Qantas First Class is back! Even better: it’s had a facelift (or, to be more accurate, a light moisturiser). A fourth Qantas A380, the Reginald Ansett (VH-OQH), has just come out of the Californian desert storage for the first time since it was parked there in March 2020, and the First cabin has been “refreshed,” Qantas says.

Qantas used the time while the aircraft were in the desert to increase the number of premium seats in the A380s and refurbish the cabins.

Qantas reconfigured the A380’s business class cabin, giving it 70 updated business suites, and extended the premium economy section (it now has 60 seats, up from 35), as well as refreshing the economy and First Class cabins.

Qantas says the upper deck lounge has also had a full refresh. It’s now got booth style seating for 10 passengers, a self-service bar and an option to order signature drinks and snacks.

“From 27 March, Qantas will reopen its Sydney and Melbourne International Business Lounges as more passengers take to the skies and revert its First Lounges in Australia, which operated as hybrid First/Business Lounges during the pandemic, to the full premium offering,” the airline announced on Monday.

“Eligible First Lounge customers will again enjoy a Neil Perry curated à la carte dining menu, Champagnes and fine Australian wines, as well as a seasonal cocktail selection.”

Qantas Press Release

Qantas’ Spa will also reopen. The Spa offers boutique pre-travel treatments like hot stone massages and mini facials.

Qantas Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the return of Qantas’ premium offerings is a welcome sign of international travel steadily recovering.

“We know that our customers have missed the Qantas A380 travel experience as much as our team has missed being able to provide it for them so it’s fantastic that we’re back in the air with our premium full service on these newly refurbished aircraft.”

Qantas is also re-opening its First Check-in suite at Sydney International for First customers and top tier Frequent Flyers.

The Qantas A380 currently flies from Sydney to Los Angeles and from June will fly between Sydney and London via Singapore.

• First Class Passengers Mourn Loss Of ‘Most Luxurious Cabin In The Sky’
• The Day I Realised The Golden Age Of Business Class Was Over 

The post Qantas’ A380 First Class Makes Triumphant Return appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The first flight from Australia to Bali in two years took off yesterday.

But before Australians start to reclaim our title of being Bali’s Biggest Pests, we’ve got a warning. That warning? A 2011 Tripadvisor review.

Posted to the travel advice website back in 2011 (the year Game Of Thrones premiered, Fidel Castro resigned and Novak Djokovic won his first Wimbledon title), the review reveals why you should avoid a long layover if you can.

Left by Tripadvisor user @asiatraveller5000, a 50-64-year-old man from Sydney, Australia, the reviewer claims they booked a cheap hotel and then quickly regretted it.

“Was transiting for 36 hours so needed a cheap hotel,” @asiatraveller5000 wrote. “The reservations booking at the airport recommended it. I paid 450,000 rupiah [$43 AUD] a night. I booked 2 nights. The photos looked ok.”

RELATED: American Man Arrested For Negative Tripadvisor Review Of Thailand Hotel

All was not ok, though.

He continues: “The room was the dirtiest I have seen in 30 years. Totally filthy. The bathroom must be 50 years old. There was hair and dirt all over the floor. The toilet seat was broken. The bathmat could not have been washed in a year. The doors were peeling off varnish. It was an absolute disgrace.”

“I refused to take the room. They then showed me to 2 others one of which the toilet did not work at all. Both equally filthy.”

“I refused to take them and asked for my money back as I had paid at the airport.”

You might think the tale ends here. You’d be wrong though. The man continued: “They then upgraded me to a room in the new part of the hotel. It was sort of clean.”

“Except the bathroom stank of god knows what. There were no towels, or soap. I asked for them. I then checked the bed. The sheets were yellow but at least has been washed. The pillow slips were stained and greasy. When the boy returned with the towel I made him change the pillow slips. The towel was maybe 10 years old and see through.”

“If you stay here after reading these reviews you would be a total idiot. The place should be torn down.”

He’s not the only traveller who has left a terrible review of this hotel. Another wrote: “Me and my wife stayed in the hotel just for a night (thank god) due to a change to our flight. Awful conditions everywhere. The main problem of this hotel is that you get the idea they never clean the place up.”

RELATED: The Most Hilarious Reviews Of New York’s Worst Hotels

“Floors, walls, bathtubs, toilets are really a mess. Even the switches for the lights are dirty. Sheets and covers had stains all over. Oh did I mention the cockroaches? Ok I agree for this amount of money you get what you get but that doesn’t mean it can’t at least be clean.”

“Terrible experience. My advice is choose carefully and probably stay away from this certain hotel.”

Yikes. You’ve been warned – if you are a fan of lovely, clean hotels, get ready to stump up more than $40 when transiting in Bali (or anywhere, really).

• Expats Share Their Wildest ‘Gojek’ Experiences In Bali
• Living In Bali: Working From Bali During A Pandemic
• ‘Stop Deifying Foreign Tourists’ Bali Urged To Make Big Change

The post ‘Worst Hotel In Bali’ Review A Timely Warning For Australian Tourists appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lewis Hamilton is one of the most famous names in world sport.

