Explore Sydney like a local with Metro Hotels packages

Explore Sydney with Aspire Hotel! Experience all the excitement of Sydney using your free Opal cards on buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

With rates starting at $129, this package includes 2 free Adult Opal travel cards, each loaded with $20 worth of travel on all public transport.

Extra Cards (Adult - $20.00 and Child - $10.00) are also available and can be purchased at reception.

Book now: http://www.aspire-hotel-sydney.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/explore-sydney-hot-deal-accommodation

Aspire Hotel Sydney: The hotel boasts 96 ample and commodious rooms to suit the individual, couple and family alike. Some of the rooms have large, private balconies. The hotel provides a manned 24-hour reception desk for your convenience along with security key card access to all guest rooms. Room features include complimentary tea and coffee making facilities; hairdryer; iron and ironing board; in-room safe; external laundry and dry cleaning (charges apply).

Location: 383-389 Bulwara Road Ultimo, Sydney NSW 2007 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9211 - 1499
Closest train station: Central Station

Darling Harbour Vivid Festival - Photo credit: Saard Saenmuang

Darling Harbour - Harbourside Shopping Centre

Explore Sydney with Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour! Experience all the excitement of Sydney using your free Opal cards on buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

Package includes 2 free Adult Opal travel cards, each loaded with $20 worth of travel on all public transport.

Extra Cards (Adult - $20.00 and Child - $10.00) are also available and can be purchased at reception.

Book now: http://www.sydney-metro-apartments-darling-harbour.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/explore-sydney-hot-deal-accommodation

Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour: Has 24 fully contained apartments, many of which overlook the glory of Sydney’s famous Darling Harbour. All apartments have balconies. The apartments provide a manned reception desk from early morning until late at night. Our loft style apartments are fully serviced with plenty of room to relax and enjoy your stay.  The bedroom and bathroom are located on the mezzanine level, flowing down to a fully equipped kitchen, lounge and balcony downstairs, which is inclusive of washing machine and dryer. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all apartments. The Executive loft offers the same features plus cathedral style windows from floor to ceiling with spectacular views of Darling Harbour. Room features include complimentary tea and coffee making facilities; fridge; hairdryer; iron and ironing board; external laundry and dry cleaning (charges apply); complimentary Foxtel.

Location: 132-136 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9199 - 2517
Closest train station: Wynyard Station (10 minutes walk)

Sydney City CBD

Explore Sydney like a local with Metro Hotel on Pitt!

This Sydney Local hot deal includes 2 adult Opal travel cards, with a total value of $20 for travel on public buses, trains, ferries and light rail. Also includes complimentary WiFi, a late check out (noon) and a complimentary room upgrade*


*Room upgrade is subject to availability only.

Book now: http://www.metro-hotel-on-pitt.bookings.metrohotels.com.au/sydney-local-hot-deal-accommodation

Metro Hotel on Pitt: The hotel boasts 119 well appointed guest rooms in the Deluxe, Superior and Suite categories. Located in the heart of the CBD, most attractions and points of interest are within walking distance of the hotel. Metro Hotel on Pitt provides a manned 24-hour reception desk, plus all floors can only be accessed with an exclusively programmed guest room key card. Room features include complimentary tea and coffee making facilities; small fridge; hairdryer; iron and ironing board; in-room safe; external laundry and dry cleaning (charges apply); free in-room Wi-Fi; free-to-air TV and a complimentary selection of Foxtel channels.

Location: 300 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9283 - 8088
Closest train station: Town Hall Station (3 minutes walk)

What's On in Sydney - Vivid Sydney 2015, Sydney Film Festival & More

It's an exciting time in Sydney with the Sydney Writers' Festival underway, Vivid Sydney kicking off tomorrow and the Sydney Film Festival just around the corner. If you're feeling lucky we have some huge giveaways, read on for all the details.

It might be just ten days until winter, but you can now relive your favourite summer  moments. Thanks to ABC Radio National, Olivia Chaney and Jessica Pratt's concerts are now available to download, as is Far From Folsom, Tex Perkins' stellar performance channeling Johnny Cash at Parramatta Gaol. You can stream Blank Space on FBi Radio, or tune in to 94.5FM at 2pm this Sunday for Dan Deacon's late night gig.

