I was just there last weekend. I took the boat, once I was in Penghu the weather was nice, mostly sunny, but when riding around in a motorcycle the wind was like someone slapping your face. The boat rides between each Penghu islands and on the way back to Taiwan were fine, the sea was calm, and the biggest threat was sun burn.
However, on the way there the weather was not as pleasant, no sun, windy, and the ocean turned pretty nasty pretty quickly. Sometimes I could see the surface of the sea through the window from where I was sitting, which means the boat had to be at least leaning 30 degrees or more. People were throwing up. I went to the deck in the back of the boat, and at times both my feet left the deck. I imagine that’s more like what one can expect during winter.
Most water activities (banana boat, jet skiing) stopped around October.
Driving around Makong is not an issue. If it is sunny, it can still be really pretty, but I wonder about that wind… Especially when you go to Qimei, I am not sure if they rent cars in Qimei… Don’t know about October, but deeper into the winter, many boats stops sailing to Qimei. But boats still go to Wangan, Hujing and Tongpan.
according to these websites, the weather is actually still pretty nice in October. And there are a lot of activities one still can do in October. Especially squid fishing, and going to the Ocean farm are still available. Also, it would be crab season.
This person went during winter, he posted photos of the ocean view, still looks nice.
brezel.pixnet.net/blog/post/2260 … E6%9C%89….
Sites suggesting activities
phsea.com.tw/travel/index.ph … 5%E7%B7%9A
tw.myblog.yahoo.com/penhou092255 … le?mid=202
an-i.com.tw/modules/tadnews/index.php?nsn=30
Don’t know where your parents have been to. But if you stay on the island, why not try mountain areas with hotsprings? Say Taipingshan (太平山) or something… or go down south. It’s still pretty warm in Tainan/Kaohsiung/Kenting/Taitung.