Brisbane top 20 under $20, part 2
Want to party in Brissie without blowing your budget? Check out part 2 of my top 20 things to do under $20. If you need more tips, you can find part 1 here.
11. Brunch or lunch at Sensiika, Norman ParkLove a bit of Thai or Vietnamese but don’t want the full restaurant experience? At Sensiika, you can order Thai iced coffee to go with your scrambled eggs or pair up a char siu banh mi with a chai latte. Cue drooling. Their menu offers everything from café faves like the BLT and poached eggs to South-East Asian flavours in their hot duck wraps and Thai beef salad. Eat in a simple courtyard setting and enjoy the fresh tastes and tranquil surrounds.
P.S. Sensiika has a day spa on site if you’re looking to blow your $20 budget. Maybe a massage after your brunch?
Cost: Depends on what you order
12. Get footloose at Cloudland
I firmly believe in the quote “Dance like nobody’s watching…” and Latin beats always get me in the mood. If you’re the same, or if you just want to let loose, let the rhythm take over and add a little Soul’sa to your life.
Venture into the sleek surrounds of Cloudland on a Thursday night for FREE salsa lessons from 8.30pm and live music from 9.30pm. Don’t worry about owning the dancefloor; just keep moving and get amongst it.
Image courtesy of Cloudland
Cost: Free
13. Bingo!
You can forget about ‘legs eleven’ when you hit The Boundary Hotel at West End for a few rounds of Hit That Hit Musical Bingo. Every Thursday, the historic pub serves up 2-for-1 meals and three rounds of tunetastic bingo. You might start crossing ’80s hits off your list, then the next round could be all about TV themes – it’s a mystery until the game cards are handed out. If you’re super keen you can also get involved in mini karaoke, musical statues, and trivia for a chance to win extra prizes and drinks.
Cost: Free for bingo
14. Pick up some new skills
From Español to Go to fancy vegan cooking, Laneway Learning at Bean café in the CBD offers a mixed bag of classes every Tuesday night at 6pm. It’s a community-minded project inspiring people to take 75 minutes out of their hectic lives to learn something new in a relaxed, informal environment. Classes are priced to cost you no more than $20 and are capped at around 20 people, so book fast if you see something you’re interested in.
Cost: $12-$20
15. Lawn bowls at The Boo
Image courtesy of The Boo
Brisbane is blessed with a few choice bowling greens, but I have to say that The Boo at Newstead is quite the charmer. She’s the oldest club in Queensland, yet pretty radical in that the emphasis is on social barefoot bowls with a good splash of entertainment. Bring your friends for a game or chillax on the grassy lawn and experience a Recovery Sunday session.
Cost: $10 per person, per game
16. Treat yo’ self at Cowch
You know you’ve got a dessert stomach, right? Well, here’s something to fill her up.
Cowch is the new kid on Brisbane’s dessert bar scene, serving up a wicked menu of sweets and drinks including house-baked Udder Puffs, Crunchy S’mores Pizza and creative cocktails where frozen yoghurt and sorbet play a starring role. Granted you might blow your $20 budget downing one desserty beverage (it’d be worth it), but you can definitely squeeze more in if you’re strategic. Grab a small serve of churros and a Tim Tam smoothie, or team up some Udder Puffs with a deluxe hot chocolate (pictured).
Cost: Depends on what tickles your tastebuds
Udder puffs and deluxe hot chocolate – Cowch
17. Vine and Wine Wednesdays at Bacchus
Bacchus was the Greek god of wine, so it’s fitting that Rydges South Bank holds FREE wine tastings every Wednesday from 5.30pm at their ultra-luxe restaurant bar of the same name. That’s right – you won’t have to dish out any dollars at all to sample a few new drops and learn about the world of wine. If you’re looking for something to nibble on between your Chardonnays and Cab Savs, Bacchus also offers a $5 ‘chef’s selection’ tapas plate between 4pm and 6pm. A swanky mid-week outing for under twenty bucks? I’m sold!
Cost: Free
18. Have a picnic in New Farm Park
NFP is a great spot to get your daily dose of vitamin D and enjoy some downtime with good food and good company. Simply BYO pic-a-nic basket or grab some supplies from the delis, patisseries, and supermarkets nearby. Settle in down by the river or hang out on the grassy flats at the top of the park. I also recommend you pack a frisbee, a book, or a good old-fashioned rug to get some ZZZZZs while you’re catching some rays.
Don’t forget your furry friends! New Farm Dog Park is a stone’s throw away
Looking for something to do after your picnic? If you’re keen for a Sunday sesh, you can mosey on over to Brisbane Powerhouse for some FREE entertainment. Read on…
Cost: Depends on how fancy your picnic is
19. Livespark at Brisbane Powerhouse
Head to the Turbine Platform from 3.30pm on a Sunday and make that warm weekend vibe last a little longer. Each week, the Powerhouse presents a double bill of indie pop and rock acts from Brissie and beyond for two hours of afternoon splendour.
If you haven’t been to the Powerhouse for a while or if you’re a first-time visitor, take a post-show wander around the rugged, graffiti-covered hallways or play a game of hide and seek. Yes – I’m serious. This industrial beauty is full of hidden nooks and it’s surprisingly fun to melt into the crowd or disappear behind a staircase.
Cost: Free
20. Putt putt at Victoria Park Golf Complex
Image courtesy of Victoria Park
I don’t know about you, but I’m a shocking golfer. I’m a pro when it comes to putt putt, however – go figure.
While there aren’t any windmills or crazy jungle-themed obstacles at Victoria Park, this 18-hole course with CBD views does have a good mix of sand traps, strategically placed boulders, and water features, so expect to be challenged as you swing your way around the greens. Fancy a game at sunrise? The course is open from 6am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and until 11pm Friday and Saturday.
Cost: $17 per person, per game
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