is legendary. You haven't lived until you've eaten a fresh Queensland mango over the sink, juice dripping to your elbows. Cherries from Young, nectarines, and peaches are cheap, abundant, and perfect.

If you are visiting, don't make the tourist mistake of trying to do a 10-mile hike at 2:00 PM in January. You will lose. Instead, grab a cold beer, find a beach, and watch the world go by. That is the Australian summer.

It is a season of resilience. You learn to respect the sun, check the fire danger rating, and always carry a water bottle. But in return, it gives you the best outdoor lifestyle on earth.

When you say the word "summer," different images spring to mind depending on where you are in the world. For the Northern Hemisphere, it’s June, July, and August—long days, rose gardens, and humid heatwaves. But for Australia, summer is a fiery, festive, and often frantic affair that runs from December 1st to February 28th (or 29th) .