Your summer survival guide: from Christmas feasting to the best ways to unwind

Then head off for holidays …

Whether your plans involve flying or driving, it’s worth doing some preparation to avoid the stress of airline cancellations or traffic jams. The Traveller’s team’s survival guide gives all the tips you need to have a hassle-free holiday.

Roadtrips can require some extra planning, so follow Ben Groundwater’s 20 rules to ensure you have a safe as well as a memorable time (fans of sausage rolls will respect rule number 8). Try to ensure your driving holiday takes in some of Australia’s beautiful beaches – even better, a beach that’s blissfully uncrowded. Ben has uncovered 18 of Australia’s best hidden beaches, with examples in NSW, Victoria and elsewhere around the country. And if you are a novice camper, here are all the tips you need to have a pitch-perfect time.

And chill-out with a book or some screen time …

Nothing says summer more than losing an afternoon in a good book at the beach or by the pool. There are more book recommendations from our experts than there are days of January sunshine, from Literary Editor Jason Steger’s top 12 books for December, to Good Weekend’s Christmas reading guide, Sunday Life’s best beach reads, plus from Spectrum, leading authors sharing their favourite books of 2023.

If you prefer screens to pages, then check out our list of the best TV shows to stream in December and top cinema releases which includes some Boxing Day blockbusters. We’ve also identified the most anticipated films of summer (or have a listen to Culture News Editor Osman Faruqi and comedian Gen Fricker discussing it on our culture podcast The Drop).

Sydney is bursting with things to see and do, from the recently opened Sydney Modern wing of the Art Gallery of NSW (take a video tour with SMH art critic John McDonald), to events, exhibitions, festivals and more. Start with this list of 10 things to do this summer, and for even more ideas read our comprehensive guide to what’s on in December. Look out for the next monthly critic’s lists being published in early January.

And finally, make your life even better in 2023