1. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

Visit Uluru and you’ll see why the rock and surrounding land have such huge spiritual significance for the Anangu Aboriginal people. According to their creation myths, ancestral spirits formed Uluru, which lies in Australia’s red centre like an enormous, moody heart. Aboriginal guides will share these ancient tales as you walk around the rock’s base. Just 32 kilometers away is another sacred site – Kata Tjuta. You’ll be awestruck by these steep, rounded, russet domes over 3,500 hectares.

2. Kimberley, Western Australia

Featuring vast horizons and ancient gorges, the Kimberley region is one of the world’s last great wilderness areas. See Wandjina figures painted in caves and the mysterious Gwion Gwion paintings. Ride a camel on Broome’s breathtaking Cable Beach and 4WD the red-dirt road along the Dampier Peninsula. Learn the legend of the orange and black beehive domes of the Bungle Bungles and fly over vast Lake Argyle in Kununurra.

3. The Daintree, Queensland

More than 135 million years old, our stunning Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world. Traverse this canopy of green with traditional owners the Wujal Wujal people. Learn about bush tucker and fish for barramundi. See fresh-water crocodiles sunning themselves on the mangrove-lined river banks and rare tropical birds and animals, many of which are not found anywhere else on earth.

4. Coorong, South Australia

Become one with nature as you kayak along the lagoons and waterways of the Coorong. Your Ngarrindjeri guide will tell you about bush tucker, traditional medicines and the incredible local birdlife. As night falls, you can listen to stories unfold and smell the mouth-watering aroma of fresh damper (outback bread) as it is pulled from the embers of a campfire.

5. Gippsland, Victoria

Discover a rich Aboriginal history along Gippsland’s rugged coastline. Wander the fern gullies, sandy beaches and eucalypt forests of the sacred land now known as Wilsons Promontory National Park. Trace Aboriginal trading routes up to 18,000 years old. Watch local Aboriginal people make baskets, spears, shields and canoes in the traditional way at Bairnsdale. Or learn where the Dreamtime touched the rugged gorges, rainforest and gullies of Woolshed Creek.

6. Sydney cultural tours, New South Wales

Get a glimpse into the lives of Sydney’s original inhabitants on a harbor cruise or walking tour. You can learn the Aboriginal names and meanings of significant Sydney landmarks as you cruise the harbor with Aboriginal guides. Visit rock-carvings and old Aboriginal settlements and stop off for a traditional Aboriginal welcome on Clark Island. Off the boat, you can taste bush food and learn about Aboriginal use of plants on a walking tour through Sydney’s lush harbourside Botanical Gardens.

7. Bangarra Dance Company, National

You can’t miss a performance by one of Australia’s oldest, youngest and most innovative dance companies. Bangarra blends a living tradition stretching back 50,000 years with contemporary dance influences from across the world. See this truly Australian dance language in its home theatre in Sydney or on stages in cities across the nation.

Learn more about Australia’s vibrant, sophisticated and welcoming capital cities.  Here our relaxed outdoor lifestyle meets a melting pot of cultures and a whirlwind of theatre, restaurants, nightlife and events. Enjoy beach barbeques and ballet, open-air cinemas, jazz in the park and alfresco dining with 5-star food.  What’s more the skyscrapers and shopping strips are just a short drive from mountains, ocean, river and bush. Come, stay and celebrate, then start the rest of your Australian adventure.    

1. Ningaloo Reef

Meet the world’s biggest fish – the whale shark – in the clear, turquoise waters of Western Australia’s huge fringing reef. These gentle underwater giants feed on the bright coral reef between April and June. You can also dive, swim or snorkel with dolphins, graceful manta rays and hundreds of species of tropical fish. On Ningaloo, this rainbow of marine life is just meters from the shore.

2. Kakadu National Park

You’ll be lost for words in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park – a tapestry of rainforest and Aboriginal cultural artifacts across 19,000 square kilometers. Rugged escarpments, lush wetlands, plunging gorges and cascading waterfalls spill over each other here in our largest nature park. You’ll see millions of migratory birds in the wetlands and crocodiles sun their primitive hides on the banks of the Adelaide River.

