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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: Sheraton on the Park


Sheraton on the Park 5 nights from 970 per person
Sheraton on the ParkLocated 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





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: Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa


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





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: Establishment Hotel


Establishment Hotel 5 nights from 1,175 per person
Establishment HotelA luxurious boutique hotel, with a uniquely intimate feel. Establishment Hotel was voted Best Boutique Hotel Accommodation in Australia by the National Australian Hotel Association in 2006.

With 31 elegantly appointed guest rooms, including two stylish penthouse suites, and access to private gym and Establishment's numerous bars and restaurants, Establishment Hotel offer world-class accommodation for discerning travelers.

Located in the middle of Sydney's CBD, it's only a very short walk to Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Botanical Gardens.




 



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: Freycinet Lodge


Freycinet Lodge 5 nights from 1,610 per person
Freycinet LodgeEffortless style in accommodation at Freycinet National Park.

Time stands still and your cares will wash away from the moment you arrive at Freycinet Lodge. Overlooking the blue waters of Great Oyster Bay and with the rugged Hazards mountain range as your backdrop, the location of Freycinet Lodge's accommodation in Freycinet National Park is second to none.

Located inside the Freycinet National Park, just past Coles Bay, you will fall in love with this captivating escape in Tasmania. Our accommodation is secluded, stylish and so comfortable; and our dining options will suit every palate.

Get away from it all, surround yourself in an amazing natural environment and just relax…
Learn more about Freycinet Lodge

Daily housekeeping
Near the beach
2 restaurants and bar/lounge
Room service
Coffee shop/cafe
2 meeting rooms
Terrace
Garden
Library
Computer station
Lobby fireplace
Front-desk safe





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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