When is the best time to visit Australia?

The best time to visit depends on where you go. Adelaide: February & December; Airlie Beach: September & November; Albany: January & February; Alice Springs: April & August; Barossa Valley: December & March; Blue Mountains: December & October.

Which month is best overall in Australia?

Averaged across our 63 destinations in Australia, the strongest months are September, October, August. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.

Which cities in Australia does bestime.to cover?

We currently score 63 destinations in Australia: Adelaide, Airlie Beach, Albany, Alice Springs, Barossa Valley, Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, Bondi to Coogee Walk, Brisbane, Broome, +53 more.

How are the Australia travel scores calculated?

Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Best Time to Visit Australia: Weather by Month

01 · Australia

About Australia

Australia spans tropical north and temperate south, so the best month depends on your route. Northern dry season and southern summer are classic windows; use city pages like Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns for local climate scores.

Did you know?

Australia is the only country that covers an entire continent, and it holds the world's largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef.
More than 80% of Australia's mammals, reptiles and frogs are found nowhere else on Earth, including kangaroos, koalas and the platypus.
The country spans three time zones, and its coastline runs for almost 60,000 kilometres once islands are included.

Weather

Australia: weather by month

Warmest month: January (24°C). Wettest: January (138 mm). Best overall score: September (9.6/10).

Month	Avg temp	Rain	Sunny days	Score
January	24°C	138 mm	29	6.8/10
February	24°C	105 mm	25	7.5/10
March	23°C	103 mm	23	7.7/10
April	20°C	73 mm	16	8.1/10
May	18°C	56 mm	12	8.2/10
June	16°C	44 mm	9	8.2/10
July	15°C	53 mm	11	8.1/10
August	16°C	42 mm	16	8.9/10
September	18°C	37 mm	22	9.6/10
October	20°C	61 mm	27	9.2/10
November	21°C	71 mm	28	8.9/10
December	23°C	100 mm	30	8.0/10

Travel Tips

01Best time & timing: Target September, October, August — that is where comfort scores peak (9.6/10). January is the weakest month at 6.8/10.
02Weather & what to pack: September averages 18°C with 37 mm of rain and about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
03Crowds & value: If budget matters, target October — 9.2/10 with lighter demand than September.

Things to do in Australia

Australia. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Australia?: The best time to visit depends on where you go. Adelaide: February & December; Airlie Beach: September & November; Albany: January & February; Alice Springs: April & August; Barossa Valley: December & March; Blue Mountains: December & October.
Which month is best overall in Australia?: Averaged across our 63 destinations in Australia, the strongest months are September, October, August. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.
Which cities in Australia does bestime.to cover?: We currently score 63 destinations in Australia: Adelaide, Airlie Beach, Albany, Alice Springs, Barossa Valley, Blue Mountains, Bondi Beach, Bondi to Coogee Walk, Brisbane, Broome, +53 more.
How are the Australia travel scores calculated?: Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

Curated in Australia