What is the best time to visit Australia?

Best Time to Visit Australia

The best time to travel to Australia is during Spring (September to November) and Summer (December to February).

Spring in Australia

Spring in Australia is a wonderful time to visit, as the weather is mild and pleasant. It is the perfect time to explore the outdoors, with blooming wildflowers and lush greenery. The days are usually sunny, and travelers can enjoy a range of outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, and camping. The Sydney Festival and the Melbourne International Arts Festival are two of the most popular events that take place during this season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Australia

Australia in January

Weather

January is summer in Australia, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius. The northern parts of the country are typically much hotter than the south. Rainfall is usually low, but there is a higher chance of storms in the northern parts of the country.

Events

• The Sydney Festival is held in January, with a variety of cultural events, performances, and exhibitions.
• The Australian Open Tennis Tournament is held in Melbourne in January, attracting players from around the world.
• The St. Kilda Festival is held in Melbourne in January, with live music, art, and food.
• The Tamworth Country Music Festival is held in New South Wales in January, with a variety of country music acts.
• The Perth International Arts Festival is held in Western Australia in January, with a variety of art exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

Australia in January

Weather

January is the start of summer in Australia, with temperatures ranging from the high 20s Celsius (77-86°F) in the south to the low 30s Celsius (86-90°F) in the north. Rainfall is low in most parts of the country, with some areas experiencing drought conditions.

Events

• The Sydney Festival is held in January each year, featuring a range of events including theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and more.
• The Australian Open Tennis Tournament is held in Melbourne in January, drawing thousands of spectators from around the world.
• The Woodford Folk Festival is held in Woodford, Queensland, in late December and early January. It is one of Australia’s largest music and arts festivals.
• The Big Day Out music festival is held in various cities around Australia in January, featuring some of the world’s biggest music acts.
• The St. Kilda Festival is held in Melbourne in late January, celebrating music, art, and culture.

Australia in March

Weather

March marks the beginning of autumn in Australia. Temperatures begin to cool down, with average temperatures ranging from 20-25°C (68-77°F). Rainfall is more frequent in the south, while the northern states tend to remain dry.

Events

• The Sydney Royal Easter Show is a major event that takes place in March. It is a celebration of Australian culture, with activities such as carnival rides, show bags, animal shows, and agricultural competitions.
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is held in March and is one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. It features performances from some of the best comedians from Australia and around the world.
• The Tamworth Country Music Festival is held in New South Wales and is one of the largest music festivals in the country. It features performances from some of the biggest names in country music.
• The Adelaide Fringe Festival is one of the largest arts festivals in the world. It features performances from local and international artists, as well as art exhibitions, workshops, and other events.
• The Perth International Arts Festival is held in Western Australia and is one of the largest arts festivals in the country. It features performances from local and international artists, as well as art exhibitions, workshops, and other events.

Australia in April

Weather

April is the start of autumn in Australia. Temperatures range from mild to warm, with average temperatures ranging from 12-20°C (54-68°F). Rainfall is generally light, with an average of around 40-90mm (1.6-3.5in).

Events

• The Sydney Royal Easter Show is an annual event in Sydney that takes place in April. It features carnival rides, food stalls, agricultural competitions, and more.
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is an annual event that takes place in April. It features hundreds of comedians from around the world.
• The Gold Coast Marathon is an annual event that takes place in April. It features a 42.2 km marathon, a 21.1 km half marathon, a 10 km race, and a 5 km race.
• The Australian Grand Prix is an annual event that takes place in April. It is a Formula One race that takes place at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.
• The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is an annual event that takes place in April. It features a 42.2 km marathon, a 21.1 km half marathon, a 10 km race, and a 5 km race.

Australia in May

Weather

May is the start of winter in Australia. Temperatures are generally cooler, with average temperatures ranging from 10-15°C (50-59°F). The south of the country experiences colder temperatures and more rain than the north.

Events

• Vivid Sydney: Vivid Sydney is an annual outdoor lighting festival that takes place in Sydney. It usually runs from the end of May to mid-June and features light installations, music, and art.
• May Day: May Day is a public holiday in Australia, celebrated on the first Monday of May. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of workers and the labour movement.
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. It usually runs from late April to early May and features performances from local and international comedians.
• Australian Football League: The Australian Football League (AFL) is the premier professional Australian rules football league. The season usually starts in late March and runs through to early September.
• Royal Queensland Show: The Royal Queensland Show (also known as the Ekka) is an annual agricultural show held in Brisbane. It usually runs for 10 days in August and features exhibitions, rides, food, and entertainment.

Australia in June

Weather

June marks the beginning of winter in Australia. Temperatures vary depending on the location, but generally range from 8 to 17 degrees Celsius. Snow is possible in the alpine regions of New South Wales and Victoria. Rainfall is also common in June, particularly in the eastern parts of the country.

Events

• The Queen’s Birthday public holiday is celebrated on the second Monday of June in all states and territories.
• The Sydney Film Festival takes place in June, showcasing films from around the world.
• The Vivid Sydney festival is held in June, featuring light installations, music, and other cultural events.
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is held in June, featuring comedy acts from around the world.
• The Darwin Beer Can Regatta is held in June, featuring boats made from beer cans and other recycled materials.

Australia in July

Weather

July in Australia is the start of winter in the southern hemisphere. Temperatures in the south of the country tend to be mild, averaging around 10-15°C (50-60°F). In the northern parts of the country, temperatures are generally warm and humid, averaging around 25°C (77°F).

