Looking to slip, slop, slap together some Australia Day plans this Thursday? Forget the backyard BBQ! Why risk losing to goon of fortune or tarp burning your ka-toosh on the slip and slide when you can eat, drink and party your way around Brisbane for 24 hours of Aussie Day goodness? If you’re not sure where to start with your mid-week day off celebrations, we’ve whacked together some of Brisbane’s best parties to countdown your Hottest 100, lose count of your beers and eat yourself silly.
The Pineapple Hotel | 10am – late | Free entry
Now we know what you’re thinking about your day off – “Where can I throw fruit as hard as humanly possible all in the name of Aussie celebrations?”. Well! Around since 1886, the Pineapple Hotel knows a thing or two about throwing a great Australia Day bash. With delicious food, plenty of XXXX buckets, the Hottest 100 countdown, live music and of course the famous Pineapple Throwing Contest, you can’t go wrong celebrating at this iconic venue. Pineapple problem solved.
The Fox Hotel | Australia Day Eve | Tickets from $10
Nothing says mid-week day off like starting the night before. The Fox Hotel is throwing open the doors on Wednesday for a night worth dancing your Southern Cross patterned pants off. Kick off your Australia Day celebrations a little earlier than the rest of the country with Solar Pop, featuring Germany’s super talent, Rampue, Antix & Fiord and Uone. Bonus points – head back to Dandys Rooftop to grab a hair of the dog the next day!
The Kitchens | Australia Day | Free Entry
Public holidays mark one of nature’s most majestic migrations as tired, slightly pale Brisbanians mosy south along the highway in search of a square meter of beach to call their own. So, if your natural instincts are pulling you towards the Gold Coast on Australia Day be sure to stop in at The Kitchen’s where the first annual BBQ, Brews and Bites event is set to dish up some fun. With balloon twisting, giant board games and face painting for the little kids, and live Djs, pop-up beer bar and BBQ courtesy of William Wu’s Fish Lab and Pure Meats for the big kids, Robina Town Center has all of your bases covered.
River Quay Fish | 26-28 January | Free entry
Find yourself with a seafood craving this Australia Day? Then it’s worth checking out the pop-up stall River Quay Fish is holding as part of the Great Australian Bites event at South Bank. River Quay Fish is offering plenty of options at their pop-up AND as an added bonus, you’ll have a top notch view of the Australia Day fireworks on the Brisbane River. They’ll also be open on Australia Day to celebrate in true RQF style with their regular a la carte menu. Beautiful Aussie seafood? If that doesn’t float your Australia Day boat, we don’t know what will!
Room with Roses | 23 – 28 January | Set menu
Are you feeling sad at the thought of Room with Roses being closed on Australia Day? We’ve got a great alternative for you. For the week leading up to and following the 26th, Room with Roses will be running a set ‘celebrations’ lunch menu, offering up all the goodness you would expect on Australia Day while leaving you free to hit the beach on the day of.
Popolo | January 26 – 28 | Free entry
Just because it’s Australia Day doesn’t mean it’s all pies and sausage rolls. Popolo is open for lunch from 12pm and for dinner from 5pm to top up on delicious Italian food and a cheeky tipple of a great Italian wine. What’s better than wine and Italian fair? No public holiday surcharge (arancini balls for dayz). They’re also gearing up for a massive day with a pop up stall at Brisbane’s Laneway Festival, celebrating all there is to love about live Aussie music. AND, if that wasn’t enough, Popolo is also kicking it at South Bank’s Great Australian Bites. When in Rome!
The Fishery | 10am – 8pm | No surcharge
Whether you’re planning to celebrate Australia Day at home or will be out and about all day and are in need of a feed, Milton’s The Fishery has your Aussie Day seafood fix covered. With their huge range of fresh Australian seafood including oysters, prawns, crab and of course fish, there’s plenty of fresh options you can grab for an at-home BBQ. If you don’t feel like doing the grilling yourself pop in and enjoy some freshly cooked fish and chips in true Aussie style. Whatever your plans, The Fishery is the place for fast and fresh food this Australia Day.
Caxton | January 25 – 29 | Free Entry
Why limit your Australia Day celebrations to one measly day when you can go back-to-back at the Caxton and kick into the start of next week! This 5-day celebration is choc-a-block with enough patriotism to last you all year long and features quintessential rites of passage including a Triple J Hottest 100 party, live Djs until 3am, 1kg steak challenges and extended trading hours. These guys never fail to bring a patriotic tear to our eye, but on second thoughts that could just be the meat sweats.
Bird’s Nest | Dinner 5:30pm – late
All tuckered out after a day of sight seeing the best our city has on offer and can’t bear the thought of going home to that empty fridge? Don’t stress – Bird’s Nest is throwing their doors open for dinner from 5:30pm until late at West End, and 6pm until late in the Valley, so you can kick on with a few beers in true Australia Day spirit while you sample a little cuisine from our friends north of the equator. Tuck into a selection of yakitori, karaage, katsu curry and an assortment of delicious side dishes and say ‘hoo-roo’ to the frozen Four’n Twenty in your freezer.
Don’t risk the sunburn this Australia Day, grab a cold one and a eat yourself around Brisbane instead – we all know it’s the true Aussie way to celebrate a day off work. Good luck Friday!