What not to do in a Canberra heatwave
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Or: ‘How to accidentally ruin your week when it’s 42 degrees’.
Canberra does many things well. Summer heatwaves? Less so.
When the forecast starts flirting with the high 30s and low 40s, the city collectively goes through the same five stages of grief: denial (“It’s a dry heat”), bargaining (“I’ll just go on my walk early”), and eventually acceptance (cancelled plans and a deep emotional bond with the air-conditioner).
To help you avoid the most common heatwave mistakes, here’s what not to do when Canberra turns into a convection oven.
Don’t say “Well, at least it’s a dry heat”
Yes, it’s dry. No, that doesn’t mean it’s fine. Dry heat is sneaky – you don’t feel sweaty, you forget to drink water, and suddenly you’re dizzy, grumpy, and wondering why you hate everything and everyone.
Canberra’s special combo of altitude, blazing sun, and cloudless skies means dehydration hits fast. If you catch yourself saying “it’s not that bad”, that’s your cue to sit down and drink some water immediately.
Don’t take your dog on a ‘quick walk’
Your dog loves you. That doesn’t mean they want to cross molten asphalt at 9 am.
If you wouldn’t want to walk barefoot on the hot ground, why would they? Remember, if the pavement is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws – in a heatwave, that can be true surprisingly early. And “But it’s only around the block” is not the reassurance you think it is.
Save walks for very early mornings, find shaded grass, or embrace indoor enrichment. Frozen treats count as love.
Don’t pretend APS office rules still apply
Heatwaves do not respect the APS Enterprise Agreement.
If you’re expecting to commute in business casual while the sun is actively trying to end you, it’s time to reassess some choices. No one is doing their best policy work after walking from the bus stop in a suit that’s absorbing heat like a solar panel.
This is not the day for stiff blazers that trap sweat and regret and long walks between buildings “for a meeting that could’ve been an email”. If there was ever a time to quietly support work-from-home, flexible hours, or the great Canberra tradition of “logging on early and disappearing by mid-afternoon”, this is it. Remember: survival is the KPI.
Don’t leave anything in the car
Including people, pets, groceries, or your dignity.
Cars heat up terrifyingly fast in Canberra summers. “Just two minutes” is long enough for chocolate to liquefy, deodorant to explode, and a bad decision to become a serious one.
Cracked windows don’t help. Parking in the shade helps a bit, but not enough. If you wouldn’t sit in your parked car with the engine off, don’t leave anything else in there either.
Don’t decide today is the day to get fit
This is not your Rocky montage moment.
Heatwaves are not the time to start training for a half-marathon, play midday social sport, or “push through” a lunchtime run. This is how people end up dizzy, nauseous, or making an unscheduled appearance in the emergency department.
The only approved exercise during a Canberra heatwave is moving between air-conditioned locations with an ice-cream in hand.
Don’t assume the night will save you
Canberra usually cools down at night. Usually. But during a heatwave, sometimes it just… doesn’t.
Houses hold onto heat like they’re emotionally attached to it, and suddenly sleeping becomes an endurance sport. If your bedroom feels like a slow cooker, you’re not alone.
Cold showers before bed, light cotton sheets, cross-ventilation, and accepting that tonight’s sleep will be “vibes-based” all help. Also: naps are allowed. This is survival mode.
Don’t plan a “scenic” outdoor adventure
Mount Ainslie and Lake Burley Griffin will still be there next week. We promise.
Heatwaves are not the time for Arboretum walks, lake loops, or “just a quick hike”. What looks like a pleasant activity on a mild day turns into a sun-baked regret spiral very quickly. Galleries, museums, cinemas, shopping centres, and libraries exist for a reason – and that reason is air-conditioning.
Don’t be a hero
Cancelling plans is allowed. Rescheduling is encouraged. Sitting very still in front of an air-conditioner and complaining about the heat is basically a civic duty at this point.
Surviving a Canberra heatwave isn’t about powering through – it’s about knowing when to lie low, stay cool, and wait for the inevitable dramatic temperature drop that will make us all forget how bad this was.
Until next time.
