A low-cost hotel chain that is due to open its first property in Melbourne later this year is seriously considering expanding in Australia, with an initial focus on Sydney. Tune Hotels, with links to AirAsia (and AirAsia X), has released a $49 promotional rate for its property in Carlton, Melbourne, due to be opened in November this year. The hotel will serve as the company’s operational headquarters for the Australian and New Zealand. “The next city in Australia that we are in seriously involved in is Sydney,” said a Tune spokeswoman. “We are also exploring opportunities in other key Australian...

Our five favourite coffee roasters to pick up your morning brew. St Ali Roasters, South Melbourne Here customers can sip house-roasted coffee by 2013 Australian Barista Champion, Matt Perger. There’s also a healthy all-day menu to sink your teeth into, while their factory across the road runs workshops from roasting to latte art. stali.com.au Campos Coffee, Newtown, Sydney Campos made headlines when a New York Times journalist declared their coffee was worth the 22-hour flight. Now the flagship store includes an espresso bar downstairs and a cupping room upstairs, where you can sample various brews and pick up a bag of your...

I have been playing around for a couple of months now with a shiny new iPad mini. And the verdict is in. The iPad mini is what the original iPad should have always been. And I can say this without any equivocation. I can't see myself returning to the original (big) iPad. Why? Size: I don’t know what to say, but the iPad mini is more ergonomic than the original iPad. Which I will now refer to as the 'maxi'. But compared to the mini it’s cumbersome and big. Plenty others disagree and love the size of their iPads. Some...