In his book “Brisbane“, Ukrainian author Eugene Vodolazkin, depicts our fair city as a utopia where it’s always summer but (hopefully) never war. Clearly he has never experienced the dark depths of a Brisbane winter.

Just because it rarely goes below 20°C during the day and never below zero at night and there are usually clear, blue skies, doesn’t mean we don’t suffer. The main problem is that most of us Brisbaneites live in houses made of tin and timber, elevated to let cold air flow underneath. They are built like this to withstand the energy-sapping heat that comes when summer really arrives with Santa on Christmas Day. But this means that in winter, you may as well be living in a cardboard box. Sure it doesn’t snow (actually it did a bit back in 1984) but when those bitter westerly winds blow all the country folk in for the Ekka in August, you’d better have a singlet on.

Fearing I was in danger of developing frostbite while sitting at my desk, I recently decided to walk, shivering, up to the park on the hill and indulge in some aprication, the practice of basking in the sun. I removed my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants and soaked up some vitamin D. But before long a breeze whipped up and some clouds began to blot out the sun, the temperature dropped to, I don’t know, 18°?, and a man arrived and started singing loudly and tunelessly down by the communal compost bins. So I retreated to the inadequate shelter of my Queenslander and huddled under my electric rug (about $30 from Aldi. Best thing I’ve ever bought).

If you visit Brisbane in its cruelest month of July better pack a skivvy and a cardigan and be sure to include some socks.

For worry-free travel or living abroad, having health insurance is essential. SafetyWing’s Essential plan provides coverage for travel and medical emergencies, including options for adventure sports and electronics theft. For more extensive protection, their Complete plan includes routine healthcare, mental health services, and maternity care—anywhere in the world, even in your home country—while also covering everything in the Essential plan.

*AI generated version of Brisbane under snow