Weather & Climate
 Australia is a big country, stretching from the tropics to the roaring forties, and it has a correspondingly wide range of climates. There’s something to suit everyone!
Aussie Seasons
- Summer is from December to February
- Autumn from March to May
- Winter from June to August
- Spring from September to November
What is the best time of year to visit Australia?
It depends on what part of the country you will be visiting and what you would like to do (more about this below). If you can stay for several months, you can plan your trip to catch the best weather everywhere.
Australia can be divided into six main climatic regions or zones on the basis of air temperature and humidity. A description of each region's climate is given below, from the viewpoint of someone accustomed to a temperate climate.
Hot Humid Zone
 The southern winter really is the most comfortable time of year to be in this part of the world. Days are very warm and sunny; nights are warm, too. In the Darwin winter, rain falls on only one day a month on average. Summer is sultry - hot and humid with rain and thunderstorms. Spring and autumn are also hot and rather humid. The "build-up" to the monsoon 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.
Warm Humid Zone
 This climate zone is best visited in winter, autumn or spring. Summer is very humid and very warm. Winter, with mostly fine days, is warm in the northern part of the zone and mild in the southern part. It is the most comfortable season in the northern part of the zone. In any part of the zone, winter is recommended for those planning a physically active holiday. Winter also has the fewest rainy days.
Hot Dry Zone (With Warm Winter)
 The best time to visit is in the southern winter, when warm days with endless sunshine are guaranteed (well, almost!) and a rainy day is unlikely. For example, in Longreach, in July, the mean daily maximum temperature averages about 23 deg C, with more than 9 hours of sunshine each day. 29 dry days are usual in July, with mostly light falls on the other two days. Heat stress and dehydration can be problems in the hotter months - if you really need to do something active in summer, around dawn is the best (coolest) time of day. Longreach January minimum temperature averages 23.1 deg C and the daily maximum temperature usually reaches around 37 degrees C.
Hot Dry Zone (With Cooler Winter)
 As for the other Hot Dry Zone, places with this climate are best visited in winter, when warm, dry, sunny days are the norm. Winter nights can be very cold, especially noticeable if you are camping. (Ayers Rock/Uluru for example). Autumn and spring are acceptable in the southern or higher parts of this zone. Wildflowers bloom in spring, if rain has fallen. As in the other hot dry zone, heat stress and dehydration can be problems in the hotter months, with dawn the best time for activity.
Temperate Zone (Warm Summer, Cool Winter)
 As the name implies, most people find this climate acceptable at any time of year. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons in most parts, with summer the best time on the south coast of the continent. The weather is more changeable than in the tropics; cool cloudy days alternate with warmth and sunshine. Rain falls occasionally but doesn’t usually last very long.
Cool Temperate Zone
This zone is usually very pleasant in summer, although summer snow can fall in much of the region. Midsummer is the time to see wildflowers in the high country. Above the treeline, the summer sunshine is intense; some people may prefer to schedule walking and cycling trips for autumn. The higher mountains are usually suitable for skiing in winter and early spring, however snowfall varies greatly from year to year. Weather in the mountains is very changeable at any time of year. Low cloud rolling in over the snowfields may create a "white-out", where the horizon vanishes, making navigation difficult.
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