If you’ve spent even one week of a summer in Australia, you’ll know it’s not for the faint-hearted. We’ve been here for 13 summers, about to hit our 14th, and have discovered that the WA sun is fierce, the sand can be scorching, and a quick “pop to the beach” usually turns into an all-day adventure. Whether it’s your first Aussie summer or your tenth, being prepared makes all the difference to how much you enjoy them!
So I’ve put together my ultimate list of Australian summer essentials you need — the things I swear by for surviving (and actually loving!) the hot months down under.
Australian Summer Essentials You Need For Your First Summer Down Under
Australian Summer Essentials – Beach & Pool
Tesalate Sand Free Beach Towel
If you haven’t tried a Tesalate towel yet, you’re missing out. They’re super absorbent, dry quickly, and best of all, are sand-free, which means no more half the beach ending up in your car. Plus, they come in the most beautiful designs, perfect for those sunny beach days or lazy pool afternoons. I have 2 of them and they are literally my favourite towel ever! Super soft and absorbent yet thin and easy to pack and store too.
Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
The Aussie sun means business, so high SPF is non-negotiable. My go-to brands are Hawaiian Tropic and Nivea — easy to find in most chemists and supermarkets and reliable for everyday use. When we head to the beach, I make sure to choose a reef safe sunscreen so keep an eye out for these if you are keen beach-goers.
UV Rashie or Swim Shirt
You’ll see locals wearing rashies everywhere, especially families. They’re a must for kids (and honestly, adults too – I have a couple of my own) when the UV index climbs into the “extreme” zone.
You can find them in the usual places – K-mart, Big W and Target (which has the Piping Hot range), but the quality of the surf brands is usually much better and I love the Quiksilver, Rip Curl and Billabong swimwear range.
Wide-Brimmed Hat
While I live in a baseball cap most year-round due to being outdoors with the horses pretty much daily, a wide-brimmed hat offers much better protection. Look for breathable fabrics and something with an adjustable strap for those windy beach days.
Polarised Sunglasses
A quality pair of sunnies is essential for any Australian summer. I don’t leave home without mine, and get a new pair of prescription sunglasses each year as part of our extras cover on our health insurance (medical aid as it’s called in South Africa).
Reusable Water Bottle
There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a 38°C day. My Yeti water bottle keeps water icy cold for hours — an absolute game changer when you’re out and about. You can shop a huge range of Yeti at BCF.
They are also great in winter for keeping drinks warm. I once forgot I put hot water in my Yeti, and 24 hours later it was still hot – not just warm, actually hot!
You can also get a handy drink bottle bag which doubles as a handbag so you don’t have to carry the water bottle around all day or leave it in the car to get warm while you’re out and about.
Beach Umbrella or Shade Tent
If you plan to spend a few hours at the beach, having decent shade is essential, especially with young children in tow. The Aussie sun doesn’t mess around!
Cool Cabanas have been all the rage the last few summers but they don’t seem to offer much shade at all depending on the time of day you’re at the beach (from what I’ve seen anyway).
In Perth you need something that offers shade and shelter from the Freo Doctor (that’s the afternoon breeze that blows you away most days in summer) so a portable beach tent like this is ideal.
Thongs or Slip-On Sandals
You can’t go wrong with a pair of quality flip flops (or thongs as the Aussies call them) — just don’t leave them in the sun or you’ll burn your feet putting them back on! I love my collection of Ipanemas – you can shop their new range each year at Novo Shoes online and instore.
Australian Summer Essentials – Days Out & Road Trips
Quality Cooler Bag
A must for beach trips, picnics, or even just keeping snacks cool in the car. Yeti and Esky both make great options depending on your budget, Yetis are not cheap but are totally worth the investment. Shop a great range of cooler bags online at Wild Earth here.
Reusable Picnic Set
Handy for spontaneous park, beach, or river picnics. You’ll use it way more often than you think. We use ours all the time, for outdoor concerts where you can bring your own food, beach mornings and even showjumping events when we need a little cheese platter to go along with the evening’s equestrian entertainment!
Bug Spray
Nothing ruins a sunset braai like miggies and mozzies. Aerogard and Bushman’s are popular Australian insect sprays, and I use David Gray’s Outdoor Fogger during summer to keep the flies off our horses when we ride. They can be super annoying to the horses as well. You can find this in most supermarkets or Bunnings.
Portable Power Bank
Between beach photos, music, and maps, your phone battery won’t last long on days out — a power bank is essential for long summer days. These have saved my life more than once, especially when we brave weekends away camping without power!
Travel Insurance or Roadside Cover
If you’re heading off on a long road trip, make sure you’re covered. Aussie distances can be deceptive! Travel insurance may sound boring but is definitely a summer essential when travelling within Australia.
First Aid Kit
If you’re planning any day trips, hikes, or camping adventures, a proper first aid kit is a must. Make sure it includes a snake bite kit with things like pressure bandages for snake bites, antiseptic, instant cold packs, and bite/sting treatments. It’s one of those things you hope you’ll never need — but you’ll be so glad you have it if you do.
At Home & Backyard Summer Essentials
Slip ’n Slide or Sprinkler Toy
If you’ve got kids, garden water toys like slip ‘n slides will keep them entertained (and cool) for hours. And even if you don’t, your grown-up friends and family will probably love them too!
Fly Fans
If you’ve ever tried to eat outside in an Aussie summer, you’ll know how relentless the flies can be. Shoo-Fly and Fly Away fans sit on your table and gently spin to keep flies away from your food. It’s absolute genius and now a staple in our house when eating outdoors.
Citronella Candles
Great for outdoor dinners and BBQs — they help keep the mozzies at bay. Don’t plan a braai without citronella candles!
Weber or BBQ
You can’t get much more Aussie than a Weber. They’re compact, reliable, and perfect for backyard dinners or camping trips. Of course nothing beats a proper braai over the coals, but when there are fire bans, a gas BBQ is really the only other safe option.
Stubby Holder
No-one likes a warm beer or can of soft drink, so stubby holders are a staple in every Aussie kitchen. Designed to keep your drinks colder for longer, these genius accessories are really a key summer essential in Australia. They also make great gifts as they come in just about every shape, colour and style you can think of.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Hot coffee just doesn’t hit the same in summer but we still need a caffeine fix, right? A cold brew setup is a refreshing alternative and super easy to make at home.
Ice Block Moulds For Homemade Treats
Making your own icy treats at home is standard here in Australia. They are perfect for cooling off in the afternoon. You can make healthier versions with fruits or smoothies for the kids and ones for the adults with coffee or your favourite alcoholic tipple (like these gin and tonic icy poles).
A Few Extra Australian Summer Essentials For Expats
A Taste of Home
Whether it’s sparkling Appletiser, dry Savannah ciders, Ceres litchi juice, or a jug of classic summery Pimm’s, a familiar favourite drink always makes summer feel a bit more homely.
A Taste of Australia
What’s summer in Australia without the best Aussie snacks to keep your hunger at bay? My favourites include Golden Gaytime ice-creams, Zooper Doopers for those blistering days, and of course Tim Tams any day of the week!
So, Are You Ready For Summer?
Aussie summers are all about embracing the outdoors — whether that’s a morning swim, a lazy BBQ, or a weekend road trip. With these must-haves on your Australian summer essentials list, you’ll be ready for whatever the season throws at you (even those surprise 42-degree days).
What’s on your list of Australian summer essentials? I’d love to hear your go-to items in the comments below!
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