Best Time of Year to Visit Australia

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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• Airfare by month
• Travel specials
• See all resorts in Australia
• Temperature by month
• Precipitation by month
• Best time to go by region
• High season/low season prices
• Map of all resorts

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: Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments 5 nights from 1,335 per person

For the perfect Port Douglas luxury beachfront accommodation, Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments offer a unique foreshore location with all the facilities and services you expect on your tropical holiday.

Located in quiet seclusion, the cool apartments of Mandalay Port Douglas are nestled amongst lush tropical vibrant gardens. Access to the seemingly endless stretch of Port Douglas beach is through an easy walkway framed by tropical beach flora.

Mandalay Port Douglas luxurious and comfortable apartments exemplify the beach style and relaxed elegance which make Port Douglas one of the most sought after destinations in the world.

Learn more about Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments is a relaxing, 5-star retreat in Port Douglas, within easy walking distance of the wonderful restaurants in and around the Marina Mirage and Macrossan Street.

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

A 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

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.

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.

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: Novotel Darwin Atrium

Novotel Darwin Atrium 5 nights from 460 per person

Novotel Darwin Atrium is conveniently located in the city centre, overlooking Darwin Harbour. This 4 star hotel is a short stroll from the Mitchell Street dining and entertainment precinct and is equally suited for business trips and holidays. Boasting 140 spacious rooms and conferencing facilities, Novotel Darwin Atrium features a magnificent tropical indoor rainforest, complete with cascading vines and palm trees. Try the famous cocktails in the bar or enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant.

The hotel is well positioned close to local attractions including the wharf precinct, shopping, the Darwin Entertainment Centre, botanical gardens and casino. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.

From breakfast to lunch, dinner or a tasty little snack, Novotel provides balanced choices and a la carte service 24/7 at all its hotels. At Novotel, you can count on enjoying a relaxing meal in a friendly, stylish setting.

At Novotel, you're assured of a warm welcome and flawless service. You'll find areas for relaxing and places to work, along with numerous other first-rate amenities.

Learn more about Novotel Darwin Atrium

Free WiFi
Sleeps 4
2 Queen Beds

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: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney 5 nights from 1,830 per person

The Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney is the city's leading deluxe hotel. Located in the historic Rocks district between the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, our hotel offers 563 spacious and inspired luxury guest rooms and suites.

Apart from a superb location and the city's largest accommodations among Sydney hotels, the hotel offers some of the city's finest dining, including Altitude Restaurant, our award-winning contemporary restaurant, and Blu Bar on 36, each offering its own spectacular views of the city from level 36.

The hotel's meeting and business facilities are second to none. Whether an individual traveller is in need of basic business facilities, or a company wishes to host a lavish event, the trained staff at Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney are equipped to handle virtually every conceivable scenario. The hotel's Grand Ballroom, Horizon Club lounge, private meeting rooms and Business Centre are all equipped with state-of-the-art video conferencing services and wireless Internet resources, making the hotel a reliable resource for the most demanding guests.

Learn more about Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Stunning views that will take your breath away, the Shangri-La Hotel boasts amazing Harbor views. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House are conveniently located nearby in the historic Rocks district. This is the location where the first Europeans settled in Australia. This sought-after location is also centrally located near the Museum of Contemporary art.

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.

Map of all resorts in Australia