webmasters from Australia and New Zealand, i have a non biz question for you
 

I'm planning some trips in december-february, is it good time to visit australia and new zealand in this time of year? what's about the weather during those months, is it tourist friendly?

Hi iv@n,

Sure, it's a good time to visit Australia or NZ especially if you're trying to escape a cold winter. The weather in Australia can get pretty hot but it's a huge place so it will vary.

In New Zealand summer is milder but also will vary quite a bit as NZ is quite a long country.

Any specific plans? or anything else you want to know let me know..

edit: oh yes both very tourist friendly countries.

icq: 739765

thats the BEST time to visit.. as long as u dont head too far north or too far inland, but all major cities are on the coast anyhow.

Perfect timing.

2c

thanx for info, no specific plans, i have nothing to do in the winter here in europe beside skiing :) , so i want to go somewhere. I think about renting a car and visit major cities and tourist attractions, i saw some photos and documents in tv about NZ and AUS and it's very beautiful nature there.
sacX i will hit you up on icq later, when i will be preparing detailed itinerary.

off topic:

iv@n i clicked your sig, but i cant find anywhere to submit :1orglaugh

That's the best time to hit the beaches

Let me jump in...how is May/June for visiting..?
Is it balmy or kinda cold?

Well northern australia may/june are good times to visit the north of australia, it's still (always) warm and not so wet. The big cities Sydney/Melbourne may also have some nice days, but will be getting colder..

In New Zealand it'll be getting cold, you might still get some nice days in the north in May, but June is winter (although a temperate winter) no snow except way down south.

thanks sacx

that would be the best time to be down here, kick ass weather, beaches and babes everywhere!! :thumbsup

Yeah you will have a great time down here in Dec-Feb!
The weather is perfect!

I second that :)

yeh thats the optimum time to visit

dont worry, 99% of the questions here is none business related.

definitely a nice time to stop by

thanks to all for info.
Anybody from Singapore here? I want to stop there for a week by the way to the AUS and NZ.

*********************************************
I missed best time for trip becouse of bussiness last year, I'm going to Australia this november. I will stay there for a one month, then will fly to Auckland to stay there for the next month.

I have one question for Aussie webmasters, whats the coverage for mobile phones out of cities? Do i need to rent satellite phone, or my europe 900/1800MHz will be ok? I want to make a trip with a car from Sydney, up to Brisbane and Cairns, then go to the west to Alice Springs and down to Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmania and back to Sydney.

And one q. for New Zealanders - what do you use as car navigation? I don't found TomTom maps or any other used here in EU.

thanks for help.

Satellite phone ?

Dude, seriously, we still have networks 100% better than the US and up until a few short years ago were even better than Europe.

So long as your network supports roaming you will have NO problem here.

Or bring your sat phone and you can use while riding kangaroos down the main street of Sydney.

;-)

the closer it gets to xmas the hotter it gets. Some of my northern hemisphere friends have been floored by the heat so just keep that in mind.

I don't expect any problems in urban area on the east coast, but i don't have an idea what's the coverage in the Northern Territory - on the way between Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and down to South A. When I have booked car, the car rental servise offered me sat phone becouse of lack of gsm coverage, so this is the only reason I'm asking about it. I don't want to get into situation that car is broken on some road in desert 1kkm from the nearest town with phone our of service ;-) So you are telling me that they are trying to screw up some more bucks from me with no reason?

No man it is definitely needed, ESPECIALLY in the top end.

You heading to kakadu? I highly recommend it.

well Tennant Creek you may need a sat phone but its full of retires towing caravans who will help you if break down all the major HWY have coverage for normal cell phones, Thats some serious distance your driving

Kakadu national park? Maybe, I'm just reading 1100 pages of Lonely Planet's guide book about Australia and picking up locations for visit, I have 3 weeks so far to complete it before my fly :)

thanks for info Bake.
distance should be about 9kkm, I have done some bigger trips in shorter period of time, so I hope it will be fine, don't you think?

Do you know what's the condition of roads between Cairns - Tennant Creek - Alice Springs? I mean, should i expect any problems with non 4x4 car?

Cairns to Tennant Creek is a hell of a drive at any time of year - it is pretty much always passable, but you will be more comfortable in a 4WD.

Down to Alice is better.

Alice to Adelaide is fine, just keep your concentration..... its a fucking long way. Its pretty awe inspiring though..... Its the definition of 'nothing' - it feles like a luxury in Europe - nothing in every direction. No cars, trees, houses... I love it.

Stop of at Flinders on the way down.... it makes the Grand Canyon look tame.

If you head to the South Island in NZ hit me up - I lived their for 10 years.

if your coming up to QLD check out our site here

hervey .com.au

Whales, fraser island and few other things to do :)

Only if it rains mate.....

And yes, you will be more comfortable in a 4WD.

Most of the lower level rivers and creeks in the outback have what is called in Oz a low level crossing. In other words a low level bridge. So when, if it rains, on your vist to our sunburnt land, depends on how long it rains for of course, one will have to wait till the river or creek flow slows or stops before one can drive through such a crossing.

