What's the weather like 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. 

Average temperatures in Australia 

Temperatures in Victoria

 

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

The natural pinnacles of rock along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria

Temperatures in New South Wales 

 

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

Two travellers standing in the clear, blue waters of Jervis Bay in New South Wales

Temperatures in Queensland

 

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

A row of palm trees swaying in the breeze along the coast of Port Douglas

Temperatures in the Northern Territory

 

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

A group of people swimming in Litchfield waterfall, Northern Territory

Temperatures in Western Australia

 

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

The colourful coastline of Cape Leveque where the water meets red rock.

Temperatures in South Australia

 

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

A lone windmill standing in front of the Flinders Ranges in the South Australian desert

Temperatures in Tasmania

 

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

A group of people standing in front of a snowy Cradle Mountain in Tasmania

Return to Australia FAQs

Our Australia trips 

6 Days From 1062

Explore Cradle Mountain National Park and the Bay of Fires on this nature-filled...

4 Days From 915

Discover the history, culture and incredible landscapes of Australia’s Red Centre on a...

5 Days From 1253

Roadtrip with Intrepid to southern WA. From Fremantle, take five days visiting Margaret...

5 Days From 1411

Discover the untamed beauty of north west Tasmania on a 5-day tour departing from...

6 Days From 1420

Tackle one of Australia’s greatest treks, among some of its most incredible scenery, on...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

6 Days From 1670

Discover Australia’s Red Centre in comfort with a six-day Intrepid adventure. Visit...

7 Days From 1670

Travel from Sydney to Brisbane and soak up the best of Australia’s east coast beaches,...

5 Days From 1720

Take a five-day adventure tour through the coastal wilderness of Kuku Yalanji land,...

6 Days From 3485

Uncover 600 million years of history on a Premium adventure through Australia’s Red...

3 Days From 660

Discover the best of Australia’s Red Centre on a three-day adventure with Intrepid,...

7 Days From 2585

Travel from Exmouth to Perth on an incredible 7-day adventure along Australia’s west...

6 Days From 1595

Discover the staggering landscapes of Australia’s Top End on an incredible 6-day...

Read more about Australia