Brisbane’s Best Australia Day Events
Get amongst it this Straya Day with the best barbecues, beats, drinks and eats.
On January 26 1788, the First Fleet arrived in New South Wales. But that’s not really what we celebrate on Australia Day.
Australia Day is all about embracing what makes our country great. We celebrate our sometimes questionable fashion sense by donning our nation’s flag, stubbies, thongs and the all-important green and gold (preferably with two thick stripes of neon yellow and green zinc).
We revel in the scent of a sizzling barbie and the tantalising taste of a chilled mango. We embrace salty hair and sandy skin.
From the true-blue Aussie larrikin who never lambs alone to the most multicultural of households and our melting pot of cultures and cuisines – that is the true heart of our nation and why we should all get together and raise a cold one to the Great Southern Land that unites us all.
So here’s our list of the best Australia Day events in and around Brisbane. Grab your mates and go celebrate!
AUSTRALIA DAY EVE
THE FOX HOTEL | SOUTH BRISBANE
Start your Australia Day celebrations early with Solar Pop at the Fox Hotel. Combining music and art for a truly interactive experience, it’s sure to get you grooving on the rooftop!
TICKETS: From $10pp
Book online
TIMES: From 4pm on Wednesday, January 25
AUSTRALIA DAY
1. AUSTRALIA DAY ON BRIBIE ISLAND
Score a free big breakfast on Bribie as Brennan and Apex parks kick off their Australia Day celebrations bright and early at 7.30am. Live tunes from local artists playing everything from folk to rock will keep the party pumping, plus there are markets, rides, beach cricket, beach volleyball, beer pong and thong-throwing competitions. Fireworks finish off the day so make sure to stick around for the 7.30pm show.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: 7.30am to 8pm
2. AUSSIE WORLD | PALMVIEW
Australia Day festivities kick off bright and early at Aussie World with heaps of activities for the whole family, including dunny races, tug-of-war and even a lamington-eating competition. All the rides and attractions will be operating so head along for a great family day out.
TICKETS: From $10pp
Book online
TIMES: From 8am
3. THE STORES | WEST END
All your Aussie Day BBQ needs will be covered, whether you’re after paddock-to-plate chicken, chops, lamb, steak or sausages. Heaps of gourmet platter goodies will also be on offer, including cheese, crackers, fresh produce and wine.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: 8am to 4pm
4. AUSTRALIA DAY AT VICTORIA PARK BISTRO
Soak up all the Australia Day festivities at Victoria Park Bistro. Sack races, giant outdoor games and tug-of-war are all on offer, plus some great food and drink specials. The putt putt course and driving range are also open all day so everyone can have a hit.
For bookings: Call 3253 2533
TIMES: 10am to 4pm
5. GASWORKS PLAZA | TENERIFFE
Nothing says Australia Day like seafood, and the Gasworks Seafood Festival will have plenty of it! From 11am onwards, enjoy loads of live entertainment, competitions, the Hottest 100 and (of course) all the fresh seafood you could dream of.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 11am
6. THE STORY BRIDGE HOTEL | KANGAROO POINT
The Annual Australia Day Cockroach Race will be taking place at the Story Bridge Hotel again this year. Entry is a gold coin donation with all the proceeds being donated to Youngcare, so you can help out a fantastic cause and revel in one of Brisbane’s biggest street parties.
