the gym an experience, not just a chore you do after going to work (the goal being to get people thinking “I can’t wait to go and try out this class or do this session with my friend”).

“For us,” Justin shared, “we started as quite a small gym, we had about 20-25 high-intensity classes a week. Today we run about 500 different classes a week.”

“The biggest change that we had was when COVID hit two years ago and everyone was locked down. Two major things happened – people want to exercise on their terms – outdoors, at home, at the time when they want it in the way that they want it.”

Though people have now been able to flock back to gyms, this expectation of being able to work out on their own terms has carried through.

Justin also told DMARGE that many gym goers’ goals have changed: “I’ve been in the industry now for 20 years; if we go back to when I first started most people – 80-90% – that joined up said they wanted to lose weight or build muscle.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fitness Playground (@fitnessplaygroundaus)

Even as little as eight years ago, when Fitness Playground had just started, about 50-60% of members said that said they wanted to look better as their main goal, Justin told DMARGE. Compare that to today and “for the first time ever, more members said they wanted to feel better than look better in my time in the industry.”

“When COVID hit we could sort of see this trend moving towards people using exercise for how they feel not how they look. Then we doubled down into the wellness space and you know, trying to do whatever we can to make people think more holistically about the fitness experience and I think that will continue more and more for us in the future.”

This could involve adding recovery services and building out the whole wellness need that people have, Justin told DMARGE.

Watch this space.

• ‘Gyms Are The New Nightclubs’: Pandemic Sparks Australian Fitness Revolution
• What Happens To Your Muscles & Body When You Stop Lifting Weights

The post While You Weren’t Looking, Australian Gyms Have Changed appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you set off on a hike with “getting good photos” as your goal rather than “enjoying yourself” you’re probably not setting yourself up for a good time.

But no matter: in 2022, as tourists swarm Sydney’s Figure 8 pools and clog Byron Bay with selfie sticks, Intrepid Instagram Explorers must go further afield to escape the crowds.

With this noble goal in mind, I recently set off for Forster’s Fairy Pools. Located three and a half hours north of Sydney, Forster’s Fairy Pools are a (very) hidden gem.

The Barrington Coast has been likened to Greece (in terms of the shimmering waters, if not the food), numerous times.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dave (@davesyd_)

Inspired by this high praise, as well as photos of Forster’s Fairy Pool on Barrington Coast’s Instagram page (and on the @ameliamay_s and @davesyd_ Instagram accounts), I thought I’d go and see the place for myself – particularly the secluded, sandy rockpool, just metres from open ocean.

Following the instructions of barringtoncoast.com.au, I got lost a number of times, all while the tide got higher and higher, and my group of friends got more and more inclined to hole up at an inferior rock pool and enjoy the day rather than waste the afternoon bush bashing.

Not on my lookout, though.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, this is how it all started.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amelia Shorter (@ameliamay_s)

You’re supposed to park at the end of Burgess Road, where the track begins. However, in our midday insouciance, we just parked at Burgess Beach.

We did re-read the instructions and realise you are meant to park further up. But at this point, we were all a bit: “whatever,” adding another 500 metres to what would become a long day of walking.

That was mistake number one.

We then followed a muddy path for 5 or 10 minutes before coming to a fork. We turned left.

We didn’t know it yet, but this was mistake number two.

We followed that path down to the rocks. We then followed a coastal path for about 5 minutes before coming to a dead end.

Knowing the instructions for the hike read: “Follow the track at the end of Burgess Road down to the water’s edge before a climb back up through the scrub” we assumed there must be a way up the cliff.

We scrambled up and down like mountain goats trying to find another path. No dice.

We then went back into the undergrowth and took the other path at the fork. We followed this for a while, before once again coming out on another stretch of coastline. Finally: something promising.

