Sydney weather is sunny and mild throughout the year. It's usually warm enough to enjoy outdoor adventures year-round and see the beaches busy even in the winter. Since the Australian city is located in Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are inverted from the typical pattern seen in America and Europe. Winter happens in the middle of the year, beginning at the end of June, while summer arrives in December. Spring and fall are the reverse, too, with autumn arriving in March and spring beginning in September. Many consider these two seasons, filled with sunny days and comfortable forecasts, the best time to travel to Sydney.

January and February: At the height of summer, you can expect manageable Sydney weather and intensely sunny weather. The locals are encouraged to slip, slap, and slop—a helpful reminder to wear a t-shirt, hat, and plenty of sunblock. Anyone planning on strolling along Darling Harbour or any other neighborhood around the lunch hour should be especially prepared for the most intense sun of the day. Sydney does not receive the extreme temperatures you'd find in the Caribbean or Florida. Early in the year, the temperature averages around 75 to 80 degrees, with some days reaching into the mid-80s.

March and April: As summer is making its way to fall, the average temperatures drop into the low 70s and the rainfall increases a bit to around four or five inches a month. The city is sheltered from the harsh typhoons that make their way through the Pacific, so few days are rainy from morning to night. For those who like to travel at a time when harsh weather is unlikely, this season is the best time to travel to Sydney.

Sydney Map

May through September: Once autumn begins to give way to winter, the Sydney weather is still warm enough for surfing or strolling the beaches. In July, which is typically the coldest month of the year, the temperatures average around 64 degrees for a high and 45 for the low. Visitors will not need to worry about snow and ice; very few incidences of snow have been recorded throughout Sydney's history. In fact, the last time it snowed, Australia was part of the British Empire.

October through December: While the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing fall, Sydney is enjoying spring and a return to warm temperatures. After winter has faded into spring, crowds return to Bondi Beach and the others stretches of sand and surf, ready to enjoy warmer days. In November, the lows tend to be in the low 60s with highs ten to fifteen degrees warmer, making this among the best times to travel to Sydney.