Here at the AU we make it our aim to help you get the most fun you can possibly get out of each holiday. With Easter and ANZAC day fast approaching, we have listed some of the premium events and foods that we think will serve you well in the upcoming holidays! Happy Easter!
EASTER
VAUCLUSE HOUSE SPECIAL EASTER MENU
Join Vaucluse House for a very special Easter High Tea this Easter Long Weekend. In addition to their breakfast and lunch menu, their culinary team have developed a special Easter High Tea for your enjoyment. Breakfast is served from 8am, and High Tea starts from 10am.
WESTFIELD SYDNEY
Indulge in a delectable choice of treats as Easter at Westfield Sydney kicks off. Come and find silky smooth chocolate eggs from Lindt, Ladurée and Max Brenner, toasted homemade hot cross buns with lashings of butter at Jones the Grocer, and a whole host of Easter delicacies for you to enjoy. There are events like the Children’s Easter High Tea to enjoy, with delicious treats like ribbon sandwiches and pink cupcakes to keep the little ones satisfied. To read up on all the Easter fun happening at Westfield Sydney, check out http://www.westfield.com.au/sydney/
GLUTEN FREE HOT CROSS BUNS
Enjoying a freshly baked, hot crossed-bun on Easter morning is a favourite tradition that most people take for granted but for the more than a quarter of a million Australians food allergies and intolerances have meant they missed out. But thanks to gluten free grain free, expert and cookbook author, Tania Hubbard this doesn’t have to be the case, especially with her new and improved hot-cross bun recipe. Tania’s Hot Cross Bun recipe can be baked from scratch using the recipe on the Gluten Free Grain Free Company website – www.glutenfreegrainfree.com.au. Or to make it even easier, you can purchase Tania’s bread mix, add a handful of dates and a little cinnamon and ginger and have your very own hot cross buns in the oven in minutes.
PUB EVENTS
This Easter long weekend, iconic pubs across NSW will be opening for usual trading hours every day except Good Friday (12pm -10pm), and will be offering some sweet specials and great giveaways :
The Australian Heritage Hotel in The Rocks will be serving bunny beers all long weekend with a selection of chocolate brews, as well as a fresh seafood tray and Easter hamper raffles on April 18 from 7pm.
The Glenmore will be visited by the Easter Bunny itself throughout the weekend, and will be joined by some of Sydney’s hottest DJs spinning some party tunes on Saturday and Sunday night til late. After all that partying, the Monday Recovery Session is a must, with a mouth-watering food menu and drinks list, including one of the city’s best Bloody Marys.
The Royal in Leichhardt will feature live music from 4pm on Easter Sunday and special chocolate cocktails available all weekend for those craving an extra chocolate hit.
The Seabreeze Beach Hotel in South West Rocks will be open all weekend if you’re planning on heading up the coast for a long weekend getaway. They have live music on Sunday from 2pm and a special Easter colouring competition to keep the kids busy.
FRESH FODDER EASTER DIPS
Put down the chocolate and ship in the seafood… it’s time for Easter celebrations and Fresh Fodder have the perfect recipe. With another holiday on the calendar, Fresh Fodder gives hosts’ a reason to boast – let their fresh and flavoursome range of dips, antipasto, salads and sauces sing for themselves. Leading the pack for Easter is their famous Taramosalata. Keeping in the fish focused tradition of Good Friday, this classic, red caviar dip is made using cod roe and is gluten, dairy AND preservative free – so it’s a big hit, even among the fussiest of guests. The Fresh Fodder range is available at independent retailers and delis in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Prices start at just $4.50ea for 200g dips.
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2: LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES DAY
Kick off your Easter long weekend in style with a massive day of racing, fashion, punting and dining. The second and final day of Little Sydney will again take centre stage, where Sydney’s leading restaurants; Longrain, Icebergs, Four in Hand, Chiswick and Merivale will go head to head in Sydney’s hottest hospitality and entertainment precinct. The Championships Day 2, Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day will take on a decidedly Royal feel with the world’s richest 2000m turf race. Treat yourself and explore the number of activations taking place on the day including the Clinique Lounge for make-up touches, the L’Oreal Lounge for hair touches, the Crust pizza store and various pop up bars including Bar Schweppes, the James Boags Container Bar and ‘The Paddock’ presented by Canadian Club which also features a Snow Throw contest. Head to http://www.theraces.com.au/ to secure your place at this prestigious event.
