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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  

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. 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 a Rotarian for 22 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club.

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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: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach


Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach 5 nights from 620 per person
Castaways Resort & Spa Mission BeachNewly refurbished Castaways Resort & Spa is your absolute beachfront escape. Bound by the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforest, Castaways Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for couples, families with children and groups traveling together. Click on the images in the right hand columns for stunning high definition videos of Castaways Resort & Spa, the beach directly in front of the resort and a secluded rainforest swimming area and walking trails just 6km from the resort.
Learn more about Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
2 outdoor pools
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Free beach club on site
Beach umbrellas
Beach sun loungers
Beach towels
Beach 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: Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove


Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove 5 nights from 725 per person
Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm CoveSea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove is your temple for relaxation.

This impressive 5-star Palm Cove resort is located beachfront on the southern end of Palm Cove, and has been created to provide the utmost privacy and tranquility.

Choose from an amazing selection of 126 Asian inspired, beautifully detailed studio rooms or 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments with the option of private plunge pool or rooftop terrace upgrades at this Palm Cove resort.

Sea Temple Palm Cove resort offers a first class day spa so you can drift into bliss - restore, revive, re-invigorate - and above all, relax.

For those who simply want to sit back and soak up the Tropical North Queensland lifestyle, enjoy a cocktail overlooking the central lagoon pool before sunset walk on the beachfront. Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove is the serenity you've been looking for in a paradise you'll love.
Learn more about Sea Temple Resort & Spa Palm Cove

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurants and 2 bars/lounges
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Breakfast available
Fitness centre
Children's pool
Spa tub
Pool bar
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe





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: Thala Beach Nature Reserve


Thala Beach Nature Reserve 5 nights from 1,715 per person
Thala Beach Nature ReserveThala Beach Nature Reserve is located on a private headland between Cairns and Port Douglas, Australia. Deluxe eco accommodation options are sensitively positioned amongst the resort’s 145 acre property. Complimentary experiences are provided for our guests including nature/wildlife walks, star gazing nights, Coconut Odyssey tour and specialist talks from local experts. Guests and visitors alike are invited to dine in the treetops at our popular Ospreys Restaurant. Come stay with us! It is one of the world's most beautiful private beach locations.

The story of the natural history of Australia is unique and Thala nurtures this environment. Grass Trees sprout along pathways, their scaly black trunks topped with tufted grassy headdresses, stunted reminders of a land long ago. Slate paving, cut from a nearby quarry, show glimpses of Gondwana in fossils over 400 million years old.

The main building at this Port Douglas retreat is designed to embrace all the elements of the tropics. Built from local timbers, it is open and spacious, allowing the cool sea breezes to flow. The polished timber reflects the warm sun of the tropics by day and the soft flicker of lamp light by night.

Birds are a constant source of entertainment with Lorikeets, Sun Birds and Honey Eaters taking advantage of the high ceilings to swoop through the dining room and bar. Kookaburras watch quizzically from nearby trees.
Learn more about Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Set on over 140 acres of native forest and boasting a private beach, Thala Beach Nature Reserve is an Eco-friendly wildlife retreat. Sitting spectacularly atop a headland with breathtaking vistas, this secluded offers magnificent views of the sparkling Coral Sea.





 



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: Peppers Beach Club & Spa


Peppers Beach Club & Spa 5 nights from 895 per person
Peppers Beach Club & SpaOverlooking a stunning palm-fringed beach, the award winning and inviting Peppers Beach Club & Spa is set in the heart of charming Palm Cove village in Tropical North Queensland offering the perfect place to indulge in tropical relaxation.

From the moment you arrive into the private world of Peppers Beach Club & Spa, you will be welcomed by fragrant gardenia scented air cooled by gentle ocean breezes sure to help you unwind and immerse in the luxurious and relaxing surrounds.

This idyllic intimate beachfront destination is situated at the start of the beautiful coastal drive to Port Douglas and majestic Daintree Rainforest and only 20 minutes from Cairns airport. Peppers Beach Club & Spa comprises of 140 elegant suites and spa rooms, with styles ranging from private one bedroom accommodation to luxurious two bedroom penthouses with private rooftop terraces featuring a lounge, BBQ and private pool or heated Jacuzzi. Suites also feature stunning beachfront or pool views and fully equipped kitchens.

From delectable tropical breakfast to a delicious seafood dinner accompanied by some of Australia's best wines, our signature restaurant, Lime & Pepper, serves a delectable culinary experience. For a more casual open air meal our Lobby is the perfect place to meet for a few drinks or for the ultimate tropical experience our swim-up pool bar is awaiting your arrival.

Spend your days immersed in our calming swimming pools, enjoying a leisurely game or competitive hit on our tennis court, work out in the gym or indulge in a spot of shopping in our boutique shops. If pampering is what you had in mind ensure you take advantage of our Sanctum Spa offering signature massages, revitalising facial treatments and soothing body wraps.

Within easy reach of the World Heritage wonders of the Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and other breathtaking natural attractions, Peppers Beach Club & Spa offers numerous day-trip possibilities. Embark on a scuba diving adventure, deep-sea fishing, white water rafting, evening dinner cruises and rainforest walks.
Learn more about Peppers Beach Club & Spa

Daily housekeeping
On the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
3 outdoor pools
Outdoor tennis court
Fitness center
Valet parking
Children's pool
Spa tub
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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