The best (and cheapest) group activities for a summer send-off

It’s the signature of summer: friends gathered in a park, casually chatting while tossing a ball or ring for some sort of low-stakes game. It’s nice, it’s fine – but it’s not what we’d consider a rewarding day out.

Here’s what we suggest: friends divided into teams, a competitive atmosphere, someone keeping a close eye on the score and everyone going in hard on the good-natured ribbing. The setting is easy enough – a stretch of grassy green at the local park or even a mate’s backyard – and beyond that, you’ll just need a game. 

Finska – the Finnish game of throwing a small log at numbered pins – has become a sneaky park hit. Bocce is easy enough to learn and just as simple to play – plus, it’s common enough that your mate probably has a set in the back of the cupboard. Cornhole is a ripper, if you can swing it – a staple of American brewery bars, it’s not much more than a few small beanbags and a goal. It will absolutely get the competitive juices flowing, trust us.

Perfect match: Pair those competitive park games with a passionfruit, mango, orange and pineapple-infused Moon Dog Fizzer Tropical Crush Seltzer, a spread of snack-sized chicken salad sandwiches and a pre-written apology to the teammates you might accidentally go too hard on.

Give us a couple of deck chairs, a projector and a decent movie and we’d want for nothing else in this world. Well, maybe a good drink, but we’ll get to that. The moonlight cinema trend is a winner for obvious reasons, but we tend to think that, in this era of trying to save money, it’s worth bringing it all back home – and it’s easier than you might think.

Granted, you’ll need a projector for this (someone always seems to have one leftover from their last sharehouse), but even a small backyard or courtyard (or a lounge room with a few windows open, if that’s all you can muster) and a few deck chairs will do the trick. Film-wise, it’s up to you, but the advantage of hosting your own movie night is the chance to get obnoxious in a way that isn’t always appropriate in public – we’re talking about those endlessly-quotable films like Mean Girls or the ones you can’t help but sing along with like Grease. 

Perfect match: In terms of snacks, it has to be popcorn. If you’re making it yourself, there are some great recipes for alternative seasonings worth trying (like the cinnamon, cumin and paprika party popcorn from Nigella). And, to complement your balmy summer evening in the open air, we’d go for a fresh-and-zesty gin paloma from Papa Salt – a botanical-heavy twist on the classic grapefruit and tequila combo.

Nature is the world’s greatest gift – and it’s free! With a deal like that, it seems wrong not to make the most of it. If you can muster up the energy and a group of like-minded friends, hiking is a brilliant way to make the most of the last of the warm weather and long days. It’s exercise, it’s out in the splendid beauty of nature (unless you’re ‘urban hiking’ or something) and it’s a great way to hang out with your pals that isn’t just the usual lounge room chitchat. 

Here’s the idea: find yourself a location you like that’s easy to get to and plan a route there. Resources like AllTrails can be handy (plus they’ll tell you how hard each track is) but state and national park websites will have most of what you need. The best hikes tend to be the ones that involve a stunning view or a swimming hole, so plan accordingly if you can. Just wear some sturdy shoes and take plenty of water.

Perfect match: Nothing hits quite like a lunch break on a good hike, so you’re going to want to take a few salad rolls and muesli bars, best enjoyed while eyeing off a waterfall or a couple of lyrebirds. We’d also pack a few cans of Drop Coconut Water and Vodka for a few victory sips as a reward at the very end.