The $5 Kmart buy that's kickstarted my summer of fun

Produced in partnership with Kmart

I live near the beach but never seem to make it down there as much as I'd like and this summer that is going to change.

Sometimes it's about not having quite the right gear as the essentials make the visit so much easier and enjoyable.

That means a shopping trip to Kmart to stock up on my beach supplies.

At the moment my beach gear consists of swimmers, thongs and a towel – things more conducive to a quick dip than a day relaxing at the beach.

The main things on my list are a beach shade and a beach bag, but during my search for these items something colourful caught my eye.

I've never been much of a beach toy kind of person but there is just something about the inflatable swim ring that's making me rethink my whole summer lifestyle.

The cute rings are just $5 and come in blue, pink or yellow and white striped designs and would be so relaxing to float around in.

So pink it is and I'm already feeling more summery and keen to hit the water.

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With that sorted it's on to the most essential item – the one that will transform beach visits from a short swim to more of a long, relaxing day outdoors.

As someone with fair skin who constantly thinks about getting sunburnt no matter how much sunscreen I put on, I tend not to spend too much time lying on the sand after a swim. It's also way too hot without some shade to sit under.

The pop up beach shelter is $25 and comes in a cute gelato stripe design, which will tie in nicely with my inflatable swim ring.

It packs up easily in a cute little bag and is quick and easy to set up. Best of all, it has ultraviolet effectiveness of 95 per cent plus – even though I'll be religiously reapplying sunscreen throughout the day this makes me feel better about spending some extra time by the shore.

To make things even more colourful and comfy there is also a picnic mat in gelato stripe design for $24. It rolls up easily with a handle for easy carrying, whether it's to the beach or a park.

Of course I'll need something to carry my towel and sunscreen in and the EVA tote bag is perfect for the job.

I've seen these all over socials and not only are they super cute, with lots of gorgeous colour options, they are also a generous 31cm high by 45cm wide and 22cm deep. Plus they're just $16 each.

The EVA tote bag is also easy to clean, which, with lots of trips to beaches and summer gatherings, is a necessity.

So that's me sorted for summer, except I am eyeing off the face down lounger because sometimes you just want to lie down comfortably and read a good book. 

Like the EVA tote bag, these loungers have been all over Instagram and TikTok and are loved because you can actually lie face down without smooshing your face, plus there are holes for your arms to hold a book or your phone.

It's $39 and matches the gelato stripe design of the pop up beach shelter and looking at the measurements it would mostly fit under the shelter.

But there is also a $39 gelato stripe beach umbrella that would pair perfectly with it for shade while lying back on the lounger.

All I need now is some good weather and the weekend and my summer of fun will have begun. Bring it on!

Product prices are current as at October 20, 2025. Availability may vary store to store, please visit kmart.com.au