Australia has its seasons in reverse to the majority of the world. When it is winter in Europe and America, it is summer in Australia, and vice versa. While it may be difficult to imagine Australians sunbathing on the beach and swimming and surfing in the ocean in December, that is generally how they spend their Christmas holiday.
Australia is a huge country, around the size of the contiguous United States, and it has several distinct climactic zones. The different climates create different types of landscapes: desert, mountain, rain forest and sunny beaches. Also, to the surprise of some, it does snow in Australia, there are winter snowfields in several states; and one of the most popular skiing areas is the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. Australian's ski season runs from June to September.
Although Australia does receive some snowfall, it is one of the driest places in the world, second only to Antarctica. Mulka Bora in South Australia is one of the country's driest places, averaging around 4 inches of rain per year. In some parts of the huge, dry interior of the country, known as the Outback, it has not rained in several years. On the other hand, sudden downpours in the Outback can cause flash flooding and fill huge salt flats with water.
Most visitors to Australia arrive in Sydney; and the best time to visit the city and the surrounding area is the summer. Airfare tends to be lowest however, from around mid-April to mid-August. It is important to keep in mind that Australians often take their main vacation somewhere between Christmas and the end of January. Similar to the UK, Australians consider Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, to be a holiday.
Much of the vast interior of Australia is hot, and some inhabitants have created inventive ways to deal with the heat. The small town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is famous not only for being the opal mining capital of the world, but for having most of its homes and businesses underground, in order to escape the fierce summer heat. The advantage of a home carved from the rock is that the temperature remains constant year round; it also saves on air conditioning bills.
A driving trip through the Outback is an unforgettable experience. It is a good idea to carry extra water with you as well as such essential items as spare fuel, towing ropes and perhaps a satellite phone. The town of Alice Springs makes a great base for exploring the Outback and nearby Uluru (Ayers Rock). Alice Springs experiences some of the country's highest temperatures, often reaching 100F degrees. Keep in mind that even though it can be hot during the day, temperatures can plunge overnight.
Parts of Northern Australia enjoy a tropical climate; much of Australia is closer to the equator than many people think. Winters in this part of the country are generally mild and pleasant, around 70F degrees; while summer temperatures can easily reach 100F. In this part of the country, summer is the rainy season. If you are visiting during June, July and August, expect bigger crowds.
One of the biggest attractions in Northern Australia is the huge Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Sight covering over 4 million acres. The dry season, which occurs May through October, is definitely the best time to go, although you should try to book your tours and accommodation about a year in advance, if possible. However, Kakadu is also a wonderful experience in the wet season, which is generally November through April. Crowds are fewer and the rains can cause waterfalls to swell and create spectacular lightning storms.
No visit to Australia is complete without seeing one of the wonders of nature, the Great Barrier Reef. It is impressive any time of the year, but July through November is considered to be the best time; there is less chance of rain and the temperatures are a little bit cooler. The waters around the Barrier Reef are some of the clearest and cleanest in the world. If you are diving to see the reef, as thousands of vacationers do, August through January is peak visibility time.
Also, if you are visiting the northern coast of Australia, especially the northern Queensland area, you should be prepared for possible cyclones. These strong winds are caused by warm sea temperatures and generally occur from November to April. If a cyclone is likely, the local TV stations will broadcast a warning. It is strongly suggested that you should take shelter immediately or evacuate the area in the case of a cyclone.
Australia is absolutely a land of extremes, and that includes the climate. However, regardless of the weather, a trip to the Land Down Under is an unforgettable experience.
Today, being the fifth largest city in the United States and the capital of the state of Arizona, the city has become a popular tourist destination that offers visitors world famous sites like Arizona Science Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Heard Museum and Desert Botanical Garden. Due to its hot weather tourists flock to Phoenix mostly in the winter when the temperature remains around 65 degree Fahrenheit. Phoenix is a unique city in the middle of the great Sonoran Desert that dates back to early Native American civilizations.