So if you are driving when it is raining out west (outback, we live between Townsivlle and Mt Isa Qld), slow down, and golden rule, never drive through a creek or river, unless you have walked through it first. It could be running to fast or the creek floor could be washed out, either way walk it first. Or lose your car and all your gear and have a longer walk ahead.

Enjoy your trip.

:thumbsup

Isnt Hervey Bay near Yapoon?

I have some scary stories from there.... :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Dont play 'Spin The Beast' in the local pub - dont ask why - just dont do it... :upsidedow

WOW - I would love that.

Its an incredible lifestyle.....

It is very laid back out here, but one can miss the good life of the city and what it has to offer.

Also if we could add to iv@n question, in a rent a car one could ask for a car or 4WD that has a good bull bar on the front. Pucken roo's or cattle can puck ones day without one. But each to thier own.

:thumbsup

Yeah - I will add to that - dont drive at night if you are not used to it. I learnt the hard way.

They lay in the road because it is warm and an adult roo is surprisingly big when it is staring at you though your windscreen.

Ahmen Mate.

So many make the mistake or trying to turn to miss the animal, but when doing 100klm or more at night in a car or 4WD, this is a death trap. Hit the pucken thing and live to tell the tale. Aim the car or such for the middle of the pucker and hit it. Turn at 100klm to miss a roo or cattle, roll the car and die.

:(

Nice site, Fraser island is on my list already, looks promising. I want to make some whale watching trip also, don't you know if those trips are available all year or only in some season?

I might be being presumptuous here, but I'd advise hitting Hong Kong over singapore. Guess it depends if you're flying Singapore Air though.

HK has a lot more going for it ;)

I thought Yepoon was next to Yaknyfe and Forke.

Fuck, australian jokes.

thanks to all for info about roads, i hired this little rookie three weeks ago, so i don't have a chance to change it for 4WD vehicle. I read some horror stories about kangaroos on the road already, i will be careful of them.
This is the basic plan of trip, it will vary by list of attractions i will find in guide and web and references :)

Dont forget Byron Bay as well.... its a bit over done these days, but still my favorite place on the planet.... oh and Airlie Beach as well....

Damn it - can I come with you :)

Nice trip you've got planned there.
Would make a nice exploring / draining circuit :D

I'll be there in january, hitting you up.

you are welcome :) but you have to hire some other car, my guest passenger is my fiancee.

I take it you know the layout - you said you have the Lonley Planet guide?

If you come from the North Island by car/camper you will arrive in Picton - DONT head south towards Christchurch!!

Head west towards Nelson - you will go through a nice wine region - Marlbourough - have a look at the sounds as you go through, nice but not a lot to hang around for.

Then head to Golden Bay - stop in Kaiteriteri - Its a stunning little bay town.....

Check out Golden Bay - its a bit of a hippy area - then, if you ever straighten up (the weed will blow your mind if you are into that sort of thing) backtrack a bit and head for Murcheson - not much there, it was the site of a massive earthquake and it has lots of info about that.

Then head to the West coast - the first town is Westport.... drive as fast as you can, its a horrid place. :)

Then the West Coast proper - one of the wettest places on the planet it will be the highlight of your trip..... Sub-Tropical rainforest, lakes that will take your breathe away and all backed by the Southern Alps incredible moutain scenery.

You will find a few small towns - all amazingly friendly - hang around for a few days, you will make more friends than you have in your whole life before.

Next is Greyton and Hokitia - both rugged towns on the coast - if you miss the cafes etc then stay for a few..... the aquarium in Hokitika is cool - they have these eels that are at least 10 feet long....

Carry on south - you will hit the glaciers next - Fox and then Frans Josef (I think in that order) - they almost hit the sea - well worth seeing - the pure power cant fail to impress and in the middle of summer its a bit of a mind fuck seeing that much snow and ice heading towards the sea.

Stunning views and then more stunning views..... then you will have to head east towards Wanaka - STUNNING views over the lake from the town.... I lived here for a few months.

Then down to Queenstown - about an hour away - VERY touristy, big money etc.... abolutley stunning - but unless you have a big pocket there are better places.

Head down south (not east) to Te Anau - then back north to Milford Sound - Here is the highlight of your trip - It is mind blowing. Its size can not be described.... the waterfalls are incredible. Rudyard Kipling described it as the 8th wonder of the world.

If you have time then do a trip to Doubtful Sound as well - less touristy but just as amazing - you can do this

from Milford Sound by boat or from Te Anau by boat and coach. You cant drive yourself.

When you have got your breathe back head north torwards from Te Anau to the road to Dunedin, about 3 hours away -

this is my 'home town' - its ok - :) - It has a great 'alternitive' scene - a huge uni (find five Drs anywhere in

the world and at least one will have studied in Dunedin). Then head north along SH1, you will see a lot of small

towns on the way - stop of in Karitane and say hi from Damian to Di in the shop.


The next main town is Christchurch - Capitol of the South Island - If you havnt been to the UK then stay for a

while here - its famous for being the most English city outside England - I think it is even more English than

anywhere in England!

Head north again and you will hit Kaikoura (Kai is maori for food - koura for crayfish) and you can pig out on the

best lobster (cray) you will ever find. Then north again back to Picton.

On your next trip I will show you the rest of the island - Mt Cook, Central Otago etc..... :)

You will be back.....

thanks damian for guide :)