7 Ways to make your Kiwi summer a stunner

We don’t know about you, but we’ve never been more excited to welcome in the new year.

One of the highlights of New Zealand’s biggest holiday season coinciding with summer is our ability to relish in long days and late nights, entertaining in the lazy sunlight hours.

Water sports on the lake, picnics at the beach, meandering through vineyards or knocking about with some backyard cricket - there’s no end to how we Kiwis choose to engage in holiday mode.

We’re not fussy folk. So long as there’s sunscreen in the glove box, a fish’n’chip shop up the road, a good book in the back and plenty of friends and family about, we can pretty much make it feel like summer just about anywhere.

For us, the winning summer formula includes a couple of entertaining essentials below fashioned with some equally winning prices that help put $$ into the local causes you care about.

Explore more underwater

Hit up our nation’s outstanding beaches, lakes, rivers and backyard inflatable pools with a snorkelling set from Catch.co.nz. There are plenty of bundles to choose from which means you can kit out the whole family at a not-so-eye-watering price.

Snorkelling set $17.50 from Catch - Rewards 3.5%

Just add music

Unless you’re catching some zzz’s in a shady hammock, having music everywhere you go is a non-negotiable. We’re loving the Ultimate Ears wireless speaker from Mighty Ape with built in Alexa and top notch sound. “Hey Alexa, play my summer playlist.”

Ultimate Ears speak, $329 from Mighty Ape - Rewards 4%

Dabble in some healthy competition

Chase an endless summer with the latest accessories from Sunnylife available to shop online at The Iconic. With bold graphics, prints and a rainbow of hues splashed across everything from pool floats and novelties to drink holders, Sunnylife instantly injects a little extra fun into your weekends spent soaking up the sun.

Sunnylife Beach Bats, $35 from The Iconic - Rewards 2%

Turn heads

Sun protection has never looked so chic. This stunning find will be your shady companion for many summers. Rock it at the beach, at a festival, poolside, trackside, and everywhere in between. Shop this style while the sales are still running hot at Forever New.

Gabbie Floppy Hat, $60 from Forever New - Rewards 4%

Laze and graze

Food is great. We can all agree on that. But if you’re the one in the kitchen pulling together each and every meal while you’re on holiday, feel free to make lazy the theme without compromising on flavour with this ripper of a cookbook featuring a string of one-pan dishes you can make memories over for seasons to come.

From Oven to the Table, $45 from Mighty Ape - Rewards 4%

Rock a party short

Go Shorty! Forget party shirts, the real MVP is the party short. Better for your wardrobe and the environment, practical boardshorts in slick prints will always be on trend. Team these with the aforementioned snorkel set and you’ll be attracting all kinds of marine life intrigue.

Dreamers 16” Volley Boardshort, $55 from Ripcurl - Rewards 5%

Towel Play

Slip, slop, slap, and wrap up in a lush towel from Factorie. Going beyond the call of duty post-dip, the humble towel doubles as a lap rug, a poncho, shade and, of course, a little barrier between you and the sand and stones when you’re laying out. The opportunities are endless.