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Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Going to watch the British & Irish Lions in action? Read this first
This is experience-of-a-lifetime stuff. If you're one of the lucky ones travelling to Australia for the British and Irish Lions tour this summer, you'll need a plan to make the most of this truly exceptional sporting holiday. Whether you are all in for every match or happy to make the most of time between key fixtures, there's a wealth of diversions to discover in and around the Test cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and ample time during the 'down week' between the final two Test matches to go inland to the heart of Australia. Here's a primer on what to see where — and why — as the spectacle takes shape. Weekend in the cityBrisbane can be overlooked on east coast itineraries but Queensland's capital has it all: fantastic city beaches, glittering skyscrapers and great nightlife. It's also a perfect jumping-off point for trips to Fraser Island, a sand island where you can spot wild dingoes. But you don't need to venture far from this vibrant city for a taste of the good life. This is a great time to visit Australia's largest contemporary art collection, housed at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, or Goma. Running on the expansive ground-floor galleries until October, the Wonderstruck exhibition (free entry) features artists' responses to the idea of 'awe' and includes a delightfully bonkers assortment of work from names including Nick Cave. For guaranteed fun, meanwhile, it would be mad to miss out on Fortitude Valley, the city's entertainment precinct. This is the right kind of adult entertainment, with interesting boutiques, top-notch coffee shops, Brisbane's best restaurants and the renowned Fortitude Music Hall, where the first Darts Down Under event will take place on July 20, to coincide with the Lions series, featuring rugby legends in a showdown against darts greats. Because, well, why not? Tickets at Allow plenty of time to amble through Brisbane Botanic Gardens, with its impressive tropical display dome and the bamboo grove. Free guided tours are worth booking to see the best bits of the 56 hectares. If you have kids with you, the Planetarium has lots of engaging events and displays. Another gorgeous place for a stroll is Roma Street Parkland. Keep your eye out on warm days and you might spot an eastern water dragon, Australia's largest dragon lizard, by the water — they can change colour according to their mood, temperature or sunlight. You can order a picnic hamper from the garden café, or make like a local and fire up one of the free barbecues. If you're feeling more adventurous, take on the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Rock climb or abseil the 20m cliffs for the best views of the city and river. Or play it safe and get a CityCat, a catamaran ferry, and see Brisbane from the water, then stroll up to Kangaroo Point Park. Bring a picnic and, if you're lucky, Brisbane Jazz Club might be playing. If you've more energy to burn, you can climb the Story bridge or kayak down the river. Midweek exploration Located a 45-minute drive from Brisbane's centre, meanwhile, Flinders Peak Winery merits the trip. Book ahead for a A$20 tour of the winery and distillery, where the shiraz and the gin are equally lip-smacking. Back in Brisbane, you could do considerably worse than spend a day at Felons Barrel Hall, where all six Lions matches will be shown on the big screens, and the on-site brewery completes the scene; Elaine Prendeville Weekend in the city On first impressions, Melbourne is a mixture of daring architecture and funky skyscrapers sitting beside grungy Victorian neighbourhoods. It is a place of street art and graffiti but also a place where jaywalking is frowned upon. The Yarra River runs through the centre of the city. There are plenty of boat tours, and renting floating water bikes is a novel way to see the city. The older part of Melbourne is to the north of the river, while the southern bank is now a major urban redevelopment complete with a river walkway, restaurants, bars, shops and entertainers. It's public space done well. Off the main streets are Melbourne's famous lanes, which have decent pubs such as the Mitre or else try the buzzy alfresco restaurants on Hardware Lane. Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) is compact. All the trams are free in the centre and the 45 takes an orbital route. It's an old-fashioned tram and a fun ride. There are Lime electric bikes and a couple of other bike apps. It takes maybe ten minutes to get from one side to the other, although it's a bit hilly. The famous suit of armour worn by the Irish-Australian gangster Ned Kelly is in the State Library in the centre of town. It's smart to hop on one of the free tours to put Kelly in context. He's either a police-shooting gangster or an early social revolutionary. Chinatown is wonderful for authentic nosh. The QVM or Queen Victoria Market is a food market by day but, on Wednesday nights, it becomes an entertainment venue with food trucks, bars, music, DJs and hipster shopping. The Philippine pork skewers are off the charts, although sugar-cane juice is something to be tried just once. Melbourne's other food markets are definite destinations. There is terrific fresh fish in the South Melbourne market, which is a couple of tram stops out. Half a crayfish and some cooked scallops and oysters will cost about A$45 (€25). • 35 of the best things to do in Australia You have to drink the local poison, which is either Victoria Bitter or Carlton. Each region of Australia has its own local beer and it's rather competitive. Melbourne has a couple of floating bars, which are slick places for a schooner or two. Afloat and Yarra Botanica are the best. The Yarra Valley produces some excellent vino too. The Quincy or Q rooftop bar is a good spot for a night-time cocktail. There's a beautiful view of the city and if you are lucky you might spot the Southern Cross or Alpha Centauri — stars that are visible mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. Midweek explorationPhillip Island is about two hours' drive from Melbourne. It's home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. Book your ticket to the Penguin Parade online, and do so early as it sells out fast. There is an interpretive centre with a restaurant at the end of the island. A beautiful cliff walk takes you close to penguin nesting burrows. A sign notes that tourists should leave the brown snakes alone, as there's no anti-venom available. Tickets are A$33 (€19) for an adult. At dusk the first penguin appears in the surf and sticks its head up. Then another. And another. They gingerly group together in bands of maybe ten and slowly shuffle up the beach. You might see 100, or it could be 2,000, depending on the night. It's quite magical, positively uplifting and a remarkable scene of nature. Bring a coat — you'll feel the chill. The Great Ocean Road, as the name suggests, winds along the coastline, with great views on the drive. Small towns like Lorne or Torquay are good spots to stop for ice cream or lunch. Sulphur-crested cockatoos, white ibis or some other wild bird will swamp your picnic table. We stopped at the Sheoak waterfall, which is a walk of about an hour through a tropical forest — imagine the set of I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! and you'll get the picture. The sounds of the birds, especially the kookaburra, are genuinely memorable. Nick Webb Weekend in the citySydney, as you might have heard, is the business. It's one of the most magnetic, dynamic and refreshing cities in the world, set across probably the most stunning locale of any metropolis. The Lions play twice in Sydney, almost a month apart. The first fixture is July 5 against the New South Wales Waratahs; the second is the third Test against the Wallabies on August 2. Yes, it will be winter, but this is Sydney: the daytime average temperature will be roughly 17C, with a night-time average of 8C, and typically six to seven hours of sunshine each day. Get your bearings on day one by taking the most stunning short city walk in the world, from the Opera House to the headland of Mrs Macquarie's Chair, stopping off at the harbourside Botanic Gardens (free entry). Snuggled between the Opera House and the southern abutment of the Harbour Bridge is Circular Quay and, to its immediate western flank, the Rocks. This is party central each evening when the Lions are in town. You'll have classic old-school boozers (that is, former 19th-century 'hotels' that have since dropped all rooms) such as the Lord Nelson and the Orient, but then there are more contemporary outfits like the Australian (try the pizza) and the Glenmore or Bar Lulu (both with enviable, elevated views of the harbour). If you're a whisky lover, the Doss House is for you. You also have the Aster (on the 32nd storey at the InterContinental) or Jimmy's Rooftop, about 500m further south in the CBD. Most of these bars have strong menus too, although your best bet for food at the Rocks