Just wondering if October is a good time to visit Brisbane and Cairns in terms of weather. Is it cold? Rainy? Can you swim at that time of year? <BR>Also, does anyone know of a good website where I can find some weather statistics??<BR>Thanks for any help.<BR>Ann Marie

Hi Ann_marie,<BR>October is great quite hot and there are a few rain storms but that is normal.Swimming is ok too, the stingers come in November so Oct is fine.<BR>Cairns is a bit tired though, have you considered the Northern Beaches? Palm Cove or Port Douglas are beautiful.<BR>We were there from UK in Oct 2001 and it was a great time to go.<BR>Although this year we have chosen December HOT TIME.<BR>By the way, the Rugby world cup is on from Dec 10th for about a month or so.<BR>Not sure where the games are but Brisbane is sure to be a location.<BR>Have fun<BR>Muck

Sorry forgot to add<BR>http://www.about-australia.com/qldweat.htm<BR><BR><BR>http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/<BR><BR><BR>Muck

Me again.<BR>Sorry that should have read<BR>&quot;By the way, the Rugby world cup is on from OCTOBER 10th for about a month or so&quot;.<BR>

October is absolutely lovely weather wise for Brisbane and the surrounding areas, although because its our dry time of year the lushness is not quite so evident. <BR>You can swim at that time of year but Brisbane has no beaches so you need to go either just north or south to the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast. Cairns will be starting to get hot but not unpleasantly so. Do as the previous poster said and stay at Port Douglas and not Cairns. Cairns is and always was a sugar cane town which had access to the reef.

Thank you Mucky and LizF for your prompt replies. <BR>I look forwad to visiting Beautiful Australia!!<BR>As well Mucky, would Brisbane's hotels be very busy due to the Rugby World Cup?? <BR><BR>Thanks again<BR>AM

Hi Anne_marie,<BR>I am not sure how hotels will be affected by the RWC, I suppose they will be busy on certain dates.<BR>The fixture list is at this website. <BR>https://www.footyworld.com/fixture.asp?CatID=72<BR>Check out the dates of the games in Brisbane and confirm days either side with the hotels soon.<BR>I live in Cardiff Wales UK, we held the RWC in 1999 and there were no hotels available here at all, they were all booked up well in advance.<BR>Good luck and have fun.<BR><BR>Muck

You will not be able to swim in the ocean north of Rockhampton ie Cairns, port douglas etc because of stingers (that kill), however you can snorkle/dive because the stingers are blown into the beaches by prevailing winds at that time of year, but generally out on the reef it's ok. Any month with an &quot;r&quot; in it is the rule of thumb for stinger season. You can get plenty of reef trips from Port Douglas or Cairns. It will be hot enough to swim in pools everywhere in Qld in October but as Liz said, both coasts are 1 - 11/2 hours from Brisbane.

try www.sunshinecoast.com for info on beaches and hinterland 1 hour north of brisbane. Bring the sunscreen!!