We have finally arrived at the doorstep of summer and the ‘silly season,’ which in Australia means the Christmas/New Year festive period. The month of December is chock-a-block full of exciting things to do that won’t break your budget and serve as a great way to finish the year and bring in the new. Here is a list of our top suggestions:

1. Visit the Christmas Lights

Whilst we don’t yet know the impact that rising costs of electricity will have on this tradition, in previous years visiting selected streets where houses are all lit-up in extraordinary Christmas displays has proven to be a must-see. To find a location near you, use the following website:

https://christmaslightsearch.com.au

There is also Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland at Burnley Oval in Richmond, which not only offers an incredible display of thousands of sparkling LED stars, but also has entertainment, activities and interactive experiences.

And in Sydney there are lights all over town with the Martin Place Christmas Tree, Canopy of Light at Pitt Street, Lights of Christmas at St Mary’s Cathedral, and the Golden Tunnel of fairy lights at Darling Square.

Hopefully this will help make this year’s Christmas extra magical.

2. Visit the markets

Melbourne’s Queen Victoria & South Melbourne Markets are great places to get into the Christmas spirit and get all the produce and gifts you need for your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. And in Sydney you can’t go past the Fish Market (it’s the largest in the southern hemisphere), for delicious seafood, and Paddington and Glebe markets for their crafts and fashion.

3. Attend the Carols by Candlelight

Christmas Eve outdoor carols are a great tradition in Australia. Take a picnic with snacks and a blanket, dress up in your Santa hat or reindeer ears and join the crowd singing along to Christmas carols led by TV personalities and choirs. Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight are at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl which is next to the gardens, and Sydney’s are at The Domain, Marys Road.

4. Have a BBQ

Both Melbourne and Sydney offer public BBQs in great locations around the city and suburbs. Enjoying a BBQ (or barbie, as Aussies will say) with family and friends is a great way to spend a summer’s day or evening. In Melbourne you can find Barbies by the Yarra River, at the Saint Kilda foreshore, or other locations bayside, and in Sydney, of course, there are the harbour and spectacular beaches that will serve as stunning backdrops. To find a Barbie at your desired location use this website: https://www.meatinapark.com.au/

5. Attend a Cricket Test Match

Whilst this is not the excitement of 20/20 cricket, for many Australians, especially those purists, you cannot miss Day-1 of the Boxing Day test, if you are in Melbourne, or the New Year’s Day test, if you are in Sydney. With a bag of cherries or other festive leftovers, sitting behind the arm of the bowler in the heat of the summer is a great way to unwind after over-indulging the day/night before. Beware! If you do get tickets in the stands in Melbourne, it can be freezing even on extremely hot days – take a jacket! And in Sydney, especially, make sure you take a hat and sunscreen as the sun can be at its most extreme.

Our suggestions focus on Aussie favourites and traditions, but in both cities, there really is so much to do. We trust it won’t be hard to find fun and exciting ways to enjoy the holiday season and make it memorable for you.