is the Collective. Also at the Rocks are 90-minute leisurely guided walkabouts that discuss Sydney's natural landscape and seasons, and the ancient, indigenous culture, including the Dreamtime. There are daily tours at 10.30am and 1.30pm, starting from A$99 (€56) per tour ( Over the weekend of the Waratahs match (July 5 and 6), go along to this fair celebrating contemporary indigenous Australian art, design, food and culture at the Rocks. It's billed as 'an ethical marketplace' that allows you to buy artworks directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists based in remote, community-owned art centres from all corners of this mesmerising, massive nation, with postage home (of any bought works) also available ( A$3/€1.70 entry). Also nearby is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, which is always a good bet, regardless of the year or season ( A$20/€11), while from early June to late October, there will be a standout light and sound exhibition by Cerith Wyn Evans (A$35/€20). • 14 exciting ways to see Australia (and its unexpected highlights) Roughly 1.5km southwest of Circular Quay is Darling Harbour, which has a terrific selection of restaurants and pubs, as the waterfront promenade angles north to Barangaroo. At the far south of Darling Harbour is Tumbalong Park, a pedestrian zone typically hosting mini fan zones for big sporting events. The city experiences not to miss? With at least four types of climbs you can book, and different times of day/night you can experience them, there's no excuse not to take on Sydney Harbour Bridge. They tend to be a three-hour experience in full, with two of those being on the bridge, with prices starting from about A$270/€150 ( Midweek explorationSpoiler alert but the Blue Mountains aren't blue any more than Greenland is green. But the mountains do have some magical energy or magnetism to them that I don't think I've ever experienced anywhere else on the planet. So get yourself out there on a guided (minibus) day trip from Sydney. There's a range of providers offering comparable packages, with pick-ups/drop-offs from your hotel and lunch/snacks/coffees through the ten-hour day, with prices starting from A$120/€68 (see If you're keen to explore the valley, stay overnight at the utterly charming Lilianfels Resort and Spa. It's close enough that you can rise early to beat the crowds, and is a lush place to put your feet up after conquering the Giant Stairway's 998 steps. Jamie Ball
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- News.com.au
NRL star's assault stopped by Broncos teammate in Fortitude Valley
A Broncos star stepped between his teammate Teui 'TC' Robati and a young woman moments after witnessing the NRL player indecently assault her during a night out in Brisbane. Just minutes after a jury cleared him of two rape charges on Wednesday afternoon, Robati admitted to unlawfully and indecently assaulting another young woman during a separate night out in Brisbane, witnessed by teammate Patrick Carrigan. The jury found the former Brisbane Broncos player not guilty of raping a woman during a late-night encounter in a Fortitude Valley hotel toilet. The verdict was delivered in the Brisbane District Court following more than seven hours of deliberation across two days. The jury of seven women and five men had earlier indicated they were struggling to reach a consensus before ultimately finding Robati, 24, not guilty on both counts of rape. Supporters of both Robati and the complainant were present in court to hear the outcome. Robati wiped away tears as the verdicts were handed down, with his mother also seen becoming emotional. Despite the serious allegations and the impact on his career, defence barrister David Funch told the court that Robati remained optimistic about his future, including a hope to return to professional rugby league. The woman had alleged she was raped twice by Robati inside a disabled toilet at The Prince Consort Hotel shortly after midnight on December 11, 2022. The court was told the alleged incident occurred after the 24-year-old woman had been out drinking with friends and met Robati at the hotel. In prerecorded testimony, she said she followed him into a disabled toilet believing he was inviting her to do 'a line of cocaine.' Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol said the door closed and 'almost immediately' he put his arms around her neck and started kissing her. Inside, Robati allegedly told her to 'suck it', despite her saying she didn't want to have sex. 