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An arctic blast in some states failed to prevent people heading outdoors to enjoy an easing of coronavirus restrictions over the weekend.
While many people will be keenly waiting to see what the National Cabinet has to say about further easing restrictions after they meet on Friday, this weekend presented the first opportunity for a lot of people to head outside and enjoy activities that haven't been possible for the past few weeks.
And for the most part police around the nation felt most Australians did the right thing.
Here's a look at what happened across the states and how the first wave of lowered restrictions played out.
Queensland
In Queensland, residents were able to spend some time outside just for pleasure, rather than exercise or running essential errands.
With picnics allowed in household groups or groups of two, the state's parklands and beaches were busy — and people took to the waterways on boats and jet skis.
Winding roads long favoured by motorcyclists were busy, with plenty of bikers wasting no time hitting the road within the permitted 50 kilometre radius of their home.
One motorcyclist, Michael, said it was a relief to "see real people again".
"This is busy … this first weekend people are like, 'I want to get out'," he said.
At the entrance to D'Aguilar National Park, west of Brisbane, people were embracing the chance to wander in nature for the first time in weeks and one man said it was busier than a shopping centre.
"I would say there'd be over 100 people there … but everyone is maintaining their distance, so yeah, it's great … magic," he said.
However, some people still fell foul of restrictions rules, with Queensland Police on Sunday morning saying they had issued more than 30 fines in the first 24 hours of restrictions being eased.
Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, restrictions on outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming, fishing and camping, were lifted just in time for the start of the dry season.
Nature enthusiasts flocked to Litchfield National Park, filling campsites and waterholes within a few short hours.
Others encouraged by the cooler weather took advantage of golf courses, playgrounds and public swimming pools re-opening on Friday — with strict hygiene and social-distancing restrictions in place.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, NT Police said officers conducted 115 compliance checks over the weekend.
NT and federal police and Defence personnel will keep monitoring biosecurity checkpoints and conducting compliance checks in national parks and public spaces.
New South Wales
In NSW people were able to catch up with family and friends again after the Government eased social-gathering restrictions on Friday, allowing groups of two adults and their children to visit other households.
Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach was also opened to swimmers on Saturday, despite Waverley Council initially restricting time in water to weekdays.
More people in NSW were seen on the roads at the weekend but NSW Police said they had only issued nine COVID-19 related fines on Friday and Saturday.
Police said many of the fines were given to repeat offenders or people who were allegedly found with drugs and cash on them.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned ahead of Friday the relaxation of rules wasn't a "license to go wild and have massive parties".
Victoria
The new freedoms enjoyed in other parts of the nation did not extend to Victoria, where restrictions will not be reviewed by the State Government until May 11.
The state also recorded its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in the past fortnight, with 13 new cases announced on Sunday, six of which were related to a cluster at an abattoir.
Victorian police issued more than 46 fines on the weekend, including one for a group of 10 people gathered at a private residence.
A group of four people caught socialising in a car were also fined.
As a cold front swept the state a political storm also erupted, with Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan taking a sensational swipe at Premier Daniel Andrews's "failure of leadership" in maintaining remote learning in state schools.
Within hours of the Victorian Government demanding to know if his sentiments were shared by the Prime Minister, Mr Tehan withdrew his words, admitting he "overstepped the mark" in the Insiders interview.
It came on the same morning a Melbourne primary school was shut for three days after a teacher was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT was the first jurisdiction to reach zero active cases and from midnight on Friday, families were able to visit other families.
Children weren't counted in the 'two-person rule' around visits to other households, meaning two parents and their kids can visit another family in their home — essentially allowing 'play dates' to occur.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said it would be fine for people to have a small dinner party.
"It'd be a small dinner party — a gathering of four people, or six people, not a really large gathering," Mr Barr said.
Mr Barr also encouraged people to head out and shop at places other than supermarkets, while making sure they maintained what have become routine physical-distancing measures.
Travel into New South Wales was back on the cards, for the purpose of visiting family and friends.
Western Australia
In Western Australia, restrictions had already eased but the warm weather over the weekend brought many people out into the sunshine to gather in parks, on the foreshore and at the beaches.
Premier Mark McGowan said there were reports of some people "behaving badly" at a dam in regional WA, but such breaches were "isolated".
West Australians had mostly been abiding by the new gathering rule, under which groups of up to ten people can meet inside or outdoors, Mr McGowan said.
"Overall I think West Australians have been world leading. People have taken it so seriously," he said.
"West Australians have been fantastic."
For the past week, people in WA have been able to leave home for non-contact recreational activities such as private picnics in the park, fishing, boating, hiking or camping.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, some additional restrictions will be lifted in the state's north-west from midnight on Sunday, bringing the area back into line with restrictions in the rest of the state.
The region had the state's tightest restrictions due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Schools in the north-west were closed last week, and "non-essential businesses", such as big-box retailers, clothing retailers and hairdressers have been closed for three weeks.
The businesses will be allowed to reopen on Monday and schools will open for students who cannot stay home.
Across the rest of Tasmania's north and south, restrictions remained the same.
South Australia
South Australian councils were given the green light to reopen playgrounds on Sunday after the state recorded 10 days without a new coronavirus case on Saturday.
Most councils had taped off playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment during the pandemic.
While kids in Adelaide weren't able to enjoy playgrounds over the weekend, the city's Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said playgrounds should open by Monday afternoon.
Ms Verschoor also said she was looking forward to the city returning to normal soon.
South Australia's confirmed number of coronavirus cases sits at 438 and Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Mike Cusack said people still needed to work hard to prevent another outbreak.
SA Health Minister Stephen Wade said he was hoping to resume local football before winter.
"Competitions which operate within South Australian borders are more likely to be safe from a public health point of view, so I expect that SANFL will be with us before the AFL," he said.
