ABC, most years are ok in the aussie skifields, but there have been some duds (2001 I think was cr*p). despite what BP says, it will cost you more to go to NZ, we flew VB to Canberra & hired a car. Try Perisher Blue in the snowy mountains, its a good family resort. I also know people who have been to Charlotte Pass & they said its an excellent family resort, although more pricey. Price is hugely determined on the season & whether you want to stay "on snow" or not. August is the most reliable in terms of snowfall & peak season, we went end of June last year & they had massive falls. Its not even comparable to Europe or North America, but she'll get some fun out of it .

Alternatively you could fly to Melb & drive up to the Vic ski fields. Falls Creek & Mt Hotham are supposed to be good for families (Ive not been there though).

Perisher Blue

Charlotte Pass

Ski n Save

It was pretty even with the costings we did for going to treble cone. We couldn't do it in the end. Apparently the North Island had better snow than the South last season.

BP, yeah apparently, I know someone who lives in the north island who said they had a brilliant year. If you can get cheap flights in Oz with VB by booking far enough ahead (bearing in mind you will end up in Canberra & will still have to hire a car) , I would say do the aussie ski fields. Or drive down. Not even a thought of that with our kids :scared: Prices have always been skyhigh for flights to NZ during their ski season, interested to see how much cheaper it is now with Pacific Blue in the picture.

Ive only been to NZ & Queenstown etc in the summer. It was expensive enough then .

It looks like we are planning a holiday in the snow !!

I'd better do something to get the money to pay for it now !!

love the chart- I've been wondering about sunset times in mel. very helpful thx

Melbourne has longer summer evenings than I realised. I got here a month after the summer solstice and still found it fairly light.

We have had some scorchers like 41, and most recently mid 30s but they are not too bad. Yesterday was hot, I was wearing my best suit - a bespoke Uk City dark woolen suit and it was OK - just. Was a tad hot on the way back but the train was an off peak one without ac. I find alot of coping with the heat is self-discipline, walk in the shade, walk slow - I find it's almost a mental thing. Exercise is another thing now.

Playing sport from 6pm onwards is grouse.

Our coach says last night, "I want you guys to turn up even when it is 10 degrees outside" - I thought - bloody hell - too easy!!

There have been a few mornings where you feel cold - for 5 mins. Also one morning at the show was cold - we were out and about - wearing jumpers, etc - temp was about mid - late teens, then got to 20 by the end of the day.

I love Aussie winters! Excuse to wear jeans, a singlet, and a fleece. Just buy a few cheap ones from Target/ K-Mart. I used one fav all winter in 2002, and only stopped wearing it when I lost it. For indoors, (where it is COLDER than outside) wear 2 - hey presto - or buy a small fire for the lounge room.

Badge

I find it so bizarre watching the Target adverts at the minute with them frolicking in the snow. I mean, when are we ever going to have 6 inches of snow in Perth? Also found it weird when I was in Sydney last year to watch the ski update thing on the news - I think you forget when you are over here that there is snow out there somewhere.

All in all I have found the weather not to be as warm as I expected. I thought we'd have all year warmth with a couple of "summer rain" showers chucked in the fill up the resevoirs.
Although the summers are flippin hot - the rest of the year was not what I expected. Nice but not what I thought.

Really important to us and one of the main reasons for making the big move, we have had just 10-15 really hot sticky days this summer, easier to put up with than months of the cold, damp and dark winters in the UK. Ideal situation would be to holiday away in December and January, maybe Phuket later this year if the price is right and can convince the wife and 4 kids to have chrismas away from home.


Slater

You can find good weather in Spain and move there a lot easier than to Oz!

I grew up in Lisbon where the weather is probably on a par with Sydney. But, the standard of living, prospects for work and multi-cultral environment just doesn't compare.

So, for me, its the whole package that Australia offers. That, and the challenge of making it all happen!