Australia Day is on a Sunday. Perfect! It gives you one day to prepare and one day to recover (unless you went to Australia Day Live at Parliament House on Saturday night!). Are you struggling to think of what to do? Have a read through our list of five essential activities to make for the perfect long weekend.
1. Hottest 100
Okay, so Lorde will probably win it, but that leaves another 99 mysteries to celebrate from midday on Sunday afternoon. If you’re not at the Big Day Out, there’s simply no excuse not to wander over to the nearest radio and hear the tracks that defined 2013.
Register your party, run a sweep and post photos on Facebook for friends shivering through a northern-hemisphere winter’s night.
2. Commonwealth Park
Common wealth: The wealth we all share. Parks are sort of the same thing. What better place to be on Australia Day? As usual, Canberra is putting on quite the extravaganza with the traditional Australia Day breakfast from 7.30am and events ranging from Dora’s Dance Party through to demonstrations by the Defence Force. Local music from Bridge Between, heaps of food and, finally, the Fireworks Spectacular from 9.00pm.
Take a picnic, a blanket and settle in for the long haul. Good times!
3. BBQ
Okay, it’s obvious, but a barbie still one of the best ways to spend a sunny Australia Day with friends. Be it in the park or the backyard, the essentials include music, a couple of eskies and an impromptu game of cricket.
In last year’s People’s Choice Awards, you voted Smoque Restaurant as your favourite in Canberra. To show their love, owner and head-chef Grant Kells has supplied us with some great advice help put on the perfect barbecue. Delicious!
4. The Pool
If it’s hot, there’s no other place to be. As the temperatures recently soared, we spoke of the beauty of Manuka Pool. Grab your swimmers, a tennis ball, some shades and a giant towel and head down for a dip (and obligatory Callippo). There are plenty of other pools around town – CISAC, Jameson, the AIS, Dickson, Civic, Phillip, Erindale, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan. Just don’t forget to Slip! Slop! and Slap!
5. Aussie Karaoke
Left the pub/park/mate’s place and still keen for more? Head home, boot up a karaoke game, fire up some Aussie tracks and belt your lungs out with a few classics. The neighbours will surely appreciate your musical stylings and, if not, they’ve got a sleep-in on Monday anyway.
No Playstation? No matter. Hook up a laptop to the stereo and DIY with some YouTube.
Enjoy your long weekend, folks! Happy Australia Day!
