Many travellers choose to visit Australia between December and February, when it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in Australia. But winter in Australia has its advantages, from thinner crowds in some of Australia’s major cities to sights and events you can only see during the colder months. In addition, flights are often cheaper during winter and so is accommodation. From snow-capped mountains to awe-inspiring whale sightings, winter in Australia makes for an amazing holiday.
When is it winter in Australia?
In Australia, winter occurs between June and August, which coincides with the dry season in the desert regions of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The winter temperature in Australia varies greatly depending on which part of the country you visit. Some regions can get as cold as -10°C, while others remain warm and sunny, even reaching as high as 34°C. The Australian climate varies from sub-tropical (in parts of Queensland) to a hot desert climate (throughout the country’s central and western regions) to mild, oceanic climates (in most of its major, south-eastern cities). When you compare Australia’s weather by month, July is when you’ll usually find the coldest temperatures.
Where is the coldest place in Australia?
The coldest place in Australia often varies slightly from year to year, but the Tasmanian town of Liawenee is frequently one of the coldest, recording a record low of -14.2°C in August 2020. Tasmania has a few areas that are often amongst the coldest in Australia, like Shannon and Miena, the latter of which has seen average July temperatures as low as -2.3°C. New South Wales suburbs often rank highly on lists of coldest Australian temperatures, with Cooma recording temperatures as low as -9°C in July 2022. The coldest places are usually in the southeast, in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, but nighttime in the desert regions of Australia can also get as low as -3°C.
Where to visit in winter in Australia
Whether you want to find a spot of sunshine or you’re looking to embrace the cold weather in the mountains, you can find plenty of amazing places to visit during Australia’s winter. Winter also brings some fantastic festivals and yearly events that you can only see at this time of year. You’ll often be able to explore some of Australia’s most popular destinations with fewer crowds. If you plan to visit one of the country’s warmer regions in winter, you might want to keep an eye on the local school holiday dates, as these will be the top destinations for Australian tourists seeking winter sunshine.
The Great Barrier Reef
Winter is the dry season in the tropical climate of Northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, with pleasantly warm temperatures and low humidity. The water temperature at this time of year is usually around 23°C, perfect for swimming and scuba diving amongst the reef’s incredible marine wildlife. But the best part about visiting the Great Barrier Reef in July and August is that you won’t be alone, with whales making their annual migration to these warm waters to breed. So you’ll have the opportunity to see dwarf minke whales and humpback whales, both from afar or even up close, in the water.
Port Douglas, Queensland
The dry season in Port Douglas starts in May and ends in October, bringing sunshine and clear skies. Port Douglas is a great place to visit with kids, with attractions like the Habitat, where you can cuddle some koalas, and the historic Bally Hooley Steam Train tour. Port Douglas has markets running on Wednesdays and Sundays every week, and the Sunday Market is an excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday morning in Market Park, with fresh food and locally made crafts on offer. Also, consider visiting St Mary’s by The Sea chapel, a beautiful, heritage-listed church built in the early 20th century.
Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands are a series of 74 islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, with dense rainforest, white sandy beaches and scenic hiking trails. Winter is an excellent time to visit the islands, with temperatures averaging around 25°C with low humidity. This mild weather is perfect for exploring some of Whitsunday’s incredible hiking trails, like Conway Circuit or the Whitsunday Peak track. The Whitsundays also host some festivals during winter. One is the Airlie Beach Race Week, an annual sailing race through the Whitsunday Passage. Another is the Great Barrier Reef Festival, which has carnival rides, a pop-up beach bar and excellent food stalls while celebrating the reef’s ecological importance and the Whitsunday community.
Ningaloo Reef
Another excellent reef to visit in winter is the Ningaloo Reef, in the town of Exmouth in northern Western Australia. Like Northern Queensland, Exmouth sees sunny days and pleasantly warm water temperatures. Humpback whales also pay a visit to this side of the country due to the pleasant deep waters, with migration beginning as early as late May. Other whale species include southern right whales, pigmy blue whales, false killer whales and orcas. Apart from whales, you’ll also be able to spot whale sharks and large manta rays. Exmouth offers in-water and on-board tours that will let you get up close to these stunning creatures.
