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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: Alassio on the Beach Palm Cove


Alassio on the Beach Palm Cove 5 nights from 1,155 per person
Alassio on the Beach Palm CoveAlassio Palm Cove is a selection of self-contained luxury holiday apartments right on the beachfront. The apartments have been crafted around ancient melaleuca trees, coconut palms and a freeform lagoon pool.

Palm shaded Mediterranean style balconies overlook the pool and Palm Cove beach.

The property is located at the northern end of the beach and you will find that this part of the cove is exceptionally convenient to all of your holiday needs.

You are within 5 minutes walk of great shopping, bistros, restaurants and bars ... and of course Palm Cove beach itself is right on your doorstep.
Learn more about Alassio on the Beach Palm Cove

Housekeeping (on request)
On the beach
Restaurant
Outdoor pool
Children's pool
Spa tub
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
In-room childcare
Airport shuttle
Terrace
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 Welcome Melbourne


Mercure Welcome Melbourne 5 nights from 390 per person
Mercure Welcome MelbourneAffordable Accommodation in the heart of Melbourne City
Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel offers you affordable budget accommodation and a base from which to explore all the attractions and events in Melbourne city and the CBD.

Melbourne is undoubtedly Australia's best destination for shopping, dining, drinking, entertainment and sport – so your hardest decision on holiday will be…"what shall I do today?" Fortunately, staying in the hotel you'll be right in the heart of all this and more - you'll have direct access to all the best things to do in Melbourne city!

You'll love our modern 3.5 star hotel accommodation, providing you with comfort, convenience, and great-value, budget rates that leave you more to spend on Melbourne city's many attractions!

Learn more about Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Housekeeping (on request)
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
UNESCO Sustainable Property
24-hour front desk
Car rentals on site
Computer station
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
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: Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne


Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne 5 nights from 1,015 per person
Rendezvous Hotel MelbourneRendezvous Hotel Melbourne is one of the few historic and grand hotels in Australia. Built in 1913 as the Commercial Travellers Club, this upscale heritage listed hotel has been meticulously restored to retain the feel and style of the early 1900's, while at the same time providing you with leading 21st century technology and facilities.

Located in the heart of the city overlooking the Yarra River, you can walk to world class shopping, famous theatres, major sporting venues, premier entertainment, restaurants, Crown Casino, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and the equally historic Flinders Street Railway Station.

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is distinguished by its excellent service, historic significance, elegance and traditional style and is a perfect base, whether you are visiting for a short city break, a leisurely weekend or a business trip.

Winner of Australian Hotels Association Victoria State Awards for Excellence 2010 Superior Accommodation Hotel of the Year
Learn more about Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

Built in 1913, this heritage-listed hotel is located on Flinders Street overlooking the Yarra River and many of Melbourne's top attractions within easy reach, including Flinders Street Station just 3 minutes away.





 



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: Quay West Suites Sydney


Quay West Suites Sydney 5 nights from 1,015 per person
Quay West Suites SydneyLocated in the historic Rocks precinct, at the doorstep to Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay and Sydney's key recreational attractions, Quay West Suites Sydney offers a unique and luxurious hotel experience.

Each apartment boasts separate living areas, bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, laundry and many feature spectacular views over Sydney Harbour or the city skyline, along with all of the conveniences and services of a 5-star hotel.

Unwind after a hard day of sight seeing in the hotel's recreational facilities which include a stunning sunken Roman style heated swimming pool with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as a spa, sauna, gymnasium and outdoor sundeck.

Harrington Restaurant & Bar provides a warm, relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy the finest contemporary Australian cuisine.

For meetings and events, choose from 3 meeting rooms catering for up to 100 delegates or guests, each offering an abundance of natural light.
Learn more about Quay West Suites Sydney

90 smoke-free apartments
Weekly housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Sauna
Valet parking
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Terrace





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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