However, after rock scrambling for a few minutes, we found some cool pools, but nothing as spectacular as the one we were searching for (which, Instagram accounts like MidCoast Aerial Photography’s had led us to believe, would be full of mysticism, nymphs and pixies).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MidCoast Aerial Photography (@midcoast.aerial.photography)

Instead, we found some rock fishermen. We asked if they knew where ‘the pool’ was. They said “nah.”

At this point, the rest of the group was happy to spend some time enjoying the day. Not me though. I went back to a creek we passed while rock scrambling and climbed up it.

I found a track at the top, followed it for 10 minutes or so, and took the following photo. Finally.

I ran back, found the rest of the group happily lazing around, low-key ruined things, hurried everyone back to the creekbed, and we started hiking again. We climbed the creek bed up the hill and walked to the spot above the rock pool (as seen in the photo above) and then down a hill on the other side. We then scrambled around the rocks from the other side and finally found the pool.

The problem was, we had taken so long to find it, the tide was no longer dead low (and was getting higher). So we didn’t feel comfortable staying long. We took a quick few photos, had a snorkel, and got out. It was satisfying to finally reach the fairy pool – but it didn’t feel that much more magical than the other pools we had stopped at earlier.

We probably enjoyed it less, even, because we were in a rush to start the walk back before it got dark.

Oh and, while we’re whinging, the pool was harder than you’d think (given the wonderous Instagram visions), to climb out of, as the rocks were quite sharp.

RELATED: Photo Sums Up Difference Between Going To The Beach In Australia & Europe

On a positive note: the views were awesome. Also, unlike, the Figure 8 Pools I visited last year, there wasn’t a soul there.

Like anywhere where great photography has made a place you’ve researched look enchanted and mystical, I was a little bit disappointed (or am I just saying that to put people off visiting? You be the judge). This was mainly because Forster’s Fairy Pool looks way more spectacular from up high than it does from ground level (when I first got near it I barely recognised it, it looked so different to what I’d seen up on the cliff).

It is pretty cool though, and if you get there with enough time to relax, I’m sure you would have a blast.

Just remember to leave with enough time, and to actually enjoy the place. Also: only go if you are a confident swimmer, the tide is low, and if the waves are tiny.

• My Dorrigo Waterfall Trip Was A Complete Disaster
• I Did Sydney’s Most Instagram Famous Walk & It Was A Complete Disaster
• I Tried Bali’s Instagram Famous Floating Breakfast & It Was A Complete Disaster

The post I Found Australia’s Best ‘Greece Alternative’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While it’s certainly true that many men’s hairstyles can be classified as classic, none perhaps fit into that bracket better than the crew cut. The very epitome of timeless, it is one that most guys will rock at some point in their lives. And, with several variations of the crew cut that you might not have even known about, there’s an incredibly good chance you’ve already rocked at least one of them already.

History of the Crew Cut

A perfect haircut for virtually all scenarios, the crew cut blends in perfectly at both the office and the bar (and everywhere in between). Undeniably masculine, many believe it originated in the military, but its history stretches back much further.

Contrary to belief, its history can be traced back to 18th century England (where it was actually known as a short pompadour, taking inspiration from the pompadour that originated in France around the same time).

The name is believed to have stemmed from the fact that it proved popular with the rowing teams – or crews – of Ivy League universities – Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell – as it helped to keep the hair out of their face so they could focus on the race instead.

It was after this that crew cuts became popular in the military, with many inductees being forced to adopt it – if they weren’t given a buzz cut – and many continuing to rock one even after they finished serving.

How To Ask Your Barber For A Crew Cut

The crew cut is a global men’s haircut, and therefore, all barbers should have some understanding as to what goes into creating one. We can’t say for sure, but we imagine it to be one of the very first styles they learn at barbering school. But, as this guide proves, there are several variations, so you’ll do well to sit down in the chair with a clear idea of the look you want.

A crew cut is a traditionally short haircut, but there is some wiggle room with regards to the hair length and what officially defines one. So don’t necessarily assume you have to have your hair cut shorter than you’d normally like, you should weigh up your options.

