Scout’s Guide To The Perfect Shire Summer
Cool down with these hot ideas
Image credit: Studio Ahwa
There’s nothing quite like summer in the Shire. Hours spent at the beach, walking the esplanade with shoes in hand, acai bowls in the morning, gelato in the afternoon, and finishing it all up with a refreshing housemade cocktail. It’s days like these that have us looking forward to warmer weather all year long and feeling grateful for the beautiful paradise in which we live.
Whether you’re a big fan of bottomless, enjoy a lazy day on the water, or getting out and about in nature, we’ve rounded up our ultimate guide to the perfect Shire summer. Read on for our top ideas.
The Best Things To Do In The Shire This Summer
Boozy Bottomless Brunch At Bobbys
Wrap your lips around free-flowing Aperol Spritz, Prosecco, Minuty Rosé, and Bobby’s signature Shire Standard cocktail at this seaside bottomless soiree! For $95pp, drinks are perfectly paired with crowd favourites like Prawn Rolls, creamy Stracciatella, fresh Focaccia, and crispy Shoestring Fries. Happening every Saturday from 10:00am to midday, it’s the ultimate way to kickstart your weekend, with the sounds of South Cronulla’s rolling waves setting the perfect backdrop.
Enjoy A Sunset Drink At Cronulla Sailing Club
Back and better than ever, Cronulla Sailing Club takes Friday afternoon drinks to new heights. Spanning across two levels with incredible views of Gunnamatta Bay, it’s the ultimate spot to watch the sunset and bask in the summer sun. Open every Friday from 4:00pm, with live music kicking off at 5:00pm, tables fill up fast, so you’ll have to arrive on time to snag a good seat. Walk-ins only!
Enjoy The Day At Boat Harbour
An experience unique to the Shire, Boat Harbour is a 2km stretch of coastline where visitors are able to drive down right to the shore in their car. Our favourite way to spend the day here is by packing up a portable BBQ, setting up a sun shelter and getting your family or best mates to join. You can explore fees and opening hours online here.
Kick Back At Pippis
Pippis landed on the Cronulla shoreline just in time for summer, and it’s since become a fast favourite among locals. Created by the team behind The Grounds of Alexandria and The Grounds of the City, Pippis feels plucked from a Mediterranean coastline, with its vintage-style striped umbrellas and seagrass pendants. The menu is inspired by Australian, Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, and spans breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Sunday Sets At Next Door
Live music, cheap drinks and great food are the calling card of Sunday sets at Cronulla favourite, Next Door. If you’re part of the unlucky majority who return to the office in early January, it’s the perfect way to send off another great summer weekend - cocktail in hand, the ocean to the side and great food just an order away. Sunday sets run weekly from 3:30pm until 6:30pm.
Spend An Afternoon At Darook
Slap on the sunscreen, don a hat, and pack a picnic to spend an afternoon at the beautiful Darook Park. Ideal for families, Darook Park’s sandy shores are protected from the bigger waves found at Cronulla’s main beaches, and there are plenty of shady spots in which to kick back. If you’re looking to add a little treat, grab takeaway fish and chips from Benny’s up the road before heading over.
Image credit: Fly Candy
Take A Walk At Cape Baily
Situated in the heart of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Cape Baily walking track takes you right along the coastline, past stunning sandstone cliffs and panoramic ocean views. It’s a fairly easy trail, but an 8km return trip all up - averaging about 3 hours - so be sure to pack supplies.
Hot tip: it’s a great spot from which to spot whales during migration season.
Grab Takeaway Fish And Chips From Notaras
Notaras Fish Market in Cronulla is famous for a very good reason. Offering locals the freshest catches spanning oysters, prawns, lobster, and salmon - just to name a few - as well as daily salads and dine-in options, it’s the ideal stopover to refuel or pick up dinner ingredients. Us, though? We highly recommend picking up an old-school package of fish and chips and heading to the water - with tartare sauce on the side, of course.
Take A Day Trip To Wattamolla
You can’t really call yourself a local until you’ve spent the day at Wattamolla. From the shady eucalypts to the waterfall and the shoreline beyond, it’s an idyllic spot to set up for the day and enjoy the best a life lived by the coast has to offer. On your way in, we suggest stopping by Audley Dance Hall to pick up a coffee and a bite to eat.
Cool Down With A Scoop Or Two
In case you missed it, the Shire is serving up some of the best ice cream and gelato spots in Sydney! From the unique flavours at Anita’s to the build-your-own creations at Cold Rock, it’s the ultimate way to beat the heat on a hot day — sticky dribbles and all. Discover our guide to gelato and ice cream in the Shire here.
Scout scoop: keep your eyes peeled for the grand opening of Messina Cronulla — the countdown has officially begun!
Hire A Paddle Board
We all love a day spent in the water, but what about a day spent on top of it? Instead of splashing the cash on a boat, go for something a bit more casual and hire a stand up paddle board from Cronulla Stand Up Paddle. Starting from just $35, it’s a pocket-friendly way to fill a warm day that you’ll remember for a long time to come.
Kayak Along The Woronora
Start your summer’s day right with breakfast at The Boatshed Woronora before jumping in a kayak for a paddle along the river. It’s picturesque, relaxing, and can be done with the kiddos, friends or your other half. If you want to make a day of it, pick up one of The Boatshed’s famous picnic baskets, which includes a hot salami with brie basil and homemade tomato relish baguette, a prosciutto, truffle mayo, and smoked vintage cheddar baguette, as well as a fruit platter.
Posted: January 2025
