Chasing better weather: 7 tips for escaping the cold — or simply changing the climate

13 Aug Chasing better weather: 7 tips for escaping the cold — or simply changing the climate

For many Australians, winter brings the familiar urge to escape. The mornings are darker, the heater seems permanently switched on and suddenly somewhere with sunshine, blue skies and an outdoor table looks very appealing.

But “escaping the cold” means different things depending on where you live. If you are in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra or Tasmania, heading north might mean swapping coats for shorts. If you already live in Darwin, Cairns or northern Western Australia, however, your ideal escape could be exactly the opposite — cooler mountain air, a cosy fire, a vineyard, or even a taste of a genuine southern winter.

Australia is particularly well suited to chasing the climate you want. In winter, temperatures can vary enormously between the tropical north and southern parts of the country. 

Here are seven tips for planning your next seasonal escape.

Decide what you are actually escaping fromBefore choosing the destination, ask yourself what you want to change. Is it the cold, rain and grey skies? Or are you simply tired of the same weather and scenery?

Southerners looking for warmth might consider Darwin, Broome, Cairns, Port Douglas, the Whitsundays or Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Winter is particularly appealing across much of tropical Queensland, with warmer days and generally lower humidity than during the tropical summer.

Northern Australians could reverse the journey and head towards Tasmania, Victoria’s High Country, the NSW Snowy Mountains, Adelaide Hills or South Australia’s wine regions for fireplaces, winter food and crisp mornings.

Match the destination to the time you haveA four-day escape calls for a very different plan from a six-week caravan adventure.

If time is limited, flying can transform a winter weekend. Think Adelaide to Cairns, Melbourne to Darwin, Sydney to Hamilton Island, or perhaps Darwin to Hobart for a complete change of scenery.

With several weeks available, the journey itself can become the holiday. Queensland alone offers an enormous variety of coastal, inland and outback road-trip options.

Follow the sun — slowlyFor caravan travellers, there is something special about gradually driving towards warmer weather rather than simply arriving in it.

From southern Australia, consider travelling north through Broken Hill and Outback Queensland, following the coast towards Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Townsville, or heading through central Australia towards Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin.

Once in the Top End, a Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield loop makes a spectacular extension to the journey. Tourism Australia suggests a seven-day itinerary through this region, although caravan travellers could easily slow that pace considerably.

Don’t overlook the outbackEscaping winter doesn’t necessarily mean finding a beach.

The Flinders Ranges, Outback Queensland, Broken Hill, Alice Springs and the Kimberley can offer magnificent road-trip experiences, with huge landscapes, country towns, campfires and some unforgettable night skies.

Temperatures can still fall considerably overnight in inland Australia, however, so keep the warm jacket in the caravan. A sunny afternoon does not necessarily mean a warm evening.

Consider doing the exact oppositeSometimes the best holiday is about contrast.

If you spend most of the year in tropical heat, why not embrace winter properly? Tasmania offers self-drive itineraries through Hobart, the Huon Valley, Launceston, the east coast, Cradle Mountain and the wild west.

For northern residents, a cold-weather holiday might mean walking through frosty countryside, enjoying local produce beside a fire or seeing snow for the first time. It is still an escape — just in the opposite direction.

Prepare the car and caravan for the conditionsLong-distance touring requires more than choosing a destination.

Check tyres, batteries, brakes, servicing, insurance and roadside assistance before leaving. Caravan travellers should also consider water capacity, gas, heating, solar and battery requirements, particularly when staying off-grid.

If heading south into alpine or Tasmanian winter conditions, remember that weather can change quickly and ice, snow, fog and reduced daylight can affect driving conditions.

Leave some room for discoveryOne of the great pleasures of an Australian road trip is finding the places you didn’t originally plan to visit.

Stay an extra night in the small town you loved. Take the scenic road. Visit the bakery someone at the caravan park recommended. Stop at the lookout you almost drove past.

South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and every state and territory offer established touring routes, but some of the best travel memories happen between the major destinations.

Ultimately, escaping the cold isn’t really about temperature. It is about changing your surroundings.

For one traveller that might mean a tropical beach in Far North Queensland; for another, a caravan beside an outback campfire; and for someone living in Australia’s tropical north, it might mean Tasmania, a mountain cabin and the novelty of reaching for a winter coat.

Whether you fly, drive or hitch up the caravan, sometimes a change in climate is exactly the change of pace you need.

If this article has inspired you to think about your unique situation and, more importantly, what you and your family are going through right now, please get in touch with your advice professional.

This information does not consider any person’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making a decision, you should consider whether it is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation, or needs.

(Feedsy Exclusive)