A tour of Australia offers dazzling, golden beaches, steamy tropical rainforests, fascinating cities and a rich, ancient cultural heritage.
But what time of the year should you visit Australia?
Below, you can read more about the climate in Australia, the different seasons and hopefully get inspiration for when it’s the best time for you to visit the vast country Down Under.
Please note that the guide below is a guideline only, and recommendations may change on an ongoing basis.
Australia can be visited all year round.
Situated in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s summer falls when it’s winter here – and vice versa. What’s more, the country is large and therefore has several different climate zones – tropical, subtropical, desert and temperate climates, all of which have an impact on the weather in the various regions.
Generally speaking, Australia has 4 seasons in most of the country, with the exception of the tropical north, where there is a rainy season and a dry season.
If you prefer a certain type of weather or particular experiences, it might be a good idea to look at the different seasons.
You can see what the weather is like month by month in our weather statistics here.
In the tropical regions of northern Australia (e.g. in Darwin and Cairns), there are two seasons;
The rainy season in Northern Australia falls between October and April.
This season is characterised by weather with high temperatures and high humidity. The period from November to April is also known as cyclone season. During these months, there is an increased risk of tropical storms, which can bring strong winds and substantial rainfall. It’s primarily the northern coastal regions, including Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, that are affected.
Generally, the rainy season seldom brings rain all day long, and you often get sunny days with afternoon rain.
For many, the rainy season is not the ideal time to visit Northern Australia, which is why there are typically fewer visitors here than during the rest of the year. Some national parks might also temporarily close due to the weather.
But there are several good things about travelling here during this period. For example, the rainy season gives you a unique opportunity to experience the forces of nature right up close, when it puts on a dramatic show of thunder and lightning that lights up the sky. The rainy weather also breathes new life into nature, and waterfalls that might otherwise have dried up or have less water due to a lack of rain in the dry season are bursting at the seams.
Many prefer to travel towards the end of the rainy season (and at the start of the dry season) because that’s when you get the best of both worlds: lush nature but with less rain.
3 advantages to travelling in the rainy season:
The dry season in Northern Australia is between May and September.
In the dry season, you can expect warm days with lots of sunshine and blue skies, next to no rain and cool nights. Temperatures are lower than in the rainy season, often close to 30 degrees, and they rarely fall below 17 degrees on average.
The dry season is a great time to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. Due to the lack of rain, the water is calmer and clearer, making it easier to explore life under water. The dry season also coincides with the best time to see whales near Cairns, where you may be lucky enough to see humpback whales, for example.
3 advantages to travelling in the dry season:
In the rest of Australia, e.g. in the cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, there are 4 different seasons, just as there are here at home.
As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite way round to Europe’s, so it’s summer in Australia when it’s winter here:
Spring in Australia falls between September and November.
The weather is warmer than in the Australian winter (our summer) but cooler than in the Australian summer (our winter). Spring is generally characterised by sunny days and cooler nights.
However, daytime temperatures are still relatively warm, reaching 20–25 degrees on average in Sydney and Melbourne, and slightly warmer in Brisbane.
In the spring, everything starts to bloom, and you can experience a riot of colourful wild flowers in Sydney, for example. The pleasant weather is ideal for the array of outdoor activities that the cities offer, such as watching a good film under the open sky or visiting some of the beautiful parks.
Spring is the shoulder season (the season between peak and low season), and it is generally a really good time to visit the whole country.
3 advantages to travelling in the spring:
Summer in Australia falls between December and February.
The weather is sunny with lots of blue sky. It’s hot, and in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, daytime temperatures can reach 30 degrees on average (hottest in Brisbane).
Summer is peak season, and it is also during this period that the Australian children are on school holiday. In February, the Australian children are back in school, and things calm down a bit.
A lot of people choose to book a holiday in the Australian summer, and there is great demand for tours at this time. We recommend that you book well in advance if you’d like to travel over Christmas and the New Year, as well as in January, when Australia Day is also celebrated on 26 January.
3 advantages to travelling in the summer:
The Australian autumn falls between March and May.
The weather is hottest at the beginning of the season, and from March to April, average daytime temperatures can reach up to 25 degrees in Sydney and Melbourne, dropping towards the end of the season.
Autumn, like spring, is a shoulder season (the season between low and peak season), making it a good time to visit the whole country. Autumn offers picturesque landscapes, with colours changing to orange, red and brown.
The period coincides with the end of the rainy season and the start of the dry season in the north, which is a popular time for many people to visit the northern part of Australia because the nature is lush after the rains of the previous months, with less rain.
