It’s winter in Australia and that means half the population has been to Queensland or is on their way there.
But what if you want to embrace your chilliness, revel in giving into the snuggle or just simply enjoy an excuse for a red wine?
Here are some of the best things to do in winter around Australia.
Lightscape, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne has to do winter well, because the weather is very often atrocious, and Lightscape is one of the most wondrous winter offerings.
It’s a 40-minute to an hour walk through the botanic gardens past captivating light and sound installations that will have you oohing and ahhing.
There are food trucks at the entrance to fuel you up, but also a small pop-up food court in the middle and prosecco carts along the way. Twinkly lights, food and drink, what’s not to love?
Get in quick though, it closes 4 August.
Uluru, Northern Territory
Winter is the perfect time to visit Uluru to avoid the crushing temperatures. It’s no fun being out in that 40C-plus heat in summer.
In winter you can expect daytime highs of around 20C, but be aware that as a desert climate the temperature will plunge dramatically once the sun is down and regularly reaches the single digits. Pack accordingly and layer up in the morning so you can shed clothes as the day goes on.
Once there, there is plenty to do. Walk around the rock, tour Kata Tjuta (formerly the Olgas), go on a camel ride, enjoy a sunset or sunrise tour, be astounded at the Field of Light and take in some indigenous culture.
My tip: if you want to get around the rock, book a segway tour. It only takes an hour, as compared to almost four hours to walk around the rock. You also get informative and entertaining tour guides and depending on the company, a meal thrown in.
Tasmania, all of it
It’s hard to avoid winter in Tasmania so the best tactic is to embrace it.
There are three favourite things we like to do in Tasmania in winter.
Whisky tasting: Tasmania has some of the best whisky in the world, so go online and find a distillery that offers tastings, or better yet, a whisky tour covering several distilleries. You can’t be cold with a certain amount of whisky sloshing around inside you.
Ghost tours: Sure, you can do a ghost tour in summer, but for a really spooky atmosphere, winter is your season.
Thanks to a lot of old buildings and a long convict history, there are a lot to choose from but some of the best include Port Arthur, Willow Court Asylum in New Norfolk, and if you don’t want to get too far out of town, Launceston City Ghost Tours. Look online, they won’t be hard to find.
Whale watching: Tasmania is a whale highway as they migrate up the coast and back again from the Antarctic. There are loads of sites to see these majestic beasts on the east coast and plenty of options for day cruises to get a bit closer.
Once again, check online for your best options.
Cherry Blossom Festival, Sydney
Sure, you can go to Japan for the cherry blossom season, but for a fraction of the price why not enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival in Sydney from 17–25 August in the Auburn Botanic Gardens?
Enjoy the fluffy blossoms, taste some delicious Japanese food and drink including barbecue, cocktail bar and Japanese desserts, and bop along to Japanese music.
There are also traditional Japanese craft workshops and demonstrations.
Find out more here.
Thaw out in Darwin
I tried to make it all about the cold weather, but winter is the best time to see the top end. It’s during the dry, so there’s none of that soul-crushing humidity. However, the average temperature is in the low 30s, so if even that’s too much, maybe aim for a lower latitude.
Things we love in Darwin are the Mindil Beach Sunset Market – make sure you have a drink for watching the sunset on the beach, working your way through Darwin’s obsession with laksa by trying at least five different offerings, the outdoor Deckchair Cinema (who cares what’s showing) and enjoying a beer at the Darwin Sailing Club.
Darwin is of course a great base for exploring the surrounding natural wonders such as Kakadu, Litchfield National Park and Nitimiluk National Park.
What’s your favourite thing to do in winter? Why not share it in the comments section below?
