Winter, but make it sunny: 5 warm Aussie escapes worth packing your bags for

Chasing dry season sun in Cairns 

Ask anyone who lives in Tropical North Queensland about the weather, and they'll tell you the same thing, that winter is when Cairns shows off. Between June and August, the wet season gives way to sunny skies and an average of 26 degrees Celsius, the stingers have moved on, and the reef has some of its clearest water of the year. That means it's prime time for everything Cairns does best, whether that’s snorkelling among coral reefs, walking through rainforest or grazing your way around the markets. 

Free and affordable 

• Explore the Cairns Marina, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and just a 15-minute walk from YHA Cairns Central. 

• The Red Arrow track above the Cairns Botanic Gardens is a rainforest walk around 10 minutes from the heart of town. You may spot local lizards, echidnas or bush turkeys making the most of the morning sun (just never feed or touch native wildlife). 

• Cool off at the Esplanade Lagoon, a free, patrolled saltwater swimming spot right on the waterfront, open almost every day of the year. Note, this is temporarily closed but will open again from mid-August 2026. 

• Eat your way through some of the best markets in the region. Rusty's (Friday to Sunday) has been feeding Cairns since 1975 and it's still where chefs shop for fresh mangoes and other produce. After dark, the Cairns Night Markets on the Esplanade is open every single night of the year, ideal for a post-swim wander. 

Splurge 

• Sail along the best of the Great Barrier Reef on a high speed catamaran, visiting three reef sites full of spectacular coral formations and vibrant marine life (from $270). 

• Discover the Daintree Rainforest with a one-day tour to Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and other sites in the region (from $205). 

• Zip through the tropical mangroves on the Cairns Jet Boat experience (from $35). 

• Learn about the diverse marine life of the Great Barrier Reef at the Cairns Aquarium (from $61). 

• Explore the Atherton Tablelands across a full day with Barefoot Tours (from $149) , swimming in freshwater pools at Crystal Cascades, and experiencing stunning views at McGregor’s Lookout. 

Insider tip: There’s free weekly activities held at YHA Cairns Central including pool competitions, board games nights, pub crawls and trivia competitions. Sign up, and make some new pals in the process! 

Your base: YHA Cairns Central has a pool, a tropical courtyard and hosts who can help with booking your reef experience on the spot. 

Soaking up the sun in Byron Bay 

Good news, Byron Bay doesn’t lose its “Byron” vibe over the winter months. Expect soft golden sunsets, days around 20 degrees Celsius, and weather that starts with a jumper but often ends in a T-shirt. The real show is just offshore, where more than 50,000 humpback whales cruise past the cape between June and November, close enough to spot from the lighthouse walking track. Back in town, wind down your day with the locals on the lawn overlooking Main Beach, listening to buskers play as the sun sets. Time your trip for August or September (skip the July school holidays) and you'll catch the town at its quietest. 

Free and affordable 

• Hire a wetsuit, surfboard or bike from your YHA and explore Byron like a local. 

• The Cape Byron Lighthouse walk is one of Australia's great short walks, weaving through rainforest, quiet beaches and clifftops at the mainland's most easterly point.  

• Get into “Byron mode” properly with a morning yoga or meditation class at one of the town's many studios. Or check the free classes also running for guests at YHA Byron Bay and YHA Cape Byron.  

• Grab brunch at cafes like Top Shop, or Bayleaf in the backstreets, both popular with the locals. Or pull up a bench at Stone & Wood, the brewery behind Pacific Ale (tasting paddles from about $15).  

• Head to the lookout at The Pass and watch surfers take on one of Australia’s most famous breaks. 

Splurge 

• Let's Go Surfing has surfing lessons and packs (from $89) with discounts for YHA members. 

• Paddle out with Cape Byron Kayaks (from $89) around Julian Rocks, where dolphins and sea turtles appear most days. If you don’t spot any wildlife, your next paddle is free. 

• For a night out, Byron has lots of great restaurants to choose from. Light Years has modern Asian share plates that outclass their price tag, Loft is perfect for cocktails and balcony people-watching, and Raes on Wategos is the white-linen, sunset-over-the-bay institution for when you're celebrating something. 

Insider tip: Wake up early and walk up to the lighthouse at sunrise while most people are still asleep. Bring a hot drink, and keep an eye out for a humpback whale or two! 

Your base: YHA Byron Bay or YHA Cape Byron are both central, with resort-style facilities like a pool, sun lounges and large common areas. Plus you can rent bikes, surfboards and more. 

Doing winter differently in Fremantle 

Walyalup, as the Whadjuk Noongar people have always known Fremantle, turns on the charm offensive during winter. Days average 18 to 19 degrees Celsius with plenty of sunshine between showers, making it the perfect weather for exploring a port town full of buskers, breweries and markets. It's also when Freo's events calendar cranks up. Best of all, you can sleep inside Western Australia's only World Heritage listed building. YHA has revitalised part of the old Fremantle Prison, a working jail until 1991, making it one of the most unique properties to stay in their entire network. And for the remainder of 2026, central Freo is a Free Transit Zone, so every bus around the town centre is free. 

