Lotus is one of the most criminally underrated performance car brands.

The British marque has struggled in the 21st century, flitting between owners and irregularly releasing new models (most of their current models, barring the 3-Eleven, are at least a decade old at this point).

Lotus, now owned by Chinese car giant Geely, spends most of its time these days helping fettle other marques’ automobiles – Lotus has always been a respected engineering consultant as well as manufacturer, but fans really want to see Lotus return to focusing on their own cars.

Many ask whether we’ve seen the best of Lotus. Will they ever return to being a serious contender in the performance car world? Or are they slowly on the way out?

The beauty of cars is that they’re like time machines. Stepping into a vintage car is the easiest way to go back in time and experience all the aesthetic of times gone past: they’re a practical exercise in anthropology (that you can also go fast and do skids in).

For those missing the glory days of Lotus Cars or anyone looking for a particularly unique vintage car, this 1968 Lotus Europa S2 Manual on NSW’s Northern Beaches is looking for a new home. This ‘ugly cool’ car might not be the first thing you think of when you think Lotus, but it’s definitely worthy of your attention.

The Europa’s most defining trait is how it looks like a normal sports car from the front but almost like the world’s smallest panel van from the back. It’s almost shooting-brake-esque in nature. The unique rear is a result of the Europa’s innovative mid-engine design.

Lotus has always been known for utilising the mid-engine layout in its cars, popularising the configuration in America’s IndyCars series in the 60s. The Europa was the first widely-available mid-engined sports car – Lotus envisioned the Europa from the get-go to be an affordable two-seater sports coupe that would allow more drivers to experience the unique dynamic of a mid-engined car.

The high sills of the rear conceal the engine bay (behind the passengers’ heads) as well as a surprisingly large boot. The Europa is not a big car – it weighs less than 700kg and has a 2.3m long wheelbase. Yet its design allows it to fit a surprisingly large amount of cargo whilst providing ample power from a small 1.5L inline four.

It actually looks pretty cool – especially with those heat vents on top of the engine cover. The tapering sills perpendicular to the small rear window is another distinctive feature, which has since been widely replicated by other mid-engined sports cars, such as the Fiat X1/9 of the 70s or the Pontiac Fiero of the 80s.

This example’s in impeccable condition, with only 71,000km on the clock to boot. The owner’s also invested a significant amount of time and money into the British beauty…

“Over the last 15 months, $20k worth of major work has been carried out (receipts available), including transaxle/gearbox rebuild, engine rebuild, fuel tank overhaul, sway bar replacement (completed during my ownership) and major electrical work (previous owner). The car sounds and runs beautifully, turning heads where ever it goes.”

Frankly, from the outside, the car looks brand new. There’s some wear and tear on the inside – noticeably in the passenger’s footwell – but what more could you ask for from a car that’s over 50 years old?

It’s like a Ferrari but more practical and more unique. (It’s probably about as reliable as an old Ferrari, too – but that’s neither here nor there.) And for only $27,500, it’s a bargain, considering you’d be hard-pressed to find another mid-engined sports car of a similar vintage here in Australia.

The Europa is a relic of a time when Lotus was a big name: making world-leading performance vehicles and leading the industry with technical innovations. Modern Lotus is still an impressive marque, but the glory of days gone past shines brighter than its modern-day successes. But that’s the beauty of old cars: they can transport you back in time.

Lotus isn’t all just Elans or Elises (or questionable ‘tuned by Lotus’ badges on Vauxhalls or Protons). The Europa is a landmark in automotive history and one of the most unconventionally attractive vintage cars of all time. It’s definitely worthy of your consideration.

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The post Lotus Europa S2: It May Be The Most Practical Vintage Sports Car In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Since that ill-fated security guard decided to f*ck a whole city (as the satire mags so delicately put it), the Australian state of Victoria has descended back into lockdown.

Depending on where you live, this could mean anything from prison food to a second wave of Zoom meetings and a curtailing of frivolous outside activities (let alone dates).

Inconvenient at best, terrifying at worst. It’s also something Australians in other states should have empathy for: even if there is the odd joke circulating about how “once again Melbourne proves it’s two weeks ahead of Sydney” they should come from a place of (deeply buried) love.

