Australia is a vast country that spans three time zones, not including ‘daylight saving’. It has a range of temperate climates, that includes winter skiing in the south, through the balmy waters of the Great Barrier Reef, to the tropical rainforest of the far north. There are deserts and arid zones, monsoonal wet seasons, whilst residents and visitors can experience temperatures from below zero to over 40ºC.

When visiting any part of Australia, you will need to plan according to the seasons and expected weather conditions. In a country that experiences drought, floods and cyclones it is always prudent to plan ahead.

We hope that the information provided here, will assist you in your planning. Check out the sections including:

• Climate by Capital City,
• Seasons in Australia,
• Climate Zones in Australia,
• Climate Zones by State and Territory
• Temperature Conversion.

IMPORTANT: Always cross-check weather conditions with the visitor centre at your destination, or the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology.

If you are visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the main rain period is January to February.

In northern Queensland, parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, roads may flood during January to March known as the “wet season”.

The ski season occurs from June to October in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Australia can be divided into six main climatic regions or zones on the basis of air temperature and humidity. Each of these regions is shown in the map below. There is also a great clickable region map of Australia to be found on the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate Averages Map.

For an individual look at each zone visit the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate tips for travellers.

Source: Courtesy of the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology