When to visit Australia

Fine weather year-round makes New South Wales an excellent place to visit whatever the season. Autumn, from March to May, is a time of fine days and mild nights. Sydney averages a pleasant 25ºc during summer, from December to February, and though there’s a chance of rain between September and November, it usually clears quickly.

Pack for warm weather – expect warm summers and mild winters in Queensland, with majority sunny days. The state is subtropical in the south, and tropical up north – it’s the latter that experiences a defined wet season through summer, that’s humid and hot, with a slightly cooler dry season through winter. The wet season, or tropical summer, is between November and March, where you'll experience a mix of sun and rain – making for epic waterfalls! Southern Queensland is an all-year round destination with the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn often considered the best time of year to travel.

Victoria is notorious for its ‘four seasons in one day’, when it can go from steaming hot to torrential rain and have you in a jumper before dinner is on the table. Having said that, summers are warm and generally dry, with temperatures in the mid-twenties along the coast between December and March, and sometimes later. Alpine areas are generally cooler, especially in winter, when skiing is possible at the state’s high-altitude winter resorts.

With two distinct seasons - dry and wet – choosing a time to visit Australia's northwest is relatively straightforward. In the dry season (May to October) the region experiences warm days, clear blue skies, little or no rainfall and temperatures between 20ºC and 30ºC. During the wet season (November – April) high levels of humidity bring short, heavy downpours. January to March is monsoon season, when heavy rain and cyclones can bring flooding to the region.

South Australia has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool winters. It’s Australia’s driest state, a fact that is particularly noticeable as you move inland, where semi-desert extends for miles. Most of what little rain there is falls between March and August, though the cooler air at this time of year makes the desert extremes more manageable.

Unlike much of Australia, Tasmania has four distinct seasons.Summer (November to March) is the best time to travel, when pleasant dry days and temperatures in the mid-twenties are normal. Snow can be expected in winter (June to August), especially in the highlands. The north is generally warmer than the south and it gets drier as you move eastwards.