Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef

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Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef

Hi. My friend and I want to go Australia and hit both Sydney and the Reef. However, the weather is a real problem since these two areas are so different. Can anyone suggest a month to go when we can really enjoy the beaches at the Reef, but also have a nice time in Sydney (weather wise). Thanks in advance. JJ

Sydney in March is great - so is the reef. April, September, Oct, Nov,

I stayed in Port Douglas and Mossman area of rainforest during late March 2002 for a week, then headed to Sydney for a week from 3/31/02 through 4/7/02. Rainforest was about 85-88 degrees daily (about 72 at night)and sunny. The surf was very mild...like bath water. Sydney, too had no rain, except for a brief light shower for 15 minutes. Daytime highs of about 67 to 77 degrees with lows around 62 to 65-degree range. Ocean was certainly cooler. Lots of surfers and bathers at Manley Beach, some with wetsuits. I went in on my last day there and the water was decent..about 72-75 degrees. The weather in Sydney was great for touring and walking.

I went last September and the weather in both areas was beautiful.

JJ We were there in July and had absolutely fantastic weather at both locations. Sidney was 40F-75F and GBR was 70F-80F. Only one day of rain in 2 weeks and that was in Melbourne, but didn't deter us one bit.