Australia

Holidays by Destination Australasia Australia When to Go 

Broadly speaking the way to do Australia is south coast in summer, north in winter. The further south you go, the more important it is to avoid winter when the cooler temperature and rain combine with short days. By the same token it is well worth missing the build up to the rains in the north in November and December, when the near total humidity plus heat, is almost unbearable.

The country divides into several climatic areas, with the very northern coast sub equatorial, and the next third to the south, tropical. From around Alice Springs south the outer parts are sub tropical and the inland two thirds dry continental. The bottom quarter of the country is temperate, including some highland, and even Alpine areas.

This means that in South Australia the climate is described as Mediterranean, with temperature averaging 16-30ºc in summer and 7-18ºc in winter, (May to August), with more wet days but lighter rain than say Sydney.

In Sydney December to February (summer) average min/max temperatures are between 14 and 260ºc and June to August min/max average temperatures of 8 to 180ºc.

In Queensland average temperature rise to 23-31ºc between November and February when it can be very hot and sticky, dropping to the mid 20s in July. Rainfall is highest January to March with tropical downpours likely any time from November. May to October is therefore considered the best time to visit, with August and September the driest months. Whenever you go however, the rainforest is humid and full of bugs.

The Outback is best in winter (May to September), with sunny days and chilly nights (5-22ºc in Alice Springs, with the possibility of night temperatures below freezing. Summer (November to February) is hot with averages in Alice of 18 to 34ºc and low rainfall, though when it comes it does so in quantity, sometimes flooding roads for days.

In the Northern Territory the monsoon rains of the tropical summer (November to April) are very, very heavy, with flash floods regularly closing main roads. The humidity and high temperatures (25-33ºc in Darwin) can be hard work. November to March there are also lethal box jellyfish off northern mainland beaches, limiting swimming. In the dry season, May to October, there are milder daytime temperatures and cooler nights (22-30ºc in Darwin) and virtually no rain at all June to August.


Hobart is a completely different proposition with winter temperatures of 4-13ºc and summer of 15-29ºc, and even then rain is a regular occurrence, particularly on the west coast and mountains while in winter it rains two out of three days.

As northern hemisphere winter looms, so the draw of southern sun grows stronger, making the Christmas holidays a prime time to visit. Particularly if you want to go then, booking well in advance is advisable, for both flights and accommodation.Easter is another peak holiday time locally so accommodation should be booked in advance.