Five top winter outdoor activities

For some reason, the arrival of winter in southern Australia drives many into a semi-comatose hibernation, avoiding one of the great joys of the year: cooler weather. But there is so much to enjoy! Here's five top winter activities you may not have considered.

1. Check out ancient rock engravings

Sydney and its surrounds are rich with rock engravings, of animals, spirit figures, tools, weaponry and other images. It is little known that the best time to see these is in winter. Many of the images are now quite worn and hard to distinguish for much of the year, but in winter the low sun angle helps pick out many of the images, and engravings that you may have passed over before suddenly become quite distinct.
Best places around Sydney are Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Royal National Park and around parts of Sydney Harbour, such as Berry Island. Start off with known, marked sites, and as you get your eye in, you can start exploring other likely rock surfaces and you may discover many of the unmarked ones.

2. Go to the beach

Pambula Beach, winter

For some reason many Sydneysiders just assume the beach is off limits in winter. But due to a lag in warm currents, the water often stays reasonably warm until at least half way through winter. For example, at the start of winter, water temperature was still 20°C. So, often it is warmer in the water than it is standing around. The water is less crowded than in summer, and a swim on a cold day really helps you feel you're alive!
Even if the thought of getting in the water is abhorrent, a brisk walk along a wind-swept beach is one of winters great joys.

3. Bust out the bikes

Cycling: okay, it isn't Sydney. It's around Lake Jindabyne.

For me, not much in winter beats slogging along a muddy fire trail on a mountain bike, spattered in mud. But obviously that isn't for everyone.
Sydney now has a wealth of brilliant bike paths, and a winter ride is a great way to justify ending up  at a cafe or warm bakery. It doesn't really matter what sort of bike you have, as long as it has working brakes and a means of propulsion. My recommendation for those who can ride, is the loop along either side of the Parramatta River and through Bicentennial Parklands at Homebush. There is a great cafe and even art gallery at Blaxland Riverside Park, and you can hire bikes there as well.

4. Camp with a campfire

Campfire camping at Wollondilly River Station

Few things in winter are nicer than sitting by a campfire in the "hotel of a thousand stars". Many campsites, particularly in protected areas of national parks, no longer allow campfires, but there are still plenty of places that do. It's usually best to take at least some of your own firewood. Best suggestions around Sydney for a campfire: the Watagans National Park and the Mill Creek campground in Dharug National Park.

5. Take a hike

Yes, the cooler weather is actually the best for long hikes. Take on something challenging, with lots of hills, or a longer walk that you haven't considered in summer. Just remember the days are much shorter, and the onset of darkness could catch you out.
There are plenty of bushwalks suggested in my book Top Walks in NSW and particular winter favourites are National Pass, Blue Gum Forest via Perry's Lookdown (both Blue Mountains), Mount Gunderbooka near Bourke, and Uloola Falls in Royal National Park.

I hope you find many ways to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors this winter. Of course, there's always skiing too... but that's another story.

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