Free and affordable 

• Start at the Fremantle Markets (Friday to Sunday), trading since 1897 under the same iron roof. The buskers have to audition for their spots, which is why the quality of the street shows is quite high, plus the food hall at the back is full of tasty treats. 

• Grab a coffee along the Cappuccino Strip, the stretch of South Terrace where Italian migrants taught Australia how to sit down and enjoy an espresso.  

• Have a dip at Bathers Beach, a city beach where the sun sets over the open ocean. 

• Plan around 10 Nights in Port (20 to 30 August 2026, stay tuned for 2027 dates too), which fills the town with installations, performances and general strangeness. Much of the program is also free. 

• End the day at Gage Roads Brew Co on Victoria Quay, beer in hand and watching the container ships slide past close enough to read their names. 

Splurge 

• Spend the day on Rottnest Island, 30 minutes by ferry from Fremantle (from $85 return, including island entry). Hire a bike (from $33) and explore any of the 63 beaches and 20 secluded bays at your own pace. Here, The Basin is perfect for snorkelling, with crystal clear water and lighthouse views.  

• Keep your camera ready for quokkas, the famously selfie-friendly marsupials that live here in the world's largest numbers (they're protected, so look but never touch). And from May to November, the ferry deck doubles as a whale watching platform. 

• If you're feeling brave, Skydive Geronimo operates WA's only island skydive over Rottnest Island, with 10% off for YHA members. 

Insider tip: Book the prison's evening Torchlight Tour (from 6.30pm in winter), experience some chills and thrills, then walk about 30 seconds to bed. Members save 15% on every prison tour. 

Your base: YHA Fremantle Prison is inside a former UNESCO World Heritage listed convict prison, and is easily one of the most unique and memorable places you’ll ever stay. 

Riding winter's best waves in Coolangatta 

Coolangatta sits at the quieter, southern end of the Gold Coast, and winter is its best-kept secret. Expect sunny days around 21 degrees Celsius, clean morning surf, and ocean water that stays warmer than the air well into August. It's also prime whale watching season, with humpbacks passing so close to shore you can spot them from the headland. Who said you can't have a beach holiday in July? 

Free and affordable 

• Watch the surfers at Snapper Rocks, the start of the famous Superbank surf break and one of the best waves in the world. Pro surfers train here often, so you'll have a front-row seat for free. 

• Walk the oceanfront path from Kirra to Point Danger, where the lookout sits right on the state border between Queensland and New South Wales.  

• Swim at Rainbow Bayor Greenmount, two patrolled beaches that stay calm even when the surf picks up.  

• Depending on when you’re visiting, the Coolangatta beachfront markets along the foreshore are ideal for a post-swim wander. 

Splurge 

• Get out on the water with Cooly Eco Adventures (from $379), a small-group whale watching tour where the guides double as marine educators. YHA members save too. 

• Feeling brave? Gold Coast Skydive (from $525) takes you up to 12,000 feet over the coastline before landing right on Kirra Beach. 

• Give a full day to the theme parks up the highway. Multi-day park passes to Sea World, Movie World, and Wet'n'Wild start from $169. 

Insider tip: Hire a surfboard from reception and paddle out early at Greenmount or Rainbow Bay, home to some of the gentlest learner waves on the coast.  

Your base: YHA Coolangatta, steps from Kirra Beach, with surfboards and bikes to hire on site. 

Swimming through winter in Brisbane 

Brisbane never got the memo about winter. Locals here seem perfectly happy to keep it that way, with highs of 21 to 22 degrees Celsius and reliable sunshine, mornings that are cool enough for a hoodie and afternoons warm enough for a swim. Brisbane is also a city you can explore entirely on foot and ferry. Swim at an inner-city beach, visit some galleries, and then stroll along the Brisbane River without spending a dollar. And this winter there’s a big reason to celebrate. The city's annual agricultural show, the Ekka, turns 150 in August. 

Free and affordable 

• Swim at Streets Beach, Australia's only inner-city man-made beach, patrolled year-round and close to YHA Brisbane Central. 

• Explore Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Both are free to enter with rotating exhibitions. 

• Visit the Ekka (August 8 to 16), the Royal Queensland Show's 150th birthday. There’s rides, cattle shows, wood chopping competitions and the iconic strawberry sundaes. 

• Graze your way through Night Feast (July 29 to August 23), the Powerhouse's after-dark food festival, which has recently shifted to winter. 

Splurge 

• Spend a day on North Stradbroke Island (tours from $199, YHA members save 10%). The North Gorge walk is a 1.2km boardwalk loop where whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays cruise past below the cliffs. 

• Climb the Story Bridge, 80 metres above the river. Winter offers some of the clearest skies, and the Twilight Climb (from $180) is extra special with the city lights as your backdrop. 

Insider tip: Getting around Brisbane costs next to nothing. The City Loop buses and CityHopper ferry are free, and the rest of the network, trains and CityCats included, is just 50 cents a trip. Make sure you ride the ferry to Kangaroo Point for sunset under the cliffs. 

Your base: YHA Brisbane City has a rooftop pool and bar looking over the river, plus free live music at the weekend. 

Words: Troy Nankervis