An Australia Beach Vacation!

By Alex Russel alex.russel@hqpublications.com ResearchMyVacation Columnist November 18, 2004

Best Time for a Beach Vacation

The best time to go to Australia for a beach vacation depends on what region you go to. The southeast coast, dominated by Sydney, is great from October to April (spring through early fall for Australia).

The farther north you go, the more tropical the climate. Therefore, the height of summer (December and January in Australia) gets really hot and sometimes rainy (think South Florida in July). Not unlike Florida, winter is a great time to visit Northern Queensland, or even the Great Barrier Reef. But again, winter there is during our summer.

Scuba divers tend to take their beach vacation September through December, when underwater life in the Great Barrier Reef is at its most enchanting.

Here are some ideas for a perfect Australia beach vacation.

A South East Coast Beach Vacation

The southeast coast of Australia is dominated by Sydney and its great populist beaches - Bondi Beach being the most famous. A short train or bus ride from the city gets you to Bondi, with its wide strip of soft sand and moderate surf.

There are plenty of food and drink establishments making Bondi eternally fashionable, and at times, very crowded. On the cliffs at either end are two excellent clubs that accept foreigners, North Bondi RSL and Icebergs.

If you feel like a stroll, there is a beautiful, breezy coastal path leading south to three more beaches - Tamarana, Bronte and Clovelly, but beware of the riptides.

A Brisbane Beach Vacation

Brisbane City has no beach of its own, but after a bus or train from the center, a short ferry ride will take you to Brisbane's biggest and best island, North Stradbroke, with its miles of soft sand and gorgeous surf.

The 20-mile-long Main Beach offers surfers serious action, particularly around November. Whale watchers will enjoy the Gorge Walk June through September, while Point Lookout has a collection of the island's best beaches with plenty of marine life visible.

And there's no shortage of accommodation and other facilities, including scuba dive trips and kayaking.

A Great Barrier Reef Beach Vacation

Airlie Beach, in northeast Queensland is a real backpacker central. The town is small, as is the beach, but the place can get busy for Airlie is the main low cost access route to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. All sorts of beach vacation packages are available and nightlife is lively.

Airlie Beach offers visitors a broad array of accommodation, from stylish resort hotels on the water's edge to bed and breakfasts, motels, camping, and caravan parks, as well as backpacker accommodation.

These are just some examples. Remember, Australia is its own continent and its beach vacation options are virtually endless. Enjoy!

About the Author
Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Lucky enough to grow up in Europe with family all over the world, he has been a consummate traveler his whole life. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.