Current Cairns Time:
What is the best time of year to visit Australia?
Australia is a big country and it has a correspondingly wide range of climates. It depends on what part of the country you will be visiting and what you would like to do. If you can stay for several months, you can plan your trip to catch the best weather everywhere. Australian Seasons: Seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. European winter is an Australian summer and vice-versa. Summer is from December to February; autumn from March to May; winter from June to August; and spring from September to November. For most of the country the hottest month is January.Best time to go:
There is a big difference in climate between North and South of Australia. The northern parts lie in the tropics and therefore get monsoon rains in the Australian summer (the Wet Season). But all is not lost - this can be the best time of the year for whitewater rafting (in Cairns) and experiencing the Rainforest. Cape York area though, tends to be closed during this time due to road flooding.If you like the sunny, clear & dry weather, then best time to visit the North parts, including most of the Outback and much of the Great Barrier Reef, is in the Australian winter - April to October. This would include Cairns, Darwin & Alice Springs. Weather-wise, the best time to visit Tasmania in the extreme South, is the Australian summer (Dec-Feb). At that time, most of the rest of the country is hot to very hot: the Outback is scorched and the North is rainy, sticky and humid. The South-eastern cities (Sydney and Melbourne) typically enjoy nice hot summer weather, but it can get oppressively hot in those places from time to time. Late Australian spring - (Nov, early Dec) and early autumn (Mar-Apr) are probably the best times for Sydney and Melbourne. Australian Winters (Jun-Aug) are relatively mild by European standards. Snow only occurs in the mountains of the SE and is never seen in any of the major cities, except Canberra and maybe Hobart. Brisbane and the Gold Coast enjoy perhaps the best year round climate of anywhere in the country, though like anywhere, summers are hot. The best time to go depends on where you plan to go. Best time for South-East (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide) would be Australian late spring or early autumn. Jun-Sep is best for see North & the Outback. A compromise is necessary for the country/continent as a whole, but there will be 'the best weather to catch' in some area at any time of the year. Please also be aware that the weather patters have changed over the last few decades and are more unpredictable. Detailed Weather Info by Area Climate Map of Australia Australian Bureau of Meteorology
General Travel Tips
1. Before departing, check the latest Travel Advice for your destination. 2. Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate. 3. Check to see if you require visas for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting. Be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry. 4. Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travellers cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home. Store you passport info and other travel check information in you e-mail box - scan. 5. Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on travelling with medicines. 6. Ensure your passport has at least six months’ validity from your planned date of return to Australia. Some countries will refuse entry on arrival and some airlines will not allow passengers to board flights if their passport does not meet this requirement. Before travelling, you should contact the Embassy or High Commission of each country you intend to visit to confirm the entry requirements. 7. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas. 8. Take lots of photos, you will always be sorry for the one not taken. 9. Try something new. 10. Have loads of fun!!!Who needs Visa for entering Australia?
With the exception of New Zealanders, anyone wishing to enter Australia for any purpose requires a visa. It’s important to check the latest regulations with an Australian Immigration or Embassy before making a visa application. General Immigration Info Tourist Visas to Australia Australian Embassies Around the WorldSpecific to Slovenia:
Australia does not have an Embassy in Slovenia. Nearest Australian Embassy is in Austria: Australian EmbassyMattiellistrasse 2-4
1040 Vienna
Austria
Telephone: + 43 1 506 7400
Facsimile: + 43 1 513 1656
E-mail: austemb@aon.at
Limited Consular assistance may be obtained from: Australian Consulate
Vurnikova 2
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Telephone: +386 1 234 8675
Facsimile: +386 1 234 8576
Emergency Telephone: +386 4 164 9919 or +386 3 132 9225
E-mail: austral.cons.sloven@siol.net