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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: 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





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: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins


Sofitel Melbourne on Collins 5 nights from 1,090 per person
Sofitel Melbourne on CollinsMelbourne. The world's most liveable city. An international destination of 19th century grandeur renowned for its vibrant cultural life, leading events and festivals, sport and racing, high fashion and dining.
In its very centre, beautiful Collins Street, a tree lined boulevard of grand heritage, international fashion houses, historic churches and magnificent theatres.

Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, located at the prestigious 'Paris end' of Collins Street, provides a central address surrounded by galleries and gardens, architectural masterpieces and the city's finest attractions.

Learn more about Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Valet parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
24-hour business center
Conference center
Business center
UNESCO Sustainable Property
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: Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa


Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa 5 nights from 1,145 per person
Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & SpaEscape to the world famous World Heritage listed Blue Mountains and enjoy luxury resort accommodation at Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa. Just 90 minutes’ drive from Sydney CBD, Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spais a renowned haven for relaxation and a delight for gourmets in one of Australia’s most beautiful destinations, picturesque Jamison Valleys and escarpments, abundant wildlife and a scenic attractions right at your doorstep.

Located in the heart of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park

Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, a weekend with the girls or your mates, or a fun-filled family holiday, our luxury Blue Mountains hotel offers something for everyone. Unwind and be pampered at the onsite Lilianfels Day Spa, burn some energy on the tennis court or one of the two heated pools, and enjoy renowned local wines and produce at our fine dining multi-award winning restaurants and bars.

Explore the Blue Mountains with the whole family and sample the region’s many attractions. With a range of onsite function rooms, a spectacular backdrop and a relaxing atmosphere, our Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spais the ideal venue for weddings, corporate events and celebrations.

Our friendly, knowledgeable concierge team are experts on the region, and strive to ensure each guest has an unforgettable experience in the Blue Mountains region.

Book your stay now or purchase a gift voucher package and treat a loved one to a well-deserved Blue Mountains luxury escape.
Learn more about Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Indoor pool and outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Health club
Outdoor tennis court
Sauna
Steam room
Valet parking
Spa tub
24-hour room service





 



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: Coral Sands Resort


Coral Sands Resort 5 nights from 940 per person
Coral Sands ResortTrinity Beach is everyone's vision of a tropical paradise. A white sand cove marked by twin headlands and fringed with softly swaying coconut palms, it is a special beachside resort suburb situated 15 minutes from Cairns airport.

Close enough to the entertainment, shopping and city casino of Cairns, Trinity Beach is a favourite location to holiday on the Northern Beaches of Cairns due to its own shopping, restaurants, and its very attractive beachside ambience.

Coral Sands Beachfront Resort is your ideal holiday accommodation base at Trinity Beach, located right on the Esplanade facing the beach.

Here, guests enjoy the best of everything. The resort is proud of its immaculate standards, with the beautiful gardens and cleanliness of this property consistently attracting comments from visitors.
Learn more about Coral Sands Resort

42 apartments
Weekly housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden
Front-desk safe
Self-serve laundry
Multilingual staff
Picnic area





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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