[gary]

Hi Mike,

Good to hear of your follow-up plans to the Eclipse.

The wet season in Cairns is from December into April.
The joker in the pack is the La Nina/El Nino cycle and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
The last 8 months were extraordinary because La Nina and IOD were at a not
so common conjunction which resulted in the flooding the country experienced.
La Nina is retracting but it hopefully will become clearer toward the end of 2011 what
2012 might bring.

In any case, the wet season means that the weather is very unstable.
It might be clear on the day, it might be teaming rain. It is sufficiently chaotic that
it would be impossible for anyone to make a long term forecast. However, if La Nina
were not to come back, it would be helpful.

In any case, November in Cairns tends to be hot and humid.
The ocean, the reefs and the forests of the Atherton tablelands tend to create microclimate events
such that it can be raining at one spot but only 10km or 20km away it can be hot and sunny.

If one weren't going for the Eclipse, we always like it up there in September and October.
Unfortunately marine stingers make it unwise to go for a swim at the beaches during the wet season.
A snorkeling trip to one of the outer reefs is always recommended.

Uluru is just south of the Tropic of Capricorn but does not undergo the wet season
like it does up at the Top End. However, the temperatures get into the thirties
and even the nights can be very hot. Flies can be a constant nuisance and they seek
out every bit of moisture on the body, including the corners of the mouth and the
back of your shirt. Pack the repellent. But the scenery is hard to beat!