Australia is in the southern hemisphere so in general the seasons are opposite to the US, Europe and Asia. However as Australia is a vast continent, it experiences a variety of climates so there isn’t a single seasonal calendar for the whole country. Instead there are two main seasonal patterns – the temperate zone and the tropics. The temperate zone, consisting of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, much of South Australia and the south-west of Western Australia has a four season pattern:
- Summer: December to February
- Autumn: March to May
- Winter: June to August
- Spring: September to November
The tropical regions of Australia, in the north (Top End) of the country have distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season runs between November and March and is very hot and humid. The dry season lasts about six months, usually between April and October and is the best time to travel to areas such as Darwin and the Kimberley.
Australia is a year round destination though, so with the exception of the Top End, when many tours do not operate, Tropical North Queensland for example is still good to visit and is very popular over Christmas and New Year. ‘Winter’ in north Queensland is an ideal time to visit with little rain and warm temperatures, it’s also one of the cheapest periods in the year to fly.
