How to Host a Poolside Christmas in Australia
There's something wonderful about a Christmas spent in swimmers. The heat sets the pace: lunch runs long, nobody wants the oven on, and by mid-afternoon the whole family has found its way into the water. Here's how to host a poolside Christmas that feels special without keeping you in the kitchen.
1. Plan Around the Heat
Serve lunch early, before the hottest part of the day, and keep the afternoon for swimming. Set the table in the shade, or put up an umbrella or two if your garden doesn't have much cover. Ice buckets, frozen water bottles and a cooler by the pool will save a lot of trips back inside.
2. Keep the Menu Cold
An Australian Christmas table doesn't need a hot roast. Think a platter of prawns with lemon, a glazed ham you cooked the day before, a couple of big salads, and pavlova piled with summer fruit to finish. Most of it can be made ahead, which means you're in the pool with everyone else rather than standing over a stove.
3. Set Up a Spritz Station
Fill a tub with ice and line up glasses, sliced citrus, a sparkling wine and something non-alcoholic so everyone can help themselves. A Spritz Float or two on the water means drinks come with you. Keep plenty of water out too: a long hot day goes better when everyone stays hydrated.
4. Make the Pool the Centrepiece
A few good floats turn a pool into the place everyone wants to be. Our Dolly Lounge Chair is made for drifting with a drink, the Riviera Canopy Lounger brings its own shade, and the Lido Ring is the classic everyone takes turns on. Pile sand-free towels on a chair nearby so no one drips through the house.
5. Think About Safety
With a crowd around the pool it's easy to assume someone else is watching the kids. Agree on a grown-up who's on supervision duty, swap every half hour, and keep the pool gate shut. Put out sunscreen, hats and a few spare pairs of sunglasses, and reapply after swimming.
6. Little Touches That Make It Feel Like Christmas
- A playlist that starts with carols and drifts into summer classics as the afternoon goes on.
- Name cards on the table, tied with ribbon.
- Fairy lights in the garden for when the sun finally goes down.
- A gift for the host. A Poolside Pillow or silk-feel scarf is always welcome.
And Then: Boxing Day
Leftovers, the floats still in the pool, and nowhere to be. If you've done it right, Boxing Day looks a lot like Christmas afternoon, just quieter.