By any measure, he’s the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time: he’s won more Grands Prix, secured more pole positions and finished on more podiums than anyone, and matches Michael Schumacher’s record of 7 World Championship driver’s titles. Moreover, he’s a global star the likes of which motorsports has never seen before. Even people who don’t give a toss about F1 know Lewis Hamilton.

Well, going forward, they’re going to have to know a different name. The 37-year-old Englishman, who’s just about to head into his 16th season in F1, has just announced plans to change his name to include his mother Carmen’s surname.

“My mum’s name is Larbalestier and I’m just about to put that in my name… I don’t really fully understand the whole idea when people get married then the woman loses her name,” the Mercedes driver said during an onstage interview at the Dubai World Expo earlier today.

Hamilton won’t be changing his surname or rocking a double-barrelled surname, but will instead incorporate his mum’s surname Larbalestier as a middle name. Hamilton said he was “working on” the name change but that it wouldn’t come into effect for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

RELATED: Formula 1 Announces 2022 Russian Grand Prix Boycott

Carmen Larbalestier divorced Lewis’s father Anthony Hamilton when he was 2 but he lived with his mum until the age of 12. Hamilton is fiercely protective of his mum, who usually shuns the spotlight – making a notable exception earlier this year when she accompanied Lewis to Windsor Castle for his knighthood ceremony.

Anthony Hamilton, of course, has been instrumental in Lewis’ career as a driver. Hamilton Sr. quit his job and worked up to four jobs at a time to support Lewis’ racing, and was even his manager until 2010. He remains a crucial part of Lewis’ inner circle.

Read Next

• Formula 1 Poised For An Australian ‘Takeover’
• Fired Formula 1 Driver Nikita Mazepin Sets Up Controversial Foundation

The post Lewis Hamilton Announces Name Change Ahead Of 2022 Formula 1 Season appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Figuring out where to get started in crypto investing can be pretty overwhelming. New investors can easily get lost in the sea of jargon and complicated blockchain-related information. 

That’s why we’re going to start at the very beginning: choosing a trustworthy exchange to buy, sell and hold your crypto assets. Today, we’re going to take an objective look at everything that you need to know about the crypto exchange: Binance. 

Check out our full round-up of the best crypto wallets here

What is Binance?

Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume. It was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, who is now the 11th richest man in the world. The initial growth of Binance was so large, the exchange had to suspend new registrations until it could host the growing number of users. 

Since 2017, Binance has continued to offer one of the largest selections of digital assets in the crypto market, as well as the highest amount of liquidity (meaning that you can buy and sell your crypto more easily). 

As of today, Binance offers over 300+ cryptocurrencies for purchase – including its own Binance coin – the largest selection of trading pairs in the world as well as over 40+ different fiat currencies, 

This means that investors from around the world can purchase everything from Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) down to a completely random new altcoin, all while transacting in almost any major currency — making Binance one of the most functional exchanges for any seasoned investor. 

To get a better understanding of Binance, let’s use a classic Pros & Cons list to weigh up the verdict.

Pros & Cons of Binance

Pros

• The “Lite” Option: If you’re new to cryptocurrency, then you may find Binance a little overwhelming, as it’s practically overflowing with features. To address beginner invesotrs Binance introduced a “lite” option on their mobile app, which turns the usually complex experience of navigating the Binance platform into an extremely beginner-friendly and simple to use crypto app. 
  
• Solid Choice for Australian Users: Binance tends to list crypto prices on its platform and app in US dollars, however if users opt into the “lite” option, they can select to view assets in AUD. Furthermore, the exchange charges 0 fee on Australian Dollar deposits made via PayID or OSKO and all fiat deposits and withdrawals are instant. 
  
• Massive Selection of Major Tokens & AltCoins: Perhaps one of the most frustrating experiences is getting completely set up on a new app or platform and then realizing that the random, niche altcoin your mate mentioned to you isn’t actually available on this app you’ve just signed up for. You most likely won’t have that problem with Binance, as it offers over 300+ digital assets, covering all of the weird and wonderful tokens you could possibly ask for.
  
• Packed With Different Features: Binance offers more advanced investors a massive selection of unique trading features such as staking, margin trading and leveraged futures. If you’re looking to trade different cryptocurrencies in a range of different pairings or fiat currencies, then Binance is the exchange for you. It has recently created its own NFT marketplace. 
  
• Extremely Low Fees: Binance offers some of the lowest fees in the business charging just 0.1% per trade, offering a further 25% discount for users who choose to transact with Binance Coin (BNB). 

Cons 

• Can Be Complicated: As Binance is aimed more towards seasoned investors, complete newbies may find interacting with the platform a little difficult initially. If you are just looking to buy and hold different cryptocurrencies long-term, other more beginner-friendly exchanges such as CoinSpot, Swyftx or Digital Surge may be a better choice. 
  
• Poor Customer Service: While Binance is loaded with features, customer service is lacking when compared to other exchanges like CoinSpot, Swyftx or Digital Surge. While these large Australian-owned exchanges all offer some form of LiveChat customer support Binance does not, meaning that technical or administrative issues can often be frustrating to resolve. 

