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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: Holiday Inn Potts Point


Holiday Inn Potts Point 5 nights from 610 per person
Holiday Inn Potts PointHoliday Inn Potts Point boasts stunning harbour views and features contemporary rooms in a friendly and casual atmosphere. What makes us unique is our location – right in the hub of Sydney's cafe and dining precinct and only five minutes from the heart of the city, this area has it all. Holiday Inn Potts Point offers you everything you are looking for in Sydney, only footsteps away.

One stop on the adjacent underground train takes you right into the city centre and via the cross city tunnel you can bypass city traffic and arrive in Darling Harbour's entertainment precinct in just 5 minutes or gain fast, easy access to the Harbour Bridge and tunnel, taking you north. Grab a beach towel and a 15 minute drive lands you on famous Bondi Beach. Soak up the sights of Sydney from one of our rooms with harbour views.

Host your function in one of our 5 naturally lit meeting rooms and use the 24-hour Business Centre to prepare your presentation. Stay in touch with high speed internet in your comfortable Guest room. The hotel is a 25 minute taxi or train ride from Sydney Airport, and there's secure parking if you're arriving by car.

Sample Kings Cross' lively nightlife or head down to the harbour and take a stroll to see iconic Sydney Opera House beautifully illuminated in the evening. If you need inspiration, ask our helpful staff to recommend their favourite local attractions. Our Kids Stay and Eat Free program makes Holiday Inn Potts Point Sydney a good value choice for family breaks.

You can work out at the in-house gym, which offers a variety of cardio and weights equipment. Mingle with friends in Sirocco Bar and indulge in modern Mediterranean cuisine in the restaurant.
Learn more about Holiday Inn Potts Point

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
24-hour fitness center
Self parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
Babysitting
24-hour business center
Business center
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: Bay Village Tropical Retreat


Bay Village Tropical Retreat 5 nights from 695 per person
Bay Village Tropical RetreatDiscover the wonders of Tropical North Queensland starting right here in Cairns!

Nestled amongst lush tropical gardens in the heart of Cairns, you will enjoy superb location and comfort of our family-owned boutique Cairns accommodation.

Bay Village Tropical Retreat & Apartments offer a perfect base to discover the Region's natural wonders of reef, rainforest and outback. Located within easy walking distance to Cairns waterfront and Central Business District, our hotel rooms and apartments boast an award-wining Restaurant & bar, free-form swimming pool, internet facility, laundry and on-site parking.

Learn more about Bay Village Tropical Retreat

Nestled amongst gardens in the heart of Cairns and renowned for its tropical hospitality, this family-owned boutique hotel offers all the facilities that guests enjoy. The Bay Village Tropical Retreat and Apartments is located a short walk from the waterfront and the Esplanade Parkland and only a 15-minute walk.





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: Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore


Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore 5 nights from 2,270 per person
Alamanda Palm Cove by LancemoreNever go on trips with anyone you do not love.
– Earnest Hemingway

Whether it is for a romantic escape or a family holiday, you will love Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore. Capture the essence of Tropical North Queensland; underneath swaying coconut palms against a backdrop of endless turquoise waters.

Located 25 minutes north of Cairns and ranked among the top 5 hotels in all of Australia, you will relish direct beach access from our luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom self contained apartments. Everything you need is catered for; from award winning cuisine and soothing spa treatments, to a host of thoughtful trimmings to welcome and entertain the whole family.
Learn more about Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore

69 apartments
Weekly housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Beach towels
Room service
In-room childcare
Airport shuttle
Air conditioning
Garden





 



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: Oaks on Market


Oaks on Market 5 nights from 620 per person
Oaks on MarketOaks on Market is centrally located Melbourne accommodation, offering easy access to Melbourne's attractions: shopping, theatres, dining and entertainment, as well as proximity to the legal and financial precincts.

Oaks On Market comprises 280 luxuriously appointed Studio, 1 and 2 bedroom fully self-contained apartments.

All rooms have brand new 32-inch flat screen TVs, sofas and contemporary artwork. Some rooms have views over the Yarra River and guests can also enjoy individual stereo systems, climate control, access to the indoor heated lap pool, fully equipped gym, spa and sauna.

The 3 state of the art conference rooms and al-fresco courtyard can cater for events of up to 250 people.

There are two licensed restaurants: Alexi's on Market and R2 Restaurant & Bar which provide delicious dining options for hotel clients and the general public.

Alexi's Restaurant is located on ground level adjacent to the Reception, seats up to 80 patrons and has a private section known as the 'Chef's Table' which seats up to 8 patrons, ideal for private entertaining.
Learn more about Oaks on Market

267 apartments
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Sauna
Steam room
Spa tub
Room service
Babysitting
Conference center
Terrace





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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