Summer bucket list: top things to do to make this summer sizzle

Things to do for fun in summer

Summer is the time of year to get out and amongst it. It’s the perfect time to start checking off the warmer weather activities you shouldn’t miss and top things to do. If you’re wondering what to add to your list of things to do this summer, here is the ultimate summer to do list.

Get back on the road again to explore with road trips

There are two fun approaches when it comes to road trips and day trips. You can plan ahead – do your research and decide where you want to go, and what you want to do along the way, writing out a full itinerary and setting a budget. Or you can simply pick a random spot on a map, get in your car and away you go! They’re both guaranteed to be a whole lot of fun and allow you to explore areas where you’ve never been or haven’t been in a while. This allows you to not only expand your local knowledge, but also to support small businesses that have been doing it tough this year.

Check with the local border laws before you go, or if you want some options closer to home, here are some of our top picks for road trips:

For Victoria, visit the Dandenong Ranges to see the tallest flowering plant on the planet; and the Black Spur through the Yarra Ranges National Park, or hit the 250km Great Ocean Road. In Queensland, take off to the hinterlands to explore the beautiful rainforests, bushwalking tracks, rivers and villages.

In NSW, the Grand Pacific Drive takes you to the Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong, and the Nan Tien Temple – the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Or travel inland to the Blue Mountains and view the beauty of Katoomba. ACT has Poachers Way for a fantastic drive filled with food, wine and art galleries, while Adelaide Hills presents a winery tour that’s hard to beat. If you’re in Tasmania, Port Arthur is a must-see, along with the east coast through Freycinet; while Western Australia’s Pinnacles Desert has huge limestone pillars rising from the yellow sands.

ACT HAS POACHERS WAY FOR A FANTASTIC DRIVE FILLED WITH FOOD, WINE AND ART GALLERIES, WHILE ADELAIDE HILLS PRESENTS A WINERY TOUR THAT’S HARD TO BEAT.

Enjoy the flavours and help support local business at wineries

In Australia, there are more than 2,400 wineries spread across 65 wine regions, producing over 100 grape varieties and an abundance of different wine styles, all with their own unique and delicious flavour. Although online sales have increased in 2020, nothing beats the experience of going to a winery, doing a tour, a tasting or wine matching class so you can delight in some of the country’s finest drops; and of course, dining at the local café or restaurant to support the business, or enjoying a picnic surrounded by grape vines.

If you’re exploring your local wine region, you’ll want to be spending the day there so you can enjoy it completely. From the Margaret River region in WA, to Barossa in South Australia, Hunter Valley in New South Wales, to the popular Yarra Valley in Victoria, there are options to suit every palate.

Outdoor dining to enhance your fun summer days

One of the best things about summer is the longer days, where you can enjoy dinner outside in the cool summer breeze, in full light, until at least 7.30pm (later if you’re in Daylight Savings).

You can dine outdoors at your favourite local restaurant, or search for a new cuisine so you can expand your palate and enjoy your meal a la carte. Trying new flavours is a great way to learn to appreciate the different flavours of cultures around the world. A couple of our favourites include Oasis Café and Restaurant in Sydney, and This Side of Paradise in Melbourne.

TRYING NEW FLAVOURS IS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENT FLAVOURS OF CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD.

If you’re not sure what to do once you go outdoors, why not head to a local national park and enjoy a hike or bike ride? Take a picnic to your local playground and you can use this opportunity to spend time on your own, with the kids so you can chill while they play, or to arrange a playdate with a friend you can chat with while the little ones are busy. Or you might head to a nearby park for an early morning yoga session.

Eat fresh and entertain with a BBQ or Picnic

Is it truly summer if you’re not feasting at a BBQ or picnic? Cook up a snag or two, brown the prawn skewers, and make some delicious fresh salads on the side for a feast fit for a King.

If you’re entertaining guests at a BBQ, keep it simple so you can enjoy yourself as well – choose just one or two meat options, add a couple of salads, and vegetables if you wish. Have enough chairs for everyone, something to keep the kids entertained, and be sure to stock the bar if you’re providing drinks for everyone. You can even include some DIY ice cream cones for dessert. A BBQ is a great way to get to know your neighbours and make new friends, which in turn is a positive for mental health after a tumultuous year.

For a picnic, head to a local national park to enjoy the natural beauty, and if it’s a hot summer day, you might even go for a swim in a local waterhole as well. You don’t need to take too much on your picnic adventure, but if you’re after easy ideas, egg salad sandwiches, pasta salad, fresh fruit, and a few bags of chips or biscuits and dip are ideal. Don’t forget to pack your drinks and a few ice packs in your picnic hamper as well.

A BBQ IS A GREAT WAY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS, WHICH IN TURN IS A POSITIVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AFTER A TUMULTUOUS YEAR.

Learn something new to stimulate the mind & have fun

Given that summer is the end of the year / start of the next, it’s the perfect time to top off your summer activities by learning something new! Learning new things stimulates the brain and can increase our confidence.

Never been surfing? This is the ideal time of year to get your feet wet and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of catching your first wave. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, surfing is a sport that is good for your mental and physical health, so give it a shot! Not keen on the water? Try running or cycling. Or if you prefer to relax a little, learn a new craft like crochet or woodburning, write a story, or practice new recipes to create culinary delights at home.

Summer in Australia is about having fun, so get out there and tick off your bucket list.