DESTINATION: AUSTRALIA

DESTINATION: AUSTRALIA

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: 7.5 square km in size, Australia is a huge country and weather patterns differ across different regions. Northern Australia is tropical – hot and humid in summer and warm and dry in winter. Southern Australia is temperate, or even Mediterranean along the coasts, with mild summers and cool, sometimes rainy winters. Summer is from December to March (average temperature 29°C), autumn from March to May, winter from June to August (average 13°C) and spring from September to November.

But Australia has a large desert called the outback. During summer, the outback is hot and humid – some days temperatures can hit 50°C. The outback can also experience below freezing temperatures during the winter months. In Australia’s desert, conditions can be unpredictable: it may not rain for years or torrential rain may cause floods and even create salt lakes, such as Lake Eyre.

However, even non-desert areas can experience sudden increases in temperature, from hot and dry winds coming from the desert, sometimes sand-laden.

Australia has reversed seasons when compared with Europe or North America.When it’s winter in Europe and America, it’s summer south of the equator in the Southern Hemisphere.

AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST

The east coast of Australia is where most of the local population is and where most tourists go to. The weather is mostly pleasant. But the oceans play a big part in unpredictable weather. Melbourne can experience all 4 seasons in one day. Sydney generally experiences warm and mild weather throughout the year. Brisbane is hotter and dryer.

WESTERN AUTRALIA

Perth has hot, dry summers with little rain. Winters are mild but with high possibility of rain and even thunderstorms. Farther south the coastline is influenced by cold winds from Antartica.

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Both Darwin and Cairns have wet and dry seasons and tropical weather. Wet season is from November to April with temperatures at 25°C to 34°C and high humidity and monsoon rains. Dry season is from May to October with warm, dry days and cool nights. Rain can be heavy in Cairns during summer months with high humidity and hot days. There is less rain in autumn and winter but wind can be quite strong.

SUMMER (December to February)

Temperatures may go to 40 °C in the shade in some parts of Australia

SPRING (September to November)

Spring weather is not too hot and not too cold

WINTER (June to August)

Winter is considered the best time of the year in Australia.

AUTUMN (March to May)

March and May in Australia is regarded as a time of golden autumn.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, UluruKata

Tjuta National Park, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Great Ocean Road, Kangaroo Island, Flinders Range, Fraser Island, Red Centre, Kankadu, Tasmanian Wilderness, Margaret River, Pinnacles, Port Arthur

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Hamburger with beetroot, Green chicken curry pie, chicken and corn soup, Fantales, Barramundi

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Apart from consumer goods you can find cheaper in Australia than in your own country, here are some of what international tourists like to buy: opals, camphor cutting board, Ugg boots, Akubra hat, kangaroo leather, Australian wine, gold-plated eucalyptus leaf, macadamia nuts, emu oil, boomerang, vegemite, Arnotts biscuits.

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

•Wear lots of sun black – sun is extremely hot in Australia

•It takes time to get from place to place, plan well – Australia is big

•Australia has GST of 10 per cent. Refunds for GST are for AUD$300 or more with a single business, no more than 60 days before departing Australia

•Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges, and tipping is always your choice. In upmarket restaurants, it is common to tip waiters 10 per cent of the bill for good service.

• All of Australia's major towns have reliable, affordable public bus networks, and there are suburban train lines in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth

Melbourne and Adelaide have trams. Sydney and Brisbane have ferries and Sydney

has a light rail line. Taxis are widely available. Cars drive on the left.

•It is not customary to bargain or haggle in Australia.

•The safest places for swimming are marked with red and yellow flags. Popular beaches have lifeguards from October to April.

• The legal drinking age in all states and territories of Australia is 18 years old.

•The emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade is 000.

DESTINATION: NEW ZEALAND

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

Most of New Zealand experiences a temperate climate with some exceptions. The uppermost north has subtropical weather during summer while the inland alpine regions of South Island can have temperatures dropping to -10°C in winter. The coastal areas have moderate maritime climate, mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.

Mean annual temperatures range from 10 °C in the south to 16 °C in the north. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20 - 30ºC and in winter between 10 - 15ºC.

