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
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• Temperature by month
• Precipitation by month
• Best time to go by region
• High season/low season prices
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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: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach

Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach 5 nights from 620 per person

Newly refurbished Castaways Resort & Spa is your absolute beachfront escape. Bound by the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforest, Castaways Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for couples, families with children and groups traveling together. Click on the images in the right hand columns for stunning high definition videos of Castaways Resort & Spa, the beach directly in front of the resort and a secluded rainforest swimming area and walking trails just 6km from the resort.

Learn more about Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
2 outdoor pools
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Free beach club on site
Beach umbrellas
Beach sun loungers
Beach towels
Beach bar

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: Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove

Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove 5 nights from 725 per person

Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove is your temple for relaxation.

This impressive 5-star Palm Cove resort is located beachfront on the southern end of Palm Cove, and has been created to provide the utmost privacy and tranquility.

Choose from an amazing selection of 126 Asian inspired, beautifully detailed studio rooms or 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments with the option of private plunge pool or rooftop terrace upgrades at this Palm Cove resort.

Sea Temple Palm Cove resort offers a first class day spa so you can drift into bliss - restore, revive, re-invigorate - and above all, relax.

For those who simply want to sit back and soak up the Tropical North Queensland lifestyle, enjoy a cocktail overlooking the central lagoon pool before sunset walk on the beachfront. Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove is the serenity you've been looking for in a paradise you'll love.

Learn more about Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurants and 2 bars/lounges
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Breakfast available
Fitness centre
Children's pool
Spa tub
Pool bar
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe

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: 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.

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: Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort

Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort 5 nights from 1,410 per person

Nestled in 45-acres of magical subtropical rainforest, Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, is a celebration of nature, responsible luxury and the local environment. Located only five minutes south of Byron Bay, the resort allows visitors to enjoy restaurants, shopping and vibrant atmosphere of this beachside township and then retire to a setting of peace and luxury.

Stroll along the boardwalks through the sub tropical rainforest and for access to Tallow Beach, perfect for a morning walk while the sun rises over the ocean. Relax by the 25m infinity pool or poolside sauna or experience the ultimate indulgence in the luxurious day spa. If you are feeling active you can play a game of tennis or work out in the fully equipped gymnasium. The resort also offers complimentary yoga each morning – the perfect way to start the day.

The spacious luxury accommodation comprises 92 one bedroom air conditioned suites. Each suite contains a kitchen, separate lounge and dining area, plasma TV as well as two enclosed balconies. Luxurious bathrooms have deep free standing bathtubs and separate shower and the California king beds ensure dreamtime really does exist. Each suite has been designed to capture the essence of being nestled amongst the sub tropical rainforest.

All suites are designated non-smoking. We appreciate your co-operation to ensure the comfort of all our guests.

Learn more about Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort

Safe-deposit box at front desk
Garden
Terrace
Library
Fitness center
An outdoor pool
Full-service spa
Outdoor tennis court
Sauna
Massage/treatment rooms
Steam room

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