How Australian celebs will be celebrating Christmas this year

Celebrities are getting into the festive spirit this year and planning a decadent day reunited with family and friends. It’s a time to embrace tradition, unveil those hand-me-down recipes that win hearts at the Christmas table, and be grateful we get to do this after the last couple of years kept many loved ones apart.

While not all can be together, with some borders still closed, the emphasis is on quality time to reset for a prosperous 2022.

Julia Stone, singer

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

Palm Beach, Sydney. There’ll be a lot of the Aussie favourites – prawns, oysters and cold beers – but also, because of the Mediterranean element of the family, there will be a pasta station for those who eat that for every meal [which is me].

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

The gift auction. Everyone brings something they don’t want from their house. You either wrap it terribly to hide that it’s a great present or wrap it really well to hide that it’s terrible. Numbers get handed out. Number 1 picks a present, opens it, displays it to the group. Number 2 does the same but can decide whether they want the gift person number 1 chose. And so it goes, with everyone bartering, stealing, giving, taking. You have to be strategic. It’s like gift poker – pretend you want things you don’t want. Or dislike things you want to end up with. Form alliances.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

A trip to New York to see those I love. 

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

I was very lucky to be able to see most of my family throughout the pandemic. But have missed my overseas people very much. I wish I could duck over there for a big squeeze.

Julia Stone’s Everything is Christmas album is out now. 

Poh Ling Yeow, chef

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

At my mum’s in Adelaide, I’ve never hosted Christmas! It’s strictly a parents’ affair in my family and my job is always to make the trifle with only packet ingredients (bar the fresh strawberries) because it’s how my family makes it.

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

Have friends around after all the family stuff is over.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

I’ve nearly run out of my L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Retinol serum and can never have enough tubes of I Don’t Signature Rouge Matte Lipstick for all the different spots – handbags, car, travel bag, etc.

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

It feels like three years got lumped into a long one. I’ve really missed all my friends from interstate who usually visit. It was so heart-wrenching earlier on in the year, shooting in Sydney for months yet not able to see friends because of COVID restrictions.

Eddie Betts, former AFL player

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

We will be in Darwin. We are currently staying up here doing some work in communities and will be with the Darwin mob – they’re not my direct family but when you’re Aboriginal, everyone is family.  It will be the wet season so there will be huge thunderstorms and extremely hot and muggy weather. I reckon I will be having a swim somewhere – in a pool, away from the crocs.

Fave meal and drink to share with family?

We try to catch some saltwater barra and put them in almond meal and cook them up with butter. Fish, salad, potatoes and lots of packs of icy poles for all of the kids to keep cool in the heat of Darwin. I usually love a quiet red wine around holiday periods, but I think it is too hot for a red wine up here. The locals tell me to put my reds in the fridge but I am still not sure about that.

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

I just like being with friends and family. I don’t over-plan or over-commit. The last couple of years I have enjoyed camping and fishing in the Ovens River [in north-east Victoria] with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and their family. We don’t catch much but the kids have heaps of fun running around the farm.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

Our kids think the concept of Santa is really cool so we do a little gift exchange, but it is not something we put too much emphasis on as a family. We tend to get the kids something for them to share with each other. One year they got a trampoline, and this year … maybe a basketball ring.

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

We missed our doors always opening with people coming to visit us and see the kids. Without connection, things have been tough but I think this year will be good to be able to spend time with people. I have missed my family in Kalgoorlie. I haven’t seen them for three years. It will be good once WA opens up again to us eastern staters.

Natalie Barr, co-host of Sunrise

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

Christmas this year, like a lot of Australian families, will be tinged with sadness. All our family are in WA and, for the second year in a row, we won’t be able to see each other. COVID has taken so much away, hasn’t it?

Fave meal and drink to share with family?

For me, it’s not Christmas unless we have the old fashioned, traditional hot Christmas lunch: ham, turkey, homemade pav. We have to start with the old prawn cocktail – with my mother-in-law’s cocktail sauce – and I always use Libby Koch’s [Sunrise co-host David Koch’s wife] ham glaze, then Mum’s pav recipe.

Last year, I made the pavlova into a wreath, like everyone was doing, and it was a huge hit.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

I love any Christmas gifts, really. If someone has made the effort to pick something out, wrap it and put it under my tree, I’m happy. But I actually have as much fun buying them … although, as the kids have got older, they are so hard to buy for!

Emma Hawkins, Homegrown label co-founder 

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

This year we will be spending Christmas in Finley, NSW, with [my husband, Tom’s] side of the family. It’s always a very fun day as they have such a big family and we love getting home to the Riverina. Granny Pat, Tom’s grandmother, will have 19 great-grandchildren running around this year.

Whenever I host, I love the decoration side of things. I adore dressing the table and creating a signature drink for the season. The meal always comes together very collectively. We delegate well and over the years we have all perfected our dishes. My sister’s pavlova, Johnno’s duck potatoes, Beau’s turkey, mum’s or my ham, my brother’s brandy butter, dad’s seafood, and lots of sides! We always enjoy Pimms and champagne on arrival with my dad’s selection of seafood.

Favourite thing to do at Christmas time?

Having young children – their imagination, excitement and belief is so wonderful. It’s so fun, waking up with them in the morning and seeing the excitement on their face. I also adore going to the carols with the children and family. 

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

A peacock! 

