From live entertainment to pig races, pie-eating competitions, thong throwing, and swimming, Ipswich has lots of great events this Australia Day long weekend.
Sips at the Cellar Door
The Cellar Door at Imbibis Craft Distillery will be open all Australia Day long weekend including Friday 24 January from 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-5pm and on the Australia Day public holiday Monday 27 January they will open from 12pm-5pm also!
Think refreshing cocktails, laughter with friends, and that perfect summer breeze. Whether you’re a seasoned Imbibis fan or a first-time visitor now’s the perfect time to enjoy.
Car park party at CSI
The upstairs car park at Club Services Ipswich (CSI) will be transformed into a family-friendly fun zone on Australia Day, with live entertainment, a dunk tank, face painting, petting zoo, jumping castle, traditional pie eating and thong throwing competitions, plus a pop-up bar and food stall as well as The Dagwood Dog Guy. Head down between 11am-2.30pm for the Australia Day Bash.
CSI will also have a menu full of Aussie cuisines to tantalise your tastebuds including a lamb burger, mini Aussie hot dogs, pavlova and lamington trifle!
Yabby races at the Walloon Hotel
In true Aussie style, the Walloon Hotel will be hosting yabby races and a best dressed bogan competition in celebration of Australia Day, which is sure to have the crowd cheering in more ways than one. You might even get lucky and win some great prizes in the raffle, or you can spend the day singing and dancing on the dance floor.
There will be delicious Aussie tucker available at mates rates all day.
Take a hot air balloon flight
This Australia Day you can book a Floating Images Hot Air Balloon flight over Ipswich and surrounding countryside. Enjoy a relaxing morning floating tranquilly on the breeze as you watch the sunrise followed by a hearty breakfast at popular Ipswich cafe Fourthchild.
Music and thong throwing at Brothers Leagues Club
Enjoy live music from Danny Doon in the lounge and Triplickit in the Sports Bar at Brothers on Australia Day. There will also be raffles, best dressed prizes, a thong throwing competition and cash draws from 6.30pm.
Grange Garden Party
This Australia Day head to the races at Ipswich Turf Club! The Grange Garden Party on Sunday 26 January includes a selection of food and drinks and two hours of drinks from 1pm-3pm and a live DJ for $50.
Eating contests and live music at Orion Hotel
Celebrate everything you love about Australia at Orion Hotel’s celebrations. Eating competitions will be held from 12pm-2pm along with meat tray raffles and some of their best live artists will perform on the day. There will also be food specials packed with Aussie flavours!
Take a camel ride and try Aussie made products
Summer Land Camels are open on Australia Day, so you can visit a local farm and try their Aussie made products.
You can book in for a farm tour and taste or a camel ride as well as the VIP Camel encounter.
You can also take a self-guided camel history tour at the cafe which will be open from 9am-3pm with delicious breakfast and lunch available.
The camel farm, Homestead Cafe and farm shop will open from 9am-3pm on Australia Day.
Pig Races at Falvey’s Hotel Yamanto
The fourth annual Australia Day pig races return to Falvey’s Hotel Yamanto on January 26, with the event raising money for Variety Children’s Charity. There will also be an animal farm, face painting and a jumping castle. The first of five races starts at midday and there will be a pig on the spit.
Cool off at the Orion Lagoon
If you feel like taking a dip on Australia Day, head to the Orion Lagoon in Springfield. Bigger than Streets Beach in Brisbane, the Orion Lagoon has lots of interconnected pools with different depths to cater for swimmers of all ages. Plus, there is also an aquativity section with squirting spots and stepping stones for younger kids to enjoy.
