I am often asked by Canadians and Americans when is the best time to travel to Australia from Canada or when is the best time to go to Australia from the USA for our Australia Vacation.
Because we have so many different regions, it is hard to balance them and have that perfect weather trip. Like the rest of the planet, it is often hard to predict the weather these days!
Here are some tips on the best time to visit Australia, no matter if you are from Canada or America!
Australian Weather Seasons:
Our seasons in Australia are not only opposite to Canada and the USA, but they start on the 01st of the month!
When is Summer in Australia?
December to February
Our Summer is the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere and starts on the 01st Dec and officially ends on the 28th (29th of February.) Usually, March can still be quite a hot month, so never trust our seasons by the dates.
When is Fall in Australia?
March to May
Autumn or Fall officially starts from the 01st of March until the 31st of May.
When is Winter in Australia?
June to August
Our Winter officially starts on the 01st of June and ends on the 31st of August. However, you will often find that the cooler weather, especially in the evenings, can hang around well into November, sometimes in the southern regions.
When is Spring in Australia?
August to November
Spring officially starts on the 01st of September and ends on the 30th of November. Just like in the United States and Canada, this is very transitional weather.
What is the weather like in Australia at Christmas?
You will notice that our Christmas falls right in our Summer. Remember it is nothing for us to feel a plus 40c/104F day in Nov or April. My family and I have had many a hot Christmas Dinner on a 45c / 113F day.
Different Regions of Australia:
Australia is very close to being the same size as the mainland USA, so our weather varies over different regions. The following is a list of areas and what I deem the best time to travel to them and be mindful of when planning your trip to Australia.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide?
The best time to travel to Melbourne, Sydney, and the Adelaide region is outside the middle of Summer if possible. Sydney is famous for its Summer storms, and Melbourne is a blink for a second, and the weather has changed place. I like to visit these areas in either March/April or Oct/Nov.
Did you know I was born in Sydney? Check out more information about this great city, Sydney Australia Expert.
When is the best time to visit Tasmania?
If you look at a map of Australia, you will see that Tasmania is quite south, so the weather can still feel a tad chilly even if it is Summer for anyone who has traveled out of some warmer weather. I prefer to visit “Tassie” during Dec/Jan/Feb when you have a chance of it being what we deem as average Summer weather. Tasmania is incredibly popular during the summer, so it pays to book exceptionally early.
When is the best time to visit Perth, Western Australia?
This is my home stomping ground, and I am writing this article during Summer in Perth. Our weather in this region is pretty up and down. We have had some 40c daytime temperatures, but we are also seeing changes in the weather pattern and are starting to get storms like in Sydney. I like to follow the March/April and Oct/Nov patterns when traveling to this region. If you hit a plus 40c day, you can not enjoy anything.
Check out information on travel to my home city… Perth Travel Expert.
When is the best time to visit Brisbane, the Gold Coast – and Noosa, Queensland?
The further north you travel, the more humid and tropical-like it gets during the Summer months in Australia. While it is unlikely that these regions will get hit by a cyclone during our Summer months, they can often get the remnants of a tropical storm which can make for a very wet and sticky visit. The best time of year to travel to this area is Sep-Nov which is generally the driest time to visit. Avoid Dec-Jan-Feb if possible where it is still bearable, but only just!
When is the best time to visit Ayers Rock- Uluru, and Alice Springs?
The big red rock in the middle of Australia does get quite hot during the Summer months. The tour companies operate at sunrise and mid-afternoon, as the middle of the day is just too hot, and heatstroke can hit hard. The Aussie outback is not the type of place where you go wandering off on your own! I like to send my clients to Ayers Rock/Uluru for only one night (maximum two nights); it is expensive, and there is only so much to do. The best time to travel to the Australian outback is anytime out of Summer- preferably April- Sept. It can get a tad chilly in Winter in the evenings, but it is not going to snow! The flies can also be quite annoying in warmer weather!
When is the best time to visit Cairns, Port Douglas, the Whitsunday Islands – Queensland?
As mentioned, the further north you travel in Australia during the Summer months, the more tropical it becomes! You will see more mosquitoes and flies, more tropical storms, and a chance of a cyclone. During the summer, the Box Jellyfish visit Australia and spend their time around our northern coastline. While they often have nets up at some beaches and resorts like Hayman Island in the Whitsunday Islands and the Barrier Reef, cruise companies usually have “stinger suits” I still advise not swimming at the beaches without one of these on or just sticking to the hotel swimming pool. The best time to visit this area is May-Oct. Heads up, the middle of our Winter is the peak season for this region as many Australians who live in Melbourne/Sydney, etc., are trying to escape some of the cold.
When is the best time to visit Darwin-Broome-Kimberley-Kakadu-Litchfield-Northern Territory?
Australia’s top end has a very set period where people can travel. The tour companies close down for the Summer due to the tropical weather and the “wet season” kicking in. When the rain kicks in, the Outback of Australia becomes relatively inaccessible, and those dirt roads are just not possible to tour. May-June or July-August are your best options if you wish to visit this region.
When are School Holidays in Australia?
The Summer School Holidays in Australia fall from around mid-December to the end of January. They can fluctuate by a week or so if it is a private or public school or dependent on which State or Territory in Australia. Just like in Canada or the USA, when it is the Summer months, many Australians take time off from work to spend with their loved ones and do some travel. It is important if you are visiting Australia that you always book as far ahead as possible and be mindful of events that can make accommodation etc., very hard to access or extra pricey. One of the things we are mindful of when designing itineraries for our clients is to customize the route and dates around events or conferences that we know may impact our client’s vacation or have them spending more for a place to sleep than they should.
When is the best time to visit Australia from the USA and Canada?
So now I am sure you are trying to work out how to juggle all of these regions together if you want to visit Australia for an extensive period.
I recommend staying with the Sept/Oct/Nov or March/April periods.
An Australia Travel Expert will be able to assist you with the best routing when designing a bespoke trip; this way, by planning your Australia trip with a specialist, you should hopefully hit the areas you wish to visit at the optimum time for the weather in those areas.
When is the best time to visit Australia and New Zealand?
Often our clients like to tour New Zealand and Australia together. Remember Auckland and Sydney are only approx 3 hours flying time apart. New Zealand being more southern, starts feeling Winter way earlier than Australia. For this reason, it is essential that your Australia and New Zealand Travel Specialists in Canada and the USA design the best possible routing, so you maximize the weather in each location. For example, if you wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand in Sept/Oct, we would start you at the top of Australia, where the Barrier Reef has its best weather, and end you in the South Island of New Zealand, whereby October the weather has started to warm up out of Winter.
How do I book an Australia Vacation Package with you?
I hope I have given you plenty of tips on the best time to travel to Australia.
If you have any questions, my team and I at Go Walkabout Travel are always here to assist you with designing a fantastic trip to Australia and New Zealand. Our clients are located across Canada, i.e., Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Regina, and many areas of the United States. We do not need to meet face to face as a lot of our clients like the option of being able to do Skype or Zoom video calls or phone conference calls at times that suit them instead of your typical 9-5 Monday-Friday.
Contact your Australia Travel Specialist
We look forward to hearing from you and saying a massive G’day, Mate!
Cheers,
Dianne.
Check out these links for more information from your Australia Travel Experts.
Melbourne Australia Specialist
Whitsunday Islands Australia Travel Specialist