There’s something magic about Christmas in Australia.

The sun’s out, the esky’s full, and the smell of prawns and sunscreen seems to drift through every backyard in the country. And while the lead-up can feel like a sprint, Christmas Day lunch doesn’t have to be, not when you keep things simple, fresh and fuss-free.

Whether you’re hosting the whole clan or just your closest mates, here’s how to serve up an effortless Christmas lunch 2025 that’s relaxed, delicious and perfectly summery, all without breaking a sweat.

Start with Simple, Seasonal Food

The best Christmas lunch ideas aren’t complicated; they make the most of warm weather, fresh produce and easy prep.

Aussie Christmas Mains

Pick one or two, keep them simple, and let the flavours shine:

• Glazed ham with honey, pineapple or peach glaze
• BBQ prawns with garlic, chilli and lime
• Cold roasted chicken or rotisserie chook (effortless!)
• Fresh seafood platter - oysters, bugs, prawns
• BBQ salmon with herbs and citrus
• Slow-cooked lamb shoulder (prep the night before, forget about it)

Summery Sides That Practically Make Themselves

• Crisp green salad with mango and avocado
• Cherry tomato, bocconcini and basil “Christmas Caprese”
• Roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes
• Pear and rocket salad with walnuts
• Zesty slaw with herbs and lime
• A simple breadboard with butter, chutney and olives

Sweet Treats for a Hot Christmas Day

Leave the heavy puddings for winter, go fresh, fruity and cold:

• Pavlova with seasonal fruit
• Trifle (make it boozy or kid-friendly)
• Fruit salad with mint and passionfruit
• Ice-cream sandwiches made with store-bought cookies
• Frozen cheesecake slices
• Chocolate-dipped cherries (easy, festive, delicious)

Nothing heavy, nothing stressful, just easy eating for long summer lunches.

Quick Christmas Lunch Ideas (For When You're Short on Time)

Need a few lifesavers? Try these:

• Prawn rolls with lettuce, lemon mayo and herbs
• BBQ corn brushed with garlic butter and paprika
• Watermelon, feta and mint salad
• Sausage sizzle bar with gourmet snags and toppings
• Pre-marinated meats (no one needs to know!)
• Charcuterie platter heroed by summer stone fruit

You can prep nearly all of these in under 20 minutes, leaving you more time to slip into the shade with a cold Pacific or Pale Ale.

Prep the Night Before

Future you will be very grateful. Do all the chopping, mixing and marinating on Christmas Eve:

• Prep salad bases
• Marinate meats
• Slice fruit
• Make desserts
• Chill drinks early
• Lay out the table or picnic setup

That way Christmas Day is all about breezy cooking and easy hosting.

Keep the Drinks Light and Refreshing

A great Christmas Day lunch deserves drinks that can handle the heat, cold, crisp and refreshing enough to keep the afternoon rolling. And with a whole range brewed for Aussie summers, there’s a Stone & Wood beer for every palate around the table.

Fill it with a mix of our favourites so everyone can find their perfect Christmas sip:

• Pacific Ale - our classic Byron brew bursting with tropical Galaxy hop aromas. Soft, fruity and made for long, sunny lunches.
• Hazy Pale Ale - cloudy, juicy and full of bright hop flavour. A crowd-pleaser for anyone who loves a softer, fuller-bodied pale.
• Big Pale Ale - bold, punchy and packed with flavour. Ideal for the mate who likes their beer with a bit more muscle.
• Easy Pale Ale - light, crisp and endlessly drinkable. Perfect for pacing yourself through a warm Christmas Day.
• Cloudy Pale Ale - fresh, aromatic and lightly hazy with a smooth finish - great with salads, seafood and anything off the BBQ.
• Jasper Ale - rich, malty and a little roasty - a lovely contrast for those who enjoy something deeper with their Christmas feast.
• Citrus Radler - zesty, bright and ultra-refreshing, with citrus pops made for Aussie summer heat.
• Peach Radler - bright, spritzy and bursting with peach and apricot notes. Perfect with seafood, salads and hot summer afternoons.

A mix like this keeps everyone happy, from the seasoned beer fan to the “I’ll just have whatever’s cold” uncle, and even the spritz crowd who secretly love a fruity, refreshing sip.

Load the esky with ice, pack in your favourites, and let everyone help themselves.

Because there’s nothing more Aussie than a cold beer, good food and plenty of laughs on a hot Christmas afternoon.

Serve Lunch Buffet-Style

Buffets keep things casual and let everyone pick what they like. 

Lay everything out in this order:

• Cold dishes
• Warm dishes
• Sauces & condiments
• Breadboard
• Drinks on ice

It’s relaxed, communal and pure Aussie Christmas energy.

