Updated 31 May 2018

Finally, the extra day off work we all look forward to! The Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend is more than just a chance to enjoy 3 glorious days off work. Yes, the time off is great, but as Australia is still part of the Commonwealth, it’s also our time to celebrate the birth of our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

Why the long weekend?

Everyone loves an extended weekend, but have you ever wondered why we celebrate the Queen’s Birthday on this date? There are actually three different dates to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday in Australia. Most of Australia celebrates in June, except Western Australia and Queensland where the Queen’s Birthday long weekend takes place in late September and early October.

Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was actually born on April 21, 1926. However, there is a longstanding tradition of separating official birthdays from actual birthdays for the Monarch. Australia continues to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday because we are part of the British Commonwealth.

Queen’s Birthday long weekend

Queen’s Birthday stamp

An interesting part of the Queen’s Birthday tradition is that each year Australia Post issues a stamp commemorating the birth of Queen Elizabeth. The 2018 edition celebrates the 92nd Birthday of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth and features the Queen in cream and fuscia outfits with accents of black. The stamps also heavily feature “The Queen Elizabeth Rose”. This beautiful, award-winning rose was released in 1952 to celebrate the Queen’s ascension to the throne and her resultant coronation the following year, in 1953. The Queen Elizabeth Rose also features as the cover artwork for the medallion released in 2018 which accompanies the Queen’s Birthday stamp in some limited-edition sets.

Birthday fun

We can’t all be lucky enough to have an entire long weekend to celebrate our birthdays, but we sure do all have a special day. At The Westport Club, we believe everyone should be treated like a queen (or king) on their birthdays.

Here are our suggestions for your very own royally spectacular birthday celebrations.

  • Plan a themed party – our favourite idea is to have all your guests dress up as something beginning with the same letter as your first name.
  • Celebrate in nature – plan a hike, swim in the ocean, maybe even go camping.
  • Relax – treat yourself to a massage, a relaxing bath, or a day of peace and quiet, free from work or stressful commitments.
  • Get out of your comfort zone – take a risk and challenge yourself to doing something you never thought possible. Our pick: skydiving.
  • Indulge – plan a dinner party, or let us do the work for you. With the best view in Port Macquarie, Aqua is the perfect place for your birthday celebrations.

The Queen’s Birthday at The Westport Club

Whether you’re just in town for the long weekend, or a member of our wonderful Port Macquarie community, we would love to welcome you over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The extra day off work is the perfect time to relax, rejuvenate and catch up with friends or family. At The Westport Club, we have three unique venues, so that all of your long weekend needs will be met. Check out what’s on at The Westport Club over the long weekend:

Hastings Coffee Co.

We’ve got some English inspired favourites to help you enjoy the long weekend at Hastings Coffee Co including Bangers & Mash, Pea & Ham soup, Steak & Kidney pies, Trifle and of course, Scones with jam and cream.

Jimmy’s Bar & Lounge

On the Long Weekend we’ll be shaking up The Queen’s favourite cocktail, aptly named “The Royal”. This concoction is for the gin lovers – it incorporates Gin, Cinzano Russo and Lemon juice! We’ll also be offering samples of a very rare bottle of Whisky but you’ll need the code word to qualify for a sip – Follow Jimmy’s Bar & Lounge on Facebook to hear more details.

Aqua Restaurant

At Aqua Restaurant you can try some British-inspired winter warmers, such as Steak Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie and the good old Pot Pie, all paired with a cold glass of Ale, of course!
Click here to read more about What’s On at The Westport Club over the long weekend.

Of course, no long weekend is complete without a visit to The Westport Club – it’s the best place to relax. But here are our top picks for activities in Port Macquarie over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, just in case you want to earn your dinner.

What’s On in Port Macquarie

Here are some of the event highlights in Port Macquarie across the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend:

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