Best Times To Go
Because Australia is so large, it has many different climate zones. We identify those zones, and nominate the best time of the year to travel to and through them. These equate to each region's peak tourist season.
Tropical
The Hot
Humid Zone includes the coast of the Northern Territory, Western
Australia north of Broome, Cape York and the northern part of the
Queensland coast above Mackay.
Characteristics: The temperature is high all year
round; no frost occurs; average annual lowest temperature is 15 degrees
C. It is distinctive for its monsoon or Wet Season and Dry Season, with
most rain occurring in the wet season. The wet season is hot and humid
with an average January maximum temperature > 30 degrees C. The
'build-up' to the wet season (November) is the least comfortable time
of year; temperatures are generally at their highest and humidity is
also high, without the benefit of cooling rainfall.
Best time to go: May to September
Mild Tropical
Characteristics:
The narrow but long subtropical zone includes the eastern coastline
from Coffs Harbour in northern NSW to Mackay, taking in Brisbane, the
Gold, Sunshine and Fraser coasts, and the Whitsundays. A narrow strip
of WA coastline between Exmouth and Broome also has a Sub Tropical
climate. It is a mild climate with a low winter rainfall and reliable
summer rainfall; high humidity from November to March; frosts are rare;
average annual lowest temperature 10 degrees C. Warm, humid, wet
summer, average January maximum temperature < 30 degrees C.
Best time to go: May to September is the most
pleasant. The high humidity and summer rain experienced from November
to March can be unpleasant for those not used to it but rarely is it
unbearable.
Semi Arid Grassland
Where: Central Australia
Characteristics: Inland Australia has very high
summer temperatures; very high evaporation; a dry summer with prolonged
drought is common. The semi-arid northern part has a hot, dry summer
and mild winter.
Best time to go: May to September is the most pleasant.
Arid
Where: Central Australia
Characteristics: Inland Australia has very high
summer temperatures; very high evaporation; a dry summer with prolonged
drought is common. The more arid southern part has a hot dry summer and
cold winter with an average annual lowest temperature of -5 degrees C.
Best time to go: May to September is the most pleasant during the day but expect very cold nights.
Warm Temperate
The warm
temperate zone includes inland Queensland, New South Wales tablelands,
the coastal region south of Sydney and north to Coffs Harbour. In WA it
is approx. the coastline south of Exmouth to Geraldton and inland to
Meekatharra.
Characteristics: Cool winters with light frost,
usually non-existent on the coast. The ocean moderates temperature in
the coastal zones. The rainfall is reliable year round; average annual
lowest temperature 5 degrees C. Warm summer, average January maximum
< 30 degrees C. Temperate zones experience the distinct four
seasons.
Best time to go: All year round. Avoid winter (July to August) if you don't like cold nights.
Mediterranean
Where: The Mediterranean zone includes much of southern coastal Australia from Melbourne, Adelaide through to Perth.
Characteristics: It is shares many of the
features of the Warm Temperate zone, except for rainfall which is
predominantly in winter with a low summer rainfall. The winter is cool,
average annual lowest temperature 5 degrees C. The summer is warm to
hot but with a low humidity.
Best time to go: All year round. Avoid summer
(December to February) if you don't like warm to hot summers.
Wildflower season (June to August in the north; August to October in
the south) in WA is recommended.
Cool temperate and Alpine
Where:
This zone includes Tasmania, Canberra and the ACT, all high mountain
areas including the Granite Belt of SE Queensland, the high areas of
the NSW tablelands (Armidale, Glen Innes), the Southern Tablelands of
NSW and the high areas of Victoria.
Characteristics: Cool temperate zones experience
cold winter temperatures with heavy frosts during the cooler months:
spring is a longed-for event. Summers are warm and mild, average annual
lowest temperature 0 degrees C to -5 degrees C. Alpine areas experience
snow.
Best time to go: Summer (December to February)
and Autumn (March to May). Can be cold and wet in winter; Spring
(September to November) can be changeable.