Where to go in Oz for a few days in February
 

My husband and I are planning a trip to Australia in February. We are going to spend 5 nights in Sydney and 3 nights in the Whitsundays. We have another 2 or 3 nights to spend elsewhere. Our choices are:

1. Cairns/Port Douglas - concerned about the weather in February. We're from Houston so brutal humidity won't kill us, but rain everyday would really bum us out.
2. Kangaroo Island - it would probably take us a whole day to get there from the Whitsundays. Is it worth all the travel?
3. Tasmania - are 2-3 days enough time to see the main sights?
4. Uluru - We're thinking that February is not the time to visit.
5. Blue Mountains

As far as our interests go - we'd love to see unique towns, Australian wildlife, aboriginal culture (rock paintings would be a treat), and a taste of the outback. We're not big on hiking, but we're certainly able to do it if there's something really worth it.

Thanks for any advice you can provide,
Kim

Hi,

I think you've worked it out for yourselves. KI and Tassie - you'll spend more time travelling there than being there.

FNQ - not the best time.

Given your interests I'd go for the Blue Mts - do it properly with time to take some long hikes, and check out the Jenolan Caves, and stay somewhere really nice. Or go beyond the Blue Mts for a bit of a wander to check out the other side.

Alternatively, hire a car up there in QLD and go inland and go explore.

Depends really on whether you want to stick to the beaten track and go where everyone else goes, or are adventurous enough and/or curious enough to make your own trip.

If you like exploring for it's own sake then hire a car; acquire a map and make your own journey.

Either beyond the Blue Mts or inland from the Whitsundays would do. But the former probably best given the time available.

How about Derbyshire and the Pennines? I hear they're wonderful

Not at that time of year PalenqueBob

Isn't there an Aboriginal cultural centre in Cairns?I am sure I read about it. I have not been to it myself. How about the Daintree National Park while you are in North Queensland?
You could get rainy weather anywhere in the North of Aust in February including the Whitsundays.

I second the vote for Jenolan Caves. We stayed there and loved it. We also went to Kanangra Walls near there for a great hike. We also looked into going to Broken Hill from Sydney for a taste of the outback, but I think it might be too hot in Feb. Do a search on this site if it appeals. Happy planning!
Sally in Seattle

skittle, the Aboriginal cultural centre in Cairns is Tjapukai, but February is very wet up there.
Sydney is humid in February but perhaps not a problem for you. We've visited Jenolan Caves in January and it's ideal as the caves themselves are cool. Actually I don't mind the heat in inland NSW as it's much drier - not a problem with an ac car.
Another nice area in February is the NSW South Coast: there's an Aboriginal cultural centre north of Narooma, near Mt Dromedary, a sacred site to the Aborigines in that area. They organise 4WD excursions from there.

Thanks so much for all the responses. I'm thinking about doing the Blue Mountains/Jenolan Caves as a day trip from Sydney and spending our 2 extra nights in Broken Hill/White Cliffs. I know it will be hot, but I think we can handle it. I've read that the flies can be bad in Uluru during the summer. Is that something I'll have to contend with in Broken Hill as well?

The heat in Cairns will not be too bad and there is always the cooler Tablelands but it is quite possible that it could rain every day. Some of those days it could rain most of the day. If this is going to put you off then head to this part of the continent some other time. Cairns expects 13.7 days in February where the rainfall is more than a millimetre and an average of 422.4 mm for the month. 3.5 clear days for the month.

I would opt for the Blue Mountains. It is close to Sydney so that reduces the amount of time on your backside.