Our family (kids ages 12 and 15) is thinking about a trip to Australia in early August. We would have about 13 days on the ground. We know we want to visit Sydney and idea of a few days at the Great Barrier Reef (and presumably warm weather) sounds appealing. I assume we could include another destination or two. Any suggestions? We would like to see some wildlife and we don't mind flying from place to place. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mandelieu,

August is one of the coldest months, even on the GBR - it depends on how far north you want to go. But dont let that put you off.

If you are after wide open spaces and remoteness, Karinji NP in Western Australia has the best gorges and scenery, or you could try the Kimberley and the Gibb River Beef Road. It is warm to hot there at that time of year.

How far north would we have to go to expect warm (swimming) weather near the Great Barrier Reef? Also, should we rule out a visit to Kangaroo Island at that time of year because of weather issues? Thanks.

When my two kids were exactly the same age in the same month and for about 3 weeks we made a trip which went like this:
Sydney, (city, Hawkesbury River),
Darwin (Kakadu/Litchfield Park/Berry Springs),
Cairns (GBR and train trip up in the mts behind Cairns)
Sydney return.
Their favourite parts which they remember vividly 10 years later are Mindel Beach Night Market in Darwin, picnicking & swimming near the waterfall at Litchfield, snorkeling on the GBR and going up close to the Opera House so they could touch it. That's about it - all the free bits! - they seem to have forgotten every other detail in the trip - especially anything involving an expensive ticket.

August is not the month I would choose. You ask "how far north" - the water temps in Cairns are cold in July never mind August and if you want to go much further north on the East Coast you need to like a bit of an adventure.

Could, of course, just be me. If you are all well fleshed and used to cool Northern summers you might find it perfectly OK.

It is, though, a great time to visit the centre, go discover the outback, and - yes - Kakadu would be wonderful.

Some of the best swimming is to be had in the swimming holes in the dry regions.

I've been to the north of Australia several times in August. All in all it's a great time to go. In Cairns you can expect very nice weather (generally clear, dry and warm) with air highs close to 80 F and water temperatures around 70 F. That's not too cold for most people who visit the Great Barrier Reef at that time of year. Darwin, Kakadu and the Kimberly are excellent August destinations too.

Here's another vote for the Great Barrier Reef and Darwin in August. We've made this trip a couple of times in August with our kids (once when they were the same ages as yours) and they absolutely love those two places.
I'm not sure what your interests are, but I would split up my time like this:
Sydney (3 days)
Sightseeing (1 day) Taronga Zoo or Featherdale Park (1 day)
Museums or Day Trip to Blue Mountains via train (1 day)

Port Douglas (4 days)
Snorkel or dive trip to the Reef (1 day)
Mossman Gorge & Daintree NP (1 day)
Kuranda (and maybe Tjapukai Center) - 1 day
Breakfast with the Birds and beach - 1 day

Darwin--(5 days)
Litchfield NP - 1 day
Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs Park - 1 day
Drive to Katherine, stopping at Edith Falls NP for hiking & swimming - 1 day
Canoeing in Katherine Gorge and the Crocodile Night Adventure - 1 day
Visit Cutti Cutti cave and drive back to Darwin OR drive to Darwin and visit museums and Aquascene there.
(Note: Be sure to be in Darwin for Mindil Sunset Market. I beleive it is on Thursday nights in August.)

I've been to Kangaroo Island in early August and it was a bit chilly, but the wildlife there is incredible. If you really want to see animals in the wild, this is the place to go. If you decide to go to KI instead of Darwin, I'd allow 4 days for Adelaide/KI and add another day onto either Sydney or Port Douglas.

Finally, a couple of notes: 1) Don't try to do more than 3 destinations in your 13-day trip, 2) I think Port Douglas is preferable to Cairns--smaller and with a beach. 3) If you go to Kuranda, I would take the Skyrail both ways. There is also a train that goes there and most folks go one way by train and one way by Skyrail, but unless your teens are big train fans, they will probably find that trip boring, 4) The weather in PD and Darwin will be great in August. It will be high 70's to low 80's in PD (shorts weather) and it will be hot in Darwin (high 80's to low 90's). Sydney will be cooler, but we've been very lucky there in August. It's always been very spring-like for us, so we've been able to wear short sleeves and maybe a light jacket in the evening. It can, however, get cool and rainy that time of year but it wouldn't keep me from going there in August.

July/August temps for northern GBR around Cairns/Port Douglas which are nowhere near the most northern but assume that's what we're talking about here in winter are: avg daily high - 79F; avg daily low 61F and avg water temperature of 72F. These are also the two windiest months of year, and that can interfere with a reef trip in terms of visibility and likelihood of sea-sickness. Don't expect balmy tropical evenings with outside dining, this is for summer with its far calmer reef conditions.

Cairns city doesn't have a beach, it has a harbour, but just north are a string of beaches, Holloways, Yorkeys, Trinity, Kewarra, Clifton,Palm Cove and then Ellis. Palm Cove is the most up-market and the others are ideal for families. Ellis is a particularly lovely beach with beachfront family cabins ,its just a little more remote than the others and you'd need a car.

Can't see the point of taking Skyrail both ways, you're going over the same ground, or at least the same rainforest canopy. Kuranda train goes on another route and for anyone and is a must for anyone interested in the development of the north; incredible hardships and loss of life suffered back in 1800's building the line and tunnels - Skyrail was built in 1995.

Why are you heading north, come south see Marvellous Melbourne, four seasons in one day! Beatiful beaches...Wineries on Mornington Peninsula, Fairy Penquins, swim with Dolphins get a ferry ride from Sorrento to Queenscliff, visit Geelong...the list goes on...Great Ocean Road...etc etc....