Weather by month for Sydney, the best months to go and how Australia's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Apr, May, Sep, Oct
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 20°C to 23°C · 8–11 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Jul, Aug, Nov, Dec
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 17°C to 27°C · 6–15 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine, sea temperature and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C / 20°C | 13 days (99 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 22°C | 6.9/10 |
| February | 26°C / 19°C | 13 days (107 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 23°C | 7.4/10 |
| March | 25°C / 18°C | 15 days (151 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 23°C | 7.2/10 |
| Best month: April | 22°C / 15°C | 10 days (96 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 22°C | 8.1/10 |
| Best month: May | 20°C / 11°C | 8 days (62 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 21°C | 7.9/10 |
| June | 17°C / 9°C | 10 days (77 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 20°C | 7.2/10 |
| July | 17°C / 8°C | 8 days (64 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 18°C | 7.1/10 |
| August | 18°C / 9°C | 6 days (49 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 18°C | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: September | 21°C / 11°C | 8 days (49 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 19°C | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: October | 23°C / 14°C | 11 days (75 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 19°C | 7.6/10 |
| November | 24°C / 16°C | 12 days (81 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 20°C | 7.3/10 |
| December | 26°C / 18°C | 10 days (66 mm) | 11.6 h/day | 21°C | 7.2/10 |
Figures for Sydney; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
27°C / 20°C · 13 rain days · 10.8 h sun · sea 22°C
These figures are for Adelaide. January is warm and dry, with highs of 27.7°C and only 4.6 rain days. It scores 8.3 and rates as a best month, with 12.4 hours of sun a day. New Year's Day and Australia Day (26 January) are public holidays, so some businesses may close.
26°C / 19°C · 13 rain days · 10.6 h sun · sea 23°C
February is one of the top months in Adelaide, scoring 8.8 and rated best. Highs reach 26.8°C and there are just 3 rain days, the fewest of the year. The sea is still warm at 22.8°C. There are no public holidays this month in our data.
25°C / 18°C · 15 rain days · 9.5 h sun · sea 23°C
March ties with February for the top score of 8.8 and rates as best. Highs ease to 25.1°C, with 3.7 rain days and only 18 mm of rain. The sea stays warm at 22.6°C, so this is a good choice for beach days without the peak heat.
22°C / 15°C · 10 rain days · 9.4 h sun · sea 22°C
April is still a best month, scoring 8.2. Highs drop to 21.3°C and rain days rise to 6.3. Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April) are public holidays in 2026. Expect a busy long weekend and some closures.
20°C / 11°C · 8 rain days · 8.7 h sun · sea 21°C
May is rated good, with a score of 6.5. It gets cooler and wetter, with highs of 17.3°C and 10.9 rain days. The sea falls to 16.5°C, so swimming is less appealing. Pack a warm layer for evenings, when lows reach 10.8°C.
17°C / 9°C · 10 rain days · 8.2 h sun · sea 20°C
June is only ok, scoring 5.2. Highs are 14.5°C, with 11.7 rain days and 87 mm of rain. Days are short, with 7.7 hours of sun. This is not a good time to go if you want warm weather or beach time.
17°C / 8°C · 8 rain days · 8.9 h sun · sea 18°C
July is the weakest month, with a score of 4.9. It is the coldest and wettest: highs of 13.9°C, lows of 8.4°C and 13.1 rain days. The sea drops to 12.6°C. Avoid July if you want sun or swimming; come only for city sightseeing and pack rain gear.
18°C / 9°C · 6 rain days · 9.2 h sun · sea 18°C
August is still only ok, scoring 5.2. Highs are 14.7°C and there are 12.8 rain days, with 83 mm of rain. It is a poor month for the beach, as the sea is just 13.2°C. Choose a later month if you can.
21°C / 11°C · 8 rain days · 10.4 h sun · sea 19°C
September improves to good, with a score of 6.7. Highs reach 16.9°C, but there are still 10.9 rain days. Sun hours rise to 9.9 a day. It suits walks and sightseeing more than beach trips, as the sea is only 15°C.
23°C / 14°C · 11 rain days · 10.4 h sun · sea 19°C
October is back to a best month, scoring 7.5. Highs of 20.5°C and 8.3 rain days make it mild and pleasant. You get 11 hours of sun a day. The sea is still cool at 17.4°C, so swimming is for the brave.
24°C / 16°C · 12 rain days · 11.0 h sun · sea 20°C
November scores 8.2 and rates as best. Highs reach 23°C and rain days fall to 6.8. With 11.7 hours of sun, it is a good month for outdoor plans. The sea warms to 19.3°C.
26°C / 18°C · 10 rain days · 11.6 h sun · sea 21°C
December scores 8.5 and rates as best. Highs are 26°C, with 4.4 rain days and 12.5 hours of sun, the most of the year. Christmas Day (25 December) and St. Stephen's Day (28 December) are public holidays in 2026, so expect closures and busy travel.
By trip type
City sightseeing
Adelaide suits city trips best from December to March. Highs are 25°C to 28°C, with only 3 to 4.6 rain days a month and up to 12.5 hours of sun. These figures cover Adelaide only, not all of Australia.
Beach
For beaches near Adelaide, go in January or February. The sea is about 23°C and highs reach 27°C to 28°C. February is the driest beach month, with 18 mm of rain over 3 days.
Hiking & nature
Hiking near Adelaide works best in February, March, April and November. Highs of 21°C to 27°C are warm but not too hot. April is the coolest of these months, but it has the most rain, with 6.3 rain days.
Events calendar
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. February is one of the best months, with a score of 8.8 out of 10. Days reach about 26.8°C and nights drop to about 16.9°C. It is one of the driest months, with only 3 rain days and 18 mm of rain. You get about 11.8 hours of sun a day, and the sea is warm at 22.8°C.
Only if you don't mind cold, wet weather. July has the lowest score of the year, 4.9 out of 10. Highs are about 13.9°C and lows about 8.4°C. It rains on about 13.1 days, with 87 mm in total. The sea is 12.6°C, which is too cold for most swimmers. Skip July if you want beach time.
January to March. The sea is about 22.9°C in January, 22.8°C in February and 22.6°C in March. It then cools fast, to 19.5°C in April and 16.5°C in May. The coldest water is in July, at about 12.6°C. December is also warm, at about 21.5°C.
Yes, April is still a very good month, with a score of 8.2 out of 10. It is milder than summer, with highs around 21.3°C and lows around 13.3°C. Rain is still low, with about 6.3 rain days and 49 mm. The sea is about 19.5°C. These figures are averages for Adelaide from 2015–2024, not for all of Australia.
Enter to search · Esc to close