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Best Time of Year to Visit Australia

Explore > Travel Planning Articles > Best Time of Year to Visit Australia

Date published:
2023-05-07


Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru
Ayers Rock, photo courtesy Pete Edgeler on Flickr.


Michael Cottam  

About the author, Michael Cottam


Founder of Visual Itineraries, Michael lives in Bend, Oregon. He's an avid traveler, scuba diver, photographer, and a private pilot, and also the founder of Bright Yonder, which offers marketing tools to travel agents. He's been to Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, Seychelles, Kenya, France, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica, Turks & Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Mexico, and the major islands in French Polynesia. He's been in Rotary for 23 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Here's his LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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Australia is enormous, with a wide range of climates. The northern states are typically warm year-round, while the southern states have cooler winters. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: The Dudley Boutique Hotel


The Dudley Boutique Hotel 5 nights from 1,095 per person
The Dudley Boutique HotelWelcome to The Dudley – where you can experience the ultimate in luxury, combined with our own unique blend of Australian hospitality.

The Dudley, built in 1908 has been fully renovated to become an elegant luxury boutique hotel with exemplary service and host to an impressive permanent collection of contemporary art. The Dudley Cottage on the same property provides absolute privacy and luxury.

From 2013 – 2016 The Dudley has been refurbished to a luxury standard with all rooms fully renovated to a 5-star standard.

The Dudley is a Small Luxury Hotel of the World: one of only 7 in Australia and the only SLH in Victoria. Luxury, redefined.

In 2015 and again in 2016 The Dudley won Luxury Boutique Hotel of the Year in Victoria and has been named as one of the 10 Most Luxurious Getaways in Australia.

Our talented team harness a united vision and passion and their continuing dedication brings the indulgence of The Dudley to our guests each and every day. I hope you enjoy your experience.
Learn more about The Dudley Boutique Hotel

Daily housekeeping
Limo/town car service
Terrace
Coffee/tea in a common area
Air conditioning
Garden
Library
Snack bar/deli
Multilingual staff
Concierge services
Gift shops/newsstands
Picnic area





Typical airfares from LAX to Sydney, Australia




Airfares vary by season, but also day of week, and are definitely affected by holidays. The chart above shows the typical minimum and maximum fares for a economy class ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD), by month.

 
TRAVEL SPECIAL: Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore


Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore 5 nights from 2,270 per person
Alamanda Palm Cove by LancemoreNever go on trips with anyone you do not love.
– Earnest Hemingway

Whether it is for a romantic escape or a family holiday, you will love Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore. Capture the essence of Tropical North Queensland; underneath swaying coconut palms against a backdrop of endless turquoise waters.

Located 25 minutes north of Cairns and ranked among the top 5 hotels in all of Australia, you will relish direct beach access from our luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom self contained apartments. Everything you need is catered for; from award winning cuisine and soothing spa treatments, to a host of thoughtful trimmings to welcome and entertain the whole family.
Learn more about Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore

69 apartments
Weekly housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Beach towels
Room service
In-room childcare
Airport shuttle
Air conditioning
Garden





Best time of year to go to different parts of Australia



The famous Sydney Opera House
Photo courtesy Jon Haase.


Sydney, in New South Wales, is in Australia's temperate zone. The Great Dividing Range is a major climate factor, as it creates 4 distinct zones: the coastal strip, the highlands, the Western Slopes and the flat countryside to the west.

Sydney typically sees about 340 sunny days a year, with humidity in summer around 65%.

Pictured above is the famous Sydney Opera House.

Cairns, in Queensland, is pretty tropical--summers are hot and humid, and winters are dry and mild.

Along the coast, you can get cyclones from November through May.

Cairns is one of the places from which you can access the Great Barrier Reef, pictured at right.

Ayers Rock, seen at the top of this page, is in the Northern Territory (which isn't actually the northernmost part of Australia--that's referred to as the "Top End"), has a distinctly different climate, with a wet season running from October to April and a dry season May to September. In winter, nighttime temperatures can fall below freezing; in the summer, daytime temperatures can approach 100F, with cool, dry nights.

 

The Great Barrier Reef

Photo courtesy ynwa2005 on Flickr.

Barossa Valley, wine country northeast of Adelaide
Photo courtesy Amanda Slater on Flickr.
 

Adelaide, in South Australia, has mild, wet winters (averaging about 60F) and hot, dry summers (averaging 84F).

June is the wettest month, but still averages only a little over 3 inches of rain. In the summer, it's not uncommon to have months with no rain.

At left is Jacob's Creek vineyard in the Barossa Valley, one of the important wine regions of Australia.


Melbourne, in Victoria, has a reputation for changeable weather, but generally the climate is temperate with warm summers (averaging 77F), mild spring and fall seasons, and cool winters (averaging 57F).

