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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: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns


DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns 5 nights from 570 per person
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel CairnsBoasting uninterrupted views of the Coral Sea, and a stunning natural setting amidst landscaped tropical gardens, the oceanfront DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns is just a short walk from the city center, and Cairn’s business, retail and entertainment districts. The hotel overlooks the picturesque Cairns Esplanade, and is just moments from Cairns Lagoon and Cairns Casino. Enjoy easy access to Cairns Convention Center and lots of attractions, including the World Heritage listed Daintree Tropical Rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands. The Great Barrier Reef departures terminal is 100m away, and Cairns International Airport is only 10 minutes’ drive from our Cairns hotel.

Stylish and comfortable, our guest rooms and suites are flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. Enjoy modern amenities, including a refrigerator, a flat-screen TV, a Sweet Dreams® by DoubleTree bed, a large desk and WiFi (fee applies). Our friendly staff look forward to greeting you at check-in with a signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie.

Savor Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in The Atrium, which overlooks the hotel’s striking rainforest atrium. Food is comfort. We make it easy for you to enjoy a delicious meal without even leaving the hotel. Whether you are into health food, snacks, or gourmet food all the way, we’ve got something to tickle your palate. Stay in and use our in-room dining service, check out the onsite restaurant, or unwind with after-dinner drinks at the bar.

Exercise with contemporary cardio and weights equipment in the complimentary fitness center, and enjoy a soothing dip in the outdoor swimming pool as you admire beautiful views of the waterfront. Ensure that your meeting, conference or wedding is a successful one by holding it at our Cairns hotel. We provide six air-conditioned meeting spaces, and our friendly, professional team is always on hand to help. Print documents in the 24-hour business center, and take advantage of the latest A/V technology. The lush gardens surrounding the hotel provide the perfect setting for an outdoor celebration or beautiful wedding photos.

Famous as the meeting place of two natural wonders - the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest - Cairns is a vibrant and colorful destination in the far north of Queensland. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns is set in the heart of the city, within easy walking distance of the Cairns Esplanade lagoon, Cairns Casino, the business district and the city’s shopping, tourism and nightlife hubs.

Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to experience unforgettable views over the rainforest canopy. Tour the Atherton Tablelands – a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland; and home to breathtaking waterfalls, deep crater lakes, a colorful tapestry of farmlands and wildlife-rich savannah plains. Enjoy thrills and spills on the Tully River, Barron River or Russell River, which all have rapids from grades 1 - 4. Explore the uninhabited Frankland Island, or experience the world's best reef diving at the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
Learn more about DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns

Daily housekeeping
2 restaurants and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
24-hour fitness center
Self parking
Children's pool
24-hour room service
Conference center
5 meeting rooms
Terrace
24-hour front desk





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: Oaks Festival Towers


Oaks Festival Towers 5 nights from 695 per person
Oaks Festival TowersLocated in a prime position and providing spacious modern design, first class technology and facilities, is Oaks Festival Towers. Guests can sample top restaurants and late-night bars, irresistible shopping, galleries, theatres, movies and museums which are all nearby.

Oaks Festival Towers comprises of one and two bedroom contemporary, self-contained apartments each with a private balcony and city views.

The hotel facilities include a 25m heated lap pool & plunge pool, gymnasium, sauna, heated spa and a sundeck & barbecue podium.

The cream of café society is at the door, and it's an easy stroll to the Queen Street Mall, Treasury Casino, the beautiful Botanic Gardens and the Sunday Riverside markets.

Business travellers will savour the proximity to the city's financial and commercial heart, while excellent access to public transport will get you everywhere with ease.
Learn more about Oaks Festival Towers

139 smoke-free apartments
Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
Outdoor pool
Internet in the lobby
Fitness center
Sauna
Self parking
Spa tub
24-hour front desk
Air conditioning
Laundry service





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: Spicers Potts Point


Spicers Potts Point 5 nights from 1,000 per person
Spicers Potts PointAn urban oasis in the heart of one of Sydney’s most iconic suburbs.

Spicers Potts Point places the best of Sydney at your doorstep. Just a short walk to trendy cafes, Kings Cross station, Sydney city and harbour, within easy access of Sydney’s best galleries and famous Bondi Beach, and set amongst a mix of historic art deco and modern architecture, Spicers Potts Point exudes an effortless blend of classic Sydney heritage character with a fresh contemporary feel.

Whether planning a romantic getaway, holiday with friends or traveling for business our 16 stylish rooms and 4 luxurious and spacious suites provide everything you need for a relaxing and comfortable stay. Enjoy luxury amenities, including complimentary Wi-fi, in room mini bar, à la carte breakfast, off street parking (charges apply) and complimentary evening canapes.
Learn more about Spicers Potts Point

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Valet parking
Room service
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden
Front-desk safe
Snack bar/deli
Water dispenser
Laundry service





 



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: 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





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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