Vivid Sydney 2015: 22 May – 8 June

Vivid Light is bigger than ever, with over 60 light installations, projections and illuminations extending from Circular Quay to Martin Place, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and The Star, plus the University of Sydney. New precincts include Central Park in Chippendale and Chatswood. Sydney will be transformed into a wonderland of 'light art' sculptures, innovative light installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy.

Grace Jones: Modulations at Carriageworks

Modulations at Carriageworks features pop culture icon Grace Jones (Sydney Festival 2009) and living jazz legend Pharoah Sanders (Sydney Festival 2015). Jones will present three shows segueing from disco to funk and pop to punk on 31 May – 2 June. Grammy Award-winning American jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders who has performed with jazz icons including John Coltrane, Don Cherry and Sun Ra, will perform his ground-breaking works 5 & 6 June.



Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House

To celebrate the return of Sufjan Stevens to the Concert Hall (Sydney Festival 2008 & 2011), and the Opera House debut of music’s most mysterious folk singer Bill Callahan (Sydney Festival 2009), Sydney Opera House are giving you the chance to win a double pass to Sufjan Stevens on Monday 25 May or Bill Callahan on Thursday 28 May.



Sydney Film Festival: 3 – 14 June

Sydney Film Festival is coming soon, with 251 films from 68 countries and over 100 other events on offer. Explore the full program and buy your tickets and Flexipasses online now. The 62nd Sydney Film Festival today announced 27 new films to be featured in this year's June (3-14) event, plus an Ingmar Bergman retrospective curated by David Stratton. Also revealed in advance of the full program launch of 200+ films on Wednesday 6 May is a new screening venue at Dendy Newtown and an enhanced family film program.
To find out more, check out the Sydney Film Festival website: www.sff.org.au

Vivid Sydney Game Zone: At Pyrmont & The Star

Pyrmont and The Star will be transformed as part of Vivid Sydney. Check out the interactive installations including Pyrmont Pyro where you create your own digital fireworks display, and ‘Mission Control’ which allows you to control dozens of search lights. Stop by Vivid Lounge at Sky Terrace which will be transformed into an electric urban space brought to life by light and music.

Venus in Fur: Darlinghurst Theatre Company

Having seduced audiences on Broadway, David Ives’ hilarious, sexy and provocative smash hit Venus in Fur makes its Sydney debut at Eternity Playhouse from 29 May to 5 July. Starring Anna Houston and Gareth Reeves, this part comedy, part thriller is a gripping exploration of sexual control and desire.

Thor, Spider Man, Iron Man and Wolverine at Madame Tussauds Sydney

Thor as portrayed by Aussie Superstar Chris Hemsworth and Spider-Man will join Iron Man and Wolverine in the all-new Marvel Super Hero Zone

Prior to the April launch of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Mighty Avenger Thor, and the iconic web-slinger Spider-Man, join Iron Man and Wolverine at Madame Tussauds Sydney.

Thor’s imposing wax figure was created following a two-day sitting with Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Madame Tussauds worked closely with Marvel Studios to ensure every element, including Thor’s hair and costume, is true to his iconic character from the 2011 film, Marvel’s Thor. The thundering figure of Asgard’s greatest warrior will be in Sydney for a limited time only.

Spider-Man will also join the Marvel Super Hero Zone as a permanent addition to the Sydney attraction. Marvel fans young and old will be able to interact and hang out with the ultimate wall-crawler.

“We are thrilled to bring Thor and Spider-Man to life, so that the fans from Australia can get up close and personal with their favourite Marvel Super Heroes. With Iron Man and Wolverine already such popular figures in our attraction, the all-new Marvel Super Hero Zone will display some of the most beloved characters in the world. Marvel fans can even join the Super Hero ranks themselves by donning Thor’s armour or seeing what they look like with Wolverine’s claws,” said Steve Hinks, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Sydney.

Also opening these April holidays is an all-new 3D Virtual Reality experience - a cutting edge virtual reality head-mounted display where users are transported to another world through sound and special effects. Through this new technology, visitors to Madame Tussauds Sydney will travel 500 years into the future to a post-apocalyptic Sydney and become "Karbon Man"! As the world's last hope, soar through the sky and use your superpowers to protect what remains of civilisation from an alien invasion.

“We invite all Marvel fans to come along and not only see these icons of Marvel but also embrace their own inner super powers with the use of the new 3D virtual Reality experience that will enable users to feel what it’s like to be a Super Hero,” added Hinks.

