What to Wear in Australia: the Weather Season by Season
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Cairns, Hobart and Darwin: day and evening temperatures and how the locals dress
By Andrew Sorokin, Sydney guide since 2006
In short. Australia's seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere: summer is December to February, winter is June to August.
Winters in most cities are mild, but mornings and evenings are cool almost everywhere and the summer sun is very strong.
The local rule is layers: carry a light jumper or windbreaker in any season.
In the tropical north, Cairns and Darwin, there is a wet season and a dry season instead of summer and winter.
At a glance: summer and winter temperatures
| City | Summer,
by day | Winter,
by day | Winter,
at night |
|---|
| Sydney | 26–28 °C
79–82 °F | 17–18 °C
63–64 °F | 7–9 °C
45–48 °F |
| Melbourne | 25–27 °C
77–81 °F | up to 14 °C
57 °F | about 7 °C
45 °F |
| Perth | 30–32 °C
86–90 °F | 18–19 °C
64–66 °F | 8 °C
46 °F |
| Gold Coast | 28–30 °C
82–86 °F | 21–22 °C
70–72 °F | 11–12 °C
52–54 °F |
| Canberra | 27–29 °C
81–84 °F | 11–12 °C
52–54 °F | −1 to 0 °C
30 to 32 °F |
| Cairns | 31–32 °C*
88–90 °F | 25–26 °C*
77–79 °F | 17 °C*
63 °F |
| Hobart | 20–22 °C
68–72 °F | 11–12 °C
52–54 °F | 4–5 °C
39–41 °F |
| Darwin | 32 °C*
90 °F | 30–31 °C*
86–88 °F | 20 °C*
68 °F |
* Cairns and Darwin have a wet and a dry season instead of summer and winter: the "summer" column shows the wet season, the "winter" columns the dry season.
City by city: the weather and what to wear
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
days 26–28 °C (79–82 °F)
Sydney summer days are hot and the sun is fierce, but unlike Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Sydney is not humid or muggy. People wear shorts, T-shirts, light cotton or linen dresses, a cap or a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. The evening sea breeze and strong indoor air-conditioning mean locals always carry a light jacket, a long-sleeved shirt or a thin cardigan.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
days 17–18 °C (63–64 °F)mornings and evenings 7–9 °C (45–48 °F)
Winter is mild and snow-free, but early mornings and evenings are cold. The rule of an Australian winter is layers. Jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt with a warm jumper or hoodie are comfortable by day. For mornings and evenings bring a light jacket, a puffer, a trench coat or a windproof jacket, and a scarf against the cold ocean wind.
🍂🌱 Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November)
days 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
The in-between months are changeable: a summery afternoon can turn cold by evening. Wear a short-sleeved T-shirt, but always take a jumper, a light windbreaker for the evening and an umbrella for a sudden shower.
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
days 25–27 °C (77–81 °F)sometimes above 35 °C (95 °F)
Summer is warm, but Melbourne weather is famous for changing without warning. People wear shorts, light dresses and T-shirts, with sunglasses and a hat. Because of sudden changes and the cool wind off the sea, locals carry a light cardigan, a windbreaker and a compact umbrella even on a sunny day.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
7–14 °C (45–57 °F)
Melbourne winters are chilly, damp and windy. People wear closed waterproof shoes, heavy jeans and warm sweatshirts or jumpers, topped with a thick jacket, a wool coat or a puffer, often with a warm scarf and beanie against the biting wind.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
"four seasons in one day"
This is when Melbourne lives up to "four seasons in one day": a cold morning, a hot afternoon and rain in the evening. Dress in layers: a T-shirt, a warm jumper over it and a windproof jacket or trench on top, easy to take off and put back on during the day.
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
30–32 °C (86–90 °F)
Perth summers are very hot, dry and sunny. Wear the lightest breathable cotton and linen: shorts, singlets, light sundresses. The sun is very strong, so a cap or bucket hat and sunglasses are a must. Warm clothes are hardly needed, apart from a thin shirt for air-conditioned rooms.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
days 18–19 °C (64–66 °F)nights 8 °C (46 °F)
Winter is mild but it is the rainy season. Locals switch to jeans, sneakers, long-sleeved tops and hoodies, with a waterproof windbreaker or light jacket and an umbrella always at hand.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
A very comfortable time. Summer clothes are fine by day; for the evening, when the fresh sea breeze comes in, a light cardigan, a denim jacket or a thin jumper is enough.
