Best time to visit Australia
Australia has its best weather in April, May, and September to December. Peak season is December and January. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for April, May, and September to November.
Australia weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 80°F | 67°F | 3.9 in | 13 | 10.9 h |
| February | 79°F | 67°F | 4.2 in | 13 | 10.6 h |
| March | 76°F | 64°F | 5.9 in | 15 | 9.5 h |
| April | 72°F | 58°F | 3.8 in | 10 | 9.4 h |
| May | 67°F | 52°F | 2.4 in | 8 | 8.7 h |
| June | 62°F | 48°F | 3 in | 10 | 8.2 h |
| July | 62°F | 47°F | 2.6 in | 7 | 8.9 h |
| August | 65°F | 48°F | 1.9 in | 6 | 9.2 h |
| September | 69°F | 51°F | 1.9 in | 8 | 10.4 h |
| October | 72°F | 56°F | 3 in | 11 | 10.3 h |
| November | 74°F | 60°F | 3.2 in | 12 | 11 h |
| December | 78°F | 64°F | 2.6 in | 11 | 11.6 h |
Australia month by month
Australia in January
Highs around 80°F, lows near 67°F. About 13 rainy days and 10.9 h of sunshine a day.
Australian Open · Tropical cyclone season · Marine stinger season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Good weatherPeak seasonAustralia in February
Highs around 79°F, lows near 67°F. About 13 rainy days and 10.6 h of sunshine a day.
Tropical cyclone season · Marine stinger season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Good weatherAustralia in March
Highs around 76°F, lows near 64°F. About 15 rainy days and 9.5 h of sunshine a day.
Tropical cyclone season · Marine stinger season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Mixed weatherAustralia in April
Highs around 72°F, lows near 58°F. About 10 rainy days and 9.4 h of sunshine a day.
Marine stinger season
Best weatherAustralia in May
Highs around 67°F, lows near 52°F. About 8 rainy days and 8.7 h of sunshine a day.
Vivid Sydney · Marine stinger season
Best weatherAustralia in June
Highs around 62°F, lows near 48°F. About 10 rainy days and 8.2 h of sunshine a day.
Vivid Sydney · Whale watching season
Good weatherAustralia in July
Highs around 62°F, lows near 47°F. About 7 rainy days and 8.9 h of sunshine a day.
Whale watching season
Good weatherAustralia in August
Highs around 65°F, lows near 48°F. About 6 rainy days and 9.2 h of sunshine a day.
Whale watching season
Good weatherAustralia in September
Highs around 69°F, lows near 51°F. About 8 rainy days and 10.4 h of sunshine a day.
Whale watching season
Best weatherAustralia in October
Highs around 72°F, lows near 56°F. About 11 rainy days and 10.3 h of sunshine a day.
Whale watching season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Best weatherAustralia in November
Highs around 74°F, lows near 60°F. About 12 rainy days and 11 h of sunshine a day.
Whale watching season · Marine stinger season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Best weatherAustralia in December
Highs around 78°F, lows near 64°F. About 11 rainy days and 11.6 h of sunshine a day.
Marine stinger season · Extreme heat at Uluru
Best weatherPeak season
Seasons and events
- Jan
Australian Open
The season's first Grand Slam tennis tournament, held at Melbourne Park over the second half of January.
Source: Melbourne Park: Australian Open 2027 - Jan–Mar
Tropical cyclone seasonWeather risk
The official cyclone season runs November to April, with most cyclones from January to March. Affects the tropical north, including Cairns.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology: Tropical cyclones, your questions answered - May and Jun
Vivid Sydney
Festival of light, music, ideas and food across Sydney, running for about three weeks from late May into June.
Source: Vivid Sydney (official site) - Jun–Nov
Whale watching season
Whale watching tours from Sydney run from mid-May to November, following migrating humpbacks along the coast.
Source: Tourism Australia: Top spots for whale watching - Oct–Mar
Extreme heat at UluruWeather risk
From October to March daytime temperatures at Uluru regularly exceed 35°C. Rangers advise drinking plenty of water and not walking after 11 am.
Source: Parks Australia, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: When to come - Nov–May
Marine stinger seasonWeather risk
Dangerous marine stingers are a risk in tropical waters around Port Douglas and Cairns, typically from November to May. Check beach status before swimming.
Source: Douglas Shire Council: Beaches and foreshores
Plan Australia for April
Lay the trip out day by day in Waiz, on a timeline and a map, and plan it with friends in real time. Pro adds AI itineraries and the forecast for every day.
Questions about visiting Australia
September scores highest for weather in Sydney, with highs around 69°F and about 8 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is April, May, and September to December.
March is the wettest month in Sydney, with about 5.9 in of rain over 15 days. August is the driest, with about 1.9 in.
Peak season is December and January, according to Tourism Australia: Best times to visit Australia. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for April, May, and September to November.
January is the warmest month in Sydney, with average highs of 80°F. June is the coolest, at 62°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
