Sydney’s Historic HMAS Vampire To Host Sunset Picnic Parties On Its Helipad

You have a few more chances to party on Sydney Harbour before winter comes in and flips the city inside out. More specifically, you have a limited time to get in some parties and picnics on a repurposed helipad, on-board the HMAS Vampire – an historic (and instantly recognisable) Royal Australian Navy destroyer, which has been commandeered by event series Audamus for a round of sunset picnic parties.

Yes, it’s that Royal Australian Navy destroyer Sydneysiders have seen floating around Barangaroo more than usual in the past few weeks. And it has two more outings planned before the season comes to a close, with the entry fee including a two-course meal, paired wines, and live music from some big names like K.I.M (of The Presets) and Brisbane synthwave duo Dream Coast.

Audamus have already curated three successful sunset picnic parties on-board the HMAS Vampire, and there are only two left before the event series heads into hibernation.

Described on the posters as a “sound and culinary experience,” the sunset parties are put together as a collaboration between the Australian National Maritime Museum, the annual Electronic Music Conference, and down-tempo mix series Lazydaze. With them putting together the programs, Audamus jumped into the transform the helipad of the HMAS Vampire into an appropriate setting for pinics.

The next HMAS Vampire party will take place this week, on Friday May 28 with K.I.M headlining along with a live performance from Alex Albrecht of Melbourne’s Analogue Attic Recordings, and Jac Frier. Next up will be Friday June 11, where the atmosphere will be taken care of by DJ Phil Smart, Dream Coast, and Sydney musician Veda.

As for the two-course gourmet picnic you can expect – Audamus haven’t gone with a typical catering company for this. They’ve hooked up with some of Sydney’s finest restaurants. Bart Jr and Hanrietta have taken care of the menus for previous events, and we know that ramen bar and motorcycle repair hub Rising Sun Workshop – listed by BH as having some of the best ramen in Sydney – are putting together something special for the next one. The menu for the June 11 event is yet to be announced.

Tickets for each HMAS Vampire party are set at $165 per person and include an arrival drink from Adelaide Hills Distillery, that two-course picnic hamper with two glasses of paired wine, and the evening’s live entertainment.