What to Do on Boxing Day
So much effort goes into making Christmas perfect, that Boxing Day is often overlooked. Here are some simple ideas for ways to enjoy the day
Deirdre Avenell
25 December 2016
Houzz editorial team. DIY/decorating nut, photographer and jewellery designer.
After the chaos of Christmas comes to a close, we’re often far too exhausted to do much of anything on the following day. However, there are so many options available for fun and relaxing activities that take minimal planning and offer maximum enjoyment, and give you an excuse to avoid the Boxing Day sales. Here’s a mix of some traditional ideas, and some that are a bit more left-field, to help you make the most of your time off these holidays – you’ve earned it.
1. Plan a picnic
Indoors or out, it doesn’t really matter. Whichever you prefer – or whichever the weather allows for – Boxing Day’s a great time to pack up a leftovers picnic…
2. Try a cheese and wine tasting
If there’s any leftover wine from Christmas – maybe someone gifted a nice bottle or two? – pair it with a selection of cheeses for an indulgent platter.
Indoors or out, it doesn’t really matter. Whichever you prefer – or whichever the weather allows for – Boxing Day’s a great time to pack up a leftovers picnic…
2. Try a cheese and wine tasting
If there’s any leftover wine from Christmas – maybe someone gifted a nice bottle or two? – pair it with a selection of cheeses for an indulgent platter.
3. Go glamping
Camp out in the comfort of your own backyard. It’s fun, free and easy as leftover pie!
4. Play hide and seek
As an added way to keep the kids entertained, grab a spot out of doors, watch them run off and start counting.
Camp out in the comfort of your own backyard. It’s fun, free and easy as leftover pie!
4. Play hide and seek
As an added way to keep the kids entertained, grab a spot out of doors, watch them run off and start counting.
5. Movie marathon
Whether it’s the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy or a selection of fun and flirty romantic comedies, everyone loves a well-planned movie marathon, especially when it’s accompanied by bowls of buttery popcorn!
6. Host a trivia quiz
Boxing Day’s the perfect time to sit around with friends and family and ask questions like “What was the first film to ever be called a ‘blockbuster’?” (Hint: The main character’s a giant man-eating shark…). You could even make the quiz 2015-themed.
Whether it’s the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy or a selection of fun and flirty romantic comedies, everyone loves a well-planned movie marathon, especially when it’s accompanied by bowls of buttery popcorn!
6. Host a trivia quiz
Boxing Day’s the perfect time to sit around with friends and family and ask questions like “What was the first film to ever be called a ‘blockbuster’?” (Hint: The main character’s a giant man-eating shark…). You could even make the quiz 2015-themed.
7. Get your hands dirty
While it may seem like work to some, many people find nothing more relaxing than spending a day in the garden, playing with potatoes and tending to their tomatoes.
A beginner’s guide to organic kitchen gardening
While it may seem like work to some, many people find nothing more relaxing than spending a day in the garden, playing with potatoes and tending to their tomatoes.
A beginner’s guide to organic kitchen gardening
8. Pool party
If temperatures are on the rise and you’re feeling rather buoyant (read ‘bloated’), there’s no better way to spend a relaxing day off than playing in the pool. Or just floating around on your back like an over-inflated lilo.
If temperatures are on the rise and you’re feeling rather buoyant (read ‘bloated’), there’s no better way to spend a relaxing day off than playing in the pool. Or just floating around on your back like an over-inflated lilo.
9. Friendly feast
While Christmas is a time for family, the following day can often be all about friends gathering together for a post-Christmas catch-up. Preferably over food, as everyone’s usually famished after Christmas…
To make the day as fuss-free as possible, simply repurpose your leftovers. Turkey curry buffet anyone?
While Christmas is a time for family, the following day can often be all about friends gathering together for a post-Christmas catch-up. Preferably over food, as everyone’s usually famished after Christmas…
To make the day as fuss-free as possible, simply repurpose your leftovers. Turkey curry buffet anyone?
10. Yoga class
Exercising the day after Christmas may seem like a good idea, and an excellent justification for stuffing your face during yuletide celebrations … “It’s OK, I’ll work it off tomorrow…” But let’s face it, this rarely happens.
Rather than committing to a jogging session that may just see you revisiting your Christmas pudding, why not take a more relaxed approach and try yoga instead in the great outdoors (aka your backyard).
Exercising the day after Christmas may seem like a good idea, and an excellent justification for stuffing your face during yuletide celebrations … “It’s OK, I’ll work it off tomorrow…” But let’s face it, this rarely happens.
Rather than committing to a jogging session that may just see you revisiting your Christmas pudding, why not take a more relaxed approach and try yoga instead in the great outdoors (aka your backyard).
11. Spend some alone time
After all the hubbub of family and friends at Christmas, Boxing Day can be a great opportunity to just spend some quality time with your favourite person – yourself. Rest, relax, recharge and ready yourself for a big new year.