'She was scared, she started pacing. She covered her eyes, as she didn't want to look at the defendant's penis,' Ms MacNicol said. 'She said 'I don't want to do this, I don't know why I'm here.'' The woman said she felt 'pressured and compelled' and eventually performed oral sex without consent. 'After about 15 seconds, she started to gag feeling like she was going to vomit,' Ms MacNicol said. Witnesses said she appeared distressed and was 'crying' and 'seeking comfort' after the incident. Ms MacNicol said she told her friends immediately and was 'genuine' in her evidence. Robati's defence barrister David Funch said no one knew 'what happened in that room'. 'She may well think that she's been raped, she may well believe that, but feelings aren't facts,' Mr Funch said. He said Robati believed the act was consensual and added that 'poor behaviour doesn't make you a rapist.' Following the jury's verdict, the court was told Robati would finalise another matter, and he pleaded guilty to a separate charge of unlawful and indecent assault involving a different woman in December 2022. Ms MacNicol said that incident happened about 10 days after the hotel encounter, when Mr Robati, then 21, touched a 21-year-old woman on the neck, breast and waist over her clothing while she was out with her boyfriend and a friend. The court was told Broncos star Patrick Carrigan saw the incident unfold and physically placed himself between Robati and the woman, facing Robati in a bid to de-escalate the situation. Later that evening, security contacted her about what they had witnessed and a formal complaint was made to police. Mr Funch told the court Robati had 'effectively lost everything' after being charged, including his contract with the Brisbane Broncos. He said Robati grew up in disadvantaged circumstances in New Zealand, one of 15 people living under the same roof, with an absent father who was in and out of prison. Despite this, he was described as 'extremely well supported by his family'. The court was told Robati moved to Australia in 2018 on a sporting scholarship, having played football since the age of five. He made 17 first-grade appearances across two seasons with the Broncos before the charges were laid. 'He's lost his employment,' Mr Funch said. Mr Funch said Robati has been in talks with another NRL club, pending the resolution of his legal matters. He has since worked on the roads, packed food, and is now employed full-time at an auto parts business. Mr Funch said Robati remained hopeful of returning to professional sport, and is currently volunteering as a coach for an A-grade team. 'He was enjoying fame and fortune … he had just turned 21 at the time of offending,' Mr Funch said. 'He was in quite a surreal position at such a young age.' Judge Paul Everson described it as 'low-level offending' but 'not trivial', and said Robati's status as a young Broncos player out with teammates did not shield him from accountability. 'The defendant was a public figure … status does not shield you from accountability,' he said, calling the assault 'brazen' and 'creepy' and reflective of a sense of 'entitlement'. Judge Everson noted Robati's age, his potential for rehabilitation, and his prospects of returning to a professional rugby league career. He was sentenced to two years probation under strict conditions.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
BIGSOUND unveils its bumper 2025 line-up of new generation artists
We're yearning for Spring and here's a big sniff of it: BIGSOUND is gearing up to take over Meanjin/Brisbane's Fortitude Valley with an absolute smorgasbord of music from more than 120 artists. The annual music discovery conference and festival is the perfect place to refresh your playlists, find some new favourite bands, check out who's on the rise and rub shoulders with some of the music industry (if that's your thing). WAFIA, Kaiit, INKABEE, Azure Rider, The Southern River Band and Hatchie are among the featured artists at BIGSOUND this year - each of them coming in off the back of big years that include things like world tours, supporting big artists, playing international festivals, award wins and stints on America's Got Talent . BIGSOUND's whole line-up spans the whole genre spectrum of music, from rolling country to crunchy electronic music. Whether you're a pop girlie or love to open up the pit at hardcore gigs (or both!) you'll be bound to find something at the festival that you'll fall in love with. With 18 stages littered across the Valley, BIGSOUND is truly turning Brissy into a music head's playground at the start of September. Tickets