All the Best Ways to Spend the Australia Day Weekend in Brisbane

The Australia Day Long Weekend has crept up again, and this year you hardly have to scrape the bottom of the Vegemite jar to find something to fill it with. Whether you’re up for some serious betting on cockroaches, jumping around to the strains of a pink-haired rock star, or would just prefer to sit quietly with a beer and roast chook roll, there’s little Brisbane isn’t offering this weekend.

THE BRIGHTSIDE'S AUSTRALIA DAY EVE

Brightside proved itself in 2014 to be incapable of doing wrong when it comes to live performance. True testament to this is their Australia Day Eve lineup, which rivals that of any major music festival on our horizon, and at a good price to boot. The party includes sets by dream-spinning, rock demigod Ariel Pink, New Zealand indie-rock pioneers The Clean, our mate American singer/songwriter How to Dress Well and eletro-wizard Dan Deacon. From the local circuit, Tincture, Primitive Motion and Thigh Master will also welcome in the public holiday. Tickets online are $56.10, but a few boutique outlets, such as one on Winn lane that rhymes with ScoutMost, may be selling them a little cheaper. You didn't hear it from us.

AUSTRALIA DAY AT SOUTHSIDE TEA ROOM

Australia Day isn't just about the beers and beats at Southside Tea Room — though there will be plenty of those. In a huge celebration, kicking off at 10am, they'll be firing up their famous Red Robbin Supper Club food truck and feeding people with some good ol' Aussie grub. In the words of van chef Rory Doyle, "The plan is to fire up the rotisserie and roast some chickens over hot coals, then smash that sweet meat onto white rolls with some rich gravy to complete an Aussie classic, Roast Chicken Roll. You can't have a chicken roll without hot chips and we'll be serving them with our version of "chicken salt"!" Cue uncontrollable salivation.

VOTE YES FOR ABORIGINES SCREENING

Directed by Frances Peters-Little and produced by Denise Haslem, Vote Yes for Aborigines is an iconic documentary on the 1967 referendum and will be projected for audiences this Australia Day at the Broncos Leagues Club. Interrogating the success of the Referendum and addressing debates about what is meant by Australian citizenship and values, the 52-minute film provides a window into a history we may not all be 100 percent versed on. After the screening, Peters-Little will lead a discussion on the film and the issues that arise in it.

THE TRIFFID HOTTEST 100 PARTY

Every year, bars, pubs and clubs around Brisbane attempt to host a Hottest 100 Party, assuming their only duty is getting the radio station right. The Triffid are going over and beyond, with a Hottest 100 Party that’ll will have punters up and dancing from lunch time till the early hours of the morn. Brisbane rockers Millions will be performing a live set later in the evening, and beers and burgers will be for sale in the beer garden. Chow down on a tasty dinner and listen out for whether Tay makes it to that number 1 spot (or any spot).

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BITES

How do some Mooloolaba king prawns with chilli pork floss sound? Or fresh-out-of-the-oven arancini balls? Paired with an Aperol Spritz or Pimms Cup and some sun-struck live music? Sound like your perfect Australia Day? Then why not have a whole weekend of it! River Quay’s finest restaurants – Aquitaine Brasseries, Cove Bar & Dining, Popolo and Jetty — are popping up food stalls in the area across the whole long weekend (Friday to Monday), showing off their finest treats. River Quay is that little, vibrant, riverside hot spot on the Southbank side of the Goodwill Bridge. Check out the line up of music, and prepare your stomach for the best.

COCKROACH RACES AT THE STORY BRIDGE HOTEL

If you’ve got a taste for creepy, crawly and quirky Australia Day celebrations, then the Story Hotel can cater accordingly. Back for 2015, the 34th annual Cockroach Races are throwing this iconic hotel into a real spin, with live music, DJs, giveaways, delicious Aussie food and ice cold drinks. Entry is a gold coin, and it costs $5 to 'buy' a cockroach, with prizes going to the most original name, best dressed and winners. It might get a little competitive, but if you’ve seen Rocky 2, you’ll be more than prepared for the hysteria that may ensue.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BACKYARD BARBECUE AT RIVERBAR AND KITCHEN

Riverbar and Kitchen is celebrating Australia day in true Aussie style – heavy emphasis on the style. Between the delicious BBQ and the 3pm thong tossing competition, there’s nothing but true-blue class being shown over at this riverside party spot. They’ll be offering up $30 buckets of Pale Ale and Hill Cider, as well an Australian-inspired menu that doesn’t skimp on quality – think grilled haloumi and eggplant salad ($10), lamb skewers ($10), Merguez sausage in a bread roll ($10) and a garlic prawn roll ($12). Pair your bite with one of two refreshing Aussie-inspired drinks — there’s the Brookvale Ginger Beer Slushy for $10, and the Pavlova Martini for $17.

THE CITY SOUNDS

While Monday might be a public holiday, Queen Street Mall is still expected to be buzzing, not just with time-free shoppers but wonderful music. In a special Australia Day weekend lineup, City Sounds will be dotting some of Brisbane’s favourite performers around the mall. Make sure to stop and have a listen. On the Friday, expect singers Angharad Drake, ukulele blues-fiend Ofa Fanaika and electro-artists Maberley & Petein. On Saturday there's Brisbane singer Black Indie, eclectic tribal performer Matt James, blues band Dezzie D and the Stingrayz; Sunday will show Bree Bullock, Ciderhouse, and The Boxties; and six-piece reggae band Kingfisha will be on show for Monday.

HOTTEST 100 CRAFT BEERS AT THE SCRATCH

We might as well wrap this up with Brisbane's largest celebration to the opiate of choice for every bearded quaffer — craft beer. And if there's one place that's going to provide appropriate homage to this sweet elixir, it's Milton's The Scratch. For Australia Day, they'll be counting down Triple J's Hottest 100, with the top 100 craft beers of 2014 alongside. They'll also be serving up Australian BLT dawgs — a delicious sausage with bacon, lettuce, tomato, relish and caramelised onion served on a roll. It's a match made in craft-brew heaven.