3. Phillip Island

Every day at dusk, Summerland Beach on Phillip Island comes alive with thousands of little penguins. Watch them waddle home in riotous packs and pairs after their long day foraging for food in icy Bass Strait. The rugged ocean beaches, sheltered bays, blowholes and caves are also home to koalas, abundant bird life and a large colony of fur seals between October and December. It’s hard to believe this teeming natural habitat is just 90 minutes from Melbourne.

4. Ancient Rainforests: Tasmania’s National Parks

Step into the grandeur of the Tasmanian rainforest, and you’ll be stepping back 60 million years. With forty per cent of the island protected as national parks and reserves, pristine wilderness is never far away. The World Heritage area stretches more than 1.38 million hectares – from the rugged alpine peaks and dense rainforests of Cradle Mountain in the north to the island’s remote southern tip. 

5. Great Barrier Reef

Unforgettable is the word most people use to describe the Great Barrier Reef – a spectacle so vast it can be seen from space. This World Heritage marine wonderland is an explosion of color that stretches for 2,600 kilometers off the Queensland coast. You can access this undersea spectacular of marine life and coral reefs from Cairns and the Whitsundays in the north and Townsville,

6. Kangaroo Island

Meet seals, sea lions, koalas, wallabies, bandicoots and platypus in the wild on Kangaroo Island, an ecological haven accessible from Adelaide. The desert dunes, beaches, forest and farmland are just a short flight from Adelaide or ferry ride from Cape Jervis on the South Australian coast. Watch penguins make their nightly pilgrimage to shore, buy milk, cheese, wine and Ligurian honey fresh from local farmers and see fur seals frolic on the rocks and a colony of Australian sea lions at Seal Bay.

7. Blue Mountains

The blue-hazed beauty, dramatic cliffs and deep canyons of the Blue Mountains are just 90 minutes drive from Sydney. Soak up the breathtaking panoramas on a trek along the Six Foot Track, go mountain biking, horse riding and scale the sandstone cliffs. As well as a million hectares of World Heritage-listed wilderness, you’ll find quaint guesthouses, cozy cafes, luxurious resorts and a vibrant community of artists.

8. Australian Alps

Straddling New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, the Alps has uniquely Australian alpine vistas and year round opportunities for outdoor adventure. Hit Australia’s highest ski fields or hike to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, our highest peak. Immerse yourself in Aboriginal history in Namagdi National Park. Drive the Great Alpine Road past historic villages, wildflower-coated plains, trout-filled streams and rugged gorges. Or go cycling, caving, rafting, kayaking, four wheel driving and horse riding.

New South Wales: Byron Bay

You’ll love our new age paradise, famous for glorious surfing beaches and a lifestyle that combines hippy chic with hedonistic fun. Here you can learn to surf with local experts, take a sunrise walk along Cape Byron Walking Track, get your gear off on the nudist-friendly Kings Beach or ride the wild surf at The Pass. That’s in between drinking lattes, analyzing your aura and getting your palm read of course.

Queensland: Whitsundays

You can’t miss the Whitsundays – 74 pristine, palm-fringed islands tucked inside the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Amongst the white sand and warm, aquamarine waters you can meet marine life, see rainbow-colored coral, tussle with game fish, set sail, party hard or snooze next to the sea. With only eight islands inhabited, you’re sure to find one where only your footprints touch the sand.

Queensland: Gold Coast

This iconic holiday destination offers 70 kilometers of sun-drenched beaches, World Heritage-listed rainforests, theme parks and non-stop shopping and nightlife. Meet dolphins and polar bears at theme parks, ride rolling surf or do a day trip to an island. Party all night then explore the lush, subtropical hinterland. On Australia’s ‘coast with the most’ life is all about having fun.

