Kappy

Hi

What month would you suggest is the best time to visit Sydney and Cairns?
I know a USA winter is there summer but it rains alot at the Barrier Reef.
I am thinking our fall or maybe spring.
In planning a trip there these are my conditions:
1. Not to rainy
2. Not really hot
3. Not to cold

Please advise.
Thank you in advance.

RalphR

Sydney and Cairns have very different climates...one is temperate (cool winters, hot summers), the other tropical (dry, warm winters, hot, humid and wet summers). So the ideal time for one isnt the same as the other. Best compromise is probably Oct-Nov (Australian spring) or April-May (Aussie autumn).

Kappy

Hi RalphR
Thank you so much for your answer so quickly.
I realize they are different but I want 5 days of the city experience without rain and to much humidity and 5 days of tropical weather (Great Barrier) without to much rain but it can be warm to go to the reef and beach.

madameX

What is your opinion of traveling to the Great BArrier Reef area in January? I've read that this time COULD be very rainy, but it's a good month for us to travel.

madameX

Dear All,

Please 'pardon my question. I've subsequently did a search and it looks like it can get pretty rainy, but the adive of some helpful Fodorites noted some options. We'll see.

Songdoc

I based in Pt. Douglas (at the FABULOUS Thala Beach Lodge) when I visited the reef. It was in June -- Australia's winter ... and it was right on the edge of being too hot. It was around 80 degrees and VERY humid.

The locals kept apologizing for the "cool" weather and ocean temperatures! Bottom line ... I had a great time visiting that part of the world and exploring, not only the reef, but the Daintree, Cape Tribulation, and more .. It's such a beautiful area. But there's NO way I'd do it during their summer.

The other thing to keep in mind is stinger season (which can run Oct. - June) if you plan to swim or snorkel ...

I've also been in Sydney three times during June -- and have either had a lot of rain -- or a mix of rain & nice days. Love Sydney! But I don't know if there's a good time to accommodate both climates.

AlanJG

The maximum for June this year was 29*C with an average maximum of 27*C. It was a little wetter by number of wet days than usual as well. I would go September - October but we all experience the weather differently. Hence I suggest you check out the BoM site for unbiased figures http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/

PS If it gets too hot for you in Cairns you can always go up to the Atherton Tablelands where it is cooler.

TravelSarah

I was in Sydney as well as in Cairns end of March and it was perfect. Sydney was still nice and warm but without those hot peaks as in summer, and although we had some short showers in Cairns the weather and climate was generally fine and not really humid. The temperatures were just right and we enjoyed our time.