As the almost disastrous Ruby Princess scandal showed, mistakes can happen anywhere, and how you are impacted by this pandemic will inevitably, to some degree, come down to the roll of a dice (preferably not Sydney’s Star Casino’s, but we digress).

Back to bad (whether it’s really bad or just badly received we’ll leave up to you) jokes from a place of warmness, though, check out the following Capri photo, yesterday posted to Instagram by DMARGE.

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Everyone is welcome to join us in 2021… Everyone except Victoria. @stuartcantorphotography

A post shared by DMARGE (@dmarge) on Jul 11, 2020 at 1:25am PDT

The caption? “Everyone is welcome to join us in 2021… Everyone except Victoria.” Provocative? Sure. But what can we say: we were taken by the charm of lifestyle photographer Stuart Cantor (whose ‘Euro summer’ shots are enough to make your eyes bleed with jealousy, if not your mouth run with Melbourne hot takes).

Alas, the comment was not well received, with comments pouring in from (presumably) Victorians, most of which can be summed up by the middle finger emoji.

“Having followed you for many years I would have thought you were better than that” read one, while “that’s almost humourless,” commented another.

The same incensed individual didn’t stop there:

“@dmarge wow, you talk about mental health on your website and serve this up.”

On a positive note, there were some ‘crying laughing’ emojis thrown in, as well as a couple of comments from people who simply missed foreign shores.

“Capri memories.”

Maybe there’s hope for humour after all.

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The post Italy Caption: Insensitive Italian Riviera Photo Caption Sparks Outrage Among Isolated Victorians appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Instagram is to Gucci-wearing buccaneers what The Lonely Planet is to shoestring backpackers. Inspiring everything from jealousy to your next #vacay, the platform is fast becoming where you go to decide where to go (plus: what to do when you get there).Whether you’re after the coolest Byron Bay waterfalls, the best Nasi Goreng in Bali or the quirkiest place to pose on the French Riviera, Instagram has your back.Inspired by a FOMO-inducing scroll of said platform, and with the world in various stages of lockdown, DMARGE hit up Istanbul-based luxury yacht manager Candaş Balci, to ask which lavish destinations his clients will be keenest to head back to as soon as normality resumes.While Candaş told us “it’s a very busy season in Turkey right now” that’s because his clients “can only cruise locally.” Once The Pandemic situation eases, Candaş says the first places he believes The Super Rich will flock to are: the south of France, Italy, Ibiza, Sardinia and St Tropez.

“For one or two years they will stay locally on the Turkish coasts, Greek Islands maybe [which has a more relaxed policy currently in place for visitors]… after that – very busy days for Ibiza and St Tropez.”

Cannes, Antibes, Portofino, and Monaco are on Candaş’ clients hit lists too.This in mind, DMARGE researched what you’re likely to find in each location. Keen for a peek behind the veil?These are the destinations some of the world’s super-rich are keenest to head back to, and a brief rundown on each.

St Tropez

 

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Sooner than later #sttropez #vivelesvacances #riviera #romyschneider

A post shared by SVENJA KATHARINA FRISCH (@svenjakatharinafrisch) on Jul 9, 2020 at 3:04pm PDT

Known for bars, yachts, clubs and beaches St Tropez hit the big time in the 1950s when Brigitte Bardot arrived to film a movie with her then-husband, Roger Vadim. The place’s youthful exuberance, arty independence and hedonistic living readily secured it a place in most travellers’ “must see” locale lists.The Instagram hashtag ‘St Tropez’ suggests little has changed, with holiday goers enjoying the sunny French hotspots’s natural beauty, local desserts, cakes, shops and sand (there’s even a signature ‘St Tropez tan‘), as well as wishing for a time when they’ll be able to return (see: captions like: “sooner rather than later” and “take me back”).

