How do the seasonal weather patterns work?

Australia’s summer is from December to February and winter is from June to August. Prevailing winds during the summer months are from the north and in winter from the south. The better time to cross the South Pacific from east to west is when the SE trades are active from approx. May to October. Within Australia, the Pacific and Worldwide, all cruising routes have better and worse months due to the prevailing winds. A great resource to learn what route to sail and when, is Jimmy Cornell’s book entitled World Cruising Routes.