The Thor and Spider-Man figures will join other iconic Heroes in the all-new Marvel Super Hero Zone, including:

·     Wolverine: Australian Hollywood star Hugh Jackman portrayed as the mutant Wolverine in Fox Film’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, including his remarkable foot-long adamantium claws. Visitors can pose alongside Wolverine’s figure with their very own set of Wolverine claws

·    Iron Man: the Armoured Avenger and star of multiple Marvel movies, including the newest –Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, out in late April. The figure is wearing his mark IV armour from Marvel’s Iron Man 2. His suit lights up with glowing eyes, palms and arc reactor (chest). Guests can wear a similar suit of armour to pose with Iron Man’s figure

All Super Hero fans are encouraged to fly into the Marvel Super Hero Zone at Madame Tussauds Sydney. Here, you will step into the world of these infamous characters and even become your own Super Hero.  

Where: Madame Tussauds Sydney, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour (next door to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo)

Opening hours: 9.30am daily

Tickets: https://www.madametussauds.com/Sydney/

Combination tickets are available with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Sydney Tower Eye and Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary via Wild Life Sydney website: 

http://www.wildlifesydney.com.au/tickets/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwgoKqBRDt_IfLr8y1iMUBEiQA8Ua7XYmwgHddrR4luAU65NKYHQ1on6gP-rCNOvw40hyilrIaAtO58P8HAQ#attraction-passes

The Script feat Labrinth touring Australia April-May 2015

Frontier Touring are proud to welcome back multi-platinum selling band The Script to Australia and New Zealand to play a string of arena shows in April and May 2015!

The Dublin-raised, London-based trio – Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power – are no strangers to Australia, having sold out multiple arena shows on their previous visits and currently in the country on a whirlwind visit promoting their new album No Sound Without Silence(out now through Sony).

The band has not lost an ounce of momentum since the release of their debut self-titled album in 2008. The album shot straight to the top of the charts in Ireland and the UK and features iconic hits like ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ and ‘Breakeven (Falling to Pieces)’.

Science & Faith, featuring the heart wrenchingly beautiful chart topper ‘For The First Time’, was released in September 2010 and once again landed the #1 spot in Ireland and the UK, debuted at #3 on the ARIA album chart and peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200.

Their last studio album #3 followed suit to its two predecessors and was certified multi-platinum throughout the world. The album well and truly cemented The Script as a diverse and world-leading band, especially with global mega hit ‘Hall of Fame’ which featured lead singer Danny O’Donoghue’s co-judge on The Voice UK will.i.am and was used in Channel 10’s promo for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

‘Hall Of Fame’ peaked at #1 across the globe and has now garnered almost 139 million views on YouTube, 138 million streams on Spotify and is six times Platinum in Australia!

The band’s YouTube channel boasts close to a million subscribers and has racked up over a massive 400 million views with the number growing rapidly as the band continues to dominate the charts with latest offerings like  ‘Superheroes’.

The ‘Superheroes’ clip clocked almost 1.5 million views in under a month, with 724,000+ of those views in the first three days! The track is the lead single from the band’s fourth studio album No Sound Without Silence. The album debuted at #5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and landed the very top spot in the UK.

Despite having been handpicked to open for the likes of U2 and Paul McCartney, The Script have well and truly proved why they deserved to be headliners in their own right. Confirming the band’s identity as a strong stadium band, their 2013 tour spanned across 11 months, four continents and included 63 arenas and 18 festivals – selling out a number of shows including London’s O2 Arena along the way.  

TOUR DATES

Friday 24 April  Perth | Perth Arena  (All Ages)
Monday 27 April  Adelaide | Entertainment Centre  (All Ages)
Wednesday 29 April  Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena  (All Ages)
Friday 1 May  Sydney | Allphones Arena  (All Ages)
Saturday 2 May  Brisbane | Entertainment Centre  (All Ages)

Lion King roars into Perth

A generation has been raised on the The Lion King film.

It's the enchanting Disney Broadway smash that has been seen by more than 80 million people worldwide - and now The Lion King is coming to Perth.

More than 20 years after the animated film stole our hearts and 18 years after the stage adaptation of Simba's story had its first New York run, The Lion King will play at the Crown Theatre for the from November 21.

