Need expert help?

Piper Fenton   Meet Piper, one of our travel experts for Australia.


Piper is the founder of honeymoon specialty travel company Remarkable Honeymoons, and an award-winning agent with almost 30 years experience. She's a Virtuoso agent, and winner of WeddingWire's Couples Choice awards every year from 2014-2022. She is well versed in international travel after having visited dozens of countries in her career, and also through her studies abroad living in both Mexico and France. From the Orient Express, to tenting in Nepal, to flying the Concord, she's had many wonderful travel experiences.


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 22 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Here's his LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Skip to:

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: Vibe Hotel Sydney


Vibe Hotel Sydney 5 nights from 670 per person
Vibe Hotel SydneyYou will love the convenience of staying in our vibrant location and in the heart of all the action.

A unique Sydney hotel offering chic accommodation in the heart of Sydney, Vibe Hotel Sydney exudes the style of this fantastic city. Our Sydney hotel is perfectly positioned for you to easily discover Sydney's vibrant CBD fringe villages of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Chinatown and our Sydney entertainment precinct offering live theatre and music year round.

Sydney's premier tourist destinations like Sydney Centrepoint Tower, Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, The Rocks and Circular Quay are only minutes away so you may want to stay just a little bit longer…and enjoy the vibe!
Learn more about Vibe Hotel Sydney

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Front-desk safe
Snack bar/deli





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: Shantara Resort & Spa Port Douglas


Shantara Resort & Spa Port Douglas 5 nights from 1,325 per person
Shantara Resort & Spa Port DouglasShantara Resort & Spa Port Douglas Accommodation is a contemporary, small boutique, resort-style complex offering up-market self-contained Port Douglas apartment accommodation with personalized service in a friendly and relaxed environment. Shantara is a 5 star rated Port Douglas holiday apartment complex.

Located 400 meters to Port Douglas' famous Four Mile Beach with its palm fringed beach, relax or swim in the warm calm waters. Take a stroll to Macrossan Street (400metres) that offers an array of trendy gourmet restaurants, cafes and boutique shopping to suit all tastes.

Shantara Resort & Spa Port Douglas accommodation offers you a choice of spacious studio rooms or large comfortable one bedroom self-contained apartments, with either an outdoor Jacuzzi in a private courtyard or direct pool access. 2 bedroom apartments are also available on request.

Shantara is an adult haven, ideal for couples looking for a tranquil and relaxing getaway, we welcome teenagers over the age of 16 years.
Learn more about Shantara Resort & Spa Port Douglas

54 smoke-free apartments
Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
Full-service spa
2 outdoor pools
Fitness center
Beach towels
Airport shuttle
Area shuttle
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden





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: Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach


Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach 5 nights from 795 per person
Crowne Plaza Coogee BeachExperience dedicated service and laid-back coastal living at the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach-Sydney hotel.

Sweeping Pacific views give our contemporary beachside hotel the wow factor. Step through the polished marble Lobby and out into our sparkling pool, or breathe in the invigorating sea air with a stroll along the Coogee-to-Bondi coastal walk. Wireless Internet at Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach-Sydney means you can work anywhere, even on your own private balcony.

The relaxed coastal ambiance of Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach-Sydney is within easy reach of Sydney's Central Business District. Regular buses service the CBD while Sydney International Airport is around 20 minutes away by taxi. Cool off with a dip in the seawater pool at Wylie's Baths, which overlook the famous Wedding Cake Island, 5 minutes' walk from the hotel.

Our magnificent seaside location makes the hotel's conferencing facilities an inspiring choice for your brainstorms and board meetings. Break out on the beach and mingle with colleagues over white chocolate martinis in the Bluesalt Bar. The adjacent Bluesalt Restaurant serves up fresh local seafood and fine Pacific views.

From sophisticated sea-view dining to rugged coastal walks to Bondi Beach, the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach-Sydney provides an authentic experience of Sydney's Seaside Village. Choose our stylish Coogee Beach hotel for your next trip.
Learn more about Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Self parking
Beach bar
Room service
Babysitting
Conference center
11 meeting rooms
Terrace





 



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: Clarion Suites Gateway


Clarion Suites Gateway 5 nights from 570 per person
Clarion Suites GatewayClarion Suites Gateway provides comfortable Melbourne lodging for all travel, from important business meetings to family getaways on the banks of the Yarra River. From stunning contemporary décor to the friendly, helpful service of our staff, travelers of all ages are sure to find delight at our hotel in Melbourne, Australia.


<b>Accommodation</b>

Available in studio, one-, two-and, three- bedroom suites, accommodations at Clarion Suites Gateway offer a cozy, quiet reprieve from a day well spent. Spread out in our spacious rooms and suites and enjoy soft linens, 24-hour room service, and more.


<b>Services & Amenities</b>

Offering four-and-a-half star service with a smile, the staff at Clarion Suites Gateway can assist you with anything you may need during your visit. Enjoy an indoor heated swimming pool, sun deck, broadband Internet connection, complimentary off-site gym access, onsite dining at William's Bar & Café, and more during your stay.


<b>Location</b>

Just steps from the Yarra River, Clarion Suites Gateway offers stunning river views from our comfortable guestrooms and suites. Located in the heart of Melbourne's Central Business District, Clarion Suites Gateway is within minutes of the Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne Aquarium, world-class shopping, exciting sporting arenas, and important area businesses.


<b>Dining</b>

William's Bar & Café offers something for every taste. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, our onsite dining will leave you feeling satisfied.


<b>Attractions</b>

From traveling with children to jetsetting for business, all visitors love Clarion Suites Gateway's close proximity to the best attractions. Minutes from sporting arenas, the Crown Casino & Entertainment Complex, Southgate dining and shopping, and more, there is never a lack of activities during your stay.
Learn more about Clarion Suites Gateway

Daily housekeeping
Indoor pool
Self parking
24-hour room service
24-hour business center
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Computer station
Front-desk safe
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Multilingual staff





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



X

abc

xyz

X

abc

xyz