Summer
Dec → Feb25 to 26°
nights 17 to 19°
- 14 rainy days · 116 mm
- 11 h of sun
- sea 22°
When is the best time to visit Australia?
In short: September to November and March to May, the southern shoulder seasons, with 19 to 25 °C in Sydney and decent conditions in most regions. The tropical north (Cairns, Darwin) is best visited from May to October, in the dry season, and the southern beaches from December to February.
- Great Barrier Reef and the tropical north: From May to October, the dry season in the north: clear skies, warm days, cool nights, and diving free of jellyfish from June to August.
- Humpback whales: From July to November at Hervey Bay (Queensland), and from August to November from Dunsborough in Western Australia, during their migration.
- Beaches of Sydney and the south: From December to February, the southern summer: 25 to 26 °C in Sydney and a sea at 22 or 23 °C in January and February.
- Spring blooms: From September to November, jacarandas and wild flowers bloom, especially in Western Australia, and baby koalas and kangaroos appear.
- Autumn colours: From March to May, the forests of Victoria and Tasmania turn orange, red and gold.
- Skiing in the Australian Alps: From June to August, the southern winter opens the ski resorts of the south-eastern Alps.
Best avoided: December to March in the tropical north (Cairns, Darwin): monsoon rains, humid heat, a risk of cyclones and jellyfish on the Queensland beaches.
Sources: australia.com, australia.com
- Jan26°fair
- Feb26°fair
- Mar25°recommended
- Apr22°recommended
- May19°recommended
- Jun17°fair
- Jul17°fair
- Aug19°fair
- Sep21°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov23°recommended
- Dec25°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Australia, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 19° | 10.9 h | 115 mm | 15 d | 22° | |
| February | 26° | 19° | 10.6 h | 151 mm | 16 d | 23° | |
| March | 25° | 17° | 9.5 h | 186 mm | 17 d | 23° | ✓ |
| April | 22° | 14° | 9.4 h | 104 mm | 11 d | 22° | ✓ |
| May | 19° | 11° | 8.7 h | 99 mm | 11 d | 21° | ✓ |
| June | 17° | 8° | 8.2 h | 60 mm | 9 d | 20° | |
| July | 17° | 8° | 8.9 h | 103 mm | 10 d | 18° | |
| August | 19° | 9° | 9.2 h | 58 mm | 7 d | 18° | |
| September | 21° | 11° | 10.4 h | 51 mm | 8 d | 18° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 13° | 10.3 h | 94 mm | 12 d | 19° | ✓ |
| November | 23° | 15° | 11 h | 101 mm | 13 d | 20° | ✓ |
| December | 25° | 17° | 11.6 h | 83 mm | 12 d | 21° |
The four seasons in Australia, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Sydney) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May19 to 25°
nights 11 to 17°
- 13 rainy days · 130 mm
- 9.2 h of sun
- sea 22°
Winter
Jun → Aug17 to 19°
nights 8 to 9°
- 9 rainy days · 74 mm
- 8.8 h of sun
- sea 19°
Spring
Sep → Nov21 to 23°
nights 11 to 15°
- 11 rainy days · 82 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
- sea 19°
Book early for March to May and September to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Australia, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 14h24 of daylight, in June 9h55, a difference of 4h29.
14h10Jan
13h21Feb
12h23Mar
11h17Apr
10h23May
9h55Jun
10h06Jul
10h53Aug
11h56Sep
13hOct
13h57Nov
14h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Sydney" (-33.87°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Australia, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
EventsSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasFebruary to MarchVivid SydneyMay to JuneHumpback whale migrationJune to NovemberMelbourne CupNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: June, August, September
- Beach & swimming: January, February, March
- Towns & culture: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
- Long days: January, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Australia, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras big crowds
On a Saturday night in late February or early March, the parade makes its way down Oxford Street in Sydney, after three weeks of events.
- May to JuneVivid Sydney
From late May to mid-June, light projections dress the Opera House and the facades of Sydney Harbour every evening.
- June to NovemberHumpback whale migration
From June to November, humpback whales travel along the east coast, visible from the headlands of Sydney up to the Gold Coast.
- NovemberMelbourne Cup big crowds
On the first Tuesday in November, the horse race at Flemington brings Melbourne to a standstill, with a public holiday across the state of Victoria.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Australia, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇦🇺 Tasmania | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ |
| 🇦🇺 The Great Barrier Reef | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇦🇺 Melbourne | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇦🇺 Uluru | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Fair26°19° at night
- 115 mm · 15 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 22°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair26°19° at night
- 151 mm · 16 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended25°17° at night
- 186 mm · 17 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
April
Recommended22°14° at night
- 104 mm · 11 d
- 9.4 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended19°11° at night
- 99 mm · 11 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair17°8° at night
- 60 mm · 9 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 20°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair17°8° at night
- 103 mm · 10 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair19°9° at night
- 58 mm · 7 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended21°11° at night
- 51 mm · 8 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°13° at night
- 94 mm · 12 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended23°15° at night
- 101 mm · 13 d
- 11 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
December
Fair25°17° at night
- 83 mm · 12 d
- 11.6 h
- sea 21°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Frequent rain: 115 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Frequent rain: 151 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
March. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Frequent rain: 186 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (104 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (99 mm). Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 17 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (60 mm). Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Cool: 17 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (103 mm). Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 58 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
September. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (51 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (101 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
December. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Australia?
September to November and March to May, the southern shoulder seasons, with 19 to 25 °C in Sydney and decent conditions in most regions. The tropical north (Cairns, Darwin) is best visited from May to October, in the dry season, and the southern beaches from December to February.
Which month should you avoid in Australia?
December to March in the tropical north (Cairns, Darwin): monsoon rains, humid heat, a risk of cyclones and jellyfish on the Queensland beaches.
What is the hottest month in Australia?
January, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sydney).
What is the coldest month in Australia?
June, with 17 °C at best during the day and 8 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sydney).
What is the driest month in Australia?
September: 51 mm over 8 days of rain, against 186 mm in March, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Australia?
December, with 11.6 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Australia?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in January, February, March, April (warmest 23 °C in February), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Sydney).
When is the best time to hike in Australia?
June, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Sydney), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Australia guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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