I'm planning a 3-wk caravan trip for 4, taking the coast from Adelaide to Cairns. We can go btwn mid-Jan and end of March. I hear about how hot it gets but all the charts show temps only as high as the mid-80s. What can I really expect for temps and rain (Passing storm or constant downpour?). What would be the best 3-wk period?

Hi Brian, <BR>That is a heck of a long way, estimate it would take min of 5 days solid driving from Adelaide to Cairns. Do you have to get back within the 3 week period as well? <BR>You would be better off travelling after school goes back which is usually about the end of Jan. It would be less crowded and you wouldn't have problems getting into caravan parks. <BR>If they have a bad wet season sometimes roads are cut and people flooded out. A mild wet season would mean rain and humidity but still warm. The only time I experienced a far north wet season, there were tropical downpours for a short time then the sun came back out and everything steamed. <BR>Kay

Hi Brian! I live in Brisbane, and the wet season is February-March. It can get to about 30 degrees Celsius here at that time, which is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This year, the El Nino has changed to El Nina weather patterns, which means the long drought periods have changed and more and heavier rain is expected. We had very heavy rains in Queensland, with extensive flooding in March this year. And apparently should expect more of the same next year. Of course, that time of the year is also cyclone season. They were relative fizzers this year, but did cause the flooding, but next year - who knows? February-March is just not a good time to tour the tropics, really. It's also extremely humid because of all the rain. Even when the temps are relatively mild and there's no flooding, it can rain heavily for up to five days at a time. Further north toward Cairns, roads can be cut off due to swollen rivers. Besides all that, taking three weeks to travel via the coast from Adelaide to Cairns with a caravan in tow is simply unrealistic. I have driven from Melbourne to Brisbane in four days, with overnight stops, but it's not much of a tour. It's a slog of a drive, even if you alternate drivers. Your three weeks would not be a leisurely tour. It would be a marathon, and certainly only a one way trip. The best time to do this trip, regarding the tropics is actually May-June. The rains are light, if any, and the daytime temps are around 24 degrees Celsius, or 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The nights are cooler, down to about 7 degrees Celsius, or 44 degrees Fahrenheit. The southern states of Australia will be half that, temperature-wise, though; and could have many days of fine drizzling rain.

Hello Brian, Lianne gives a good idea of the temperatures and the problems of travelling to Cairns in the wet season. Be aware of very high humidity as well. <BR>To put things in perspective, Lianne's trip, Brisbane to Melbourne is 1800 klms i.e 1100 miles. Adelaide to Cairns going shortest distance between all capital cities Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane-Cairns is 4800 klms or 3000 miles. Australian road conditions will not allow fast driving especially with a caravan in tow, and the roads are crowded in January. <BR>I hope you do come and see Australia, but 3 weeks is just not enough for that distance and time of year.

Hi grew up in Cairns where the temperature can regularly reach around 33 degrees celcius but the biggest problem is definitely the humidity which can be pretty overwhleming <BR>at that time of year if you aren't used to it.

Great advice so far. If you must visit between Jan & March why not just visit the southern states? February is the hottest time of the year in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra. Sydney can sometimes be a bit wet. Great beach weather and schools will be back. <BR> <BR>What is hot? 2 weeks of temperatures over 100C without a break.

OOps, 100C we'd all be cooking, literally. I meant 100 F (roughly 35 C to round things off).