Victoria: Mornington Peninsula

Discover top swimming and surfing beaches, historic bayside villages and million-dollar views on this picturesque peninsula on Port Phillip Bay just an hour south of Melbourne. Trek the rugged coastline past dunes, beaches, cliffs and lighthouses. Then spot koalas on French Island, swim with dolphins and seals at Sorrento and stop for lunch at vineyards or olive groves overlooking the sea.

Tasmania: Wineglass Bay

You can enjoy pristine beaches all to yourself on the stunning Freycinet Peninsula. The most famous is Wineglass Bay, a perfect curve of white sand and turquoise sea against pink and grey granite peaks. Take in the magical view after an easy climb from Coles Bay or challenging trek from the top of Mount Amos. Or connect to this coastal paradise by going sea kayaking, swimming and scuba diving.

Western Australia: Margaret River

This famous wine growing region is also a natural paradise of surf beaches, tall karri forests, underground caves and bush tracks. The wonderful wine and food of the vineyards meet world-class waves on the 75 beaches. Swim in the crystal-clear waters of Bunker Bay, ride the crashing surf of Surfers Point, and watch whales and explore caves at Cape Leeuwin. Margaret River is a place where breathtaking scenery and good living meld into one.

South Australia: Fleurieu Peninsula

Dive or snorkel dramatic shipwrecks and marine life, visit famous vineyards or hit the surf in this coastal playground, just an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. Stay in cute coastal hamlets Port Noarlunga and Victor Harbor or the historic river town of Goolwa. Take a dip in perfect Horseshoe Bay, windsurf at Sellicks Beach or dive at Rapid Bay. See ancient forests and visit local wineries. Walk across spectacular headlands and get up close to native wildlife. No wonder they say this coat hanger-shaped strip has it all.

Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Take a scenic flight and see the monumental splendor of the rock basin of Wilpena Pound roll out beneath you, then explore the legendary waterholes of the Flinders Ranges. See Aboriginal art at Arkaroo Rock and explore the area’s pastoral history at Wilpena Pound Station. Afterwards, head to a friendly pub and taste-test some of the area’s famous bush tucker while swapping stories with the locals.

Longreach, Queensland

Join a campfire and hear the poetry of the outback people at the spiritual homeland of the Aussie ‘bushy’. Here you can learn about the history of the outback and the people who call it home at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Home of the world’s first flying surgeon and the birthplace of our national airline Qantas, there’s much to do in and around this legendary outback town.

Broken Hill, New South Wales

Discover distinctive desert landscapes and an oasis of lakes around the former mining town known as Silver City. Once the world’s largest silver, lead and zinc mine, Broken Hill is now famous for its artists, who draw inspiration from the clear light and expansive vistas. Take a sunset stroll around the Living Desert Sculptures, watch birds around Menindee Lakes and do a radio lesson in the world’s largest virtual classroom at the School of the Air.

Glen Helen Gorge, Northern Territory

After trekking through the MacDonnell Ranges, you’ll be overjoyed to reach the broad, cool waterhole of Glen Helen Gorge. This permanent waterhole is a sanctuary for the Finke River’s nine species of fish and migrating water birds. Dive in for a refreshing swim then pitch your tent under the stars. You might even spot a black-footed rock wallaby.

Kununurra, Western Australia

Explore ridges and ranges 350 million years old and see where rare pink diamonds are mined. Jump on a bull at the local rodeo, catch a huge barramundi or join the crowds at an outback horse race. Dine on mud crab in remote camp restaurants and marvel at the vast and magnificent Lake Argyle. However you experience this diverse region, you can bet you won’t forget it. 

Mildura, Victoria

This vibrant outback oasis on the Murray River is renowned for its endless sunshine, picturesque vineyards and ancient lunar landscapes. Explore Aboriginal culture in the sand dunes of Lake Mungo or in the sublime World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes. Dine at award-winning restaurants or cruise past wineries on a house boat or historic paddle steamer. See rugged outback scenery and stunning sunsets from a hot air balloon or tackle them on a four wheel drive.

