Call me anti-social but in my travels around Australia, the places that I remember most vividly are those that were the least crowded when I visited.
Happily, in a country as vast as ours, there are still plenty of places we can have virtually to ourselves. But perhaps the surest way of avoiding the masses, even in the most popular destinations, is to visit them outside the main tourist season. You need to be adaptable in dealing with cold, hot or wet weather but you'll be rewarded by not being elbow to elbow with other visitors. So here are a few state-by-state suggestions of good off-season times to visit some of Australia's most-loved places.
Snowy Mountains, NSW
Probably my most memorable camping trip ever was to the Snowy Mountains, in early spring. On the drive down, travelling south through Kosciuszko National Park between Tumut and Cooma, the road was virtually empty and the imposing mountain range given a bleak beauty by the remnants of winter snow, leafless trees and grey skies. We found a campsite all to ourselves by a beautiful alpine stream. The nights were freezing but we were well prepared with multiple layers of clothing, warming food and were able to build a huge camp fire. By day we went for long hikes and one clear night, the moon came up over the mountains so huge and bright that we were able to read by it.
The country music capital literally hums during the January Festival. But you don't need to battle the summer crowds to experience it. Instead, go for ''Hats off to Country'' in July. There are still plenty of class acts, accommodation is cheaper and it's the best time to spot up-and-coming talent.
The Shipwreck Coast, Victoria
This stretch of coastline, beginning at Cape Otway and running 180 kilometres to Port Fairy in south-western
Victoria, is so spectacular that it gets crowded in warmer weather. But given the area's reputation for shipwrecks there is no better time to visit than during the winter, when coastal mists and tumultuous seas make it hugely atmospheric. Wrap up well and stand at a headland viewpoint like that overlooking the famous Twelve Apostles rock formations and you can witness the full power of nature. In fact, in July 2005, one 50-metre rock stack tumbled into the sea as astonished visitors looked on. If the weather gets too wild then you can pop into the Maritime Museum at Warnambool to learn more about the coast's many shipping disasters during the nineteenth century. Then in the evening book into some cosy accommodation in a small seaside town like Port Campbell or Port Fairy.
Victoria's beautiful High Country, north-east of
Melbourne, has its lowest visitor numbers in autumn. However, this is a great time to visit as the climate is more temperate and you can visit the area's award-winning bakeries, wineries and gourmet food producers and discover its rich bushranger history without needing to rug up or break into a sweat.
With an average of 300 sunshine days a year and winter temperatures ranging between 11 and 21 degrees, winter is a perfect time to visit the
Gold Coast. June is the region's quietest month, when you will get the best accommodation deals but there are still big events like the Gold Coast Bazaar to enjoy. Best of all, you and your kids will face the year's shortest queues for thrilling theme park rides like Dreamworld's Tower Of Terror and The Claw and Whitewater World's The Rip and the Green Room.
It is very hot in this outback region during the summer but if you can stand the heat, you will find fewer visitors here then. July and August are also a great time for touring here. It can be chilly, especially at night when frosts are common. But days bring mostly clear, dazzling blue skies, ideal for walking and there is always a warm welcome at character-filled Flinders institutions like the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna and the Rawnsley Park Eco Retreat.
As I found out when visiting Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks and Katherine Gorge in February this year, the wet season (December to March) can be an awe-inspiring time to visit. The landscape is brilliantly green, the clouds billow big and black high into the sky in the afternoon and sometimes let loose a thundering torrent full of lightning strikes. Surprisingly few of the region's attractions are out of bounds during the wet and booking into accommodation like the Gagudju hotel in Jabiru will ensure a dry roof over your head.
My first visit to the
Kimberley was during fiercely hot November, just prior to the rains. Travelling along the Gibb River Road we barely saw another tourist. We did have some boiling days but that just made cooling off at idyllic spots like Zebedee Springs and Bell Gorge all the sweeter. The exotic town of
Broome, with its red pindan cliffs and unforgettable sunsets over
Cable Beach, is also much less busy then than during the May to October Peak season.
Although Tasmania's capital is at its chilliest in July, with temperatures ranging from 4 to 11 degrees; and an occasional dusting of snow on Mt Wellington behind the city, its warm sandstone buildings and snug waterfront cafes and restaurants provide a lovely refuge from the weather. You can also warm your tonsils here during the Festival of Voices, a midwinter celebration of song held in and around historic Salamanca Place.
Got any other tips for off-season beauts around Oz? Share them below.