Antibes

 

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The mighty explorer yacht OLIVIA O (88.5m) seen two days ago near Antibes alongside the largest sailing yacht in the world SY/ A (143m). ⁣ ⁣ Olivia O was built in 2020 by @ulsteingroup and has an exterior design by @espen.oeino ⁣ ⁣ Sailing Yacht A was built in 2016 by @nobiskrugsuperyachts and was designed by @Starck⁣ ⁣ Click the link in bio to watch my video of OLIVIA O⁣ in Antibes ⁣ ⁣⁣ #yachtdesign #theyachtweek #topyacht #superyacht #superyachts #yachting #yachties #superyacht #instayacht #yachting #yachts #yacht #yachtlife #yachtmaster #superyachtworld #dji #djimavic #djimavicpro #starck #sailingyachtA #SYa #nobiskrug #oliviao #oliviaOyacht #exploreryacht #ulstein

A post shared by Julien Hubert (@julien_hubert) on Jul 9, 2020 at 12:06pm PDT

It’s not just British retirees: the young and glamourous also visit Antibes – some of them aboard superyachts (though the exclusive villas the place is known for are not to be sneered at).Antibes, a coastal city in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, on the Côte d’Azur between Cannes and Nice, is a place we’d argue it’s hard not to have fun.

Ibiza

 

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A post shared by • (@javiittc) on Jun 17, 2020 at 12:35pm PDT

Despite its reputation for sweaty trance music and cheap cocktails, Ibiza is also home to a refreshing landscape, excellent ports for superyachts and – of course – has exclusive clubs and music experiences most inner ear explorers would sell their soul for.

Sardinia

Known for, among other things, pristine waters, roast suckling pig and the mafia, Sardinia truly is a pleasure-seekers paradise. But that doesn’t stop travellers from making hilarious faux pas (or engaging in some guilty holiday habits). Our favourites?The ‘natural but staged’ photo…

 

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A post shared by ᴀᴜʀᴏʀᴀ ᴄᴀᴅᴀᴜ (@auroraacadau) on Jul 12, 2020 at 1:06pm PDT

… and the gratuitous selfie.

 

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A post shared by Carlos Lopes (@lpscarlos72) on Jul 12, 2020 at 5:11pm PDT

Portofino

 

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A post shared by Travel Stories | Leisure (@travelstories.world) on Jul 8, 2020 at 10:37am PDT

Let’s be real for a second: Portofino is so fine, almost any holiday indulgence can be excused. In light of that, travellers’ penchant for posting envy inducing scenes, posing in cliche postures and generally living it up while you slave away in an office can actually be forgiven (though some could still do with a tutorial on how to hold court with a wine glass).

 

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Portofino began as a small fishing village. European aristocrats started frequenting the town in 19th century. It’s known for the picturesque harbour and colorful buildings. It’s not as expensive as some believe. A lunch for 2 with a bottle of wine cost us ¢60. The best way to get there is by ferry from Santa Margherita. We missed the last ferry to come back and walked 5K along the coast – one of the most beautiful walks I’ve ever had. #portofino #portofinoitaly #liguria #santamargheritaligure #octoberinitaly

A post shared by Dina Bobrova DMD (@dr.dinka) on Jul 8, 2020 at 3:42pm PDT

Monaco

 

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Waiting F1 Monaco gp 2019 Follow @topyacht @joyceduijx Casually watching F1 #monacogp while on a treadmill from a Superyacht Vid by @paulozartist #topyacht#yacht#yachts#boat#boats#car#cars#luxury#dubailife#russia#billionaire#luxurylife#sailing#yachting#superyacht#sea#rich#ibiza#miami#sunnyday#sunshine#boatlife#luxe#london#millionaire#goodlife#dubai#boating#beautiful

A post shared by Top Yacht (@topyacht) on Mar 31, 2019 at 3:19am PDT

Only in Monaco would videos emerge of a holiday goer walking on a treadmill on a superyacht whilst watching formula one.Your move, Contiki.

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The post Ultra Wealthy Making Quick Return To These Exotic Destinations, According To Luxury Insider appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sometimes, it’s hard to enjoy some foods unironically, because the reputation attached to them is so negative. For example, go order a smashed avo on toast at any cafe west of Bondi and expect to be instantly painted as a self-indulgent millennial crybaby.

Avocados are to millenials what Starbucks frappucinos and menthol cigarettes are to fashion writers. Following this trend, the stereotypical diet of a fitness fanatic is chicken breast, steel-cut oats and egg whites.

