Australian Winter Months -

For the top third of the continent—Darwin, Cairns, the Kimberley—winter is not a time of cold. It is the "Dry."

The Australian winter is not a single story. It is a collection of atmospheres. It is the dry, perfect breezes of the tropics; the cozy, coffee-fueled gloom of the southern cities; the stark, freezing beauty of the desert nights; and the thrill of the alpine snow. australian winter months

Here, winter is a booming industry. The smell of diesel from snow groomers mingles with the scent of woodsmoke from chalets. It is a time of après-ski culture, of mulled wine and roaring fireplaces, a slice of Europe grafted onto the ancient landscape of the high country. For the top third of the continent—Darwin, Cairns,

In the oceans, winter is a time of migration. The Humpback Highway is in full swing. Thousands of humpback whales travel north along the east and west coasts to breed in warmer waters. From the headlands of Sydney and the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, onlookers gather in the biting wind to watch the breach and slap of tails, a majestic display against a choppy, dark-blue sea. It is the dry, perfect breezes of the