If you want a pleasant Christmas weather-wise then coastal Queensland is the experts' top tip.
Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are set to suffer stifling temperatures on Sunday with the heat expected to be worst in inland areas.
But Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Craig Burke says his tip for the best Christmas is "probably Queensland at this stage".
"The extreme heat will not be building up on the east coast of Australia," Mr Burke told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"So anywhere from east coast of Queensland down to eastern NSW will be particularly pleasant because you will have the afternoon sea breeze effect as well.
"But certainly inland is a different story."
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts on Boxing Day and Mr Burke said a frontal system is expected to have an impact on the fleet later that evening.
Melbourne will get some minor respite from the imminent severe heatwave on Boxing Day - with a forecast top of 31C - but regional inland centres will face days of stifling weather.
The Victorian capital is facing top temperatures of 35C on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Steve MacGibbony says many inland areas won't get a break from the heatwave until December 29 when a cool change should sweep across Australia.