Binance Fees Explained

Fees are ultimately how crypto exchanges and platforms make their money, so it’s really important for investors to understand how much they’re paying every time they make a trade. Fee structuring can be pretty tricky, as platforms often like to disguise hidden costs in the form of strange fees.

Here are the main types of fees that users of Binance will come across:

Binance Deposit Fees

The first fee that crypto investors will encounter is the deposit fee. This is because investors need to deposit funds before they can start trading. For Australians, Binance only offers two methods through which to deposit AUD funds: Bank transfer or via PayID / Osko. 

• Deposits & withdrawals via PayID & Osko are completely free. 
• Deposits & withdrawals via bank transfer may incur a variable fee of up to 3.5%. 

Binance Transaction Fees

Binance offers some of the lowest trading fees in the world crypto, charging just 0.1% on all trades, while offering investors a 25% discount if they purchase crypto using Binance Coin (BNB) which is the native token of the Binance ecosystem.

Is Binance Safe to Use?

No matter your experience level, the security and safety of the platform used to buy and sell digital assets is usually a top concern for crypto investors. Binance is one of the world’s highest security crypto exchanges, despite suffering an attack in 2019 where US$40 million of Bitcoin was stolen. Binance quickly reimbursed all investors that lost funds and upped their security protocols.  

Binance is now officially ISO 27001 certified, which is one of the highest information security clearances possible. All Binance activity is further protected by 2FA (two-factor authentication) that requires investors to enter a code generated on their registered mobile device to sign in to the Binance platform.

Binance also stores most of its digital assets offline in crypto wallets in cold storage, meaning that even if the exchange were to be hacked, the majority of its assets would be physically inaccessible to hackers. 

Binance Alternatives

If Binance isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, there are plenty of alternatives. The alternatives listed here are ranked in order of similarity and preference for using Australian Dollars.

• CoinSpot: Australia’s largest cryptocurrency platform with more than 350 digital assets available.
• Digital Surge: Another Australian exchange with more than 200 cryptocurrencies that operates natively in AUD. Has a quick verification process but higher fees than Binance.
• Swyftx: Also an Australian platform with more than 260 digital assets available. Swyftx offers slightly lower trading fees and also allows users to ‘stake’ their crypto assets to generate passive income.
• Cointree: An Australian operated exchange and fully AUSTRAC-regulated. Offers similar features to Binance but with a smaller selection of tokens and slightly higher fees.
• Coinbase: Possibly the most well-known exchange in the world. Investors can trade a variety of different cryptocurrencies but fees are high and all values are denominated in USD.
• eToro: Offers commission-free crypto trades with the added bonus of social and copy trading.

Overall Binance Conclusion

Binance is by far one of the best crypto exchanges for any investor to use. Binance’s platform is built with the functionality for both beginners and experts alike, and offers a blanket fee of just 0.1% on all trades. Binance is one of the most comprehensive platforms offering over 300+ different tokens, and is packed with extra features like staking, futures, margin trading as well as its own NFT marketplace. 

Furthermore, Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume meaning that investors can always access a high liquidity marketplace. Despite suffering attacks in the past, it has recently received ISO 27001 certification (extremely high information security). Binance is also registered with AUSTRAC actively preventing financial crimes, scamming and any other unsavoury business from occurring on the platform. 

Read Next

• Digital Surge Review 2022: Everything Australian Cryptocurrency Investors Need to Know
• Swyftx Review 2022: Everything Australian Investors Need to Know

The post Binance Review Australia 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I’d heard a lot about Byron Baes – Netflix‘s latest reality show, based in Australia – before I watched it.

For those of you not au fait with Byron Bay’s linen selling, ‘booch drinking, micro-influencing, hinterland hopping new community, here’s some context.

Vanity Fair’s ruthless feature on the Creative Mecca of Australia (The Coast Of Utopia) shot Byron Bay into the limelight in 2019. But far from deterring visitors, it seems to have only encouraged them.

Who Weekly branded Byron Bay the “celebrity capital” of Australia in 2020 and from there things have snowballed.

RELATED: Luxury Byron Bay Airbnbs Now As Expensive As ‘Dream Hollywood Villas’

Byron Bay has experienced a rental crisis in response to its growing popularity. The region has also recently been the victim of violent flooding.

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A post shared by Nathan joshua favro (@nathanfavro)

On top of this, during 2020 and 2021, COVID saw many Sydneysiders and Melburnians make sea changes up the coast thanks to big city burnout and the work from home revolution.

#ByronBaes is every shit conversation you’ve ever heard on public transport condensed into a tv show

— A really pissed off pulpo (@chicharrona2vax) March 10, 2022

This phenomenon has had such an impact on the region that the creator of Byron Baes, Vice journalist Julian Morgans, told The Guardian he reckons anthropologists ought to study it.

“Someone could do a PHD on unpacking the cultural tipping point Byron has gone through,” he said.

“It was always beautiful. But there are lots of nice places that don’t have large communities of influencers.”