KENLIWORTH CHEESE, WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL
The Sunshine Coast is offering an eclectic range of activities over the extended Easter holiday period, with a highlight being the Kenilworth Cheese, Wine and Food Festival on April 19 - a free event that provides a great reason for indulging in the produce of the Mary Valley. This year is the 25th anniversary of cheese making in Kenilworth, and along with cheese and wine tastings all day, there will be special activities for children – including the “Cheester Egg Hunt” –a cheese rolling competition, followed by a cooking demonstration by Chef Peter Wolfe of Cedar Creek Bushfood Farm, who will show how to infuse native bushfood flavours with Asian and European cuisines. There will be a wide variety of food outlets as well as local wineries showcasing their produce.
A SUNNY COAST EASTER
In addition to the Cheese, Wine and Food Festival, the Sunshine Coast is offering a myriad of other Easter activities.
Oceans Street World Festival: On Easter Sunday, Maroochydore will be transformed into a multicultural mecca as part of the Ocean Street World Festival which will include local Kabi Kabi dancers, Greek folk singers, a Latino rock band and North African drummers - as well as cuisine from all corners of the globe - www.oceanstreetworldfestival.com.au
2014 Australian Dragon Boat Racing Championships: Lake Kawana will be another ‘hot spot’ during the Easter break, thanks to the 2014 Australian Dragon Boat Championships. Hundreds of competitors from across the country will take to the lake in teams of twenty to paddle their impressive dragon boats to the finish line - www.ausdbf.com.au
Pa and Ma Bendall Surf Classic: Surf enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the Pa and Ma Bendall Surf Classic, Australia’s second longest running surf competition, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. The surfing contest began in 1974, at Caloundra, and has attracted some big names over the years including Wayne (Rabbit) Bartholomew, Simon Anderson and Hawaiian legend Gerry Lopez - www.windandseaboardriders.com.au
Acommodation: For those visiting the Sunny Coast from far away, Sunshine Coast Destination has teamed up with the Kenilworth festival to offer “Stay & Play” packages for the range of events. Arequipa B&B at Peachester is offering a two night stay for $360 (per couple) while an extended family of up to nine can rent out the Red Ginger Bungalow at Yandina for $300 a night (min 3 nights stay) and receive complimentary coffees for all guests at The Fig Tree at Eumundi. Further information and bookings – www.visitsunshinecoast.com.au
SPICE AFLOAT SUNSET CRUISE
Launching Easter Sunday 2014 is the SPICE AFLOAT Sunset Series. Three premier boat parties hosted throughout the year for SPICE music enthusiasts. Each event will feature elite international artistsincluding Audiofly, Michelle Owen + Château Flight and local support from SPICE DJ residents. The first 100 tickets also include free entry to the after party at SPICE. An idyllic sunset cruise with likeminded revellers on the amazing Bella Vista with leading international and local DJs from 3pm - 8pm. Tickets to the easter launch can be purchased at http://thespicecellar.com.au/2014/03/spice-afloat-sunset-cruise-w-audiof...
The luxury cruiser Bella Vista has 3 levels:
SKY TERRACE:
The roof is an open air terrace with its own bar where you can take in the breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour. Capacity is limited to 150. Tickets that include access to the rooftop are sold at a premium price.
WATER FLOOR:
The main stage is where the headliners are featured. On this level is a luxury lounge behind the DJ with its own bar and private outdoor deck to watch the sunset.
SUB-CLUB :
Below deck is an intimate intense dance floor hosted by upcoming local talent.
EASTER IN NEWCASTLE
Newcastle has leisure time covered this Easter. With a raft of cultural activities and action-packed events, including school holiday workshops at the Newcastle Museum and The Newcastle Art Gallery, the super-fuelled, water inspired Fuelarama festival, Fort Scratchley’s ‘big guns’ cannon firing on Anzac Day, and more, including: free family events, events great for couples, suited to singletons and weekending Sydneysiders, great sport and excellent food and drink.
DOVE & OLIVE SPECIAL DISHES
The wizards in the Dove & Olive kitchen have put together two delicious dishes for Easter that you need to try:
Chocolate spiced marinated pork chopwith a savory chocolate sauce served with creamy mashed potatoes and a salad of cherry tomato, fennel, roquette & boiled egg.
