January Weather in Australia and NZ

What kind of weather should we expect on our January cruise From New Zealand to Australia?

I am especially concerned about how cold it gets in Milford and Dusky Sound during the day, as well as what we might expect in Tasmania, Melbourne and Sydney.

In Milford and Dusky Sound you will likely want to wear a jacket; we bring a North Face type waterproof jacket with a fleece. We have the option to wear one or both pieces. This also works well when we travel to New Zealand and in Australia where we either do not need to use either of these or in some places one of the items and sometimes as it warms up then we remove them. In many ports you will not need any type of jacket. Just have the ability to layer if necessary.

Keith

What kind of weather should we expect on our January cruise From New Zealand to Australia?

 

I am especially concerned about how cold it gets in Milford and Dusky Sound during the day, as well as what we might expect in Tasmania, Melbourne and Sydney.

Melbourne in January.

How long is a piece of string. One day it can be 30-40 degrees ( centigrade) and the next day 20 degrees. Humid one day, breezy the next. Melbournes summer weather can be all over the place during summer. Sometimes long periods of hot humid weather over several days then a couple of days of rain and storms them hot again.

An example of yesterday and today...yesterday was 31.5 degrees © and today only got to 18 degrees ©. Tomorrow is meant to be 13. :rolleyes:

So basically anything from shorts to jeans to a lightweight pullover just in case ( shouldn't need anything more).

Same goes for visibility when sailing Milford and Dusky Sound. Could be clear, cloudy, foggy or a combination of all.

Keith

If you are coming to Western Australia - sun screen, sun hat, shorts - t shirts - that type of thing. It's summer down here - usually around 29 C to 33 C - for January - wouldn't get lower than 24 C on a bad day.

Bring layers for Melbourne, it's impossible to predict the weather more than a week out. It could be stifling hot or cold and stormy. We're well known for 4 seasons in one day.

Sydney is a little more stable than Melbourne but on average it's more humid, so dress appropriately. If you are going north it's the wet season in January so it will be hot and wet, with the chance of cyclones.

Bring layers for Melbourne, it's impossible to predict the weather more than a week out. It could be stifling hot or cold and stormy. We're well known for 4 seasons in one day.

 

Sydney is a little more stable than Melbourne but on average it's more humid, so dress appropriately. If you are going north it's the wet season in January so it will be hot and wet, with the chance of cyclones.

Did not realize there was that much variation!

Did not realize there was that much variation!

Remember you are talking about say Australia that is a very large country in terms of its physical size.

Think the USA even in the summer time where the difference in temperature between Minnesota and Florida is significant.

Keith

As Keith and others have wisely noted, there's lots of variety of weather there in January, etc. Looking forward to our Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Celebrity Solstice sailing, departing Sydney, doing 14 days on this nice ship, finishing in Auckland. Plus, doing some pre-cruise options for Kangaroo Island near Adelaide and then the Great Barrier Reef before departing from Sidney’s scenic harbor. And, probably post-cruise in Queenstown and stopping in Tahiti on the way home to break up that long, long flight back. We have a nice and active roll call going at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1614754

Welcome to any who want to join us for this trip and/or travel along via the web as we get prepared for that "adventure".

You can go to

http://www.wunderground.com

and check for the very specific weather history on many of the key towns in the world for their past temperatures in that specific area for a date in the past. Just look lower left in the page for weather history area, put in your exact dates and the year prior. You will then see what last year was like, along with recent highs and lows for that date there.

Here below are some specific examples for what I have pulled up for some dates as we plan ahead for early 2014. Maybe it's too, too much info, but it gives you a good range of info, etc.

Jan. 17, Friday: Cairns: 2012 weather: high of 89°F, low of 74°F, , 76% humidity;; average high on this day of 88°F, average low of 74°F; recent record high of 95°F (2008), recent record low of 73°F (2000), 2012 precipitation: zero, average precipitation on this date: .53; sunrise: 5:56 am; sunset: 6:57 pm.

Jan. 20, Monday: Sydney: 2012 weather on this date: high of 89°F, low of 74°F; average high on this date of 88°F, average low of 74°F; recent record high of 95°F (2008), recent record low of 73°F (2000); 2012 precipitation: zero, average precipitation on this date: .15; sunrise: 6:03 am; sunset: 8:07 pm. Moon: waning crescent, 13% illuminated.

Jan. 23, Thursday: Hobart, Tasmania: 2012: high of 87°F, low of 51°F; average high of 72°F, average low of 53°F; recent record high of 87°F (2012), recent record low of 44°F (2009); 2012 precipitation: zero, average precipitation on this date: .05; sunrise: 5:59 am; sunset: 8:43 pm. Moon: waning crescent with zero illuminated.

Jan 27, Monday: Dunedin, New Zealand: 2012: high of 53°F, low of 40°F; 2012 precipitation: zero; sunrise: 6:24 am; sunset: 9:18 pm. Moon: waning crescent, 14% illuminated.

Jan. 28, Tuesday: Christchurch/Lyttleton: 2012: high of 80°F, low of 39°F; average high of 69°F, average low of 51°F; recent record high of 87°F (1998), recent record low of 39°F (2012); 2012 precipitation: zero; sunrise: 6:23 am; sunset: 9:00 pm. Moon: waning crescent, 21% illuminated.

Jan. 29, Wednesday, Wellington: 2012: high of 68°F, low of 57°F; average high of 67°F, average low of 57°F; recent record high of 71°F (1998), recent record low of 53°F (1997); 2012 precipitation: zero, average precipitation on this date: .06; sunrise: 6:21 am; sunset: 8:45 pm. Moon: waxing crescent, 30% illuminated.

Feb. 3, Monday, Auckland, New Zealand: 2012: high of 69°F, low of 64°F; average high of 72°F, average low of 60°F; recent record high of 84°F (2005), recent record low of 57°F (1999); 2012 precipitation: zero, average precipitation on this date: .11; sunrise: 6:37 am; sunset: 8:31 pm. Moon: waxing gibbous, 75% illuminated.

Reactions, added questions??

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 105,894 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Tassie in January is usually rather dry and warm, but the weather can change very quickly. They also get rather biting and strong winds, I recommend having a jacket and an umbrella as you never know.

Interestingly - cruise ships are coming over to Port Hedland on the West Coast - in January/February when it is the "wet season" up there - monsoon/cyclone's/heavy humidity. Same to any place in Aus East to West above the 26th parallel. Not to put the wind up anybody - just interesting as to why they would do this. Suppose it's because it's "Aussie Summer Season"

Interestingly - cruise ships are coming over to Port Hedland on the West Coast - in January/February when it is the "wet season" up there - monsoon/cyclone's/heavy humidity. Same to any place in Aus East to West above the 26th parallel. Not to put the wind up anybody - just interesting as to why they would do this. Suppose it's because it's "Aussie Summer Season"

Suspect it is because it is the "northern winter season". Aussies avoid the north during the cyclone season, like Americans avoid the Caribbean during the hurricane season!

We are thinking first half of February, Sydney-NZ-Tasmania. I'm wondering if our aft balcony is a good idea. I can get an ocean view and save about $1,000, but my husband is really looking forward to the great views off the back of the ship.

Oh, and he like his INSIDE temperatures around meat locker level! :D

Hey, folks!

January is mid-summer in Australia and New Zealand. Think July temperatures in the northern hemisphere.

Australia will be hot - and could be wet in the north.

NZ will be warm.

Although it's in the southern part of the South Island, Milford Sound is not in Antarctica! It could be cool, but not cold, and the temperature will not be below freezing. Bring a sweater and a light, waterporoof jacket.