RELATED: ‘Most Byron Photo Ever’ Highlights Australia’s Changing Coastal Culture

He told The Guardian the show would have elements both of a documentary and also of a drama: “No one has really put a proper microscope on influencing as a business, what drives them, how they made their money … let’s unpack that.”

But he admits “what keeps people-watching is the dating, best friends, fights, breakups, makeups, all the good stuff.”

On that note: I can confirm the show got that right. I was interested in the first place (unlike, pure trash shows like Too Hot Too Handle or MAFS), because I know Byron Bay is ~trending~ and I was curious about what this Weird New World, just 8 hours up the coast from me, was really like (even if I knew the show would probably depict quite a skewed version).

RELATED: The Awkward Truth About Byron Bay’s ‘Locals Only’ Attitude

I was also intrigued by the controversy: any show which manages to get the local community to protest against it has got to be worth a watch, right? There was definitely an element of “how bad can it really be?” curiosity in my decision to watch it.

Despite Byron Bay not being as interesting of a place (as represented by the show, anyway) as I perhaps expected, compared to the massive splash it’s had in the news, the drama managed to keep me hooked to the very end of the show in the same way all good garbage reality shows do.

Just so anyone not familiar with Aus can empathise with the gravity and finality of the decision Sarah is grappling with about moving back to Gold Coast ….#ByronBaes #bigdecisions pic.twitter.com/EQONFCbMF0

— shroomsavage (@shroomsavage) March 12, 2022

I’m not sure I learnt a whole lot from the experience, but here are a few things I realised, while watching the show.

What I Learned From Byron Baes

When the first 2 minutes of #ByronBaes featured this phone conversation, we knew we were in trouble:

Him: “Hello, Alex speaking”
Her: “Hey, is that Alex?”

All downhill from there.

— Mark (@markp_) March 9, 2022

‘Booch is a word

Whether it was thrown in there to confirm Sydneysiders’ worst stereotypes about Byron, or whether it really is a thing people in Byron say, in the first episode of Byron Baes the word ‘booch (i.e. Kambucha) is unironically used at Hannah’s house.

‘Lords’ is an expression

Similar to ‘booch, I wasn’t sure if this was a legitimate turn of phrase or just a thing that satirical Instagram pages like Lords Of Byron Bay use in painting a caricature of the Northern Rivers vocabulary. As far as I can tell, based on the show, it’s the former. It also seems to be spreading to Manly…

Sound healing still works just as well, even if you’re drunk

Thank god for that.

Grown men in the Byron area still have slip and slides

And they look like a whole lot of fun.

Relatively few of the main characters are actually from Byron

Like, remarkably few.

People in Byron can tell if you’re not from Byron

Especially if they have only been in Byron for 6 months themselves…

Linen must not be messed with

As Gold Coast transplant and Byron Baes’ main protagonist Sarah discovers, if you put your own spin on a Byron Bay outfit you are liable to receive comments like “you can take the girl out of the Gold Coast but you can’t take the Gold Coast out of the girl.”

Also, apparently, joking comments like “If you’re wearing heels and no undies it’s a date” are quite offensive to Byron Bay’s spiritual community (especially if they feel you’re on a mission to hook up with their flatmate, whom they are still in love with).

Crazy-looking hippies can be kinder than switched-on tech heads

Despite being portrayed as a mad hatter, Hannah, Byron Baes’ resident spiritual guru, is the first character to really give Sarah a chance as a friend, despite being the classic sort of Byron Bay character people from Sydney or the Gold Coast might mock as a whack job.

Some people in Byron Bay think the Gold Coast is a world away

“I left all my friends behind and moved from the Gold Coast to Byron”.

It’s an hour’s drive. You can go home for dinner. Calm down. #ByronBaes

— Rachael (@RachaelHasIdeas) March 13, 2022

And (as you can see above), vice versa.

People who put a lot of effort into being at peace with the universe aren’t necessarily at peace with the universe

Or themselves, for that matter.

People on Twitter take reality TV characters a little too seriously

See: the below Tweets…

Elle keeps telling us she’s some wonderful person who just wants to “spread love and light.” When in reality she’s a nasty, mean-spirited, vindictive bitch.

Her lack of self-awareness is ASTOUNDING. #ByronBaes

— Princess Koa (@PrincessKoa) March 13, 2022

Am I alone in thinking “influencers” are wankers? What good are they exactly influencing, outside of self – promotion & helping further commodify our existence & advising us on things they have no actual expertise in. I’m hate watching Byron Baes which is making me super salty.

— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) March 11, 2022

Australia’s version of Pete Davidson is considered a hunk

This man is the Pete Davidson of #ByronBaes no I won’t be taking questions at this time pic.twitter.com/03i1cnyGTp

— behindthebaespod (@behindthebaes) March 10, 2022

Skinny is the new strong, people. You heard it here first… Oh and – having lived in Berlin, and having tattoos, for some reason, makes you hot.

What I Didn’t Learn From Byron Baes

What Byron Bay is like if you’re not a micro-influencer, model, or ‘working on a label’

If you’re not one of the above, watching Byron Baes might activate your taste buds, but it won’t give you much of an insight into what your day to day life would be like if you moved there.

