Sydney is easing into the new year with a fresh line-up of experiences worth stepping out for.
January brings a mix of hands-on fun, high-energy challenges, and laid-back summer moments, from learning the art of dumpling making inside one of the city’s most iconic kitchens to pushing your limits at Tough Mudder, and soaking up golden-hour sets at Sunset Sessions on Cockatoo Island. Whether you’re starting the year with something new, something bold, or something blissfully low-key, these are the events setting the tone for January in Sydney & Melbourne.
Private Dumpling Making Masterclass at Lotus The Galeries
Looking for a hands-on end-of-year experience that’s equal parts fun and delicious? Lotus The Galeries is hosting Private Dumpling Making Masterclasses, inviting groups inside one of Sydney’s most iconic dumpling kitchens to learn from the experts themselves. Led by Lotus’s skilled dumpling masters, guests will shape, fold and taste their way through classics like mushroom spring rolls and pork & chive dumplings, with options to keep it quick or go all in. Choose a one-hour express class or a two-hour deep dive, complete with dough stretching from scratch, with optional bottomless rosé and post-class banquet discounts available. Perfect for festive team catch-ups, birthdays or group celebrations with a foodie twist.
Kissed Earth Opens Its First Café & Retail Space
Sydney wellness fans have a new reason to step out this month, with Kissed Earth opening its first café and retail space in Bondi. The Australian wellness brand, celebrated for its premium supplements, skincare and functional nutrition, has brought its ethos to life in a thoughtfully designed space that blends café culture with retail. Guests can sip superfood smoothies, enjoy specialty coffee, or dive into salads, sandwiches and functional treats, all while exploring the full Kissed Earth range of supplements, skincare and wellness apparel. It’s a space built for everyday wellbeing, offering a relaxed, premium spot to energise, nourish, and discover new ways to integrate health into your routine. “Our vision was to create a space where wellness feels accessible, enjoyable and part of everyday life,” says Rachael Finch, Kissed Earth co-founder.
Tough Mudder Storms Back into Melbourne After Six Years Away
Tough Mudder is officially returning for the first time in six years, bringing its mud-soaked, adrenaline-pumping chaos to Caribbean Gardens on Friday 31st January. Expect all the signature insanity the event is famous for, from ice baths and electric shocks to towering walls and teamwork-fuelled obstacles that test both grit and camaraderie. This year’s lineup includes a full 15K course with 20 obstacles, a punchy 5K option for first-timers, and the Infinity category for those brave enough to chase as many laps as possible in nine relentless hours. Whether you’re rallying your gym crew, office mates or social circle, team waves make it easy to tackle the madness together.
Salad Days Levels Up with Room Ten & Pina’s Cult Flavours at Its New Alexandria Store
Sydney’s cult-favourite Salad Days has levelled up, with the team behind Room Ten and Pina lending their flavour-forward finesse to a new collaboration menu now being served at the brand’s Alexandria outpost. Opened as a next chapter for the much-loved Potts Point original, the McEvoy Street space introduces twelve thoughtfully composed bowls that balance freshness with depth, bringing Andrew Hardjasudarma and Yuvi Thu’s signature approach to everyday dining. Expect clever layering, bold but restrained seasoning, and bowls that feel elevated without losing Salad Days’ unfussy appeal, from harissa-laced, taco-inspired builds to kebab and roast-style combinations designed for repeat visits.
Door Knock Offers $99 bottles of Veuve Clicquot
Who said champagne needs a special occasion? 🥂 At Door Knock, every weekday is worth celebrating with $99 bottles of Veuve Clicquot during Apéro Hour, Monday to Friday from 4–6pm. Pair your bubbles with carefully curated apéro cocktails, wines, beers, and a selection of small plates designed for unhurried conversation, it’s our European-inspired take on the perfect after-work pause. Sip, nibble, and unwind in style without waiting for an excuse.
Jacksons Racquet Club x Australian Open
The Australian Open returns this summer, and Jacksons on George is serving up one of the CBD’s best spots to catch every match live. From Monday 12th January through to Sunday 1st February, the venue transforms into a tennis lover’s playground, with all the on-court action screened across the venue — including the rooftop big screen and the buzzing Public Bar below. Settle in for day sessions or night matches, refuel between sets with happy hour drinks from 4–6pm, and make the most of rotating daily food specials designed for serious spectating, from $25 rump steaks on Mondays to midweek pastas, schnitzels and parmis. For those wanting to elevate the experience, Bistro George downstairs offers a more refined pre- or post-match option, making it easy to turn a few sets into a full evening out.
DEKA Trifecta Weekend Brings Hybrid Fitness Racing to Melbourne
If functional fitness is your love language, DEKA Trifecta Weekend deserves a spot on your calendar. Created by the Spartan team, DEKA is the decathlon of hybrid racing, a structured, no-frills test of strength, endurance, and mental toughness designed for athletes of all levels. Running across 31st January and 1st February at Caribbean Gardens, the weekend features three race formats: DEKA FIT (a 5km race broken into 10 functional zones), DEKA MILE (shorter runs, same intensity), and DEKA STRONG (all strength, zero running).
Etymon’s January Dining Sale
January just got a little more indulgent, with hospitality group Etymon rolling out 20% off the total bill across all of its venues for the entire month. Running until 31st January, the offer applies to everything on the table — food, wine, cocktails, and that spontaneous extra round — making it the perfect excuse to revisit favourites or finally book somewhere new. The lineup spans some of Sydney’s most-loved dining rooms, including The Charles, Poetica, Loulou Bistro (CBD and Milsons Point), Osteria Luna, Genzo, Soluna and Sol Bread & Wine, inviting diners to eat and drink their way through summer for less. Available on all January bookings, it’s a rare chance to experience Etymon’s diverse portfolio at a generous mid-summer discount.
Sponsored Love. This post is proudly brought to you in partnership with Tough Mudder and DEKA. Thank you for supporting the partners that make Eat Drink Play possible.
