Brisbanites, are you saving for your next holiday and need to curb your entertainment spend? Or are you coming to Brissie and looking for something to do? Perhaps this list will help…
1. Go to the movies
Believe it or not, you can actually get TWO tickets to see a flick at a Cineplex cinema for under $20, day or night. Have a date, invite a mate, or treat yourself to two movies. Their South Bank location makes for a super central meeting point, or you can head to their suburban screens at Hawthorne, Bulimba and Victoria Point. Their icy Rainbow Smash drinks are also a winner in my book and the ultimate cinema snack if choc tops aren’t really your thing.
Cost: From $6.50, prices vary by session time. Check out the Cineplex price list here
2. Get your skates on
Sometimes it’s just too darn hot in Brisbane to function. Sometimes you just want to pretend you’re in The Mighty Ducks movie, hanging out with Joshua Jackson in his pre-Pacey days, grabbing randoms to form a flying V… or not.
Ice Skating is one of those activities that has the benefits of being fun and fitness rolled into one. You don’t have to get decked out in your team colours to have a go (although a jersey can keep you toasty when you’re out on the ice), and you can spend your time being as tricky or as basic as you like. Sure, you might be wishing you had more superior skills when Red Rover starts, but hey, if you’ve got the luck of Steven Bradbury you could still come out a winner.
Though you probably won’t look as cool as this kid…
Cost: Standard prices are around $18 including skate hire
3. Hit the lanes
I’m probably leaving myself open for some serious judgement here, but I thought bowling shoes were the bomb diggity back in the day. And bumpers or not, there’s no denying that bowling is perfect rainy day/really hot day/kiddult entertainment. There are seven AMF bowling centres around Brissie, or you can hit Strike in the Wintergarden.
Cost: AMF – Approximately $15 online, $17 at the venue including shoe hire. Strike – Sunday to Thursday, $14 a game before 4pm, $16 from 4pm till late; $18 Fridays and Saturdays
4. Head to Coochie
Coochiemudlo Island that is. Never heard of it? That’s cool; that’s what makes this place such a good find.
Escape the big city life with a quick 10-minute ferry ride from Victoria Point Jetty to Coochie. You can walk around the whole island in a day – it’s only five square kilometres – and compared to Straddie which can get hella busy, Coochie doesn’t get swamped with visitors. Long, calm stretches of beach surround the island, so there’s ample sand to claim for a couple of hours to relax by the water. There are also kayaks, aqua bikes and tandem pushies available at Coochie Boat Hire for the more active peeps.
If you want to be ultra-thrifty, pack your own food and drinks and BYO entertainment.
Image courtesy of Tijana Jaksic
Cost: $8 return on the ferry, $5 return as a walk-on passenger on the barge
5. Board games at Go Lounge, Stones Corner
Remember Mouse Trap? Guess Who? Ever try to pin a murder on Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick? If you’re sitting there excitedly thinking “Hell yeah!” then get yourself to GO Lounge.
GO has an impressive collection of over 200 games, and because you can BYO it’s an awesome place to meet up with a few friends for a not-so-serious day/night out. Game on!
Cost: Tuesday to Friday, 5pm till 10pm – $5 all day or $2/hour. Saturday and Sunday, 12pm till 10pm – $10 all day (including a free non-alcoholic drink) or $3/hour.
Pssst! There’s also a FREE Games Night sponsored in King George Square on the last Thursday of every month where you can play giant board games from 5pm to 9pm.
6. Fish and chips by the bay at Wynnum Manly
Being a Manly kid my whole life, I don’t think I appreciate the beauty of the bay as much as I should. The Esplanade and its abundance of fish and chip shops make for a really awesome hangout on a sunny day. Go for a stroll or a bike ride along the water, pick up some fish and chips (or in my case, chips and potato scallops) and claim a spot on the grass at one of the many parks along the foreshore or at the end of the Wynnum Jetty.
Fish + chips = solid plan!
Little Bayside Park is also home to the Manly Creative Markets every Sunday from 8am to 3pm, or head down on the third Saturday of the month to catch the Jan Powers Farmers Markets from 6am to midday.
Cost: Depends on what you order
7. Rooftop movie at Limes Hotel
One of Brisbane’s most popular bars turns into an open-air cinema every Wednesday and Thursday night. Limes plays newish releases and cult classics with the city skyline as a backdrop, making it a unique yet affordable choice for date night or some mid-week movie magic. Doors open at 5pm for a 7.30pm start. Check out what movies are coming up here.
Cost: $10 + online booking fee
Limes Hotel
8. Visit GOMA
The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at South Bank has a stack of contemporary exhibitions and displays that you can see for free. Aside from the zero entry fee, the best part about GOMA is that their collection caters for people who don’t necessarily take art too seriously. Their current Harvest exhibition is a “celebration of food in art” and includes the Pineapple Express! showcase, an installation devoted to pineapple-themed objects. Random but fun, right?! GOMA also runs free guided tours that go for 30 to 40 minutes.
Cost: Free (except for special exhibitions)
Fancy a day in the vineyards? Take a drive out to Mt Cotton (about half an hour from the CBD) for a behind-the-scenes tour of the award-winning Sirromet winery and sample a selection of their outstanding vinos for $20. You need to book in advance for this experience, but if you’d prefer to enjoy the scenery on your own (How’s the serenity?) you can visit the Cellar Door and do your wine tasting for $5. No matter which option you choose, you’ll be guided by an expert to find the Sirromet wines that suit your taste. FYI, my favourite is Love My Sweet Fruity White. Feel free to send a bottle my way 😉
Cost: $5-$20
10. Margarita Monday at Sling Lounge
Mondays can be tough. What better way to perk up than with a couple of skilfully crafted beverages?
Sling offers over 40 margaritas at a friendly $10 a pop so you can ease your way into the working week. The bartenders are eager to please and will no doubt be able to help you find your two choice cocktails on the menu. Be sensible, stick to the budget and you’re in for a cosy night out in West End. Chookers!
Image credit Tijana Jaksic
Cost: $20 for two margaritas
Do you have any tips for Brisbane on a budget? Tell us in the comments or wait to see if they pop up in Brisvegas top 20 under $20, part 2.