Abbott eyes beach time over summer

It's all about family, lifesaving and the beach for Tony Abbott's summer holiday.

The prime minister says it's going to be "a pretty standard Christmas in the Abbott household".

But it will be minus eldest daughter Louise, who will be staying in Europe with her Italian boyfriend's family.

Mr Abbott hopes the Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club will let him complete a special proficiency test this weekend so he can join beach patrols over the summer.

He missed the last scheduled checks on Sunday, when he was in Canberra putting the final touches to a ministry reshuffle.

In mid-January he plans to take some time out at "a beautiful, beautiful spot" near Sussex Inlet, on the NSW south coast, with a group of families the Abbotts have been holidaying with for two decades.