for this year's multi-day musical bonanza are on sale at 9am on Friday 13 June, and you can grab tickets to one or three days of music, or go all-in for the full industry conference experience. Check out the BIGSOUND website for more info. Suss the full line-up below and get ready to head north for spring! BIGSOUND 2025 2 - 5 September, Fortitude Valley, Turrbal Land, Brisbane Qld 1NN3R53LF, Aidan Fine, Akala Newman, AMA, Amélie Farren, ATLVS, Azure Ryder, BADASSMUTHA, BAD/LOVE, Bad Juju, The Beefs, BESTIES, Birren, Borderline, Briana Dinsdale, Buddy Knox, BVT, Charli Lucas, Charlie Needs Braces, Cheeky Leash, C_H_L_O_E, Chloe Styler, Chor Bazaar, Cloning, Closure, Coast Arcade, Cooper Smith, Cora, Corrella, Dani Enli, Darcie Haven, DASTE., Day We Ran, DENIM, Denzel Kennedy, Disphing, Dogworld, Down And Out, Dylan Wright, EFFE, Eliza & The Delusionals, Ella Ion, Elly May Barnes, EMEREE, Flamingo Pier, Flynn Gurry, Frankie Venter, Fred Leone, George Alice, Georgia Knight, GLVES, Grecco Romank, Harper Bloom, Hatchie, Headsend, Heartline, HEYZUKO!, Homesick, Horse, IJALE, INKABEE, Intermood, James Range Band, JÄMO & KUMI, Jet Walker, Jet Vesper, Josh Hannan, Josh Setterfield, Josie, Kaiit, Kat Edwards, KAYPS, KSMBA, Kye, Last Quokka, Late 90s, Lazy Ghost, Le Shiv, Letters To Lions, Lola Scott, Lucky, Lumens, Lyric, Mannequin Death Squad, Mariae Cassandra, Marlon, Mel Blue, Michael Honan, Mid Drift, MIKEYY, Mincy, Mozë, Mumfighter, Nate G, Nightlight, Phoebe Rings, Pisco Sour, Polish Club, Purée, Rageflower, REDD., Ringlets, Robbie Mortimer, Robert Baxter, Rod Coote, RNZŌ, Seb Szabo, Shock Corridor, Sleepazoid, The Southern River Band, Spike Fuck, the Stamps, Sunsick Daisy, Sweet Talk, Taija, That Gurl Bella, Theeth, There's A Tuesday, Tiana Khasi, The Tullamarines, Tyla Rodrigues, Ugli, Ullah, Velvet Bloom, VV-ACE, WAFIA, The Wet Whistles, Withlist, Yung Mayne, Zafty
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- News.com.au
Ex-NRL player found not guilty of rape, pleads guilty to separate assault
Just minutes after a jury cleared him of two rape charges, Teui 'TC' Robati admitted to unlawfully and indecently assaulting another young woman during a night out in Brisbane. A jury found the former Brisbane Broncos player not guilty of raping a woman during a late-night encounter in a Fortitude Valley hotel toilet. The verdict was delivered in the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday afternoon following more than seven hours of deliberation across two days. The jury of seven women and five men had earlier indicated they were struggling to reach a consensus before ultimately finding Mr Robati, 24, not guilty on both counts of rape. Supporters of both Mr Robati and the complainant were present in court to hear the outcome. Mr Robati wiped away tears as the verdicts were handed down, with his mother also seen becoming emotional. Despite the serious allegations and the impact on his career, defence barrister David Funch told the court that Mr Robati remained optimistic about his future, including a hope to return to professional rugby league. The woman had alleged she was raped twice by Mr Robati inside a disabled toilet at The Prince Consort Hotel shortly after midnight on December 11, 2022. The court was told the alleged incident occurred after the 24-year-old woman had been out drinking with friends and met Mr Robati at the hotel. In prerecorded testimony, she said she followed him into a disabled toilet believing he was inviting her to do 'a line of cocaine.' Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol said the door closed and 'almost immediately' he put his arms around her neck and started kissing her. Inside, Mr Robati allegedly told her to 'suck it', despite her saying she didn't want to have sex. 'She was scared, she started pacing. She covered her eyes, as she didn't want to look at the defendant's penis,' Ms MacNicol said. 'She said 'I don't want to do this, I don't know why I'm here.'' The woman said she felt 'pressured and compelled' and eventually performed oral sex without consent. 'After about 15 seconds, she started to gag feeling like she was going to vomit,' Ms MacNicol said. Witnesses said she appeared distressed and was 'crying' and 'seeking comfort' after the incident. Ms MacNicol said she told her friends immediately and was 'genuine' in her evidence. Mr Robati's defence barrister David Funch said no one knew 'what happened in that room'. 