How To Spend An Aussie Summer If You Don't Like The Beach

Wave goodbye to hot sand and overcrowded beach parking – instead, check out these alternatives for having fun this summer.

Has your dislike of the beach got you feeling like the odd one out in summer? Sunburn and water rips aren’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out when the temperature rises.

It turns out there is plenty more to do in Australia this summer than lie on a towel.

See Top End waterfalls during Wet Season

Skip the Northern Territory’s winter high season and book yourself in for some spectacular sites all at once when you visit the Top End in summer. Rivers swollen by the monsoon season in beauty spots like Kakadu or Litchfield National Park mean some parts of the parks are inaccessible, but it does mean you get to see the waterfalls raging in all their glory. Book in to see them on a scenic flight, stat.

Swim right up to the Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park. (Image: Tourism NT)

Sit under the stars at an outdoor cinema

From perching on a chair on a rooftop to relaxing under a tree in a park, there are plenty of options come summertime to watch the big screen en plein air. Moonlight Cinema operates in most of the country’s state capitals, with the opportunity for BYO picnics on the grass, while in the CBD of Melbourne you can check out options like Rooftop Cinema at the Curtin House .

people sitting at an outdoor cinema — Spend your summer nights watching films under the stars.

Tick off as many of NSW ocean pools as you can

From pools dug out of rock by convict hands, to oh-so-Instagrammable Bondi pools, there are around a hundred ocean pools to discover in NSW alone.

swimming in Bondi Icebergs Pool, NSW — Bask in the infinity-edged glory at Bondi Icebergs Pool. (Image: Destination NSW)

They are simply brilliant for those who have a dislike of the open ocean – or simply the gritty feeling of sand everywhere – and a cherished part of any Australian coastal summer.

an aerial view of Cronulla Rock Pool in Cronulla — Cronulla Rock Pool is fronting the grandeur of the dreamy, turquoise waters. (Image: Destination NSW)

The famous BBBB – Bondi Icebergs Pool, Bermagui Blue Pool and Bronte Pool – are gorgeous places to start your ocean pool journey of discovery.

Bronte Pool at sunrise — Take a refreshing morning dip at Bronte Pool. (Image: Destination NSW)

Picnic at the night markets

As the temperature rises, the time for perusing favourite Australian delicacies moves to the cooler evening hours. In Melbourne, there is the Summer Night Market at the Queen Vic Markets , while in Adelaide, the famous Central Market is open till 9pm. Out west, Perth’s Twilight Food Market also has a massive array of global cuisines. No need to tell us twice…

a man shopping at Adelaide Central Market — Go shopping for fresh produce at Adelaide Central Market. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Party at MONA FOMA

While Dark Mofo might usually hog the spotlight (not in 2024, as it has been cancelled), its summertime variation, MONA FOMA is a must-do for cultural lovers Down Under.

Australia’s largest contemporary music festival, held by the Museum of New and Old Art , is hosted across Hobart and Launceston, with delights that include Faux Mo warehouse parties, odd and thought-provoking performance art, and local and international music acts.

two people facing each other with colourful lights as a backdrop at MONA FOMA — The bright lights at MONA FOMA make the perfect backdrop. (Image: Jarrad Seng)

Feast on oysters and white wine

Australians arguably love seafood all year round. But slurping an oyster with a cold sauvignon blanc hits differently on a summer road trip.

Get Shucked oysters with a bottle of sauvignon blanc on Bruny Island — Freshly-plated oysters at Get Shucked with a chilled wine are the perfect pair. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Take a tour at Coffin Bay Oyster Farm in South Australia , drop by one of the many suppliers at Batemans Bay in NSW for a seasonal Sydney Rock Oyster, nab some Albany Rock Oysters for a picnic overlooking the magnificent Western Australian southern coastline, or do a drive through oyster pick up at Get Shucked on Bruny Island.

freshly picked oysters at Coffin Bay Oyster Farm in South Australia — Slurp oysters fresh from Coffin Bay Oyster Farm. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Hike to a waterhole

Love to swim, but hate the scorching sand and general lack of shade? Check out what water hole hikes you can do near you, instead. In the Blue Mountains, just an hour out of Sydney, the hike to the Glenbrook Gorge and kid-friendly Jelly Bean pool is perfect for a hot day.

Down in Launceston, you can take a dip in the Cataract Gorge Reserve after a walk, while an hour out of Melbourne, you can swim and hike at Werribee Gorge. You might even spot a resident platypus while wild swimming!

the crowded pool at Cataract Gorge — Soak up the natural scenery as you dip in the pool at Cataract Gorge. (Image: Jarrad Seng)

Walk Tasmania’s Overland Track

Take advantage of mild, long days and a blessed lack of icy snow to do one of Tasmania’s most famous walks – the Overland Track. An alpine trek of 65km through Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness Area, walkers get to take in Tassie hard hitters like Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair, as well as spot cuties like pademelons, wombats or a Tasmanian Devil (if you’re lucky).

