Overview
Throw a stone in Brisbane and you might just hit a venue where flinging bladed weapons is the main attraction. The River City now boasts three spots for safely hurling hatchets. Lumber Punks in West End was the first to bring the concept to the Queensland capital back in 2018. Maniax's debut Brissie outpost in Newstead has also be open for five years. Now, a second local site for Maniax has arrived in Adelaide Street in the CBD, boasting the chain's trademark viking theme, and also spanning bar and restaurant Ragnar & Sons.
Clearly, you can never have too many places to throw axes at targets — responsibly, of course — as the team at Maniax patently believe. The brand has been offering Australians this exact experience for almost a decade, after launching in 2014, compete with a Gold Coast site, two in Melbourne, plus one apiece in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Canberra.
One of the big drawcards at the new Brisbane location, which sits in an Adelaide Street basement: the full bar and a restaurant. Ragnar & Sons takes its cues from all things vikings, as the venue around it does, and pours appropriately themed cocktails in drinking horns. As for the food, punters can tuck into house-made pizzas, burgers, and also vegan and vegetarian options. The brisket and pulled pork burgs come highly recommended, while the snack range features chips and chocolates if you're not having a meal.
The Ragnar and Sons bar concept debuted on the Gold Coast, and also serves up local craft beers, cider and wine, as well as non-alcoholic sips. That said, although Maniax's Brisbane CBD locale is licensed like Newstead and the Goldie, there are rules given that you're in a place where chucking around sharp implements is the main attraction. There's a limit of three drinks per person during any axe-throwing session — and if you're under the influence, you can't join in. BYO booze also isn't allowed.
When it comes to the flinging, patrons get hurling in special axe-throwing lanes, with the Adelaide Street venue featuring six private lanes with two targets, as well as 12 lanes with single targets. As is always the case, no one lifts a hatchet without being shown the ropes — and taught all the necessary safety essentials, crucially — by one of Maniax's axe-perts first.
From there, folks can pick between a range of blade-hurtling activities. The chain's locations do solo and small group sessions, axe-throwing events for larger parties and also date-night options (because the couple that hurls hatchets together stays together). And, if this seems like your kind of sport, it also hosts a competitive league.
As for how it all works, it's comparable to darts. Basically, you chuck axes at a board and try to hit a bullseye. Don't even know the first thing about picking up a hatchet? Again, that's completely to be expected, which is why those lessons are included in every session, as well as in the league competition. And, the axe-throwing experts are also on hand to help even when you think you've mastered the basics.
You won't need any guidance if you want to sit on Maniax's warrior's throne and take some snaps — including of the helmets, shields, axes and horns around the place — of course.
Find Maniax Brisbane CBD on the basement level at 79 Adelaide Street, Brisbane — open from 9am–10pm Monday–Thursday, 9am–11pm Friday–Saturday and 9am–9pm Sunday.