We’ve finally arrived at the end of 2013. After another year of working and pushing through the months, it’s finally time to take a break – and in Australia, that means summer. If you’ve got your annual leave saved up, or maybe you’re on break from university and you want to get the best time out of the next three breezy months, head Down Under and try these super fun activities!

It’s time to hit the waves and have some action-packed fun while you cool off from the heat of the sun. Read on to find out about some of the exhilarating water sports and activities that you can get up to on your summer break in Australia!



Snorkelling

If you’re in the mood to see a different world of life all while immersed in clear blue waters, then snorkelling’s the activity for you. There are many locations all over Australia that you can snorkel, and once you’ve dived down below the surface you’ll find whole ecologies of wildlife and sea plants you never knew existed.
The Great Barrier Reef is an obvious favourite for many experienced snorkelers, and it’s a great place for beginners to start out too. Snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef will allow you to see dancing manta-rays, swim near graceful giant whales or, if you’re a real thrill-seeker, see a live shark feeding session – under careful supervision, of course!  Outside of Australia there are other great snorkelling destinations such as Lelepa Island in Vanuatu, where you can snorkel around pristine reefs and watch schools of excitable fish pass you by.

Wind Surfing

For those who love it when speed and water mix together, wind surfing is an ideal pursuit to take up this summer. Cresting over the tops of waves or on flat stretches of water with full control of your board is an empowering and fun experience, no matter whether you’re a beginner or sporting pro. The best part of all this is that you don’t even have to go far to experience one of the best wind surfing areas in the world- because it’s right here in Western Australia. With over 12,000 kilometres of pristine, commercially unused Indian Ocean as your playground, there’s bound to be something in the WA waters for every type of wind surfer!

Beyond Australia, if you do want to step further afield, there are also reputable wind surfing locations in East Timor, Cocos Island, the Philippines and Malaysia in Asia, as well as top destinations in the UK, the US and off the African coast.

Surfing

While wind surfing delivers a certain kind of thrill, for adrenaline and pure excitement there are few things that’ll get you buzzed as quickly as surfing does. Whether it’s dropping in off a huge foaming monster or riding inside of a barrel wave, there’s just something about getting on the long board that piques our adventurous side. New Zealand is a surfing paradise that is strangely overlooked by many in the surfing world, and it really is a wonder why! With unpopulated beaches that give rise to powerful waves and beautiful scenery, it’s time to make the jump across the Tasman for some rip curl action this summer.

Paddle-Boarding

As surfing can be a sport that takes a while to master, those who want to ride the waves post-haste can get in on the action by going paddle-boarding this summer! Paddle-boarding is a great activity for people of all ages who can swim, and you can paddle-board at almost any beach that has waves. So lie flat, kick hard and take your pick of anywhere in Australia, from Freemantle, to Terrigal, to Wollongong, to Surfers Paradise or even the shores of far-off Hobart.

Sailing

And of course, we now come to the jewel in the crown of any summer holiday- sailing. The great thing about sailing is that, with the right equipment and know-how, you can sail from any point in the world to another. From the beautiful natural scenery of Thailand to the ancient wonders of Greece and of course, the gems that lie off our own coast, there’s something for the sailor to see in all parts of the world.

If you are planning doing any sailing off Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, it’s important to get in fast  because the natural beauty of the area is coming under increasing environmental threat as time goes by. So, to make the most of the natural beauty while you can, it’s time to get those sails ready and prepare to ship off sailor, the summer season is officially in!

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•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Michael Jones is a university student and avid sailor who takes his boat from its rest at d’Albora Marinas moorings and sets sail around the world every summer. He wants to introduce the joys of water sport in the summer to the rest of us land lubbers out there!