If you're thinking about the best time to visit Australia, the good news is that it really is a year-round destination. Australia holiday prices will vary during the seasons, and although Aussie winter season officially starts on the 1 June and ends 31 August (the opposite to Europe), I think winter is a perfect time to visit. Let me explain why and where I think you should visit.
Australia is so vast that it’s always warm somewhere and in fact, Aussie winter/European summer is the best time to visit some states. Families often find British summer is the best time to take a holiday to Australia, during the longest school break of the year. Equally, June is considered low season by most airlines, so if you can set off your trip before the beginning of July, you may also bag a bargain flight. We're experts in planning multi-stop flights to Australia with stopovers, so ask us for more advice.
So where should you go for the best winter holidays in Australia and why?
June to August marks the dry season in northern Queensland, so rainfall is at its lowest and temperatures are generally warm and sunny. It definitely gives British summer a run for its money!
This is the perfect time to swim, dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, sail the Whitsundays and explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. If you travel in July, you’'' almost certainly experience better weather than your friends back home in the UK.
If you're looking for an itinerary that explores the full diversity of Australia in a fortnight, try our 2 weeks in Australia: Sydney, rock and reef holiday. Over just 14 days, you'll see Sydney’s iconic harbour and visit Uluru (Ayers Rock - packed with Aboriginal history) before heading to the beaches of Queensland to explore the Great Barrier Reef. It's a brilliant holiday that covers all the bases.
Just like Queensland, winter in Australia is one of the optimum times to visit the tropical Top End of Australia, with dry, sunny days and less humidity than the Aussie summer (December to February).
The winter months of June to August are also the time when the roads to the National Parks are fully open and touring is in full swing. In winter, the Red Centre also experiences cooler day time temperatures, so it’s the perfect time for actively exploring around Uluru and Alice Springs.
Our 2 week action-packed Australia family holiday starts in the very Top End of Australia in Darwin. You'll meet fearsome crocs and loveable wallabies, uncover Aboriginal art and swim in waterfall plunge pools; camp beneath the stars and watch sunrise and sunset over the mighty Uluru before heading to the beach to snorkel amongst an array of rainbow fish on the Great Barrier Reef.
If you’re keen to visit the Kimberley region, I recommend travelling between June and December, sometime in the Aussie winter. During these months, the roads will be fully open for an epic 4WD adventure along the Gibb River Road, and there will be perfect t-shirt weather throughout the state.
Further south in Western Australia, foodies and wine buffs can explore the vineyards of Margaret River away from the crowds and nature enthusiasts will be wowed by the wildflowers on display around WA. North of Perth, June marks the beginning of the dry season around Ningaloo Reef, where you'll find vast stretches of sandy beach and an amazing underwater world.
Our luxury self-drive holiday through Western Australia will give you a few days to explore Perth followed by a week’s luxury campervan hire. Far less busy than Australia's east coast, you can look forward to secluded beaches and wildlife spotting as you travel either north towards the Pinnacles, Ningaloo Reef and the Coral Coast or south towards Margaret River, Denmark and Albany – the choice is yours.
Don’t rule out a visit to the Southern States during winter in Australia. Although the temperatures will be cooler down south, there are many clear, sunny days that make perfect weather for sightseeing. Winter sports fans can even get a fix of skiing in Victoria’s alpine resorts.
It’s a great time to visit the Outback of South Australia in a 4WD and explore the Simpson Desert and Flinders Ranges. On top of this, humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales and orcas all migrate to the waters off the coast of Victoria from May and stay until October, making it a wonderful time to spot whales breaching in the waves.
Our tailor-made Gourmet South Australia holiday makes an excellent introduction to South Australia, with stays in Adelaide and a self-drive through the Barossa Valley wine region. We've also included a 3-day stay in Kangaroo Island, home to the 'Remarkable Rocks' and rich in Aussie wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and plenty of bird life.
Sydney is a stunning city whatever the season, so you can't go far wrong. However, in winter you have the added advantage of whale-watching in the waters off New South Wales when humpback whales make their way up the East Coast from May to November. For something more quirky, just 90 minutes from Sydney you can experience Yulefest in the Blue Mountains for a mid-year ‘Christmas in July’ treat.
Our itinerary with luxury campervan hire lets you explore Australia’s east coast from Sydney at your own pace and in comfort. Ideal for independent holidaymakers including couples or families, the stay on Heron Island will appeal to keen scuba divers and snorkelers who want to see the Great Barrier Reef for themselves.
We can arrange your perfect winter holiday in Australia including direct or multi-stop flights to Australia, accommodation, campervans and tours. Ask us for ideas and we can help build your dream trip just as you’d like it! Here are some other Australia holiday ideas to get you thinking - each one can be tailored to suit you!
Just as European winter time is great for Australia, it’s also a great time to visit the South Pacific and parts of South-east Asia for example, so why not consider adding a stopover in Fiji, the Cook Islands or Bali? For example, see our Darwin & Bali: safari and sun holiday. Contact Annette or call one of our Australia destination specialists on +44 1273320580 to book.
