There’s nothing more Australian than a good, old-fashioned B-B-Q, especially on Australia Day. Whether you’re putting shrimp on the barbie, lamb cutlets or cooking up a vegan feast, there’s one crucial ingredient us Aussies simply can’t go without on January 26 – the great outdoors! So don’t sit inside in front of a movie, feel the sunshine on your shoulders and have an unforgettable Australia Day by hiring a car and heading to one of these top picnic spots. With plenty of lush green space, lakes and rivers on offer, you simply can’t go wrong.
For crystal clear mountain water: Currumbin Rock Pools, QLD
While many Aussies on the Gold Coast will flock to the beach on Australia Day, consider visiting Currumbin Rock Pools instead. A short 15 min drive from the coast, the pools are hidden in the lush Currumbin Valley and are a local favourite. Feeling hot? A splash in the creek, with its chilly mountain waters, will cool you down in no time. If you’re up for something a little more adventurous, follow others up the rock ledges and grab a hold of one of the many ropes as you swing and plunge yourself into the rivulet below. Once exhausted, head back to the grassy area where you’ll find plenty of spots amongst the gum trees to set up shop with the barbie. And, if you can’t be bothered packing a picnic, there’s a cafe and bar just across the road – winner.
Cheap Flights to Gold Coast from A$69** Stay at Mantra Coolangatta Beach from A$157*
For live music and good vibes: Glenelg, SA
It’s no secret Australia Day is usually a scorcher in Adelaide, so if history serves right the best place to be is by the ocean. Australia Day festivities are hosted annually down at Glenelg Beach, kicking off with a big breakfast followed by a citizenship ceremony and a celebration of local heroes with the presentation of Australia Day Awards. With the sun shining and enough sand for everyone to claim a spot, the Glenelg foreshore has it all – including free live music! Get down early with the picnic rug and barbie to guarantee prime positioning and continue the party all night long by checking out one of Glenelg Beach’s many beachside bars, like the Sol Bar or Horizons Cocktail Lounge.
Cheap Flights to Adelaide from A$85** Stay at Stamford Grand Adelaide from A$119*
For a classic day of ‘going bush’: Noble Falls, WA
Get back to nature and rewind at the Noble Falls picnic area, a bushland sanctuary just 50 kilometres northeast of Perth. The falls aren’t big by any means but there are many waterholes that are perfect for a dip, providing some cool relief from the hot Australia Day weather. The best part? You can even bring the dog along. If you’re into a bit of bushwalking, the Wooroloo Brook nature walk, of which Noble Falls is a part, is a serene track with the flowing stream running alongside it – just make sure you bring along a cork hat to ward off the pesky flies!
Cheap Flights to Perth from A$186** Stay at Pan Pacific Perth from A$152*
For the watersports: Narrabeen Lakes, NSW
Does fishing, kayak and stand-up paddle boarding sound like your idea of a public holiday well spent? Narrabeen lakes, a 45-minute drive northeast of the Sydney CBD, is a playground for lovers of watersports. The lake has a tonne of spacious parks that surround it, tied together by a 8.6km walking trail – perfect for walking off your barbeque feast. Save yourself from having to bring down your own gas bottles and burners by checking out Bilarong Reserve on the northern side of the lake, which has its own barbeques. It’s also got heaps of grass for a game of cricket, so don’t forget to pack your bat, ball and stumps!
Cheap Flights to Sydney from A$194** Stay at Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park from A$141*
For a civilised picnic: Dandenong Ranges, VIC
If the crowds that flood Swanston Street for Melbourne’s annual Australia Day Parade are too much for you to handle, skip town and take refuge in the stunning Dandenong Ranges where native flora and fauna are in abundance. Spot treecreepers, robins, cockatoos and rosellas and appreciate the eucalypt forest at Dandenong’s Silvan Reservoir Park, or head to Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve, where you can whip up your barbie whilst admiring the 10-acre Ferny Creek Ornamental Garden, filled with Azalea, Rhododendrons and Magnolias.
Cheap Flights to Melbourne from A$69** Stay at The Loft in The MILL Boutique Accommodation from A$450*
*The hotel prices above are for double occupancy (including taxes and fees) and were found on KAYAK.com.au on 18 January 2017 for travel in January 2017. Prices may be subject to change and offers may no longer be available.
**The flight prices shown above are for one return economy seat (including taxes and fees, excluding baggage fees) and were collated on KAYAK.com.au on 18 January 2017 for travel in January 2017. Prices may be subject to change and offers may no longer be available.
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