Climate tips for travellers
"It’s warm, it’s fun and it won’t break the bank"
goes the ad for a well-known package holiday group. The top billing given
to temperature in the slogan illustrates just how important climate is to
holidaymakers. It’s one of the first things you notice when you step
off the plane - part of the "sense of place" which academics talk
about.
Australia is a big country, stretching from the tropics to the roaring
forties, and it has a correspondingly wide range of climates. There’s
something to suit everyone! Scuba-divers like the warm waters off the
tropical Queensland coast; sunlovers feel at home in central Australia’s
hot, dry climate. The cool temperate climate of the Australian Alps in
the southeast of the continent attracts skiers in winter and walkers in
summer.
What is the best time of year to visit Australia? It depends on
what part of the country you will be visiting and what you would like
to do (more about this below). If you can stay for several months, you
can plan your trip to catch the best weather
everywhere.
Australia can be divided into six main climatic regions or zones on the
basis of air temperature and humidity. Our map
shows where each region is. A description of each region's climate is
given below, from the viewpoint of someone accustomed to a temperate climate.
People from tropical climates will tolerate the heat better than indicated
in the zone descriptions, but will feel less comfortable in the cooler
parts of the country. The climate zones are:-
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