I need help deciding whether to go to Australia for 2 1/2wks. in Dec. over the holidays, or to wait until August when we would have 1 month or more. (We are restricted by our kid's school holidays).We were thinking maybe going to Fiji this Dec. instead. Is Aug. not so good for Australia? We want to see Sydney, Ulla Dulla area(s. of Sydney), Gold Coast, Heron Isle., and the Whitsundays,. Don't want to swim in cold water. Can anyone advise?

Jules -<BR><BR>I was in Australia the last week of August last year. While that is early spring in southern Australia (Sydney), it is a perfect time to visit the Great barrier reef area. The stingrays are not out, so swimming is no problem and the temperatures are in the 80s. The weather in Sydney was in the 60s and rainy when we were there, but I was more interested in good weather at the GBR.<BR><BR>Martha<BR>

If it was me, I'd definitely be going in August - weather will be lovely on the Whitsundays at that time. Also, if you went in December, that's the time that we have school holidays and accommodation bookings are harder to get, and more expensive, as well.

Forgot to say - Sydney will be pretty cool in August, so bring a jacket and/or sweater. But it gets warmer the further north you go. And I STILL reckon it's preferable to December!

Jules -<BR><BR>When I said (wrote) stingrays, I was thinking jellyfish.<BR>Martha<BR>

August would be my choice. December/January is the main summer holiday and you would not as much freedom in choosing accommodation. Go anywhere from Coff's Harbour north to Cairns and you will have good weather. You should be able to get stand-by rates for the islands and also hotel accommodation on the mainland. <BR>Why Ulladulla? There is not much there and it would be out of your way. Why not fly into Sydney, have a few days there, fly onto Brisbane, hire a car and see the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and then fly north either to Cairns or Prosperine (for the Whitsunday Islands).<BR>Since you are travelling with children, an option would be to stay in cabins in caravan parks. They are usually self-contained so you could prepare some of your meals, plus the parks usually have barbecues, swimming pools, playground, games room etc and there are usually other children around for company. You can check www.big4.com.au or www.toptouristparks.com.au to get details.

August is a nice time in the Brisbane area/Gold Coast area. A bit windy perhaps. December is very hot and it's very busy on the beaches. I recommend driving to the sunshine coast as well. It's a hour and a half from brisbane and theres plenty of accomadation by the beach. I recommend CAloundra, Mooloolabah and Noosa. It's a lot less touristy than the Gold Coast. Also Australia Zoo (steve Irwin , crocodile hunter)is on the Sunshine Coast. You take the gateway/Bruce highway and head towards Nambour to get to the sunshine coast. Along the way you will see signs for australia zoo, take this turnoff as it will also take you through pineapple farming land and past the glasshouse mountains, much prettier than the main highway which you can easily join again later.

You will not be able to swim at the beaches of either the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast in August ( unless you come from a really cold climate and find cold water stimulating) it will not be nice weather for that.<BR>Usually December is fairly comfortable and it is only later in the summer that the high temps come to annoy you. <BR>On the other hand August would be lovely for the Cairns/PD area