Athletes, bodybuilders and anyone who’s anyone in the world of fitness can be seen scarfing down these foodstuffs on the regular, and it’s no surprise why: they’re cost-effective ways to get bulk protein without supplements. Easy to prepare and easy to eat, you’d be hard-pressed to find a PT who doesn’t suggest building a diet around foods like these.

However, one English nutrition and exercise expert has flown in the face of conventional fitness wisdom by recommending you don’t follow food plans centered around these archetypal foodstuffs.

James Kew, founder of The Transformation Academy, has built a career out of dispelling common fitness myths and trends. His latest post reveals the inadequacies of common food plans spruiked by other fitness authorities.

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A post shared by James Kew (@jameskewfitness) on Jun 4, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

“It’s so common to see personal trainers giving their clients the same old meal plan year after year,” Kew explains.

“It normally consists of some combination of chicken breast, broccoli, rice, a few almonds and maybe some sweet potato if you’re lucky.⁣ Now, will this meal plan ‘work’?⁣ In one sense, yes.⁣⁣ It will drastically reduce calorie intake, and any diet that creates a calorie deficit will ‘work’.⁣ However, a diet only truly works in the long run if it is SUSTAINABLE.⁣⁣ And this sort of plan is the opposite of sustainable.⁣⁣”

Chicken breast and brown rice every day might be very virtuous, but it’s also very boring. The problem with many of these meal plans – as well as with many exercise regimes or diets more broadly – is that they are inflexible. They don’t factor in your day-to-day life, and they don’t leave any room for treats or just, you know, happiness.

“How do you stick to this plan on the weekend when you’re going out to eat,⁣” Kew asks rhetorically.

“[They] will massively increase the risk of cravings and binge-eating. These restrictive meal plans are also so limited in their food variety that you run the risk of creating nutrient deficiencies.⁣”

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Perhaps worst of all, they can damage your relationship with food, Kew relates.

“[They can] create orthorexic eating habits as people start to label food as something which is either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. As a ‘guilt-free’ food, or a ‘guilty’.”

Essentially, these diets might look good on paper but they’re not very sustainable. You need intense willpower to stick to them, and even if you do so, you might be doing yourself a disservice anyway because you’re missing out on other important trace nutrients you can’t get from just almonds and broccoli.

We’re human beings, not muscle-making machines. If you can’t have treats every now and then or even season your food, you’ll be unhappy. And when you’re unhappy, you won’t stick to good habits, and will just fall off.

Eating lean meats and consuming plenty of protein is undoubtedly the way to go if you want to build muscle and lose fat. But you need to make sure your diet is interesting and varied enough to support all the other elements of good fitness: exercise, mental health, your social life, etc.

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The post Chicken Breast Diet: There’s A Little Known Problem With The Diet 90% Of Fitness Professionals Advocate appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Johnny Depp, the 57-year-old Hollywood legend best known for his leading roles in Edward Scissorhands and Pirates of the Caribbean, is having a particularly rough week.

The American actor has been dealing with an ugly court case in England, taking News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun, to court over allegations that he physically abused his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The libel case has been a rather nasty exercise with a lot of airing of dirty laundry… Some of it quite literally.

Understandably, when you’re trying to defend your reputation, your outfit might not be the first thing that’s on your mind. Depp’s previous courtroom look, arriving at London’s Royal Courts of Justice in a baggy navy suit and chunky shoes, revealed how preoccupied he must be – the normally dapper Depp looking like a ratty teenager wearing a suit for the first time.

Perhaps revealing how he’s feeling about the unfolding case, Depp turned up (on Friday) to day 4 of the case re-energised with a much more flattering fit, which shows how it doesn’t take much to turn a losing look into a winning one.

Depp was spotted in a slimming black suit, paired with a black paisley scarf and black woven tie, wearing vegetable-tanned oxfords and aviator sunglasses.

The suit seems to be almost identical to the navy suit he wore previously – same ticket pocket, same large lapels, same pocket square, even a similar cut. Yet this suit is far less baggy. His trousers are less creased and his blazer fits nicer. The black suits Depp much better, too.

