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: Daydream Island Resort & Spa


Daydream Island Resort & Spa 5 nights from 1,100 per person
Daydream Island Resort & SpaDaydream Island has a tropical climate and is located within the Whitsunday Islands group located on the North Eastern coast of Queensland, Australia.
Learn more about Daydream Island Resort & Spa

Daily housekeeping
On a private beach
Marina
3 restaurants and 5 bars/lounges
Outdoor pool
Fitness center
Beach umbrellas
Beach sun loungers
Beach towels
Children's pool
Pool bar
Swim-up 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: Mantra Amphora


Mantra Amphora 5 nights from 495 per person
Mantra AmphoraMantra Amphora Resort is located on the spectacular waterfront of Palm Cove's palm-fringed beach at one of Tropical North Queensland's most sought-after destinations. Enjoy an early morning dip in the tranquil Coral Sea directly opposite the resort or bask in the tropical warmth beside the lagoon swimming pool with its many coves and nooks shaded by towering palm trees.

Accommodation at Mantra Amphora Resort ranges from hotel rooms to self-contained one, two and three bedroom apartments all with quality finishes and most featuring an indulgent spa bath. All rooms and apartments offer private balconies with garden or ocean views providing the perfect space to kick back and relax as the sun disappears and the moon lights up the sky. An ideal place to celebrate a nearby wedding, escape with the family or just take some time out, Mantra Amphora makes room for everyone.

Wander the stretch of Palm Cove Esplanade to discover a chic range of restaurants and cocktail bars that will satisfy both discerning palates and family appetites, or dine at Vivo Bar and Brill which sits just next to the Mantra Amphora Resort and offers delicious Italian with subtle tropical flavours.
Learn more about Mantra Amphora

Weekly housekeeping
Near the beach
Outdoor pool
Children's pool
In-room childcare
Airport shuttle
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Air conditioning
Garden
Luggage storage
Limited hour front desk
Tour/ticket assistance





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: Lizard Island


Lizard Island 5 nights from 9,265 per person
Lizard IslandIt begins with a special place. Your place - your own personal island retreat on the Great Barrier Reef. Beautiful, natural and wild and the most northern Great Barrier Reef resort, Lizard Island is a place reserved for the fortunate few.

The beaches are plentiful, 24 in all, with fine powdery white sand, undisturbed but for the occasional footprints. Your island is for snorkelling, if you choose, or deep-sea game fishing, or diving at The Cod Hole, one of the world famous dive sites just a short boat ride away. Enjoy secluded picnics on private beaches, five star cuisine and indulging spa treatments.

It's for splendid accommodation - room for only a few but a choice between private villas, suites, or a pavilion. Watching the sunset on a day-bed overlooking the water, it's easy to be lulled into the deep peace that comes with being in your own beautiful world on Lizard Island.

Little wonder your island consistently makes the Top 10 Hotels of the World list.
Learn more about Lizard Island

At the northern most resort on the Great Barrier Reef, and a member of the Luxury lodges of Australia, Lizard Island is truly secluded from the rest of the world. Offering a range of 40 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, this all-inclusive resort offers guests the opportunity to escape to their own private beach for a day exploring the reef.





 



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: Quay West Suites Brisbane


Quay West Suites Brisbane 5 nights from 985 per person
Quay West Suites BrisbaneQuay West Suites Brisbane offers secluded Brisbane Accommodation in the heart of the city featuring a resort-style swimming pool, fitness facilities, business centre and contemporary dining.

Quay West Suites Brisbane offers premium Brisbane hotel accommodation with daily servicing and is the perfect option for long stay guests in our spacious one and two bedroom serviced apartments.

<b>Accommodation</b>

Enjoy an oasis in the city with fully refurbished, luxurious Brisbane hotel accommodation opposite the Brisbane Botantic Gardens, close to QUT, Queensland Parliament and the government precinct. Quay West Suites Brisbane offers secluded Brisbane accommodation in the heart of the city featuring a resort-style swimming pool, recreation deck with outdoor hot tub spa and fitness facilities, as well as a business centre and guest lounge.

Guests enjoy premium hotel apartment accommodation in Brisbane with daily servicing, the perfect solution for long-stay guests in stylish serviced apartments. Apartment accommodation options include spacious 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments including a choice of executive suites which feature open-plan living with stunning views, luxurious bedding, contemporary decor, modern furnishings, LCD flat screen TVs and in-room technologies.

Overlooking the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, McMahons Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, high tea & dinner 7 days, or for more relaxed dining a poolside menu is available daily until 10pm. For the ultimate in comfort and convenience, in-room dining is provided 24 hours, 7 days.

For a seamless door-to-door experience our Concierge can arrange for our driver to collect you from Brisbane airport or your point of arrival and transport you in style direct to the hotel. If arriving at the hotel by personal vehicle, full valet parking is available at the hotel entrance for a fixed nightly charge.
Learn more about Quay West Suites Brisbane

109 apartments
Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Steam room
Self parking
Spa tub
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Terrace
24-hour front desk





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