Christmas in July Luncheon Cruise

Nova Cruises is running a Christmas in July Luncheon Cruise out of Newcastle on Wednesday 22 July, and it's part of a wider run that goes through to 30 July. It's an annual thing, so if you've done it before, you know the drill: a festive lunch served on the water, just when the winter weather is usually at its peak.

Since it's a luncheon cruise, the whole thing happens during the day, with the boat departing from the Nova Cruises wharf at 5 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, 2300 New South Wales. You'll be out on the harbour for the meal, which is the main draw here — a Christmas-themed lunch served while you're cruising around the coast rather than sitting in a dining room. It's a bit of a twist on the usual mid-winter outing, and because it runs every day from the 22nd to the 30th, you can pick whichever date works best for you.

If you're thinking of bringing a group, it's worth keeping in mind that it's a cruise, not a land-based lunch, so you'll be on the water for the duration. The wharf is right in the Honeysuckle precinct, which makes it easy enough to get to from the city centre. Tickets start from A$60.00, and since the cruises run daily through to the end of the month, you've got a fair few dates to choose from if the 22nd doesn't suit.