Bourbon and chipotle marinated fried half chook with Boston baked beans with double smoked speck and house made slaw.
These two unique dishes are best washed down with an incredible chocolate stout, The Cavalier Brown Ale, which is available on tap. Treat your tastebuds this Easter.
THE APOLLO
The famous Potts Point eatery The Apollo is still open over the Easter weekend for you to explore the delicious tastes on offer. The restaurant is closed for lunch on Easter Friday, but open for dinner at 6pm. Easter Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with the all-day menu being on offer from midday onwards. The only day they’re closed all day is Easter Monday, so drop by over the weekend to get your fill.
ANZAC DAY
ANZAC DAY DRINKS - SYDNEY
Bungalow 8: To celebrate those who made Australia great, Bungalow 8 is constructing a massive harbourside Two-Up Arena that will have all patrons sharing a laugh or two over a few cheeky beers. Their same day menu will be available throughout the celebration. DJs Somatik, A Game, Micky D and Andy Benke will be mashing up Aussie tunes from around the country, and for Bungalow 8’s famous afternoon harbour sunset Paris on Drums will set the ANZAC spirit alight. Doors open at 12pm and entry is free
Cargo Bar: The Cargo Bar’s beer garden invites you and your mates to enjoy ANZAC day celebrations down at darling harbour, with views that will keep you in good spirits all day. There’s a daytime BBQ so you can share a plate or two by the water’s edge side, kicking back to the 9 sets of DJs mixing Australian EDM beats that will encourage you to get up and dance all day.
The Sugar Mill: Wash down your 2014 ANZAC Day spirit with mates at The Sugarmill this year, and get prepared for a night of festivities to celebrate what’s great about Australia. To celebrate, they’re setting up a 2UP Arena for punters to enjoy. For the sport fans, catch the Roosters VS Dragons game live on the big screen. $4.80 VBs are on offer all day, The Mill’s noteworthy $10 Steaks will certainly be doing the rounds, including plenty of other options from their day and night menu.
Newtown Hotel: When the sun sets and the atmosphere gets a tad louder, the Newtown Hotel plan to ramp it up a notch with an epic line-up of local DJs that will be mashing up tunes to set the ANZAC spirit alight late into the night. With a range of icy cold boutique ciders on tap, including the Newtown Hotel’s day and night menus, the ANZAC sunset after party will be sure to have your friends revelling on in comfort.
The Australian Heritage Hotel: The Australian Heritage Hotel will play host to the city’s largest outdoor 2-Up arena, as well as food stalls and an all-day BBQ taking over all of Gloucester Street. The venue will open up early from 8am to welcome veterans and their families from the dawn service for a well-earned beer and diggers’ breakfast. There will be over 130 Aussie beers on offer, as well as the pub’s famous pizzas including the true blue Coat of Arms (half emu, half kangaroo!) and live entertainment from the Scots Old Boys Pipe Band, who have wowed the crowds at The Aussie since 2001.
The Glenmore: Up the road, the beers will also be flowing from the earlier-than-usual opening time of 8am for those taking part in the service and parade. There will be a 2-Up arena and BBQ on Cumberland Street from midday, as well as a good old Aussie BBQ on the rooftop overlooking Sydney’s magnificent harbour.
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room: The Morrison will be bringing 2UP to the CBD from midday alongside a good ol’ fashioned sausage sizzle, beer specials and live entertainment. Look out for the vintage army jeep out the front!
The Golden Sheaf, Double Bay: The Golden Sheaf, an eastern suburbs institution and award-winning neighbourhood pub, will be a great place to celebrate ANZAC Day in the eastern suburbs. From 10am, the stellar open beer garden will host a massive day of 2UP, live music from 6pm and FREE lamb on the spit. Jugs of James Squire 150 lashes are $12.
Easy Tiger: This Anzac Day Sydney’s hottest new small bar and music venue, Easy Tiger, will be offering an alternative to the usual 2-Up and Tooheys with an East Side meets West Side party featuring live music and Young Henry’s Real Ale on tap all night. Some of Sydney’s most rocking local bands including The Owls, Spirit Valley, Civilians and guitarist Steve Smyth will be playing, with a vinyl DJ spinning the wheels of steel in between to keep everyone moving from 5pm.