The Ultimate Guide to an Aussie Summer

After the heartbreak of the last few summers, it almost feels like our collective duty to rediscover our love of this quintessential Aussie season.

Destinations | Beach Reads | Fish & Chips | Best Bars | Events

Best summer destinations

Narooma, NSW

Located in the Eurobodalla region of the NSW South Coast, Narooma (a local Yuin word for ‘clear blue waters’) is evocative of beach holidays of old, with its decidedly laid-back approach to sun, sea and sand. Expect stunning beaches, plentiful seafood (it’s on the Oyster Coast after all), and cute wildlife – visit Montague Island (Barunguba) for its fur seal colony.

Also head to Shoal Bay, Copacabana, Yamba, Potato Point

Summer in Narooma NSW South Coast — Enjoy a laid back summer in Narooma on the NSW South Coast.

Fitzroy Island, Qld

An easy ferry ride from Cairns, Fitzroy Island (part of Gunggandji Country) is stunningly positioned in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. A national park, the island is covered in pristine rainforest and ringed by unspoilt beaches, and offers up walking trails, snorkelling, diving, turtle rehabilitation tours or sybaritic relaxation.

Also head to Mooloolaba, Cape Hillsborough, Dingo Beach

Nudey Beach Fitzroy Island — Take the ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island.

Port Fairy, Vic

Its location at the end of the fabled Great Ocean Road means the pretty fishing village of Port Fairy (the traditional home of the Gunditjmara) doesn’t get the Melbourne day trippers who swarm to the likes of Lorne and Torquay during the summer months. Here you can learn to surf, eat your fill of fresh seafood and take in the thriving local arts scene in relative peace and quiet.

Also head to Wye River, Metung, Mallacoota, Queenscliff

Visit fishing village of Port Fairy — Find the pretty fishing village of Port Fairy at the end of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

Coles Bay, Tas

Sitting at the gateway to the breathtaking Freycinet National Park, and perched near the celebrated Wineglass Bay, there are few locations in the country as blessed as Coles Bay when it comes to location. The laid-back village is the perfect base for exploring the wonders of the landscape here, including hiking Mt Amos and the Hazards, eating freshly harvested oysters to your heart’s content and enjoying the blissfully remote (and uncrowded) Friendly Beaches.

Also head to South Bruny, Tullah, Stanley

Walpole, WA

Situated on the delightfully named Rainbow Coast (along with Denmark and Albany) in the south-west of the state, the Walpole region (traditionally the Wagyl Kaip and Southern Noongar region) dazzles with its natural wonders, surrounded as it is by stunning beaches, ancient forests and a trio of national parks: Walpole Nornalup, D’Entrecasteaux and Mount Frankland. The town itself sits at the edge of the expansive Walpole Inlet, where summer days are spent paddling, kayaking and fishing.

Also head to Dirk Hartog Island, Horrocks, Cape Leveque

Walpole WA — Explore the natural wonders of Walpole in Western Australia. (Image: Greg Snell/Tourism WA)

Marion Bay, SA

Located on the Yorke Peninsula (the traditional home of the Narungga), a three-hour drive from Adelaide, Marion Bay spoils those who venture here with choice; the coastal town boasts a tranquil swimming beach, surf beach, ample fishing spots, as well as rugged coastal scenery (including its own shipwreck) and bushwalking at nearby Innes National Park. As for accommodation, there’s camping (at Marion Bay Caravan Park), glamping (Bayside Glamping) and Hillocks Ocean Pods, luxe contemporary cabins with views out to Butler’s Beach and Hillocks Point.

Also head to Rapid Bay, Myponga, Southend, the Coorong

Coastal walk in Marion Bay, SA — Spend summer in Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. (Image South Australian Tourism Commission/ Adam Bruzzone)

Five elements to the perfect summer fish and chips

“The perfect fish and chips relies on a few simple yet key steps in preparation, and like every great meal, depends on the context and company to provide the final seasoning," explains James Green, head chef at North Bondi Fish. Here, he walks us through the key ingredients to the ultimate summer meal.

North Bondi Fish - the best place for fish and chips — James Green, head chef at North Bondi Fish, reveals the secret to enjoying the perfect fish and chips.

1. The Batter – a great batter is reliant on three points. Self-raising flour is key, as it contains the raising agents that promote a deep golden brown batter without overcooking the delicate fish encased inside. Cold beer is a necessity, as is making the batter right before you plan on using it and not overmixing the batter. This is what keeps the bubbles in the batter, promoting a light and shatteringly crispy coating.