Visit South Australia’s wine regions
If spending a day sitting by a roaring fire and sipping some of Australia’s best wine is your idea of paradise, head to South Australia’s wine region during winter. Adelaide Hills is only around 20min from the Adelaide CBD and is known for producing some of South Australia’s best Pinot Noir, at wineries like Mt Lofty Ranges and Karrawatta. The Barossa Region sits among rolling green hills about an hour northeast of Adelaide, with amazing cellars like Hentley Farm and Henschke Cellars. Other wine regions in South Australia include the Clare Valley and Mclaren Vale, home to Maxwell Wines, which produces delicious, flavourful mead.
Winter Night Market in Melbourne
The Winter Market is held each winter at Queen Victoria Market, usually every Wednesday evening from the 1st of June to the 31st of August. The lineup differs slightly every year, but a few street-food stalls tend to come back due to their popularity. For example, the Soup Factory serves warm, delicious soups in bread roll bowls; Churro Kitchen is the perfect dessert option with hot, fresh churros, vanilla ice cream and Nutella sauce; and ReWine serves spicy mulled wines in returnable (or refillable) glasses. Outside of food, you can visit stalls offering caricature drawings, vintage Japanese garments and handmade jewellery. Generally open from 17:00 to 22:00, if you’re visiting Melbourne during winter, the Night Market is an unmissable experience.
Great Otway National Park
Great Otway National Park sits alongside the famous Great Ocean Road in Southern Victoria. Winter is an excellent time to explore its hiking trails in relative peace and quiet. Winter brings more rainy days, but this makes it the perfect time to see the region’s beautiful waterfalls at their best. The Hopetoun Falls are one of the best waterfall attractions in the park, plunging 30 metres into the Aire River. Close to Hopetoun Falls, Redwood Forest, also known as Sequoia Sempervirens, is home to stunning Californian Redwoods planted back in 1936, which are now reaching almost 70 metres.
Skiing in Victoria & New South Wales
Australia may be best known around the world for its fantastic beaches and surfing opportunities, but it’s also home to some excellent ski slopes and resorts. The Snowy Mountains in New South Wales are the highest mountain range in Australia, with ski resorts like Charlotte Pass (Australia’s oldest ski resort) and Thredbo (one of the largest in New South Wales) in Kosciuszko National Park. In Victoria, Mount Buller and Mount Baw Baw are stunning snowy landscapes just a few hours from Melbourne, offering steep ski runs, toboggan parks and dog-sled tours. So embrace the winter season in Australia with some fun winter sports activities at one of the country’s best ski resorts.
Winter Festivals in Sydney
While many people might want to rug up indoors during winter, Sydney encourages you to get out and explore the city at its winter festivals. The Bondi Festival, held at the famous Bondi Beach, is an arts festival with live performances of music, theatre and comedy, along with a Ferris wheel and an ice rink. Many Christmas traditions and aesthetics can be a little asynchronous in Sydney’s sunny December, so they also deck the halls in winter during Christmas in July with bars, cruises and restaurants getting into the Christmas spirit, six months early. The Bastille Festival begins on the 14th of July, Bastille Day, and celebrates the best French food and wine, along with some wintery touches like a gorgeous Christmas Village.
Broome, Western Australia
Winter sits right in the middle of Broome’s dry season, meaning you’ll get clear, sunny skies, warm temperatures during the day and comfortably cool weather at night. It’s the perfect time for swimming in the warm water at beaches like Cable Beach, the city’s most popular and well-known beach, whose sunsets are renowned worldwide. In addition, the beach is excellent for water sports, with various companies hiring out equipment like stand-up paddleboards and surfboards. Plus, the area has heaps of fantastic bars and restaurants, including Sunset Bar and Grill, which offers incredible views of the beach.