Whether the Byron Baes characters are full-on acting or whether the drama was real

There are moments when you think: “this had to be scripted.” But there are others where you are super hooked in, and even invested in the outcome, despite yourself.

How the long-standing local community sees these influencers

Because the show focuses on these young things’ relationships with each other, not the community at large, it’s hard to know how old-school locals see these exotic blow-ins (from what I can remember Cai is the only one who grew up near Byron).

Byron Baes Cast

The above review is purely my personal opinion of the divisive show. If you’ve never seen Byron Baes and are intrigued as to who stars in it, this is the full Byron Baes cast.

Elias Chigros – Elias goes by the name Elias Black on his Instagram account, and if he looks familiar, that’s because he appeared on the first season of the Australian version of Love Island. Since then, Elias has been working on his modelling and digital marketing careers.

Nathan Favro – Nathan is one of the main cast members of Byron Baes, and like Elias, has also appeared on Australian TV screens before, having appeared in both The Bachelorette Australia and Bachelor in Paradise Australia. In his latest reality TV outing, Nathan assumes the role of tour guide for newcomer Sarah, and even serves as a potential romantic interest.

Jade Kevin Foster – Jade’s claims that he’s the most-followed male influencer in Australia is a storyline all in itself in Byron Baes, especially when another cast member, Alex Reid, decides it is his job to find out if it’s actually true. Riveting stuff.

Sarah St. James – Byron Baes predominantly follows Sarah and her move from the Gold Coast down to Byron Bay. We see her struggle to fit in, attempt to progress her music career, and even find romance.

Alex Reid – Alex runs his own influencer management company and is one of the few cast members to take a liking to Sarah.

Jess & Lauren Johansen-Bell – Jess runs her own clothing label, which sister Lauren can often be seen modelling.

Cai Leplaw – the only cast member to actually grow up in Byron, Cai is now an accomplished photographer who holds regular exhibitions.

Elle Watson – Nathan’s flatmate and a woman who wants to do her bit to help the environment, alongside her fiancé.

Hannah Brauer – You’re either going to love or hate Hannah. She’s a little quirky, but her heart is in the right place.

• I Moved To Byron Bay; What I Discovered In My First 30 Days Of Being A Cliché
• ‘Most Byron Bay Photo Ever’ Sums Up Australia In 2021 

The post Byron Baes Review: What I Learned Binge-Watching Australia’s Worst Show Ever appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australians and cricketing fans alike were left deeply saddened by the sudden death of Shane Warne. Warne, considered one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history, died of a heart attack just over a week ago.

Family, friends, celebrities – such as Warne’s ex-fiancée Elizabeth Hurley – and fans flooded social media with touching tributes for the late Aussie cricketer. The latest to praise and pay respects to both Warne’s career and personality is British pop star, Robbie Williams. Williams told ABC News during an interview regarding his recent biopic, Better Man:

“… Seldom does somebody transcend their sport and transcend that tribalism because it’s genetically encoded in us to hate the other lot. With Shane, he belonged to everybody. He belonged to England, he belonged to Australia, he belonged to the world.”

Williams went on to say that Warne “had that thing, that quality, that just lifted him several levels above everybody else as a personality, as a heart, and as a soul.”

The singer and guitarist, best known for his hit songs Angels, Feel and Rock DJ, also confided that Warne’s death really made him re-evaluate his own life and priorities.

“It’s so massive when something like this happens that makes you take stock of where your life is, who you are, what you are, and what you want to be and what you want to do with your day, and what you want to do with the rest of your life.”

Williams must have really been shaken by Warner’s death as he also told The Herald in an earlier interview:

“[Warne’s] passing has inspired me to think about life in a different way – and the fragility of life is terrifying.”

In all honestly, Williams’ comments are extremely relatable as the unexpected death of Warnie has left a major impact on most (if not all) of us.

• This Page Of Warnie’s Autobiography Is A Must Read For Every Aussie
• Mick Fanning Enlists Elon Musk To Help With NSW Flooding

The post Robbie Williams Shaken Up By Shane Warne’s Sudden Death appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Guys and beer go hand in hand, quite literally and Australians can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. But rather than simply import brews from abroad, Australia has a strong brewing culture, with more than 700 craft breweries nationwide. Sydney is home to its fair share of those, and many of the breweries supply the city’s pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants, as well as some other venues further afield.

The best thing about breweries, however, is that you’re able to visit them to see how they make the good stuff, sample the many brews straight from the silos and usually score yourself some sweet merchandise at the same time. It’s fairly common for people to get on brewery bar crawls around the city, especially in areas such as Marrickville, which could easily cause a morning hangover from an afternoon of boozing.

So, while the better half can visit some of Sydney’s best wine bars to catch up with the girls over some fine Australian red and white wines, you and the lads can head to some breweries.

Here are the very best breweries in Sydney for your drinking pleasure.

Found yourself in Melbourne instead? No stress, check out the best breweries the Victoria city has to offer (there are plenty).