The coldest month is usually July and the warmest month is usually January or February. Generally summer and winter temperatures do not vary all that much. Even so the weather can change unexpectedly - as cold winds can quickly blow in

SPRING (September to November)

Average temperature during the day: 16 - 19°C. Spring marks the beginning of the animal mating season.

SUMMER (December to February)

Average temperature during the day: 20 - 25°C. The hot spell of summer in New

Zealand starts at December.

AUTUMN (March to May)

Average temperature during the day: 17 - 21°C. Autumn comes in March and

harvesting work begins.

WINTER (June to August)

Average temperature during the day: 12 - 16°C. Winter in New Zealand means

frequent rains with squall-like winds and heavy snowfall in mountains.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound, South Island; Queenstown, South Island; Bay of Islands, North Island; Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park, North Island; Rotorua, North Island; Mount Cook, South Island; Waitomo Caves, North Island; Huka Falls, North Island; SkyCity, Auckland; One Tree Hill, Auckland; Hobbiton Movie Sets, North Island; Christchurch botanic gardens, South Island; Fox Glacier, South Island

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Pavlova dessert, Hokey Pokey ice cream, New Zealand pie, The original flat white, Kina, Kiwi Burger, Jaffas, A hangi, New Zealand lamb

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Wooden Buzzy Bee, Bone pendants, Greenstone, Icebreaker clothing, cosmetic mud products, New Zealand wine, Whittaker’s chocolate, Swamp Kauri Clocks, Wooden Kiwis, Manuka Honey, Sheepskin rugs, Swanndri clothing, ceramic pukekos, Pounamu/Jade Necklaces, All Blacks shirt, Kiwiana towels, Kiwiana lollies

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Book accommodation well in advance – New Zealand is very popular with tourists

•Every town has its own i-Site which gives you maps, brochures and details about the location

•Qualmark is the accreditation for quality of hotels, transport services, guided tours etc – watch for the symbol which is the mark of quality

•Tipping is not common practice, usually the exception

•Bartering in no-go

•Hikers; plan for quick weather changes

•Bikers: keep off the open roads

•Emergency number is 111 for police, fire department or ambulance

•Be mindful of opening hours – shops may not stay open for as late as you think

DESTINATION: SOUTH AMERICA

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

South America is the world’s 4th largest continent and has varied climatic conditions across a huge expanse of land. The northern regions have high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Along the equator from Pacific Ocean coast to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the east is a wide tropical climate belt that is hot and humid. Moving down south the climate becomes more seasonal with hot summers and chilly winters. Even farther south summers are cool and winters have deep snow. Grasslands have hot summers and cold winters and above average rainfall. Rainforests have high temperatures and heavy rainfall all through the year.

South America is home to the second longest river in the world – the Amazon – the world’s highest waterfall – the Angel Falls – and the world’s driest desert – the Atacama Desert. 

October and November are widely seen as the best times to visit South America with wildflowers blooming in the mild weather of Spring in several countries as temperatures rise. December is summer in the Southern hemisphere and when people head for the beaches while natural areas like the Amazon rainforest experiences heavy rain. January to March is rainy season. July and August are usually the peak times for those going on the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu or to visit the Galapagos islands. March and April is when Patagonia is most accessible. Peru is pretty much a year round destination thanks to its proximity to the equator. The Inca Trail closes for maintenance throughout February.

SPRING (September to November)

Weather will be hot but rainfall is less which makes it a good time to visit Amazon Forest and Bolivia.

SUMMER (December to February)

It’s the hottest time of the year for most of the continent and the wettest in some countries.

AUTUMN (March to May)

Autumn is warm and wet and for Galapagos, it means low winds and calmer seas

WINTER (June to August)

In the south temperatures fall below freezing.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado, Recoleta Cemetery, Iguassu Falls, Valparaiso, Church of San Francisco, Copacabana Beach, Devil's Throat Falls, Machu Picchu (one of the Seven Wonders of the World), Iguassu Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World), Mount Fitz Roy, Lake Titicaca, Santuario de las Lajas, Colombia, Salar de Uyuni, 

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Ceviche (Peru) Arepas (Venezuela & Columbia) Empanadas (Argentina) Pisco Sour (Chile, Peru) Yerba Maté (Argentina) Pastel (Brazil) Dulce de Leche (Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil) Brigadeiros (Brazil) Steak, Chimichurri and Red Wine (Argentina), Cuy (Guinea Pig – Peru), Coxinhas (Brazil),  Aji Amarillo (Peru), Feijoada (Brazil).

