When is the best time to visit Australia? Since it’s a large country, the answer to the question is destination dependent. But the number one thing that people from the Northern Hemisphere must remember about vacationing in the Southern Hemisphere is that the seasons and climate zones are reversed. Closer to the Equator, northern Australia is hot and wet. The country’s southern region, nearer to the South Pole, is milder and much cooler in winter months. Spring blossoms between September and November; summer hangs out from December to February; autumn falls from March to May, and winter rolls through between June and August.
In general, however, Australia’s high season for tourism is April through September.
Best Time to Visit Northern Australia
Northern Australia summers can be oppressively hot and uncomfortable. In Darwin, which has a tropical savanna climate, heat indexes regularly reach 113°F between December and February.
Another popular north coast destination is the celebrated Great Barrier Reef. A line-item on every surfer’s bucket list, the region is warm year-round but much wetter in the summer and spring. The place gets crowded between June and August when remarkable weather lures pleasure-seekers to Australia’s shores.
Gold Coast, Queensland sits halfway down the east coast. Australia’s answer to Hollywood, Gold Coast is a high-rise, ocean-side metropolis and ground zero for the country’s television and film industry. Though the city enjoys perennial postcard-perfect weather, the winter months are rainier and breezier than the summer, spring and fall ones.
Be aware of the shifting jellyfish swarms that incapacitate entire beaches. Before booking, make sure the destination won’t be under a marine-life siege during your stay.
Best Time to Visit Southern Australia
Southern Australia’s climate is similar to the U.S. Pacific Northwest’s. It’s chilly in the winter but rarely dips below freezing. The summers are balmy and seldom rise above 85°F. Sydney and Adelaide are the two most popular southern cities to hit between March through May and September through November.
When planning your trip to Australia, whether it is your first time or tenth, it is best to plan for what type of weather you will be experiencing.
