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In Search of a Life Less Ordinary

Making time for the things that matter

Sydney’s Telltale Signs of Summer

| Filed under: Lifestyle | 8 Comments

The rhythms and eddies of Sydney’s seasons come and go, as regular as the tides that sweep the beaches around the harbour city.

After several years here, I think I have finally grown accustomed to the signals that a new season is approaching. Whilst the onset of spring is much less pronounced than in the flowering southern counties of my family home in England, the arrival of a Sydney summer is heralded by a number of telling signs throughout the city, the first being the start of the fun running season.


Photo credit: Flick Creative Commons Calebo



Beginning in August with the world’s largest fun run, the City2Surf, before moving to the Northern Beaches’ Pub2Pub charity race, the amateur runner then heads back to the city for the Harbour Bridge run and half marathon in late September. These races typically occur under a late winter sun and have come to symbolise a seasonal transformation in Sydney as winter jackets are removed and lightweight running vests adorned.

The 14km City2Surf follows a tortuous route from the centre of the city to the world famous Bondi Beach. More than 60,000 runners participate and the race often starts on a cold early morning before finishing on a characteristically sunny climax next to the beach. The race typifies Sydney’s farewell to winter and transition through to summer as the kilometres wind down.

Sport reveals another telltale sign of summer’s arrival in Sydney with the rugby seasons coming to a close and the sporting chatter turning to all-things cricket and watersports. With the rugby union and league finals on the near horizon, footy fever will die off in the many beach suburbs of Sydney and attention will turn to a number of ocean-based activities, from the surf ironman series to openwater kayak ocean racing plus twilight sail competitions on the harbour.

A change of a more gentile nature and pace will also take place across the city over the coming days and weeks, and one which is a personal favourite of mine. The beautiful frangipani bushes, after lying dormant and leafless for the past few months, will begin to bud and develop the most beautiful scented flowers. As the shrub metamorphises into an irridescent beauty, the air around Sydney’s streets and walkways will fill with the delicious, heady smell of these photogenic little wonders.

The jacaranda trees will also flower, first shedding their yellowing leaves before sprouting a stunning display of purple that will appear in every nook and cranny of the city for the next month before carpeting the streets with millions of little purple flowers. At this time of year, it is a perfectly pleasant surprise to look out my office window at a sea of purple trees spreading across Sydney’s inner west as far as the eye can see and it is a constant reminder that summer is just around the corner.
Jacarandas in Sydney.  Flickr Creative Commons Chillitpv
Before I know it the clocks will change, daylight savings will begin, and summer will be knocking at my front door. Sydneysiders will happily peel off their clothing in favour of a much smaller, more revealing attire. Meanwhile, the repetitive drone of the cicadas will commence. The spiders will make my garden their home. My pup, Milo, will hide away in a dark corner of the house. The oppressive heat will arrive and settle in for the duration. 
It’s not so bad. Summer, after all, is what attracts many of us to this fair land. I have enjoyed this year’s brief Sydney winter and the welcome respite from that persistently hot summer sun, but now it’s time to take out my trusted coconut oil, dust off those manly black Speedos, don my little straw sombrero, and head down to the local beach because, summer, here I come.

Are you ready for Sydney’s summer sun? Would you like to borrow a little coconut oil?


Or are the long, desperate, drawn-out, dark and bitterly cold winter months fast approaching in your neck of the woods?

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About Russell Ward

I am a writer and expat who isn’t afraid of exploring both the good and bad that comes with seeking out a different way of life. I am the author of The Life Less Ordinary Manifesto and I regularly send out an email newsletter with free tips for living your own remarkable life.

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  2. Russell V J Ward says

    Hi Shera, I think you may be right.

    I don’t believe our winter dropped below 15 degrees in the daytime and already the temps are heading up over 20 degrees and it’s still ‘officially’ winter. I’ll never get used to experiencing summer in what is usually my wintertime but I’ll be sure to make the most of it!

    R

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  3. Dear England, Love Canada says

    V jealous . I could give you a few signs that Fall is coming in Quebec, Canada. For one I didn’t swim this evening at the cottage. Bit chilly here. Getting ready for the Fall colours though. I’m in denial about the -30C temperatures.
    Anne

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  4. Russell V J Ward says

    Hi Anne, I always felt the same when living in Canada – loved the summer, very much enjoyed the Fall and the change in colours and arrival of the slightly cooler temperatures, but could never reconcile myself to the fact I’d be experiencing -30C temps in a month or two’s time. Keep up the lake swimming as long as you can 🙂

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  5. Aisha says

    You can keep your coconut oil – it’s snow boots I’ll be needing! Well, truth be told it’s not that bad yet but the days are cooler, the cicadas not quite so loud… trying not to think about winter and instead concentrating on enjoying the rest of the summer. Those frangipanis look gorgeous by the way 🙂

    Reply

  6. Russell V J Ward says

    Aisha – are you sure I can’t tempt you with a little zero factor?!

    I have to admit that the Ontario winters were a big factor that contributed to us leaving Canada for the year-round warmth of Sydney. I just don’t think we were built of tough enough stuff to handle the freezing rain and ice on the sidewalks. After only two winters, we were over it, which was sad as the rest of our experience there was so positive. BC was a different experience altogether. Much more rain but a gentler climate and less of a panic at the impending arrival of winter.

    With hindsight, perhaps we should have returned to Vancouver rather than face another world move but things happen for a reason, we’re here now, and we’re looking forward to another hot one 🙂

    The frangipanis are beautiful – and they smell delicious. We have one in our front yard and I’m waiting for the leaves to grow back and the buds to appear. The ladies here will often be seen wearing a flower in their hair during spring. It’s quite lovely.

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  7. Emily in Chile says

    Ooh, pretty frangipani! I can’t wait for summer…it’s still quite cold and grey here, and I think it’s supposed to rain tomorrow, but we’ve had a couple springlike days recently, and I just want the heat and sunshine to hurry up and get here.

    Reply

  8. Russell V J Ward says

    Hi Emily – Ignorant that I am, I forget that South America is on the same seasonal track as Australia… so you are also going into summer. We had a cracking weekend with blue skies and lots of sun. The mercury has risen and mornings feel distinctly warm and steamy. That’s the end of winter for us, me thinks.

    On another note, my frangipani tree/bush is just starting to bud… 🙂

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