Cockroach Races, Australia

Photo © Jonathan Hawk

Every year on Australia Day, the Story Bridge Hotel of Brisbane listens out for the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Really tiny feet.

The hotel has held it’s annual Cockroach Races for over three decades now. The tradition supposedly began after two old punters sat in the hotel bar arguing over which Brisbane suburb had the biggest, fastest roaches.

They decided to race them on the following day, and the rest is history.

These days the critters are specially caught and flown in all the way from Melbourne. Spectators can buy a roach and enter it in one of a variety of races. Most challenging for the wee beasties is the steeplechase in which a fence (a garden hose) spirals around the circular track.

Written by - Photo by Jonathan Hawk

Readers who enjoyed
this article also liked:

  • Dinner in the Sky, Brussels

    For the love of God, don’t drop your knife under this table! Dinner in the Sky is a crane-hoisted restaurant that dangles 130ft above ground.

  • Kinosaki hot springs, Japan

    The kimono-clad bath crawl, followed by a penguin sauna, topped off by a crab dinner. This is Kinosaki.

  • Fire and Ice! Hotel, Cape Town

    You don’t tend to expect humour and individuality in a chain hotel. But they are there in abundance in Cape Town’s Fire and Ice! Hotel.

Discuss