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

It’s been a hard few years, particularly for those who have been separated from their families because of border restrictions. I’m thinking of those who still won’t be able to see their families for Christmas and incredibly grateful that we get to see ours this year.

Costa Georgiadis, host of Gardening Australia

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

I’m really comfortable and happy to be spending Christmas and New Year in Sydney.  It’s always a holiday at home over this period as so many people go away and the place gets a slightly sleepier and slower pace. I love nothing more than being around home in the garden and spending time at the beach. 

We haven’t had a family gathering at home for a few years now so it’s always a pleasure just to get all the family together. House prep is pretty low key. Our traditional family tree will be set up along with the vintage decorations. I love that they have been with the family for decades, since we were little.  Anything cooked with my dad’s special jungle juice marinade makes family time worthwhile.  Nothing beats drinking the Greek salad marinade left at the bottom of the salad bowl – that’s mum’s special dressing. 

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

Beach time daily is what the Christmas/New Year period is all about. Body surfing, walks, dropping in on friends, breakfast and brunches, garden projects and fresh salads from the patch. 

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

As time goes on and family grows, it gets harder to get everyone together as people juggle both sides of family, so getting everyone together around a table is my gift. 

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

Being face to face is what it’s about – and having to wait almost six months to see the next and newest generation of the family makes this year’s gathering extra special. 

Kylie Gillies, co-host of The Morning Show

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

We are hosting Christmas this year at our home, which will be quite lovely. I love all the decorations, music and Chrissy cheer. But, oh my, the food planning! Luckily my sister Stacy is very good at this. I’ll be letting her boss me around in the kitchen. Mum’s trifle is a must.

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

Spend time with my family. I still have such fond memories of Christmases spent all together with family. Leaving milk and cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer, the roast lunch, the bad bon-bon hats, the lazy afternoons, second and third helpings of dessert. All rituals which we’ve continued with our own families.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

Just time together. My family has been in Queensland during these lockdown months, so, to be all together will be the best gift of all. My Mum, sister and her girls are all flying south. 

Collette Dinnigan, designer

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

This year, we will be celebrating Christmas in the Southern Highlands with family and friends. I have been invited to a dear friend’s home. I will contribute a great garden salad and various vegetable dishes – I think a broad bean salad from our garden and some bruschetta with trout and lemon butter. 

Our favourite Christmas Day treat to share with family and friends is caviar and champagne. 

Fave thing to do at Christmas time?

Christmas Eve in our home is very exciting – it’s the anticipation of Christmas Day – especially for Hunter, who has just turned nine.  It’s preparing for Santa’s arrival the following day, and making cookies, putting them out for Santa.  It’s watching the Christmas spirit through the eyes of my children with the lights of the tree on, reflecting on the year and being still in the happy moments we create.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

Always love. But for me, if you’re talking presents, it’s about practical gifts that go back into the garden or into the kitchen – it’s trees and plants this year.

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

Christmas to me means a time to stop and reflect – it’s important to do something for the community and we will cook some meals and distribute to those in the community that are in need.  For me, it is not about giving presents, but it’s making sure that we wrap gifts for those children who are in need and for those children who may not receive. Giving to others and the true spirit of Christmas is more important than receiving gifts.

Throughout COVID we have been a strong family unit. We have, of course, missed our friends and family, but we have all adapted to communicate in different ways – through regular Facetimes, Zooms and virtual meetings.  I have missed time with my brother and close friends, but we now step out into the world by choice and it’s a wonderful place to be. 

Neil Perry, chef and restaurateur

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?  

After the craziest restaurant opening I’ve ever been involved in, I’ll probably be relaxing on the lounge while the rest of the family enjoys Christmas.

What’s on the menu?

This year, it will be really easy as we are getting a Neil Perry Christmas lunch box through Qantas Frequent Flyer. An easy hour in the kitchen and I will have fed the whole family with ham, roast pork, turkey, prawns, salads and a mango and passionfruit Christmas trifle. I’ll be drinking Rockford Black Shiraz. I love sparkling red wine and it is the perfect wine to drink on Christmas day!

What’s on your Christmas wish list? 

A cool room for the restaurant. We underestimated how busy we would be and I have just ordered a new cool room, and if it manages to arrive before Christmas, it will be the best present I’ve ever received.

How important is this time of year now that we can spend time with loved ones? Who have you missed the most during the pandemic?

I’ve really missed my mother who passed away in 2015 – the restaurant [Margaret] is named after her and I would have loved for her to have seen it.

Fave thing to do at Christmas time? 

Now that restrictions have eased, and I will have four days off over Christmas, my family and I look forward to taking a road trip in the Lexus to visit friends at Palm Beach.

Neil Perry is a Qantas creative director and Lexus ambassador.

Karen Martini, chef, restaurateur and presenter on Better Homes & Gardens

Where will you spend Christmas this year?

I’m looking forward to spending Christmas lying down and relaxing. We’ll be at my brother-in-law’s and I’m excited to finally catch up with family. We’ll be enjoying lamb on the spit and prawns.

 I’m really looking forward to spending some quality time with my girls and Michael at Christmas. We also have a new puppy, Stevie, who I’m sure will be getting a lot of attention, too.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

An overseas holiday … booking.

What will you be doing this summer and missed most during pandemic?

Spending time at the beach with my mother and father over the holiday period. It’s super important to take some time out and enjoy it with loved ones, especially after this really tough year.