You’ll also want to consider whether you want to add a fade into the mix. Fades suit a vast majority of men and an even greater selection of hairstyles, especially the crew cut. You have a number of options in this area too, with a low fade, mid fade, high fade, skin fade and taper fade all being worthy contenders for pairing with a crew cut haircut.

How To Style A Crew Cut

If you’re a man in possession of thick hair, you’ll find the crew cut much easier to style than your fellow man. This is because thick hair naturally wants to stand up straight, a key feature of authentic crew cuts. That’s not to say guys with thin hair can’t get involved, but the shape of your face will need to be taken into greater consideration.

A crew cut is technically defined as having hair that graduates in length from the front to the back and the crown. It’s this difference in length that caused it to be called a short pompadour many years ago. The longer section at the front can be rounded or flattened, with each style suiting particular face and head shapes, and the sides and back of the head are usually tapered (but as we’ve previously mentioned, the length of taper or fade you introduce is up to you).

Because a crew cut is a short hairstyle, and it wants to stand upright, if you have thick hair that does so naturally, you don’t need to worry about styling it too much. You could even go completely product-free if you wish. Some guys do, however, like to use a small amount of styling product to either give it slightly rougher, messy edge, or to just give it some shine.

Best Crew Cut Haircuts

So, now you know everything there is to know about the crew cut, time to take a look at the numerous ways in which you can have yours cut and styled.

Classic Crew Cut

We’ve already mentioned much of the criteria for a classic crew cut. It’s a short haircut for men that sees the hair on top of the head kept longer than the hair on the back and sides, which gradually tapers down to a shorter length as it approaches the ears. From the side, a classic crew cut will look horizontal on top, despite the hair at the front being longer than the hair at the back, and for the most part, your barber will be able to use clippers and a comb.

You can have some texture added using scissors (more on that later) but a classic crew cut will be cut to an even length all over the top.

Long Crew Cut

As we said earlier, there is some wiggle room when it comes to the length you have your crew cut. While a traditional one will be kept at around a number 3 or 4 on the top, a long crew cut can be achieved with a few inches of length of hair on top. As long as the hair stands upright, it can be considered a crew cut, but as soon as it starts naturally falling over, you’re into completely different hairstyle territory.

You’ll want to make sure you still introduce a taper to the back and sides of your head, and if you wish, a long crew cut does allow for some hair product to be applied, such as a gel or wax, to help it maintain its shape throughout the day.

Short Crew Cut

Yes, we’re aware the crew cut is already a short hairstyle for men, but it can be made shorter still, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. You can opt for what is pretty much a buzz cut on top of the head – where the hair is kept one uniform length – which does go against crew cut rules, so you’ll want to make sure you taper the sides to be shorter still. This will introduce the contrast in length required for a crew cut.

A short crew cut is one of the most low maintenance hairstyles, since it requires very little styling

Textured Crew Cut

We promised you we’d mention a crew cut that was paired with textured hair, and here it is. A traditional crew cut will see the hair cut relatively uniformly all over, no matter the length. While this is a great option for some men, others like to make their crew cut a little bit messier. Messy hair can still be incredibly professional – as long as you steer clear of bed hair – and is a perfect partner for the crew cut. To achieve a messier look, you’ll want to ask your barber to add some texture to your crew cut by way of point cutting.

Point cutting is the best way to achieve a textured crewcut, as it sees the ends of the hair strands cut to varying lengths. When it comes to the styling process, you’ll instantly notice how you can create vastly different looks, depending on how you run your hair styling product through your hair. Men with wavy hair have a natural advantage of introducing texture to their crew cut, so won’t need to worry so much about having the hair point cut.

Whatever your hair type, a textured crew cut is an ideal option for men who don’t quite fancy the uniform, sometimes fluffy appearance of a classic crew cut.

Ivy League Crew Cut

The Ivy League haircut and the crew cut are pretty much the same thing. In fact, in the US, a crew cut that is left to grow out naturally evolves into an Ivy League crew cut when it comes to naming, and so there is little to separate the two hairstyles, other than the length. An Ivy League crew cut still sports tapered back and sides, but the hair on top has enough length to it that it can be styled into a side part.

