Where to Go

Relax on pristine white-sand beaches along Australia’s 25,000km+ coastline.

Head to The Rocks for convict history, Australia’s oldest pubs and dazzling views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Soak up culture, coffee and street art in Melbourne’s vibrant laneways.

Experience the raw, majestic beauty of the Australian environment: Uluru, Kakadu, the Kimberley, the Great Ocean Road, Blue Mountains, Fraser Island, Atherton Tablelands, the Daintree, the Tasmanian Wilderness and countless other regions.

Get close to spectacular corals, marine life and white sand beaches on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.

Head out of town for a road trip or bushwalk among unique Australian flora, fauna and landscapes.

Indulge in local wines and produce in the Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley, Margaret River, Tamar Valley and Huon Valley.

Tour Tasmania’s stunning wilderness, eye-opening art and world-class wine, whisky and slow-food trails.

Weather

The large continent of Australia experiences a diverse range of climates. While the vast majority of the expansive interior is consistently arid or semi-arid, the coastal regions—where most of the population is found—experience a variety of climate conditions ranging from tropical, subtropical, temperate to alpine.

Precipitation is low and unreliable over the bulk of the interior, with many inland regions facing prolonged droughts. The northern regions of the country are subject to the northerly monsoons, bringing heavy rains to coastal Queensland in the summer months.

Although temperatures vary greatly throughout the country, the hottest months are December-February (summer) and the coldest are June-August (winter). Many parts of the Northern Territory and northern Queensland experience little monthly variance in temperature, with mild or warm conditions year-round. In contrast, the other states and territories experience marked seasons, especially in regions of higher elevation in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.

Some high parts of the southern states experience snowfall and alpine conditions, but Australia is the only continent with no glaciers.

• In Hobart, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 12.6°C (55°F) to a maximum of 22.2°C (72°F) in January; to a minimum of 4.9°C (41°F) to a maximum of 12.3°C (54°F) in July.

• In Melbourne, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 15.6°C (60°F) to a maximum of 26.3°C (79°F) in January; to a minimum of 7.1°C (45°F) to a maximum of 14.2°C (58°F) in July.

• In Sydney, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 19.6°C (67°F) to a maximum of 26.5°C (80°F) in January; to a minimum of 8.7°C (48°F) to a maximum of 17.4°C (63°F) in July.

• In Adelaide, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 17.1°C (62.8°F) to a maximum of 29.2°C (84.6°F) in January; to a minimum of 7.5°C (45.5°F) to a maximum of 15.3°C (59.5°F) in July.

• In Perth, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 17.8°C (64°F) to a maximum of 30.8°C (87°F) in January; to a minimum of 7.7°C (46°F) to a maximum of 18.3°C (65°F) in July.

• In Brisbane, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 21.4°C (70.5°F) to a maximum of 30.3°C (86.5°F) in January; to a minimum of 10°C (50°F) to a maximum of 21.9°C (71.4°F) in July.

• In Alice Springs, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 21.8°C (71°F) to a maximum of 36.9°C (98°F) in January; to a minimum of 3.9°C (39°F) to a maximum of 20°C (68°F) in July.

• In Darwin, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 25°C (77°F) to a maximum of 31.8°C (89°F) in January; to a minimum of 19.4°C (67°F) to a maximum of 30.8°C (87°F) in July.