[jrd]

Hey everyone, newbie member here! Just wondering if anyone could give me any advice on where to spend the Australian winter? I am finished my university year and heading off to Oz sometime in July and im hoping to start Uni over there in Feb 2006 but will have a couple months before that to travel around. I have heard Cairns, Port Douglas and Brisbane are all great places to go for the winter as they have the best weather. Where do most backpackers head for the winter? We wanna head somewhere hot where there is a good atmosphere and where there are jobs available also! Id be oh so grateful if anyone had any advice for me,
Thanks a mill,
J [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Tim Uden]

Anywhere in the tropics (north of the Tropic of Capricorn) is best in winter. My first choice would be Darwin.

[poppageorge]

I never had need for work concerns but while in Sydney fellow hostellers found work quite easily. Also I heard Brisbane and Melbourne for job seekers. Cairns, Kuranda is terriffic for vacation. But city is small so not sure about work availability. Bone up on computer skills as it might stand you in good stead for job seeking.
If you want to travel OZ wide rather than spend a lot of time in one place check out Great Southern Railway pass. You get to travel across Australia (not Brisbane or Cairns way though) and sleep on train also. Quite worthwhile and for $500. OZ is a great way to go.Check it out. You need backpackers id as well as non AUS passport to be elgible for pass.I purchased mine at Central station in Sydney.Sydney to Perth. Melbourne to Darwin . Rode the Ghan train to Darwin