The Ten Best Ways to Spend Australia Day in Sydney

For many of us, Australia Day means the smell of beach air, roaring barbecues, ice-cold beer, breathtaking views, fist-pumping tunes, or some combination of all of the above. From some of the country's finest rooftop bars to unforgettable festival experiences and the best in late-night entertainment, we have ten great venues for you to get down and party this Australia Day long weekend.

1. The Glenmore

For us, it's hard to go past one of our favourite haunts for Australia Day: the Glenmore's rooftop bar. With spectacular 360-degree views overlooking the harbour, a barbecue firing all day long, and the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown blasting through the speakers, the Glenmore does Australia Day the good old-fashioned way. The beers look set to flow freely into the early hours of the morning as well with a DJ getting the rooftop a-rockin' from 9pm, so head into the Glenmore for the best harbourside party Sydney has to offer. Visit The Glenmore website for more details.

January 26, 11am-late; 96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks.

2. Yabun Festival

The rapidly expanding cultural phenomenon that is the Yabun Festival is Australia's largest single-day Indigenous festival. Celebrating the very best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and culture, this year's line-up includes Warren H. Williams' unique brand of country music with a twist, barnstorming rock 'n' roll from Mop and the Drop Outs, and even a little of the risque from burlesque performer Constantina Bush. There's also panel discussions, arts and craft stalls, and even traditional didgeridoo lessons. With 25,000 people expected to turn up to Victoria Park this year, the Yabun Festival promises to be a fascinating remembrance of Australia's Indigenous past and a thrilling exhibition of the very best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and culture today.

January 26, 10am-6.30pm; Victoria Park, City Road, Camperdown.

3. Water Polo by the Sea

After the roaring success of the Bondi edition of Water Polo by the Sea, in which Bondi's iconic Icebergs pool was transformed into the venue of a world-class water polo match, on Sunday, January 27, Water Polo by the Sea is heading harbourside to the picturesque beach at Watsons Bay. The sand-speckled water polo fixture is set to feature a gaggle of local sporting celebrities from the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants, and, of course, the Australian Water Polo team. Combined with this unique spectator experience will be an Aussie barbecue brunch, a meet and greet with the players and sporting superstars themselves, and then kick-ons at the Watsons Beach Club, where DJs and ice-cold beer have been promised to be in abundance.

January 27, 10am-late; Watsons Beach Club, 1 Military Rd, Watsons Bay.

4. Bondi Openair Cinema

The fiendishly popular Bondi Openair Cinema, located on Bondi Beach's Dolphin Lawn with an enormous screen overlooking Sydney's most famous beach, is offering a fairly irresistible Australia Day package. For a measly $30, not only will you get entry to the Australia Day screening of Mel Gibson's fantastically trashy, cult classic Mad Max but also a choice of either a lamb burger, veggie burger, or prawn skewer and a free beer, wine, or mocktail upon entry. If true-blue Aussie cinema, a roaring barbecue, and Sydney's most iconic beach sounds like a winner to you, then you can hardly do better than this.

January 26, 6pm-11pm; Bondi Openair Cinema, Dolphin Lawn, Bondi Beach.

5. Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ

The Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ is running a four-day party for anyone in search of super-cheap beer and great Aussie food over the Australia Day long weekend. Located in Potts Point, Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ is one of Sydney premiere rooftop bars, priding itself on its consistently hearty, cheerful vibe, enormous servings of succulent meat, and $5 tinnies. Set up camp on one of their large wooden tables overlooking the city and you're guaranteed to have yourself an awesome Australia Day that also won't break the bank.

January 25-28; 33-37 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point.

6. MS Colour Run

Bizarre, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable, the MS Colour Run is one of the more creative charity events you are likely to encounter and undoubtedly one of the most memorable ways you can choose to spend Australia Day this year. The MS Colour Run will have you running, skipping, and dancing through Darling Harbour awash in a veritable rainbow of coloured dust. All you have to do is show up at 9am on January 26 wearing a white T-shirt, and as you pass through the 5 Rainbow Dust stations scattered across the 5km track your whole body will quickly become a vibrant, dancing piece of art. All funds raised will also go towards services and support for the 23,000 Australians who live with multiple sclerosis.

January 26, 9am; Darling Harbour.

7. Festival of the Voice

If you're in the mood for something a little bit different to a barbeque or day at the beach for Australia Day (and crowds don't bother you), head to the Festival of the Voice at The Rocks. As well as markets and food, it's all about the bands. Oh, and the karaoke. George Street will be renamed 'song street' for the day, and will be jam packed with musos, including award-winning Ash Grunwald and Indigenous singer-songwriter Gurrumul. And if you prefer to be in front of the microphone, the Karaoke Bandstand in The Rocks Square might appeal.

January 26, noon-8pm; The Rocks.

8. Great Sydney Swim

The 2.2km Great Sydney Swim across Sydney Harbour is not quite as daunting nor painstaking as its name may first imply. In fact, with a variety of swims ranging from 300 metres to 750 metres to the whole 2.2km kit and caboodle, the Great Sydney Swim offers a refreshing and unique way for doggie-paddlers of all standards to start their Australia Day. With the event beginning at the doorstep of the Sydney Opera House and led by dual Olympic and seven-time Iron Man champion Ky Hurst, the Great Sydney Swim has quickly evolved into an awesome and unforgettable Australia Day tradition.

January 26, 8.30am-11.30am; Farm Cove.

9. Future Classics - Paradiso at Town Hall

The old-world opulence and splendour of Sydney's Town Hall has been transformed into a premiere new-age music venue with 10 back-to-back nights of live music over January and the Australia Day weekend. On January 26, it'll host the Future Classics bash, with special guests Lindstrom, Classixxx, Mitzi, and the Future Classics DJs. Dance the night away with these pioneers of the new wave of electro-dance.

10. Oz Fest - Cargo Bar Four-Day Festival

If you see hardcore, 24-hour parties as less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle choice, then Cargo's four-venue, four-day mega-party may well be perfect for you. With over 50 DJs and live acts, a whole bunch of Australia Day-themed games (from thong tossing to beach volleyball to the Tony Abbot-friendly 'Budgy Smuggler Pool Party'), and drink specials aplenty, all taking place at four of Kings Street Wharf's favourite late-night locations (Bungalow 8, The Loft, Cargo Bar and Cargo Lounge), Oz Fest is undoubtedly the biggest and loosest club event on offer this Australia Day weekend. With the offer of all the thrills and spills of a festival, thanks to such musical highlights as the Minx She Can DJ tour, Sosueme DJs, and Strummer, Oz Fest is a must for those who find that bigger is better.