No matter where you travel, it’s not hard to accidentally end up playing a game of “weather lottery.” And let’s be honest; Australia isn’t exactly known for being home to the most calm climates. Cyclones, snow, hail storms, lightning, floods– you name it, tourists and expats in history have experienced it (although at this point it should be noted that usually the worst you have to deal with is heat). So what can you do to ensure you don’t get caught out in bad Aussie weather? Here are six top tips that will hopefully help you:
1. Know your location
Each part of Australia has different climates and it’s important to check before you plan your trip what you think you’ll be dealing with. Melbourne, for example, although an amazing city, sometimes has very quick weather changes so it’s important to be prepared. Brisbane on the other hand tends to be a fairly stable but hot city for most of the year. As a bit of an unofficial rule, it’s good to note that the further south you travel in Australia, the more likely it is that cold weather will be more extreme. Because of this, you should brace yourself if you’re planning on travelling in winter.
2. Pack smart
Off the back of knowing where you’re going, it’s important to think wisely about the time of year. If you’re heading to Australia in summer, you’ll be set with some insect repellant (for the mosquitos) and a hat. Be aware of the sun though; sun safety is important as we tend to get hit by more UV rays than other countries. Have a look at Google, or visit an extreme weather site.
3. Charge your phone
If you happen to be travelling around on your own or will be without contact with other people for long periods of time, the importance of having your phone charged is often easily overlooked. It’s not hard to get caught up in the excitement of travelling and along the way forget to plug it in overnight. This just means that if something does happen, you’ll be able to call for help if needed.
4. 000
This is extreme but if you’re not from Australia you might not know what our emergency number is! Although certain well known emergency numbers from other countries may redirect through to our Australian hotline, it’s good to know that 000 is who you want, it just in case.
5. Get covered
This is such an easily overlooked aspect of travel that people often don’t think about when they’re moving overseas or heading on holidays. Because moving tends to be such an extreme process, it’s so easy to forget about covering your tracks! Have a look at travel insurance policies for expats which can assist in the case that bad weather has caused cancelled or delayed flights, accommodation refunds, or ticket cancellations.
6. Plan the drive
A lot of people enjoy road tripping around Australia. However, it’s important to make sure that you have a plan of where you’re going and whether your petrol can last the distance! Especially in summer, it’s not advisable to get caught out in the heat in the middle of nowhere (if you can avoid it). It’s just a matter of knowing the distance of your journey and mapping your route from there.
At the end of the day, you have to do what suits you best in order to get the best possible value out of your trip. If you do happen to come across extreme or nasty weather, you just need to be prepared so that you don’t get caught unexpectedly. Australia is honestly a really beautiful country and if you’re lucky enough to be caught out in a storm, as long as you’re safe, you’ll see nature put on a real show. Good luck and enjoy!