Tasmania’s Overland Track at Mt Olympus — Traverse the scenic Overland Track. (Image: Blake Lisk – Pillar Creative)

This is one of the most popular times to do the trek, so make sure to book in advance . Want to find out more? We’ve lined up everything you need to know before you go on the Overland Trek, here.

panoramic views of Cradle Mountain's Peak at Overland Track, Barn Bluff — Take in panoramic views of Cradle Mountain. (Image: Matty Eaton)

Laugh at Adelaide Fringe Festival (then dance at WOMADelaide)

Down in South Australia, they don’t call it Mad March for nothing. Each year from mid-February to mid-March, the world’s second-largest Fringe festival (after Edinburgh, of course) comes back to wreak creative havoc over Adelaide – and this time will be no different.

crowds of people at the Adelaide Fringe Festival — Adelaide Fringe Festival is the world’s second-largest Fringe festival. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

Edgy explorations of digital immersive art, incredible pyrotechnics, comedy shows flooding out the Garden of Unearthly Delights, and general tomfoolery in hundreds of venues across the state will be capped off by the internationally-minded music festival of WOMAD(World Of Music Arts and Dance)elaide in the Botanic Gardens.

crowds of people participating WOMADelaide — Cap off your night watching electrifying performances at WOMADelaide. (Image: Jack Fenby)

Watch turtles hatch at Bundaberg

From November to March, a very special animal encounter can be had at Mon Repos, Queensland. It is here in Bundaberg that nesting marine and loggerhead turtles pull themselves up the sand, to lay their eggs between November and January. These then hatch out tiny baby turtles between January and March.

a tiny baby turtle walking at Mon Repos Turtle Centre — Mon Repos Turtle Centre facilitates annual turtle nesting and hatching tours. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

To watch either of these spectacular sights in person at the Mon Repos Conservation Park, you can book a park ranger tour (or join the waitlist). We’ve reviewed what it is like to visit at this magical time, here.

baby turtles heading to the shore at Mon Repos Turtle Centre — Cheer baby turtles as they head to the shore. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Have a game of Barefoot Bowls

Once considered an activity less cool than socks and sandals, a game of barefoot bowls is now an extremely acceptable way to spend a Saturday afternoon in summer (the jury is still out on the socks combo).

Clovelly Bowling and Recreation Club in Sydney has particularly gorgeous ocean views at the edge of a cliff, while down in Melbourne, St Kilda Sports Club might be one of the country’s oldest bowlos – but it still has vibes in spades. So what are you waiting for? Call your friends, grab a cheap pint and chuck away the shoes for an hour or two of fun in the sun.

friends having fun at Burleigh Heads Bowls Club — Go barefoot bowling for a fun outdoor activity. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Torquay’s Bells Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the world.

It’d be easy to think Australian surf culture was born around the right-hand point breaks of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. These regions seem the epitome of how the world views Aussie surfers – bronzed (or burnt), languishing in warm water and sunshine. The reality is a lot different.

The rise of surf culture along Victoria’s coastline

surfers at Bells Beach in Australia — Surfers stand on the shore at Bells Beach, where the country’s biggest surfing competition is held each year. (Image: Getty/Filed Image)

True Aussie surf culture was born on the chilly waves of Victoria’s winters, when huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean hit cliff-lined beaches along the Great Ocean Road . These beaches were the ultimate proving ground – surfers from all over Australia arrived in panel vans and VWs to do battle with the biggest waves they could find.

Surfers take advantage of the huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

There are surf breaks all along this very picturesque coast – but those around Torquay were most revered. The ultimate test of a surfer’s ability – and durability – however, was Bells Beach: Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. Just beyond, the breaks at Jan Juc and Winkipop beckoned.

an aerial view of surfers at Bells Beach — Hit the waves along the picturesque coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Torquay became surfing’s Silicon Valley: HQ for the entire Australian surf culture revolution. Four young locals worked out of their backyards in Torquay to create two of the world’s biggest surf labels – Rip Curl and Quiksilver , which soon became the region’s biggest employers.

surfers out at Bells Beach — Surfers out at Bells Beach, Victoria’s most famous beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

Rip Curl started sponsoring the Bells Beach Pro in 1973 – and have done ever since. It’s been going since 1962 – making it the world’s longest continually run surfing contest. Held every Easter, it’s part of the world surfing tour. Spectators line its 30-metre-high cliffs to watch the world’s best take on enormous waves – it’s the ultimate coliseum for the sport and has inspired generations of Aussie surfers to join the list of heroes whose names are on its iconic bell.

Follow the waves through Victoria’s surfing heartland

Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay — The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Just behind Torquay’s main drag, you can see all that history on display at the world’s best surf museum – the Australian National Surfing Museum . Here you can take your time absorbing the 100-year-or-so history of Australian surfing and check out the 150-strong surfboard collection.

surfboards on display at Australian National Surfing Museum — The museum holds surfing memorabilia, including a room dedicated to the history of boards. (Image: Tourism Australia)

But classic Aussie surf culture can be observed in everyday life all over the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Surfing dictates life here; no work is done until the big swells have come and gone. Just being here provides a window into 60-odd years of rebellion against convention; for no-one likes nine-to-five living on the Great Ocean Road.

surfing memorabilia at Australian National Surfing Museum — The varied displays celebrate the Bells Beach competition, surfing legends and Aussie surf culture. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s less panel vans and VW Beetles these days, but surf culture still rules life. Surfers run this coast; you’re better off keeping out of their way when they’re running down past you to face the biggest swells – then hear them swap stories at cafes, restaurants and bars all around you.

surfing at Bells Beach — The beach near Torquay is Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. (Image: Visit Victoria/William Watt)

How to spend an Aussie summer if you don’t like the beach