Northern Territories: Street Food & Vendors

Welcome to Darwin’s Mindil Beach Sunset Market where you can sample the flavors of the Asia-Pacific in a balmy, tropical setting. The coconut palms are swaying in the sunset, and the smell of sizzling satay and spicy noodles is in the air. Held every Thursday night between May and October, these popular markets offer over 60 food stalls to sate your appetite while the sun goes down.

Melbourne: Yarra Valley Family Owned Vineyards

Just behind Melbourne’s fringes is the Yarra Valley – a place of pristine beauty, crisp clean water and friendly ambience. Clustered behind its rolling hills are 55 wineries, ranging from small family-owned vineyards to the famous Chateau Yering and Domain Chandon. Dine in gourmet restaurants and taste pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling in a world reminiscent of French and Italian wine growing regions.

Adelaide: Barossa Valley Australia’s Famous Wine Region

Sip wines from more than 60 cellar doors, including Yalumba, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehmann in Australia’s wine capital. In the Barossa you’ll get to meet the people behind the labels and talk to them about their craft. You can also match your favorite wine with locally made cheese on a food and wine trail, tour historic wineries, take a tutored tasting or learn cellar secrets in a wine master class. Of course, nothing beats a long lunch under the gum trees with a bottle of one of the region’s flagship wines, Barossa Shiraz or Eden Valley Riesling.

Tazmania:  Coal River Valley

Enjoy pinot noirs, cabernets and medal-winning chardonnays in the scenic Coal River Valley, just a 10 minute drive from Hobart. Sample superb cool-climate wines at the cellar doors and taste fresh Tasmanian produce in vineyard restaurants. Soak up the water views and stop off at the historic village of Richmond before completing your idyllic day trip. 

Sydney: Bondi Beach

Savor spectacular ocean views with your food in Bondi’s many beachside eateries. Enjoy a gelato at the 1920s Bondi Pavilion or watch the sun go down with a cocktail at one of the acclaimed restaurants. At the cafes on Campbell Parade, Hall Street and clustered around Bondi’s back streets, you’ll find everything from tapas to the world’s best brunch to classic fish and chips.

Perth: Food, Wine, Microbrewerie & Leisure

Indulge in divine local produce and award-winning wines in Western Australia’s oldest wine region, just a boat ride from Perth. Take in the vines, waterfalls and lush bush land on a cruise up the Swan River. Then hop off for cellar door tastings, a visit to one of the microbreweries and a vineyard or picnic lunch. The Swan Valley is also great for horse riding, cycling, golf, wildlife watching and heritage walks. Check out the antique shops, pubs and galleries in the historic village of Guildford before you head home.

Queensland: Cairns Fresh Produce and Rainforests

Feast on locally-grown bananas, paw-paws, mangos, pineapples and lychees in the ‘exotic fruit bowl of the world’ near Cairns. But more than fruit flourishes in the region’s rich volcanic soils, green rainforest belt and clean tropical waters. Try seafood, game meats, freshly-made pasta and organic bush foods. Visit an organic permaculture orchard in the rainforest, dine on freshly-caught barramundi in Cairns or sample macadamias and coffee on plantations in the tablelands.

Canberra: Australia’s Capitol

Visit cool climate wineries, country cafes, art galleries and craft studios on this self-drive through the Canberra countryside. This is a region where you can enjoy the fruits of country labour – a table laden with delicious food and a bottle of last year’s vintage. Stay in a bed and breakfast where you sleep in crisp linen sheets and wake to bird song on the verandah. Buy handmade glassware and pottery from the galleries and taste wood smoked meats and homemade wine on a farm.

Choose Your Class:

If you are flying First Class or Business Class, great! This is very expensive though. Business Class tickets from the U.S. can be over $7,000 (U.S.). First Class can be over $12,000 (U.S.). The service is much better and you will be much more comfortable than in Coach. The key to flying in Business or First Class is to use your frequent flier miles if you fly a lot for work. Even then, the Business Class ticket on American Airlines and Qantas will cost you around 115,000 miles. Book early if you are using your miles. There are very few seats allocated for these international flights.