GOLD COIN DONATION
TIMES: From 11am
7. THE NORMANBY HOTEL | RED HILL
The Normanby is the place to be for Australia Day 2017. With all the live entertainment you know and love in the beer garden, beer pong and thong quoits, parmi and pint food specials and the Hottest 100 streaming, it’s the perfect spot to kick back or kick on.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 11am
8. PIG ‘N’ WHISTLE | VARIOUS LOCATIONS
All the Pig ‘N’ Whistles in town are having barbecue bashes to celebrate Australia Day. The Hottest 100 will be playing, there’ll be cricket on the big screens and some venues will even have live bands. It’d be un-Australian not to join in on the fun and sink a few coldies in the process.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: All day
9. EATONS HILL HOTEL | EATONS HILL
With Yabby racing and live music, it’s a true-blue Aussie day out at the Eatons Hill Hotel. Take the kids and soak up the sunshine as you celebrate all that is great about our nation.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 12pm
10. ALFRED & CONSTANCE | FORTITUDE VALLEY
With multiple dance floors to choose from plus food and drink specials throughout the evening, there is no better place to celebrate all things Aussie than in the beautifully-renovated Queenslander that is Alfred & Constance.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: All day
11. THE PINEAPPLE HOTEL | KANGAROO POINT
Raise a cold one to the lucky country while kicking back and enjoying the live entertainment the Pineapple Hotel has on offer. Or test out your throwing arm in the pineapple toss – top toss can win $750! The kitchen will be open all day so no one will be going hungry.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: All day
12. THE CHARMING SQUIRE | SOUTH BANK
Dreaming of live tunes, cold beers and a bountiful barbecue? Look no further than The Charming Squire’s First Brewers Barbeque. It’s sure to sort out all your Australia Day needs. Tickets include a pint and a dish from the barbeque smoker.
TICKETS: $30pp
Book online
TIMES: 12pm to 10pm
13. SANDSTONE POINT HOTEL | SANDSTONE POINT
Beat the heat at Sandstone Point Hotel’s Australia Day Water Park Party. With free entry, waterslides, heaps of rides, the Hottest 100 countdown and even a spit-roast lamb, you can put away the barbie tongs and let someone else man the grill.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 12pm
14. BIRDEES | FORTITUDE VALLEY
The Birdees backyard barbecue bash is on again for Australia Day 2017. With free entry, poolside barbecue, the Hottest 100 streamed live, giveaways and games plus plenty of Milton Mangoes on ice, you can cool off or kick on from St Jerome’s Laneway music festival.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 12pm
15. AUSTRALIA DAY IN REDCLIFFE
Head to Suttons Beach at Redcliffe for some family fun in the sun. With live music from 2pm, food stalls and markets, beach cricket and volleyball, sack races, beer pong and Giant Jenga plus the amazing toilet races, it’s a party you won’t want to miss! The day finishes with a firework spectacular at 7.30pm, so make sure you snag a spot early.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: 2pm to 8pm
16. TREASURY CASINO | BRISBANE CITY
As part of Treasury Casino’s Summer Nights program, there’s a special Australia Day event on offer with a BBQ and a surprise Australian band. Read more about the Summer Nights series here.
TIMES: From 5pm
17. NEW FARM PARK | NEW FARM
Pack a picnic and enjoy the warm weather at New Farm Park. The shelters and shady spots get snapped up quickly so make sure you get there early to secure a top spot.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: All day
18. KOOKABURRA SHOWBOAT CRUISES
Soak up your surroundings on an Australia Day river cruise complete with live entertainment, an Aussie-inspired carvery buffet, best-dressed competitions and lucky door prizes.
TICKETS: 2-hour lunch cruise: $59 per adult, $39 per child | 3-hour dinner cruise: $89 per adult, $69 per child.
Book online
TIMES: Multiple cruises available. Check website for details.
19. THE FLYING COCK | FORTITUDE VALLEY
Whether you’re kicking on from Laneway or kicking off Australia Day, make sure you end up at the Flying Cock. The Hottest 100 will be cranking and the DJs will be hitting the decks in Smugglers Bar to keep everyone dancing well into the wee hours.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: From 7pm
20. SOUTH BANK PRECINCT | SOUTH BANK
Pack a picnic and head along to the free Australia Day fireworks at South Bank. If a picnic isn’t your style, make your way to River Quay for some live music and gourmet munchies at Great Australian Bites before the fireworks kick off at 7.30pm.
FREE ENTRY
TIMES: 7.30pm
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