28Feb, 2023

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby.

Time in Sydney:

Sydney

22°

Sunny

Feels like: 22°C
Wind: 13km/h WNW
Humidity: 22%
Pressure: 1015.58mbar
UV index: 6

ThuFriSat

25/11°C
23/11°C
24/12°C

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.

Sydney Aquarium, Taronga Zoo and Wildlife Sydney Zoo shelter animals like koalas, kangaroos, sharks and snakes. Pyrmont’s Sydney Fish Market has a working seafood auction and restaurants serving the day’s catch. There are multicultural dining opportunities all over the city, including in Haymarket’s Chinatown and the restaurants serving the Italian community in Leichhardt. A ferry ride through the

harbour is part of the experience in visiting outer Sydney destinations such as Bondi and Manly Beaches – both popular for surfing.

When to visit

Sydney is temperate and sunny all year, and crowds are highest during summer (Dec–Feb) and during school holidays.

Major events that increase hotel demand are the performing-arts–focused Sydney Festival (Jan),
The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (Feb–Mar),
The Sydney Royal Easter Show (dates vary),
The Sydney Film Festival (Jun).
Severe thunderstorms are most likely Oct–Mar.

28Feb, 2023

Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills.

Time in Wellington:

Wellington

14°

Fair

Feels like: 12°C
Wind: 24km/h N
Humidity: 49%
Pressure: 1002.03mbar
UV index: 4

ThuFriSat

14/10°C
14/8°C
15/11°C

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. A compact city, it encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills. From Lambton Quay, the iconic red Wellington Cable Car heads to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. Strong winds through the Cook Strait give it the nickname “Windy Wellington”.

On the waterfront, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (commonly shortened to Te Papa) is the national centre focusing on the country’s natural history, cultures and art. From the city centre, a promenade lined with restaurants, parkland and heritage buildings leads to Oriental Bay. The Mt. Victoria Lookout has panoramic views of the city and harbour. Also reached by the Wellington

Cable Car is the Carter Observatory, which houses the Space Place planetarium. A national arts hub, the city is home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (in the Michael Fowler Centre) and the Royal New Zealand Ballet (in St James Theatre).

When to visit

Famed for its strong winds, the city is breezy year-round with particularly strong gusts in the winter. Otherwise, the climate is moderate. Peak travel coincides with the warmer months of Dec–Apr.

The Wellington Sevens (Jan/Feb) is a popular rugby gathering.
The month-long biennial New Zealand Festival (Feb–Mar, even-numbered years) features diverse cultural events around town.
Wellington on a Plate (Aug) features pop-up bars, night markets and more.

28Feb, 2023

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with plazas, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne – a performing arts complex.

Time in Melbourne:

Melbourne

18°

Sunny

Feels like: 18°C
Wind: 23km/h WNW
Humidity: 29%
Pressure: 1012.19mbar
UV index: 5

ThuFriSat

15/9°C
16/9°C
17/11°C

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. At the city’s centre is the modern Federation Square development, with plazas, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne – a performing arts complex – and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art.

Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building explore city history and culture. The Immigration Museum and the Chinese Museum provide differing cultural perspectives on local settlement, while Old Melbourne Gaol offers insight into 19th-century prison life. A major shopping destination is Queen Victoria Market, a Victorian-era building with food stalls. The city’s 19th-century “laneways” and shopping arcades are lined with cafes, galleries and

boutiques. The riverside Royal Botanic Gardens shelter 10,000-plus plant species, and Yarra Park is home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

When to visit

Most visitors arrive during summer (Dec–Mar).

Popular events include the Australian Open tennis finals (Jan),
The LBGT-focused Midsumma Festival (Jan–Feb).
Also drawing crowds are the Moomba arts festival (Mar), known for its parade and carnival;
The Royal Melbourne Show (Sep), an agricultural fair;
The Melbourne Festival (Oct), with many free performances. Melbourne’s climate is temperate but quite variable, with cool temperatures during winter (Jun–Aug).

28Feb, 2023

Gold Coast, Australia

The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It's famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild.

Time in Gold Coast:

Gold Coast

23°

Partly Cloudy

Feels like: 23°C
Wind: 21km/h N
Humidity: 57%
Pressure: 1019.98mbar
UV index: 8

ThuFriSat

27/15°C
26/16°C
26/15°C

The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It’s famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild. Inland, hiking trails crisscross Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges and valleys, home to rare birds and rainforest.

The Q1 building with its SkyPoint observation deck towers over Surfers Paradise beach, which has a vibrant nightlife scene, a beachfront market and casinos. Main Beach’s shops and restaurants lie along Tedder Avenue. Hotels line the canal system, which has its own inland beaches, such as Budds Beach. Surf breaks such as Snapper Rocks and Burleigh Heads are among the most popular in the country. The David Fleay Wildlife Park protects emus,

kangaroos and koalas. Other natural areas include Tamborine National Park, with waterfalls and trails, and Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, an eco-park with an elevated boardwalk through the trees.

When to visit

The Gold Coast is a year-round destination with mild to warm weather. It’s famous for its sunshine,

Tropical cyclones are possible Jan–Mar.
Beaches are popular during school holidays, especially mid-Dec–late Jan.
Deals abound at other times of the year. Apr–Oct is peak visibility time for divers.
Key events include the Quiksilver Pro & Roxy Pro surf contests (Feb/Mar)
Coolangatta Gold (Nov),
an Ironman endurance race combining swimming, running, board paddling and surf skiing.

28Feb, 2023

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia's major contemporary art museums.

Time in Brisbane:

Brisbane

23°

Fair

Feels like: 23°C
Wind: 8km/h N
Humidity: 51%
Pressure: 1021.33mbar
UV index: 7

ThuFriSat

30/13°C
29/13°C
28/13°C

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia’s major contemporary art museums. Looming over the city is Mt. Coot-tha, site of Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

Ferries cruise the winding river. At one bend, modern skyscrapers crowd around the restored 1920s City Hall.

Nearby, the Roma Street Parkland is a subtropical garden that’s home to native and endangered plants. For shopping, the Queen Street Mall is also in the central business district, and James Street in Fortitude Valley has restaurants and cafes. Further upriver, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to hold koalas and hand-feed

kangaroos. Out in Moreton Bay, North Stradbroke Island is home to an Aboriginal settlement, a former convict station and shipwrecks.

When to visit

Many people travel to Brisbane in winter (Jun–Aug) and the Dec–Jan school holiday break.

Key events include Ekka (Aug), an annual agricultural event also called the Royal Queensland Show.
The popular Brisbane Festival (Sep) draws crowds to music, theater, dance and circus performances.
The rainy season (Nov–May) begins late in the spring and runs through fall, with tropical cyclones possible Jan–Mar.