The accessories are also more considered. Depp wore the same tie and scarf with his navy suit, using the scarf as a makeshift anti-coronavirus mask. (Looks much better than PPE, that’s for sure). The colour coordination elevates the accessories, making them look far better in this ensemble than they did with the navy suit.

His shoes, too, are far nicer on the eyes. The treatment on the leather is beautifully rich and invoke just enough character without coming off as dishevelled, as opposed to the brothel creeper-looking things he was spotted with previously.

Depp’s fashion turnaround demonstrates how much of a difference even small adjustments can make to your outfit. A different colour, different shoes – and a different attitude – can turn a fashion fail into a success.

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The post Johnny Depp Fashion: Actor Rectifies Courtroom Catastrophe With Simple Sartorial Save appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You could say the travel industry popped a disc in March. But as most people stayed at home fearing the kiss of death (and while most airlines shut down for lack of passengers), Qatar Airways has Kept On Flying.

Though they have reduced operations from 2019 levels significantly, Qatar Airways ran repatriation flights right through March and April (even at its lowest point it still serviced 30 destinations), and is now running a network through its middle east hub in Doha, which can take travellers everywhere from Bali to Dublin (it includes over 40 destinations all up).

How is it able to do this? Especially given the increased costs that come with running not-quite (or in some cases not at all) full flights with expensive new safety measures, why hasn’t Qatar Airways gone the cost minimisation route of some other carriers (like Singapore Airlines and Qantas, to name a couple), and sent jets into hibernation and announced an international No Fly Policy until next year?

Well, for starters, Qatar Airways doesn’t have the domestic routes to sustain it like Qantas. It also came into this year’s crisis one of the richest (if not the richest) airlines in the world. And – as their decision to declare themselves the “world’s largest carrier” in June this year suggests, taking the punt to keep operating in this time may prove a smart marketing call in the long run (they weren’t even in the top 7 in 2018).

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Everyday at @hiaqatar, our aircraft soar higher and higher into the skies, carrying passengers and cargo to all corners of the earth. #RelyOnUs #QatarAirways

A post shared by Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) on Jul 11, 2020 at 8:30am PDT

As aviation expert Rico Merkert confirmed to DMARGE exclusively. “Yes, [continuing to operate flights has been] great for brand building and grabbing market share. It is harder to gain customers than to lose them in this business (once loyalty schemes and a decent product come into play).”

“They also understand the importance of aviation to their economy (as a hub with some pretty new and expensive infrastructure sitting there and lots of competition from the UAE and other places),” the Sydney University Professor of Transport and Supply Chain Management told DMARGE.

The upshot? Even though Aussies and Americans are currently unable to take Qatar Airways up on their scintillating offers to zoom us to Rome, once we emerge from These Dodgy Times there’s a good chance rich new carriers like Qatar Airways will have consolidated their place in the market, meaning airlines like Qantas & Virgin will really have to step up their game if they want to capture the market of ‘Antipodes & Americans heading to Europe.’

As for the list of the former ‘world’s largest carriers,’ we’ll leave it down below:

• Southwest Airlines – 164 million passengers
• Delta Air Lines – 152 million passengers
• American Airlines – 148 million passengers
• Ryanair – 136 million passengers
• United Airlines – 133 million passengers
• China Southern – 103 million passengers
• China Eastern – 96 million passengers

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The post Why Qatar Airways Is Able To Continue Running Flights At Such Losses appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Reckon you could go knuckle to knuckle with Conor McGregor in the octagon and come out victorious? While that’s probably a delusional thought of yours, you can at least do your best with regards to training at a dedicated MMA gym. MMA gyms are specially designed to help you become the best fighter you can be, offering a range of classes and martial art disciplines to get you in fighting-fit shape.

Sydney is comfortably home to its fair share of gyms, including those that train you extensively in just about every discipline of martial arts, but only a select few bring them all under one roof. But selecting the best ones within that group is what could separate you from reaching the upper echelons akin to Conor McGregor, and being a complete wash out with no potential fighting career.

We’ve, therefore, rounded up the very best UFC and MMA gyms in Sydney, including the CBD and surrounding areas, so you can start increasing your strength and power to earn those knockout wins. Even if you don’t go with the intention of wanting to fight someone someday, your nearest MMA gym is simply going to be a place to get fitter.