2. The Fish – fresh fish seems like such an obvious thing to say, yet it’s true. Coating a poor-quality fish in batter doesn’t really save it, it just makes a mediocre end product. Fish that tend to fare better in batter are lighter in flavour and flaky in texture. Gurnard and flathead are some of my favourites, but after growing up on Lord Howe Island, kingfish will always be right up there for me.

3. The Accompaniments – you will want a sauce with a nice dose of acidity to cut through the richness and complement the delicate flesh. Something like NBF’s yoghurt tartare fits the bill for me; the acidity of the yoghurt and pickles with the briny capers and light aniseed flavours of the dill provide a nice accent. And a lemon wedge never goes astray.

4. The Beverage – no good fish and chips is complete without a complementary drink. An ice-cold beer, preferably lighter in style, fits the bill for me, though I must admit I’m also partial to a margarita, which has the generous acidity to really cut through the richness of the dish.

5. The Company – every great meal is not just about the food. The context and the company you’re in play a huge role in overall enjoyment. A great meal with great friends will always be unbeatable, every time.

Best bars for summer drinks

One of the joys of summer is sipping cocktails in the sunshine. Here, some venues with a view to hit up as the mercury rises, plus a cocktail recipe to make that feeling last long after last drinks.

The views at Burleigh Pavilion — Burleigh Pavilion head bartender Todd Grevsmuhl shares his cocktail recipe below. (Image: Amanda Hibbard)

Opera Bar, Sydney

With uninterrupted views of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, this open-air bar is iconic on a world scale.

Icebergs, Bondi Beach, Sydney

There’s possibly nowhere better to experience Australia’s holy trinity of sun, sand and sea than from a stool in Iceberg’s cosy bar.

Siglo, Melbourne

The perfect juxtaposition of old and new, the design of this Spring Street al fresco bar incorporates neon and industrial steel, while its outlook takes in the Parliament, the spires of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the domes of the heritage-listed Princess Theatre.

Songbird Bar & Lounge, Perth

Perth’s recent boom in five-star hotels has blessed the city with this stand-out drinks venue, with impressive views over its jutting high rises and the waters of the Swan River.

Little Shoo, Henly Beach, Adelaide

A position on the deck for cocktails here is highly prized, offering the chance to gaze out across Henly Beach, one of the city’s prettiest spots, to the water beyond.

The Glass House, Hobart

Housed in a four-storey pontoon fl oating on the water at Sullivan’s Cove, as the name implies, The Glass House offers uninterrupted water views through soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and a menu of locally sourced produce and wines (and gins and whiskies).

Cocktail recipe

OH LA LA By Burleigh Pavilion head bartender Todd Grevsmuhl

30ml vodka
10ml Wild Strawberry
Liqueur
10ml Licor 43
60ml pineapple juice
15ml lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a coupe. Garnish with an edible flower.

OH LA LA By Burleigh Pavilion head bartender Todd Grevsmuhl — Recreate this fresh and fruity OH LA LA cocktail by Burleigh Pavilion head bartender Todd Grevsmuhl.

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Outdoor summer events

The sheer joy of waving your hands in the air at an outdoor music gig, eating al fresco at a celebrity chef-helmed food event or enjoying art with water views is the stuff of summer dreams. Aussies love an outdoor event more than the next person, and while mosh pits and share platters are, for now at least, a thing of the past, there is a raft of summer music, food and arts festivals that are good to go in the coming months.

Melbourne Fringe, Vic

12–29 November

Bleach* Festival, Gold Coast, Qld

12–22 November

Expect contemporary arts, culture and entertainment in Burleigh, Chevron Island and the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.

Moonlight Cinema, nationally

November to April

Everyone’s favourite outdoor movie show returns for its 25th year at inner-city spots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Mona Foma, Tas

15–17 January (Launceston) and 22–24
January (Hobart);

Adelaide Fringe, various locations, SA

19 February – 21 March

Expect the usual (and unusual) line-up of performance, theatre, circus, music and visual arts in the largest arts festival in the southern hemisphere.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, WA

5–22 March

While the Bondi event is still in limbo, Perth’s version (pictured) is forging ahead in the new year.

Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay, NSW

1–5 April

The festival will have an exclusively Australian line-up featuring the likes of Daniel Champagne, The Church, The Waifs, Ziggy Alberts and Jimmy Barnes, to name but a (very) few.

Orange F.O.O.D Week, NSW

9–18 April

Eat, drink and be merry in one of NSW’s most picturesque regional towns.

Groovin The Moo, various locations

23 April – 8 May

Visit our Reclaim Summer hub for more ways to experience the best of summer.

It’s time to #ReclaimSummer, time to be better travellers, and time to find our joy again; share your summer with us by using the hashtag and tagging @AustTraveller on Instagram or Facebook.

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com.