Some parts of the south east coast and Tasmania have the more cool temperate climate.

As you go north through Australia, you will experience the hot dry summer and cold winter found throughout the centre of Australia, stretching to the west coast. The further north you go, you will still experience the hot dry summer, but winter tends to be warmer.

The top end of Australia is hot and humid. There are some warm humid regions on the east coast of Australia, northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Courtesy of the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, we present a colour map of the climatic zones of Australia.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Australia

The mountains of the Great Divide reach a height of 2,228 metres at Mount Kosciusko. Travelling from east to west across the range, the elevation abruptly increase away from the coastal plain, and then on the west of the Divide, it gradually descends into the Western Plains. Winter snowfalls are experienced over what is known as the Tableland regions, with the Snowy Mountain regions being popular in the 'snowy season'.

As you travel westward, the land flattens out and these dry inland plains are notable for cold nights. It is the far northwest where the hottest temperatures in the State commonly occur during summer, and where the annual mean rainfall drops below 200 mm.

The way in which the climate changes across the State is reflected by changes in the vegetation, which ranges from the subtropical rainforest of the northeast to the fragile alpine heathlands in the Southern Alps, through the dry forests and undulating pasturelands of the mid west to the dry plains of the northwest.

Outdoor activities also vary across the State, with mild winters along the North Coast favouring bush and beach activities, whilst the snow fields of the Southern Alps becoming a favourite winter playground for the skiers.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of New South Wales

Four-fifths of the Territory lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The Territory within about 150 km of the coast is mainly flat or undulating up to about 200 m elevation, with extensive coastal swamps or wetlands in some parts. The interior of the 'Top End' is dominated by the rocky Arnhem Land plateau, with the rugged hills of the southern Katherine region to the southwest and to the east is the gentle hilly country of the Roper-McArthur District and the grassy plains of the Barkly Tableland.

The traditional Aboriginal owners of the 'Top End', identify at least six separate seasons.

Towards central Australia, the land rises steeply into higher plateau and rocky ranges, then decline steeply toward the sand dunes of the Simpson Desert in the southeast, whilst the Lake Amadeus trough separates it from the lower ranges of the far southwest.

The northern and to a lesser extent, central parts of the Territory experience two distinct seasons: 'the wet' (October to April) and 'the dry' (May to September). The change between the seasons is usually gradual, with the transition months of October and November (often called the 'buildup') at the start of the wet, and April at the end. During the wet season, weather in the north is largely determined by the position of the monsoon trough, which can be in either an 'active' or an 'inactive' phase.

In the central parts of the Northern Territory, the contrast between wet and dry is not generally as marked as in the north.

The Alice Springs district is dry for much of the year, with erratic rainfall patterns, although if there is any rain, you are most likely to experience it during summer.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of The Northern Territory

The mountains of the Great Dividing Range rise up to 1,622 m at Mount Bartle. Along sections of the Great Divide, the elevation abruptly increases away from the coastal plain, whilst west of the Divide it gradually descends onto the western plains. On the western side of the Great Divide, the rainfall drops quickly to an annual median of about 700 mm, and then gradually decrease further west. At the same time, average maximum temperatures gradually increases the further you go from the coast.

Further to the west the land flattens out to dry inland plains, making for cold nights. During winter, night temperature is known to drop below zero. It is also here during the summer period, that the hottest temperature in the State most commonly occur, reaching as high as 50°C.

The marked climatic changes across the State is reflected by marked changes in vegetation, ranging from tropical rainforest of the coastal zone of north Queensland to the cooler forests of the southern highlands, the pastoral belt of areas such as the Darling Downs, and to the dry saltpans of the western inland.

Tropical cyclones are a natural hazard from about November through to May in the coastal regions, bringing devastating winds, heavy rain and the threat of coastal inundation from tidal surges. Outback stations and areas can be effected by flash floods and rain falling many kilometres away.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Queensland

The state occupies the central third of the southern half of Australia, with the Great Australian Bight to the south. Large parts of the state are relatively flat or slightly undulating, with half the state being less than 150 m above sea level. To the south, the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent have a moderating influence on temperature along the coast.

The most significant mountain ranges are the Flinders and the Mount Lofty Ranges that extends from Cape Jervis in the south to the northern end of Lake Torrens. North of Peterborough there is a divergence from the main range that stretches via the Glary Ridges to the Barrier Range and Broken Hill in New South Wales. These ranges influence the climate by enhancing the rainfall in their immediate vicinity. Temperature also decreases with increasing altitude. The western half of the State is largely occupied by a low plateau, over which an intermittent series of low ranges stretches from the Flinders to the somewhat higher Musgrave Ranges in the far northwest.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of South Australia

The island can almost be divided into 4 regions, the north west, where you disembark the ferry at Devonport, the north east, with beaches and mountain peaks, the south west, with World Heritage region of rainforest and river system, and the south east with the Port Arthur penal settlement and coastline.

Prevailing westerly winds causes the variation of west to east cloudiness and rainfall, although temperature is governed more by the elevation and distance from the coast. In winter and early spring, westerly winds reach their greatest strength and persistence, causing high rainfall in the west and northwest. In the east and southeast, rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year. Summers are generally mild.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Tasmania

To the west and north of the Great Divide the land flattens into dry inland plains. It is here in the Mallee that the temperature is usually the hottest during the summer period.

The coastal strip, south of the ranges, is wetter, except for the far east where the Strezlecki Ranges shelter the East Gippsland District from the moisture-laden westerly winds. The climatic differences in different part of the state is evident in the changes of vegetation ranging from mallee scrub in the northwest, through irrigated plains in the north and the wetter grazing lands of the south, through to the forested mountainous country of north eastern Victoria.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Victoria

As a general rule, the further you travel inland from the coast, the less rainfall and an increase in the range of temperatures experienced.

Sources include: Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Western Australia