WARM WEEKEND IN AUTUMN
Summer may have officially ended in February, but that doesn’t mean Autumn should be a downward slide into cheese toasties, DVD marathons, and ugh boots worn as fashion items. Temperatures across Australia still average in the mid-20s for March and April (or even the late-30s if you happen to live in the current freak of nature that is Melbourne). This means there’s still heaps of warm-weather activities you can keep pursuing for a little longer, with Dad things like camping and fishing actually best done when it’s not too baking hot. Just take the sound advice of Miss Rhode Island and make sure you pack a light jacket for sundown.
CHASE THE SUN LIKE PLANET FUNK
Saving your rainy day pennies for a tropical getaway in July or August is the literal embodiment of chasing the sun, with places like the Croatian islands, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, and the Isle of Capri some international beach party hotspots to visit in 2013. Those looking for warm weather closer to home in the Southern Hemisphere can also find lots of local tips on travel blogs like This Island Life, which profiles sun chasers from Bondi to Bali and has an almost unhealthy obsession with Lara Bingle.
LOCAL NOT ROMAN HOLIDAY
Those not financially endowed enough to fly to an international hotspot this Winter: why not support the local tourism industry instead? The upwards parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia pretty much get Summer all year round, with destinations like Bremer Bay and Casuarina Beach some good getaway options for sun-starved souls. Bucket list destination, Uluru, is actually way more doable during Australia’s Winter, with temperatures dropping from a scorching 37.5C in January to an approachable 22.6C in August. Those wishing to climb a big rock in drag could also look into Uluru’s unofficial little sister, King’s Canyon.
BREAK OUT THE TIKI TORCHES
Don’t have the cash to travel in Winter? You can still chase tropical settings from the safety of your doona courtesy of a camp-yet-crafty interior designer: you. Simple touches for Winter blues decorating include bowls of fresh cut flowers through to wicker holiday-house style furniture salvaged from the op shop. For the more adventurous and cashed up, there are design ideas like installing tiki torches, garlands of fake flower wreaths, or even an awesome beach-themed wall decal. Basically, you want to channel Seth and Summer when they build a Tonganese beach hut, except you don’t want to get caught stealing it by Taylor and Dean Hess in the process.
LOOK OUT FOR MOTHER EARTH
Summer lovers rejoice: articles
like this may soon be redundant, what with the United Nation’s
forecasting that Australia is “virtually certain to be warmer” in the
21st century due to global warming. YAY! But if “more frequent and
intense heat waves, fire, floods, landslides, droughts, and storm
surges” don’t sound like a relaxing year-round vacation to you, then
make sure this Winter you consider your environmental impact when
chasing warmer weather. Pumping the heating system is almost as bad for
the planet as air-conditioners in Summer, so try to swap these bad boys
for blankets, jumpers, and cute pink mittens.
WRAP YOURSELF IN SUMMER
Australian fashion often goes the way of Scandinavia come Wintertime: black, black, and black, perhaps with some charcoal touches mixed in there somewhere (this particularly applies to you Melburnians). Keeping your mind and wardrobe in Summer mode year round takes a few more hues than this. This year fashion trends are thankfully making this simple for you, with designers from Emma Mullholland through to Sass & Bide showing bright collections for this autumn-winter 2013. Those of you not into trends can just channel Peter Selleck and wear a Hawaiian shirt no matter how cold it is – it’s a tough job but somebody’s gotta do it.
SUMMER COCKTAILS IN WINTER
Fruit cocktails say Summer like a
cask of red wine says poor student in Winter. Keeping yourself in that
first frivolous category during rainy months is relatively easy, as long
as you don’t rely on fruits that are scarce in Winter, like mango,
pineapple, and strawberries. Apples are pretty abundant in colder
months, meaning you can still make yummies like this green apple martini
or the simple favourite of Sydney’s Shady Pines: cloudy apple juice
served with your choice of alcoholic base. If all else fails, just grab
something tasty, add a splash of Midori and shove one of those tiny little umbrellas in it. Best mixed with summer but delicious all year round.
Words by Emilia Terzon
