Make this Christmas an Aussie Classic

Christmas falls in the middle of the Australian summer, which means far from rugging up by the fire, we’re outside playing in the sun. 

This gives rise to a number of 'only in Australia' Christmas traditions, like backyard cricket, BBQs by the sand, or a Christmas Day surf. 

Enjoy this list of some of our favourite Aussie Christmas traditions, with suggestions on where you can get them done!

Basically, because Christmas Day can get extremely hot, roast hams and turkeys don't always cut it.

Luckily, seafood in Australia is fresh and abundant, meaning that one of the most common Aussie Christmas traditions is a handful of prawns (no one calls them shrimps) on the barbecue. In fact, nothing says 'Aussie Christmas' quite like a fresh seafood platter and a cold beverage standing around a hot plate. 

Best of all, if you are planning a getaway over Christmas, rest assured that G’day Parks Australia-wide have free-to-use open-air BBQs and awesome camp kitchens at your disposal. No need to sacrifice your festive prawn habit!

For example, there's nothing like a pre- or post-lunch dip to let you know that summer has really arrived. Pack an esky full of your favourite Christmas grub and head to your local strip of sand for an hour, an afternoon, or even the whole day—it's your Christmas Day after all.

With hundreds of G’day Parks close to Australia's coastline, there’s plenty of reasons to be near the beach this Christmas!

The New South Wales coast alone is full of fantastic lakes that are perfect for a paddle, and one of the best is Burrill Lake. 

Three hours’ drive south of Sydney along the much-loved Sapphire Coast, Burrill Lake is one of those idyllic spots surrounded by natural bushland and lush forest.

The Kings Point section of the lake is particularly quiet, making it the perfect place for all kinds of water sports. 

G’day Parks have accommodation options right on the edge of the lake, meaning it's easy to plan a festive lakeside retreat.

If you’re keen, where else would you want to be than Queensland’s amazing Gold Coast?

If you’re planning a trip that way over summer (or for Christmas) and want to be close to the action, Nobby Beach Holiday Village is one of the best places to stay, only a short walk from the beach with excellent family-friendly facilities. 

Spending money and planning a big Christmas Day feast can take its toll, which is why one of the best Aussie Christmas traditions is a low-fuss picnic by the beach, or in your favourite National Park or reserve. 

If you happen to be staying near Geelong on Australia’s awesome Surf Coast, consider Barwon River Holiday Park. It's only minutes away from the beautiful waterfront of Port Phillip Bay, plus the park itself is set amongst 10 acres of stunning gardens and well established trees.

Fortunately, many G’day Parks have their own friendly populations of Australia’s favourite icon. If you’re staying anywhere near Esperance Bay Holiday Park on the southern coast of Western Australia, you’ll easily be able to tick off meeting a ’roo. 

While you’re there, just around the corner from Esperance is Cape Le Grand National Park, where you can find a unique kind of paradise at Lucky Bay. 

Renowned for its laid-back kangaroo families, heading here on Christmas Day just about guarantees a friendly interaction, a lifelong memory your visitors (and you) will keep forever. 

For those making their way to the stunning Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, one of the best places to catch fish is in Port Lincoln. 

Port Lincoln Tourist Park is one of several G’day Parks in the area that make it easy to get out on the water and catch your Christmas lunch or work it off for an afternoon.

We know that fishing on Christmas Day might not be for everyone, but what better time to try out those newly gifted rods and tackle?

Let’s face it, you’ll be too stuffed after Christmas lunch to motivate the family to move anywhere, so why not head out in the morning as a family? 

Staying in places like Discovery Parks - Cradle Mountain in Tasmania make a morning hike easy. 

Get up early and head out with the kids to discover what this freak of nature, Cradle Mountain, and its surroundings have on offer. This is easily one of the best things you can do with the family at Christmas, with the obvious added benefit of building up your appetite before you indulge in a classic Chrissie lunch.

While our parks are always in high demand at this time of year, it’s never too late to make a booking!

Plus, don't forget you can save on every stay when you become a G’day Rewards member.

With discounts on accommodation, access to fuel savings, and deals from some of Australia’s leading retailers, a G’day Rewards membership might be the ideal Christmas gift.

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