UFC Gym

It should go without saying that one of Sydney’s best MMA gyms is, of course, going to be owned by the actual UFC. With several locations in the Sydney region – and with more locations in NSW and the other Australian states – UFC Gym is the best place to start on your UFC journey. Being the ‘official’ gym of the UFC, these gyms have a range of classes and training programs all designed to get you to a similar fitness and strength level as the professional athletes. The gyms also have access to those athletes so that they can fill members in on their personal training regimens and dietary plans, so you can essentially train just like Conor or Jorge Masvidal, for example, if you wish. 

Address:

466 West Botany Street, Rockdale, 2216

Phone:

02 9556 1411

Gym Locations:

Wetherill Park; Gregory Hills; Blacktown, Bankstown; Penrith; Parramatta; Castle Hill

Bulldog MMA

Bulldog has been on the Sydney MMA scene since 2007 and has been pumping out Muay Thai champions ever since. Management has changed since it opened, and current owner Milad Sahoun has now staffed the gym with some of the best trainers from around the world. Bulldog specialises in Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and MMA, but can also be called upon as an everyday gym to help you reach personal fitness goals. Classes include boxing, boot camp, Muay Thai and jiu jitsu and you’re able to pay for casual visits if you don’t want to sign up to a full membership.

Address:

5 Seville Street, North Parramatta, 2151

Phone:

0400 715 007

The Fight Lab

If you thought being in Sydney since 2007 was a long time, then you’ll think The Fight Lab is practically ancient. Setting up shop in Tempe in 1994 and remaining there ever since, The Fight Lab is very much a gym for the people, welcoming everyone of all ages, abilities and genders. It’s also one of the few Sydney UFC gyms that specialise in teaching Pankration, an MMA style that includes boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and submission techniques. It’s pretty brutal, and people will certainly fear you if you learn how to master it.

Address:

914 Princes Highway, Tempe, 2044

Phone:

0418 282 823

Lange’s MMA

Teaching the residents of the Northern Beaches how to fight since 1994, Langes MMA is a family-run institution that continues to follow the motto “Developing the individual”. Whether you’re simply looking for a healthier lifestyle or you want to learn self defence, Langes MMA has you covered. With more than 10 black belt coaches on the Jiu Jitsu training team, you can be confident you’re going to get a top-notch education, and trainers for other disciplines are accomplished and experienced in their respective fields.

Address:

7/380 Pittwater Rd, North Manly, 2100

Phone:

02 9939 3706

Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts

SPMA is helmed by its two lead instructors, Anthony Perosh and Elvis Sinosic and has locations in Moorebank and Five Dock. But why should those names matter? Well, Anthony is a current UFC Ligh Heavyweight Fighter and is a 3rd degree Jiu Jitsu black belt, while Elvis, too, is a 3rd BJJ black belt and has spent many years practising the techniques of UFC. Classes include BJJ, MMA, self defence, Thai kickboxing and even yoga, because, after all that anger and rage, you’re going to appreciate being able to chill out and focus on your breathing and flexibility. 

Address (Five Dock):

Ground Floor, 97 Queens Road, Five Dock, 2046

Phone:

02 9715 3100

Address (Moorebank):

Unit 2 / 331 Newbridge Road, Moorebank, 2170

Phone:

02 9602 4183

Ultimate Fitness Centre

Perhaps one of the better located UFC gyms in Sydney, Ultimate Fighting Centre can found a stone’s throw from Wynard station. The gym covers all the basics of UFC fighting, including BJJ, boxing, functional training (think HIIT classes, cardio and strength work), Muay Thai and Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian style of martial arts that combines dance, acrobatic and music to deliver powerful kicks. Some classes are taught at the Brookvale branch in the Northern Beaches, but the CBD caters for the majority.

Address:

Shop 4 / 309 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000

Phone:

02 9262 6779

Gym Locations:

Brookvale – Northern Beaches

Legends Gym

Just down the road from Moore Park, Legends Gym is another well-located fitness centre that can transform you into a force to be reckoned with. Classes include boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ and MMA, but the gym also has a conventional weights floor and a cardio room. Personal training is available for those really looking to hone their skills, and a range of membership options will suit all budgets (and dedication levels).

