Australia in July/August

[SisterAgathaVanHelsing]

We are starting to plan a trip to Australia in July/August 2020. We want to stop over in Singapore for a few days on one of the journeys, but aren't sure of where to stop over on the other leg. Any ideas? We had been thinking of Hong Kong but I've gone off that idea. Also not Dubai. We want to spend some time diving in the barrier reef area. I assume we'll fly to Cairns for this, but would love any recommendations of towns or hotels to stay in for diving. We don't mind driving out of Cairns itself for somewhere good (Port Douglas?). Then we'll visit friends and family in Sydney before flying home from there (with another stopover hopefully). Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated. We're time limited as we have to be back for A-Level results day, and DC wouldn't want to spend more than 3 weeks with us anyway.

Some great and very helpful advice. Thanks all. Will try to get going at the weekend.

As someone else said who you fly with will dictate your stopover options. I would always choose to stop in Singapore (and fly SA). We have done stopovers with kids from 3 to 20 and everyone always loves Singapore. For us we do it on the way home to Aus as after doing the long flight it seems like an easy hop from there to Sydney and helps with the jet lag. Obviously you would have it the other way around but I still think it's worth it so you end up with some sunny weather and especially if you leave from Sydney and we are having a cold a Winter. Staying in a hotel around Colliers Quay is good if you have older kids.

We stayed in Palm Cove which is a bit kind of cleaner and quieter than Cairns. Buses pick up there for reef trips.

Cairns region is tropical, it doesn't have a winter, just wet and dry seasons. August is dry season and it's beautiful up there. I prefer Port Douglas though, it's more villagey and has a gorgeous beach, and it's closer to attractions like Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation.

Kuala Lumpur is a great stopover, it's Singapore-lite, similar mix of cultures but smaller, less flashy, a lot cheaper. It's fabulous if you like Asian food. Singapore has since spectacular attractions though, and is great for kids.

*some

@PandancerandRabbitoplh, where did you stay in Cairns? I know it was 2 years ago but would give me some ideas of where to start my search. Thanks.

I've name changed but was PandancerandRabbitolph. After flying to Cairns we stayed in 3 places:

First AirBNB in Holloways Beach (very close to Cairns) - was about £100 per night roughly 2 years ago. It seems to have gone from AirBNB but think its this one:

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/holloways-beach/7504270

From there did Great Barrier Reef tour with Seastar which was excellent but is worth taking the anti sea-sickness tablets, you can buy them onboard. There's a lake there with canoes and beautiful garden, beautiful apartment.

Then we also stayed at Lumholtz Lodge in Atherton Tablelands. www.lumholtzlodge.com.au/

And a treehouse in the rainforest here:
www.canopytreehouses.com.au/

All where excellent, last two had loads of wildlife - Canopy doesn't have wifi.

as others haven't worked out, Australia is a continent and July/August is a great time for the north, which isn't somewhere you want to be in their summer. Also good for the outback - South Australia and Western Australia.

you should be out of stinger season so the Queensland beaches may be swimmable - lots of natural hazards in the rainforest area so take advice.

you could do places such as the Bungle Bungles - never been there as I was always in Oz at the wrong time but heard great things!

NZ not so good with the short days and winter throughout but can be done.

The advice above is a bit misleading.

There are no natural hazards in the rainforest unless you’re talking about slipping on a wet rock or grabbing a stinging plant, which won’t happen unless you’re the type of tourist who thinks it’s fine to leave the designated paths because rules don’t apply to you. Then you’ll probably get lost and no one will find you for a few days because mobile/cell reception is pretty shite in the rainforest. Take some snacks.

Of course Queensland’s beaches are swimmable without stingers because MOST Queensland beaches never have them ever, it’s only the top of Queensland that can be a problem at certain times of year. The stingers at the top of Queensland can kill you ... but they won’t be there in July/August ... other stingers elsewhere ... they’re stingers too but not ”stingers” as such and can be anywhere at any time but they’re just usually a bit ow, no death. Sharks are everywhere any time, but usually it’s fine if you make sure someone is out deeper in the water than you, and stay out of the water at dawn and dusk.

Saying SA and WA are good for the outback is just - huh? Most states have some “outback” in them as well as other stuff.

Yes July/August is a great time of year for the north. However the entire UK would fit comfortably within the state of Queensland so the temperatures in Australia at all times will vary.

I've been to Cairns in August and weather was lovely. Cairns itself is not that nice though, consider staying in either Palm Cove or Port
Douglas.

Hong Kong is a fab stopover but with all the recent protests I can imagine it is no longer first choice. The main options are Hong Kong,
Singapore and Dubai.
Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur May be doable if you use Thai or Malaysia Airlines but neither is as good as HK or Singapore. One option may be to take Singapore airlines both ways and stop in Singapore but take an additional cheap flight from there to one or the Malaysian or Indonesian islands. For example it was a few years ago but Air Asia from Singapore to Penang was easy, quick and super cheap (perhaps £50 return each).
Singapore airport is the most stress free big airport you could ever imagine.

silly me. The locals must have been making it up about the crocodiles (although I saw those, clearly the tourists who have been eaten were also making it up), the cassowaries( saw those), the dangerous snakes, the jellyfish (yes that was year end so not an issue I believe in July as I said), the rip currents when you can swim and the poisonous insects.

and the dengue fever too although that is rare.