Winter in Australia can mean a variety of different holiday options. There truly is something for everyone whether you like to frolic in the snow during the winter, relax in wine country, experience the Great Barrier Reef, or bask in the sun and sand. All of that and more is possible in Australia in winter. Today, we have five Australian winter holiday ideas for you including Christmas in July, Wintery Whitsundays, Winter in Wine Country, Ski Resorts, and Staying Warm in the Tropical North. No matter which you decide to do, you can be sure that there is a Budget Car Rental Whitsunday nearby so that you can hire a vehicle to suit your needs and one that allows you to make up your own vacation schedule without worrying about catching buses or taxis. Here is a little bit about each idea so that you will know just what you want to do on your Australian holiday this winter.
Christmas in July
You may not know this, but Christmas in July started in the Blue Mountains of Australia just west of Sydney. Since July is winter time in the Southern Hemisphere, when vacationers come from the Northern Hemisphere, it feels just like Christmas. That is exactly what happened in 1980 when some visitors from Ireland felt like a holiday in the Mountain Heritage Hotel was just like Christmas back home. They ordered Christmas dinner with all the usual fixings and then sang Christmas Carols by the fire. With that, the tradition was born and it is now known as Yulefest in the Blue Mountains.
Wintery Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands are at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, just off the coast of Queensland. This is the largest archipelago in the world made up of 74 islands. Some of the islands have luxury resorts on them and some islands are just for visiting to loaf on the beach and explore the coral reef below. The winter months are the best time to visit the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef because the aqua blue waters are crystal clear this time of year and the ocean temperatures remain at about 25 degrees celsius all year. The air temps in the winter average a mild 22 or 23 degrees celsius. Winter is also whale migration season in the Whitsundays, which means that spotting the majestic and curious creatures is highly likely.
Winter in Wine Country
Australia is known for its homegrown wines. One of the top wine growing regions is the Margaret River Region on the southern coast of Western Australia. It is about a 3 hour drive south from Perth, Western Australia’s capital city. The country here is beautiful and not only is wine abundant, but it is a foodie’s dream trip with freshly prepared ingredients and some of Australia’s best chefs. In addition to the vineyards, there is the beautiful coastline with beaches and walking trails; then there is the Bonarup Forest inland with Karri trees so big you can climb in them and a cave system underneath the forest waiting to be toured.
Australian Ski Resorts
If a winter holiday means snow, skiing, and nights spent warming up by the fire, Australia has plenty of ski resorts that specialise in just that. Most of Australia’s ski resorts are located along the New South Wales and Victoria border near the Australian Alps, Snowy Mountains, and Kosciuszko National Park. The mainland ski resorts include: Mount Hotham, Mount Perisher, Thredbo, Mount Buller, Falls Creek, Selwyn Snowfields, Charlotte Pass, Mount Baw Baw, and Mount Buffalo.
Stay Warm in the Tropical North
One of the most adventurous and intriguing winter escapes in Australia is a visit to the Top End of the Northern Territory to explore Australia’s largest national park, Kakadu. The north is very tropical and winter means the dry season, which is the only time that most of this land is even accessible. The remote tropical north is definitely a bucket-list worthy trip filled with water falls, billabong boat rides and crocodile spotting.