A great men’s hairstyle for the boardroom as well as the bar, the Ivy League crew cut is a professional-looking variation to the slightly more casual classic crew cut or textured crew cut. You can incorporate a fade to your Ivy League crew cut if you wish to help create a more modern crew cut variation, but classic examples of the Ivy League crew cut make do without the fade.

Curly Crew Cut

A great majority of men’s haircuts favour guys with straight hair, leaving those with curly hair or wavy hair to miss out on much of the action, and having to make do with their hair type they’ve been blessed with. There are several instances where curly hair trumps its straighter cousin, as the curls give the hair natural volume, something which straight haired gents can only dream of.

Curly hair can even be fashioned into a crew cut hairstyle, resulting in a completely unique look. You’ll want to cut your curly hair short still, in order to fit in with crew cut criteria. While this will inhibit much of the curly hair’s natural volume and texture, the section left on top of the head will still be long enough to flaunt what your genetics gave you. As with other crew cuts, you’ll want to keep the back and sides of your curly crew cut short and tapered.

To further elevate your curly crew cut, you can introduce a stubble beard to help counter-balance the extra volume of hair on top of the head.

Crew Cut with Low Fade

The crew cut in its classic form is utterly timeless, make no mistake. But that doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to being modernised, and incorporating a low fade into your crew cut is a surefire way to up the style ante. A fade haircut of any description pairs incredibly well with the crew cut (which we’ll get into in a bit) but for those who are either new to the fade, or don’t want to make any drastic changes to their crew cut, a low fade is the best option.

Concerning only the small section of hair over the ears, a low fade helps to streamline your crew cut haircut. Because the hair on the back and sides should already be shorter than the hair on top to fulfil the requirements of a traditional crew cut, removing this small portion of hair, or at least, graduating the length even further, offers a subtle yet effective upgrade.

Crew Cut with Taper Fade

Oh so similar to the crew cut with low fade is a crew cut with taper fade. The primary difference is the rate at which the hair gets shorter as it approaches the ears and neckline. A low fade will see the hair get shorter rather quickly, whereas a taper fade will see it gradually get shorter and shorter. Introducing a taper fade to your crew cut may mean you’ll have to have it starter further up the sides of your head compared to a low fade, but you’ll end up with a similar length when you get to the ears.

Incorporating a taper fade is the perfect way to achieve a modern crew cut haircut, and similar to the low fade variant, offers a subtle visual difference compared to a classic crew cut.

Crew Cut with High Fade

A low fade and a taper fade and foolproof crew cut fade options. For those looking to be a little more daring with their crew cut hairstyle, there is always the option of a high fade. A high fade, as the name suggests, starts the fade higher up the side and back of the head. This, naturally, causes the hair to finish shorter much earlier than with the other fade haircut options, revealing a great amount of skin.

It’s a great hairstyle for men with squarer face shapes, as revealing a greater amount of skin can elongate the face and help to accentuate strong facial features such as cheekbones and the jawline. A crew cut with high fade can also look seriously good when paired with some facial hair, as we feel the image attached shows. As long as you stick to the criteria for a classic crew cut with the hair on top of the head, you’re free to do what you wish with the sides. A high fade could just be the perfect option for you.

Side Swept Crew Cut

Ok, now we’re getting into real technicalities when it comes to variations within the entire crew cut arena. A side swept crew cut can be viewed as a mash-up of both the classic crew cut and the Ivy League crew cut. It’s essentially the hairstyle seen on Zac Efron a few images above in the crew cut low fade section. A side swept crew cut is, as its name suggests, a crew cut which is styled sideways.

You Might Also Like

• Best Low Fade Haircuts For Men To Rock In 2022
• The Definitive Guide To Different Hairstyles For Men In 2022

The post Crew Cut Haircuts For Men In 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.