We're planning a three-week trip to Oz (our first) either Aug. 20-Sept. 10 or Nov. 12-Dec. 3 and are seeking advice on best time to go given our planned itinerary. Current plans are for a Harbor-Rock-Reef trip (not necessarily in that order) with three nights in the Red Center and the remainder divided between Sydney and North Queensland, latter including 3-4 nights on live-aboard dive boat. Key questions to us: Will Aug-Sept be too cold for us to fully enjoy Sydney? Will Nov.-Dec. be too hot in the Red Center and North Queensland? Also, we hear it can be windy on the Reef in August - how much of a problem? Thanks in advance for your responses.

When I saw your heading, I immediately came "on board" to suggest to you November, without doubt.... but now that I have read your full post, I'm not so sure. August/September is pretty windy in Sydney, but apart fropm a few isolated days (mostly in August) it's not particularly cold, and September can be quite lovely. Early November is pretty great, except for a tendency towards late-afternoon thunderstorms, but by December it's getting fairly hot.

And then you mentioned Uluru (Ayer's Rock).... and I started to lean towards the August/September dates. Certainly in November that part of Australia is HOT, and in December, it's really uncomfortable and the flies are terrible!

So, if you choose August, you would probably have the best time if you do the Rock first, and spend the last part of your holiday in Sydney.

In all of this, I have left out the Reef, because I really don't know what's the best time to go there; my understanding is that it never gets any colder than "very warm" up there, so I guess your main consideration would be "rain or dry". I will let the experts choose for you with regard to that area, but I am rather hoping they would say yhat the end of August was great, so that you could do Rock/Reef/Sydney in that order. If you come in November, I'd do Sydney/Reef, and forget the Rock altogether!

I would say August. It can be nice in Sydney at that time though a bit chilly at night. November can be wetter if warmer.

It is winter in Sydney then, sort of, but usually nice, about 70-75 so good for trotting about.

I was just in the same areas of OZ this past August/Sept (almost the exact same dates as yours). I think this is the time of year to be there. Nov would be quite hot at Ayres Rock.

Just remember that Aug/Sept is nearing the end of winter, and bring a jacket for early morning and evening tours at Ayres Rock. You should be just fine on the Reef. We never felt a chill. We did the bridge climb in Sydney and had to bundle up (everything was provided) and yes, it was windy but we LOVED it. "Winter" temps in Sydney are nothing like winter temps in Illinois!

Enjoy your trip.
Carol

Thanks to everyone for your advice. We're leaning strongly to Aug.-Sept. and will try to push back our departure as much as possible to have warmer weather in Sydney at the end of the trip. We're certain to have other posts on places to stay and things to do in each location.

Sydney is Aug-Sept will be suitable for short sleeves and minimal layers, unless you get a cold snap and even then, only need a jacket and long pants. Remember, it's Australia, not Austria. 'Cold' in Sydney is considered around 15 to 18 celsius and lower(60 to 70 roughly, so not cold). A cold winters day in Sydney is like winter in southern coastal States of USA.

wanderboys, its a good time for the Red Centre, and personally I don't like Sydney at that time of year, depends a lot where you come from and what you perceive as winter. FNQ is far warmer in August than Sydney, but it is usually blighted with SE trade winds which can make reef trips quite uncomfortable. For FNQ I'd give it to November over August anytime, after the SE winds have abated, and before the humidity of the "wet" sets in. Its also the time of year in FNQ when the wildlife is breeding which is why bird watchers from all over the world flock here (sorry about the unintentional pun).

Well, its horses for courses when it comes to weather, and I guess it where you come from as to how you feel about weather. I lived in Sydney for 40+ years and quite frankly I hate August weather with its horrid cold, blasting westerlies. As far as F

thanks for the posts - lots of food for thought. A live-aboard dive on the reef is a priority, so Aug. winds are a concern. Pat, are the winds any better in September? And if you see this post, any recommendations on the live-aboards? We'd love to do a combination Ribbon Reef-Coral Sea, but only Taka II offers that and we hear better things about Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom. Much thanks in advance for further advice.

I had the same reaction as Alan when I first saw your request as August can be windy in Sydney and the Rock very hot in November. I would say August /September would be better all over for you.I thought Nov would also be too hot in the reef area but Pat would have a better idea of that area than me. Have a great time whichever you choose.

hi wanderboys, September weather in FNQ is likely to be less windy than August. Taka II is quite new and a vast improvement on their old boat. If you look at www.divethereef.com there's loads of information on weather, reef trips etc.

September / Oct would be the preference on balance, other than that then definately November/December. September is the month that the weather in Sydney starts to turn to the positive, earlier than that and you stand a chance of being caught in poor weather. Up on the reef september is a great time of year but so is Nov/Dec. Sydney is beautiful between late september and early april.