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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: Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments


Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments 5 nights from 1,335 per person
Mandalay Luxury Beachfront ApartmentsFor the perfect Port Douglas luxury beachfront accommodation, Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments offer a unique foreshore location with all the facilities and services you expect on your tropical holiday.

Located in quiet seclusion, the cool apartments of Mandalay Port Douglas are nestled amongst lush tropical vibrant gardens. Access to the seemingly endless stretch of Port Douglas beach is through an easy walkway framed by tropical beach flora.

Mandalay Port Douglas luxurious and comfortable apartments exemplify the beach style and relaxed elegance which make Port Douglas one of the most sought after destinations in the world.
Learn more about Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments is a relaxing, 5-star retreat in Port Douglas, within easy walking distance of the wonderful restaurants in and around the Marina Mirage and Macrossan Street.





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: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney


Four Seasons Hotel Sydney 5 nights from 1,955 per person
Four Seasons Hotel SydneyChic and cosmopolitan, with a dynamic sense of diversity, Sydney is one of the world's great capitals. The city was founded in 1788 when a fleet of 11 ships arrived in Australia from England with a contingent of convicts and free settlers. They came ashore at Sydney Cove, now known as Circular Quay and the site of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. Successive waves of immigrants from many countries have had a defining influence on the culture and personality of the city, now with a population of over four million people.

As a business centre, Sydney is the driving force of Australia and an important hub of the Asian-Pacific region. For recreation, the city pulses with a vibrant social scene and inspiring possibilities for outdoor adventure. Few cities of such urban sophistication can also claim 37 beautiful beaches. Legendary Bondi Beach is an easy 20-minute drive from downtown.

Four Seasons is situated in the oldest and most desirable area of Sydney – the historic district of The Rocks. Lined with cobblestoned streets, the neighbourhood offers fascinating shops, a weekend market, outdoor cafés, and galleries of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Nearby, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, tropical flowers bloom in the heart of the city. The Hotel is just a short walk from major shopping and business areas, and is equally close to great museums, theatres and the Sydney Opera House. Ferries whisk you across the water to key attractions, such as Taronga Park Zoo and the renowned Sydney Aquarium.
Learn more about Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

The hotel features the city’s most sophisticated accommodations with modernized guest rooms complete with updated, contemporary fixtures to present a contemporary luxurious residential feel. The layout of each room allows guests to make use of the stunning views which take in the city, Sydney Opera House and the unmistakable Harbour Bridge. Each room is equipped with the latest technology, including 42-inch LCD televisions, Bose speakers, WiFi, an iPod docking station and free Appellees toiletries. Slippers and Chinese tea can be provided in the rooms upon request.





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: The Hotel Cairns


The Hotel Cairns 5 nights from 575 per person
The Hotel CairnsTropical North Queensland has only one truly central hotel & resort
The Hotel Cairns, with its impeccably private and tropical ambience, is a Cairns Resort Hotel superbly positioned in the central business district of Cairns, one block from the famous Esplanade.

Its architectural profile and exterior facade is one of the most beautiful examples of Queenslander heritage style, and is a popular talking point among many of the hotel’s visitors and guests.

The hotel has undergone a complete remodeling and refurbishment to emerge as the classic accommodation in Cairns. Privately owned and operated by an Australian family, the Bakers, The Hotel Cairns is popular with international and domestic visitors and locals from the Cairns hinterland who appreciate quality and attention to detail.

Set back from the street and well shaded by tropical trees and plants, The Hotel Cairns features a tour booking desk, a sparkling blue outdoor pool and spa, a modern, state of the art cardio gymnasium, a choice of function rooms, an onsite car park and a welcoming indoor/outdoor restaurant, The Plantation Bar & Grill. The Hotel Cairns is the perfect place to book your Cairns Holiday

The Hotel Cairns is conveniently located just 10 minutes drive from the Airport, and an easy 5 minutes walking distance to shops and eateries in Cairns’ CBD. The Hotel Cairns offers luxury accommmodation in Cairns for you and the family!

Offering simple luxury and modern comforts, The Hotel Cairns is also emerging as a popular Cairns Wedding Venue where old world charm meets style and sophistication. The Hotel Cairns is also a stylish and popular venue choice when it comes to finding function rooms or a conference venue. The Hotel Cairns also offers tours and activities in the Great Barrier Reef and around Cairns. There are several Great Barrier Reef tours available for you and everyone you may be travelling with!

Visit your Cairns Holiday today and stay at The Hotel Cairns Resort
Learn more about The Hotel Cairns

Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Outdoor pool
Breakfast available
Self parking
Room service
24-hour front desk
Air conditioning
Computer station
Front-desk safe
ATM/banking services





 



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: Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto


Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto 5 nights from 760 per person
Intercontinental Melbourne The RialtoHERITAGE AND STYLE IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE
Located on legendary Collins Street in the heart of the Central Business District, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is one of the city's leading world-class hotels. Steps away is the vibrant Southbank, the Yarra River, the ever changing Docklands, leading tourist attractions, exclusive shops and boutiques and some of the best restaurants this cosmopolitan city has to offer. Completed in 1891 when Melbourne was the richest city in the world, the Rialto is as grand today as it was back then. The hotel's 253 elegant rooms blend style with comfort. Beyond your guestroom, discover the outstanding Alluvial Restaurant, Rialto Bluestone Bar and Market Lane Bar. The 24-hour fitness centre offers a variety of cardiovascular, exercise and weight-training equipment whilst the indoor pool, featuring a spa bath, is the perfect place to relax.
Learn more about Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto

Daily housekeeping
2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges
Full-service spa
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Health club
Sauna
Steam room
Valet parking
Spa tub
24-hour room service
24-hour business center





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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