It’s Australia Day, we’ve been religiously checking the weather to determine the best activities for this public holiday to celebrate all that is ‘Straylian. Here’s out last minute guide for you, bearing in mind that the trusty weather app is saying that it’s going to be sunny from 12pm today… fingers crossed!
DARLING HARBOUR
Every year on 26 January, Darling Harbour hosts the nation’s biggest harbourside party, when FREE Australia Day festivities see Aussies of all backgrounds celebrate together at one of Sydney’s most lively and iconic destinations.
Before the Australia Day 2016 Spectacular evening program of fireworks, a special live performance by Sneaky Sound System and the official NSW Australia Day Council Ceremony on Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour will be buzzing with a dynamic day-time program of home-grown music, dance and children’s entertainment from 12pm.
The Australia Day Spectacular night program will cap off the festivities with the biggest and brightest stars, sights and sounds on Cockle Bay from 6pm. As the sun sets, the official NSW Australia Day Ceremony will include an Australian of the Year segment, before one of Australia’s best dance-pop acts, Sneaky Sound System, spins the decks live on Cockle Bay from 8pm.
From 9pm, the Australia Day Spectacular fireworks and pyrotechnics display, set to a specially-produced mash-up of Sneaky Sound System songs and great Aussie classics, will present a breathtaking finish to the annual Darling Harbour event.
ROYAL RANDWICK
Celebrate Australia Day with a classic pie and a true blue experience at Royal Randwick at the Vili’s Pies Australia Day Cup Day, Tuesday 26 January. If any jockey wearing Australia Day silks wins a race, racebook holders can redeem their voucher for a free Vili’s pie. Plus there will be free General Admission entry to the course and live entertainment all day.
Gates Open: 11.30am
First Race: 12.40pm
Last Race: 5.45pm
TICKETING: For all ticketing and hospitality information visit theraces.com.au
Free General Admission entry at The Vili’s Pies Australia Day Cup
Pre-purchase Ticket Offer: Pre-purchase a $20 Summer Super Saver ticket to receive $45 worth of value including entry to the racecourse, one standard drink, one Vili’s pie, a $5 TAB voucher and one additional entry ticket to any other summer race day on the calendar
MEMBERSHIP: Starting at just $329, Australian Turf Club Membership offers exclusive access to all four Australian Turf Club racetracks. For more information, visit australianturfclub.com.au
CARGO
This Australia Day round up your friends and family and head down to the harbour for a few beers and Aussie BBQ specials including: Bangers and Mash, Aussie Burger & Beer Battered Fish ‘N’ Chips, all for only $18.
Plus for the little ones we have a free sausage sizzle till 6pm!
DJ’s from 4pm till late.
See website for more details & enquiries http://cargobar.com.au/
BUNGALOW 8
Head Harbourside this Australia Day with the family and your friends.
Parents can sit back and relax with a Pure Blonde esky or two and eat as many oysters as you can with $2 freshly shucked oysters available until we run out!
We have the kids covered with a jumping castle and kids activities running throughout the day.
See website for more details & enquiries http://bungalow8sydney.com/
Popular Potts Point eatery, Waterman’s Lobster Co., have also found a home by the sea this summer, bringing their much-loved American style lobster rolls to Hall St Bondi. They’ll be getting into the spirit of Australia Day with a limited edition Skull Island Roll. The green and gold themed roll includes a whole Skull Island prawn (with the head), avocado, bee pollen and native beach succulents for $15.
Australian lamb is all the talk at the moment, and Belles Hot Chicken Chef, Morgan McGlone will
switch it up by serving ‘Hot lamb chops’ with a choice of sides ($16).
ARGYLE
The fun will kick right on into Tuesday from 12pm, January 26th where revelers can return for The Argyle’s annual Australia Day party where live music maestros Martini Club, Gemma Lyon and Djs Crazy Caz and Cadell, will keep the live vibe spinning from midday at everyone’s favorite outdoor courtyard in The Rocks (free entry). Did we mention there’ll be tasty BBQ feats from midday? It’d be un Australian not to!
GOAT ISLANDS SOUNDS – WTH MARY’S
One of our top burger joints; Mary’s will be cooking up a storm at Goat Island Sounds this Australia Day.
Featuring live shows and DJ sets from some of Australia’s fastest growing stars, (like LUEN, Kilter and Just A Gent) PLUS live streaming of triple j’s Hottest 100- Goat Island has food and music lovers breathing a sigh of relief as they sit back and enjoy Australia Day with one of Mary’s beloved burgers and a beer from Newtown favourites Young Henry’s. Sounds pretty good to me!
ANNUAL AUSTRALIA DAY FERRYTHON
Ferrython is the annual Australia Day celebration which sees Sydney’s beloved ferries go head-to-head, racing from Circular Quay to Shark Island and back to the finishing post under Sydney Harbour Bridge. This celebration of the iconic Sydney Ferries will allow media to view the race aboard the ship, and talk to the Captain and staff. Four ferries will be taking part in the race, in addition to the Sydney Festival ferry, NRMA, Meriton and Streets will each be taking over a ferry.
Now in its 38th year, the free event celebrates Sydney’s love for the harbour and its commuter ferries, encouraging Sydneysiders to pack a picnic and flock to the foreshore to cheer on their chosen boat. The Ferrython is the only event to have occurred every year of the Festival since the very first race in 1979.
MOONLIGHT CINEMA
This Australia Day, travel back to the 1950’s with femme fatale Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet), for a journey of love, revenge and haute couture in The Dressmaker at Moonlight Cinema. Joined by a star studded Australian cast, don’t miss the latest Aussie box office smash hit.
