Xmas in Oz

[daffodilbrain]

Spending Xmas in Oz with dh12 dd 9 and DH. We'll be in a very naice Hotel Xmas day with a 3hr buffet, (all you can drink) carol singers pressie For kids.... any great ideas or top tips to make it even more special? Great gift ideas I can smuggle in my
Suitcase? Anything really - thanks from a traditional Xmas fan

I'm English and have been living in Oz for three years now with my family. I am also a traditional Christmas fan so it took some adjustment for me to actually feel Christmassy!

Here in Australia, people love Christmas just as much as they do in the UK but it's far less comercialised. Yes there's more stuff in the shops but not nearly as much as in the UK.

It will be hot. Very hot. Since you're in a hotel, it's slightly different to being at someone's home. Most people spend the day outdoors, by the pool, in the garden or at the beach.

Food tends to be typically summer food combined with traditional English Christmas stuff. So many people have roast turkey and potatoes but it's also going to be offered with good shellfish, extra-nice salads and lovely fruit like strawberries, cherries and mangoes. People love pavlova at Christmas too.

I think that i would plan for using the pool a fair bit on the day OP...there is one isn;t there?

For gifts it's a bit trickier. Before we lived here, we used to come for Christmas with DH's family who live here and we'd do our Christmas shopping in Oz....in the days before the big day.

We'd get summer clothes, swimsuits, pool toys, hand-held gaming consoles are small and easily hidden....I would plan on trying to shop a bit once you get here. What do your kids want for Christmas? Anything in particular?

Also, what part of Oz are you visiting?

You could also pack a couple of stockings with the usual bath stuff, socks, and hide those in your case...you get better deals in the UK on stocking fillers. There's much less to buy here in oz and the quality isn't as good to be frank.

Flip flops would be good!

Thanks both. We're doing the Gold Coast so arrive in Sydney and then Brisbane for a few days around Xmas before heading up to cairns and Hamilton island for new year. Kids aren't being that helpful this year so I was planning stockings and some beach stuff but was undecided over where to buy things (uk or Oz) I may get them a nintendo Switch but wondering if they'll fight over it. I may do a money tree so they can buy their own souvenirs.

Australian shops don't have the range of good cheap clothing that the UK has. YOu will be able to get nice swimwear and flip flops here but it's not as cheap...or the cheap things you can buy are poor quality.

A money tree is good....they will probably see surf style clothing they like if they're that way inclined!

i always stock up on Peter Alexander pjs and loungewear - they do really good sales and they are great for kids and adults.

I’d do stockings with consumables/useful holiday items (beachwear, rash vest, sun cream, new book etc) and then maybe do a U.K. Christmas when you get back, with bigger presents?

Might even work out cheaper if you get the stuff in the sales!

It won't be a like British Christmas at all so just try to embrace it. Enjoy the heat and go for a swim if you can :)

Having said that, I order things at Christmas sometimes if there's a particular sweet I want, from www.bestofbritish.com.au

If you're looking for bathers check out Seafolly, Roxy or Ripcurl. You could give the kids gift cards or cash if you don't want to cart things around. Be aware of plugs if you buy electrical items.

Peter Alexander does have nice pj's, as do David Jones. I do a lot of my gift shopping at DJ's as well as clothes.

What about clothes... is it all very casual beachwear - even at a posh Brisbane hotel (with pool) and Hamilton island on Nye?

No it's not all casual. I guess it depends what you'll spend your time doing. If you're on the beach all the time or at the hotel pool then that's one thing.
I go to Queensland every year on holiday to a naice hotel and I always pack a number of dresses that I can dress up or casual, heels and nice sandals. Popular brands for nice clothes are Seed, Witchery, Camilla, Jo Mercer.

I find that it’s more casual than what British people normally would wear. There was a real contrast at my wedding between British and Aussie styles.

I’d wear a nice summer dress with sandals for you and DD, and chinos or chino shorts with a short sleeved shirt for the males.

I think some women really dress up if they're at social occasions at Christmas. I notice that anyway. I'm in Australia.

I would pack a mix of casual and dressy clothes, you’ll definitely need both. It will be very very hot and extremely humid in QLD.

You’ll love an Aussie Christmas! Spend the day at the pool or the beach, it will be very relaxed. The buffet will be very different to what you’re used to but they will have a huge range of foods to choose from.

Don’t plan to do a lot of shopping here, it will be a lot more expensive than you’re used to, and a much smaller range.

Definitely do cash for presents, along with smaller items to keep them busy on planes and traveling etc. craft sets, books, ear phones, etc

Oh it all sounds exciting now. Thanks so much and keep the tips coming. Although still
Confess to being slightly wary of a 'hot' Xmas and it's so hard not prepping for a uk xmas!

Whilst you're here, do take time out to find an open air carol service. Here in Oz they tend to have lovely community things in beautiful parks where everyone takes a picnic and arrives at dusk to sit and sing carols by candlelight.

It's hot but festive and beautiful.