Summer trip to Australia

[cardy1969]

We're thinking about a trip to Australia within the next year and are wondering when the best time is to go, both from a practical point of view (School hols) and from a cost and weather point of view. We have 2DDs (14 & 17).

It's looking like our summer (July into Aug) would work best and flights are slightly cheaper however I'm worried that the weather would spoil it. It's a once in a lifetime holiday so want to do it right.

We're mostly like going to head to Sydney then north into Queensland up as far as Port Douglas. So as this is mostly tropical I though an Australian winter might be OK.

I spent a year on Oz twenty years ago a seen to remember was a good time to go.

Any thoughts welcome.

Can you swim in the sea up there, or just pools?

It'll be winter so yes Queensland is your best bet.

Though honestly, if I was going to come here for an overseas holiday I would try to avoid winter. Particularly if you're missing your summer for it.

It should be non jellyfish season, although the crocodiles operate year round...

Right time of year for the tropical north - gold coast always looked to be quite nasty but go further north than that and there is some amazing stuff. Kimberleys?

Cold in July here in South Australia but Queensland will be nice.

I always advise people to come during the Australian spring or Autumn.

We had mates come in July and they were slightly disapointed about the weather but we had warned them!

G'day @CheapSausagesAndSpam from another South Aussie

Spent the whole of August driving up the east coast and found the weather fine. Australians were all in their Uggs and jumpers and we were in shorts and tshirts and swimming in the pools. Temperature was in the high 70s - just perfect for me. Don't recall any rain. Camped out for a few nights too. Wouldn't describe the east coast as tropical - very dry & dusty from memory.

Some things weren't open or very quiet, eg water parks and zoos. Didn't swim in the sea - too scared of jellyfish!! Actually did swim in the sea - took a boat trip out to the Great Barrier reef. A must do!

One thing we didn't appreciate was how busy the hotels would be; we assumed the weekends would be busy, but it was the weekdays which caused us most problems. We didn't book more than 2-3 nights ahead as we wanted to take our time. Sometimes we're were on the 3rd / 4th choice before we found somewhere and there was just 3 of us sharing a room, so it might be best to be a bit more prepared with 4 of you.

we only made it as far as Cairns before flying into Alice Springs (hotter there).

I lived in Townsville for years. Winter there is like summer UK but with a few chilly nights. Anywhere further south and it would be too cold for a holiday. Only thing is I think Townsville is shit for tourism. Probably Cairns. It's pretty up there and more touristy. It will be very cold in Sydney Brisbane etc.

If you are doing Sydney and Port Douglas, October is definitely your best bet. Port Douglas will have lovely weather and you should sneak it in just before the irikanji (killer minuscule jellyfish) season. November would also be good weather but hot in Port Douglas, before the start of the wet season, but you can’t swim most places due to stingers but can still do the reef and tourist spots in full stinger suits.

Oct/Nov is a bit hit or miss for swimming in Sydney though. We have the odd hot run then while it’s warming up but consistent swimming weather is not guaranteed. Dec-Feb is the swimming season in Sydney. March is also possible for swimming but definitely cooling down so also a bit hit/miss but it will be the tail of the rainy season in Port Douglas at that time. October would be best if going to both places.

Thanks for the advice.

Our only choice re. time of year is either Easter, UK summer or Christmas because we need at least two week of school holidays. I appreciate that Spring and Autumn are probably better in terms of the weather but not possible because of school holidays.

It sounds like Easter would be good but I'm not sure we can save enough by this Easter. We could go for longer than two weeks if it's the UK summers hols but it sounds like your saying the weather even in the north wouldn't be ideal.

Christmas is maybe an option but I spect an expensive option.

Would you consider the West Coast? It's our favourite bit of Australia and took our girls last summer, spent 3 weeks travelling from Perth to Broome then went to Sydney for a week. It was truly amazing , the wildlife on that coast is so beautiful.

Hellypad, I spent a bit of time in Perth and along the coast from Perth when I went before and wasn't so keen. Also we have friends north of Sydney and on the Gold Coast so really want to spend a few days with them. DDs really want to go to the Great Barrier Reef too.

What time of year did you go and how was the weather?

We went in July, weather was lovely got warmer the further north we went. Obviously was a bit cooler in Sydney but was still like a spring day here.

We went twice as kids in the summer holidays for 5 weeks. We spent time in Queensland (where we had family) and the weather was mainly good, like our summer would be. The exception was the Blue Mountains which were freezing and we were totally unprepared for! The plus point was that accommodation was cheaper (and quieter) because it was out of season. Both times we went we rented a beautiful apartment in Noosa which was a bargain, and I remember me and my brother were the only ones in the pool for most of the week! The weather definitely didn't stop us from doing/enjoying things.

I have been in the winter. Perth weather was mixed - 21 degrees on some days, but then much cooler. We went to Broome and weather was glorious - dry, low humidity and about 30 every day. It's a great time yo explore the Kimberley. Have also been to Melbourne in July - again pretty mixed: some days around 20, but the weather did not affect our plans.

We pretty much want city, beaches and sea and will stick to the East coast but I'm a bit worried that the weather will be disappointing in July.

Rainshowers, I don't really recall our summer holidays having good weather for many years

That will be fine. Might be a bit cold for swimming but good weather for most things in those parts. Much better than goingin their summer.

We are going to Australia for 2.5 weeks this August, like you we only can go in school holidays so it has to be end July or August to get over 2 weeks. We booked flights to Sydney with BA and are flying up to Cairns for a week in the middle, its best to book multi flights I found after as its cheaper. Around Cairns we will stay at Trinity Beach in a,beachfront apartment and Lake Eachem where there is lots of wildlife at accomodation like flying possums and platypus, about 20 different animals. Will go to Great Barrier Reef and to Kuranda to cuddle a koala, cable car, duck tour, train etc. Around 27C max there.

The other week we are spending 3 nights in Port Stephens, around 18C average max so like a British summer, there we will do whale watching cruise, koalas in the wild, maybe camel rides and sandboarding and kangaroos in wild at Hunter Valley though apparently kangaroos are everywhere. Final 3/4 days not booked yet, a friend maybe flying over from NZ to see me though none of their school holidays match ours sadly but we will at least see main sites in Sydney and might do Featherdale / Blue Mountains.

The swimming in the ocean I am not sure about, the part by Sydney won't be warm enough, part by Cairns there are crocodiles so I am thinking stick to Great Barrier Reef and pools.

We have been a couple of times at Easter - we managed to find years when the 2 week school holidays were preceeded by the bank holiday weekend, so we were able to miss 4 days off school and go for just over 3 weeks. Our relatives are in Sydney and we couldn't bear to be there in August and not on the beach.

Byron Bay is apparently lovely in August and so is the G B Reef/the Whitsuns - you could do a week in Sydney in jumpers and then fly/drive up to find the sunshine . . .

Christmas will be shockingly expensive and give you very little time over there. Flight prices soar around 12th/13th December. I would rule that out and build a trip around what you can do in July/August. I found Sydney had lovely weather then, like a really good English summer.

I’ve been to Brisbane & Sunshine Coast a few times at Easter, the weather was ok on the beach sometimes but not really hot enough for me & the sea was freezing ( as was the pool) I don’t think you’d be able to sit in the beach in July ( unless you wrap up)

Long way to go to sit on a beach ( in murderous UV) and swim in risky waters. European beaches will be far better mid year.