Australia Day is one of the biggest days on the calendar. It's the day that the First Fleet landed in Port Jackson and it's a day to appreciate how multicultural our country has become.
From fireworks displays to all-nighters at the pub, whatever you have in mind for the day, there's an event out there to cater for it. Check them out here.
Australia Day fireworks in Brisbane
The 2023 Australia Day fireworks at Brisbane's South Bank are yet to be confirmed.
For the closest fireworks, head to Bribie Island. At 7pm, there will be a pyrotechnics display on Pumicestone Passage. The best vantage points to catch it are along the Pumicestone Passage Foreshore at Brennan Park and Chamber of Commerce Park.
Brisbane's best Australia Day fireworks vantage points:
Fireworks vantage points
What's happening?
Time
Food and drink
Brennan Park
Live music, games, food trucks and a sausage sizzle.
5pm–7:30pm
Food on sale from food trucks
Chamber of Commerce Park
No events planned.
7pm fireworks
None
Australia Day events in Brisbane in 2024
Events
Details
Where
When
Cost
Learn more
Great Australian Bites
This roaming festival is filled with music, food trucks, artisan market stalls, family-friendly activities and a welcome dance by a local First Nations dance company. On Australia Day, events will be in multiple locations around Brisbane.
Southbank, Brisbane. Other locations in Bargara, Brisbane, Hughenden, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Roma, St George and Winton.
The barbie is fired up and ready for hungry Aussies to tuck in at James Squire's The Charming Squire. On the menu will be corn cobs, cheeseburgers, smoked BBQ chicken wings and smoked hot dogs.
Pack the picnic and the kids and indulge in live music and plenty of family-friendly activities in Moreton Bay. Don't forget to pack the togs so you can take a dip in between sessions.
This annual event is the perfect cooldown on a hot Aussie arvo. Doors open from 2pm and on top of free entry to the leisure centre and its pools there are games, competitions, amusement rides and a poolside disco to enjoy.
Looking for an adrenaline rush? The ultimate slip n slide is coming to Sandstone Point Hotel. That's 50 metres of summer fun. Tuck into an Aussie lamb BBQ, live entertainment, thong-throwing comp and dunk-a-roo while you wait your turn.
From dreamtime stories to Indigenous art, make this Australia Day a special one by going on an Aboriginal tour of Brisbane. Some tours are available on 26 January and others are available throughout the week of Australia Day.
Throw caution to the wind and pick a bottle of local wine off the shelf from your local bottle-o. If you want to take this to the next level, head out for a winery tour where you can sample a variety of wines and meet a Queensland winemaker.
Surf, swim, stand-up paddleboard, kayak, sail – the options are endless with these water activities Australians love. Pick your favourite or why not book in a beginners lesson for a new sport?
Top free things to do on Australia Day in Brisbane
Barbeque at South Bank: Pack a picnic basket or nab a barbeque early at South Bank and spend a day in the city surrounded by the lively atmosphere of the Australia Day festivities.
Head to the beach: Weather permitting, grab your towel and togs and make a day of it at a beach on the Gold Coast or Bribie Island.
Visit an art gallery or museum: Discover more about Brisbane and its history at the Museum of Brisbane and explore the Australian Art Collection featuring Indigenous and Australian collections together at the Gallery of Modern Art.
Here are the major shopping centres that are usually open on the Australia Day public holiday and their trading hours. Opening times are subject to change.
Available on select dates on destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. Minimum spend of $300 required. Activities include hot air balloon flights, skydives and high teas. T&Cs apply.
Available when you spend a minimum of $250 on activities such as hot air balloon flights, rally driving, skydives, high teas and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. T&Cs apply.
Available on activities including skydives, whale watching cruises, day tours and getaways. Must purchase 2 or more vouchers. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates across Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and more. Activities include day tours, zoo and animal interactions, tandem skydives, hot air balloon flights and jet boat rides.
Available for travel on select dates and locations at TripAdvisor. Experience activities like land adventures, wine tours, water sports, and more T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates until 2023, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne.
Cirque du Soleil Crystal with Premium Fan Experience tickets from $269 per person
Grab the Cirque du Soleil Crystal with Premium Fan Experience tickets at Luxury Escapes for only $269 per person. Available in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Sign up with your email address and unlock Sneaky Saver deals. Activities include day tours, attraction passes and hop-on hop-off bus tours. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Available on purchases such as getaways, dining experiences, attraction passes, sightseeing cruise, cinema tickets and day tours. Destinations include Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.
Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday.
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