'She may well think that she's been raped, she may well believe that, but feelings aren't facts,' Mr Funch said. He said Mr Robati believed the act was consensual and added that 'poor behaviour doesn't make you a rapist.' Following the jury's verdict, the court was told Mr Robati would finalise another matter where he pleaded guilty to a separate charge of unlawful and indecent assault involving a different woman in December 2022. Ms MacNicol said that incident happened about 10 days after the hotel encounter, when Mr Robati, then 21, touched a 21-year-old woman on the neck, breast and waist over her clothing while she was out with her boyfriend and a friend. The victim pushed his hand away and a friend intervened, the court was told. Later that evening, security contacted her about what they had witnessed and a formal complaint was made to police. Mr Funch told the court Mr Robati had 'effectively lost everything' after being charged, including his contract with the Brisbane Broncos. He said Mr Robati grew up in disadvantaged circumstances in New Zealand, one of 15 people living under the same roof, with an absent father who was in and out of prison. Despite this, he was described as 'extremely well supported by his family'. The court was told Mr Robati moved to Australia in 2018 on a sporting scholarship, having played football since the age of five. He made 17 first-grade appearances across two seasons with the Broncos before the charges were laid. 'He's lost his employment,' Mr Funch said. Mr Funch said Mr Robati has been in talks with another NRL club, pending the resolution of his legal matters. He has since worked on the roads, packed food, and is now employed full-time at an auto parts business. Mr Funch said Mr Robati remained hopeful of returning to professional sport, and is currently volunteering as a coach for an A-grade team. 'He was enjoying fame and fortune … he had just turned 21 at the time of offending,' Mr Funch said. 'He was in quite a surreal position at such a young age.' Judge Paul Everson described it as 'low-level offending' but 'not trivial', and said Mr Robati's status as a young Broncos player out with teammates did not shield him from accountability. 'The defendant was a public figure … status does not shield you from accountability,' he said, calling the assault 'brazen' and 'creepy' and reflective of a sense of 'entitlement'. Judge Everson noted Mr Robati's age, his potential for rehabilitation, and his prospects of returning to a professional rugby league career. He was sentenced to two years probation under strict conditions. No conviction was recorded.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Footy star TC Robati is found not guilty of rape before making shock move over a separate sexual assault
Former NRL player Teui 'TC' Robati has been found not guilty after standing trial accused of raping a woman at a pub. After the trial verdict was handed down on Wednesday, Robati pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a different woman in a separate incident. He remained in court for sentencing on that charge, which was not part of the trial, after being found not guilty of two rape counts. The ex-Brisbane Broncos second-rower, 23, had pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. The District Court jury had deliberated for a total of nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting a one-and-a-half days before Judge William Everson. Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol earlier alleged Robati had lured a woman into a pub toilet promising access to an exclusive event before raping her. The jury deliberated for nine hours before handing down the verdict - after which Robati (pictured playing for Brisbane) pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in a separate incident on December 21, 2022 Defence barrister David Funch previously told the jury it would not be an issue at the trial that his client was at the pub. 'It is accepted that sexual interaction occurred,' he said. Mr Funch said an important issue would be a 'mistake of fact'. 'In broad terms, if the person had an honest belief that the person was consenting and it was reasonable for them to hold that belief in all the circumstances, then they have a defence,' he said. 'Then they are not guilty of the charge.' The jury heard the prosecution would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Robati's defence of mistaken consent did not apply. The trial was moved to closed court for the jury to watch video evidence from the woman that was recorded in 2024. Robati pleaded guilty to unlawful and indecent assault, having been accused of groping a woman in Brisbane on December 21, 2022.
