What Months Are Summer In Australia - Take A Tumble

Australian summer months differ greatly from the rest of the world as it is located in the southern hemisphere, making it one of the sunniest places on Earth. Before visiting this amazing country, it is important to choose the most suitable time and place for such an adventure.

Continue reading to discover what months are summer in Australia and explore some of the most breathtaking places on the continent.

What Months Are Summer in Australia?

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere and has a large country size meaning it has climate variations across the territory. Desert comprises 18% of Australian territory, and those areas are characterised by a semi-arid climate.

Furthermore, a temperate climate is typical for the southeast, and the southwest corners of Australia, while the northern parts are characterised by a tropical climate with grassland and desert areas.

Source GoStudy

The northern ends of Australia’s subtropical, equatorial and tropical regions typically have both dry and wet seasons. To be more precise, two seasons can be distinguished in Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Broome, the Kimberely, Cairns, the Whitsundays and Daintree Rainforest. The wet season lasts from November to April and the dry season from May to October.

On the other hand, Queensland, Melbourne, New South Wales, Western Australia and Southern Australia have four seasons. Here is what the Australia season months look like for all seasons:

• Spring – September, October, and November with average temperatures from 17°C to 35°C
• Summer – December, January, and February with temperatures between 20°C and 37°C
• Autumn – March, April, and May, with temperatures ranging from 17°C to 35°C
• Winter – June, July, and August with an average temperature of 11°C in the south and 30°C in the north.

So, when does summer start in Australia? Each season in Australia starts on the first day of the season’s month and ends on the last day of the month.

For example, the season dates in Australia for 2022 are the following:

• Autumn from 1st March 2022 until 31st May 2022
• Winter from 1st June 2022 until 31st August 2022
• Spring from 1st September 2022 until 30th November 2022
• Summer from 1st December 2022 until 28th February 2023

Australia is a country that experiences a wide range of temperatures, depending on the time of year and location. So, what are the temperatures in Australia by month in some of the biggest cities in the country?

Australia interesting weather facts:

Australia measured the highest temperature of 50.7°C on 13 January 2022 in Onslow, Western Australia. Conversely, the lowest temperature in Australia was recorded in Charlotte Pass, New South Wales, on 29 June 1994, measuring −23.0 °C.

In addition, Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory is one of the top ten sunniest places in the world, with an average of 9.8 hours of sun a day. 

If you’re one of the many Australians who know how terrible it is to toss and turn in a hot bed at night, here are some tips on how to cool down.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Australia?

The best time to visit Australia is during spring and autumn. The September-November and March-May periods are considered to have the perfect travel conditions; more affordable accommodation and transportation, excellent weather and fewer tourists than the summer, which is the busiest and most popular time to visit Australia.

If you have an Aussie destination in mind, check out the best time to visit it below.

Best Time to Visit Western Australia

The climate in Western Australia is diverse, with all seasons in the Southwest, dry and wet seasons in the North, and a semi-arid climate in the remaining areas.

• Best time to visit:
  • Southern parts – from November to March
  • Above the Southern Tropic – from May to October
• Activities and attractions:
  • Fremantle in Perth
  • The Quokka’s at the Rottnest Island
  • The Pinnacles Desert
  • Stromatolites and Shell Beach
  • Jet Boat Tours to the Horizontal Falls
  • Swan River Cruises in Perth.

Best Time to Visit Queensland

Queensland has four climate zones within its territory, including the tropical, sub-tropical, hot-arid and warm temperate zones.

• Best time to visit: March to May or September
• Activities and attractions:
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  • Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
  • Tamborine Mountain
  • Cairns Aquarium
  • South Bank Parklands.

Best Time to Visit Tasmania

Tasmania is characterised by a cool temperate climate with four seasons throughout the year.

• Best time to visit: December to February
• Activities and attractions:
  • The Taste of Tasmania festival
  • The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
  • Tessellated Pavement
  • Bruny Island Neck
  • Remarkable Cave
  • Southern Lights.

