Five Reasons Why Australia Is Still Awesome In Winter

Australia is famous for its sunshine and beaches, with visitors travelling from all corners of the Earth to enjoy the surf and stretches of sand clad only in boardies and bikinis. But what about when the temperatures drop?

Sure, it may no longer be appropriate to flash the flesh in parts of the country but there are still plenty of other reasons to visit this vast nation during the winter months of June to August.

Here are some of the reasons Australia’s still hot, even when the weather is not.

Andrey Bayda / Shutterstock.com

It may not be bikini weather anymore, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some of Australia’s most iconic beaches such as Sydney’s famous Bondi suddenly take on a new charm as the crowds evaporate.

Pop a wetsuit on and take a surf lesson, or wrap up warm and simply stroll the sand without having to dodge the chaotic mishmash of oiled-up sunseekers .

With more than 60 designated wine regions across the country, it stands to reason that there’s plenty of red wine to sip on in order to keep those cockles nice and warm during the Australian winter.

Snuggle by the fireside in one of the country’s vast number of pubs, or head for an actual wine region to enjoy a bottle or two among the vineyards.

South Australia’s Barossa Valley, less than an hour’s drive north of Adelaide, is perhaps the most world-renowned of Australia’s wine regions. But you’ll find many a decent drop elsewhere too – for example, Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and the Margaret River in Western Australia to name just a few – there’s a wine tour in Australia to please everyone.

It may not be famous for its ski slopes, but Australia does have them, and they offer everything necessary for wintry thrills amid the snow.

Victoria has Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller within easy reach of Melbourne, while New South Wales has Thredbo and Perisher.

The ski season typically lasts from June until the end of September, and even if the snow is a little light on the ground, there are snowmakers aplenty to keep the slopes plumped up.

And if all that zipping about isn’t for you, then there’s always the apres-ski. A healthy party scene can be found among the various resorts, with a number of festivals taking place in the mountains each winter.

Although the winter chill does indeed set in among the southern states, the months of June to September are probably the best time of year to head up north.

Tropical North Queensland, the Northern Territory, and northern parts of Western Australia continue to enjoy warm temperatures throughout the winter months without the intense highs of the summer. And as an added  bonus, this is the time of year that the number of jellyfish drops off, meaning there’s less chance of being stung during a paddle in the ocean.

Who doesn’t love the pine-scented tingles that are associated with Christmas? And although it’s the wrong time of year, the onset of winter brings with it the faint hope that Santa Claus may have mixed up his dates after one too many sherries.

Ice rinks and gluhwein stalls spring up across Australia in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane as well as in regional areas. Then there is a burst of food festivals such as Canberra’s Fireside Festival where you’ll find plenty of hot chocolate, marshmallows and other wintry treats.

People dust off their most ridiculous of jumpers and scour the dollar shops for secret Santa gifts as Christmas in July menus start to appear in restaurants and hotels both in town and in the mountains.

For in Australia, Christmas comes but twice a year.