Address:

89 Anzac Parade, Kensington, 2033

Phone:

02 9663 3774

No Quarter Boxing & Martial Arts

No Quarter is a fully inclusive fighting gym close to Redfern station. Not only does it focus on boxing and kickboxing disciplines, with classes catering to beginners and those more experienced, this gym also has a comprehensive strength and conditioning program, along with sparring training, which offers a pathway into the gym’s ‘Knuckleheads’ fighting team.

Address:

100 Botany Road, Alexandria, 2015

Phone:

0415 682 813

Eight Limbs

You didn’t think we’d love out the Eastern Suburbs, did you? For those living east of the CBD, Eight Limbs is a premium fitness and training facility that specialises in Muay Thai. The majority of the training team have experience and/or championship titles under their belt, so you can be sure of quality education. Other classes include X-Training, which combine strength and cardio training to deliver all-over body results.

Address:

First Floor / 38-40 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, 2022

Phone:

02 8971 5176

Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Nestled down in the Sutherland Shire, Gracie Jiu Jitsu is dedicated solely to the art of BJJ. Promising its academy will enable even smaller, weaker individuals to be able to take down bigger and stronger opponents, Gracie focuses on grappling techniques, especially those on the ground. There are no casual visits here, however, as it’s a members-only club, but you are able to try a free class to see if Gracie’s style of teaching is for you.

Address:

2/30 Gibbs Street, Miranda, 2228

Phone:

0430 105 660

SBG Australia

Straight Blast Gym Australia is affiliated with SBG International and was set up by Ben Power, following a meeting with friend John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor’s head coach. SBG (all locations) abides by the principle of “Aliveness” and promises to offer a welcoming atmosphere: “One Tribe, One Vibe.”

Address:

Level 1 / 689 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, 2040

Phone:

02 9572 6975

UFC Gyms Sydney FAQ

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The post Sydney UFC Gyms That Will Unleash Your Inner McGregor appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australia’s most famous mountain isn’t known for its height, skiing or amazing vistas: instead, it’s famous for being part of one of the world’s most iconic racecourses.

Bathurst’s Mount Panorama is the spiritual home of Australian motorsport. The Mount Panorama Circuit, home to the Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour races, is one of the most demanding race tracks in the world. Its steep grades, tight turns, and 174m vertical difference between its highest and lowest points makes it a particularly scary track. Uniquely, it’s also technically a street circuit, as it’s formed by public roads.

489 Conrod Straight (perhaps the coolest address in Australia) is due to go under the hammer on the 30th of July. A well-appointed property by any standards, its value is increased dramatically by having its 17 acres surrounded by Australia’s most famous race track.

Named in reference to a disastrous mechanical failure Australian racing legend Frank Kleinig suffered during a 1939 race, Conrod Straight is the fastest section of the Mount Panorama Circuit, with V8 Supercars reaching almost 300 km/h as they hurtle downhill. It’s also this property’s veritable driveway.

Aside from the obvious novelty of being able to enjoy Australia’s best motorsport from the comfort of your backyard, 489 Conrod Straight also includes 17 acres spread over two titles with four paddocks, views back over the city, a historic orchard, a 6.6kw solar system and a well-sized dam among other features.

The house itself isn’t really anything to write home about, but you’re hardly buying this property for its kitchen. That said, the separate and sizeable extension is home to an awesome entertainment area, complete with wood fireplace and a huge undercover veranda.

“Up for sale for the first time in 88 years, these 17 acres of prime land feature a number of structures over its two titles,” Grant Maskill-Dowton from Raine & Horne details.

“All up there are 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a house being the main home and its detached extension, the shed, historic orchard, views for days and a pine tree-lined boundary sets the rest of the scene for this truly special estate situated on Australia’s most famous race track.”

“These opportunities only come around every so often in a lifetime, with buyers usually holding onto the real estate in this location for generations.”

Bathurst itself is a great place to live, a bustling regional centre nestled in the heart of NSW’s Central Tablelands. It boasts excellent schools, a top university, no traffic, easy parking, a friendly community whilst still offering all the amenities of a city.