Buyi Zama who plays Rafiki in the Lion King musical at South Mole, Fremantle. Picture: Iain Gillespie/ The West Australian

The Lion King, "reimagined" from the film by acclaimed director and costume designer Julie Taymor, tells the story of heartbroken lion cub Simba returning from exile to rise up against his evil uncle Scar and succeed his father Mufasa as king.

On the way he gets help from pals Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa, as well as childhood sweetheart Nala and spirit guide Rafiki.

The highest-grossing musical so far, the Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards and boasts music by Elton John and Tim Rice, including the hit Circle of Life.

The Lion King's Rafiki at Cottesloe Beach. Picture: Simon Santi / The West Australian

Thomas Schumacher, one of the fathers of The Lion King and Disney's president of theatrical productions, has raved about New Zealand actor Nick Afoa, who plays adult Simba in the Australian production.

"That kid is glorious," he said. "His version of Endless Night moves me deeply."

Rob Collins, an indigenous actor from Darwin, has been celebrated for his role as Mufasa and Josh Quong Tart is a delectably detestable Scar. WA Academy of the Performing Arts alumni Nicholas Li and Bernard Angel are also in the cast.

Tickets go on pre-sale on June 15. Register at www.thelionking.com.au/perth

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/27219256/lion-king-roars-into-perth-for-first-time/

Sound the Octo-Alert! All-new Octonauts World Experience Opens at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Discover the bright and vibrant underwater world of the Octonauts in an all-new experience at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium! Featuring completely new aquatic animals in dynamic displays, 3D talking Octonauts crew members, activities and more, Octonauts World is sure to keep little ones immersed in THE ultimate Octonauts mission. 

Kids will interact with their favourite Octonauts crew members as they embark on a new mission to “Explore, Rescue, Protect” the wonderful creatures they have discovered in the new Octonauts World. 

Visitors will dive into action and talk to Captain Barnacles, help with Kwazii’s search for hidden treasure and watch Peso’s thrilling encounter with a Great White Shark. Octonauts enthusiasts will also ride in the Gup-E and learn all about the new animals on show in a very special “Creature Report” with the whole Octonauts crew.

And if the kids can’t get enough of the new Octonauts World, the Merlin Annual Pass is perfect for endless undersea adventures with the Octonauts and the aquarium’s 13,000 other ocean stars.

Where: SEA LIFESydney Aquarium, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour

Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney

AQUARIUM OPENING HOURS:

9:30am - 7:00pm, 365 days a year

LAST ENTRIES:

Strictly 6:00pm

The EB Expo Returns to Sydney In 2015

The EB Expo Returns to Sydney In 2015

EB Games was hardly going to turn its back on one of its best concepts ever, but just in case there was ever any doubt, today it was announced that the EB Expo is returning to Sydney in 2015.

The official date is October 2 until October 4 and tickets go on sale 9am AEDT on April 16. You can purchase them on the EB Expo website, at EB Games stores or through oztix.com.au. The event will be held, once again, at Sydney Showgrounds. It is, admittedly, a pretty cool venue.

If you’ve been to previous EB Expos you’ll know what to expect: early looks at upcoming video games, some event-style panels, and my personal favourite: a Waluigi made out of balloons.

Most major publishers seems slated to attend. PlayStation, XBOX, Nintendo, Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are currently confirmed.

“EB Expo continues to set the standards by celebrating the video game industry and embracing pop culture. We’re boasting the most unreleased games of any exhibition in Australia this year,” said EB Games Marketing and Events Director Debra McGrath.

A couple of cool things to note: John Robertson, of ‘The Dark Room’ fame, will be performing at the show. Turns out he’s bringing his critically acclaimed show The Dark Room to the event. I’ve been super keen to check that out, so this is a positive.

Also — bizarrely — The Umbilical Brothers are also going to be performing. That’s cool. I guess? What does it have to do with video games? No-one knows (or possibly cares).

“Every year the EB Expo team will continue to add fresh new elements to the mix and we’re really looking forward to wow-ing our existing and new crowds with original content,” said Debra. I guess that might explain it.

I’ve always enjoyed the EB Expo and it does manage to get its fair share of top notch exclusive content. I played Titanfall there for the first time. That was cool. - 



See more at: http://sydneyconferences.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/the-eb-expo-returns-to-sydney-in-2015.html#sthash.GkYDceTm.dpuf