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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: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney


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





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: The Langham Sydney


The Langham Sydney 5 nights from 1,280 per person
The Langham SydneyDramatic Harbour views. Quaint cobbled streets. Historic brick buildings. Discover a secluded tranquillity nestled in the heart of The Rocks district of metropolitan Sydney.

ROOMS AND SUITES
98 magnificently furnished rooms and suites to appeal to the most sophisticated visitors. Expansive terraces offering resplendent harbour views or dazzling city skylines.

DINING
Unique dining experiences at Bistro Remy and Afternoon Tea at Palm Court to cater to the most refined guests.

SPA AND FITNESS
Body treatments, massages, and facials at ten new treatment rooms at The Day Spa to pamper the weariest bodies.

A spectacular 20-metre indoor pool with a star-dappled sky ceiling to dream your day away.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Boardrooms and conference facilities perfect for meetings and events of any size.
Learn more about The Langham Sydney

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Outdoor tennis court
Fitness center
Steam room
Valet parking
Spa tub
24-hour room service
Massage/treatment rooms





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 Peak Lodge


Spicers Peak Lodge 5 nights from 4,990 per person
Spicers Peak LodgeLocated on 8000 acres at the peak of the ridge, with breathtaking views of the World Heritage listed Main Range National Park and Scenic Rim, Spicers Peak Lodge is Queensland's highest mountain lodge retreat. This architecturally stunning lodge is an eclectic mix of contemporary and classic design.

With ten luxurious suites and two Private Lodges, Spicers Peak Lodge serves as an intimate and relaxing accommodation experience in one of South East Queensland's most beautiful wilderness areas.

All meals and beverages, including its celebrated degustation dinner menu, are included at Spicers Peak Lodge where guests enjoy privacy, intimacy and very high levels of service. Lodge facilities include an infinity edge swimming pool, library with billiard table, massage room and an extensive lounge and dining area.

There is a range of experiences designed to give guests access to this strikingly beautiful part of the Australian wilderness including rainforest bushwalks, mountain biking adventures, and wine tasting at the nearby Granite Belt wine region. There are also guided four day treks ending in a night of luxury at the lodge.

Offering a unique blend of luxury accommodation and fine dining, Spicers Peak Lodge is an intimate destination for those who appreciate the finer things in life.
Learn more about Spicers Peak Lodge

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Outdoor pool
Outdoor tennis court
Room service
Massage/treatment rooms
Business center
Terrace
Air conditioning
Garden
Library





 



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: Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney


Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney 5 nights from 860 per person
Harbour Rocks Hotel SydneyIn the heart of Sydney lies the Harbour Rocks Hotel, an intimate four star, 55 room boutique hotel steeped in the history of the famous Rocks precinct.

The Harbour Rocks Hotel is the perfect Sydney hotel accommodation choice, a popular home for many travellers and the perfect base from which to explore the city.

Ideally located in 'The Rocks' and just a short stroll from some of Australia's best icons the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House.

This Sydney boutique accommodation offers a variety of rooms to choose from to suit the needs of both the business and leisure traveller.

Learn more about Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Self parking
Coffee shop/cafe
Babysitting
UNESCO Sustainable Property
Terrace
24-hour front desk
Coffee/tea in a common area
Air conditioning





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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