Overview
Sweltering sunshine, praying for a cool breeze and always wishing that you were in the water: welcome to summer in Brisbane. When the warmest part of the year rolls around, this bright city becomes obsessed with three things. We're either talking about how hot it is (answer: very), trying to wash away the heat with a cold one or jumping into the nearest body of H2O. Sometimes we're doing all three simultaneously.
Of course, the last two options are much more fun than the first — think kicking back, soaking in the sun and cooling down at the same time. If you choose to do so with a brew in your hand, that's where Gage Roads Brewing Co's Single Fin summer ale comes in. And if you'd rather splash around, we've teamed up with these gifted beermakers to find five watery options for a refreshing summer.
Tourism and Events Queensland.
TOUR SHIPWRECKS ON AN UNDERWATER SCOOTER AT TANGALOOMA
Tangalooma's shipwrecks are one of southeast Queensland's most famous attractions. They're also the kind of spot that many Brisbanites know about and know they should visit — yet never make the effort to see. If snorkelling through 15 sunken boats isn't enough motivation to get you over to Moreton Island, then perhaps this will be: touring these submerged vessels on an underwater scooter. It's not the type that you sit on, but rather a motorised scooter that you hold on to while you zoom beneath the water. How better to get up close to the coral that's starting to form in and around the wrecks and to spy more than 200 species of local sea life? And, you'll be able to zip through more of the ships — a motor is faster than your arms and legs, obviously.
SNORKEL WITH TURTLES NEAR COOK ISLAND
You know Fraser and Bribie and Moreton and Stradbroke — but do you recall the isle boasting a thriving marine flora and fauna? While Cook Island mightn't rank among the most well-known, the marine reserve park does boast both hard and soft coral, provide a thriving home for underwater life and feature a large population of green turtles. If you'd like to snorkel with the latter, this is the place to head for a scenic three-hour trip. It's also relatively close to home for water-loving Brisbanites, with the volcanic outcrop located one kilometre off of the Tweed Coast's Fingal Headland, with tours departing from just south of Coolangatta.
Brisbane City Council.
CATCH A FLICK SUBMERGED IN THE SPRING HILL BATHS
Maybe you're not fond of regular cinemas. Perhaps you like to splash around while entertainment plays in the background. Or, you could just like watching films anywhere and everywhere that you can. Cooling off at a dive-in movie is the kind of watery experience that never gets old — and, because you can see a different flick each time, is never the same twice. The Spring Hill Baths hosts regular sessions, showing grown-ups-only titles like Jaws 2 and Pulp Fiction. If you're day-tripping or staying down the coast this summer, the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre also cranks up the projector for occasional family-friendly screenings.
WANDER THE AQUARIUM LIKE YOU'RE A KID AGAIN
If your childhood holidays involved road-tripping to Mooloolaba to visit Underwater World, we have good and bad news. The massive aquarium still exists, but it's had a name change — so if you're looking for a nostalgic day out, you'll now need to head to Sea Life. A celebration of marine life by any other name still offers the same amount of fun, so prepare to see seals, sharks, seahorses and more. Prepare to spend as much time as possible in the 80-metre-long ocean tunnel, too. Fancy looking as well as touching? That's where the tidal touch pool comes in. Yes, it's still as great as you remember.
SCUBA DIVE WITH MANTA RAYS OFF STRADDIE
One island, 15 different dive sites — a multitude of ways to get your scuba on. If you're an experienced diver, then fish, coral, manta rays and more await. If you need a little help — or you've never made the scuba plunge — you'll still find all of the above, as well as classes to teach you the ropes. Located on North Stradbroke Island, the Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre runs one-day sessions that will take you through the basics and out into the ocean (nope, you won't just be pool-bound here). If you want to really dive deep, then opt for the three-day open water diver course and become fully certified. As an added bonus, the Manta Lodge also doubles as a backpackers, so you'll have somewhere affordable to slumber when you're not in the water.
Make a splash this summer, and afterwards, keep cool with a Single Fin. The light-bodied ale is packed with plenty of hoppy flavour to keep you smiling all season.