Booking:

It is advisable that you book 6 months in advance or more. The problem that you face is that the airlines will tell you that there are no seats available for frequent flier miles on the flight that you want. Business Class and First Class may be half empty but there are no seats allocated for your type of “free” ticket is what they are saying. If you find yourself in this situation you may need to be a little flexible. Ask about flights that are not nonstop. Can you get on a flight that stops in Auckland, New Zealand and then fly on to Sydney or Melbourne? Can you fly through Hong Kong? Qantas has a flight that leaves New York, stops in Los Angeles and then flies nonstop to Sydney. You may not be able to get on the Los Angeles to Sydney flight but you can get on the New York to Sydney flight even though it is the same plane. I know it’s nuts but that’s how it is. We are speaking from personal experience. If you are still having issues you can sometimes wait until the last week or two before the flight is due to leave. Some times the airline will open their inventory as their flight is not full and they are happy to take your frequent flier miles. You need to call every couple of days as no one will call you when the inventory opens up.

One tip to make life easier if you are flying Coach is to get to the airport very early. It is much better to have a 4 hour layover in Los Angeles and have an exit row for 14 hours than to have a 2 hour layover in Los Angeles and a middle seat at the back of the plane for 14 hours. Many airlines will not assign the exit rows until the day of the flight. If you are lucky enough to get an exit row, make sure that you don’t get the window seat. Many of the Boeing 747’s have large bulky emergency exit doors that protrude into your leg space. I am not sure what’s in the door but it is most likely the inflatable slide that is used in the event of an emergency. This is just speculation!

Airlines:

Which companies fly to Australia? If you are departing the United States you have several choices. Qantas, Air New Zealand and United all fly from California to Sydney and Melbourne. An option may be to stop over in Asia, in Hong Kong for example. Cathay Pacific flies from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. You may want to consider breaking up the journey and stopping in the South Pacific region. Air Pacific Airlines flies from California to Fiji for example. Flying from Europe offers up a whole other set of choices.

The internet provides a wonderful opportunity to explore and research your flight opportunities. Two sites that we have used are Expedia and TravelNow.com. Both are powerful travel search engines and are a great place to start researching your options. There are many others however and much of it is personal preference.

Traveling within Australia has also become a lot more competitive more recently and may be worth a little research. The airlines that operate within Australia are Qantas,Virgin Blue, Skywest, and Kendell Airlines. There may be others by now but we don’t know about them.

The bottom line is that you will get there. Even if you are stuck in a middle seat at the back of the plane, Australia is worth it. Well worth it. There is no other country like it. Enjoy it.

You, of course, enter the car from the driver’s side. Oops, not on the left-hand side, mate — on the right-hand side where the steering wheel is!

Now for a few terms you may need, or want, to know. That thing you see through in front of you is not a windshield, it’s a windscreen. And you don’t put your luggage in the trunk; you put it in the boot. Don’t fill up with gas, go for petrol instead.

Ease into the left-hand side of the street and if you need to turn left or right, don’t worry too much if you switch on your windscreen wipers instead of your turn signal lights — just so you get to turn on the signal lights after a bit of fumbling, but don’t take too long.

Australian traffic rules to remember:

If you’re driving slowly — getting used to the traffic, y’know — the lane for you is the leftmost lane if there is more than one lane in the direction you’re going.

If you’re traveling on a highway or freeway, Australian traffic rules say you should stay on the left lane (or one of the left lanes if there are more than two lanes going in the one direction) unless you’re overtaking. There would be signs to remind you of this.

If you’re entering and crossing an intersection, drivers customarily defer to the motorist on the right unless he or she is stopped by a STOP or YIELD sign. At a T intersection, the motorist driving straight through has the right of way.

