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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: Hilton Sydney Hotel


Hilton Sydney Hotel 5 nights from 800 per person
Hilton Sydney HotelAccommodation and more in the heart of Sydney CBD

With exceptional facilities for business or leisure, Hilton Sydney is superbly located right in the heart of the city, with magnificent views and convenient access to Sydney's favourite attractions , including Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach.

The Hilton Sydney hotel also boasts stylish bars, with dining by celebrity Chef / Restaurateur Luke Mangan at the famous glass brasserie . Or relax with a cocktail on the rooftop terrace at Zeta Bar and enjoy live music at the iconic Marble Bar.
Learn more about Hilton Sydney Hotel

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and 3 bars/lounges
Full-service spa
Indoor pool
Nightclub
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
WiFi in the lobby
Health club
Sauna
Steam room
Valet parking





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: Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa


Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa 5 nights from 1,290 per person
Kewarra Beach Resort & SpaA romantic nature resort and spa on the beaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

The resort accommodation at Kewarra Beach Resort and Spa is unique, exclusive and special. Beautifully appointed individual deluxe bungalows and spacious suites are discretely situated throughout the 30 hectares of lush tropical gardens. Arrive in Cairns and relax in beach front resort accommodation nestled between the Great Barrier Reef and the pristine tropical rainforests of North Queensland.

At Kewarra Beach Resort and Spa you will enjoy private beach front accommodation or deluxe rainforest nature accommodation in a beautiful tranquil environment that reflects the very essence of tropical Australia.

We are the only private beach resort spa of this kind within easy reach of Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas, and we pride ourselves on being ranked #1 on Trip Advisor for the Cairns district in Queensland Australia.

We look forward with great pleasure to welcoming you soon to our tropical paradise.
Learn more about Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa

A secluded tropical hideaway in North Queensland set on 38 acres of lush botanical gardens this private beachfront resort provides the ultimate Australian vacation experience.





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: Mantra on View Hotel


Mantra on View Hotel 5 nights from 440 per person
Mantra on View HotelPositioned right in the heart of Surfers Paradise just 160m from the beach, Mantra on View Hotel is an ideal choice when visiting Queensland's famous Gold Coast. Every room within this Surfers Paradise accommodation provides all of the facilities you need to make yourself at home.

All guest rooms feature high-speed internet (fee applies) and cable TV. Relax on your own private balcony as you take in the sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and stunning Gold Coast skyline. There’s plenty to do at this Surfers Paradise hotel which features a resort style outdoor swimming pool and children's pool, along with a fully equipped gymnasium and tennis courts.

If you’re planning business in Surfers Paradise, Mantra on View Hotel offers a great choice of Gold Coast conference facilities with nine conference rooms to choose from. Mantra on View Hotel’s Gold Coast conference and event facilities are suitable for business meetings, banquets, weddings and a variety of events whether you are planning a working meeting for 20 team members or a seminar for 600 delegates.
Perhaps a Gold Coast wedding is on the horizon, Mantra on View Hotel has a choice of beautiful venues for your ceremony, including the beach, the resort-style pool, and the gorgeous Boulevard boardroom offering a variety of wedding styles. Our team of wedding professionals is available to assist with all of your wedding plans and the Ocean Day Spa and Hair Salon is a wonderful place to make yourself feel extra special on your big day.

While staying at Mantra on View Hotel, dine onsite at NOSH Pan Asian Restaurant, or wander into the nearby heart of Surfers Paradise for a great choice of Gold Coast bars and eateries. With excellent shopping, famous beaches, the natural wonders of the hinterland and Gold Coast theme parks nearby, Mantra on View Hotel is the ideal Surfers Paradise accommodation.
Learn more about Mantra on View Hotel

Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
Restaurant
Full-service spa
Breakfast available
Health club
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Car rentals on site
Front-desk safe
ATM/banking services





 



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: Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne


Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne 5 nights from 455 per person
Hotel Grand Chancellor MelbourneSituated on Lonsdale Street in the heart of the city centre, the Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne provides guests with gracious hospitality and incomparable service at great value. The hotel is rated four star and is perfectly located within the vibrant theatre district where you will enjoy all the delights Melbourne has to offer - live theatre, cinemas, Chinatown, and of course the exceptional shopping facilities; are all within easy walking distance.

Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne has recently earned Green Star accreditation for its focus on:
-Energy efficiency
-Waste minimisation and management
-Water minimisation
-Guest education

Learn more about Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne

Daily housekeeping
2 restaurants and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Valet parking
24-hour room service
Babysitting
Conference center
Business center
6 meeting rooms





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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