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 22 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Here's his LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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• Airfare by month
• Travel specials
• See all resorts in Australia
• Temperature by month
• Precipitation by month
• Best time to go by region
• High season/low season prices
• Map of all resorts

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: Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa

Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa 5 nights from 1,700 per person

The award-winning Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa couples quiet luxury with spacious accommodation and intuitive service, providing an unforgettable hotel experience for guests here on the Gold Coast. Tucked amidst sparkling lagoons, white sandy beaches, and cascading waterfalls, our 304 room fully integrated resort offers amenities to please the entire family - from quiet pool zones and unique aquatic experiences to bike rentals and a Kid's Club. Our immaculately appointed hotel accommodation offers floor-to-ceiling windows, marble bathrooms, and pillow top mattresses. Step out onto your balcony and revel in the beauty of your Gold Coast surroundings. Treat yourself to superb cuisine at Misono, Citrique, or Chapter & Verse bar and lounge, or book a day of pampering at Ruby Spa. Those planning events here on the Gold Coast can make use of our expansive function room space, including the stylish Marriott Ballroom. Expect the unexpected at Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, we're famous for it.

Learn more about Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa

Parking available
Pool
Free WiFi
Airport transfer
Gym
Air conditioning

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: Coral Sea Resort

Coral Sea Resort 5 nights from 870 per person

Positioned on the absolute ocean front and just a short stroll via seaside boardwalk to the enchanting Airlie Beach resort village; with its relaxed atmosphere and collection of eclectic shops and cafes; lies the Coral Sea Resort, your Airlie Beach Accommodation. A stroll in the opposite direction crossing a separate boardwalk with the sea below is Abel Point Marina, your direct access to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Whitsundays accommodation at Coral Sea Resort is comprised of a range of hotel suites, superior apartments and luxury penthouses. All our Whitsundays accommodation is serviced daily with the full range of facilities and inclusions expected of a boutique hotel of this quality and standard.

There is a uniquely nautical feeling in each of the spacious suites and penthouses, which reflect on the wonderful yachting heritage of the Whitsundays. Soft nautical colours, historic boating prints, polished timber and yachting memorabilia adorn many of the Resort's rooms and dining areas complete our superior Whitsundays accommodation. The adjoining marina, linked by a boardwalk to the Resort, offers those with salt in their veins a chance to wander through the amazing array of charter yachts and luxury vessels to work off breakfast, lunch or dinner, indulged in at our award-winning restaurant.

Learn more about Coral Sea Resort

Daily housekeeping
Marina
Near the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Beach towels
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
In-room childcare
Conference center

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: Sheraton on the Park

Sheraton on the Park 5 nights from 970 per person

Located in the heart of Sydney's retail and business district, this luxurious hotel is offering magnificent views over Hyde Park from many of its 557 rooms and suites. Enjoy elegant surroundings and service that goes above and beyond to create memories that last a lifetime. Everything the city has to offer including premium shopping and dining is right at your doorstep. Go ahead, indulge.

Learn more about Sheraton on the Park

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Health club
Sauna
Steam room
Valet parking
Self parking
Spa tub
24-hour room 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: Hilton Cairns

Hilton Cairns 5 nights from 820 per person

Located in the heart of the city, the Hilton Cairns hotel is the perfect base for exploring the diverse wonders of this truly unique region, famous as the meeting place of two natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Rainforest. Having emerged from major refurbishment as one of Cairns' most contemporary hotels, the iconic Hilton Cairns hotel offers unparalleled style and innovation in an awe-inspiring, tropical setting.

Our modern and inviting Cairns hotel rooms and suites are luxurious oases of comfort and convenience, offering pristine new bathrooms and spacious balconies with views of Trinity Inlet or Cairns Esplanade and the unique cityscape and blue-green mountain ranges beyond. Stay connected with the latest technology in the fully-equipped business centre. Enjoy relaxed, alfresco dining at the award-winning Mondo Café Bar and Grill on the waterfront, or discover exotic Asian flavors at Jimmy Shu's renowned Hanuman restaurant the Hilton Cairns hotel.

Deliver the wow factor when you hold your special event at this Cairns hotel. Choose from a range of unique and versatile meeting spaces, waterfront and outdoor venues, while the charming Hilton Blue Horizon Chapel provides a romantic backdrop for an elegant and memorable wedding celebration.

Learn more about Hilton Cairns

Reserve now, pay later
Sleeps 3
Mountain view
30 sq m
2 Double Beds

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