Dreaming of a bright Christmas in Australia

In the Southern Hemisphere on the sun-blasted island nation of Australia, life is upside down. For most of the year, Australians live in their own bubble, but come Christmas and this topsy-turvy rhythm feels out of tune. We’re dreaming of a white Christmas and unpacking our snow globes while shedding our layers and sunbathing on beaches. Instead of fireplaces, we’re lighting our barbecues. Like the rest of the world, there is a perceptible shift in mood, as the silly season kicks in. 

The festive fog of fizz starts rolling in early December with the first blasts of summer. The days are long, nights are warm, and everything plays out in a hazy heat. The air smells of jasmine and gardenia. School holidays begin, workdays are shortened by festivities, and annual leave is just around the corner. The heat is on, and days feel more like hyperreal moments saturated in bright light and sunscreen. The tidal wave of parties kicks off worldwide, but here in Australia, we’re given extra hits of dopamine as our Christmas season blends into the early days of summer, and our festive spirit gets as high as our hemlines. We’re staying out longer, thanks to the later sunsets which always justify one more glass. 

Living in Bondi Beach, pens down means surf’s up as the beach hits peak season. Christmas is a time for early morning ocean swims and twilight surfs, and bronzed bathing bodies are everywhere. While the other side of the world is filling up on roast turkey and mulled wine, we’re eating fresh prawns on our lawns, briny Sydney Rock oysters that taste like the sea, and fleshy mangoes that drip down our arms. Long lunches lead well into the night, and there are outdoor cinemas and live concerts in the park, and music festivals take over most weekends. As the frantic energy of Christmas creeps closer, it gets hotter and sweatier. 

Over this period our ties to the Commonwealth play out in a parody. Bare-chested Santas in boardshorts start to appear; tinsel-dressed fake pine trees with fake snow are erected in our living rooms; fake winter wonderlands pop up in our shopping malls and our 12 days of Christmas is a tropical carol that includes colourful pink galah birds and an emu up a gum tree. On Christmas morning, the beach plays host to sunburnt backpackers and travellers partying with other “orphans” in Santa hats and bikinis. 

In homes, most families give in to the heat with towers of seafood, cold trifle puddings, eskies full of ice-cold beers and, for the lucky few, afternoon pool parties. Come Boxing Day and crowds fill the beaches, with everyone trialling their box-fresh presents – swimsuits, picnic blankets, snorkels, surfboards… 

But it’s the in-between period between Christmas and 1 January that I really love. While the Northern Hemisphere curls up for days in pyjamas, watching snowy-movie reruns and experimenting with leftover turkey curry recipes, we’re outside. Yachts set sail on the harbour, cars are loaded up as people go on road trips to explore regional towns or camp in lush national parks. In Sydney, I spend my days drawn to the landscape, hopping from beach to beach, seeking out hidden coves with friends and sunbathing at the spectacular rock pools which line the coast. Nothing can quite match this time of year, when the whole city is on holidays and everyone is seemingly at the same languid, sun-soaked pace. After a sun-drenched Australian Christmas, you’ll start to see the sunny side to Yuletide.   

How to have an Aussie Christmas at home 

For those wanting to get into the Aussie spirit of Christmas, if weather permits, go al fresco. Prepare a good seafood spread of oysters, barbecued prawns and scallops followed by mains of fish and lobster. 

If you’re feeling lavish, add some bumps of caviar. Skip traditional plum puddings for a typical Australian pavlova topped with tropical fruits. 

1. Have seafood by the seaside 

Book a fine-dining seaside restaurant, like the iconic Icebergs or Mimi’s , which both overlook the sea. 

2. Fly to lunch 

Take a seaplane to a restaurant like Cottage Point Inn on the Hawkesbury River for a flight-to-table experience. 

3. Hit the water  

Boutique hotel Raes on Wategos has a boat-for-hire. Sea Raes is a charming and super-luxurious yacht that comes equipped with hotel-style staff and a menu by stand-out Australian chef Jason Saxby. 

4. Beachside barbies 

Across Australia there are public-use barbecues on many parks and beaches. Just get there early to secure your spot. Word to the wise: no one says “shrimp on the barbie”. 

5. Nature escapes  

The country is filled with national parks, with walking trails and camping facilities – and plenty of glamping for those in need of a gentler approach to the great outdoors.