North Sydney

4 Pines Brewing Company

Address: 29./43-45 East Esplanade, Manly, 2095

4 Pines was founded in 2008 by a father and son team who just wanted to drink an “exceptional beer” but felt the selection at their local boozers was limited. The brewery was built and the team brought on family and friends to help run it. 4 Pines’ beers have become so popular that the original microbrewery soon proved to be far too small, although it’s now used to produce the smaller batch releases and to host brewery tours.

The brewery also offers food alongside the entire range of beers on tap. 4 Pines is also responsible for Brookvale Union Ginger Beer which is quite possibly one of the most delicious things ever made.

Hawkesbury Brewing Company

Address: 50 Beaumont Road, Mount Kuring-Gai, 2080

This independent brewing company uses 100 per cent natural ingredients to make its beers and has a separate taproom and kitchen in Manly where you can enjoy them with a bite to eat. The main brewery, however, can be found in Mount Kuring-Gai, and it’s here where you’ll be able to see what goes into making the range. No beer in the range is over 5% ABV, so your vision should stay clear for some time!

Quakers Hat Brewing

Address: Unit B14, 1 Campbell Parade, Manly Vale, 2093

Quakers Hat is a relatively small brewery based in Manly Vale, but is one that supplies a fair few drinking joints in the city. The company was set up by a father and son team and was initially brewed in Quakers Hat Bay near Mosman, hence the name. That name was soon spread around Sydney, causing the company to need a bigger brewing venue.

Dad & Daves Brewing

Address: 2/1 Chard Road, Brookvale, 2100

Dad and Daves Brewing is run by, perhaps unsurprisingly, a guy called Dave and his dad, John. The rest of the family has been brought on board too to help run the business, which uses the bare bones ingredients for any beer, before adding “innovative ingredients”. As well as producing staples such as a pale ale, pilsner and a Belgian IPA, Dad & Daves also have such delicacies as a Yuzu sour, a Mango Hazy and an oak & whiskey porter.

Nomad Brewing Co.

Address: 5 Sydenham Road, Brookvale, 2100

There’s a good chance you would have already tried some of Nomad’s brews since they’re a little different to the norm, and they’re available in some funky looking cans, which all rock original artwork. The company was founded by an Australian husband and wife team who persuaded their friend, a master Italian brewer, to allow his brewing protege to leave Italy and find a new life in Brookvale and head up the Nomad Brewing Co using natural ingredients native to Australia. The result has spawned beers such as a Finger Lime IPA and a Gose (a fermented German beer) that is infused with seawater and pepper.

The Rocks

James Squire The Squire’s Landing

Address: Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, 2000

James Squire is widely regarded as being the very first brewer of beer in Australia, having been sent here from his home of London, England, after becoming involved in a life of crime. He began making beer on the sly as soon as he set foot on Australian soil and eventually became certified as the country’s first brewer. The Squire’s Landing is the flagship brewhouse in Australia and has a microbrewery on site, alongside a stunning 270-degree view of Sydney harbour.

Endeavour Brewing Co.

Address: 39 Argyle Street, The Rocks, 2000

Endeavour is incredibly new to the Sydney brewing scene, having only been founded in 2017. The company isn’t phased about entering a highly competitive market though, and in fact has one up on every other brewery in the world, as it is the only dedicated harvest beer company. This means it uses only Australian-grown ingredients in all its beers and ones that are harvested the same year the brew is made. The brewery in The Rocks welcomes guests to sip on new and limited-run batches, before heading next door to the Tap Rooms to try the full range.

Eastern Suburbs

Sydney Brewery

Address: 28 Albion Street, Surry Hills, 2010

An appropriately-named brewery in the heart of Sydney is Sydney Brewery. Having not long opened its doors, the brewery is a hub for all things entertainment…and beer. Not only can you see how its beer is made, but you can snack on pub-inspired food and listen to live music. If you’re ever stuck for drinking spots in town or you just fancy doing something different at the weekend, it’s the perfect spot to go.

Inner West

Wayward Brewing Co.

Address: 3 Gehrig Lane, Campderdown, 2050

Wayward Brewing Co. is one that has become increasingly popular around Australia, not just for its core range of delicious ale varieties and its pilsner, but its limited release brews. The ‘Coffe & Donuts’ milk stout is a particular highlight, and one we hope to see produced again in the not-too-distant future. The brewery in the Inner West is more than happy to host tours, and considering it’s relatively small by brewery standards, will guarantee an intimate yet educational experience.

Staves Brewery

Address: 4-8 Grose Street, Glebe, 2037

Staves Brewery is a small, independently run brewery but one that has big intentions. The range of beers – some of which have won awards – available both on tap at the brewery and to buy from the online store is nothing short of extensive, and the brewery itself is open late most days, meaning it could easily become your new favourite watering hole.

Young Henry’s

Address: Units D & E, 76 Wilford Street, Newtown, 2042

Young Henry’s has become almost an institution in both Newtown and Australia. Its beers can be found in a large number of venues and for good reason. They’re easy to drink and they taste real good. The brewery has plenty of space for you and your mates to enjoy said beers, although it doesn’t offer tours. Still, that means more drinking time, and with some eight beers pouring seven days a week, you’re going to be needing plenty of time indeed.