Audiences are in for a delightfully quirky spaghetti western inspired tale under a moonlit sky on Tuesday 26 January 2016 in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as glamorous woman (Winslet) returns to her small town in rural Australiato tend to her sick mother, with just her sewing machine and haute couture style.
Hollywood heartthrob Liam Hemsworth plays Winslet’s love interest Teddy McSwiney, Australian acting royalty Hugo Weaving is closet transvestite Sergeant Farrat, and scene-stealer Judy Davis plays Mad Molly – Tilly’s cranky old bag of a mother.
For the ultimate outdoor cinema experience, Moonlight’s Gold Grass offers reserved bean beds in a premium viewing location; and with the speedy wait service, you won’t even have to get up from your bean bed!
As always Moonlight Cinema is a BYO friendly event, but no sweat if you forget your picnic spread and sparkling; Moonlight’s famous LA style food truck and fully licensed bar, will be serving up tasty treats for all appetites.
There’s something for absolutely every kind of movie maniac and film fanatic at this season’s Moonlight Cinema. Gates are open an hour and a half before the film starts so grab all your mates, snap up your grassy patch and lay back for a summer of fun, food and films under the stars!
Gates open at 7pm and screenings start at sundown, approximately 8.30pm
Sydney: Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park, Tuesday 26 January, 2016
Gates open at 7pm for screening at approx. 8.30pm
BONDI BOWLING CLUB AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY
In what is always one of the biggest parties on the Australia Day calendar, Bondi Bowling Club hosts their annual celebration of all things ‘Straya, with a raging good time sure to make you wish you’d taken the Wednesday off from work!
All the fun starts at 12pm on the 26th January, and with the obligatory live stream of the Triple J Hottest 100, DJ and dance floor after the countdown, food and drink specials all day and of course some lawn bowls if you’re so inclined, what better place is there to says cheers to our pretty awesome country!
For more info and to make a booking: www.bondibowls.com.au
Insta: @bondibowlo Facebook: /bondibowlingclub
THE ROCKS BRINGS THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER TO AUSTRALIA DAY
A free day of sun-soaked harbour views, the hottest Australian acts, eclectic market stalls and tasty eats are all in store when The Rocks Australia Day celebrations kick off on Tuesday 26 January, 2016.
From 12.30pm to early evening Sydney’s premier tourist and historic precinct will come alive, starting with Jaunt on George Street. The normally bustling street will be converted into a relaxed space full of sights, sounds and activities for all—a croquet green from Croquet NSW, a caravan playing Triple J’s iconic hottest 100, an instant photo booth, and much more.
Across two outdoor stages, some of Australia’s finest performers will be stepping up; Alt-pop legendKaty Steele of Little Birdy fame; the infectious Melbourne Ska Orchestra; pop-outfit Jinja Safari; and hip-hop sensation Tuka are just some of the incredible artists spreading the good vibes at The Rocks Australia Day.
WHAT: Australia Day 2016
WHERE: The Rocks, First Fleet Park, Atherden Street, George Street, Jack Mundey Place, Playfair Street.
WHEN: Tuesday 26 January, 2016, 12.30 – 6.30pm
COST: Free
INFO: therocks.com
For more information check out: therocks.com/australiaday and join the conversation on Twitter,Instagram and Facebook at: @therocks and www.facebook.com/therocks.
WARRANE STAGE – First Fleet Park
| 12.30 – 1.15pm | THANDI PHOENIX |
| 1.35 – 2.20pm | MAU POWER |
| 2.40 – 3.40pm | KATY STEELE |
| 4.05 – 5.05pm | JINJA SAFARI |
| 5.30 – 6.30pm | MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA |
TALLAWOLADAH STAGE – Atherden Street
| 12.45 – 1.30pm | ROBBIE MILLER |
| 1.45 – 2.30pm | LEFT. |
| 2.50 – 3.35pm | GORDI |
| 3.55 – 4.40pm | JONES JNR. |
| 5.00 – 6.00pm | TUKA |
BRONTE BEACH
If you’re looking for somewhere quieter to relax and enjoy a few beers and a BBQ with your mates/ loved ones – Bronte Beach is always our top pick for Australia Day. With BBQs, grass, sand and a pool you are spoilt for choice. Best of all, you can have a bevy if that tickles your pickle!
VIC ON THE PARK
This Sunday (24th Jan) from 1pm- 8pm, celebrate an Australia Day Fundraiser with live music, a beer (or two), a boogie and supporting an important community and Aussie cause. The Vic on the Park Hotel in Marrickville (Addison Road) will be hosting a live music event to raise much needed funds for the Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre.
The event will feature live music from a variety of Aussie bands including “outsider rock” band from Adelaide Bad//Dreems, Sydney Indie rock band Polish Club, Flowertruck and ADKOB.
Entry to the event is by donation (The more the merrier), with the Vic on the Park matching each donation for Wirringa Baiya dollar for dollar.
Established in 1994, Wirringa Baiya located in Addison Road Community Centre, provides legal representation, advice and referral services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children who have been victims of violence and domestic violence.
Vic on the Park licensee, Sarah Lewis, feels strongly about the issue saying
“Too often on Australia Day we forget the origins of this great country. I want this to be a community day of celebration for Australia, a celebration of our nation’s indigenous heritage and culture, and a celebration of music”.
Sarah adds “The Vic on the Park is a community pub and I am so pleased to be able to produce a great live music event in support of such a noble cause.”
So celebrate Australia Day early this year and raise much needed funds for a very important cause at Vic on the Park Hotel. Grab your mates, have a beer, have a dance, celebrate all the great things about Australia and drop a twenty (or what you can afford) into the donation box.
Celebrating music + Supporting Wirringa Baiya = Australia Day win!
Check out the link for more info: http://www.wirringabaiya.org.au/
So what are you waiting for? Get in amongst it and pop another shrimp on the barby!
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