The Best Time to Visit Western Australia
Western Australia by Season
Being so huge, 2.646 million km2 to be exact, Western Australia has a hugely diverse climate, ranging from Mediterranean in the south to tropical in the north. Luckily for you, this means there’s always somewhere sunny to explore in Western Australia, no matter what time of year you visit. To help you decide the best time for you, we’ve split the year into its four seasons.
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September - November
Western Australia’s north, around the Kimberley, heads into the green season in October. Effectively a wet season, this brings dramatic thunderstorms and high humidity to the region. Don’t worry too much though – these showers are usually short lived, and all tours still operate, while the lack of people around makes this a good time to nab a hotel bargain. To escape the rains and find more sun, head south to Perth and Fremantle.
Go for:
Margaret River Gourmet Escape: celebrate all things food and wine among the rolling vineyards of Margaret River at this decadent festival, held each November.
Shark Bay wildflowers: walk the pathways of the Peron Peninsula to admire the beautiful carpet of spring flowers including white myrtle, yellow wattles and purple peas.
December - February
Summer is the warmest time across Western Australia, with highs of 29°C in Perth. If you’re feeling the heat, get down to Fremantle to cool off with an ice cream and some sea breezes, or hit the beach (or more likely the waves) in Margaret River, where temperatures can reach up to 35°C. To the north of the state it can still be showery and humid, but there should be enough intermittent sun to get out on the Kimberley’s rivers or laze on Broome’s beaches.
Go for:
Perth City Festival of Christmas: feel the magic of the holiday season with Christmas lights, decorations, Christmas food markets and a visit from Santa. Held mid to late December.
Origin NYE: also in Perth, ring in the New Year at the city’s biggest party, a concert filled with hip hop, electronic and house music.
March - May
From April onwards, the northern parts of Western Australia around Broome enter the dry season, which lasts until September. This brings warm, sunny days with little rain and plenty of outdoor fun, the perfect time for hiking, biking and canoeing. Whale shark season starts near Exmouth, so get out on the water and look out for these magnificent creatures.
Go for:
Whale sharks: swimming with the world’s largest fish is pretty high up most people’s bucket lists, so tick it off yours in Exmouth between March and July.
Surfing: autumn brings the big swells to Margaret River, so it’s the perfect time to sign up for lessons or simply grab your surf board and have a go at this popular sport.
June - August
Believe it or not, Western Australia does cool down in the winter, with temperatures dropping to around 12°C in Perth. There’s still plenty of sun about though, as Perth’s average sunshine is nine hours a day and for 131 days a year there’s not a single cloud in the sky. Winter is a lovely time for cosy forest walks and wine tasting by the fire in Margaret River too.
Go for:
Wildflowers: from June to November, Western Australia’s parks and gardens are carpeted in a glorious display of wildflowers. See them at their best in Perth’s Kings Park or Karijini National Park.
City of Perth Winter Arts Festival: Perth’s largest winter festival is a celebration of theatre, dance, film, literature and design. Events are held citywide throughout June, July and August.
