%2Flaurenm%2F%24FILE%2Flaurenm.jpg&w=256&q=75 "Lauren McLeod")
However, with a country as large and diverse as Australia, there is always somewhere good to go whatever time of year you visit. It’s also fair to say you’re likely to have a wonderful time whatever the weather, so don’t be put off travelling anytime!
With that in mind here’s my rundown of what to expect season by season, and the best time to visit Australia.
General trends
The first thing you need to remember, of course, is that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, so when it’s winter here it’s summer in Australia.
However, the spring, summer, autumn, winter distinction only really holds in the southern half of the country. On the coast, spring, summer, and autumn are glorious times to visit Australia. Australia’s interior is largely semi-arid desert so summer days are extremely hot and winter nights can be very chilly.
In the tropical north of Queensland and the Northern Territory, where the temperature is pretty consistent, the rain and humidity are more important considerations.
Named in true laconic Aussie style, the ‘dry’ runs from April to November, and you can expect clear skies and hot dry days. The ‘wet’ on the other hand brings high rainfall and humidity for the rest of the year. Remote roads are generally closed and many of the waterfall out of bounds.
Gunlom Falls upper pool, Kakadu National Park
January to March
January to March is a fabulous time to visit the south of Australia, with warm sunny dry days perfect for touring. Naturally it’s also the most popular time of the year to visit and most Australians take their holidays at this time too, so make sure you book well in advance.
The wet season is in full flow in the tropical north of Australia, bringing high humidity and storms. It’s still possible to visit the Great Barrier Reef at this time but the weather can be unpredictable. Ningaloo Reef on the west coast is dry but hot!
In the interior of Australia, days are very hot and dry with pleasant balmy evenings.
Events & Festivals
December/January: New Year’s Eve, Sydney. World famous fireworks extravaganza in Sydney Harbour as the whole city parties through the night.
January: Australian Open, Melbourne. Soak up the buzz in the city as the world’s elite come to do battle at one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments.
March, Adelaide Festival. One of the world's major cultural events, celebrating opera, theatre, dance and music.
Grampians National Park, Victoria
April to May
April to May is a great to visit almost anywhere in Australia. Temperatures are still pleasantly warm in the south, whilst in the north the days are markedly drier and remote outback roads begin to open up. Autumn colours explode across south New South Wales, Victoria and Adelaide, and it is arguably the best time to visit the outback in the interior.
Events & Festivals
Mid March to May: Spot Whale Sharks at the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The world’s largest fish visits the northern shores of Western Australia at this time of year.
May/June: Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light. See many of the city’s iconic sights become the canvas for astounding light shows.
May: Whale Watching in Tasmania (Freycinet & Bruny Island), New South Wales (Sydney & Merimbula), Western Australia (Albany) and Victoria (Warnambool).
Vivid Sydney Festival
June to September
June to September is absolutely the prime time to be visiting the tropical north of Australia, with warm sunny dry days and great conditions on the Great Barrier Reef. In the south you can expect much cooler temperatures and more rainfall. If you are heading into the desert interior, days are pleasantly warm but nights are decidedly chilly. Pack a warm jumper!
Events & Festivals
June: Whale Sharks at the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. The world’s largest fish visits the northern shores of Western Australia at this time of year.
June to September: Whale Watching. Tasmania (June & July-Freycinet & Bruny Island) New South Wales (Sydney, May-Nov, Merimbula & Byron Bay), Western Australia (Albany) Victoria (Warnambool), Queensland (July-Oct Hervey Bay & Aug-Oct Fraser Island).
May/June: Vivid Sydney The world’s largest festival of light. See many of the city’s iconic sights become the canvas for astounding light shows.
Mission Beach in Queensland
October to December
October to December is a great time to visit just about anywhere in Australia and is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore the beautiful outdoors. As the weather is just about perfect and the region is much quieter, this is my top pick of when to visit Queensland.
Humidity does start to build in the north at the tail end of November with the odd thunderstorm. The wildflowers are in full bloom in Western Australia, an incredible floral display carpeting the outback with over 12,000 species of flower.
Events & Festivals
November: Melbourne Cup Carnival. The nation stops for one of the world’s most famous horse races.
October - November, Whale Watching. New South Wales (Sydney May-Nov, Merimbula & Byron Bay), Western Australia (Albany), Queensland (July-Oct Hervey Bay & Aug-Oct Fraser Island).
The Gascoyne-Murchison region in Western Australia
For more inspiration on the best time to visit Australia, take a look at our Australia Holidays pages.