After all the hubbub of family and friends at Christmas, Boxing Day can be a great opportunity to just spend some quality time with your favourite person – yourself. Rest, relax, recharge and ready yourself for a big new year.
12. Head to the surf
Surfing, snorkelling or simply strolling on the sand, the beach is a great go-to choice for Aussies on Boxing Day.
Surfing, snorkelling or simply strolling on the sand, the beach is a great go-to choice for Aussies on Boxing Day.
13. Go for a paddle
If you’ve got little ones around, or friends of the four-legged variety, wander down to a quiet bay or a rock pool and have a bit of a paddle – doggie or otherwise.
If you’ve got little ones around, or friends of the four-legged variety, wander down to a quiet bay or a rock pool and have a bit of a paddle – doggie or otherwise.
14. Nap in a hammock
Get a cool drink and kick back in a hammock.
15. Read
Grab a good book and escape to another world for the day. Falling asleep with said book resting on your face, totally optional.
Embracing the lost art of laziness
Get a cool drink and kick back in a hammock.
15. Read
Grab a good book and escape to another world for the day. Falling asleep with said book resting on your face, totally optional.
Embracing the lost art of laziness
16. Take a walk
Get out into the wide blue yonder for a day of exploring your own backyard and local area. Your pets will appreciate the exercise, and it’s a great choice for sugar-high kids too.
Get out into the wide blue yonder for a day of exploring your own backyard and local area. Your pets will appreciate the exercise, and it’s a great choice for sugar-high kids too.
17. Head out on a nature walk
If you can, go further afield and get out into a nearby national park or woodland.
If you can, go further afield and get out into a nearby national park or woodland.
18. Road trip!
Pack up the kids/pets/extended family/unwilling teenagers and head off somewhere fun on the open road. This is obviously more fun if you have an awesome bus like this one, but even if you’re all packed into an old Mini, you’ll still have a ball.
Pack up the kids/pets/extended family/unwilling teenagers and head off somewhere fun on the open road. This is obviously more fun if you have an awesome bus like this one, but even if you’re all packed into an old Mini, you’ll still have a ball.
19. Build a campfire
There’s something mesmerising about staring into dancing flames as the sun sets around you. A truly idyllic way to relax.
The essential guide to fire pits
There’s something mesmerising about staring into dancing flames as the sun sets around you. A truly idyllic way to relax.
The essential guide to fire pits
20. Run through the sprinklers
Relive your own childhood and introduce young kids to the joy that is a near-nudie run through the cool spray.
Relive your own childhood and introduce young kids to the joy that is a near-nudie run through the cool spray.
21. Star gaze
Gather together your friends, family or significant other and lay back in the evening for a spot of near-meditative star gazing.
How to best enjoy a universal light show
Gather together your friends, family or significant other and lay back in the evening for a spot of near-meditative star gazing.
How to best enjoy a universal light show
22. Backyard cricket
If you can’t get out to the Boxing Day Test, but want something a bit more energetic than watching the action from the couch, a game of backyard cricket may be just the ticket.
If you can’t get out to the Boxing Day Test, but want something a bit more energetic than watching the action from the couch, a game of backyard cricket may be just the ticket.
23. Throw a garden party
Whether there are 20 guests or just a couple, you may as well carry on the party spirit for as long as possible once you’re on a roll. String up some lanterns, and get leftover bottles of bubbly on ice.
17 effortless summer party ideas
Whether there are 20 guests or just a couple, you may as well carry on the party spirit for as long as possible once you’re on a roll. String up some lanterns, and get leftover bottles of bubbly on ice.
17 effortless summer party ideas
24. Lawn bowls
Enjoy some fun in the sun with a friendly game of lawn bowls. If your own lawn is somewhat overgrown, head to your local bowlo for the afternoon.
Enjoy some fun in the sun with a friendly game of lawn bowls. If your own lawn is somewhat overgrown, head to your local bowlo for the afternoon.
25. Sail away
Get yourself a prime harbourside position and celebrate the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It’s tradition after all.
Get yourself a prime harbourside position and celebrate the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. It’s tradition after all.
26. Quiet time with the family
If all else fails – or falls into the ‘too hard’ basket – spending a quiet day around the house with the family sounds pretty good to many of us.
TELL US
How are you planning to spend Boxing Day?
If all else fails – or falls into the ‘too hard’ basket – spending a quiet day around the house with the family sounds pretty good to many of us.
TELL US
How are you planning to spend Boxing Day?
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@chookchook2 I saw the moon! It was big and bright and kept me awake for damn hours! I had the windows and curtains open to cool down. 39C where I live and it didn't cool down till near 4am! Bleurgh! But a Chrissy moon, how cool was that, hey!
User Auntiebuzzybee said it won't happen at Christmas again for another 14 years, so I'm glad we saw it.
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