Best Time to Visit New South Wales

The type of climate in New South Wales depends on the region. While the inland areas have an arid and semi-arid climate, Sydney and Central Coast have a temperate climate. The higher parts of the Great Dividing Range are alpine zones, and there is a humid subtropical climate in the Northeast of NSW.

• Best time to visit: September to November and from March to May
• Activities and attractions:
  • Scenic World Blue Mountains
  • Jenolan Caves
  • Mayfield Garden
  • Wollomombi Falls.

Let’s take a look at the ideal time and some interesting places to visit in the capital of New South Wales, named the best urban city and one of the best places to live in Australia.

• Best time to visit Sydney: October, November, end of February and March
• Activities and attractions in Sydney:
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Bondi Beach
  • Sydney Harbor Bridge
  • Royal Botanic Garden.

The Best Time to Visit Victoria

Victoria has areas with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Some places are distinguished by mild temperate, while some by cool temperate or alpine climates.

• Best time to visit: March and April
• Activities and attractions:
  • Whale watching
  • Victoria Bug Zoo
  • Craigdarroch Castle
  • Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
  • Miniature World.

Melbourne is the hearth of cultural heritage that shaped the lands of Victoria, so let’s cover some places that shouldn’t be missed.

• Best time to visit Melbourne: March to May and September to November
• Activities and attractions in Melbourne:
  • Royal Botanic Garden
  • National Gallery Victoria
  • Eureka Skydeck
  • Dandenong Ranges National Park.

The Best Time to Visit South Australia

Most of South Australia has hot, dry summers and cool winters. The rest of South Australia is in the mild temperate and warm temperate climate zones.

• Best time to visit: from March till May and from September to November
• Activities and attractions:
  • Kangaroo Island
  • Barossa Valley
  • Flinders Ranges
  • The Fleurieu Peninsula.

As many cultural and arts institutions are located in the capital of South Australia, this city deserves an honourable mention.

• Best time to visit Adelaide: February and March
• Activities and attractions in Adelaide:
  • Central Market
  • Adelaide Zoo
  • The Adelaide Botanic Gardens
  • The South Australian Museum.

Climate Variations in Australia

Although Australia has a wide range of climate zones, it is considered the driest continent in the world. Over 80% of the country’s territory has less than 600mm of rain annually. Additionally, extreme weather conditions are not uncommon in Australia.

• Rainiest Australian areas are the far northern parts of Queensland and the region around Strahan on the west coast of Tasmania.
• The most severe floods are common in areas of Queensland and New South Wales.
• Sunniest Australian places are Port Hedland, Broome, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy, and Geraldton.
• The highest humidity is detected in areas including Albury, Ballarat, Geelong, Gosford and Cairns.
• Fires most commonly affect Eastern Australia.
• Windiest Australian areas are Port Welshpool, Sandy Point, Minmi, Newcastle and Awaba.
• Cyclonesare the most common on the northwest coastline between Broome and Exmouth.

Extra tip: If you are looking for the best climate in Australia and want to avoid the extremes, you should consider Port Macquarie in New South Wales. The town beaches have warm swimming water, and it has light winters and pleasant summers.

Summer months are also the busiest cruising time in Australia.

Bottom Line

While Australia is distinguished by a range of different climates due to its size, most areas are characterised by mild and sunny weather. This guide singles out the most visited travelling destinations and covers some of the most breathtaking places of historical, cultural, and artistic value for Australia.

FAQs:

1. What month is the hottest in Australia?

January is usually the month with the highest temperatures in southern Australia. As for northern Australian parts, the hottest days come right before the wet season starts, in November.

2. Does Australia have 4 seasons?

Australia has a variety of climates in different states. While the biggest part of the country has four seasons, the tropical north of Australia has wet and dry seasons.

3. Does it get cold in Australia?

The Australian winter temperatures can get as low as 5°C. That being said, June and July are generally considered the coldest months.

4. In which season is Australia most visited?

Australia is most visited during the summer months due to the amiable weather and fun activities available. But, what months are summer in Australia? Summer lasts from December until February.