The Australian climate ranges from snow, as a common occurrence, in the mountains of Victoria and New South Wales in the winter, through to tropical monsoon conditions in Darwin and across the Kimberley region of Western Australia in the summer months. It is therefore difficult to make generalisations.

Some advice for different states
1. Queensland

Queensland enjoys long hot summers and generally mild winters. There are huge variations throughout the state. The things to keep in mind when packing are:

* the coast is subject to heavy rains during the summer months.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* summer along the Queensland coast is characterised by very high humidity.

* inland Queensland experiences continentality - ie. very hot, dry days and nights when the temperature can drop below zero.

* although a predominantly tropical state there are areas of Queensland (particularly around Stanthorpe) where the temperature can be extremely cold.

People dress, informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants. Beach wear is acceptable only on the beach and in pubs and fast food outlets; casual clothing is customary in most places.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat. The entire Queensland coast commonly experiences summer rains. Bring an umbrella. In winter, usually a lightweight overcoat and woollen garments are required. Remember warmer clothes are required if going inland.

2. New South Wales
New South Wales ranges widely in its temperature range. In summer the north coast can experience tropical conditions (very hot and sticky) and the inland can experience temperatures which commonly exceed 100°F or 40°C. In winter the north coast can remain mild and warm while the area around the Snowy Mountains and through the New England ranges can commonly experience snow and sub-zero frosty temperatures.

There are huge variations throughout the state. The things to keep in mind when packing are:

* the coast is subject to heavy rains during the summer months. The idea that New South Wales enjoys long hot summers is not entirely true. The days are hot but they can also be rainy and, particularly around Sydney, there is a phenomenon known as the Œsoutherly busterı which sees the temperature drop dramatically as a cold front rushes up the coast.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* summer along the NSW coast north of Newcastle is characterised by high humidity.

* inland NSW experiences continentality - ie. hot, dry days and nights when the temperature can drop below zero. It is rare in summer for the night time temperatures to drop dramatically.

* there are areas of NSW where the temperature can be extremely cold.

People dress, informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants. Beach wear is acceptable only on the beach and in pubs and fast food outlets; casual clothing is customary in most places.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat. The coast commonly experiences summer rains. Bring an umbrella. In winter, usually a lightweight overcoat and woollen garments are required. Remember warmer clothes are required if going inland.

3. Victoria
Victoria enjoys a cooler climate than either NSW or Queensland although it is true that the summer months can be very hot and the winters are generally mild. The critical difference can probably be summed up by the joke that Melbourne can experience Œfour seasons in one dayı.

It is also important to remember that Melbourne is quite cold in winter. The things to keep in mind when packing are:

* the summer months can see a mixture of very warm and quite cold weather.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* In winter, pack for winter. It is necessary to have warm clothing and raincoats and umbrellas.

Historically Melbourne is seen as being a more formal city than Sydney or Brisbane but this has changed in recent times. Often the weather will determine what people wear. It is true that people dress informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat but be prepared for the weather get become both wet and cold.

4. Tasmania
Tasmania is quite unlike the rest of Australia. It is wet, where the rest of Australia is dry. It is small and intimate; the rest is broad and open. It is very European; the rest looks more like Africa or South America.

In winter Tasmania experiences cold and snowy conditions as the winds bring cold air up from Antarctica. This is a time when extreme care must be taken by people planning to go walking as a beautiful day can quickly change into a day of sleet and snow.

The summer months are usually mild and it is common to experience long periods of bright sunny days. Particularly impressive are both autumn and spring which have a northern European feeling of seasonal change.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat but make sure you have warm clothes as the winds and rains can change the weather conditions very rapidly.

5. South Australia
South Australia enjoys long hot summers and generally mild, wet winters. In this sense it has a classic Mediterranean climate. The summers are typically very dry and it is common to experience short, sharp bursts of intense heat when the temperature soars over 40°C. Under such circumstances it is hardly surprising that people around Adelaide head for the coast, or the banks of the Murray River, on the weekends:

* the coast is hugely popular during the summer months.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* summer throughout South Australia is characterised by very low rainfall and dry, hot days.

* inland South Australia experiences continentality - ie. very hot, dry days and nights when the temperature can drop below zero. This happens in winter. In summer the days can be so hot that the nights donıt really offer much relief. It is a comment on the intensity of the weather conditions that people at Andamooka and Coober Pedy have decided to live underground.

People dress, informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants. Beach wear is acceptable only on the beach and in pubs and fast food outlets; casual clothing is customary in most places.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat. Bring an umbrella. In winter, usually a lightweight overcoat and woollen garments are required. Remember warmer clothes are required if going inland.

6. Western Australia
Western Australia enjoys long hot summers and generally mild, wet winters. In this sense it has a classic Mediterranean climate. The summers are typically very dry and it is common to experience short, sharp bursts of intense heat when the temperature soars over 40°C.:

* the coast is hugely popular during the summer months.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* summer throughout Western Australia is characterised by very low rainfall and dry, hot days.

* inland Western Australia experiences continentality - ie. very hot, dry days and nights when the temperature can drop below zero. This happens in winter. In summer the days can be so hot that the nights donıt really offer much relief. It is a comment on the intensity of the weather that Marble Bar is recognised as one of the hottest places on earth.

* the far north coast experiences cyclones in the summer months and the Kimberley is intensely humid during the Œwetı season which starts in October and lasts through the summer months.

People dress, informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants. Beach wear is acceptable only on the beach and in pubs and fast food outlets; casual clothing is customary in most places.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat. Remember warmer clothes are required if going inland.

7. Northern Territory
Northern Territory enjoys long hot summers and generally mild winters. The things to keep in mind when packing are:

* the north (south to at least Katherine) is subject to heavy rains during the summer months.

* in summer sunny days have a very high UV factor and are capable of seriously burning the skin.

* summer is characterised by very high humidity in the north.

* inland Northern Territory (particularly around Alice Springs and Uluru) experiences continentality - ie. very hot, dry days and nights when the temperature can drop below zero.

People dress, informally, though Œsmart casualı wear is often required after dark at theatres and the more sophisticated hotels and restaurants. Beach wear is acceptable only on the beach and in pubs and fast food outlets; casual clothing is customary in most places.

For summer months (October to April) pack lightweight garments and a hat. In winter, usually a lightweight overcoat and woollen garments are required. Remember warmer clothes are required in the centre.