When Is The Best Time To Visit Australia

A detailed guide on the best time to travel to Australia

When is the best time to travel to Australia? I often get this question from first-time travellers, and it’s impossible to answer it in one sentence because of many factors. Australia is a vast continent located in the southern hemisphere, which means summer starts in December, as opposed to winter in the northern part of the globe. Many factors factor into the best time to go to Australia.

Before answering this question, I need to spend a few words about its geography and Australia’s weather. With double the size of Europe, the Australian continent stretches from North to South and East to West, covering over six thousand kilometres and crossing different climate zones. As climate and weather conditions change, Australia has all types of weather and climates, so there are multiple answers to this question. On this page, you can read about the various kinds of Australian weather by month, climate zones, and seasons to give you an idea of the best time when planning a trip to Australia.

Australia Weather Map

With summer starting in December and ending in March and winter starting in June and ending in September, Australia has three central climate and weather zones:

1. Southern coastal regions from West to East
   Cities like Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide are in the West’s southern coastal regions to Australia’s East Coast. Here winter is between June and August, and summer months are between December and February. While the west coast has excellent and stable weather all year round, the east coast is more changeable.
   
2. Inner central areas of the Outback
   When we refer to the Outback regions, we generally think of the Red Centre, but the Outback areas are much larger. They cover most of the entire inland territory of Australia. So winter from June to August has the coldest nights with warm days.
   
3. Tropical Queensland, Northern Territory and North Western Australia.
   Northern Australia and North West Australia are also Outback areas with cold winter nights and warm days and wet with high humidity on hot summer days. You must be sure to travel off-season in spring between September and November or in autumn between March and May. Winter the best time of year to travel to tropical Australia.

Below is a recap of the Australian weather zones and seasons to help you identify the ideal time to travel to Australia.

Australia in December through February (Summer)

In December, January and February, the Australian weather has the hottest temps, which is the time with the warmest months throughout the country. Temperatures can reach 35-45°C all over the southern coastal areas. In the Outback areas (central Australia), temperatures can reach over 45°C with high air humidity.

Travel season is the peak season, with six weeks of school holidays. It is the busiest time and most expensive to travel around Australia for locals and international travellers alike. So if you do not like crowds or want to save money, avoid going to Australia in Summer from December to February.

However, travelling to Australia in summer have benefits too. Here are some:

• Summer is the best time for visiting Tasmania as temps are around 25-28°C and pleasant for hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
• Most outdoor events occur in summer in South West Australia, South Australia, and the South East Coast of Australia.
• Spending Christmas in Australia is also extraordinary as it is different to celebrate the festive holidays on the beach.
• If you are a beach lover and love all water sports, the Australian summer is the best time for planning a trip along the entire East Coast of Australia, including the Gold Coast. However, the Gold coast lies in a subtropical destination with great temperatures.

Australian Weather in March through May (Autumn)

The weather in Australia in March, April and May is pleasant, mostly all over the country. Temperatures can vary a lot, though. On average, they are around 20-25°C; they gradually decrease towards the winter months. This is my favourite time of the year to visit Australia. Here are some excellent reasons why you should the weather in autumn is great to travel around:

• It is the best time to visit many  Australian Outback Regions, including Uluru, as the weather is mild, with warm days and cold nights.
• It is the ideal time to visit South Western Australia and South Australia on sunny days. It’s also a great time of the year for tasting local produce and wine and seeing many events.
• Another part of Australia worth visiting between March and May is the Top End and the Kimberley in North Western Australia.

April usually marks the end of the rainy season, so this month is great if you still want to see some lush green vegetation and gorges filled with water and enjoy active birdlife and wildlife in the beautiful Australian national parks.

Australian weather in June, July and August (Winter)

The Australian winter starts in June and goes through July and August. The winter months have the coldest weather in Australia as far as the southern regions are concerned. Winter in Victoria and Tasmania can have icy weather, sometimes with temperatures around zero degrees. For this reason, it is not ideal to visit this part of Australia in winter.

The winter months in Australia are suitable for visiting the following areas:

• The Australia Top End, with Darwin and the Kakadu National Park. Most Top End events are held between July and August. The weather in the Top End is dry, with very low humidity and cool nights.
• North Tropical Queensland, with lots of sunshine and the best dry weather you can have.
• Central Australia and North-Western Australia for the Outback regions. Here temperatures are around 20-25°C, ideal for Australia’s best road trips and camping.

Winter in Northern Australia is a busy time of the year; everyone wants to escape the cold weather of the south and spend a few days at the sunny beaches of North Australia. That’s why I would plan a trip to Northern Australia to secure cheap flights and the best accommodation and tours.

Australia in September through November (Spring)

From September to November, the Australian weather is good almost everywhere. In Northern Tropical Australia, spring, it’s a transitional period from the dry winter months into the rainy months, December to February. With pleasant temperatures around 20-30°C from the West Coast to the South East Coast, this is the best time to go to Australia, especially South Australia, South East Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

• South Western Australia is best to enjoy between September and November, with wildflowers blossoming. Moreover, you can enjoy whale watching, hiking, biking, and outdoor activities.
• South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and the entire East Coast of Australia. Spring and autumn have mild weather, and this time of year is not as busy as in the summer months when locals take their Australian holidays.
• Spring is the best time for road trips, biking, walking tours, and outdoor activities.

The best time of year to visit Australia is March to May and October to December.

Best time to visit Australia’s top destinations

Apart from cities like Melbourne and Sydney, which can be considered city hubs for most travellers coming to Australia, these are some of the most popular destinations on the trip itinerary of many visitors. I have experienced the following places with all kinds of weather and can give you my best tips for making the most of these iconic places in Australia.

