Travel
The best time to swim in Australia
Tropical north, temperate east and the cooler southern coasts compared.
6 min read
Australia spans tropical to cool-temperate waters. The north is warm and wet in summer; the east coast has a classic warm summer; the south is cool and often surf-dominated.
By region
- Queensland / Great Barrier Reef: 25–29°C year-round; stinger season is November–May.
- NSW (Sydney to Byron): 22–24°C January–March; 18–20°C in winter.
- Victoria & Tasmania: 16–20°C at best in January–March; wetsuit common.
- Western Australia (Perth to Broome): 19–23°C in the south, 25–29°C in the north.