Coronavirus lockdown: Weirdest hobbies Aussies are starting in isolation

Despite the temptation it seems most of us aren’t spending lockdown watching Netflix – instead we’re picking up hobbies our grandparents used to do.

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirming we will be in lockdown for at least another four weeks it seems Australians aren’t planning on wasting all that time at home.

Instead of bingeing on Netflix or steadily working our way through UberEats, it seems many of us are using self-isolation to pick up a new hobby.

But we’re not interested in just any old activity to pass the time, with analysis by Picodi.com showing that Australians are most interested in hobbies our grandparents would be familiar with.

In March, Google search queries for needlework increased by a whopping 259 per cent compared to that same month last year.

Searches were also up 133 per cent for information on crocheting, 148 per cent for card games inspo and 111 per cent for crosswords.

But top of the charts (and proving once again the Prime Minister wasn’t wrong when he said jigsaws were an “essential item”) was searches for board games and puzzles, which experienced a 270 per cent increase.

Looking for things to pass the time? The best shows to watch, the funniest videos, the best hacks and home workouts? Find it all at our Life (goes on) in Lockdown section  

Earlier this month Big W revealed shoppers were buying three to five times more family entertainment and learning items like puzzles, toys, gaming items and books at the discount store compared to this time last year.

However modern technology isn’t completely dead, with searches for online courses up 245 per cent and online games racking up a 163 per cent search increase.

“Beyond cleaning and household products, we’ve seen surges in sales across key categories including games, puzzles and toys, and craft for kids, as well as fitness items and work from home equipment like headsets and copy paper,” Big W’s commercial general manager Teresa Rendo told news.com.au.

RELATED: The best $24 you’ll spend in isolation

RELATED: Free courses to upskill during isolation

How to cross stitch videos like this one from YouTuber Simply In Stitches have also racked up tens of thousands of views.

Australians also are exercising from home, with searches for workouts up 138 per cent and yoga up 52 per cent.

While baking didn’t rate high in Google searches, empty shelves in supermarkets indicate it’s also a popular way to pass the time in isolation.

Shoppers across Australia are taking to Twitter and Facebook to vent after having no luck finding flour, despite in some cases searching multiple supermarkets.

The shortages come despite Aldi, Coles and Woolworths all limiting customers to just two packets of flour per purchase.

Flour isn’t the only pantry item in high demand, with Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci revealing cake mixes were also popular.

“Two of our highest growth categories this week have been cake mixes and household cleaning products. A lot more kids are baking and parents cleaning as we all spend more time at home,” he said earlier this month.