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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: Thala Beach Nature Reserve


Thala Beach Nature Reserve 5 nights from 1,715 per person
Thala Beach Nature ReserveThala Beach Nature Reserve is located on a private headland between Cairns and Port Douglas, Australia. Deluxe eco accommodation options are sensitively positioned amongst the resort’s 145 acre property. Complimentary experiences are provided for our guests including nature/wildlife walks, star gazing nights, Coconut Odyssey tour and specialist talks from local experts. Guests and visitors alike are invited to dine in the treetops at our popular Ospreys Restaurant. Come stay with us! It is one of the world's most beautiful private beach locations.

The story of the natural history of Australia is unique and Thala nurtures this environment. Grass Trees sprout along pathways, their scaly black trunks topped with tufted grassy headdresses, stunted reminders of a land long ago. Slate paving, cut from a nearby quarry, show glimpses of Gondwana in fossils over 400 million years old.

The main building at this Port Douglas retreat is designed to embrace all the elements of the tropics. Built from local timbers, it is open and spacious, allowing the cool sea breezes to flow. The polished timber reflects the warm sun of the tropics by day and the soft flicker of lamp light by night.

Birds are a constant source of entertainment with Lorikeets, Sun Birds and Honey Eaters taking advantage of the high ceilings to swoop through the dining room and bar. Kookaburras watch quizzically from nearby trees.
Learn more about Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Set on over 140 acres of native forest and boasting a private beach, Thala Beach Nature Reserve is an Eco-friendly wildlife retreat. Sitting spectacularly atop a headland with breathtaking vistas, this secluded offers magnificent views of the sparkling Coral Sea.





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: Spicers Potts Point


Spicers Potts Point 5 nights from 1,000 per person
Spicers Potts PointAn urban oasis in the heart of one of Sydney’s most iconic suburbs.

Spicers Potts Point places the best of Sydney at your doorstep. Just a short walk to trendy cafes, Kings Cross station, Sydney city and harbour, within easy access of Sydney’s best galleries and famous Bondi Beach, and set amongst a mix of historic art deco and modern architecture, Spicers Potts Point exudes an effortless blend of classic Sydney heritage character with a fresh contemporary feel.

Whether planning a romantic getaway, holiday with friends or traveling for business our 16 stylish rooms and 4 luxurious and spacious suites provide everything you need for a relaxing and comfortable stay. Enjoy luxury amenities, including complimentary Wi-fi, in room mini bar, à la carte breakfast, off street parking (charges apply) and complimentary evening canapes.
Learn more about Spicers Potts Point

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Valet parking
Room service
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden
Front-desk safe
Snack bar/deli
Water dispenser
Laundry service





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: Alkina Lodge


Alkina Lodge 5 nights from 2,005 per person
Alkina LodgeExperience the Great Ocean Road
Designed to create an exclusive and intimate experience, Alkina Lodge offers the discerning traveller private luxury accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.

Located at Wattle Hill on the Great Ocean Road, just 20 minutes from the 12 Apostles, 30 minutes to Port Campbell and less than 3 hours from Melbourne, Alkina Lodge is close to other major attractions including the Great Ocean Walk, the Great Otway National Park, Wreck Beach, The Redwoods, Apollo Bay and Johanna Beach. You’ll find Alkina Lodge the perfect base from which to explore the dramatic scenery, sweeping beaches and ancient rainforests the Great Ocean Road is renowned for.

Enjoy stunning ocean views from the master bedroom of your lodge, wake up to the sight of kangaroos feeding just outside your bedroom window, and appreciate the abundance of native birdlife, from bold laughing Kookaburras and petit Blue Wrens, to Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and cheeky Magpies. On a clear night, our signature sky windows afford spectacular vision of the Milky Way; the celestial beauty is pristine as there is no ambient city light at Alkina Lodge. Our luxury accommodation on the Great Ocean Road is like no other.

Our three four-bedroom luxury lodges can accommodate from one to 24 people, and are fully self-contained and fitted with only the most luxurious of features, including a Gaggenau equipped kitchen, Bose audio, magnificent art and photography, bespoke wood fireplace, and fine European furniture.

Designed by award winning architects, Glenn Murcutt and Wendy Lewin, Alkina Lodge has been designed and built with sensitivity to the local landscape, and compliments the surrounding natural environment. The stunning use of light and space brings a touch of the outdoors inside, and with it a sense of balance and harmony – contemporary design that works with the land, not against it.

Discover the art of indulgence at Alkina Lodge, luxury accommodation on the Great Ocean Road.
Learn more about Alkina Lodge

3 homes
Near the beach
Room service
Terrace
Garden
Library
Self-serve laundry
Multilingual staff
Concierge services
Picnic area
Barbecue grills





 



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: Hotel Ibis World Square


Hotel Ibis World Square 5 nights from 555 per person
Hotel Ibis World SquareHotel Ibis World Square offers Sydney accommodation perfectly located in the heart of CBD.

Located right in the heart of Sydney, next to the World Square Shopping Centre, our Sydney accommodation is within an easy walk to Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and Chinatown. The Hotel Ibis World Square is close to Sydney's shopping precincts, the Entertainment Centre, the Capitol Theatre, George Street cinema complex and many more.

The Hotel Ibis World Square is also located near a variety of trendy restaurants and bars which suit for all tastes and budgets. Most importantly, these unique restaurants and bars are all within short walking distance from our Sydney accommodation offering a wide variety of choices at affordable prices.

The monorail, Sydney Light Rail and Central Railway are all nearby, providing easy access within the city and beyond. The Hotel Ibis World Square is the perfect accommodation from which to explore and enjoy Sydney whether your stay is for business or pleasure.









Learn more about Hotel Ibis World Square

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Fitness center
24-hour room service
Business center
UNESCO Sustainable Property
24-hour front desk
Coffee/tea in a common area
Front-desk safe
Snack bar/deli
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry





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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