What’s hip this November

What to experience

THE state’s most extraordinary music adventure The Outback Trail is a one-of-a-kind cultural experience.Produced by the Queensland Music Festival, the events transform the rugged heartland into Australia’s grandest stage, drawing audiences off the beaten track to breathtaking locations headlined by the very best in music talent. The 2026 trail charts a new course through nine Outback towns across April and May, each offering a new moment of discovery, with music acts Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Taylor Moss and Tori Drake joining along the way.  The adventure kicks off in Charleville with a lively mixer under the stars before heading to Tambo, Barcaldine, Winton, Hughenden and Julia Creek, culminating in Mt Isa for a grand finale headlined by some of Australia’s biggest acts alongside emerging local talent. The full program is out this month. Visit qldmusictrails.com/trails/the-outback

What to book

THERE’S only about seven weeks until Christmas Day. And what better way to celebrate than with (arguably) the best Christmas movie ever. Welcome the holiday season with Richard Curtis’s beloved festive rom-com Love Actually, playing on the big screen while a full orchestra performs Craig Armstrong’s unforgettable score live. With its star-studded cast, including Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Bill Nighy, the film’s 10 intertwined stories of love and Christmas magic are more moving than ever. It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit with loved ones, friends and family. And it’s coming to Brisbane’s QPAC Concert Hall with the Southern Cross Symphony on Saturday, December 20, at 8pm and Sunday, December 21, at 1pm. Tickets are available from qpac.com.au/whats-on/2025/love-actually-in-concert

What to try

SUMMER Land Camels is an award-winning Harrisville farm attraction in the Scenic Rim in Southeast Queensland. The Southern Hemisphere’s largest camel dairy is where camels wander, skincare products are created and flavour abounds through its cheese, milk and even camel vodka and whiskey.

Now the farm has shared the recipe for a sensational spring or summer sip: The Camel Milk Vodka & Peach Spritz.

Ingredients: 45ml Summer Land Camels French Oak Matured Camel Milk Vodka; 30ml peach nectar; 15ml fresh lemon juice; 90ml sparkling or soda water; ice, fresh mint and peach slices to garnish.

Method: Fill a highball or stemless wine glass with ice. Add the vodka, peach nectar and lemon juice. Stir gently. Top with sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a peach slice.

Back in the day…

“LIKE sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” That opening line (first spoken by Ed Prentiss, but made famous by Macdonald Carey) is from one of the longest-running soap operas in history. Days of Our Lives first aired on NBC in the US on November 8, 1965, bringing the residents of Salem – the fictional Mid-West small town – into our lounge rooms every weekday. Enduring characters such as Victor Kiriakis (Jennifer Aniston’s real-life father John), Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and husband Doug (real-life spouse Bill Hayes), Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso), Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) also left their impression on Australian audiences. The 60th anniversary is on November 8. The show is renewed for its 63rd season.

What to watch

IF YOU’D like some nostalgia and a mini history lesson with your science fiction and high-stakes drama, tune in to Timeless. The 2016-2018 TV series on Tubi (and occasionally on other streaming services and Freeview stations) brings together a group of time travellers attempting to prevent a mysterious organisation, Rittenhouse, from altering history. The 28 episodes cover slices of significant events but with little-known facts and historical figures, plus a good dose of comedy and romance. Go along for the ride, from the Hindenburg to Bonnie and Clyde’s escapades, The Alamo to Hollywood’s ‘Golden Era’ and the day Ronald Reagan was shot to Benedict Arnold’s betrayal in the Revolutionary War. The hair and costume changes alone are worth tuning in for.