When to visit Australia's East Coast: Sydney, Brisbane & Cairns

For almost guaranteed sunshine, head to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef between May and September, when the weather is warm, the skies are cloudless and the underwater visibility is at its best. In the north, the wet season runs from October to March, although the temperature throughout Queensland is warm year round.

Brisbane and The Gold Coast enjoy year-round sunshine, with over 300 days of it a year, on average. That said, as the climate is sub-tropical, you should also expect high humidity and frequent storms, particularly during summer. Offsetting the heavy downpours, though, are lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds. Throughout the Australian autumn and winter (April to September), milder temperatures and little rainfall make it ideal for hiking in the Gold Coast Hinterland.