Summer Time In | Australia

The start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and the iconic Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It begins with the "silly season." December is a chaotic mix of end-of-year work parties, school holidays, and the frantic rush of Christmas shopping. But the Australian Christmas is unlike any other. There are no roaring fires or heavy roast dinners here (unless you are stubbornly traditional). Instead, the holidays are usually spent outdoors: backyard cricket in the sweltering heat, salads and cold prawns on the menu, and backyard BBQs buzzing with the sound of cicadas. Santa is more likely to be seen catching a wave on a surfboard at Bondi than sliding down a chimney in a velvet suit. summer time in australia

Social life revolves around "the barbie," usually hosted in backyards or public parks. The start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht

Drownings increase in summer; always supervise children and avoid alcohol while swimming. There are no roaring fires or heavy roast

Life migrates to the edges of the continent during the warmer months.

Held in Melbourne every January, it is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.