Checking out 489 Conrod Straight would also be a great excuse to drive the Mount Panorama Circuit. As previously mentioned, it’s a public road that anyone’s allowed to drive on when there isn’t a race happening (although you’re limited to 60km/h and cops watch the area like a hawk).

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The post Mount Panorama Real Estate: Insane Property Listing Is A Petrol Head’s Dream appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

What would you do for an upgrade? Trade your track pants for a suit? Throw yourself to your knees at check in? Pray to the gods of ergonomics? For most people, the answer is: ‘anything but pay for it’.

Now though, with the cheap domestic flight frenzy Australia is now seeing (even if experts say it won’t last), flying business class domestically is a truly tantalising option (even if most people have no reason to travel right now).

But you already have a pretty good idea of what domestic business class looks like (especially after walking past it so many times on your way to your cattle class cell). What most people are in the dark about, however, is international business class (and not just because the lights tend to be dimmed when you walk in).

Chuck into the mix the pointy end policy changes that have come into effect of late, from killing off the lounge buffet to Hazmat suits that put Naomie Campbell to shame, and you have yourself a cocktail of luxurious ~mystery~.

What does flying international business class look like right now? DMARGE spoke exclusively with Jaynee Wehbe, global sales director at TRIANGL, who recently was granted an exemption to travel to Ibiza on business, to find out.

Jaynee set off two weeks back, on a work trip which involved a campaign shoot in Ibiza, then working on new collections, sourcing brands for TRIANGL’s store and sorting everything out for the rest of the year with her boss in Monaco.

Jaynee travelled from Sydney to Ibiza, on Qatar Airways business class, with stopovers in Doha and (unexpectedly) Amsterdam along the way. First though, she had to seek an exemption to travel, which she told DMARGE “was a straight forward process.”

“There’s a form on the DFAT website you fill out. I explained my work scenario – at first it was rejected as I didn’t specify a return date. You’re able to resubmit with extra info and it was then approved in a few days.”

“You then need to check with the country you’re flying into that you can actually fly there. I thought I could get into Spain on July 1 however they changed this to July 8th and made the announcement on July 3rd. Which is why I traveled to Amsterdam,” Jaynee added.

“I was meant to fly to Ibiza but they changed the restrictions without warning. So I’m in Amsterdam (only place you can fly to from Australia with no restrictions) trying my luck to get through this morning,” Jaynee told us two weeks ago.

Despite a last minute paperwork blip (“Spanish government came out with a form you need to fill in to gain entry into Spain and of course the form doesn’t work!”) she made it to Ibiza “with no dramas.”

“Got on the plane, filled in a hard copy, got to Ibiza airport and they didn’t even look at the form!!”

As for the onboard experience, this is what it’s like, according to Jaynee.

The hazmat suits are more confusing than creepy

“It made me feel more confused than anything! I mean why is it necessary to cover your entire body? And if they think it’s necessary then why aren’t we doing it too?” Jaynee told us.

“It was really hard to communicate with them too as the plane is loud enough and then you couldn’t see their mouth move or even their eyes!”

They’re also exclusive to business class

“The hazmat suit was only in business class: the other attendants wore a robe, mask and goggles only (only!). Which is also confusing…”

The flight may be safer than the airport

“Sydney international airport itself surprised me,” Jaynee told DMARGE. “From memory I didn’t see any hand sanitizer stations, check in staff weren’t wearing gloves/masks nor was there any sanitizer even though they were dealing with our passports and documents.”

“Our temperature wasn’t taken upon arrival to the airport or even before boarding the flight which I found weird as we’re getting our temperature taken at restaurants now!”

Face shields may not prove as effective as you think

“Another thing I found weird” Jaynee told us, “was that they were handing out face shields for the flight and you weren’t allowed to walk onto the plane without wearing one. But as soon as you walked past the flight attendant when you’re on the plane, you could take it off and have it off for the whole trip.”

“I just found the whole process inconsistent. Measures in place just to say that measures are in place.”

In terms of overall experience though, international business class on Qatar Airways remains much the same

“Other than the above comments, business class was much the same!”

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