Best Time To Visit Australia’s Cities, Beaches & The Red Centre
When is best time to visit Australia? From the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Ocean Road, there are different answers for different destinations. Find out more below.
Firstly let’s dispel the myth that the best time to visit Australia is from December – February or winter time for us Europeans. It is simply not true! We have to remember that Australia is not only the world’s largest island, but it is a continent and is almost the same size as Europe. It takes the same length of time to fly from Perth to Cairns as it takes to fly from Dublin to Lanzarote – and we fly to Lanzarote for Winter sun! In Australia, when it is cold and wet in one part of the country it can be hot and dry in the other. Therefore any time of year is the best time to visit Australia!
I don’t believe there is another country that is so diverse in culture, landscape or climate. Deciding on where and when to visit various parts of Australia can be the tricky part. This is where I come in! I have teamed up with Australian Sky , the specialists to Australia to show you the best time to visit Australia. Australian Sky offer a number of holiday options all over Australia. They can tailor make a package to suit you with flights, hotels and transfers, they can organise self-drive holidays or even escorted tours.
Best places to visit in Australia in Autumn / Winter
Our winter is often considered the best time to visit Australia, when children are on school holidays, festivals are in full swing and beach barbies are part of daily life. This eleven-night self drive itinerary starts and finishes in two of Australia’s amazing cities, as well as allowing you to get off the beaten track and drive one of the best coastal drives in the world.
Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road & Kangaroo Island Self-Drive, 11 Nights, Hotels, Car Hire, €1269
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s most iconic coastal drives and many say is was the inspiration for our own Wild Atlantic Way. You will begin your journey in the dynamic city of Melbourne where you can soak up Australian city life for two nights before embarking on your road trip.
Your first stop will be Torquay, the surfing capital of Australia before driving onwards to famous Bells Beach and spending a night in Apollo Bay. Drive along the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell passing the iconic Twelve Apostles and discover the London Bridge. Drive through the Grampians National Park and onto Halls Gap, which offers stunning scenery and interesting attractions. You will then travel through various towns before reaching Mt Gambier, where you can visit the surrounding crater lakes and the Sunken Garden. Your journey continues along the coast to Coorong National Park, past stunning lakes, before arriving at the seaside town, Victor Harbour. Walk across the Causeway and explore Granite Island. Take the car ferry to the unique Kangaroo Island and enjoy two days with the native kangaroos, koalas and sea lions! You will finish your journey in Adelaide where you will have two days to explore this city of culture.
Price includes accommodation, car hire and airport transfers.
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Sydney & the Blue Mountains, 3 Nights, Hotels, Excursions, €619 per person
This three night escorted tour is a great add-on to any Australian holiday. You will spend two nights in one of Australia’s most loved cities followed by a night of adventure near the Blue Mountains.
Your first day is at leisure in Sydney, so you can walk the city and explore the Rocks area, the Sydney Opera House and marvel at the Sydney Harbour bridge. The following day you will get to visit the famous Manly beach, cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge and enjoy a cruise with lunch around Sydney harbour. In the afternoon you will be treated to a city tour with a guide, before visiting the iconic Bondi Beach.
Day three will see you leave Sydney for your journey into the Blue Mountains. Marvel at the Three Sisters rock formation, visit Scenic World and ride the world’s steepest railway, if you are feeling adventurous (own expense). You will then enjoy lunch in the pretty town of Leura before visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park to see koala, kangaroos and many more local animals.
Price includes hotel accommodation for three nights, 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, excursions, tour guide throughout and internal travel by air-conditioned coach.
Best places to visit in Australia in Spring / Summer:
Generally speaking the North of Australia has mild days and sunny skies during our Spring / Summer. Another great advantage to visiting at this time is that towns and cities are not as busy. It is also a good time to visit the Red Centre as temperatures are not as hot at this time of year. I have chosen two of Australian Sky’s guided tours, one that travels north from Sydney along the East Coast and a short three day trip through the Red Centre, which can be added to any itinerary that you might be considering in Australia.
East Coast Islands and Rainforest Guided Tour: 12 Nights, Hotels, Excursions, Selected Meals, €3499pp
This twelve-night guided tour takes in some of Australia’s iconic cities and world famous beaches. Your tour begins in Sydney where you take a trip to Australia’s top wine region, Hunter Valley. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers, over a tasty lunch and some delicious Australian wine🍷. This is when you realise you were right not to go for the self drive option! You will travel north to Port Macquarie where you will over-night, with dinner and wine included. Journey on to the magnificent beach resort of Byron Bay, a place I have very fond memories of. The photograph below is myself and my son when he was just two years old. This will be your home for two nights.
Enjoy a city tour of Brisbane and an over-night stay with dinner and wine in Noosa, before taking the ferry to Fraser Island. You will experience a 4WD tour of Rainbow Beach, explore the rainforest and enjoy a beach BBQ, before overnighting in Hervey Bay. Rockhampton is your next stop before making your way to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. I visited the Whitsunday Islands many years ago and they are stunning! Whitehaven beach is one of the best beaches in the world and once you set foot on the white sand you will understand why. They say the sand is so fine you can clean your diamonds in it! You can swim, snorkel or just relax on the white sand before overnighting in Hamilton Island, with dinner included.
After a quick stop for lunch in Townsville you will move onward to Mission Beach, where you will overnight in Castaways Resort with dinner and wine included. Before arriving in Cairns you will stop in the tropical mountain retreat of Kuranda, located in a rainforest. You can also enjoy the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over Barron Gorge National Park.
Your final stop along the East Coast is Cairns, where you will enjoy a catamaran cruise around the Great Barrier Reef – it doesn’t get much better than that! Go snorkelling, scuba diving or enjoy the tropical fish from an underwater observatory. That evening you will over night in Cairns after a farewell dinner with the group.
Price includes airport transfers, guided tour by luxury coach with travel director throughout, ferry and catamaran cruise, 12 nights hotel accommodation, 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, excursions, local guides.
Red Centre Experience, 2 Nights, Hotels, Internal Travel, Experience Dinner, €619 per person
Take a trip of a lifetime through the remarkable Red Centre from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock Resort by coach. Your driver guide will drive you around the base of Uluru before visiting the Mutitjulu Waterhole, a key source of water for the Aboriginal people. You will see Aboriginal rock art and hear stories of their past before visiting the Cultural Centre.
You will later marvel at how Uluru changes colour at sunset, with wine and snacks provided. The following day you will be able to see Uluru at sunrise before travelling to the mesmerising Kata Tjuta (Olgas), where you can walk through the Walpa Gorge. That evening you will be treated to the Sounds of Silence dinner outdoors. You will sample local Australian food and enjoy star gazing in the night sky with a resident expert.
Price includes travel by air-conditioned coach with experienced driver guides, accommodation, one dinner, airport transfers, excursions.
So whether you want a luxury weekend in Sydney, a feast with the Aborigines at Ayers Rock or a fully escorted tour, Australian Sky can organise this for you. They will tailor make your holiday to Australia to suit your wishes and guide you on the best time to visit Australia.
Contact Australian Sky on 01 6649920 on or visit their website for more details:
Sarah