Make Space for Backyard Fun

Christmas doesn’t need a big agenda, just a couple of easy activities to keep the day flowing:

• A round of beach cricket
• A Christmas scavenger hunt
• Dad-joke showdown
• The Christmas Hat Challenge
• Ring toss with empty Stone & Wood cans

These little moments are the ones everyone talks about next year.

Relax Into the Afternoon

Once everyone’s had a feed and found a comfy spot, the day naturally slows down into that perfect Christmas haze, good tunes, long chats, full bellies, and a few more beers gently clinking in the esky.

Grab another Pacific or Pale Ale, settle into the shade and enjoy the shift from lunch to long arvo hang.

Your Best Christmas Lunch Yet

So if you’re planning your Christmas lunch 2025, keep it light, summery and stress-free.

Fresh food. Cold drinks. Plenty of shade. And the people who make Christmas feel like Christmas.

Here’s to long lunches, sunny afternoons and the easy joy of sharing food and beer with the people you love most.

Merry Christmas, mates, let the good times roll. 🎄🍻

There’s something special about an Aussie Christmas.

The smell of prawns on the barbie, and the unmistakable sound of laughter carrying through the summer air. Whether you’re gathered around the tree or down by the beach, it’s the time of year where everyone slows down, comes together, and celebrates the good stuff, sunshine, family, and maybe a few cold ones in the esky.

And because no great Christmas arvo is complete without a bit of friendly competition (and plenty of laughs), we’ve rounded up the best Christmas games and activities to make this year’s celebrations one to remember.

So, crack a Pacific Ale, Pale Ale, or Radler, gather the crew, and let the games begin.

1. The Christmas Scavenger Hunt

If you’re after Christmas games that’ll get everyone off the couch and out in the sunshine, this one’s a winner.

Hide festive clues or small prizes around the yard, think candy canes, mini ornaments, or even wrapped treats. Split into teams and race to find them all. 

For a Byron twist, add a few beach-inspired treasures: a shell, a palm leaf, or a Santa hat hidden in the sand.

It’s simple, easy to set up, and guaranteed to keep the energy levels high.

2. Backyard Reindeer Relay

For some Christmas party games for families that bring everyone together, try this one.

Set up a relay with a few silly challenges, think hopping like a reindeer, balancing baubles on spoons, or wrapping a teammate in tinsel before tagging the next person.

The funnier the challenges, the better the laughs. Just make sure someone’s on camera duty, these are the moments that end up on next year’s Christmas card.

3. Beach Cricket (with a Festive Twist)

No Aussie summer Christmas is complete without a game of beach cricket.
But this year, why not give it a festive upgrade? Swap the wickets for candy canes, wear Santa hats in the field and start every innings with a “Ho Ho Howzat!”

It’s one of those timeless games to play at Christmas that never gets old, especially when you’ve got an esky full of cold drinks and a few cheeky spectators cheering from the shade.

4. The Christmas Hat Challenge

Here’s one of our favourite funny Christmas games for all ages. Everyone gets a Santa hat at the start of lunch. The rule? You can’t touch or adjust it until someone makes a toast. The last person to realise what’s happening, and still wearing their hat, has to tell a terrible Christmas joke.

It’s simple, hilarious, and the perfect icebreaker after a big feast.

5. Beer Ring Toss

Feeling creative? Grab some empty Stone & Wood cans, give them a rinse, and set them up for a DIY ring toss.

You can use rope rings, pool rings, or even glow sticks for a nighttime version. It’s one of those easy Christmas games ideas that you can whip up on the spot, and it’s surprisingly competitive once the adults get involved.

6. Christmas Trivia Showdown

Think you know your Christmas classics?

Test your crew’s knowledge with a quick trivia round. Mix up questions for everyone; movie buffs, music fans alike.

Bonus points for anyone who can sing the entire “Twelve Days of Christmas” without losing track.

It’s one of those Christmas games that always gets everyone talking, and maybe even a little bit too competitive.

7. Pass the Parcel, Grown-Up Edition

For a fun twist on a childhood favourite, create a “grown-up” version of kids Christmas games. Wrap small treats, chocolates, or festive jokes inside each layer, but instead of music, pass it around every time someone tells their best (or worst) dad joke.

It’s silly, nostalgic, and guaranteed to get a few belly laughs going around the table.

8. Christmas Karaoke (Bonus Round)

Once the sun goes down, it’s time for one more round of laughter. Plug in a speaker, pour another beer, and queue up the classics; Mariah, Bublé, maybe even a little John Farnham for good measure.

No prizes here, just good vibes, loud singing, and memories that’ll last until next Christmas.

Make It a Stone & Wood Christmas

However you celebrate, backyard, beach, or balcony, Christmas is about those little moments that bring us together. So grab your beer, fill the esky, and get ready for a day of laughter, sunshine, and maybe a bit of friendly competition.

