In Australia It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

Is the drought over in Australia? From where I sit, in the Melbourne suburbs, it sure sounds like it. The tin roof is getting a pounding from an old-fashioned winter downpour.

Over the past couple of years, most Australians’ attitude to rain has completely reversed. Not so long ago there was nothing like a downpour to dampen the spirits of Aussies, who mostly live near the ocean and love nothing more than a sunny afternoon, a barbecue or a kick of the football. And for visitors taking in the sights of Sydney Harbour or enjoying a cruise along the Brisbane River or the Yarra River in Melbourne, a rainy day was a total drag.

But times have changed. Australia’s big cities are running out of water and our farmers are doing it tough. It could be climate change, it could just be a cyclical pattern, or it could be both. Whatever the cause, the effect is the same: the worst and most widespread drought on record. So now, rain is good. But you know what they say: It never rains…

…it pours. Over the past couple of weeks, the east coast of Australia – where most of the population lives – has taken a beating by strong winds and downpours of near-biblical proportions. Roads and houses have been literally washed away in raging floods. It’s a far cry from last winter when the rain just didn’t come. For most locals, rain – even too much rain – is better than no rain at all. The farmers, in their laconic way, have a saying: There’s money in mud. There’s no money in dust.

For visitors, though, it’s still a drag. The Sydney Opera House looks much better in warm sunlight than in gray rain. Australia’s built to be enjoyed outside. But if you come down under and get caught in a storm, don’t be too upset. Ask a local “How about this rain?” and they’re likely to reply, “Yes. Great, isn’t it!”

–John Ryan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s list of Sydney tours, Melbourne things to do, and more than 500 tours and activities in Australia.