The Grifter Brewing Co.

Address: 1/391-397 Enmore Road, Marrickville, 2204

The Grifter has been brewing in, and serving the people of Australia since 2012. It remains completely independent and continues to use only the finest hops and malts to make the beers you throw down your face. The brewery in Marrickville is where you will find the entire selection of beers on tap to guzzle down with friends while munching on some equally delicious food.

Sauce Brewing Co.

Address: 1a Mitchell Street, Marrickville, 2204

Sauce is a microbrewery that can be found in what can only be described as Sydney’s craft beer mecca, Marrickville (seriously, a brewery crawl around the suburb will result in an incredibly sore head the next day). Founded by self-confessed beer nerds, Sauce creates beers for all tastes and always has 12 brews on tap at its brewery, which can be enjoyed in the huge beer garden.

Stockade Brew Co.

Address: 25 Cadogan Street, Marrickville, 2204

Stockade Brew Co. was set up by members of the Szpitalak family, who own BrewPack, a contract brewer that produces craft beer for many independent breweries around the country. Stockade is the family’s own attempt at a range of beers and several awards later, it’s proven to be successful. There are no tours on offer at the Marrickville Barrel Room, but there is a shed load of beer and even some cocktails to enjoy.

Batch Brewing Co.

Address: 44 Sydenham Road, Marrickville, 2202

Batch Brewing Co has two locations: Marrickville and Petersham, but it’s the Marrickville spot that’s the original. As the name implies, Batch was set up to have a couple of core brews, alongside an ever-changing range of single batches that took inspiration from the world around owners Chris Sidqwa and Andrew Fineran. It’s a small space, but one that works incredibly well, and because of the lack of size you can easily peer into what’s going on behind the scenes, causing you to become genuinely interested in the brewing process. If you want a private tour, all you have to do is ask, but until that time, just sit back, relax and enjoy some properly unique beers.

Willie the Boatman

Address: Suite 601, 75 Mary Street, St Peters, 2044

Willie the Boatman was founded in 2012 by two “fat dads” who didn’t have a whole lot of beer-brewing knowledge, nor did they really know how to put a brewery together. But with their savings accounts raided they upcycled some old dairy milk vats and the rest, as they say, is history. One of the company’s first brews, the Albo Corn Ale, named after Labor party leader Anthony Albanese, attracted a serious amount of attention and has since made Willie a household name in Sydney’s craft brewery scene.

South-Eastern Sydney

Yulli’s Brews

Address: 75A Burrows Road, Alexandria, 2015

Yulli’s Brews is an offshoot of the Yulli’s restaurant in Surry Hills. James Harvey worked at the restaurant and decided to begin making beer for it to stock. Restaurant owner Karl Cooney loved the idea and helped set up the brewery in Alexandria. The brewery is big on promoting community feels, giving people a place to enjoy a variety of delicious beers with some good food and good tunes. It’s also a space that can cater to practically any function you can think of.

Rocks Brewing Co.

Address: Building 2, 160 Bourke Road, Alexandria, 2015

The Rocks Brewing Co did indeed start life in The Rocks area of Sydney, but it has since had to move to a larger site in Alexandria to help meet the demand for its product. And you’re going to want to try that product, or should we say, products, because Rocks has a decidedly large range of beers for you try and its incredibly modern taphouse.

Slow Lane Brewery

Address: 30 Byrnes Street, Botany, 2019

You can’t actually visit Slow Lane just yet, but the brewery is in the process of building a taproom at you read this. You can, however, head there to pick up takeaway brews, and you’re going to want to, because Slow Lane makes beer unlike most other breweries on this list. Owned by a husband and wife team, Slow Lane produces slow-fermented beer, which may take more time, usually months but sometimes longer.

One Drop Brewing Co.

Address: 5 Erith Street, Botany, 2019

Founded in 2019 in postcode 2019, One Drop was the first brewery to set up in Botany (and has since been joined by Slow Lane). It’s a fantastic space on offer to beer drinkers, with several beers on tap at any one time. Its flagship lager, Botany Bay Lager, took home the gold award at the Australian International Beer Awards, no mean feat. It’s also very Caribbean in its vibe, and you’ll likely hear reggae music playing all day long, making it the perfect chillout spot.

Southern Sydney

Sunday Road Brewing

Address: 147 Bath Road, Kirrawee, 2232

This independently-owned, award-winning brewery is the youngest of the brewery clan in the Sutherland Shire, having been founded in 2016. Not only does it have the beers you’d expect from any craft brewery, but Sunday Road also has some interesting choices, such as a Coffee Lager, made in collaboration with White Horse Coffee. You’ll do well to pay a visit to the brewery too, with six to eight beers on constant rotation, there’s always something to wet your whistle.

Shark Island Brewing Co.

Address: 8/29-33 Waratah Street, Kirrawee, 2232

Named after a surf break in neighbouring Cronulla, Shark Island is the brewing baby of home brewers Peebs and Driza. You’re treated to a welcoming vibe at the intimate brewery, where you can enjoy beers with a decent feed. The majority of the Shark Island range are sessions beers, but if you fancy trying something with a little more bite, Shark Island is more than happy to oblige.

