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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: Chifley Alice Springs Resort


Chifley Alice Springs Resort 5 nights from 480 per person
Chifley Alice Springs ResortChifley Alice Springs Resort combines efficient and friendly outback service with modern, comfortable facilities. Low rise architecture and lush green lawns contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of this award-winning resort, situated on the banks of the famous Todd River with its magnificent river red gums.

Guests can relax in the stylish surroundings and experience sumptuous full buffet breakfast, a la carte lunches, and contemporary cuisine dinners at the Barra on Todd Restaurant. Located adjacent to the restaurant, the Barra Bar offers guests the opportunity to surf the Internet while enjoying a drink from the fine selection of beers, wines, and cocktails.

The 4.5 Star resort has 139 guest rooms and hotel facilities include 24 hour reception, wireless internet access, (free around pool area, restaurant, bar and reception areas), swimming pool, guest laundry, cardio room, in-house massage rooms, restaurant, bar, and complimentary onsite parking. The hotel is only a five to ten minute walk away from the town's bustling cultural, shopping and business centre. It is a convenient pick up point for the many local sightseeing tours available in and around Alice Springs, making Chifley Alice Springs Resort the perfect base for exploring Outback attractions.

Chifley Alice Springs Resort is the ideal venue, well equipped with modern conference and meeting facilities for business events, functions, launches, weddings and cocktail parties.
Learn more about Chifley Alice Springs Resort

Free WiFi
Free self-parking
Sleeps 2
23 sq m
1 Queen Bed





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: Peppers Beach Club & Spa


Peppers Beach Club & Spa 5 nights from 895 per person
Peppers Beach Club & SpaOverlooking a stunning palm-fringed beach, the award winning and inviting Peppers Beach Club & Spa is set in the heart of charming Palm Cove village in Tropical North Queensland offering the perfect place to indulge in tropical relaxation.

From the moment you arrive into the private world of Peppers Beach Club & Spa, you will be welcomed by fragrant gardenia scented air cooled by gentle ocean breezes sure to help you unwind and immerse in the luxurious and relaxing surrounds.

This idyllic intimate beachfront destination is situated at the start of the beautiful coastal drive to Port Douglas and majestic Daintree Rainforest and only 20 minutes from Cairns airport. Peppers Beach Club & Spa comprises of 140 elegant suites and spa rooms, with styles ranging from private one bedroom accommodation to luxurious two bedroom penthouses with private rooftop terraces featuring a lounge, BBQ and private pool or heated Jacuzzi. Suites also feature stunning beachfront or pool views and fully equipped kitchens.

From delectable tropical breakfast to a delicious seafood dinner accompanied by some of Australia's best wines, our signature restaurant, Lime & Pepper, serves a delectable culinary experience. For a more casual open air meal our Lobby is the perfect place to meet for a few drinks or for the ultimate tropical experience our swim-up pool bar is awaiting your arrival.

Spend your days immersed in our calming swimming pools, enjoying a leisurely game or competitive hit on our tennis court, work out in the gym or indulge in a spot of shopping in our boutique shops. If pampering is what you had in mind ensure you take advantage of our Sanctum Spa offering signature massages, revitalising facial treatments and soothing body wraps.

Within easy reach of the World Heritage wonders of the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and other breathtaking natural attractions, Peppers Beach Club & Spa offers numerous day-trip possibilities. Embark on a scuba diving adventure, deep-sea fishing, white water rafting, evening dinner cruises and rainforest walks.
Learn more about Peppers Beach Club & Spa

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Outdoor tennis court
Fitness center
Valet parking
Children's pool
Spa tub
Pool bar
Swim-up bar





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: Mantra on the Park


Mantra on the Park 5 nights from 1,035 per person
Mantra on the ParkMinutes from Melbourne's cosmopolitan city scene, famous shopping precincts, theatres, restaurants, cafés and bars, Mantra on the Park is an ideal base for your next Melbourne getaway.

Overlooking Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Exhibition Building, Mantra on the Park is an apartment style, 4 star property consisting of 144 self-contained, one and two bedroom apartments, as well as the three bedroom penthouse. All rooms offer private balconies enjoying spectacular city skyline or scenic garden views.

Rooms are air-conditioned, spacious and feature full kitchen and laundry facilities, plus lounge and dining areas. Foxtel is also available in all apartments.

Hotel facilities include a 24 hour reception desk, concierge and porter service, room service from 6:30 to 9:30am and 6:30 to 9:30pm, valet laundry service and tour desk. Leisure facilities include an indoor heated pool and sauna. Mantra on the Park's onsite dining venue, The Terrace Restaurant, Bar and Grill offers, full breakfast daily, a la carte dinner, room service from 6:30am to 9:30am and 6:30pm to 9:30pm, coffee, light meals and snacks.

Combining affordable, modern sophistication in a central Melbourne location, Mantra on the Park is an idyllic accommodation choice for overnight, short-term and long-term travellers who wish to enjoy all Melbourne has to offer.

Learn more about Mantra on the Park

42 apartments
Weekly housekeeping
Near the beach
Outdoor pool
Fitness center
Spa tub
In-room childcare
Airport shuttle
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Terrace
Garden
Self-serve laundry





 



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: 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





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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