Honestly, is there anything better than a long-weekend?!
Wait, we’ll answer that one ourselves – definitely not.
Seriously, long weekends are the bomb.com.
We’re not entirely sure how just one singular extra day away from the office (or any workplace for that matter) can make such a difference, but what we do know, is that these oh so rare weekends, need to be properly prepared for, to ensure that the 72-hour god-send of a break is used to the absolute fullest.
It’s no secret that here at Smylee we’re all about connecting with the people we care about most, and when you can combine that with a weekend spent outdoors in the glorious sunshine, well that’s just like cookies and cream – a perfect combo!
We’ve come up with six of our favourite outdoor activities, perfect for a long-weekend!
1. ESCAPE THE CITY AND INSTEAD PITCH A TENT!
Mhmmmm, we can taste the roasted marshmallows already! If you’ve got a couple of days to spare, some annual leave in need of taking or as we mentioned an oh so glorious long-weekend, then a spontaneous camping trip is where it’s at!
Provided you’ve got the gear (or even if not, K-Mart will largely have you covered!), camping is a super cost effective way to get the most out of your weekend. Whether you’ve got an army of 30 friends, looking for a getaway with the partner, or wanting to reconnect with yourself for a couple of days, you can count on camping to provide the goods!
2. KAYAK AND YAK THE DAY AWAY ON THE WATER WITH YOUR FRIENDS
This one does require a body of water and most likely the need to hire some water-craft, but hey, if you can manage to get both those things together, you’re in for an incredible day.
Kayaking is a great way to make the most of a gloriously sunny day, enjoy the piece and serenity of the calm water flowing through a creek, or maybe even ride the rapids of a rushing river, all whilst chatting away to your closest pal (we’re talking both literally and physically here).
Most Kayaks are able to take 2-3 people, meaning a couple of pals to the one boat, but of course you can easily add more kayaks to the hire order, when then of course also means more friends….did someone say kayak race?!
3. HIKE UP A STORM
A bit of an obvious one, but when was the last time you genuinely explored? The last time you got the gang together for a good ol’ fashion hike? We’re willing to bet it was slightly longer than you probably realised.
Not at all breaking the bank, with most hiking tracks being in free national parks, hiking is an incredible way to add in a touch of sneaky fitness into your weekend, whilst also providing a great opp to catch up with the friends, all while taking in some incredible scenery. Oh, and don’t forget, there’s a good chance that you’re going to get a stellar #Insta pic at the top!
4. GATHER THE SQUAD FOR SOME WEEKEND SPORT
Nothing screams perfect outdoor weekend activity like Saturday sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the U12’s little league comp in regional QLD, or a 36 year-old working a corporate gig in the city – Saturday sport in the sunshine is always a little fun, and hey, who doesn’t love a little friendly competition!?
Sure you can join a club and make this an official little gig, or you can take advantage of the facilities in local parks around your area. Fun Fact: Local councils have come a long way in developing parks these days. After doing a little local research, you’ll probably be surprised with what you come up with. From ping-pong tables in Cotton Tree’s (Sunshine Coast, QLD) parks, to handball shelters in Sydney, outdoor basketball hoops in Bellevue Hill (Sydney, NSW) and so much more, local parks really are where it’s at.
5. GATHER THE PALS FOR A PICNIC
A good ol’ fashioned picnic is both an oldy and a goldy. We rate this one pretty highly in our books, we mean, come on, what’s not to like? Vibing outdoor atmosphere – good. Gorgeous view and some delectable snacks – great. Sharing all of this with your closest friends – the best.
Pair this with the fact that in the right parks, BYO booze is also a-ok, you’re looking at a home-run of an outdoor long-weekend activity!
PS if you decide to take us up on one of our recommendations, don’t forget to hashtag #SmyleeSnaps in your pics so that we can see them!