All the Best Ways to Spend Australia Day 2015 in Melbourne

Australians all let us rejoice, for we have a long weekend in the middle of summer, and we plan on making the most of it. Melbourne is putting on a throng of events that celebrate our multicultural city and, of course, Triple J’s Hottest 100. Whether you’re looking to experience the musical delights of live performance, satisfy your tastebuds with international cuisine or just want to go for a dip in the ocean, this list will have you sorted for Australia Day. Have a crack at learning the words to the new Australian anthem, place a bet for Taylor Swift to take out the Js, and find yourself a nice spot in the sun.

AUSTRALIA DAY '15 WEEKEND FUNDRAISER

Split over two days and two venues, Australia Day: A Benefit for the Wider Community is raising awareness and funds for an exceptionally important cause. On Saturday the 25th head to Footscray’s Reverence Hotel for the likes of Frenzal Rhomb, Saskwatch and Hawaiian Islands. Day two will see Melbourne legends The Smith Street Band, The Bennies and Joelistics perform, providing an interesting mix of musical genres and outspoken voices. Proceeds from the event will be going to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Refugee Council of Australia and Oxfam. Get on this.

EAT EVERYTHING AT THE INTERNATIONAL STREET FOOD FESTIVAL

Head to the Melbourne Showgrounds to eat your weight in street food from every corner of the globe. A good place to start would be the AMFVG Food Truck Park to get a little sample from here, there and everywhere. If you make it out of there with some room left in your tum, there will also be stalls from the likes of Mr Burger, Wonderbao, Those Girls Iced Tea, The Snag Society, Treat Yo Self Quesadilla Cart, Gumbo Kitchen and 400 Gradi just to name a few. As well as food stalls galore there will also be live music throughout the weekend.

GO FOR A DIP AT THE SWIMLAND GREAT AUSTRALIA DAY SWIM

Racers at the ready! If an open water swim sounds like your perfect way to celebrate the island that we call home, then grab a wetsuit and get down to Brighton. The 1.4km open water swim is a clockwise course around the Middle Brighton Pier and breakwater from the pier to the finish gate on the beach. For those who like a bit more of a challenge, there is also a 5km swim option, and for those who want to get back to the Hottest 100 as quickly as possible, there’s an intermediate 650m swim.

WATCH MURIEL'S WEDDING FOR MIDSUMMA

It’s going to be one Abba-solutely fabulous weekend at The 86 on Smith Street this Australia day weekend, with a Dancing Queen party and Babba live show to boot. To round out the partying and performances, from 3pm on Monday come down for a free BBQ and join in for sing-along screenings of the Australian cult classic Muriel’s Wedding. The screenings are also free, so if you’re after a cheap and very cheerful Australia Day, look no further.

AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKENDER AT THE ROYAL CROQUET CLUB

It’s going to be four solid days of celebration at the Royal Croquet Club with a Food Truck-a-Palooza, musical guests and all around good times. For Australia Day only, Beatbox Kitchen, Taco Truck, Hammer & Tong, Nuoc Mama, Shari D’s and a few other special guests will be joining the already stellar lineup of Meatmother, Misschu, Mr Claws and Messina to provide you with all the fine foodie offerings. Musical guests over the four days include The Kite String Tangle, Miami Horror DJs, Japanese Wallpaper and Hayden James, which are some pretty blissful sounds to fall into a food coma to.

CELEBRATE NEW CITIZENS AND BILLY CART RACING IN KENSINGTON

Kensington Australia Day Festival and Citizenship Ceremony is a big day of family-friendly fun. The day starts at 11.30am, commencing with a Citizenship Ceremony, to be followed by a billy cart race, because 'Straya. There will plenty of food stalls with international cuisine, a handmade and handcrafted market and live entertainment. Also very importantly, there is a lamington-eating competition, so come hungry.

HOTTEST 100 PARTY AT THE ESPY

It makes sense to celebrate Australia Day at one of Melbourne’s oldest institutions, but for some people January 26 only means one thing: Triple J’s Hottest 100 Day. Doors open from 11am, so you can secure yourself a prime position for the countdown kick-off at midday. As well as the Hottest 100 booming through their impressive sound system throughout the day, there will be live performances by Last Dinosaurs, Japanese Wallpaper, The Harpoons, Them Bruins and many others. Like all the good things in life, it’s a free event.

HAVE A ROUND OF BAREFOOT BOWLS AT BOWLED OVER

Hosted by Tonedeaf and Channel [V], Bowled Over is part bowls competition, part live music gig, part Hottest 100 party. Now in its fifth year running, there will be performances by Remi, Bad//Dreems and Twinsy to help remind you of the excellent music this country produces. If you’re not quite competitive enough to throw your hat in the ring for the Levi's Cup Bowling Competition, there will be a new private oasis section where you can chill out in deck chairs and beanbags. Food and drink will be supplied from the likes of Sailor Jerry, The Sweetwater Inn and CUB.

HAVE A GERMAN-STYLE AUSTRALIA DAY AT AUSFEST

Brunswick St Cider House is where it’s at for the cider lovers of Melbourne, and in particular, their garden bar out the back is perfect for some summer sipping. This Australia Day, the garden will host AusFest 2015 Craft Cider and Beer Festival, where $28 will get you your own personal stein for the day, which you can fill up with one of the 27 beverages on tap on arrival. You can refill your stein for $10 during the day, and will also receive a slow-cooked pork roll for lunch and apple crumble for dessert. There’s also the possibility of turning your cider into a slushy, and to that we say cheers, mate.

THROW YOUR OWN BBQ

Maybe you don’t want to go anywhere this Australia Day, and that is more than fine, so why not have a BBQ at yours? If you want to have the best BBQ going around, you’re going to need some great bangers, and we don’t mean the of the EDM variety. We’re confident you’ll find some excellent snags at the inaugural Sausage Fest at the Prahran Market. The Prahran Market butchers and poulterers will have their sausages put to the test (the taste test that is), and the winner will be chosen via public opinion blind testing. Competition opens at 11.30am on Friday, January 23, so get down, try some sausages and pick up what you need to make your Australia Day BBQ a memorable one.