Autumn is also a good time to visit the red heart of the country and Uluru, where you can expect sunny days and balmy nights.
3 advantages to travelling in the autumn:
Winter in Australia falls between June and August.
The winter months are the coldest months of the year. The weather may be overcast, although there is also plenty of sunshine. Although it is winter, it remains warm, with average temperatures reaching up to 15–17 degrees in Melbourne and Sydney.
Winter is low season (although not in the north), with fewer visitors (than usual). At the same time, it is peak season in Darwin, Cairns and at the Great Barrier Reef, where there is a dry season with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. If you dream of experiencing Uluru and Kata Tjuta, winter is also one of the best times to do so as the temperatures are pleasant and there is very little rain.
Finally, during this period, you’re in with a chance of spotting humpback whales on their way north along the southern east coast, e.g. off Sydney – especially between mid-June and mid-July.
3 advantages to travelling in the winter:
Discover Australia’s amazing contrasts. From the country’s two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney to the red desert and Uluru. Round off in tropical Cairns and visit the Great Barrier Reef or the world’s oldest rainforest.
The absolute classic Australia tour with city experiences in Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns with the possibility of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest.
Discover Australia’s 3 largest cities, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Spice up the tour with excursions and get right up close to nature, culture and history while making the most of the city comforts.
Travel to Australia in your summer holiday. The climate in the northern part of the country is perfect, with warm days, cool nights and low humidity. In Sydney, you may be lucky enough to see some whales!
The grand tour is for those wishing to see it all in one go! It offers a whole host of experiences – and plenty of freedom to put your own mark on the tour to make it just the way you want it.
Look forward to making a stop in fabulous Singapore, before continuing to the amazing contrasts of Australia. Melbourne, Sydney and the red desert await you Down Under, before the tour rounds off in tropical Cairns.
Start out with a couple of days in the vibrant metropolis of Singapore before the tour continues Down Under. Look forward to beautiful Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns. Option to extend the tour to include a beach holiday or national park experiences.
Come on a self-drive adventure along one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Great Ocean Road. Experience the country’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, the endless red desert with Uluru, and round off with relaxation in tropical surroundings in Cairns.
Discover Sydney and Brisbane followed by a self-drive tour on Australia’s east coast. Look forward to sights such as the world’s largest sand island, K’gari, the scenic Whitsunday Islands National Park and the beach resort of Port Douglas.
Your adventure begins in New Zealand, immersing you in Maori culture, geothermal wonders, mountain lakes, and glaciers, before continuing on to Australia. Here, you’ll experience the vibrant city of Sydney, the striking red outback at Uluru, and finish your journey in tropical Cairns.
Discover Australia’s amazing contrasts. From the country’s two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney to the red desert and Uluru. Round off in tropical Cairns and visit the Great Barrier Reef or the world’s oldest rainforest.
The absolute classic Australia tour with city experiences in Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns with the possibility of experiencing the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest.
Discover Australia’s 3 largest cities, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Spice up the tour with excursions and get right up close to nature, culture and history while making the most of the city comforts.
Travel to Australia in your summer holiday. The climate in the northern part of the country is perfect, with warm days, cool nights and low humidity. In Sydney, you may be lucky enough to see some whales!
The grand tour is for those wishing to see it all in one go! It offers a whole host of experiences – and plenty of freedom to put your own mark on the tour to make it just the way you want it.
Look forward to making a stop in fabulous Singapore, before continuing to the amazing contrasts of Australia. Melbourne, Sydney and the red desert await you Down Under, before the tour rounds off in tropical Cairns.
Start out with a couple of days in the vibrant metropolis of Singapore before the tour continues Down Under. Look forward to beautiful Sydney, a visit to Uluru in the red heart of Australia, and tropical Cairns. Option to extend the tour to include a beach holiday or national park experiences.
Come on a self-drive adventure along one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Great Ocean Road. Experience the country’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, the endless red desert with Uluru, and round off with relaxation in tropical surroundings in Cairns.
Discover Sydney and Brisbane followed by a self-drive tour on Australia’s east coast. Look forward to sights such as the world’s largest sand island, K’gari, the scenic Whitsunday Islands National Park and the beach resort of Port Douglas.
Your adventure begins in New Zealand, immersing you in Maori culture, geothermal wonders, mountain lakes, and glaciers, before continuing on to Australia. Here, you’ll experience the vibrant city of Sydney, the striking red outback at Uluru, and finish your journey in tropical Cairns.
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
