When Is the Best Time to Visit Australia?
When traveling abroad, it helps to know the climate of the place youíre visiting. It can also be important to know the busy tourist season as well as national holidays. This information can help you choose the best time to schedule your visit.
The Climate and Seasons
Australia is in the southern hemisphere. This means, if youíre from North America, that the seasons are opposite to yours. Their winter is your summer and vice versa. That means when youíre knee-deep in snow and sub-zero temperatures (around February in much of the northern hemisphere), Australians are basking in warm summer temperatures. Itís the ideal time to visit if you plan on enjoying the sun and surf. On the other hand, if youíre visiting Australia and want to go skiing, then August may be a better time to plan your trip.
Location affects your decision too. The further south you go in Australia, the colder it gets because youíre moving away from the equator. So Melbourne in August is likely to be quite chilly.
Cheap Air Travel
If youíre on a budget, you may be happy to know that airfares tend to be less expensive from April to August. This is because itís fall and winter there and fewer people travel to Australia during the winter months.
High Tourism Season
If youíre planning on visiting the southern states of Australia, you may want to visit them during their summer when temperatures are mild. On the other hand, the northern states can be quite pleasant during their winter months. From April to September the temperatures during the Aussie winter range from 68 to 88 degrees. June, July, and August tend to be the busiest months of the travel season and experts recommend making reservations well in advance.
October through March is generally too hot for most travelers while September and October are quite temperate throughout the country. Itís also recommended to steer clear of Australia from Boxing Day on Dec 26 through the end of January, which is when Australians tend to take their summer vacations.
Plan the timing of your vacation around your priorities. For example, if you want to enjoy a beach vacation then plan your trip during the Australianís early spring or summer months (September through November or December for those in the northern hemisphere). If your priority is to travel inexpensively, then go during the off season when airfare and accommodations are at their lowest and prepare to deal with the heat.
