Cairns weather: Sailaway Port Douglas and BOM talk winter in FNQ

FNQ is the place to be as tourists escape the rain and freezing temperatures of the southern states. FIND OUT WHY

WHERE else would you rather be?

As a polar blast sweeps across the southern states, the beaches on Far North Queensland are looking picture perfect, as Italian holiday-maker Illaria Visicale discovered after escaping from Sydney this week.

Relaxing on the beach at Palm Cove, Ms Visicale was happy to have made the dash from down south, enjoying the balmy 26.2 degree average maximum temperatures as “winter” arrives in the tropics.

Kimba Wong, senior duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology said the Far North will experience warmer than average temperatures and an average monthly rainfall of 36mm in winter.

Illaria Visicale has just arrived in Cairns from Sydney to enjoy our winter weather in Palm Cove. Picture: Brian Cassey

“It’s not a wet time of year, we’re coming on to the dry season,” she said.

In autumn the weather total for Cairns Airport was 912mm compared to the average of 707mm.

“It’s (winter) a nice time of year, humidity has settled,” Ms Wong said.

“(Cairns has) the best weather in the state.”

While Cairns will experience an enjoyable winter, Ms Wong said areas including the Cape York Peninsula will have an abnormal wetter winter.

“It’s wetter than average but it’s still minimal, wetter than average monthly is just about 20mm,” she said.

The rest of the week in Cairns is predicted to remain partly cloudy and sunny with steady temperatures of about a maximum 28C with no rainfall.

“The first half of next week, there will be a couple of showers returning to the Far North,” Ms Wong said.

“Following that, it’s a good dry burst second half of next week into seasonal outlooks.”

Steve Edmondson, owner of Sailaway Port Douglas, said travellers are expected to head north in winter with more international forward bookings for the winter peak in June and July.

“The conditions are beautiful, it’s a really nice time to come,” he said.

“Our winter feels like summer for most people.”

The new boathouse in the superyacht marina takes advantage of the Far North’s beautiful scenery and offers nature-based experiences.

“Far North Queensland is in a prime position,” Mr Edmondson said.

“We’re one of the few destinations in the world looking forward to winter.”

Originally published as Cairns weather: Sailaway Port Douglas and BOM talk winter in FNQ