Many Canberra workplaces finished up on Friday for the Christmas holidays, sweltering in the heat - unless you were with the beautiful people at Zoo advertising's rooftop pool party.
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The Kingston agency probably holds the mantle for Most Glamorous Christmas Party in Canberra.
For the past couple of years the rooftop of the agency's office has been converted into something resembling Sydney's The Ivy as the staff celebrate the end of another year with a pool party. Friday's soiree also included a photo shoot with Haus Models.
Zoo set the bar high one year by taking all its staff on a surprise trip to Hamilton Island.
Zoo managing director and founding partner Clint Hutchinson said Hamilton Island was a lightning trip - leaving Friday morning and returning Saturday night - but it had a huge impact on the staff.
''People [outside the company] saw it as extravagant but it had been a very tough year for us,'' he said.
''We worked extremely hard and saved our pennies and, as partners, wanted to give back to our staff. Culturally, it had a huge impact; we all bonded and we will do it again next year.
''I can't say too much but we will be going overseas.''
Other companies and staffers took to Canberra's restaurants and watering holes to mark the end of another working year.
The seasonal bonhomie came as Canberra baked in a top temperature of 37 degrees which, although sweltering, was still not enough to break the record high temperature for December of 39.2 degrees, which was set on December 21, 1994.
The weather for Christmas Day on Wednesday is forecast to be a top of 27 degrees with light winds.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Beren Bradshaw said hot northerly winds from the inland drove the high temperature on Friday, with a cooler, easterly change expected by early Saturday. The top temperature for Saturday is forecast to be 32 degrees.
And the hot weather is seeing daily water consumption in Canberra on the rise. ACTEW Water said the average daily water consumption in Canberra this year, including the winter months, was 130 megalitres. Daily consumption late this week had risen to 213 megalitres.
ACTEW Water reminded residents that permanent water conservation measures were in place, meaning sprinklers and other irrigation systems can only be used before 9am or after 6pm. Hand-held hoses can be used to at any time.
