marybee3

I also agreed with both above. I did this last year and had a great time!

Marybee3, I can't comment on weather in Hawaii, but in Australia February is the last of our summer months. Typically, the weather ranges from hot to bloody hot!. Whilst you can have stretches of comfortable weather around 30deg celsius, you can get extreme temperatures of 40deg celsius and above for a number of days in a row. And being summer bush fires are possible although should not impact upon your trip if staying in or nearby cities. If you plan to travel further north from Sydney (into Queensland if going to the Great Barrier Reef) then it becomes more tropical and stable (without the weather fluctuations that we get in Southern Australia). In the tropics summer is cyclone season although don't let this be a hindrance.

 

We're sailing around the top of Australia (Perth to Sydney) in Feb 2015 and I'm not too concerned about cyclones. I live near Melbourne in Victoria and our weather is a bit more extreme than Sydney New South Wales which would be your arrival port. The joke (although true) about Melbourne is that you can get all four seasons in one day.

 

I don't mean to alarm you with temperatures but you must be aware that extreme heat conditions are possible at that time of year.

 

So what with our extreme weather, bushfires, cyclones, not to mention our spieders, snakes and crocodiles ..... why would you want to come here? LOL

 

Seriously, the weather can be very hot so you need to be aware/prepared for that. Natural disasters happen anywhere occasionally and the best chance you'll have of seeing our deadly fauna is at a wildlife zoo or sanctuary.

 

There's certainly plenty to see and do in Australia.

Spiders, snakes bush fires, crocodiles........hmmmmm.......you make it sound so inviting!:o

I am so glad you gave me this information. It helps with our decision on the time of the year to enjoy Australia. Thank you for your help and I will make sure to steer clear of the critters when I arrive!

As noted by others, the Pacific is too wide and the logistics not working to do a USA to Australia/NZ ship connection that would work that well. BUT, here's another alternative to consider.

 

It's Hawaii and/or one of the other great stop-over islands in the Pacific to consider.

 

As noted in the live/blog below, we got off of the Solstice in February. We used Hawaii as a stop-over both ways to break up and lessen the negatives for such long, cross-Pacific flights. Overnight in Honolulu on the way down. Four days on the Big Island coming back Worked super well. Check out these postings for more info/background on how we did this trip, great port stop options, etc. Lots of visuals, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 66,393 views for this fun posting.

 

 

Here’s the first view from the balcony of our Aston Circle Waikiki Hotel room. The pink building shown under the mega high-rise is the Royal Hawaiian Hotel built in 1927 as the second destination resort on this island.:

 

 

 

What is Waikiki Beach without famed Diamond Head? In real life, it is even more impressive! and fun to soak up its majestic drama.:

 

 

 

From Pearl Harbor, here are only two quick picks/highlights. First, approaching the USS Arizona Memorial with the USS Missouri on the left standing guard. Second, is the Park Ranger on the Memorial giving historic background for why and how this site still leaks about 10 quarts of oil each day from the sunken hull of this ship that cost so many American lives. Very moving to visit personally and learn more background for what led up to this surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941.:

 

 

 

This is what we were looking for!! We are from Texas and didn't want a 23 hour plane trip.....besides, it's like taking 2 vacations!

How is the weather in both Hawaii and Australia in February?

Me too! Ready to Bon Voyage!:)

I was born & raised in Pilot Point....just north of Denton

Highland Village, by Lake Lewisville....small world:)