Christmas is all about spending time with your family. Whether it’s entertaining the kids, doing fun family activities, or catching up with grandparents over the festive season, we’ve got some wonderful ideas for spending the ideal Christmas with your nearest and dearest this year.

A day at the beach

Nothing spells ‘Aussie Christmas’ like a day at the beach. If you can’t get away with the whole family for a few days over Christmas, consider spending a day at the beach on or around Christmas to enjoy a relaxing, no fuss event. The great thing about the beach is that there’s something for everyone. The kids love it and can spend hours playing and entertaining themselves, and you can enjoy a nice cold lunch in the shade before taking an afternoon swim. What could be better than that?

Camping

Many families go camping every year at Christmas time because it’s a fun, easy, and affordable way for everyone to enjoy a break. Kids love camping because there is always an endless amount of activities to enjoy; and if you have pets, finding a pet friendly campsite or caravan park isn’t difficult, so no one needs to miss out!

Spend some time on the harbour

You don’t have to have your own boat to enjoy some time with family on Sydney’s pristine harbour. Take a luxurious Christmas cruise and enjoy the best view in town while feasting on a Christmas lunch with your nearest and dearest. For those who have family coming from different states to enjoy Christmas this year, having lunch on Sydney harbour is a wonderful idea.

Hire your own boat

Hiring a boat for a few hours over the Christmas holidays to enjoy some fishing and swimming with the family is a wonderful way to spend quality time with those you cherish most. Go for a cruise on the harbour or simply enjoy some time meandering down a river while you sit back and relax.

A Christmas picnic

A picnic at the park with family is a wonderful way to spend your Christmas day. Get everyone to bring one item, and arrive at the park early so you can get a nice shady spot. Set your picnic up under the shade of a tree and spend the day bush walking, playing frisbee or cricket, and feasting on a delicious BBQ lunch.

Let your local club take care of Christmas lunch for you

Instead of having the whole family over, stressing out about whether you’ve got enough food, and worrying about the endless washing afterwards, why not host your family’s Christmas get together this year at Penrith Panthers? They’ve got two incredible Christmas day buffet lunch feasts available, including all the trimmings and more. Give yourself a break this year, have a memorable Christmas at Penrith Panthers and don’t let anyone lift a finger.

If you’ve got a couple of bored kids at home, it’s also worth checking out the list of events that Panthers will be hosting over Christmas. From visits with Santa to carollers and more, there’s something to keep everyone entertained right through the festive season and into the new year.

Christmas in Australia is characterised by hot, summery days, and that means the best place to be is outdoors swimming in the pool, at the beach, or enjoying some downtime in the shade at the local park – if not sitting indoors in air conditioning! Rather than hosting Christmas at home this year, consider the above suggestions. Give your whole family an exciting, memorable Christmas without you having to worry about the preparations and clean up afterwards.