As the final days on the Christmas countdown clock tick away, many of us are preparing our packing lists, ready for a summer adventure out of town. Sydney is a holiday destination in itself. If you are only popping away for a couple of weeks or are hosting guests from overseas at home in December and January, there are plenty of things to keep you and the family occupied.
Mosman and lower north shore highlights over the Christmas period:
Before Christmas
In the lead up to the time off, there is plenty going on in and around Mosman. One event to note in your diary is the Balmoral Carols by Candlelight. Held on December 15 at the Balmoral Rotunda, the event kicks off at 7:45pm. There is a free shuttle bus which travels via Spit Junction, Military Road and Raglan Street from 5.30pm – bring a picnic rug and spend an evening enjoying your favourite carols.
At this time of year, it is always worth venturing out to see the Christmas light displays, especially on Prince Albert Street. This year, the location will be closed off on Thursday, December 16 for the street’s annual party, with all proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Local children are encouraged to organise a stall, while local businesses will be sharing food and Christmas goodies.
After Christmas
Our area certainly quietens down during the break. Many families are skiing in Japan, reclining on a tropical island or enjoying the delights of a European Christmas holiday.
If you are at home during the quiet days after Dec 25, early mornings are the ideal time to head to the beach. Showing up at sunrise will give you the chance to enjoy the serenity before the tourists and other holiday-makers arrive.
Welcome those long summer days with a pre-breakfast dip at Balmoral, Chinaman’s Beach or Sirius Cove. You’ll have no trouble finding parking and you can head back to your place for some homemade bacon and egg rolls ahead of the influx of traffic.
Why not use the holiday period to reacquaint yourself with the local area? Go for a hike in the national park, take a picnic down to The Spit (or book lunch at one of the restaurants) and visit that cafe you have been meaning to try. Take your out-of-town guests on a tour and impress them with Mosman’s mix of modern eateries, historic walks and stunning views.
Of course, there’s New Year’s Eve. Being located in Mosman offers so many options, including the celebrations at the Zoo, boat cruises and watching the fireworks from local vantage points. One popular and easy to access spot is Bradley’s Head, which is now ticketed to control crowd numbers.
One of the best things about a ‘staycation’ in December and January is that you get to enjoy your own beautiful home. Invite some friends for alfresco drinks or put aside some time to start brainstorming a renovation project.
If you’re away
Heading OS over Christmas? Instead of completely filling your itinerary with lots of activities and adventures, schedule some quiet days to relax, read a book by the pool and decompress from the year. 2019 is set to be a big one so make the most of your time off.
To ensure you return home ready to hit the ground running, book a cleaner to give your house a once over before you get off the plane. Another smart idea that can limit the post-holiday blues is to pre-order food for delivery or pick up. Major supermarkets let you select everything you want before you leave, then log in quickly a day or two before coming home to confirm the time for collection or drop off.
If you’re the motivated type, take the time while you’re on holidays to write out your goals for your work, your daily life and your home in 2019. Figure out what you want to achieve and start jotting down notes on how you’ll get there.
Whether you’re away for a few weeks or the whole Christmas period, there’s no denying Mosman is a wonderful place to come home to.
