Due to the vast and diverse landscape covering Australia, the climate varies dramatically
in different parts of the country.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Canberra, the capital of Australia is found in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). In
Canberra you would experience a continental climate as it is located away from the
coast. The summers are mild and wet, with a few warm days. Winters in Canberra are quite
cold with frequent frost and fog.
A lot of the high-altitude mountain ranges in the south-west get covered with snow during
winter. During Spring and Summer (October - March), occasional thunderstorms could
occur. Rainfall is highest during the spring and summer and lowest during winter.
Sydney, New South Wales (NSW)
More than half of the state of NSW has a semi-arid climate. In the state capital of
Sydney, the climate can be described as humid subtropical, with hot and humid summers
and mild winters. The eastern part of the state experiences a temperate climate, a
desert climate to the west, and an oceanic climate to the south. In the Snowy Mountains
region of NSW in the South-East, the weather tends to be either subpolar oceanic or
alpine, with extremely cold weather all year round, and snowfall during winter.
Sydney has one of the best weather conditions, averaging 15-17 degrees year-round.
The city experiences mild and cool winters, and warm and hot summers. The highest
rainfall is recorded during the first half of the year. Sydney also experiences around
20 thunderstorms per year on average. Sunshine is plentiful in the months of January and
August. Spring is quite dry in Sydney, and during summer, the temperatures could rise
well above 35 degrees.
Darwin, Northern Territory (NT)
The Northern Territory (NT) has two distinct climate zones. In Darwin, the climate is a
tropical wet and dry climate, and experiences very high levels of humidity, and two
seasons; the wet season (October - April) and the dry season (May - September). During
the dry season, almost every day is warm and sunny with a humidity level of 30% in the
afternoons. May and September months have mild rainfall, and June and July are the
coolest months; the weather can go down to as low as 14 degrees Celsius. The wet season
brings monsoon rains and tropical cyclones, with maximum rainfall during December -
March, accompanied by frequent thunderstorms. The temperature remains approximately
around 30 degrees Celsius for most of the year. However, certain parts of the Northern
Territory experience monsoon weather including hurricanes and typhoons.
Brisbane, Queensland
A majority of the State experiences two distinct seasons; winter which is accompanied by
warm temperatures and low rainfall and Summer, which can get very hot, sticky and high
rainfall levels. Parts of Queensland also experience monsoon weather including
hurricanes and typhoons. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland experiences a subtropical
climate, where most of the year is warm and humid, and residents enjoy around 2,800
hours of sunshine annually. Most rainfall occurs during the summertime and can be
accompanied by thunderstorms including torrential rain. Winter is generally dry, with
clear, blue skies. The hottest months are during summer (December - February) and the
weather can get very sticky and humid.
Adelaide, South Australia
The climate in Adelaide is Mediterranean, with cool, mild winters and a fair amount of
rainfall. Summers are generally dry and hot; Adelaide is the driest of all Australian
capital cities. In recent years, Adelaide has experienced spikes in heatwaves, droughts
and extremely high temperatures, which could be attributed to global warming and climate
change. In winter, Adelaide experiences substantial wind chills, and makes the
temperature seem cooler than it actually is. In summer, rain is infrequent and light,
and in winter there are heavy periods of rain, with June being the wettest month of the
year.
Tasmania
Tasmania experiences a cool, temperate climate and has four seasons. Summer is the
warmest (December - February), with average temperatures ranging from 17 to 23 degrees
Celsius. Winter is a lot colder, and averages around 3 to 11 degrees Celsius. Rainfall
in different parts of the island varies, and the capital; Hobart gets very little
rainfall and is the second driest capital city after Adelaide. In Tasmania, Australians
experience the harshest and coldest conditions during winter, with hail and snow.
Summers are generally mild, with a low of mid-twenties. The weather in Tasmania is quite
unpredictable, so you should always be prepared, and carry an umbrella and a
raincoat/jacket for extra measure.
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, has a temperate oceanic climate, and is known for its
extremely unpredictable weather patterns. This is largely due to its geographical
location. During spring and summer, Melbourne faces strong cold fronts, with severe
weather patterns, including thunderstorms, gales, heavy rain, and even on occasion;
hail. Melbourne is known to experience all four seasons in one day, with sudden
formation of isolated showers, which are heavy and include hail and strong gusts of
wind. These temperature changes could sometimes last only several minutes before it
passes on, and the weather clears to a more sunny, calmer state. This could happen
several times in a single day. Summers in Melbourne are known for their extreme heat,
especially in the months of January and February. Winters can get quite cold, with
moderate rainfall, accompanied by occasional frost and fog, especially during the months
of June and July. Winter averages at about 10-12 degrees, and during summer it averages
around 25 degrees Celsius, but has been known to rise over 40 degrees Celsius on
occasion. October is known to be the wettest month in Melbourne.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth has a Mediterranean climate and experiences hot and dry summers through December-
March, with sporadic showers, and thunderstorms, and the occasional tropical cyclone.
Winters are quite mild, but wet, with a significant amount of rainfall. Perth
experiences several days of sunshine and is known as the sunniest capital city in
Australia.