These days, probably due to a steadily warming climate, summer in Australia … Measured in Degrees Fahrenheit (F). Here are the factors you should consider when you start planning your trip to Australia…. If you have any questions, need help or advice on planning your trip to Australia, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly, toll free on 888-359-2877 (M-F, 8.30am – 5pm CT USA) – we’d love to help you plan your vacation to Australia. Generally, it’s best to avoid the south’s chilly winters and the far north’s hot, wet summers. Kangaroo Island, just southeast of Adelaide, shares a similar climate. What is the best time to visit Sydney, Australia? All the planning and the vouchers worked out just fine. The best times to visit Sydney are September through November and from March to May. A bigger risk to swimmers and even waders at Australian beaches are riptides, which are common here. From the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, to the vineyards scattered across the country, to Sydney’s sprawling beaches, Australia has something to offer every type of traveler. Outside of these months, it is the rainy season. If a beach holiday is on your agenda, summer is perfect, as temperatures are warm. Spring: September – November (lovely) 2. Australia is both a country and a continent, which means its weather patterns and climates vary dramatically as you travel across the landscape. Or maybe you want to attend the Australian Open (Tennis) which then restricts you to dates surrounding that event irrespective of all other factors. Australian School Terms & Public Holidays, Seasons for Flight Prices to Australia (low or high season), https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/school-term-dates, https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/public-holidays, Winter: June – August (cool, but not really cold). Credit: Because South Australia’s weather is fairly mild, there isn’t a bad time to visit. At these locations you will need to swim inside the stinger enclosures provided or wear a stinger suit. Winters are characterized by extreme temperature differences between day and night. Everything went well from transfers to tours. Best time to visit … If you are heading to visit Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast then you will want to know the best month to visit these places. Some places have saltwater crocodiles, box jellyfish, or other creepy ocean critters. Best Time to Visit Sydney: October, November, late February … Had a fantastic time in Fiji thanks to About Australia. The “Tropics of Australia” is the region north of the “Tropic of Capricorn” (approximately the top third of Australia) and includes cities like Cairns & Darwin. To be fair, the country is sports mad at any time of year, but spring is when you’re most likely to notice as a visitor, particularly in Melbourne. First off, let’s cover when to visit Australia. Learn the signs, including dark water and fewer waves breaking. If traveling up north to the tropics and with no other influencing factors, I’d choose to vacation in Spring, just before the wet season. Most of the tourists opt for these months to visit Australia. The best way to decide which to visit? 9 of the Best Places to Stay in South Australia. During Australian Public & School Holidays seat availability on flights, tours and accommodation may be limited, unavailable or priced very high due to high demand. This is the dry season in Darwin and Cairns. Tours were a nice addition to the base tour. The hottest (dry heat) is about 100F at Uluru in the peak of summer in December/January. We had an extra flight but missed only a few hours of our time on(...), This was one of my bucket list vacations and Anna Musgray and About Australia did not disappoint. Still, don’t let a fear of sharks factor into your plans. Much like autumn, spring is a great time to visit anywhere in Australia, with mild temperatures and few big tourist crowds. Be on the lookout for our special sales on discount trips to Australia! … The main difference is that spring in Australia is sports season. In southern Australia, including Adelaide and Melbourne, summer temperatures often hover in the low 70s, and winters are cool. There are not many snowbound cities in Australia, but you might see snow in southern regions of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It’s easy to find good wine no matter the time of year, but if you’re trying to make Pinots and Sauvignons the main event, many regions hold wine festivals. Remember that, with 5 percent of the earth's landmass, Australia is the world's fifth-largest nation and its largest … The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Water temperature, SCUBA diving and surfing in Australia On the Great Barrier Reef, you can dive year-round, although the best conditions for diving are from late August to early December. You may like to consider avoiding travel during Australia’s Public & School Holidays. The further north you travel (closer to the equator) the hotter it gets, which is the opposite for the USA. They were knowledgeable about the location and the resorts they chose for us were spectacular. If you’re looking for sunny strolls through the vineyard and don’t mind high temperatures, go in summer. Most of this state is actually considered “outback” — i.e. If you want to know the best time to visit Australia, read on to find out. If there are stingers present there will most likely be signs posted. Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Up north, the Great Barrier Reef tends to be warm year-round, and in the summer temperatures can rise to nearly 90 degrees, with plenty of tropical rain. If you have less flexibility on schedule but more on destination, try searching a few cities internally and looking at local budget airlines, like Jetstar, to get around once you’re in Australia. Best time to visit Australia In general, the best time to visit the south is during the Australian summer, from December to March, though long summer holidays from Christmas through January mean that … (...) Gold Coast. What this means is that if you were to visit Australia in August, expecting the warmth of … Being Australia travel agents helping people travel to Australia since 1999, we’ve gathered the most important factors to consider when deciding the best time to travel to Australia for your vacation. Follow the weather. But if you prefer a more active vacation, spring and autumn are ideal. As a starting point, its important to know that the size of Australia compared to the USA is only slightly smaller in land mass – so Australia is huge! Airfare pricing to Australia is significantly affected by the “Dates” you chose to travel ranging from Basic Season (cheap) to Peak (expensive). If you’re hoping to pack as many vineyards as possible into your stay, head to South Australia. Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. And if you need inspiration on what to ‘see and do’ for your trip to Australia, we also invite you to browse our popular Australia Vacation packages or contact us directly, we’d love to help you plan your trip. To minimize risks, Stapley recommends swimming in ocean pools or netted beaches, and between lifeguard flags. As for Adelaide and the surrounding area, you’re safe year-round when it comes to weather. Australia is a popular backpacker destination, so tourist favorites tend to be busy anyway, but book your trip in late spring or early autumn to strike a balance between great weather and manageable crowds. For more detailed climate averages for each city in Australia see Weather in Australia, or the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/. 32°C (89°F) was considered a hot day, but mostly the season was very nice.. Measured in Degrees Fahrenheit (F). Australia is home to distinct seasons, each of which offers unique opportunities to experience nature, wildlife and exciting events. believe everything went smoothly without a single hitch. September marks the end of Australian Rules football season. Rodd Stapley, Shark Expert for Taronga Zoo, told Travel + Leisure the safest season to avoid sharks can vary each year due to changes in the environment. The best time to travel to Australia depends on what you want to do in Australia, where you want to go in Australia and which temperatures you enjoy traveling in.. From Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with its iconic pool set just above the sea, to the bright, white sand and turquoise waters of the Whitsundays Islands, Australian beaches are hard to beat. Hosted by Kellee Edwards. In Australia’s north, you can enjoy a tropical climate with more than its fair share of sunshine, while the south has warm summers … Here's the best time of year to see all of Australia's greatest sights and attractions. Whether you’re seeking sun or avoiding sharks, follow this guide to plan a dream trip to the land down under. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Australia is in a unique place in the world, which means that some times of year are better for visiting than others. For example, if you are a Diver, it may be a highlight of your trip to Dive with the Minke Whales which migrate to the Great Barrier Reef in June. It can be significantly influenced by your interests, your budget and your preferences for what you believe is the ideal climate for you to travel to Australia. However, given I have family in South Australia, the deciding factor for me is to vacation around family events (birthday celebrations & Mothers Day) which are in Autumn. If you are going down purely for the sun, the best time of year to visit Australia is in their summer, from December to March. So there are large differences in temperatures across Australia on any day. If you have flexibility on timing, plan well in advance to find the best deals. Late autumn is a popular time for harvest festivals, so plan to visit in April, May, or early June. September to November & March to May are best time to visit Australia. The next best time is from May through early June if you want to visit the Wine country during its festival season. The best time to visit Australia is from September to February, when Australia's weather is blessed by spring and summer. Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! When is the best time to visit Australia? The coldest it gets in Australia’s most visited tourist destinations is around 32F (freezing) in places like Uluru or Canberra during winter nights in July/August. Australia Verdict. Some might prefer to visit Australia … knowing About Australia had made all the arrangements for an adventure of a lifetime No glitches. Here are some useful facts and resources on Australia’s climate Averages, rainfalls and water temperatures to help you decide.Australian Seasons 1. When will the Australian climate be most comfortable for you based on your planned vacation activities? Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Winter: June – August (cool, but not really cold)Au… Guide to the best time to visit Australia. Basic (Cheap): May – June and July – September, Shoulder: February – April, June – July and September to November, Read our Airfare Pricing Tips and our Sale Airfares. I cannot Generally, the best months to visit Australia are September and October, when it ’ s often still warm enough to hit the beach in the southern states, it ’ s cool enough to tour Uluru, and the humidity and … I remember a childhood of beach holidays, sun fun, ice blocks and road trips. The third best time … From the metropolitan east coast to the rugged west, there’s no lack of attractions for every type of traveler, and there’s no one time … Stingers aren’t overly energetic animals and have not caused any problems around the reef and islands but occur mainly around the rivers, creeks and beaches north of, and around, Bundaberg. … I expected at least one(...), Making dreams come true. Wished we had more time in Sydney, but we plan to go back. Australia is an enormous country, spanning multiple climactic zones, meaning that the best time to visit Australia varies widely depending on where you want to go. Geography Counts. However if Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef is more up your alley, then it won’t matter if you travel in the wet season – either way you’re going to get wet and have fun! And with 100% humidity it can reach about 90F in Cairns and Darwin during those same months. Within two hours drive of Adelaide, try vineyards in Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley or Adelaide Hills. The best months to visit the Far North of Australia are from June to October. The five best times to go to Australia are during Australia’s winter for Darwin and the surrounding area, to avoid extreme heat and rain downpours. Seasonality of activities that are your “passion”, or events that you want to attend, may mean that all the other factors above become irrelevant. It has to be said: there’s no truly cheap time to visit the Antipodes. One caveat: June is the wettest month (though Adelaide is the least rainy and least humid of the Australian capitals). The best time to visit Sydney is in October, November, late February, and March. Summer in Australia has traditionally been lovely. However, as the weather in Australia is more stable during the winter season, it is recommended to visit here from the month of June to October. Autumn: March – May (lovely) 4. The best time to visit Tasmania is between December and February, Australia's summer season. The best time to visit Australia depends on where you plan to go. Rainfall Averages (inches) for popular Australian Tourist Destinations, Stinger Season: November – May  (wet season). My trip to Australia was amazing and worry free Temperatures in the winter are slightly chilly, with some rain. The more serious ones are ‘Box Jellyfish’ which have been known to be lethal. Highlights include the underground opal mining town, Coober Pedy, and a road trip along the stretch of highway through Nullarbor National Park. We hope you’ve found this information useful. While this may not be the ideal time to visit Australia's famous reefs for weather, it's preferable for travelers interested in avoiding crowds. It’s important to note that just because there’s a beach doesn’t mean you can go swimming. Wet Season: November – May  (Most rainfall occurs in January, February & March.). In summer, they don’t usually rise past the low 80s, although heat waves aren’t unheard of. When Is the Best Time to Visit Australia? Visit in January or February for warm beach weather — and to catch baby ‘roos hopping around. Darwin, in the Northern Territory, sees temperatures in the high 70s during the winter and can have no rainfall at all, but summers are extremely hot, with serious downpours. For people who prefer pleasant warmth to hot heat, spring and autumn have beautiful weather, and if the idea of getting cozy near an open fire with a glass of shiraz appeals, don’t be put off visiting in winter. They are easy to avoid, but cause discomfort if you are stung. For me, the best time to go to Australia is either Spring (September – November) or Autumn (March – May), not too hot nor too cold. Thanks a million. Australian School Terms & Holidays:  https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/school-term-dates, Australian