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 23 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: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley


Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley 5 nights from 715 per person
Crowne Plaza Hunter ValleyWelcome to the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley hotel, your private space for successful business and soothing retreats in wine country.

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is in the heart of Australia's oldest wine region, and our bright Lobby seems to have been carved from its hills and vineyards. After your check-in, you can explore our landscaped grounds or celebrate your arrival with a Hunter vintage in the Vista Lounge.

You'll find Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley on Wine Country Drive in Lovedale, 8km north of Cessnock. We're 2 hours from Sydney and 1 hour from Newcastle Airport. Leave your car in our complimentary car park and let our Concierge arrange transport to the Tyrrell's, Waverly, Brokenwood, Pepper Tree or Petersons wineries, all within 8km of your hotel.

Our event packages make it easy to stage celebrations and conferences. The complimentary kids' club will entertain the children while you sharpen your swing with the PGA pro at Hunter Valley Golf Club or head to Tea Tree Spa for luxurious treatments.

We'll help to combine your stay with Hunter Valley activities, so you can toast business success at a cellar door or savour the view from a hot air balloon. Saddle up to explore the Brokenback Mountains or discover our signature dishes on Redsalt's tasting menu. With so much to do at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, you'll look forward to your return before you even arrive.

Ideal for romantic getaways, family accommodation and everything in between

With 316 spacious and stylish guestrooms to choose from, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley offers a wide range of accommodation options to meet the needs of every guest.
Each room boasts modern furnishing, spacious bathroom with full sized bath and separate shower, high speed Wi-fi access and plasma TV. Step out onto your private balcony or courtyard and enjoy views of the vineyards, scenic golf course or sparkling resort pool.

Romantic Getaway
Planning a romantic weekend getaway for two? The Hunter Valley is the premier romantic destination in NSW. Make the most of your stay with wine tasting, a luxury treatment at the Tea Tree Day Spa, or a round of golf. Cuddle up to your loved one in a romantic Deluxe Room or luxurious Suite with our dedicated 'Special Moments' couples package. With our fine Villa dining options or healthy Body and Soul in-room dining menu you won't have to go anywhere, except perhaps to Tea Tree Spa if you both need a little extra spoiling.

Family Accommodation
If you're looking for family friendly accommodation in the Hunter Valley, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley offers self-contained, serviced apartments with 2 and 3 bedroom villas that can offer separate bedrooms for parents and children.

Being close to all the attractions and events of the Hunter Valley makes it easy for your family to get around. Our Hunter Valley hotel has great child-friendly facilities in the dedicated kidzone and our staff specialised in making the kids happy and entertained with The Water Dragons Kids Club, a fully supervised activity centre for the little ones. For parents requiring child minding outside of our Kids Club opening hours, our resort can organise a babysitter for you for a 3 hour minimum booking. Treat the family to a getaway they will always remember with our 'Family Focus' package, including accommodation, full buffet breakfast and entry to the Hunter Valley Gardens for 2 adults and 2 children.

Small Groups Accommodation
For groups, colleagues or friends travelling together, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley offers the perfect mix of Hunter Valley accommodation and activities for small groups. Our resort is located right in the centre of all the major Hunter Valley attractions with a range of accommodation options from Deluxe Rooms, Suites to contained apartments with 2 or 3 bedrooms.

Whether you are arranging a pampering hen's spa experience, a lad's golf weekend, or a group of friends taking advantage of one of the great concerts in the vines, take the hard work out of your weekend and let the concierge team manage activities like group tours of the vineyards, tasting our hand-brewed beers at the Lovedale Brewery, Tea Tree Spa specials and golf bookings.
Learn more about Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley

Winery
Golf course
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
2 outdoor pools
Free water park
Breakfast available
3 outdoor tennis courts
Health club
Sauna
Steam room
Spa tub





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: The Sydney Boulevard Hotel


The Sydney Boulevard Hotel 5 nights from 1,185 per person
The Sydney Boulevard HotelThe Sydney Boulevard Hotel is a 4 star Harbour View hotel in Sydney, Australia. This luxury hotel offers 270 guest rooms with stunning views of the picturesque Sydney Harbour & skyline.

Centrally located to Sydney's Central Business District, attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment districts The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is the perfect destination for business meetings, leisure or a short getaway.

Treat yourself to stunning views of the picturesque Sydney, Australia city skyline and harbour while basking in world-class hospitality and service. Whatever your needs, The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is committed to providing an unsurpassed level of service, every time.

With a 4-star rating, The Sydney Boulevard Hotel, located in Sydney CBD, is renowned for its refinement and its friendly, personalized service and touch. Boasting a guest list of high profile personalities, the hotel continues to attract a wide variety of clientele who seek comfort with style.

Our elegantly appointed hotel accommodations are at the heart of The Sydney Boulevard Hotel experience in Sydney. Many of our 270 rooms and suites have views of Sydney Harbour and Opera House that are simply unmatched elsewhere. Each is a private sanctuary that combines all the functionality and amenities a visitor-on-the go could ever require. Our Sydney Harbour hotel accommodations are spacious and meet the needs and preferences of both Leisure and Corporate guests. The Hotel also has a well-defined non-smoking policy, laid down in line with the regulations of NSW Health and Authority.

Experience the warm infusions created by the Chefs at The Sydney Boulevard Hotel, specifically for our restaurants in Sydney Harbour. The wide menu selection is matched with our hand-picked wine list. The Vard Espresso Bar & Restaurant offers a relaxed modern feel with an eye catching view of Sydney, Australia's vibrant streets and surroundings, whilst Seasons Café delights with the warms servings of buffet breakfast and corporate lunches.

As one of the few hotels with free WiFi in Sydney, The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is proud to offer throughout the hotel a secured and free wireless internet access. Jump online anytime, anywhere! You can now keep in touch with friends and family, or even take care of business at your convenience for the whole duration of your stay with us. Available everywhere, from the Lobby, to Seasons Cafe, even by the 24th Floor Gymnasium, Sauna & Steam Shower Room!

The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is proud to be the first hotel of its kind in Sydney to offer Spinway's bike rental solution, Australia's first high tech bike sharing company changing the way people travel around town. It provides a fully automatic helmet solution for Australia's compulsory helmet laws.
Learn more about The Sydney Boulevard Hotel


24-hour front desk
Concierge services
Tour/ticket assistance
Dry cleaning/laundry services
Free newspapers in lobby
Luggage storage
Wedding 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: Batmans Hill on Collins


Batmans Hill on Collins 5 nights from 410 per person
Batmans Hill on CollinsThe Quality Hotel Batman's Hill on Collins has 190 rooms, ranging from Standard Rooms (3.5 stars) to Club Rooms and Apartments (4 star). First class style without the first class price tag. See our Guest Room page for more details.

Quality Hotel Batman's Hill on Collins is located in the heart of Melbourne. Our excellent location, opposite Southern Cross Station, is within a short walk to the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, Rialto Towers, Melbourne Aquarium, Southgate, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, Docklands restaurants and Etihad Stadium.
Learn more about Batmans Hill on Collins

Daily housekeeping
2 restaurants and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Self parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
Conference center
Business center
Limo/town car service
24-hour front desk
Car rentals on site
Front-desk safe





 



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: 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





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