Travelling to Darwin from Sydney - is October too hot?
Submitted: Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 12:04
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chris_legend_25
Folks,
We will be travelling to
Darwin later on this year, and were wondering when the latest would be that we could leave.
We will be travelling from
Sydney, to
Port Augusta, then up to
Darwin, then accross to Mt Isa, then the Qld Coast, then down to
Sydney. Should take aboue 3 and a half weeks.
We are worried about heat, and any rains when in the tropics.
Cheers,
Chris
Reply By: G-wizz - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 12:51
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 12:51
In the Topend there is usually only intermittent rain until Dec/Jan but the heat and humidity will be on the rise in October. No problems in an Aircon vehicle.
AnswerID:
117686
Follow Up By: chris_legend_25 - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 14:30
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 14:30
Even in December / January, how bad is it? If we stuck to main roads, would we be ok?
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Follow Up By: Patrick - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 19:52
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 19:52
Chris,
Looking at your itinerary you wont be in
Darwin long enough to feel the heat.
I hope you enjoy seeing the sites from the comfort of your car as you are travelling a bloody long way in just three and a half weeks.
I glad its you not me!
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Reply By: Member - Poppy (QLD) - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 15:31
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 15:31
Hi Chris
It will most definately be warm and getting more humid at that time of year and if you are from
Sydney you will really feel it, however the cyclones can come at anytime and that should be your only concern as main roads are usually open most of the year.
It isn't really the best time to travel to the top end as it almost certainly rains on a daily basis.
January through to about April can be the worst months
But hey, who can tell with any accuracy what the weather is going to be like next week, let alone next year
Cheers Poppy
P.S. I lived in
Darwin for a while now in
Townsville
AnswerID:
117729
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 15:35
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 15:35
We visited
Darwin in September a few years ago. It was bloody warm ! My family spent 3 days in an airconditioned shopping centre. Spent a fortune on drinks for the kids on the way up.
But we loved
Darwin. Hot yes but a great place to visit.
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117731
Reply By: G-wizz - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 17:31
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 17:31
Barring an exceptional cyclone event such as the one which drowned
Katherine a few years ago all main roads are open through the wet.
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Reply By: Member - AVA 191 (QLD) - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 18:00
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 18:00
We visited
Darwin,
Katherine, Alice in the last week of Sept and 1st week of October last year. No rain - hot @ 40 degrees in
Katherine Gorge with a hot wind blowing. Nothing distressing if you are used to it though.
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Reply By: Dog (NT) - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 21:58
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 21:58
At the moment its pretty cold...I had to put a T shirt on just before because's dropped suddenly to about 20 degrees....
October in
Darwin will be getting in to the worst of the build up. Its not the heat, its the humidity. What that means is that even when you stand in the shade it won't feel cool.
But don't let that encourage you, the cloud formations and the lighting storms are definately a sight to see. You should be right for rain, it will threaten to rain every day, and you will think its going to, but if generally it won't...
The roads will be fine, and you will still probably get to see much of
Kakadu or Litchfeild if thats what you want.
Dog
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Reply By: Lech - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 22:48
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 22:48
I was in the north in mid December 2003 which was a beginning of wet season. You have a rare chance to see for example roaring
Gunlom Falls in
Kakadu NP. At the end of December areas like
Gunlom Falls,
Twin Falls, etc. are usually closed.
OZs usually do not north in Summer because it´s too hot. We (Central Europeans) do go there for the same reason. Go there. It is worth.
Cheers
Lech
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117820
Reply By: MT - Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 23:23
Monday, Jun 27, 2005 at 23:23
Chris,
temperature is about the same as it always is (30- 32 degree celsius)- it is the humidity that is up.
If you pace yourself it is a good time to go - a lot of people stay away for 'fear' of the heat.
Keep water intake up and avoid running around at high noon and you will be sweet.
Rains - you will be unlucky , come october everyone is hanging for rain, but it 'normally' is November before it gets serious in any way (at least lately - thanks 'El Nino').
I agree with the previous correspondant that it is a long trip for 3.5 weeks , hope you get to see something!
Cheers
MT
Former NT resident
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