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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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
Aug 09, 2023
What not to do at Uluru
There are plenty of do's at Uluru, but there are also some don't's.
Feb 20, 2020
7 reasons you should explore the east...
Australia is an amazing country. Here are seven reasons to add Intrepid's Sydney...
Dec 14, 2015
The world’s best city rivalries: why...
Whether it’s based on landmarks, music, fashion, food, sport, literature, location...
Feb 07, 2016
Meet the couple that crossed the...
Trina and I sat on my mum’s couch in Manchester, listening to a family friend try...
May 04, 2023
22 new ways we’re creating positive...
Our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, is welcoming 22 new partners in 2023....
Jun 21, 2023
Everything you need to know before...
You can't just rock up to Uluru (pardon the pun). Here's all the important stuff...