The early economy of Phoenix was basically agricultural but with rapid urbanization and development it has prospered in different types of industries that generate thousands of jobs throughout the year. Arizona University has helped provide more job opportunities for research professionals with its growing development of research capabilities. There are also seven Fortune 1000 companies that have branches in Arizona, including Intel Corporation.
Phoenix is a bustling city with lot of new people coming in, and if you are thinking about relocation, Phoenix might be a good option for you. Real estate in Phoenix and that of the surrounding cities in Arizona are inexpensive and are a real deal if you can stand the hot climate that is characteristic of a desert region. In Phoenix homes are very affordable, many available at $100,000 or less. Condominiums and apartments are also being sold at one third of the rate of other booming cities in the United States. To find a home suitable for your needs as well as the needs of your family, lets discuss the neighborhoods of Phoenix a little.
Downtown- the heart of the city and home of some historic neighborhoods. These days, some areas like Willo and Encanto-Palmcroft districts are high in demand among Realtors and real estate in Phoenix is really on a roll in these areas.
F.Q. Story Historic District- this is one of the areas which many Phoenix real estate agents favor. Home to many historic buildings and architecture, F.Q. Story Historic District is one of the best known places in the city.
Maryvale- if you are looking for Phoenix homes for sale at reasonable rates; this is the place for you. Once crimes were frequent in this area, but these days, the government has done a brilliant job cutting it down.
Glendale- A suburb area which is coming into the limelight real fast due to its fast developments. Home to celebrities like Jordin Sparks, David Hernandez, Stephenie Meyer, Eric Bischoff and V. L. Carter; Glendale can be the perfect setting for your Phoenix home.
South Phoenix- also called South Mountain District or SoMo, South Phoenix is one of the most important areas of the city. A number of homes for sale in Phoenix are available in this area. South Phoenix is one of the most populous regions of the city.
Ahwatukee- this L shaped residential area of town is known as one of the bustling parts of Phoenix. Really well connected with the rest of the city, a variety of Phoenix homes are available in this neighborhood.
Phoenix boasts one of the best educational systems in the United States. It's divided into 30 school districts with the Phoenix Union High School Districts operating most of the public schools in the area. There are also many private and charter schools like North Pointe in Phoenix. The main seat of higher education is the University of Arizona with 4 different campuses across the country, it supports a medical Unit with 2 campuses. Apart from this, Grand Canyon University, Thunderbird School of Global management, Western Governors University, University of Phoenix the country's largest open University with branches all over America and even in Mexico, Canada and Netherlands, and the University of Advancing Technology, have given Phoenix a dignified position of educational excellence in the United States.
Described as the "Valley of the Sun" this city packs quite a punch for travelers as it represents somehow a hybrid version of Los Angeles and Las Vegas. With a population of more than a million people in the city and over two million in the metropolitan area, Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities of US. Phoenix was built with the concept of being a great tourist destination and has several restaurants offering delicious cuisines from around the world right in the heart of the desert. Carolina's Mexican Food, Pizzeria Bianco, Tutti Santi, Old Spaghetti Factory, China Chilli, Fazitas, Farm at South Mountain, Alexis Grill, and Durant's are highly recommended. Try them out for some lip smacking true Chinese, Mexican and Italian cuisine.
Apart from Heard's museum and Taliesin West, Phoenix also boasts the famous resort called the Sun City that draws tourists from across the world. During the winter, people in cold northern climates visit Phoenix to warm up their bones at the resorts and spas and soak in the sun. They also enjoy being able to participate in outdoor activities like swimming, hiking and golf, that winter cold prevents them from doing. Some of the most famous hotels and spas include Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, JW Marriott Desert resort, Pointe Hilton Peak resort, Embassy Suites phoenix, The Ridge Carlton Phoenix, Arizona Grand Resort, Legacy golf resort, Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliff Resort, and Hyatt regency Phoenix. Almost all of the resort offer massage centers and spas. They also provide services for desert tours, local sightseeing, and chauffeur car services to help you enjoy and get the most our of your vacation.
Both Craig Elliott & Connie Boling are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Craig Elliott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vacation, Bankruptcy Law and Careers and Job Hunting. About Author:Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as