It’s marvellous.
Today marks the opening of the summer season down under (although with our current weather you wouldn’t know it). People have been doing it tough this year and the season where we all let our hair down could not come any sooner. This got me thinking about what makes summer in “The Land Down Under” special to us.
Sun
I know this is obvious, but you ask any holidaying Pom or Swedish backpacker and you know they are here for the weather and that our sun is the hottest ticket in town. Just make sure you stay hydrated and “slip, slop, slap” otherwise you’ll turn into red raw McGraw with a nasty dose of sunstroke.
Sand
And where do you go when it is sunny and hot? That’s right, the beach! Australia has some of the best beaches in the world and is another reason why people love living here or flock to travel here. A number of our beaches even allow you to take your pets, go 4WDing and/or camping.
Surf
Board or boat, Australia isn’t shy of some great surfing conditions and we love making use of our oceans for recreational purposes. Can you even call yourself an Australian if you haven’t been out in/on the water?
Cricket
We love our sport in Australia and the most summery of sports is of course cricket. A game that is at home on the beach, the oval, the street or in the backyard, cricket is marvellous for anyone. The sound of leather on willow and the smell of freshly cut grass is a hallmark of any Australian summer.
Beer
After so much activity, one has to have their thirst quenched, and what better way to do it than with a big cold beer. Ok, well maybe not a “VB”, but there are few drinks which go together with an Aussie summer better than a beer and we almost have more breweries and pubs in this country than people.
BBQ
Of course, no list would be complete without a BBQ. Outdoor cooking and eating is part of the stapled diet and with weather this good, why wouldn’t you? The Aussie “Barbie” is synonymous all around the world and for good reason. There is nothing quite like coming home from a day at the beach and firing up the BBQ, cooking some juicy steaks and snags while drinking a cold beer, music in the background and watching everyone trying their best at backyard cricket.
It is usually during the summertime period that I find myself remembering why we call ourselves “the lucky country”, summers are truly an amazing time here in Australia.