Public Holidays: https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/special-dates-and-events/public-holidays. In Nullarbor, the winter can be the best time — July and August are peak whale season. About an hour’s drive from Brisbane is the Gold Coast, and it's known for having beautiful weather most of the year. Thanks for all of your help. More than 500 miles south of the Gold Coast is Sydney, a cultural center famous for beautiful beaches including Coogee, Manly, and Bondi. The weather during these seasons is neither too hot nor too cold that … Due to its vast geographical area, Australia tends to have a varying … Don’t confuse South Australia with southern Australia: the former is one of Australia’s six states. From Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, to Swan Valley, slightly north of Perth, there are more than 60 wine regions scattered across the country. The best time to visit Australia depends on the area you plan to see. We had a 4 hour hiccup with the first flight, but United and Qantas redirected us. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. According to data collected by Skyscanner, the cheapest months to travel to Sydney and Melbourne from New York City are September and October, respectively, and the cheapest month to travel to Melbourne and Sydney from LAX is November. A country of two … Almost one third of the country’s wine regions are here, and there are more than 200 cellar doors where you can try them. Frommer's recommends visiting northern Australia between April and August when airfares are lower and the weather is decent along the Great Barrier Reef. … Is the Best Time to Visit Australia Summer (Dec-Feb)? The exact type of weather you'll experience depends largely on the region. Jesse Chehak, The Best Times to Visit Australia for Perfect Weather and Cheap Flights (Video). If you’re headed into the outback, consider that temperatures can rise in the summer, becoming uncomfortable and potentially unsafe. Weather Averages: Lowest Temperatures (at night) for Popular Australian Tourist Destinations. Autumn and Winter in Australia is typically considered to be between the months of March and August. Seasons in Australia are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December through February, and winter from June through August. Students get a break from mid-December until late January (or even early February), which means packed beaches and more expensive domestic airfare. Only swim between the flags on lifeguarded beaches, and if you do get caught in a rip, swim parallel to the shoreline to get out of it. December and January tend to be most expensive, likely due to holiday travel and the prime summer weather. The Best Time to Visit Australia. (A particularly popular Gold Coast beach destination is Surfers Paradise.) Stinger season is from typically November through May. Nevertheless, if you are at least aware of all the other factors, it may help you during the planning process to decide whether to spend more time vacationing after the event instead of before. As a result, the best time to visit Australia depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. Here are some useful facts and resources on Australia’s climate Averages, rainfalls and water temperatures to help you decide. It’s also incredibly vast — travelers could easily spend more than 40 hours driving top to bottom, with no traffic and no stops, so the weather and scenery vary. Related: The Best Wine Tours in South Australia. Winter temperatures don’t drop tend to drop below about 45 degrees, and in the autumn and spring, they can be as warm as the low 70s. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. If you’re planning to visit northern Australia, sunbathing conditions are best between April and November, when the weather is hot but dry. January, February … Weather Averages: Highest Temperatures for Popular Australian Tourist Destinations. But crowds are also a consideration. Related: 9 of the Best Places to Stay in South Australia. Just remember that this is peak tourist season, and if you stick … They generally don’t affect the Great Barrier Reef. Many people choose to visit Australia to take advantage of the golden beaches, the clear … Rainfall differs dramatically from the … A stinger suit is like a ‘sun suit’ – a long leg, long sleeve, one piece swimsuit typically made from lycra (or similar). Rainfall is an important consideration if you want to spend some of your vacation exploring the Outback at Kakadu National Park in Australia’s far north – the “wet season” is not the time to do it. Best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef: Though, the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef can be anytime after rainfall. The Best Months to Visit Australia Seasons in Australia are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, with summer from December through February, and winter from June through August. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Be said: there ’ s weather is fairly mild, there isn ’ mind. 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