Traveling to Australia....???

I am traveling to Australia and the plan is to go next May. Is this a good time to visit there? Will it be too cold to enjoy the beaches and possibly SCUBA?Also, I know nothing about about Australia. I just want to experience the culture. I need to narrow my trip down to 3 or 4 cities. Any ideas?

May will be a bit brisk for swimming without a wetsuit in the southern regions - anywhere south of Queensland. As you go further north it gets warmer. Fortunately the Barrier Reef will be perfect. Cities up there are Cairns and Townsville.

Sydney is where a lot of international flights land, and is Australia's most cosmopolitan city. It has the Harbour and a few other tourist icons like the Bridge and the Opera House. It is in the too brisk for swimming zone.

Depending on time it is worth a trip to the inland. Alice Springs is the town in the middle of the place. You can do a side trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

In May in the southern states (as its May now) are starting to cool down. Early 20Cs is the average temperature.

If you wish to visit the beaches and scuba dive then you will be looking at going to Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. It is warm all year round in Queensland so swimming wont be too cold.

If you're after a touristy visit then head to the Gold Coast (few hours south of the Great Barrier Reef) Sydney and Melbourne.

Here is a link to things to do in Sydney and Melbourne http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjMHgYu7LiP3MQYIlCo.peTh5gt.;_ylv=3?qid =20080412195519AAHo9HL&show=7#profile-info-AA10511149

All of the lower half is getting to be pretty cold now (may) but All the top half or Queensland is still nice, Cairns, the Coast, Then Darwin in the NT. To see a good part or the country you are better off waiting till we are in november and onwards. If your lookin or beaches and such. There is still plenty to see that you dont need hot weather for,

If your into the touristy type stuff, I'd go online and look where the tours take them through Australia..

Maybe some younger tour groups, like EF College Break or Contiki.. I know the code Tech2009 saves you money if you ever decide to do a tour with EF College Break....