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The Happiness Index study, which polled more than 8,500 Australians aged 18-64 years, showed rest and relaxation were the most enjoyable activities while physical exercise was least likely to make people happy.

Just over half of men said happiness meant surfing the internet, playing online games or accessing social-networking sites such as Facebook, compared with only 39% of women.

"Australians are made happy on a week-to-week basis, not by possessions and achievements, but by entertaining experiences and by meaningful interactions with others," claims Karen Phillips, managing director of The Leading Edge, the business consultancy that conducted the survey.

Fifty-five percent of women said having meals and spending time together as a family made them happiest, compared to 45% of men. Women are also more likely than men to have been made happy by their pets.

More men than women, 48% versus 40%, found happiness being intimate with another person while 38% of men, and only 28% of women, said drinking with friends brought them joy.

More women than men said reading a good book, eating comfort food or buying gifts made them happy.