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    Life & Luxury

    Life and Leisure

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    A hat to spark joy as well as protect you from the sun? The Gisela sunhat, $195, is just the ticket.

    This week’s edit of lovely little luxuries: cute hats to rare whisky

    Add gorgeous designer lighting, glittering jewellery and sublime clothing to the mix, and we have inspired suggestions for everyone.

    • Eugenie Kelly
    “There must be evolution,” says Alexis Quaretti, one of two newly appointed executive culinary directors for Oceania Cruises.

    400 new recipes for one small ship? This is cruising for true foodies

    New executive culinary director Alexis Quaretti is serving classical French cuisine, of course, but expect additional inventive menus from Oceania Cruises.

    • Jill Dupleix
    Mexican ceramicist Andrés Anza and his winning creation, ‘I only know what I have seen’.

    How this spiky sculpture got the fashion world swooning

    Among those stopped in their tracks by Mexican ceramicist Andrés Anza’s indefinable work was Pharrell Williams. But, in the end, it’s nothing, says the winner of the Loewe Craft Prize.

    • Divya Bala
    Gabriel Jakob in action. “I train six times a week, with a combination of sprinting, gym training and high intensity interval-style workouts.”

    The CEO who’s also a seriously elite World Masters sprinter

    He’s 42 and took up sprinting only recently, but Hyper Capital’s Gabriel Jakob recently clocked 6.70 seconds over 60 metres.

    • Life & Leisure
    Broadway royalty Patti LuPone, known for her role as Evita, is bringing her ‘musical memoir’ to Australia.

    Shows you don’t want to miss in June

    From the original ‘Evita’ to Coppélia set in the Adelaide Hills, here’s our pick of the top performances and exhibitions around Australia.

    • Michael Bailey
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    May

    Seated statue of Pharaoh Sety II from the Temple of Mut in Karnak, Thebes, 19th Dynasty.

    Lessons in legacy-building from history’s most tenacious rulers

    The NGV’s winter blockbuster will take a deep dive into what it meant to be pharaoh – and the complex power systems they needed to maintain their supremacy.

    • John McDonald
    Could backwards running become a huge sporting craze?

    The surprising health benefits of running backwards

    It’s one thing to run a marathon in reverse – competitors either laugh or take offence. But over much shorter distances, it can improve your stamina.

    • Luke Benedictus
    Is chartreuse the liqueur of the moment?

    The green liqueur that’s on everyone’s lips

    Chartreuse, that venerable herbal blend is hip once more, prompting other producers to get in on the act – including two new Australian brands.

    • Max Allen
    The 81-room Six Senses Kyoto takes its cues from the arts and crafts of the Heian period (794-1185) when Kyoto was the Japanese capital.

    We check out the new Six Senses Kyoto

    In a departure for the brand, this hotel is not in a remote location. It’s plum in the heart of the city, yet feels like an oasis of serenity.

    • Max Allen
    Interior sculptural detail in Luna House, the work of Leeton Pointon Architects.

    Building a dream home? These Melbourne beauties are an ode to concrete

    Make a street statement with this silky-smooth material. It may be costly to produce but its versatility and durability make it a joy to live with.

    • Stephen Todd
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    The Volvo EX30 Ultra has arrived in Australia: it’s yours for $66,290 plus orc, though there are two other models to choose from too.

    Volvo’s new EX30 Ultra takes just 3.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h

    The fully electric city slicker is the brand’s fastest accelerating car ever, plus it’s roomy, quiet and friendly looking. What’s not to like?

    • Tony Davis

    Robovacs finally come to grips with corners

    Having mastered the first stage of the robotic evolution, vacuum manufacturers have moved onto the next challenge.

    • John Davidson
    Different takes on transparency by Albus Lumen during Australian Fashion Week.

    Is it sheer madness to experiment with this trend?

    Often clothes are about coverage – but if Fashion Week styles are anything to go by, we’ll all be showing off a lot more.

    • Lauren Sams
    Five bespoke whiskies are based on the five foundations of taste – bitter, sour, salt, umami and sweet.

    If you love single malt, food and a good craic, try this $10k pairing

    An Australian chef with a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Dublin has collaborated with an Irish whiskey maker to create something exceptional and very exclusive.

    • Mark Ludlow
    The view over Portugal’s Douro River from Vinum Restaurant at Graham’s Port – an evening extravaganza courtesy of Viking Cruise Line.

    On your next cruise, try a magical night onshore you won’t forget

    Thanks to the growing popularity of cruising, luxury lines are coming up with ever-more exotic excursions on land – especially after sundown.

    • Jeff Allan and Fiona Carruthers
    The Le Petit Chef dining experience is a must when on a Celebrity cruise.

    Is this the cutest restaurant on water? Sea foodies seem to think so

    An energetic and animated chef keeps fine dining lively on the ocean.

    • Fiona Carruthers
    A cruise around Antarctica provides time to soak up the beauty – and the ethereal silence.

    How my cynicism gave way to tears of relief in Antarctica

    It seems the Great White Continent has the power to “break open” even the toughest corporate warrior.

    • Alana Piper
    The Pagani Huayra Codalunga, or “longtail”. It’s yours for $20 million-plus, if you’re lucky enough to get one.

    What it’s like to drive an $11.5m hypercar in the hills of Emilia-Romagna

    It pays not to think of the cost of Pagani’s Huayra Codalunga when dodging mad Italian motorists on winding roads: it performs like a full-on race car.

    • Tony Davis
    Handpicked Wines boss William Dong with Sydney Symphony Orchestra members Alexandra Osborne  and Tim Nankervis at the Handpicked Cellar Door in Chippendale, Sydney.

    Six ways to stay entertained for those staying home this winter

    Not everyone is travelling abroad for the northern hemisphere summer. Cosy up in Australia on a rail trip with Journey Beyond, or indulge at The Victoria & Albert Guesthouse in the Blue Mountains.

    • Fiona Carruthers
    Queen Anne’s Grand Lobby mixes tradition with a contemporary feel.

    A Michelin-star chef and pickleball - after 184 years, Cunard pivots

    Queen Anne is a litany of firsts for Cunard, including its first designated outdoor yoga space, along with mini golf, a pickleball court and an archery area.

    • Fiona Carruthers
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    Effortless chic is “the look” for long-haul travel. But how to achieve it?

    Fashion insiders reveal what they wear for a long-haul flight

    Flying can be stressful, but you don’t have to look like a white-hot mess. From a chic silk blazer to merino-wool leggings, here are some handy go-to labels.

    • Lauren Sams

    At $74,760 per runner, is this the world’s most expensive marathon?

    You have to watch out for ice cracks and polar bears, and many run in life vests. But so far, 534 people have completed this mind-boggling race.

    • Chris Wright
    Charles Hughes, who partook in the Hawaiian Ride for Youth cycling event in March.

    How this geologist got hooked on cycling later in life

    “Join a club!” enthuses Delta Lithium’s Charles Hughes. Then, practise a lot before undertaking an 800-kilometre charity ride.

    • Life & Leisure
    These four seasoned travellers nominate their choice destinations in Paris.

    ‘I’ll stay where she’s staying’: Insiders give their top Paris tips

    It took some arm twisting, but these four leading Australian hoteliers have revealed where they love to bed down when in the city of light.

    • Fiona Carruthers

    Bollinger unveils big plans to boost wine tourism

    The famous French champagne house will move into luxury oenotourism. You’ll even be able to stay in Madame Bollinger’s grand family house.

    • Max Allen