Hi

Can anyone tell me what the weather will be like in North Queensland (Cairns, Barrier Reef) or around Ayers Rock / Alice Springs travelling during late December.

I'm aware it is the wet season but is it OK for travel (4 days) or does the weather get really bad at this time of year???


Thanks

Hi. Well, it will be hot in both places. I don't know how much rain they get in December in Queensland, but tropical rain storms generally don't last very long each day. Uluru and Alice Springs will be very hot and dry.

Hi,

Did you know that Cairns averages over 3000mm of rain each year and the majority falls during December, January and February. By comparison Britain averages about 1000mm per year. The previous reply to your post spoke of Tropical showers which are very heavy but fairly short - this is true but Cairns also get monsoonal rain which is a bit different in that it pours down like mad with raindrops that actually hurt when they hit you and hailstones like golfballs so hard they bounce.

During "the wet" driving north of Cairns can be hazardous due to flash flooding which can cut the only road in or out of your destination.

You need to remember that a rainforest is so called for a very good reason!

I don't mean to rain on your parade - but as long as you are expecting rain it shouldn't interfere too much with your holiday.

Happy travels!

Just a thought - if it is raining in Cairns that doesn't mean it is also raining on the reef. Rain clouds come in from the ocean but do not drop their cargo until they hit the warm thermals on land.

So it might be chucking it down in cairns, but sunny on the reef - you can never tell!!