Western Australia in March
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Oct 20, 2012 7:57 PM Last Post By: BP007
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Western Australia in March
Hi,I am thinking of renting a 4WD camper in Perth in mid-March and spending 25 days driving up the west coast and visiting Kalibari, Francis Peron, Cape Range, Karijini and Millstream Chichester national parks.
I have checked out the weather for that time of year and it is less than ideal. However, the time of the visit is not flexible as I am in Australia for a wedding.
So, am I wasting my time and money doing this trip at this time of year?? I have desperately wanted to do this trip for years so should I just go for it, or am I going to get blasted by a cyclone or just get fed up with the stinking hot temperatures (especially as I will be coming from a Canadian winter).
Any advice from anyone that has visited this region in March would be very welcome.
Thanks in advance,
BF
1
Have you thought of heading south instead...Margaret River, Rainbow Coast Walpole to Albany, east to Esperance via Fitzgerald National Park, then back via Goldfields around Kalgoorlie...ideal in March, and lots of wild country there as well.Perhaps leave the north for another southern winter when it is perfect there 25C and dry..you could even continue on through the Kimberley to Darwin then too.
2
I think the weather would be great, you're in or leaving Perth about mid-March, the days of summer heat are cooling down and the evenings are great. I'm probably going out on a limb, but I would think a cyclone in mid-April would be unlikely, - I don't have any stats for that.4
I'd relish the heat after a Canadian winter and the worst of the weather is already behind you by then. Go for it!We live in the UK, and were up there in April one year - hot, yes, but not too hot. By the coast is lovely as you usually get afternoon sea breezes to help cool you. It will probably rain, and it could be fairly tropical, but not the end of the world if it does - coupld of days holed up somewhere would be a bit of an adventure.
Have you read any Tim Winton? If you haven't get Dirt Music - fab book and he writes about the area (and more) you'll be going to and gives an interesting picture of life up there.
6
It will be hot and very likely wet at that time of year but certainly doable. Coast won't be too bad unless there is a cyclone. In land it will get hotter but the trick is to adjust around the conditions. It will generally rain in the afternoon for a couple of hours, tropical style, after which the heat is lessend quite a bit. So get up as soon as it's light to do your sightseeing etc, find a place out of the sun to be when it gets really hot and have a midday kip for a few hours until the rain has come through and then go out again. If it's wet access to the gorges in Kaajini is likely to be restricted due to flash floods but you can still see a fair bit. In your situation I'd go for it - but make sure you have a hat, lots of water and shelter in the middle of the day.8
Hot and wet on the west coast of Australia in March?On what planet?
Bad foot, you can expect good weather then and there.
A choice time to be there and I prove it by telling you that's when the Grey nomads start the same trip as you intend. Grey nomads are the old experienced travelers of Aust.
You mention the parks which is good but a little study of history will open up the towns for you. They have great history and as you have to pass and use these places you may as well enjoy it. Carnarvon is one good example.
Just a thought.
PS....I've lived and traveled all that country for over fifty years so I know what I'm talking about. Get packing mate you're going to enjoy it.
Good luck.
Edited by: shaen
9
Planet Western Australia (assuming Shaen was being serious or perhaps he or she has a higher tolerance than most). According to our friends at wikipedia, Exmouth has an average March high of 36.4 degree and gets 39.6 mm of rain while Newman is 37.2 and gets 41.7 mm. Hot and wet rather than hot and dry in my view. In my experience at that time of year you tend to get short sharp bursts around the middle of the day which also cool the place down hence my advice to do your sightseeing either side of that.13
I concur with all the good advice above. I worked for the Bureau of Meteorology in Port Hedland for 10 years between 1974 and 1984. Late March for where you plan to travel will be perfect. The long range forecast is also good, and as Cabalerro says, the chance of a Cyclone is slim. Besides, coastal communities are warned well in advance of any activity these days, just check the radio news every day or so and you'll be fine.I really didn't need to add my 2 cents worth to the good info already posted, but I just had to say 'Welcome to WA'. A very good friend of mine from Calgary stayed with me about 10 years ago when he visited Perth for an international rifle shooting competition, held in January. When he left Calgary the temperature was -15oC, and when he got off the plane in Perth it was 41oC. I met him in the terminal with a pullover and told him I thought it was a bit chilly.
Ever since he's been trying to have me visit Canada around Christmas time to pay me back.
