As summer fades into winter in Sydney, days get shorter and nights colder. Between June and August, even the best of us can get caught in the grip of ‘winter blues’! The chances are you’ll find your energy levels dipping along with the temperature and the motivation to get out and do something simply isn’t there. The key to tiding over the ‘moody’ blues is to prevent the onset in the first place.
Lucky for you, Sydney is not held hostage by the ‘winter blues’ and creates the perfect atmosphere to help you embrace the season. Sydney kicked off this winter with the spectacular annual Vivid Sydney Festival that saw millions of people braving the cold and congregating in the vibrant harbour city to witness the extravagance of this luminous festival.
As always, cutting-edge artists and designers transformed Sydney into a magical city with light-art sculptures, magnified projections and installations that inspired people to step out of their homes, despite the nippy weather.
This set the tone for the Christmas in July celebrations that Sydneysiders so look forward to. It’s their one chance to enjoy a ‘white’ Christmas with all the traditional trimmings, celebrating the joy of the season around the warmth of the fireplace. This experience falls more in line with the picture book Christmas of the West than the sunny Sydney Christmas often celebrated with beers and barbecues!
With mild, sunny days and sparkling nights, winter in Sydney does not disappoint. Sydney offers a lot of fun activities that encourage you to stay active and keep your spirits high. The NSW ski fields in Perisher and Thredbo are popular destinations for both locals and tourists. So, tackle the snow head on with some exhilarating winter sports such as snowboarding, sledding and ice skating, and feel the spike in energy levels as the blood rushes to your bones!
Hiking, trekking and bushwalking in the Blue Mountains during winter is a brilliant experience too, as the natural beauty of the region takes on a different hue under the mild sun and the hint of glistening snow! You can enjoy the crisp and clean July air as you take in the panoramic views of the mountains, scenic valleys and gorges.
This is also the prime whale-watching season along the east coast of New South Wales. Whale-watching cruises departing Circular Quay treat you to one of nature’s great migrations as both the Humpbacks and Southern Right Whales journey between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef.
Or if you’re simply looking for a change of scene on a dreary winter day at home, you could plan a lunch out aboard any one of the Sydney Harbour Cruises for a luxurious dining cruise experience.
Winter in Sydney is but a few months and there is so much to do. It’ll be gone before you know it, so make the most of it while it lasts!
