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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: Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide


Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide 5 nights from 750 per person
Hotel Grand Chancellor AdelaideHotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Currie, a four star boutique style hotel, is located in the heart of Adelaide's CBD. The hotel is within walking distance to the city's major cultural attractions, shopping precinct's and entertainment centres.

The uniquely styled restored Neo-Georgian property is reminiscent of the Grand Mansions of yesteryear, mixing traditional charm with contemporary elegance; featuring 64 well-appointed rooms, an indoor heated swimming pool, spa and gymnasium.

Adelaide is known as the city of food and wine, a place to experience the buzz, culture and convenience of a big city without big city frustrations. The city centre, surrounded by parklands, is a charming blend of historic buildings, wide streets, numerous shops, street cafes and restaurants.
Learn more about Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Sauna
Self parking
Spa tub
24-hour room service
24-hour front desk
Library
Computer station





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: 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





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 PortSea


Mantra PortSea 5 nights from 615 per person
Mantra PortSeaMantra PortSea offers the perfect accommodation solution for a relaxing getaway or carefree family holiday in Port Douglas. Nestled amongst lush tropical rainforests and on the doorstep of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, Mantra PortSea Port Douglas offers comfort and convenience with a selection of hotel rooms, one & two bedroom studios and two bedroom apartments.

Located just 100m from the beach and within a 15 minute walk of Port Douglas' village centre, Mantra PortSea features a lagoon style pool with swim-up bar and waterslide, all surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens. Mantra PortSea resort is the perfect choice for singles, couples and families looking for a relaxed North Queensland holiday.

During your stay make the most of our amazing location and explore the breathtaking Daintree Rainforest – the oldest rainforest on earth, or take a boat ride out to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef which stretches over 2500 kilometers along the north coast of Queensland.

Whatever you do, Port Douglas is full of excitement and adventure and we invite you to experience it with Mantra PortSea.
Learn more about Mantra PortSea

Weekly housekeeping
Near the beach
3 outdoor pools
Breakfast available
Outdoor tennis court
Fitness center
Children's pool
Spa tub
Pool bar
Swim-up bar
Bar/lounge
Airport shuttle





 



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: Silky Oaks Lodge


Silky Oaks Lodge 5 nights from 3,940 per person
Silky Oaks LodgeSilky Oaks Lodge and Healing Waters Spa is located in a stunning riverside location adjoining one of the oldest living rainforests the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park, and is an ideal base from which to explore Far North Queensland.

Silky Oaks Lodge is an oasis of elegance and ease in the oldest living rainforest. The Lodge has elegantly furnished interiors and spacious open lounge areas, bar, reading rooms with reference library. There are 50 contemporarily designed River and Treehouses that connect with the natural environs each featuring wide verandahs and luxurious spa baths. All accommodation retreats have wall to ceiling windows leading to spacious balconies with lush garden, rainforest or river panoramas.

The advanced eco lodge comprises the renowned open sided Treehouse restaurant offering fine dining in scenic surrounds, contemporary accommodation encompassing both custom designed and furnished Billabong, River and Treehouses., and the highly lauded Healing Waters Spa. From the comfort of this award winning iconic eco Lodge experience the adjoining Daintree National Park and explore the nearby Great Barrier Reef as well as the many other attractions and activities the region has to offer.

There are extensive hiking trails leading from the Lodge into the Daintree National Park offering both adventure and education as well as diverse and beautiful locations to photograph or picnic. Canoeing, river snorkeling or paddling, goanna spotting, biking, guided walks or early morning yoga classes followed by a swim in the river are just some of the activities available at the Lodge. There are endless options to explore the diversity of the surrounding region. Take a dreamtime walk at Mossman Gorge, snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef or experience traditional hunting techniques at nearby Cooya Beach. Journey to remote Cape Tribulation with Silky Oaks Safaris visiting ancient refugial rainforests and habitats as well as venturing down the Daintree River marveling at the diverse flora and Birdlife.

The Lodge was originally built on a portion of a farmed and cleared 34 hectare parcel of land adjoining the Daintree National Park. For the past 25 years this land has been regenerated and replanted back to the original rainforest habitat. Therefore our 'Eco-Certified -Advanced Ecotourism' status has a solid sustainability foundation due to this reforestation of the land the Lodge occupies.

For the past 15 years Silky Oaks Lodge has followed its documented Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS). The first principle of the system is that the long term effect of the Lodge on the local environment must be zero. The Lodge has its own Sewerage Treatment Plant which is of a standard consistent with World Heritage guidelines. Grey water from the accommodation houses and main lodge including the Healing Waters Spa passes through grease traps and then on to our treatment plant. This treatment plant is an open topped packed steel system with a clarification step as well as aerators and sodium illuminate with a final sand filter used to reduce phosphorus. The final effluent emitted out into the grounds and surrounding forest is of a specification near tertiary standard. All water from the Lodge is drawn from the Mossman River and is treated on site with a sand filter and chlorination plant with the result being a pure minimally treated spring water of a high standard.
Learn more about Silky Oaks Lodge

Free breakfast
Pool
Free WiFi
Airport transfer
Non-smoking
Air conditioning





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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