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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  

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. 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 a Rotarian for 21 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club.

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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: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley


Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley 5 nights from 10,905 per person
Emirates One&Only Wolgan ValleyEmirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is a scenic three-hour drive from Sydney, located on Australia's Great Dividing Range between the Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone National Park, within the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains. The resort occupies just one percent of its own 2,800-hectare conservancy. The Wolgan Valley is approximately 26 kilometres long and seven kilometres wide. Steep cliffs contrast with the gentle curve of the valley floor and a picturesque road winds along the river to reach the resort on the eastern end.

Over golden-green plains, bubbling creeks, and dramatic ridgelines, you’ll find a sanctuary devoted to nature. Nestled among Australia’s World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains, you can seek refuge and find adventure; enjoy the freshness of summer and the unique magic of winter. Committed to the preservation of the surrounding environment and its native wildlife, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is home to over 7,000 acres of conservation reserve. Perfect for horseback riding, campfires, stargazing, gourmet picnics, and rediscovering your equilibrium amidst the epic landscape.

We are very proud to be supporting Tourism Australia with their ‘Holiday Here This Year’ campaign, encouraging Australians and international visitors to support bushfire affected communities. Simone Brooks, our Activities and Conservation Manager discusses the impact of bushfires, the resilience of Australians and the land, and the incredible opportunity for visitors to witness the regeneration of nature.

Your lofty, homestead-style villa is beautifully crafted in sandstone and natural wood with a crackling fire for cosy nights. Windows all around flood the space with light, framing never-ending views of the valley as it transforms. Watch the sun set on rugged mountains from your secluded timber terrace or slip into your private pool and savor the solitude. Don’t mind the locals, they may hop by.
Learn more about Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

Free parking
Pool
Free WiFi
Gym
Non-smoking
Air conditioning





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: Mercure Adelaide Grosvenor


Mercure Adelaide Grosvenor 5 nights from 430 per person
Mercure Adelaide GrosvenorBuilt in 1918, Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide is an historic hotel right in the middle of all the action in Adelaide.

This four-star hotel is superbly located opposite the Convention Centre, Casino and Festival Centre in the heart of the cultural boulevard of North Terrace. Just seconds from the shopping precinct of Rundle Mall, visitors to Adelaide can enjoy theatre, festivals, sporting events, Museum, Botanical Gardens and the famous Adelaide Oval all within walking distance from the hotel. Or take the tram outside the hotel to the Central Market, Entertainment Centre and Glenelg Beach.

Ideal for Corporate, Conference and Leisure Guests, the hotel offers a variety of room types to fit the needs and budgets of all travelers.

Hotel facilities also include the Federal Restaurant and Bar, 24-hour reception and room service, parking, internet kiosk, hair & beauty salon and exercise room.
Learn more about Mercure Adelaide Grosvenor

Daily housekeeping
Breakfast available
Self parking
UNESCO Sustainable Property
24-hour front desk
Air conditioning
Front-desk safe
Vending machine
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Multilingual staff
Concierge services





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: Vibe Hotel Sydney


Vibe Hotel Sydney 5 nights from 670 per person
Vibe Hotel SydneyYou will love the convenience of staying in our vibrant location and in the heart of all the action.

A unique Sydney hotel offering chic accommodation in the heart of Sydney, Vibe Hotel Sydney exudes the style of this fantastic city. Our Sydney hotel is perfectly positioned for you to easily discover Sydney's vibrant CBD fringe villages of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Chinatown and our Sydney entertainment precinct offering live theatre and music year round.

Sydney's premier tourist destinations like Sydney Centrepoint Tower, Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, The Rocks and Circular Quay are only minutes away so you may want to stay just a little bit longer…and enjoy the vibe!
Learn more about Vibe Hotel Sydney

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Front-desk safe
Snack bar/deli





 



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: Orpheus Island Resort


Orpheus Island Resort 5 nights from 6,875 per person
Orpheus Island ResortOrpheus is a Queensland Island Resort
Located amidst the magical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Orpheus is a secluded island hideaway accommodating just 28 indulged guests. Located just 80km north of Townsville, amidst the magical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the island stretches across 11km of immaculate turquoise coastline, and comprises of a pristine National Park and surrounding World Heritage-listed Marine Park. Access is either via a 30 minute helicopter journey from Townsville, or a 1.5 journey from Cairns.

Orpheus showcases a plethora of once in a lifetime experiences! Its principal dive sites boast 1,100 of the 1,500 species of fish on the reef; the local waters are a fisherman's playground and home to the most sought after reef fish species in the world; and guests can take the helm of a motorised dingy complete with gourmet picnic hamper and discover the many pristine coves and reefs that fringe Orpheus. Alternatively, Orpheus provides the perfect backdrop for a more private interlude if guests wish to simply relax and succumb to a unique indigenous-inspired treatment at the Gwandalan Day Spa.

Perfect as a holiday destination, a picturesque wedding setting, or booked in its entirety for exclusive use, Orpheus is very much a secret to the outside world and offers guests the ultimate in tropical escapism.
Learn more about Orpheus Island Resort

Free breakfast
Pool
Free WiFi
Airport transfer
Non-smoking
Air conditioning





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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