Summertime is a time for fun in the sun! But while children and young adults may tend to be a bit more active and ready to spend an entire day at the beach, older adults may want to do something a little more relaxing.
Let’s look at some fun activities that you can do throughout the summer months! Just keep in mind, whatever you choose to do, always wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen, and avoid heading out during the hottest parts of the day.
Swimming & Water Aerobics
Of course, swimming has to be one of our top activities for the summer! Whether it’s at the beach or a local pool, swimming can be as intense or as relaxing as you like. And as an added bonus, swimming is a great form of exercise, especially if you experience sore joints or are recovering from an injury.
You can even take it a step further and sign up for a water aerobics class – another way to enjoy the pool. Water aerobics is typically performed vertically and in shallow water (around waist-deep), so you don’t necessarily need to be a strong swimmer to begin.
Kayaking
Kayaking is another wonderful summer water sport that’s low-impact, with the added bonus of improving your fitness, strength and flexibility. Kayaking is something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and isn’t strictly a fun summer activity for older adults – rather, it’s something the whole family can enjoy.
Kayak hire is relatively inexpensive for a couple hours, and you can either take yourself out onto the water or join a guided tour.
Geocaching
Geocaching is a fun outdoor activity that has exploded in popularity over the years and has spawned a huge community online. Essentially, geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that anybody can participate in! Participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other outdoor skills to hide and seek out containers. These containers are known as “geocaches” or “caches” and can be anything from an old film canisters to specially purchased micro caches.
Geocaches usually contain small treasures as well as a log book. The treasures can be swapped in and out, before the cache is hidden again for the next hunter. Caches can be found all over the world, so try getting out and seeing what you can find!
Vineyard & Foodie Tours
There are very few things in the world like a delicious meal with friends. Summer is also the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, so why not partake in a fun tour of a local vineyard, brewery, or some local cuisine? Depending on where you live, you can partake in a day trip to a vineyard, a pub walking tour, a dinner cruise, and plenty more.
To find activities near you, simply Google “foodie tours” in your area or closest city and see what is available. Who knows – you might even meet a few friends along the way.
Gardening
Gardening is one of our favourite fun summer activities for older adults – and it can be done all year round too! If you love to grow and harvest your own vegetables, summer is a great time to plant basil, capsicum, eggplant, cucumber, potato, watermelon, zucchini and much more (depending on where in Australia you live, of course).
Gardening has also been shown to improve positive emotions and boost mindfulness, since it often requires our full attention. Getting your hands in the soil also releases endorphins, or “the happy chemical”, meaning that a summer afternoon spent among the flowers is an afternoon well-spent.
Picnicking
Australia has hundreds of national parks, beautiful nature reserves and beaches to explore, so why not get out and enjoy them with some tasty food on the side? Pack an insulated picnic basket with your favourite snacks or meal, a picnic blanket, some cold drinks, and spend an afternoon with family and friends. Depending on where you choose to picnic, you can also add some light bushwalking, fishing, or birdwatching to your picnic.
And at the end of the summer’s day, refuel with our delicious food, pre-made and ready to eat!
