Skip to content
Voykit

When to go · Australia

Australia, month by month

The best months for Australia: Mar.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryGoodPeak summer in the south: beaches, holidays and high prices; the north is in full wet and cyclone season.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: best weather · Tropical north: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: High · 5 festivals or holidays
  2. FebruaryGoodSchools back, still hot and settled in the south; Tasmania at its best; avoid the tropics.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: best weather · Tropical north: storm or typhoon riskCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  3. MarchGreatWarm seas, calmer crowds in the south; the north is still wet.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: best weather · Tropical north: rainyCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  4. AprilGoodAutumn colour, Easter holidays; the north begins to dry out late in the month.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: fine · Tropical north: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  5. MayGoodShoulder month: dry season starts in the north, the Red Centre cools, the south is crisp.South-east coast: fine · Tasmania: cool · Tropical north: best weatherCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  6. JuneGoodBest for Cairns, Darwin and Uluru; the south is cool with short days; Vivid in Sydney.South-east coast: cool · Tasmania: cool · Tropical north: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  7. JulyGoodPeak in the tropical north and the Red Centre during school holidays; ski season in the south-east.South-east coast: cool · Tasmania: cool · Tropical north: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  8. AugustGoodDry and sunny north, whales along the east coast, wildflowers in WA.South-east coast: cool · Tasmania: cool · Tropical north: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  9. SeptemberGoodSpring in the south, still dry in the north; one of the best months to combine both.South-east coast: fine · Tasmania: cool · Tropical north: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  10. OctoberGoodWarm south, building heat in the north; the good compromise month before stinger season.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: fine · Tropical north: hotCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  11. NovemberMixedSouth is pleasant; the north turns humid with storms, stingers arrive and some roads close.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: fine · Tropical north: hotCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  12. DecemberMixedSummer holidays begin; bushfire risk and heatwaves in the south, wet season in the north; book everything early.South-east coast: best weather · Tasmania: best weather · Tropical north: rainyCrowds: High · 4 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Australia, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Mar: Great (better)

    Jan: Good

  • Crowds

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Mar: 2

    Jan: 5

March: Warm seas, calmer crowds in the south; the north is still wet.

January: Peak summer in the south: beaches, holidays and high prices; the north is in full wet and cyclone season.

Australia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
South-east coastSydney, Melbourne, Canberra, AdelaideBestBestBestBestOKCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBest
TasmaniaHobart, Cradle Mountain, FreycinetBestBestBestOKCoolCoolCoolCoolCoolOKOKBest
Tropical northCairns, Port Douglas, Darwin, Kakadu, KimberleyStormStormWetOKBestBestBestBestBestHotHotWet
Red CentreUluru, Kings Canyon, Alice SpringsHotHotHotOKBestBestBestBestBestOKHotHot
South-westPerth, Margaret River, RottnestHotHotBestBestOKCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBest