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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: Berkeley River Lodge


Berkeley River Lodge 5 nights from 9,495 per person
Berkeley River LodgeIn one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth, between Timor Sea sunrises and Berkeley River sunsets, the ultimate Kimberley adventure and refined indulgence awaits. Only accessible by air, getting to the Berkeley is half the adventure. Leave modern life far behind and relax into the rhythms of nature in your ocean-view villa floating atop the coastal dunes. Be one of the privileged few to set eyes upon breathtaking wilderness landscapes by river cruise or helicopter flight.

PLEASE NOTE - The property is closed from November 3rd thru to March 6th 2017 due to the wet season.
Learn more about Berkeley River Lodge

Daily housekeeping
Private beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Room service
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden
Picnic area
Luggage storage





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: InterContinental Adelaide


InterContinental Adelaide 5 nights from 740 per person
InterContinental AdelaideThis iconic Adelaide hotel on the River Torrens connects guests with everything that’s special about the city. Culinary feasts await at two award-winning restaurants: enjoy fresh seasonal cuisine at Riverside and Japanese specialities at Shiki. An ideal city retreat, this Adelaide hotel boasts an outdoor pool and luxurious suites with breathtaking views. Step outside and you’re a short stroll from the cultural boulevard of North Terrace, Adelaide Festival Centre and redeveloped Adelaide Oval.
Learn more about InterContinental Adelaide

Daily housekeeping
3 restaurants and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Valet parking
Room service
In-room childcare
Conference center
Business center
Terrace
24-hour front desk





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: Breakfree Adelaide


Breakfree Adelaide 5 nights from 665 per person
Breakfree AdelaideBreakFree Adelaide offers business and leisure travellers serviced studios, one or two bedroom apartments situated in Adelaide's contemporary West End.

Guests will enjoy comfortable accommodation in well-appointed, spacious apartments which include modern amenities and a range of premier guest facilities.

BreakFree Adelaide is located close to the Central Business District of Adelaide and a range of local transport options. For leisure travellers with the time to explore the many delights on offer in Adelaide, which is known locally as the city of churches, take advantage of the 'City Free Bus' that stops directly outside the Hotel. Alternatively many local attractions can be reached on foot including the colourful arts district, Adelaide Convention Centre, Casino and popular shopping destination of Rundle Mall.

BreakFree Adelaide is within close proximity to a choice of tempting restaurants as well as bars and clubs with a glamorous nightlife.
Learn more about Breakfree Adelaide

142 smoke-free apartments
Daily housekeeping
Fitness center
Self parking
UNESCO Sustainable Property
24-hour front desk
Front-desk safe
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Multilingual staff
Free newspapers in the lobby
Luggage storage





 



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: Pullman Cairns Reef Casino


Pullman Reef Hotel Casino 5 nights from 1,290 per person
Pullman Cairns Reef CasinoWelcome to the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, the successful winner of the "Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation 5 Star+" award at the 2008 QHA Awards of Excellence.

The Pullman Reef Hotel Casino complex is a world of fun, food and entertainment. It boasts one of Australia's finest boutique casinos, a multitude of dining experiences and bars, extensive conference and banqueting facilities, elite entertainment in Vertigo or the Casino Sportz Arena and the luxurious five star Pullman Hotel with 128 beautifully appointed rooms.

Nestled alongside Trinity Inlet, the five star Pullman Hotel is tropical North Queensland's most prestigious hotel.

The cool and stylish lobby provides a glimpse of the simple elegance of the hotel, which is also reflected in the 128 luxuriously appointed rooms. The rooms and suites are unmistakably Tropical North Queensland style with plantation shutters and light timbers.

Each room has its own spa bath and private garden balcony overlooking the city or water views. Hotel facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, sauna and a gymnasium.

There are a variety of conference and function rooms available as well as a fully equipped business centre. The hotel is a short walk from the Cairns Convention Centre and the popular Cairns Esplanade.
Learn more about Pullman Cairns Reef Casino

Located in the heart of the city, the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino overlooks Trinity Bay and the departure point for the Great Barrier Reef. The 128 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites are unmistakably Tropical North Queensland style with plantation shutters and light timbers. Each has a spa bath and walk in shower and private garden balcony with city or water views. Enjoy innovative and award-winning contemporary fusion cuisine in Tamarind, or dine at one of the three other restaurants and bars. Hotel facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, sauna, gym, the Cairns Wildlife Dome, bar and live entertainment.





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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