Pictured are the limestone formations known as the Twelve Apostles, located on the Great Ocean Road about 100 miles west of Melbourne.

Perth, in Western Australia, the rainfall is greatest from May to September. The hottest month is February, averaging 88F; winter temperatures average about 65F. A cooling breeze known as "The Fremantle Doctor" blows in from the sea to keep the city comfortable.

  The Twelve Apostles, about 100 miles west of Melbourne
Photo courtesy Rich Mulvaney on Flickr.

Tasmania, the island southeast of the main continent, the climate is mild and temperate. With no part of the island more than about 75 miles from the water, the ocean has a big effect on the climate. Because it's much farther from the equator than the rest of Australia, the seasons are more distinct. January and February are pretty dry, with temperatures averaging about 70F.

See the Australia tourism website for a detailed description of the seasons in Australia.


TRAVEL SPECIAL: Comfort Inn Prince of Wales Motel


Comfort Inn Prince of Wales Motel 5 nights from 350 per person
Comfort Inn Prince of Wales MotelThe Prince of Wales is an owner operated establishment located in the heart of the heritage area. Offering 32 individually controlled air conditioned rooms. Including spa suites for those special occasions.

During your stay, Jo-Ann and Michael will welcome you with rooms that are very spacious, comfortable, and tasteful. You will receive personal and friendly service. The staff are also trained and equipped to assist in helping you enjoy your stay.

You will be delighted with our newly refurbished rooms features! With LCD TV's, walk in glass showers, sumptuous beds, 2 spa suites with large corner spas and our comfortable king size beds we ensure your stay is as comfortable and relaxing as possible.
Learn more about Comfort Inn Prince of Wales Motel

Daily housekeeping
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Pool bar
Room service
Business center
Air conditioning
Front-desk safe
Barbecue grills
Luggage storage
Limited hour front desk





 



Storms in Australia

In Cairns, on the coast of Queensland, tropical cyclones can occur sometimes between November and May. Around Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, you can see thunderstorms, hail and dust storms in the spring months. In Western Australia, tropical cyclones can occur between November and April--most commonly though in January and February.




TRAVEL SPECIAL: Holiday Inn Darling Harbour Sydney


Holiday Inn Darling Harbour 5 nights from 1,235 per person
Holiday Inn Darling Harbour SydneyStay at the contemporary Holiday Inn Sydney Darling Harbour hotel in the city's popular entertainment district.
The contemporary, heritage-style Holiday Inn Sydney Darling Harbour is a former 1890s wool store in the heart of Sydney's cosmopolitan Darling Harbour. You'll find us opposite Sydney Entertainment Centre music venue, steps from bustling Chinatown and Cockle Bay Wharf. You can hop on a shuttle service to arrive from Sydney Airport, 8km away.

You can whizz around the city centre on the efficient Monorail and Light Rail from the nearby stop at Paddy's Markets, where you'll bag discount clothing and souvenirs. Marvel at sealife through a glass-bottomed boat at Sydney Aquarium, a 10-minute walk away, and take in the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House on a harbour cruise.

Our location on the city-side of Darling Harbour means it's a breeze to get to the Central Business District, 500 metres away, and Circular Quay, 1km away. It's less than a 10-minute stroll to meetings at big companies like PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Nestlé, Telstra and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Events at the huge Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre are 5 minutes on foot from Holiday Inn Sydney Darling Harbour.

Learn more about Holiday Inn Darling Harbour Sydney

Visiting the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour puts you right in the center of all the action. Sydney’s nightlife, famous attractions, high-end restaurants and the breath-taking beauty of the harbor are all just a few steps away. The building was home to a wool store in the 1890s and thus gives this hotel its unique charm.





Airfare and Resort Prices

High season is from about Christmas through the end of January, when children are on their summer holidays, and the popular resorts fill up with the locals. In the north, June through August is peak season as Australians from the southern areas travel north to escape winter. Typically the airlines will discount airfares April through June.

Water temperature, SCUBA diving and surfing in Australia

On the Great Barrier Reef, you can dive year-round, although the best conditions for diving are from late August to early December. For liveaboard diving, the best time to go is July through November. In the Coral Sea, the visibility is best in June and in September. If you want to see the Minke whales, they're seen mostly from June to August. From April through June, the whale sharks can be seen near Ningaloo, in Western Australia. Australia Tourism has an excellent reference on dive locations and regions here.




How we work with you to plan the perfect trip:

  • We'll talk with you to find out what you're looking for, what you like/don't like, etc.
  • We'll use our first-hand knowledge of the destination to pick out a handful of resorts we think you'd like
  • We'll create a custom mini website for you, with photos, videos, maps, etc. of the resorts we are recommending
  • We'll follow up with you to help you make your decision
  • We'll go to work with our suppliers to get you the best deal available on what you've decided on.
 

Map of all resorts in Australia



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