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A country the size of a continent with the seasons flipped, so the honest answer to when to go is a question back: north or south. Get that right and there is no bad month.
▲ Public holidays vary by state and territory - each window is labelled with where it applies.
Planning a trip to Australia?
The tropical north and the temperate south want opposite halves of the year. Spring is the closest thing to a month that works almost everywhere.
Sunny, low humidity and almost no rain across Queensland's north, the Top End and the Red Centre. This is the window for the reef, for Kakadu and for walking at Uluru without being flattened by heat.
Comfortable temperatures, long days and far smaller crowds than summer. The southern cities are at their best and the wine regions are worth the detour.
Peak season in the south, hot and busy, with the whole country on school holidays over Christmas and January. Beaches, coastal drives and cricket. Book well ahead.
Tap a holiday to plan it
5 chances to get out of the country before the year ends.
Picnic Day (Northern Territory)
Aug 1 – 3, 2026
Picnic Day (Mon 3 Aug) - Northern Territory only
↗ Dry season, perfect weather. The Top End is at its best right now. 3 days offKing's Birthday (Western Australia)
Sep 26 – 28, 2026
King's Birthday (Mon 28 Sep) - Western Australia
↗ Wildflower season at home, or six hours to Bali. WA has the shortest hop north. 3 days offLabour Day and King's Birthday
Oct 3 – 5, 2026
Labour Day (Mon 5 Oct) in NSW, ACT and SA; King's Birthday (Mon 5 Oct) in QLD
↗ The biggest multi-state break before Christmas. Domestic will be packed. 4 days offMelbourne Cup (Victoria)
Oct 31 – Nov 3, 2026
Melbourne Cup Day (Tue 3 Nov) - Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne
↗ Bridge the Monday for four days. Enough for Bali or a week of New Zealand. Biggest break 4 days offChristmas and Boxing Day
Dec 25 – 28, 2026
Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), observed Mon 28 Dec - nationwide
↗ Four days off everywhere at once, in peak summer. Book this one early.Full calendar
Public holidays, plus the festivals worth planning around.
Nothing this month
In a long weekendPublic holidayFestival
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