Weather in Australia

There's no specific climate that works for the whole of Australia with each state and territory experiencing different weather patterns and seasonal shifts throughout the year. Most of the country enjoys four seasons during the year - summer, autumn, winter, and spring - except for the far northern states (Northern Territory and far north Queensland) which typically experience a wet and a dry season. 

However, the climate of Australia is ruled by the country's size and the air that comes off the subtropical high-pressure belt that moves in a north-westerly direction and then in a north-easterly one with the seasons. Because of the country's large geographical size, it actually experiences a mixture of climates including a desert or semi-arid climate (central Australia with parts of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory), a temperate climate (Victoria and New South Wales), and a tropical climate (Northern Territory and Queensland) that includes both rainforest and desert areas. 

The likes of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania generally experience cold to freezing winters and warm to hot summers with a few exceptions here and there (Tasmania gets colder than the other states listed due to its proximity to Antarctica). While the rest of the country experiences warm, mild winters and hot, humid, and rainy summers. 

When is the best time to visit Australia? 

There is no best time to visit Australia as each state offers something different in every season. For example, if you don't want to be in the tropical northern part of the country during summer (rainy, cyclone season), you can always head down the east coast towards New South Wales and Victoria and make the most of the country's stunning beaches. When it starts getting a bit too cold, make your way to Western Australia and the Northern Territory to wander around some of Australia's most fascinating natural landmarks (Uluru, we're looking at you) and picturesque national parks. 

While there's no particular 'popular' season to travel in Australia, school holidays are scheduled during summer between December and January so most beachy, coastal destinations and other popular tourist cities/spots will be more crowded than usual. This also means that availability is low if you haven't booked accommodation and activities well in advance and flight prices can also increase to keep up with demand during this time so be wary of that when planning out your itinerary. 

Weather in Victoria

View of the Twelve Apostles and coastline of Victoria, Australia, on a clear day at sunset

As one of Australia's southernmost states, Victoria can be more seasonal than other regions, with cool-to-cold winters and warm-to-hot summers. So you can enjoy hot and sunny beach weather during summer (December to February) and then enjoy the snow in the alpine regions during winter - the best of both worlds, really.

The state is loosely divided into three regions - coastal, inland and alpine. In the southern coastal areas, such as in its capital, Melbourne, winters won't be as cold as the rest of the state.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

21°C

9°C

June to August

14°C

5°C

September to November

20°C

7°C

December to February

27°C

12°C

Weather in New South Wales 

Aerial of people walking across the white sand of Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Sitting along a large portion of the East Coast and bordered by the tropics to the north, outback to the west and the Australian Alps to the south - New South Wales pretty well has a climate for any type of adventure.

Sydney and other coastal areas have a perfect summer climate sitting between 20°C and 30°C. Towards the central and western regions, the climate gets a bit hotter and drier as you near the Australian outback, with summers easily getting over 40°C, but winters don't get too cold. The Australian capital city, Canberra, sits within NSW's temperate climate and is known to get cool in winter.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

24°C

13°C

June to August

16°C

6°C

September to November

26°C

13°C

December to February

33°C

20°C

Weather in Queensland

View of the mountains from a Palm Tree lines beach in Post Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Queensland occupies 13,352 km (8,295 miles) of the Australian coast, complete with white sandy beaches and the Great Barrier Reef just offshore. So, most of the climate here is warm and sunny, making it pretty perfect for the beach all year round.

But beaches aren't all that make up this state. Queensland also has the largest area of forest in Australia, home to the Daintree, as well as tropical, subtropical, grassland, equatorial and desert climates. In the northern regions, a wet season falls from November to April, affecting areas like Port Douglas.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

30°C

19°C

June to August

24°C

12°C

September to November

33°C

20°C

December to February

36°C

25°C

Weather in the Northern Territory

Travellers in red centre of Australia at sunset

We're in the desert now, so pack a hat and bring sunscreen because it'll get hot. Within the outback region of the Northern Territory, daily temperatures sit around 32°C but reduce during winters, even getting to near freezing overnight.

The tropical top end, home to the hotspots of Darwin and Kakadu, is a warm and sunny place for most of the time. However, this area experiences intense wet and dry seasons. Expect heavy rains, high temperatures and thunderstorms during the summer. This area is a great destination to escape the wider country's winter as it'll be in its warm and sunny dry season.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

32°C

20°C

June to August

26°C

14°C

September to November

35°C

22°C

December to February

37°C

25°C

Weather in Western Australia

Group at beach with turquoise water, Western Australia

Western Australia takes up the entire western portion of the country, and because it's so large, it's home to almost every type of climate that exists in Australia. The majority of the state is desert, with tropical and temperate areas in the north and south, respectively.

Around Perth, summers do get hot and dry, but winters won't get too cool. In the northern regions, including Broome, the wet and dry seasons exist, bringing very hot and rainy months from November to April.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

26°C

13°C

June to August

19°C

8°C

September to November

23°C

11°C

December to February

31°C

17°C

Weather in South Australia

Woman on rocks at Kangaroo Island, South Australia in the late afternoon sun

Most of the interior of South Australia is classified as desert, making up a good portion of the Outback, with the southeast part of the state having a cooler coastal climate. With so much desert, this state can get very hot, especially in summer, with highs even in the southern areas reaching above 35°C.

If you're not a fan of rain, SA could be the place for you, as Adelaide is both the driest and least humid of all the Australian cities. There is rainfall during the winter months, June-August, but temperatures won't drop as low as in other states.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

23°C

12°C

June to August

16°C

7°C

September to November

24°C

11°C

December to February

30°C

16°C

Weather in Tasmania

Man on rocks looking at the sunset in the Bay of fires, Tasmania, Australia

Unlike its northern counterparts, the southernmost state has four distinct seasons that bring heavy rains and cool temperatures in winter with mild days in summer. Because its position is closer than other states to Antarctica, it is the state that gets the coldest, especially when the winds pick up.

Tasmania doesn't get very hot, even in summer, but the Australian sun can still heat you up quickly when outside, ensuring beach days are still on the cards. Warmer temperatures are commonly found in the northern areas, including around Launceston and the Bay of Fires coast.

Month

Average high

Average low

March to May

11°C

2°C

June to August

6°C

-1°C

September to November

9°C

1°C

December to February

15°C

5°C

Want to learn more about Australia? Return to Australia FAQs

Our Australia tours

Get inspired on The Good Times