Australia's 7 Best Hills To Visit With A Six Pack And Talk Shit

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

It's that time of the year again when you start looking for things to do.

With summer in full swing, and working winding down - Australians now have time to follow up on that beer that was promised a few a months back.

And with the extended family about to consume the family home, now's the chance to get out of the house.

But in the midst of silly season, the pubs and bars are being overtaken by work Christmas parties. So what is one to do.

The answer is a simple. Grab a six pack or a bottle of plonk and go to 'the hill'.

Where is that? You might ask.

Every town and city has 'the hill' - it's just about whether or not you know about it.

The Betoota Advocate has diligently compiled Australia's 7 best hills to take a 6-pack and talk absolute shit this summer.

*Apologies to South Australia, all of your hills are covered in vineyards.

Tabletop Mountain (Toowoomba)

Debates rage over whether or not this spot is a hill, or indeed a mountain. Either way, it's a pointless argument when you consider that Toowoomba is 700 metres above sea level. So yes, the entire town is actually 'a range'. And the best place on the range to sink a few stubbies and discuss the recent signings to the Western Clydesdales RLFC is Tabletop Mountain.

Bondi Grassy Knoll (Sydney)

This is the postcard hill. And there's a reason they put it on postcards. An oceanside hill with a rare southern aspect and Australia's largest city cascading down to the golden sand. It looks like something out of Rio de Janeiro. And with all of the Brazilian backpackers smoking hooter and playing bongo drums - it actually smells and sounds like Rio de Janeiro too. The only difference is that these favelas go for around 7 million a pop. Still, the grassy knoll is free.

Mount Panorama (Bathurst)

When it comes to having a quiet beer and a yarn on top of Mount Panorama, obviously it's best to avoid the two weeks of the year where every revhead in Australia decide to migrate upon Bathurst. Sure, you could definitely have a beer up there during the 1000 - but it'll be rather noisy. A summer sunset is ideal, with the fertile soil of Central West NSW glowing pink as far as you can see.

Yarra Boulevard Lookout (Melbourne)

This is the hidden gem of Melbourne City. And it's in a suburb you probably didn't associate with having a beer: Kew. Down the western end of Wills street and overlooking the CBD from the east. You don't need to re-mortgage your house drinking at a trendy pub on Smith street. Apologies to the locals that may have been trying to keep this spot secret.

Bellerive Oval (Hobart)

Hobart is home to the only sporting venue that has a BYO hill. Of course, it's not BYO during the BBL or any other major matches - but as far as grade cricket goes, it's like going back in time to the 1980s. If only Adelaide Oval and Brisbane's Ballymore still allowed the punters to bring their own lunch and a six pack. Jeez, imagine Brookvale Oval allowing this kind of Tasmanian hospitality when Manly are playing on a Sunday arvo. Tassie gets it.

Kings Park (Perth)

We had to include this one - mostly because nobody screeches louder than Western Australians when they feel like they've been overlooked. There's a few spots to choose from in Kings Park, as it makes up over 400.6-hectare of botanic garden and parklands. It's popular spot for picnics on weekends and public holidays, but on weekday arvos it's basically empty. If you can find the right spot, you'll be able to nab views of both the river and the city.

Burleigh Hill (Goldie)

This may be the best hill in Australia when it comes to pulling up with a six pack and talking absolute shit. If you know, you know. Poor old Burleigh Hill took a caning during the pandemic when half of Victoria fled to Queensland and the pubs were closed, but in recent years, the foot traffic has subsided and the atmosphere has returned to pre-Covid serenity. This place is also great for people watching, as the glitzed up creatures of the Gold Coast are a sight to behold.