Australia
A large, sparsely settled country with coastal cities, the Great Barrier Reef off the north-east coast and large deserts inland, where distance shapes every trip.
Australia covers the mainland continent, the island of Tasmania and many smaller islands, and it ranks sixth in the world by land area. The mainland is the flattest and driest inhabited continent. Most people live near the coast, about 95% of them within 100 km of it. Sydney and Melbourne are the largest cities, each with more than five million people, and Canberra is the national capital.
Many travelers come for the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world, which sits a short way off the north-east coast and stretches more than 2,300 km. Others come for Aboriginal culture, one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth, and for scenery that runs from coastal tropical rainforest to central desert. Distances are long, so it is better to choose one or two regions. The weather also depends on the region: the north is wet in summer, the centre is arid, and the south-eastern highlands and Tasmania can have freezing winter temperatures.
Five things to know before Australia
- Get an ETA or eVisitor before you fly
A visa must be granted before you fly: the ETA, applied for in the Australian ETA app (AUD20 service charge), or the free eVisitor for EU and some other European passports. New Zealanders need no visa before they travel. ETA and eVisitor explained
- Declare food and plant products
Everyone fills in an Incoming Passenger Card and must declare risk goods such as food, animal products and plant material, including wooden articles. Quarantine breaches can bring a heavy fine.
- Tap on with your bank card in Sydney
Trains, buses, ferries and light rail take contactless cards, so you do not need a separate transit card for a short stay. Sydney
- Fly the long legs
Sydney to Melbourne is about 1.5 hours by air and most of a day by road; Cairns and Uluru are further still. Book internal flights early for school holidays. Melbourne
- Swim between the flags
On patrolled beaches, the red and yellow flags mark where lifeguards are watching. In the tropical north, check stinger and crocodile signs before you swim. Queensland swim safety
Australia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Harbor ferries, coastal walks and where to stay
Read the guideMelbourneTrams, laneways and the Great Ocean Road
Read the guideGreat Barrier ReefCairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays
Read the guideUluru-Kata TjutaPark pass, walks and the heat
Read the guideTasmaniaHobart, Freycinet and Cradle Mountain by car
Read the guideETA and eVisitor explainedWho needs which and where to apply
Read the guideVisa checkerYour passport's entry rule, checked against official sources
Read the guideFlights and car hireLong distances and one-way rentals
Read the guide
Destinations in Australia
CitySydneyExplore
CityNoosaExplore
CityGold CoastExplore
CityCairnsExplore
CityRockhamptonExplore
CityPerthExplore
CityCanberraExplore
CityByron BayExplore
CityHobartExplore
CityPort DouglasExplore
CityYularaExplore
CityBrisbaneExplore
CityThe WhitsundaysExplore
CityThe DaintreeExplore
CityAdelaideExplore
CityDarwinExplore
CityBroomeExplore
CityNewcastleExplore
CityAirlie BeachExplore
CityMelbourneExplore
CityLauncestonExplore
CityTownsvilleExplore
CityPokolbinExplore
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- A$55
- Food
- A$45
- Transport
- A$10
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- A$140
- Food
- A$90
- Transport
- A$35
- Sights
- A$45
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- A$230
- Food
- A$180
- Transport
- A$100
- Sights
- A$150
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Summer holidaysJanuaryRain
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer holidays
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Warm, humidFebruaryRain
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, humid
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Warm seaMarchRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 193 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Mild, clearAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Cool, clearMayPartly cloudy
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, clear
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°CoolJunePartly cloudy
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°CoolestJulyClear
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coolest
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Whale seasonAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°SpringSeptemberClear
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, clearOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°WarmNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Holidays, busyDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holidays, busy
Average daily high and low in Sydney, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Australia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Canberra
07:05 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today22°11°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed22°10°39%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Thu20°9°32%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 32%.
- Fri20°7°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat18°6°33%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sun19°4°7%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Mon20°6°0%Monday: Clear. High 20°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 04:14 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- JanAustralian OpenMelbourne
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- MayVivid SydneySydney
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- OctMelbourne CupMelbourne
- Nov
- DecSydney New Year's EveSydney
On tour in Australia: Foo Fighters Take Cover Tour Brisbane, Townsville, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Nov 5, 2026 – Jan 25, 2027 · BABYMONSTER World Tour [CHOOM] Melbourne, Sydney, Dec 11 – 13, 2026 · BTS World Tour 'Arirang' Melbourne, Sydney, Feb 10 – 21, 2027 · Bruno Mars The Romantic Tour Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Feb 13 – Mar 9, 2027 · Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Jul 16 – 26, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Sydney, Pokolbin, Oct 2 – 16, 2027
Before you go to Australia
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Australia FAQ
Do I need a visa for Australia?
Yes, before you fly. Most visitors use the ETA (Australian ETA app, AUD20 service charge) or, with an eligible European passport, the free eVisitor. New Zealand citizens need no visa before they travel.
Is Australia expensive?
Rooms and eating out cost more than in most of Asia. Supermarkets, free beaches and coastal walks help balance it.
How many days do I need in Australia?
Two weeks gives Sydney, a flight to the reef or Uluru, and a few days in Melbourne. Three weeks lets you add Tasmania or a longer road trip, and distances argue against more than three bases.
When is the best time to visit Australia?
It depends on the region: December to February is summer in the south, and the tropical north is driest from about May to October. Spring and autumn suit Sydney and Melbourne best.
Is it safe to swim at Australian beaches?
Yes on patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags. Rips are the main risk; in the north, wear a stinger suit in warm months and heed crocodile signs near rivers and estuaries.