Walk gorgeous beaches and gaze at the dramatic cliffs over Bronte Beach in the summer months; sample the delicious cuisine and try the fruits of Australia’s famed wine country in the fall; winter brings everything from skiing and snowboarding to diving and snorkeling; in spring, watch Australia bloom with the best nature and culture the country has to offer. When is the best time to travel to Australia? Anytime. There is something to see, do, and experience no matter when you go. A better question may be “when is the best time for me?” Let’s see.

Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so you will find northern winters transform into hot summers. Here, the north is hotter, while the south is cooler. You may find temperatures in the 50s in south while it is thirty degrees warmer in the north. Despite this, much of Australia is temperate year-round. Travelers should generally be aware of a few factors which will influence vacation plans:

* The wet season runs from November through April. Here you will find heavy rains and very high humidity. During this time, most of Western Australia is not as welcoming in terms of weather, though you’ll always find the Australian people very welcoming.
* The dry season with its much lower humidity levels is more popular with tourists, and it runs from May through October. A beautiful time to see Australia.
* The summer months (our winter months) are very hot, but the south of Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the city of Perth, are more temperate and provide a pleasant escape for those from snowy climes.
* Crowds grow thick from Boxing Day (December 26) to the end of January. This is when Australians take vacation. Beaches are packed, and seaside resorts and hotels are booked and expensive. You will find airfare to be at its highest. While the rates creep down over February and March, they spike again during Easter.
* There is a “value” travel season during mid-April to late August. You will find lower airfares and accommodations. The weather will be gorgeous for trips to the beach or visits to the Outback.
* If you want to visit Sydney and/or Melbourne, opt for December through April for inexpensive accommodations and thin crowds.

As you can see, you must balance cost with weather and crowds, and decide what is most important to you. Those who want to bake in the sun will love the summer months even if they are packed onto a beach (full of friendly Aussies, not too bad!). Those who want peace may like the quiet of Melbourne or Sydney in December. Higher humidity is the trade-off for lower prices. Above all, remember that there is no wrong time to go to Australia.

From Kakadu National Park to Darwin extends an area known as the ‘top end’ of Australia. It is where warm weather, stunning contrasting outback terrain and delicate vegetation and unique fauna merge, to provide an eco-system vacant of modern society, making it another of the great places to stay in Australia.

Water-lilies drift on billabongs, flocks of magpie geese and cockatoos hang suspended in thermal currents, with caves and rock faces embellished in ancient aboriginal art becoming artefacts from an age passed.

Kakadu – owned by the Aboriginal people – covers approximately 20,000 square kilometres of some of Australia’s most untamed and alluring wilderness. Scattered with rainforest alcoves, forest swamps and dwarf scrubland, Kakadu is home to some of Australia’s most exclusive and rare animal species. However, caution must be taken when exploring this magnificent expanse because the crocodiles that also live here are occasionally prone to chewing on the odd foolish tourist who doesn’t follow their tour guide’s safety instructions!

Ignorant Tourists beware!

Climate ranges from about 19 degrees celsius in July (dry-season) and up to a maximum of about 30 degrees, with a minimum of 25 degrees in January (wet-season) and up to 32 degrees maximum.

Two of the easiest-to-get-to rock-art sites are Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, with many of the paintings being over 60,000 years old. Luxury travel in the top end is via 4WD with some of the most stunning sites to be seen by pre-arranged and guided safari tours.

Several of the more well known ones are:

• Guliyambi East Alligator River Cruises – which show the stark contrast of the landscape and denotes the scenic river setting
• Magela Cultural and Heritage Tour – which journeys across isolated and restricted areas and allows you to experience aboriginal culture at its rawest
• Dreamtime Safaris – Stay with the Tablon tribe as they demonstrate their way of life in an exclusive luxury camp setting which provides alternative accommodation

Should you be a collector of rare Aboriginal art, then several art galleries that you can not afford to miss while in Darwin are Aboriginal Fine Arts, Cultural Images, Ampiji, and Indigenous Creations, while Kakadu has The Marrwuddi Gallery and Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Luxury accommodation in the top end includes a tree-top wilderness retreat in the tropical rainforests on the shore of Seven Spirit Bay and the beachside resort of Skycity in Darwin.

There are several types of Australian visas that would allow you entry to the country. For short-term visits, your best option would either be an Australian ETA visa, eVisitors visa or a visitor/tourist visa.

ETA is short for Electronic Travel Authority, it is the easiest to acquire compared to any other Australian visa for travel. The application is fairly simple and can be done online. For eligible visa holders, there is no need to visit consulates or go through long lines. It lets you spend up to three months in Australia.

An Australian Tourist Visa, on the other hand, can let you stay up to three, six or twelve months. The Tourist visa can be lodged online, within Australia or outside of the country. There is also the Sponsored Family Visitor visa, which is up to a stay period of 12 months.

Getting the right visa for your travel needs is only the first step, the following are tips to help you prepare for your travel to Australia.

1. Check on the validity of your passport – Generally, if you are traveling for a visit, it is recommended that the validity of your passport should have at least six months left.

2. Get the appropriate medical insurance – Medical treatment in Australia can be costly. As a tourist, you are not covered by Australia’s health benefits unless there is an agreement between your country and Australia. If you are planning to get a travel visa to Australia, consider your options for medical insurance as well.

3. Prepare proof of funds – As an applicant for an Australian travel visa, you are expected to have the appropriate funds to cover your trip and your stay. Prepare to show your personal bank statements, pay slips, audited accounts, tax records, statement of credit card limit and other evidence that you can cover for all costs for the duration of your stay.

4. Find out what you can’t take into Australia – The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service is responsible for minimizing the risk of exotic pests and diseases that may enter the country and damage the agriculture. Before you make that trip, find out what you can and can’t bring into the country.

5. Do your research – Once all the necessary preparations are out of the way, its time for the fun part. Find out about must-see places, book your accommodation and find out about the weather. Don’t forget to get Australian dollars to avoid the hassle of looking for currency changers when you get there. When you’re all done researching, it’s time to pack your things and prepare for a great adventure.