Don’t beep your horn — unless you’re in a situation where you need to warn another driver, for instance, when he’s about to hit you.

The speed limit in a built-up residential area has for a long time been 60 kilometers per hour (35mph), but this has been reduced in many places to 50 kilometers per hour as in the Brisbane suburbs and a number of Sydney areas. Other cities may have adopted the lower limit as well. Be watchful of posted speed limits and do check with the locals. On country roads and highways the usual speed limit has been 100km/hr (62mph) or 110km/hr (68mph), particularly on freeways, unless signs indicate another speed limit. Already, the speed limit on certain stretches of the Newcastle Highway and on Sydney’s M4 freeway has been reduced.

Some road signs to take note of:

NO STANDING. Well, sure, you can’t be standing while driving a car. What it means is you can’t stop in the area indicated except to let a passenger get in or off a vehicle, and you certainly can’t park there.

NO STOPPING. Except in the event of medical emergencies, don’t stop in the area indicated.

NO PARKING. Just what it means. You can unload and unload passengers but shouldn’t leave your vehicle parked there.

BUS ZONE. Well, leave that to the buses. Taxi zone. Ditto for taxis.

LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE. If you’re driving a truck, ute, van or wagon, you’re allowed to park here if you’re delivering or picking up some sort of cargo. If you’re driving a passenger car, you may have to explain what you’re loading or unloading.

The Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Harbor Tunnel, and some of the highways and roads are toll ways, so have change ready to go through the tollgates quickly. A growing number of cars are fitted with transponders which allow these vehicles to drive through specially marked gates without stopping. An encoded magnetic card has also been available for some toll ways. On some toll ways, only transponders called e-Tags (and temporary e-Way passes) can be used.

Driving in Australia:

If you’re a visitor and hold a valid driver’s license (in English) from your own country, fine, you’re allowed to drive throughout all of Australia. (But an international driver’s license, if you have one, does not by itself give you the right to drive in Australia.)

If your driver’s licence is not in English, a translation may be necessary and you may also need to have an international driver’s license.

If you come from a country where motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road, there’s not much more to know, and you should easily adjust to driving in Australia by following local driving customs and laws.

If you come from the US, or from another country where people drive on the right-hand side of the road, there’ll be a bit to get used to, the main thing being that you drive on the left-hand side of the road in Australia; and that if you turn left or right, you must remember to go, as you complete your turn, into the left-hand side of the road you are turning into, instead of to the right as you’re used to.

Parking

When driving in Australia, it is important to park properly to avoid getting a ticket.

You can park off-street where no NO STANDING, NO PARKING, or other restrictions apply.

You can park at car parks or parking stations, usually at an hourly rate.

You can park where there are parking meters so long as you feed them with the right money (have $2 and $1 coins handy) and don’t overstay.

Roundabouts:

Traffic in a roundabout flows in a clockwise direction.

In a two-lane roundabout, you keep to the left lane if you’re turning left or going straight ahead.

You keep to the right lane if you’re turning right. You can also use the right lane in a two-lane roundabout if you’re going straight ahead.

You use your left-turn signal for a left turn, the right-turn signal for a right turn. If you’re turning right and are on the right lane, switch on your left-turn signal when exiting. It has become law in New South Wales that motorists must signal left, in every instance, whenever exiting from a roundabout.

Summer: December to February

Autumn: March to May

Winter: June to August

Spring: September to November

This means that the Australian Christmas takes place at the height of summer. It also means that the mid-year break for students happens in winter. The end of year break for students is commonly known as the ’summer holidays’, or the ‘Christmas holidays’.

Even though the four ‘official’ calendar seasons have the same names as the northern hemisphere seasons, the weather during these seasons is very different to northern hemisphere weather patterns. Australia is generally a very dry place, so summers can get much hotter. The pattern of rainfall is also distinct – some places have abundant rain at one time of the year and almost none at other times.

