Where to Caravan in Australia During Winter

Winter (June, July & August) is one of the best times to hitch up the caravan and explore Australia! But there are a couple of ways you can tackle winter, depending on your likes and dislikes.

Chase the weather

If you're the kind of person or family who prefers milder weather, then the golden rule of caravanning is to stay above the Tropic of Capricorn.

The Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line that circles the Earth at approximately 23.5 degrees south of the Equator and marks the southernmost latitude where the Sun can appear directly overhead at midday. It is one of the five (5) major lines of latitude on our planet.

What does that mean for Australia? As a rough guide, west to east, the Tropic of Capricorn passes near Newman WA, Alice Springs NT, Longreach Qld, Emerald Qld, Rockhampton Qld. Areas north of the line are considered to be within the tropics, while areas south are considered outside the tropics. Winter north of the Tropic of Capricorn is generally warm and dry - perfect caravanning conditions! You can usually enjoy comfortable daytime temperatures and outdoor activities without layers of winter clothing. Humidity is low, skies are usually clear, and nights are mild.

Traditionally, thousands of grey nomads adhere to this strategy, heading north from cooler climates in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney and wintering "up north".

Don't assume that winter north of the Tropic of Capricorn doesn't get cold though. While days are generally nice, night times can be cold. We've had July nights in Alice Springs when temperatures have dipped below zero.

Some great winter caravan destinations weather-wise include:

• The top end - Darwin, Litchfield National Park, and Kakadu National Park where winter is the dry season with lower humidity and great temps for swimming.

• Tropical north Queensland - Cairns, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands, Daintree region and Cape York

• Queensland outback - Longreach, Winton, Barcaldine, Charleville and the wide-open landscapes of western Queensland

• Red centre - Alice Springs, West & East MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon and Uluru clear winter days with mild temperatures, but taking something warm for nights when temperatures can drop close to or below freezing

• Broome and the Kimberley - Broome, Gibb River Road, Kununurra and Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) seasonal roads are open and the weather is great

Avoid the Crowds

If you're people adverse or prefer to be a free spirit and make no bookings, then winter is the perfect time to explore regions out of season where you can enjoy natural beauty without crowds.

These regions tend to be cooler destinations, where winter temperatures are lower, with the exception of the NSW Snowy Mountains and Victorian High Country where winter is popular for snow sports.

Some great quiet areas during winter include:

• Flinders Ranges, SA

• Eyre, Fleurieu or York Peninsula, SA

• Murray River

• Tasmania

• NSW South Coast

• Great Ocean Road, Victoria

• Perth to Esperance, WA

• Wilsons Promontory, Victoria

• Lakes Entrance and Gippsland Lakes, Victoria

• Phillip Island, Victoria

• Grampians National Park, Victoria

• Beechworth, Ballarat and Bendico, Victoria

• Port Stephens, NSW

• Coonabarabran and the Warrumbungles, NSW

• Mudgee, NSW

One disadvantage to this strategy is that some providers may not provide tours or services, or those tours/services may operate on a reduced, seasonal timetable.

An advantage is that you can enjoy cosy campfires!

Budget Friendly

Winter is considered "off peak" for many caravanning destinations in Australia in areas that have their strongest site occupancy in Summer. This allows you to find better value prices on things such as accommodation, transport (e.g. Spirit of Tasmania), and even some activities. Lower prices are due to fewer visitors, hence this strategy marries closely with the previous one with the same advantages and disadvantages.