I browsed through the Australian Store at Goway/Pacesetter Travel in Toronto the other day and was impressed by the beautiful hats. This brought to mind my question about what kind of headware is suitable/necessary for Hobart, Sydney and Cairns in April.

Would any brimmed hat do for the warmer climates such as the Tilley hats (heavy cotton, wide brims, washable, floatable, campaign style -- Desert Storm) or do you have any recommendations. Are there specific requirements that should be met?

I'm in high gear now for our three-week trip starting end of March. Exciting!

Are you going with O.A.T.?

Hi Michi,

Our Tilleys were our faithful companions when we lived in Australia.

But we bought Australian leather cowboy hats while we were in Australia. We love our Australian hats, and wear them every Stampede.

I'm not a Tilley fan - I think they look weird. But I love a hat I bought at Talbots - it looks kind of like a straw hat, but you can fold it and pack it and it retains its shape. I've used it on several trips the last few years and I love it.

There is no rules to what sort of hat to wear. Wide brims are the best as the sun is very strong in Cairns & Sydney. Hobart in April you may not even need one. Peak caps arn't good as your ears will burn. Acubra's (aussie hats) are made from rabbit fur & can be very hot.
A little cotton hat is very good as it will fold away to nothing for travelling.

Now this thread brings back fond memories! Upon arrival in Cairns, June 1998, I bought a cotton hat in blue with rather wide brim and holes in the sides (for circulation of air) and nice neck strap. I wanted it to keep the hot sun off my face and back of my neck. I still have the hat, which I filled with souvenir pins on that 5 week trip. When shopping for that hat, I kept seeing similar hats, but with corks hanging down from the brim, on pieces of string. I wondered WHY anyone would want such a hat. Well, let me tell you... by the time I got to the outback, I had met many of the "friendly flies" in OZ. The corks hanging down would help keep them out of your face. The flies love to crawl around on the INSIDE of your sunglasses. Yikes! I still remember friendly flies in OZ. I never bought one of the hats with hanging corks, but it's fun to remember them now. Thanks for bringing up the subject of hats.
Carol

Simpson

I'll watch for these hats when in Australia. We are not going to the Outback.

USNR who is OAT? Is that a travel company? We are travelling independently but with the help of a "downunder" travel specialist.

Overseas Adventure Travel, Cambridge, MA, a subsidiary of Grand Circle.

I have just had a laugh at simpsonc response..The hats with corks all around. I remember years ago buying one of these hars as a joke for a Swedish friend....
Please Michi do not wear one around Australia... no one ever does this & you will stand out in the crowd as a bit of a weird one.
The flys can be controlled with airagard or rid.... not a hat with corks !
Enjoy your time in Ozz.

michi,

Do take a look at the Tilley hats. They may not be the most stylish head wear around but they do the job well and come in a few colors and a number of styles and brim sizes and they do pack well. Actually on a few trips I have gotten very postive comments about my Tilley from other travellers and questions on where to get one.
We are going to Australia in the spring and my faithful Tilleys will be with me. I also really like the traditional Aussie hat but in hot temperatures it may be too heavy on the head. It does look great on though.