Summer
Dec → Feb26 to 27°
nights 18 to 20°
- 12 rainy days · 90 mm
- sea 22°
When is the best time to visit Sydney?
- Jan27°not recommended
- Feb26°fair
- Mar25°recommended
- Apr22°recommended
- May20°recommended
- Jun17°fair
- Jul17°not recommended
- Aug18°fair
- Sep21°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov24°recommended
- Dec26°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Sydney, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 20° | 99 mm | 13 d | 22° | |
| February | 26° | 19° | 106 mm | 13 d | 23° | |
| March | 25° | 18° | 152 mm | 15 d | 23° | ✓ |
| April | 22° | 15° | 96 mm | 10 d | 22° | ✓ |
| May | 20° | 11° | 62 mm | 8 d | 21° | ✓ |
| June | 17° | 9° | 77 mm | 10 d | 20° | |
| July | 17° | 8° | 65 mm | 7 d | 18° | |
| August | 18° | 9° | 49 mm | 6 d | 18° | |
| September | 21° | 11° | 49 mm | 8 d | 18° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 13° | 75 mm | 11 d | 19° | ✓ |
| November | 24° | 16° | 82 mm | 11 d | 20° | ✓ |
| December | 26° | 18° | 66 mm | 10 d | 21° |
The four seasons in Sydney, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Circular Quay and the Opera House) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May20 to 25°
nights 11 to 18°
- 11 rainy days · 103 mm
- sea 22°
Winter
Jun → Aug17 to 18°
nights 8 to 9°
- 8 rainy days · 64 mm
- sea 19°
Spring
Sep → Nov21 to 24°
nights 11 to 16°
- 10 rainy days · 69 mm
- 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 Sydney, 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
13h56Nov
14h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Circular Quay and the Opera House" (-33.86°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Sydney, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsVivid SydneyMay to JuneSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasFebruary to MarchHumpback whale migrationJune to NovemberNew Year's Eve on the harbourDecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Beach & swimming: January, February, March
- Sightseeing & walks: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Long days: January, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Sydney, 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.
- May to JuneVivid Sydney big crowds
The sails of the Opera House and the façades of Circular Quay become screens for projections, every evening for three weeks.
- February to MarchSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras big crowds
A parade of floats and marching bands heads up Oxford Street on a Saturday night, at the end of two weeks of events.
- June to NovemberHumpback whale migration
The whales head north in winter then come back south with their calves, and can be seen from the headlands from Bondi to Manly.
- DecemberNew Year's Eve on the harbour big crowds
Two fireworks displays, one early in the evening and one at midnight, are launched from the Harbour Bridge, five days after the Sydney to Hobart sets off (on 26 December).
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended27°20° at night
- 99 mm · 13 d
- sea 22°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair26°19° at night
- 106 mm · 13 d
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended25°18° at night
- 152 mm · 15 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
April
Recommended22°15° at night
- 96 mm · 10 d
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended20°11° at night
- 62 mm · 8 d
- sea 21°
High season, book early
June
Fair17°9° at night
- 77 mm · 10 d
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
July
Not recommended17°8° at night
- 65 mm · 7 d
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair18°9° at night
- 49 mm · 6 d
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended21°11° at night
- 49 mm · 8 d
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°13° at night
- 75 mm · 11 d
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended24°16° at night
- 82 mm · 11 d
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair26°18° at night
- 66 mm · 10 d
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (99 mm). 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. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (106 mm). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
March. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Frequent rain: 152 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (96 mm). The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (62 mm). Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
June. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Cool: 17 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Rain stays light: 65 mm over 7 days. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 49 mm over 6 days. 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 (49 mm). 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 11 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (82 mm). Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
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 Sydney?
March to May and September to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 20 to 25 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Circular Quay and the Opera House).
Which month should you avoid in Sydney?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 99 mm over 13 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Circular Quay and the Opera House).
What is the hottest month in Sydney?
January, with 27 °C on average in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Circular Quay and the Opera House).
What is the coldest month in Sydney?
June, with 17 °C at best during the day and 9 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Circular Quay and the Opera House).
What is the driest month in Sydney?
August: 49 mm over 6 days of rain, against 152 mm in March, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Sydney?
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 (Circular Quay and the Opera House).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Sydney guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Australia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
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