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Alpaca Clothing, Textiles & Tapestries, Pottery & Ceramics, Silver Jewelry, Precious & Semi-precious Stones, Musical Instruments, masks, hand-carved sculpture, hats, blankets, colorful backpacks, jewelry and other trinkets

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Spanish is the main language in South America. But in Brazil,the biggest country, people speak Portuguese. Native South Americans also speak hundreds of Indian languages

There are 14 currencies used in South America

• Argentina (Argentine Peso)

• Bolivia (Bolivian Boliviano)

• Brazil (Brazilian Real)

• Chile (Chilean Peso)

• Columbia (Columbian Peso)

• Ecuador (US Dollar)

• Guyana (Guyanese Dollar)

• Paraguay (Paraguayan Guaraní)

• Peru (Peruvian Nuevo Sol)

• Suriname (Surinamese Dollar)

• Uruguay (Uruguayan Peso)

• Venezuela (Venezuelan Bolivar)

• In some countries you’ll find that restaurants offer a special menu

of the day option(Menu Del Dia) a 3-course meal for a reasonably cheap price

• In South America, certain countries will charge extra accommodation taxes depending on the length of the stay in the country. In Peru and Chile accommodations may charge around 20% extra on the cost of the stay if you have been in the country more than 59 days.  In Argentina you may be asked to pay 21% tax unless you pay via bank transfer, or a foreign debit/credit card.

• Do bargain or barter – but responsibly.

DESTINATION: SOUTHERN AFRICA

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, 

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Southern Africa is characterized by 3 main seasons: cool and dry; hot and dry; and hot and wet. The coastal regions in South Africa have a more Mediterranean climate. But how travelers look at seasons is usually in this manner: peak season, off-season and the in-between season. Peak season is around the months corresponding to winter: May to early-August. Most places have bright sunny days with comfortable temperatures (high: 27 °C). But the nights and early mornings can be cold (low: 4 °C). Off-season in Southern Africa is from around November to January when the heat can be brutal and thunderstorms wash out many of the roads. The in-between seasons are around February to March and September to October. October is the hottest month in the dry season (high: 43 °C). Rains in Botswana and Namibia make off-road land travel difficult but it is peak season in the Kalahari desert. In Botswana and Namibia peak season is from June to October. 

WINTER (May to August)

Best time for big game viewing.

AUTUMN (March and April)

Autumn colours can be really dazzling at this time. And the beaches are gorgeous.

SUMMER (November to February)

Rainy season with huge thundershowers usually in the late afternoon.

SPRING (September and October)

Cool evenings and warm days with little rain but October can be very dry and hot in the central areas like Zimbabwe.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Tsodilo Hills (Botswana), Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, Cape Town, Western Cape, Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, Sun City, Soweto township, Table Mountain, Lesedi Cultural village (South Africa), Victoria Falls National Park, Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe)

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Seswaa, Morogo (Botswana), Bunny Chow, Boerewors (South Africa), Sadza, Muriwo Unedovi (Zimbabwe)

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Zulu ceremonial spoons, Local leather backpack, Rooibos Tea, Kalahari salt, Pichulik earrings, Pink Lady gin (South Africa) art, crafts and curios like carvings in wood and stone, semi-precious stone jewellery, paintings, woven baskets (Zimbabwe), Gabane and Thamaga pottery, San jewellery and baskets (Botswana)

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO) 

• Botswana’s currency is the Pula (P) (Botswana banks only accept US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Euro and South African Rand in cash)

• The rand is the currency of South Africa. 

• The Zimbabwean Dollar is the currency of Zimbabwe

• Malaria is something to watch out for in Botswana, particularly in the north. It’s best to vaccinate 6-8 weeks before traveling

• Crime is common in South Africa. Avoid looking like a tourist

• 10 to 15% is the usual tip to the server in a restaurant. Two rand per drink for the bartender.