Hairyman Brewery

Address: Unit 10, 12-14 Northumberland Road, Caringbah, 2229

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The post 23 Best Craft Beer Breweries In Sydney 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Earlier this month, we were going goo-goo over speculation that a green and gold Rolex Submariner is on the cards for 2022, and rounded up some of the best green and gold watches on the market… If only we knew what OMEGA was going to reveal just days later.

With Watches & Wonders 2022 just around the corner, OMEGA has launched a pre-emptive strike with their inaugural OMEGA Days event: a veritable cornucopia of watch releases that have reminded us that OMEGA remains a law unto itself and an absolute titan of the watch industry.

But despite the sheer volume of new watches, there’s one release that clearly stands out amongst the pack. Meet the new OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold (ref. 310.60.42.50.10): one of the most sumptuous renditions of the famous space-faring timepiece ever made, and one with a colour scheme that’ll have any Aussie frothing over.

As the name implies, it’s crafted from OMEGA’s proprietary Moonshine Gold: an 18ct yellow gold alloy that has a distinctively paler hue than traditional 18ct yellow gold, and is much more resistant to the fading of colour and lustre over time.

Combine that lovely gold with that green PVD dial and bezel, and you’ve got a truly luxurious combination on your hands. Of course, green and gold are Australia’s signature sporting colours, so this new ‘Speedy’ represents perhaps the pinnacle of horological perfection for any patriotic Aussie.

Then, consider that OMEGA has been the official timing partner of the Olympics for years… And maybe this is the ultimate ‘gold for Australia’ you could ever hope to win?

RELATED: Cody Simpson Shows Off His Tokyo 2020 OMEGA Silverware On The Gold Coast

For those who aren’t so patriotic – or just not as keen on the green – the Moonshine Gold has a second variation (ref. 310.62.42.50.99) with a gold dial, black subdials, a black ceramic bezel and an optional black rubber strap, the underside of which features a texture that emulates the distinctive craters and pockmarks of the lunar surface.

We could spend all day talking about the dozens of new watches that were unveiled at OMEGA Days, but we thought we’d highlight two others that really caught our eye.

Continuing with the green theme, the much-loved Seamaster Diver 300M (James Bond’s watch of choice) is now available with a green dial and bezel. It’s a simple change, but one that’s sure to get collectors’ hearts racing.

Slightly less straightforward is the new Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep. The result of years of research and development, the Ultra Deep is a real landmark in watchmaking. Why? This ground-breaking timepiece is officially the most water-resistant watch available to consumers, with a mind-blowingly high water-resistance rating of 6,000m.

That’s over 18 times the depth a human being is physically capable of diving – and crucially, a good 2,100m more water-resistant than perennial rival Rolex’s Sea-Dweller Deepsea. And people say OMEGA does nothing but make Moonwatches…

Check out the OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Moonshine Gold, Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep and the rest of the 2022 OMEGA Days releases as OMEGA’s online boutique here.

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The post OMEGA Dropped An ‘Australian’ Speedmaster… And It’s A Bloody Ripper, Too appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Joe Rogan’s name is almost becoming synonymous with ‘controversy’ as the American podcaster and former UFC commentator has become well-known for happily voicing whatever pops into his head.

But this time Rogan is not trying a crazy diet or inviting guests onto his podcast who are spreading misinformation about COVID; no, this time Rogan has come after Hollywood.

During a recent episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan was talking to his guest Tom Papa – an American comedian – and the two agreed that “wokeness” has taken over Hollywood and “murdered” the comedy genre.

“It’s like wokeness killed the comedy movie in a lot of ways.”

Rogan asked Papa, “what was the last really good comedy movie?” and the two discussed a few comedies like This Is The End, a 2013 film starring James Franco, Jonah Hill & Seth Rogan, and Project X, a 2012 film about an out of control house party, before finally agreeing that The Hangover, the hugely successful 2009 film starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis & Ed Helms is “the last great comedy movie.”

Of course, plenty of comedy films that are genuinely hilarious and were rather successful at the box office have been released since 2009; Bridesmaids, We’re The Millers, Booksmart, Pitch Perfect… just to name a few. But according to Rogan, comedies just aren’t made anymore.

“Is there a woke comedy movie? Is there even an attempt? Is there even an attempt at a politically correct comedy movie? They just stopped making comedy movies.”

Papa added “that you can make a great comedy without being rapey or homophobic” which prompted Rogan to say:

“But it’s not just that; it’s, like, all abhorrent behaviour. It’s not an endorsement… here’s an example, American Psycho; you could do that movie today. And it wouldn’t be an endorsement of a person who’s a serial killer. It would just be a film about a serial killer.”

“But there’s a weird thing that happens when you’re making fun of something, somehow, supposedly it’s an endorsement of whatever that activity is…”

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The post Joe Rogan Names The Hangover As Last Good Comedy Before ‘Wokeness’ Took Over Hollywood appeared first on DMARGE Australia.