Best Time to Visit Australia

Best Time to Visit Australia for Ideal Weather

With eight different climate zones varying regional weather patterns, you'd need to plan your road trips and winery visits. While you can visit this beautiful place any time in the year, some things can be best experienced during specific months only.

For all the beach lovers, you should aim to visit during the warmer months of September to April. Before you raise an eyebrow, Australia lies in the southern hemisphere so that means a completely opposite climate and weather to what you're probably used to!

Northern parts of Australia experience two seasons; dry June to September and wet October to May. Dry seasons are best for Outback road trips and exploring, while the wet season is perfect for rain-forest tourism given that you keep an eye out for cyclone alerts.

Winter in Australia is mild in the north, while summers are very hot throughout with daily averages exceeding 31°C. Cooler months in Australia are from May to August which are comfortable for outdoor adventures. For skiing and snow adventures you can visit Victoria and New South Wales from June to early September.

Best Time to Visit Australia for Wildlife

Australia is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna. Who does not know Koalas or Kangaroos? If visiting between May and November, you can even have a glimpse of migrating whales traveling to and from Australia's eastern and western coasts. Whale watching can be booked any time during the months of August and September. If you're lucky, you may even spot a humpback!

If you're more into grounded animals (pun intended) like wombats, kangaroos, and koalas; you can do so any time of the day throughout the year. You can also easily spot Kookaburra, Lorikeets, and Cockatoos; sometimes dwelling in cities as well.

Springtime (September - November) is best to spot baby animals. If you wish to see baby sea turtles, try timing your trip between November and January.

Where to Go Surfing in Australia?

Before you skip this section, most people assume that the best time to surf is also the best time to go swimming. Sadly, this is not the case. Like most surfing destinations throughout the world, these two seasons don't always coincide.

The general timeline to visit Australia for surfing can fall anywhere between April and September. The water temperature is usually around 21°C - 26°C. Depending on your preference you can surf in a spring suit or board shorts. Here are some popular destinations where you can surf:

• Bondi Beach in Sydney
• Byron Bay in New South Wales
• Bells Beach, Victoria
• Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, Victoria
• Snapper Rocks, Queensland

If you're just a beginner and learning how to surf, then there is no bad time to take a lesson here. For experts out there, the Australian winter months are best suited for serious surfing thanks to offshore winds and consistent swells. However, the fear of storms is consistent throughout the year.

Best Time to Go Hiking in Australia

Australia is a treasure box for all wildlife lovers and hikers. With so many national parks and hundreds of hiking trails, places like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park can be comfortably taken during the months of April to September. This would be otherwise impossible to do in Australia's Red Centre. 

If you're thinking of visiting Tasmania, be prepared for all seasons throughout the year. If visiting during a dry season, consider hiking in Gondwana Rainforests as the winter here lasts from June to October which is more comfortable.

Spring (September and October) and autumn (March to May) are the best time for visiting the famous Cape to Cape Track.

Most Affordable Time to Visit Australia

With everything Australia has to offer, the cost might be a huge factor for many travelers. Your best bet is to get the cheapest plane ticket by opting for layovers and good deals. You can also get cheaper plane tickets if you plan your trip between April and August. Airfare is the highest from December to February, so try to plan your trip during the shoulder season (spring and autumn) or winters.

You can also save a lot on domestic airfare to scale the country in between. Read a lot on different regions' high and low seasons so that you can plan your stay at a significantly lower price.  Your best bet to make this trip affordable is to cut down on food, travel, and accommodation costs, as Australia is significantly expensive for tourism.

Worst Time to Visit Australia

The land down under is full of untamed wilderness and iconic beaches and wildlife. However, make sure to weigh in the crowd, seasons, and other factors before planning your visit. Here are some things to avoid:

• Avoid visiting during peak summer months. Summer being the bushfire season, you should be alert and up to date with local alerts of the region, you're visiting.
• The high season for tourism lasts from April to September which means a lot of chaos and crowd along with expensive fare and accommodation.
• If visiting during October the March, it's probably one of the worst times to visit Australia because of its heat and probably floods.
• Don't forget the unpopular Jellyfish Season! If you plan to swim or check out the Great Barrier Reefs, then avoid October to April in the north and November to March in the West.
• January is a warm time and mostly the local vacation month. This means there will be a lot of rental and accommodation scarcity for tourists.

A country of all seasons, Australia can be visited any time of the year, given that you plan it well. You can easily hop on to different places without much difficulty. Make sure that you have a good travel insurance plan that will safeguard you from any sudden emergencies, in case you find yourself in one!