After all, the best Christmas games aren’t about who wins, they’re about who’s still laughing at the end of the day.

From Byron Bay to backyards across Australia, here’s to good beer, great mates, and a summer full of joy. 🍻🎅

Christmas in Australia hits a little differently, warm mornings, cold drinks, long lunches, salty swims and that familiar rustle of wrapping paper drifting across the backyard. And while finding the right Christmas gifts can feel like a scramble, choosing something for the beer lover in your life? That’s the easy part.

Whether you’re hunting for Christmas gifts for men, thoughtful Christmas gifts for women, or just a few relaxed Christmas gift ideas for the mates who always rock up with a six-pack, we’ve put together the ultimate guide, Stone & Wood style.

From practical summer essentials to a few cheeky stocking stuffers, these picks are made for sunshine, good company and long afternoons shared over great beer.

1. Stone & Wood Beer Packs

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a great beer. A mixed pack of Stone & Wood favourites is one of the easiest Christmas gifts you can give, and it suits just about anyone who enjoys a cold one on a warm summer’s day.

Whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts for men, thoughtful Christmas gifts for women, or just need a few reliable Christmas gift ideas for the mates who are impossible to buy for, beer is the universal crowd-pleaser.

Build a bundle with some or all of these classics:

• Pacific Ale - tropical, iconic and brewed for beach days
• Hazy Pale Ale - juicy, soft and full of bright hop character
• Big Pale Ale - bold, flavoursome and made for the beer enthusiast
• Easy Pale Ale - crisp, clean and endlessly drinkable
• Citrus Radler - zesty, light and made for hot summer afternoons

Pick a favourite or mix them up, either way, it’s the kind of gift that definitely won’t sit on a shelf.

2. The Stone & Wood Soft Cooler

For the mate who’s always first to volunteer as “Keeper of the Esky”, the Stone & Wood Soft Cooler is a no-brainer. It fits a solid stash of beers, keeps everything icy cold, and looks the part for beach days, backyard BBQs and road trips.

A top pick for Christmas gifts for men, but just as perfect as a Christmas gift for women who loves a stylish, practical cooler for summer adventures.

3. The Splash Proof Tote & Beach Bag

If their Christmas Day starts with a swim and ends with a cold beer, the Stone & Wood Splash Proof Tote & Beach Bag will be right up their alley. Roomy, durable and designed for sandy days and salty hair, they’re the ideal Christmas gift for people who are always headed for the water.

4. Brewing Co. Cap or Patch Trucker Hat

A classic cap is one of those Christmas gift ideas that always lands well, especially in the Aussie heat.

Choose from the:

• Brewing Co. Cap
• Patch Trucker Hat
• Green Boonie Hat (for those sun-smart Christmas heroes)

Perfect stocking stuffers for beer lovers of all ages.

5. Project Pargo Insulated Stubby Holder

The ultimate warm-weather essential.

The S&W x Project Pargo Insulated Stubby Holder keeps beer cold from first sip to last, a small but mighty gift that’s guaranteed to get a workout all summer long.

A great option when you need Christmas gifts for men who “don’t need anything” (they always need a better stubby holder), or Christmas gifts for women who love their drinks staying cold at the beach.

6. The Byron Bay Towel

Soft, premium and beach-day-ready, the Stone & Wood Byron Bay Towel is the definition of a versatile gift.

Pair it with a Pacific Ale, Pale Ale or Radler and you’ve got the perfect summer bundle, part comfort, part beer, all good vibes.

7. The Ultimate Beer Lover’s Hamper

If you really want to go big, put together your own Stone & Wood Christmas hamper:

• A mix of our beers
• A cooler or tote
• A cap
• A stubby holder
• And maybe even a towel

It’s thoughtful, fun, and feels tailor-made, the kind of gift that gets talked about well into the new year.

8. A Case for the Christmas Day Table

And of course, the simplest and most appreciated gift of all: Bring beer to Christmas lunch.

Turning up with a mixed case of Stone & Wood favourites is one of the easiest Christmas gift ideas out there, generous, practical and guaranteed to be enjoyed before the day is done.

Wrap It Up, Summer Style

At the end of the day, the best Christmas gifts are the ones that make people smile, something they’ll use, share and remember. And whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts for him, thoughtful Christmas gifts for her, or just something for your beer-loving mates, Stone & Wood gear is made for sunshine, good times and long Aussie summers.

So grab a cold Pacific Ale, Pale Ale or Radler, pop on some festive tunes, and sort your Christmas list the easy way.

Because when the presents are sorted and the esky’s full, all that’s left to do is enjoy the day with the people who make it special. 🎄🍻