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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 Westin Sydney


The Westin Sydney 5 nights from 1,400 per person
The Westin SydneyThe award-winning Westin Sydney delivers a true 5 star experience through our sophisticated rooms, amenities and services. Indulge at our signature restaurant and bar, relax with our in-room massages, or enjoy the exclusive designer shopping, restaurants, theatres and nightlife surrounding the hotel. For a truly unforgettable holiday, venture to nearby attractions such as Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

We offer two 5 star accommodation options at The Westin Sydney. The historic General Post Office building houses our elegant Heritage Rooms and the Tower offers a contemporary experience. No matter which room you choose, enjoy our signature Westin Heavenly® Bed to enhance your relaxation.

Feel well cared for with in-room spa treatments, well nourished by Mosaic Restaurant and relax with afternoon tea in The Bar. Or choose to energise at the Goodlife Health Club or follow a RunWESTIN™ map around our stunning city.

The Westin Sydney offers the most comprehensive banquet and catering facilities in Sydney, with seven meeting rooms, a boardroom and two unique ballrooms all with wireless internet access and advanced technology.

The Heritage Ballroom features the elegance of the historic General Post Office and can seat up to 250 guests on oval tables and the Grand Ballroom accommodates up to 1000. Both offer flexible space to create an personalised experience.
Learn more about The Westin Sydney

Parking available
Free WiFi
Gym
Non-smoking
Air conditioning
Bathtub





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: Sofitel Brisbane Central


Sofitel Brisbane Central 5 nights from 725 per person
Sofitel Brisbane CentralHotel Sofitel Brisbane Central
French luxury and local cuisine in the worlds most exciting cities

Located within walking distance of the city centre, Eagle Street Pier, South Bank Parklands and the Convention Centre, Sofitel Brisbane Central also offers direct access to Central Station, with easy transportation to the airport and Gold Coast. Its many attractions include 433 elegant rooms, a fitness centre, heated pool and spa, plus delicious restaurants and bars. Sofitel Brisbane Central is the largest meeting facility in Brisbane with 11 conference rooms accommodating up to 1,000 people.

With its exceptional location in the heart of the city, Sofitel Brisbane Central offers access to many of Brisbane's finest attractions. Guests staying at this spectacular Brisbane hotel have Central Station on their doorstep, allowing them to explore the city, and access its surrounding suburbs and Brisbane Airport. Guests are within easy reach of many of Brisbane's excellent restaurants, bars, cafés and shops, as well as attractions such as the Botanic Gardens, Treasury Casino and Suncorp Stadium.
Learn more about Sofitel Brisbane Central

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Outdoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Valet parking
Self parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
In-room childcare





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: Batmans Hill on Collins


Batmans Hill on Collins 5 nights from 410 per person
Batmans Hill on CollinsThe Quality Hotel Batman's Hill on Collins has 190 rooms, ranging from Standard Rooms (3.5 stars) to Club Rooms and Apartments (4 star). First class style without the first class price tag. See our Guest Room page for more details.

Quality Hotel Batman's Hill on Collins is located in the heart of Melbourne. Our excellent location, opposite Southern Cross Station, is within a short walk to the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, Rialto Towers, Melbourne Aquarium, Southgate, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, Docklands restaurants and Etihad Stadium.
Learn more about Batmans Hill on Collins

Daily housekeeping
2 restaurants and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Self parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
Conference center
Business center
Limo/town car service
24-hour front desk
Car rentals on site
Front-desk safe





 



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: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge


Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge 5 nights from 1,710 per person
Peppers Cradle Mountain LodgeCradle Mountain Lodge is widely considered one of Australia’s iconic wilderness experiences. Located on the edge of the spectacular World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, one of Tasmania’s premier wilderness regions.

Just 2 hours scenic drive from Launceston and 1.5 hours from Devonport, this superb escape showcases the best Cradle Mountain has to offer with warm hospitality, sensational local food and wine, indulgent spa treatments, breathtaking scenery and magnificent wilderness surrounds.

Set discreetly within the wilderness setting, the Lodge offers 4 different styles of accommodation, from the contemporary Pencil Pine Cabins to the luxurious King Billy Suites.
Learn more about Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Free parking
Free WiFi
Non-smoking
Refrigerator
Lounge area
Bar





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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