Events

• The Darwin Festival is held in Darwin, Northern Territory. It is a celebration of music, art, and culture, and it runs for two weeks in July each year.
• The Melbourne International Film Festival is held in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a celebration of cinema from around the world, and it runs for two weeks in July each year.
• The Sydney Festival is held in Sydney, New South Wales. It is a celebration of music, art, and culture, and it runs for three weeks in July each year.
• The Australian Open is held in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and it runs for two weeks in July each year.
• The Australian Outback Marathon is held in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. It is a marathon race through the Australian Outback, and it takes place in July each year.

Australia in August

Weather

August is the last month of winter in Australia. Temperatures can vary greatly, depending on the region. In the south, temperatures range from cool to mild, with an average temperature of 14°C (57°F). In the north, temperatures are much warmer, with an average temperature of 24°C (75°F). Rainfall is common throughout the country, with an average of 4-5 days of rain per month.

Events

• The Melbourne International Film Festival is held in August. The festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world, showcasing the best of international and Australian cinema.
• The Sydney Royal Easter Show is held in August. This popular event is a celebration of Australian culture and heritage, featuring agricultural shows, carnival rides, and live entertainment.
• The Darwin Beer Can Regatta is held in August. This unique event is a race of boats made from beer cans, and is a great way to celebrate the end of winter in the Northern Territory.
• The Perth International Arts Festival is held in August. This festival is one of the largest and most diverse arts festivals in the world, featuring music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and more.
• The Adelaide Fringe Festival is held in August. This popular festival is a celebration of independent art and culture, featuring performances, exhibitions, and workshops.

Australia in September

Weather

September is the start of the spring season in Australia, with temperatures ranging from 17-21°C (63-70°F). The days are usually sunny and warm, but rain showers can occur in some areas.

Events

• The Royal Melbourne Show is an annual agricultural show held in Melbourne, Victoria, and runs from the 18th to the 28th of September. It is one of the oldest and largest events of its kind in Australia, and features agricultural displays, carnival rides, and live entertainment.
• The Sydney Fringe Festival is an annual celebration of independent art and culture, held in Sydney, New South Wales. It runs from the 1st to the 30th of September, and features theatre, music, comedy, and visual art performances.
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is an annual event held in Melbourne, Victoria, and runs from the 24th of September to the 19th of October. It features performances from some of the best comedians from around the world.
• The Perth International Arts Festival is an annual event held in Perth, Western Australia, and runs from the 5th to the 27th of September. It features a range of music, theatre, and visual art performances.
• The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is an annual event held in Cairns, Queensland, and runs from the 11th to the 13th of September. It is a celebration of Indigenous art and culture, featuring performances, art exhibitions, and workshops.

Australia in October

Weather

October in Australia is generally a pleasant month with mild temperatures and sunny days. In the south, temperatures range from a low of 12°C (54°F) to a high of 22°C (72°F). In the north, temperatures range from a low of 18°C (64°F) to a high of 30°C (86°F). October is a dry month in most areas of Australia, with the exception of the tropical north where there is usually some rainfall.

Events

• Melbourne International Arts Festival: This festival takes place in October in Melbourne and features a range of visual and performing arts events, including theatre, music, dance, and visual art.
• Cairns Festival: This annual festival celebrates the culture and lifestyle of the tropical north of Australia. It includes live music, street theatre, markets, and a range of cultural activities.
• Perth International Arts Festival: This festival takes place in October in Perth and features a range of international and local performances, including theatre, music, dance, and visual art.
• Adelaide Fringe Festival: This festival takes place in October in Adelaide and features a range of performances, including theatre, music, dance, and visual art.
• Brisbane Festival: This festival takes place in October in Brisbane and features a range of performances, including theatre, music, dance, and visual art.

Australia in November

Weather

November marks the start of the summer season in Australia, with temperatures ranging from 20-30°C in most parts of the country. The northern parts of the country experience higher temperatures, while the south experiences cooler temperatures. Rainfall is generally low throughout the country, with some areas experiencing higher levels of rainfall than others.

Events

• Melbourne Cup: The Melbourne Cup is a major horse racing event held annually on the first Tuesday of November. It is one of the most important events on the Australian social calendar and attracts a large number of spectators.
• Remembrance Day: Remembrance Day is held annually on the 11th of November to commemorate the end of World War I. Services are held throughout the country to honour those who have served in the armed forces.
• Adelaide Festival of Arts: The Adelaide Festival of Arts is an annual event held in Adelaide, South Australia. It is a celebration of the arts, featuring performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
• Brisbane International Film Festival: The Brisbane International Film Festival is an annual event held in Brisbane, Queensland. It showcases a range of films from around the world.
• Perth International Arts Festival: The Perth International Arts Festival is an annual event held in Perth, Western Australia. It features a range of performances, exhibitions, and workshops.

Australia in December

Weather

December is the beginning of summer in Australia, and temperatures range from warm to hot in most parts of the country. The average high temperature is around 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is usually low, but humidity is high.

Events

• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a major event that takes place in December. It is a 630 nautical mile race from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, Tasmania. The race is held annually and attracts sailing enthusiasts from all over the world.
• The Australian Open is a major tennis tournament that takes place in Melbourne during December. It is the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the year, and attracts some of the world’s best players.
• The Carols by Candlelight is a popular event that takes place in cities and towns across Australia in December. It is a festive event that features carols, music, and candlelight.
• The Melbourne Cup is a major horse racing event that takes place in Melbourne in November. It is the most prestigious horse race in Australia and attracts thousands of spectators.
• The Summer School Holidays are a popular time for families to take vacations in Australia. Many people take advantage of the warm weather to explore the country’s beaches, national parks, and other attractions.