When to visit Melbourne

When planning your trip to Australia to the main Australian cities like Melbourne and  Sydney, consider all the following tips. Below is a breakdown of the best time of the year to visit Sydney and Melbourne.

March to May and October to December is the best time to spend time in and around Melbourne. It implies milder weather with cooler temperatures. An advantage is that there are many great festivals and events and fewer tourists. A con is that the weather can be rainy and windy too.

The weather in Melbourne in summer is okay because it allows for planning more activities outdoors. Still, due to the ever-changing weather (the famous four seasons in one day that you typically experience), it can go from a rainy summer day with lots of humidity to a dry and hot day with temperatures over 40°C—the so-called scorcher.

Best time of year to visit Sydney

March to May and October to December are the best months to visit Sydney. In Summer, it is way too busy, and Sydney’s weather can also be quite hot. If you plan a beach holiday, the summer months of January and February are probably the best. And if you love to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style and don’t mind the crowds, then you should visit Sydney in the summer.

When to go to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Located on the North East Coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is a tropical destination that attracts many Australians throughout the country in the cold winter months of June, July and August. They are also the busiest months for international visitors from Europe and the US. It is the busiest time for tropical Northern Australia.

So, as a general rule, avoid travelling during these months and prefer April and May, marking the beginning of the dry season. I visited Cairns and Cape Tribulation in September.

The weather was just perfect and quite pleasant. I would also book at least 3-6 months ahead to secure accommodation and the best car rental deals. December to February is the worst time of the year to visit North Tropical Queensland because of the wettest and hottest weather with the highest humidity you can get in Australia.

When to travel to Northern Australia

As said, the best time to visit the Top End of Australia is winter. Still, August, the peak season with the Darwin Festival, is also costly, and finding accommodation at a reasonable price won’t be easy. The main attractions, Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land are located a 3-hour drive from Darwin; I found this region a bit tricky to plan. From December to February, roads are closed in all national parks; tours are limited from October to April.

Local tour guides will tell you that the best time to visit Kakadu is in March or April when waterfalls are still filled with water. While this is true, it is risky.

You may end there in March and get stuck in town for days because of the rain (this is what happened to me). The best solution is to travel off-season and soon after the rainy season.

May to June is the best time to visit the Kakadu National Park, in my opinion. If you want to go camping in the Kakadu National Park with its lush green and beautiful gorges, this is the best time to travel to the north.

The Red Centre and Uluru

Among all Australian destinations, Australia’s Red Centre is high on the list of most travellers, and a road trip to Uluru represents, for many travellers, the journey of a lifetime. June to August is packed with tourist loads; airfares are the highest, and accommodation is limited. So if you cannot avoid travelling to the Red Centre during this time of year, you must book at least six months ahead to get a good flight deal. December to February is a no-go due to the excessively high temperature (up to 45°C or 115F).

I experienced Uluru twice at the end of March and once at the end of April, which was terrific. I highly recommend a visit in April-May as this is, in my opinion, the best time to visit Uluru.

Temps are around  25-27°C or 77-80F, making it perfect for walking around the Uluru base and enjoying its stunning settings and outdoor activities. When temperatures start going over 30°C or 86F, you will be limited to morning explorations.

Another benefit of planning a trip to Uluru between April and May is that these are the less busy time of the year, cheaper and less crowded.

Be sure you don’t plan your visit for 25th April, a popular public holiday in Australia. This time of the year is busy with families and schoolchildren. June-August is also great for the weather but extremely busy regarding visitors.

The Best Time For a Great Ocean Road Trip

One of the most famous drives in Australia is the Great Ocean Road. However, it is a destination you need to plan with the right weather conditions. Winter can get rainy and windy, so I recommend travelling on warm sunny days to make the most of this fantastic coastal drive.

From October to December and February to March, it is a good time of the year when the weather is more predictable. Avoid the peak season and school holidays between Christmas and January, as finding accommodation (including campsites) along your way will be difficult.

If you can only drive the Great Ocean Road over Christmas or public holidays, follow this advice for booking rental cars.

Best time to visit Broome

Broome is a popular destination for southern Australians who want to escape the cold winter between June and August. It is a beautiful destination and one of the most scenic landscapes you can see in Australia. Again the dry season with cooler weather from April to September is the best time to visit Broome in North-West Australia. The hot and steamy weather makes it a no-go from December to March when it rains heavily.

Many years ago, I went to Broome in February and couldn’t walk because of the high humidity. Being Broome, the getaway to the Kimberley Outback, you need to know that no tours will operate in the Kimberley region between October through March.

So my tip is to visit Broome in May when the dry weather starts; the landscape shows all its splendour, and the green vegetation, the red earth, and the blue sky create a fantastic contrast. July and August are also excellent times to visit Broome. August is less busy than in other months. Nights are cooler at 15°C and lovely warm days with about 28-30°C.

Final thoughts about when to visit Australia

Having travelled extensively around Australia on my own, covering over 100 km from west to east, from bottom to top, I have established that March to May and September to November is the best time to visit Australia hassle-free.

It is, in fact, the milder months when you can travel almost anywhere around the country, with warm days in the southern regions and dry, sunny days in Western Australia and dry weather in Northern Australia.
Before planning any trip around Australia, check out this site for the weather zone forecast in Australia.

Please share it on Pinterest for later!

For more info on how to plan your trip to Australia, check these below pages:

Australia Travel

Back to Rocky Travel

First published in 2013, last updated in Jan 2023

If you find this article helpful for your trip, I’d appreciate it if you could support Rocky Travel, book tours, accommodation, and rental car, or purchase my book using the links below. Thank you!