A warm greeting to the international students who’ve been navigating the academic landscape of Australia. We want to acknowledge the remarkable journey you’re undertaking to fulfil your career goals. Living in a new country offers its share of adventures and adjustments. Among all of it, the weather is a significant aspect to consider as this land down under accounts for the world’s largest island.
As an international student, you may experience entirely different climates in specific months compared to back home. It’s important to understand, and therefore, be prepared for the ever-changing seasons. Furthermore, you also experience the stunning beauty that these seasons have to offer, from discovering the colourful autumn foliage to layering up in the winter.
An Overview of the Australian Weather
Australia Lies in the Southern Hemisphere and has an opposite climate from the rest of the world. Barring those few that lie in the southern hemisphere.
Being the land of extremes, Australia has experienced temperatures such as 40˚ C in the central desert regions and below-freezing points in the higher southeast regions. These extremes in temperature can also be experienced in a single day.
The seasons in Australia include the following months:
- Spring: September, October, November (Transition months)
- Summer: December, January, February (Hottest months)
- Autumn: March, April and May (Transition months)
- Winter: June, July and August (Coldest months)
There are also distinct seasons spread across annually in Australia. You want to watch out for the wet season that falls between November and April. The days are very hot with high humidity, possible cyclones and rains. You can visit Katherine at the end of the wet season to witness the gorgeous Nitmiluk Gorge.
Furthermore, the dry season falls between May and October with blue skies, warm days, and cool nights. Rainfall is low and the ocean is free of marine stingers, making it easier to swim without worry or full-body suits for protection.
➢ Spring Season in Australia
Spring in Australia starts in September and ends in November right before it transitions into the hottest summer season. During the Spring season, the days get a bit warmer and longer, plants bloom and trees blossom.
If you’ve never seen jacaranda trees, now is the time as they bloom into stunning purple blossoms. You can visit Brisbane, a city in Queensland to enjoy these blossoms and breathtaking views.
Spring is also the season of amazing fruits from melons, cherries, blueberries, mangoes, avocados, and strawberries. Food is seasonal in Australia, which means that you can get seasonal foods cheaper in their season. Their prices get higher when those foods are out of season.
When Spring begins in September, it’s still quite chilly, so people don’t get into the pool on the first day. It is consistently warmer as you reach mid-October.
You will stop using the heating control on the air conditioner, and the roll-around heaters, and use less of your blankets. Also, the weather is bearable and less volatile during the spring season. It’s less sticky and less humid as compared to the summer heat. You can visit Far North Queensland or Uluru for sightseeing. It’s also a great time for outdoor activities, including walking, cycling, zoo and botanic garden visits. Spring also covers Halloween where you can go for events like Night at the Museum at the Queensland Museum.
Beware of Magpies during this season, the black and white passerine birds that are native to Australia. They swoop at people while cycling or walking. Most cyclists wear spikes on their helmets to keep these birds away.
The sun can be pretty harsh even during springtime, so remember to wear long-sleeved shirts and use sun protection. Wear a rash guard or vest for added protection, especially when you are going to the beach or spending time in the pool.
➢ Summer Season in Australia
Keep your loose-fitting shirts, t-shirts, summer dresses, shorts, and sandals ready as the summer season sets in from December to February. The air can get dry, so be sure to use moisturizers, face masks, lip balms, and hand creams.
Australia celebrates Christmas during the summer season unlike its counterparts in the northern hemisphere where Christmas is usually a winter experience.
You can expect sunny and warm days along with heavy rains and tropical storms at Darwin, Broome, Cairns and the Whitsundays. Rains and storms take place due to the tropical north being amid the wet season (November to April).
Also, during this season, if you are going snorkelling or diving, wear full-body wetsuits. This is because these months fall within the Stinger Season (November to May) where jellyfish stings are more likely to happen in higher numbers. The daytime temperature will increase, which is why most people head to the southern parts of Australia where the weather is better. You can surf at Bondi, see the white sand beaches of Esperance, kayak with pods of dolphins in Byron Bay or hike one of Tasmania’s many stunning trails.
➢ Autumn Season in Australia
Get ready to slip into layers in the autumn as even southeast Queensland beach holidays will have you snuggling in jackets or coats. Add thermals and puffer jackets to the list as you plan your day’s outfit.
March brings in the Autumn season till May. You will see vibrant hues of orange, ochre, red, and gold as temperatures cool down in this season. Victoria’s High Country, the Grampians and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania are great places to visit late in the season.
The festivals and events celebrated during the Autumn season include:
- The Bright Autumn Festival in Victoria’s High Country from April 24 to May 3
- The Armidale Autumn Festival in New South Wales from March 13 to March 15
- The Canberra Balloon Spectacular in the Australian Capital Territory – balloons are launched at 6.30 am each day (weather permitted)
You can also see tiny turtles hatching in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Furthermore, you can soak up under the sun on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, or Byron Bay.
➢ Winter season in Australia
Start zipping up your jackets as you enter the winter season from June to August. Make sure you have a beanie, scarf, jeans, socks, and other layers of warm clothing during this time.
You can enjoy the ski fields in the Australian Alps. Alternatively, if you dread the cold then you can visit the northern regions like Darwin, the Top End, and the Kimberly. You can experience low humidity, adequate water temperature, and warm days in Cairns and the Whitsundays. Don’t forget the acrobats of humpback whales along the eastern coastline each year between April and November.
So, while you study in Australia, the varied seasons will have you experience an adventure of diverse beauty and stunning displays.
FAQs
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What are the best seasons for visiting Australia?
You can look forward to visiting Australia during the Spring (September) and Autumn (March to May) seasons. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold with average temperatures ranging from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius. You may experience rain in some areas but overall, these are the best times of the year to visit down under.
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Which city in Australia has the best weather?
Perth is considered to have the best weather in all of Australia. The city experiences 8 days of rain with an average temperature of 30.4 degrees Celsius.
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When is the rainy season month in Australia?
The rainy season in Australia falls between November and April. This season will give you high humidity with extremely hot days, monsoonal rains and possible cyclones. However, during this season, you can get a spectacular view of thundering waterfalls from a helicopter flight. At the end of the season, you can also visit Katherine town in the northern territory of Australia to see the Nitmiluk Gorge in full flow.
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When is it the coldest and the hottest in Australia?
December to February are the hottest months of the year, whereas June to August are the coldest months of the year in Australia.