When you see the above picture you probably don’t think of Christmas, but for Sydneysiders this shot is an all too familiar reminder that the holidays are approaching. In Sydney, December marks the start of the summer season and that means temperatures hit the upper 70s during Christmas. Because of this, it’s no wonder that Sydney is a popular destination for Brits looking to ditch the scarves and enjoy the holidays in short sleeves.
Every year throughout December the Australian harbour city lights up with Christmas decorations and outdoor activities for anyone looking to get into the spirit. If you still find it hard to believe that you can spend the 25th under the sun keep reading to see exactly how Christmassy Sydney gets.
Decorations
– Admire the colourful projections on the facade of the Sydney Town Hall. Up until Christmas the light show starts every night at 8pm.
– Visit Martin Place to see the enormous Christmas tree, covered in fairy lights, ornaments, and ribbons.
- Other places to see more of Sydney’s Christmas trees are: Customs House Square, St Mary’s Cathedral, Taylor Square, Hyde Park North, Kings Cross, Pitt Street Mall and Sydney Square.
– Stroll the streets of the city centre as they are decorated with banners and lights. You can also see street decor in Sydney’s villages (neighbourhoods) on Erskineville Road, Crown Street, Redfern Street, Darlinghurst Road and Glebe Point Road.
– Take an evening walk in Sydney’s parks to see even more Christmas lights. Participating parks: Shannon Reserve, Turruwul Park, Rosebery Park and Redfern Park.
Live Music
– Rock out to live music from Sydney’s choirs every Thursday until 20 December at the Pit Street Mall and Hyde Park from 12-2pm and again from 7-9pm.
– Explore Sydney’s villages and have a picnic in the park to the tunes of kid-friendly bands at the Family Village concerts. They go from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the following parks:
- 1 December at the Reg Bartley Oval, Rushcutters Bay
- 2 December at Turruwul Park, Rosebery
- 8 December at Alexandria Park Oval, Alexandria
- 9 December at Ward Park, Surry Hills
– Sing along to your favourite Christmas songs and have a picnic at Christmas Carol night on 11 December from 6-9pm on Ocean Street.
– And just because you can’t get enough of Christmas carols, you can’t miss out on Woolworth’s Carols in the Domain. The event is one of the most famous in Sydney and each year has a different line-up of celebrities. This year it will be held on 22 December at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens.
Beach Activities
– Sydney has many beaches, but two of the most famous are Bondi and Manly. Enjoy Christmas outdoors and take advantage of the many activities offered or simply relax. Some water activities you can try are:
- Paddleboard
- Surf
- Scuba dive
- Kayak
Have you ever spent the holidays in a warm destination? What do you prefer, a white Christmas or a sandy one?
