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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: Chifley Alice Springs Resort


Chifley Alice Springs Resort 5 nights from 480 per person
Chifley Alice Springs ResortChifley Alice Springs Resort combines efficient and friendly outback service with modern, comfortable facilities. Low rise architecture and lush green lawns contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of this award-winning resort, situated on the banks of the famous Todd River with its magnificent river red gums.

Guests can relax in the stylish surroundings and experience sumptuous full buffet breakfast, a la carte lunches, and contemporary cuisine dinners at the Barra on Todd Restaurant. Located adjacent to the restaurant, the Barra Bar offers guests the opportunity to surf the Internet while enjoying a drink from the fine selection of beers, wines, and cocktails.

The 4.5 Star resort has 139 guest rooms and hotel facilities include 24 hour reception, wireless internet access, (free around pool area, restaurant, bar and reception areas), swimming pool, guest laundry, cardio room, in-house massage rooms, restaurant, bar, and complimentary onsite parking. The hotel is only a five to ten minute walk away from the town's bustling cultural, shopping and business centre. It is a convenient pick up point for the many local sightseeing tours available in and around Alice Springs, making Chifley Alice Springs Resort the perfect base for exploring Outback attractions.

Chifley Alice Springs Resort is the ideal venue, well equipped with modern conference and meeting facilities for business events, functions, launches, weddings and cocktail parties.
Learn more about Chifley Alice Springs Resort

Free WiFi
Free self-parking
Sleeps 2
23 sq m
1 Queen Bed





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: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery by Sofitel


Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery by Sofitel 5 nights from 755 per person
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery by SofitelRelax, explore and engage your senses at the Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. Located just 90 minutes west of Sydney in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, it features 222 comfortable rooms and 15 flexible event spaces, indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, gymnasium, billiards room, three kids games rooms and five stunning onsite dining locations. Enjoy scenic walking tracks along Australian bushland, golf at the adjacent Leura Golf Course or attractions such as Leura Village and Wentworth Falls.

Guests looking for hotels in the Blue Mountains should look no further than Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. With its spectacular location within the Jamison Valley, the hotel offers guests access to the many wonders of this beautiful region. Guests stayin g at this exceptional Blue Mountains hotel can take a Segway tour, play a round or two at Leura Golf Course or explore the charming villages in the area. There are plenty of walks, or for those seeking adventure, try canyoning, abseiling or rock climbing.
Learn more about Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery by Sofitel

Daily housekeeping
3 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges
Full-service spa
Indoor pool and outdoor pool
Breakfast available
WiFi in the lobby
2 outdoor tennis courts
Fitness center
Sauna
Spa tub
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: Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour


Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour 5 nights from 1,285 per person
Pullman Quay Grand Sydney HarbourSet majestically on the eastern shore of Circular Quay, this superbly located 5-star Sydney apartment style hotel is set in the midst of Sydney's key attractions including Sydney Harbour, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Opera House.

Each apartment is designed to take full advantage of the spectacular views.

Quay Grand Suites Sydney also provides function and meeting facilities for up to 140 guests. With its breathtaking location at Circular Quay, 5-star hotel service and superb catering, it is the finest venue for glamorous wedding receptions, cocktail & dinner parties and successful meetings & conferences.

Quay Grand Suites Sydney also offers two unique dining and entertainment options - Quadrant Restaurant offers an imaginative Australian and Mediterranean menu and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alternatively ECQ Bar is an ideal spot to catch up with friends at the end of a busy day, or to simply relax over a quiet drink, coffee or light meal. Both offer spectacular harbour views and five-star service.
Learn more about Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Indoor pool
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Sauna
Valet parking
Spa tub
Room service
In-room childcare
Business center
Limo/town car 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: Sofitel Brisbane Central


Sofitel Brisbane Central 5 nights from 725 per person
Sofitel Brisbane CentralHotel Sofitel Brisbane Central
French luxury and local cuisine in the worlds most exciting cities

Located within walking distance of the city centre, Eagle Street Pier, South Bank Parklands and the Convention Centre, Sofitel Brisbane Central also offers direct access to Central Station, with easy transportation to the airport and Gold Coast. Its many attractions include 433 elegant rooms, a fitness centre, heated pool and spa, plus delicious restaurants and bars. Sofitel Brisbane Central is the largest meeting facility in Brisbane with 11 conference rooms accommodating up to 1,000 people.

With its exceptional location in the heart of the city, Sofitel Brisbane Central offers access to many of Brisbane's finest attractions. Guests staying at this spectacular Brisbane hotel have Central Station on their doorstep, allowing them to explore the city, and access its surrounding suburbs and Brisbane Airport. Guests are within easy reach of many of Brisbane's excellent restaurants, bars, cafés and shops, as well as attractions such as the Botanic Gardens, Treasury Casino and Suncorp Stadium.
Learn more about Sofitel Brisbane Central

Daily housekeeping
Restaurant and bar/lounge
Full-service spa
Outdoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Breakfast available
Fitness center
Valet parking
Self parking
24-hour room service
Coffee shop/cafe
In-room childcare





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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