Indigenous Australians have long had their own seasonal calendars, which are different from the seasonal calendar brought to Australia by the British in 1788. For example, the Jawoyn, from the Northern Territory, recognize six seasons. Jiorrk, the wet season, lasts from January to February. Bungarung, the end of the rains, lasts from March to mid-April. Jungalk, the hot start of the dry period, lasts from mid-April to the end of May. Malaparr, the cooler, middle part of the dry period, lasts from June to the end of August. Worrwopmi, the humid time, lasts from September to the end of October. Wakaringding, the humid time when the first rains begin to fall, lasts from November until the end of December. All different kinds of weather

All Different Kinds of Weather

Because Australia is such a large country, its weather varies significantly in different parts of the continent. Living in Australia can involve everything from sunbathing on the beach in scorching summers to knocking snow off your boots after a day of skiing; sweating out the humidity during the build-up at the beginning of the wet season, to wrapping up snug and waiting at the bus stop in the pouring rain.

In the north there are tropical regions with high temperatures and high humidity and distinct wet and dry seasons. In the centre of the country are dry, desert regions with high daytime temperatures and low amounts of rain. In the south are the temperate regions with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from hot to cold.

The temperature in Australia changes with the seasons, but in general it ranges between highs of 50 degrees Celsius to lows of sub-zero temperatures. The lowest temperatures reached in Australia, however, are not comparable to the extreme lows experienced in other continents. This is partly because Australia lacks very high mountains and enjoys the presence of warming oceans around its coastal regions.

Australia’s Tropical Regions

The tropical regions of Australia are in the north of the country. They include the central and northern parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland, and the northern parts of Western Australia. The weather in the Australian tropics has two very different seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

The wet season lasts about six months in summer and spring, between December and March. It is hotter than the dry season, with temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius. This is because of the high humidity during the wet, which is caused by large amounts of water in the air. During the wet there is a lot of rain, which frequently causes flooding.

The dry season lasts about six months in autumn and winter, usually between May and October. Temperatures are lower and the skies are generally clearer during the dry. The average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius.

The ‘build up’ is the humid time of year between the wet and dry seasons. It usually lasts for three or four months. Things become quite tense during the ‘build up’ as people sit and swelter in the humidity while waiting and hoping for the first rains to come. The humidity continues day and night with no respite, so when the rains finally do come everyone enjoys their cooling relief.

Australia’s Dry Regions

The driest regions of Australia are found mostly in central Australia, stretching from most of central and southern Western Australia, through the southern parts of the Northern Territory and most of South Australia, to the far west regions of Queensland and New South Wales, and the north-western parts of Victoria.

The dry and desert regions of Australia are characterized by intense heat during the day and intense cold at night. Temperatures range from around 40 degrees Celsius in the summer to between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius in the winter. At night the temperature can vary from 19 degrees Celsius to zero degrees Celsius; these areas receive little rainfall. Most of central Australia is normally in a state of drought.

Australia’s temperate regions

The temperate areas of Australia are found on the south-eastern coast, reaching south from Tasmania through most of Victoria and New South Wales into the southern parts of Queensland. Temperate regions are also found in the southern most parts of South Australia and the south-western tip of Western Australia.

The weather in temperate Australia is quite changeable throughout the year, with an average temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius in the summer, and cool to cold winters with an average temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. The summer frequently extends into periods of heat wave and drought, while the winters, while usually cold, wet and windy, are quite mild in comparison to winters in many European countries.

Snow is uncommon in temperate Australia, and unheard of in the dry and tropical regions, but along the Great Dividing Range, the mountain range that passes through New South Wales and Victoria, there are regular winter snowfalls.

The tropical storm season lasts from May to December; the rainy season extends into January with peak precipitation in September. February to early May tend to be drier with only occasional scattered showers. Although large hurricanes are rare, they have struck near to Cancun in recent years, Hurricane Wilma in 2005 being the largest. Hurricane Gilbert also made a devastating direct hit on Cancún in September 1988. Hurricane Dean also made its mark on the city