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
28–30 °C (82–86 °F)
The subtropical summer is hot and very humid, with frequent short tropical downpours. People wear beachwear: shorts, singlets, thongs (flip-flops) and light dresses. Bring sunglasses and a light rain jacket that keeps off a sudden shower without making you sweat.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
days 21–22 °C (70–72 °F)mornings and evenings 11–12 °C (52–54 °F)
Gold Coast winter is near-perfect: dry and sunny. Days are warm enough for shorts and T-shirts, but it cools down early in the morning and after sunset, so for the evening bring jeans, closed shoes and a warm hoodie, cardigan or light jacket.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
warm
Warm and pleasant, ideal beach weather. Summer clothes by day; for an evening walk along the esplanade a light pullover or a long-sleeved shirt is enough.
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
days 27–29 °C (81–84 °F)evenings 13–14 °C (55–57 °F)
Summer in the capital is hot and dry, and the sun bites. Light summer clothes are comfortable by day: shorts, T-shirts, open shoes. But Canberra sits inland and higher up, so evenings cool down fast; always have a cardigan, a light jumper or a windbreaker.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
days 11–12 °C (52–54 °F)nights −1 to 0 °C (30 to 32 °F)
The only city on this list with a truly cold winter by Australian standards: nights bring frost. People wear proper winter clothes: warm puffers or wool coats, beanies, gloves, warm boots and thermal underwear.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
sunny and cool
Days are usually sunny and cool, but mornings and evenings are very chilly. Layers are a must: a turtleneck or a thick T-shirt, a warm jumper and a mid-season jacket on top.
🌧️ Wet season (December to March)
31–32 °C (88–90 °F)
Cairns has no real summer or winter; the climate is tropical. The wet season is very hot, with extreme humidity and frequent monsoon downpours. Wear only the lightest loose clothes in thin natural fabrics, shorts and sandals, plus a light rain poncho. Warm clothes are not needed outdoors at all; at most a thin cardigan for buses and shopping centres where the air-conditioning is freezing.
☀️ Dry season (June to August)
days 25–26 °C (77–79 °F)evenings 17 °C (63 °F)
The best time in Cairns: the humidity drops and it hardly rains. People keep wearing summer clothes: shorts, singlets, T-shirts and summer dresses. Evenings are cooler, so for dinner outdoors a light long-sleeved shirt or a thin cardigan is enough.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
hot
The months in between, when the humidity is either building up or easing off. It stays hot, and you only need summer clothes.
☀️ Summer (December, January, February)
20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
Tasmanian summer is mild, fresh and never too hot. Shorts and T-shirts are comfortable in the sun, but the sun burns fast here, so cover up or use plenty of sunscreen. Because of cool southerly winds, locals take a jumper, a hoodie or a light jacket even in midsummer.
❄️ Winter (June, July, August)
days 11–12 °C (52–54 °F)nights 4–5 °C (39–41 °F)
Winter is cold, damp and often windy, with Antarctic winds. People wear heavy windproof jackets, warm puffers, beanies, warm trousers or thick jeans and boots, and always a thick scarf.
🍂🌱 Autumn and spring
cool and windy
Cool and windy, so dress warm and covered: jeans, fleece tops, windproof jackets, closed leather shoes and an umbrella.
🌧️ Wet season (November to April)
days 32 °C (90 °F)
Darwin is Australia's tropical north and it is hot all year round. In the wet season heavy tropical storms roll in, humidity peaks and it is very sticky. Keep clothes minimal and breathable: thin shorts, singlets, thongs, and always an umbrella.
☀️ Dry season (May to October)
days 30–31 °C (86–88 °F)nights 20 °C (68 °F)
The humidity drops and the days are clear and hot. Locals and visitors wear the same summer clothes all year. Leave warm clothes at home: even on a winter evening a light cotton T-shirt or shirt is enough.
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