Best time to visit Canberra
The best time to visit Canberra is March–April and October–November, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.2 °C / 81 °F | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | good month |
| February | 25.4 °C / 78 °F | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 57 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| March | 23.2 °C / 74 °F | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| April | 19 °C / 66 °F | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | 36 mm / 1.4 in | best month |
| May | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 3.7 °C / 39 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | good month |
| June | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 2.1 °C / 36 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 1.3 °C / 34 °F | 36 mm / 1.4 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 1.8 °C / 35 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 3.7 °C / 39 °F | 47 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| October | 19.4 °C / 67 °F | 6.7 °C / 44 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | best month |
| November | 22.3 °C / 72 °F | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | best month |
| December | 24.8 °C / 77 °F | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March–April, October–November
- Good
- May, September, December–February
Canberra's outdoor sightseeing is best in autumn (March–April) and spring (October–November) when days are mild, dry and very sunny; January, February, September and December are good but a touch warm or cool, while the cold, damp winter of June–August is best avoided.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 7.4 days, average daily low 14.4 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 65%.
Against: average daily high 27.2 °C / 81 °F, feels like (high) 27.6 °C / 82 °F.
Also on: Australia Day celebrations, Summernats car festival.
Watch out for: Algal blooms in the lakes, New Year's Day closures, Summer school holidays (Christmas–January), Summernats crowds.
February · good
In its favour: precipitation 57 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wet days 6.6 days, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, average daily low 13.8 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: feels like (high) 25.7 °C / 78 °F, average daily high 25.4 °C / 78 °F.
Also on: National Multicultural Festival, The Canberra Show.
Watch out for: Algal blooms in the lakes.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 6.6 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Also on: Canberra Balloon Spectacular, National Folk Festival.
Watch out for: Easter weekend travel rush, Good Friday and Easter Sunday closures.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.2 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 19 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 36 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 1 days, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: National Folk Festival.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day morning closures, Easter weekend travel rush, Good Friday and Easter Sunday closures.
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, wet days 4.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days.
Against: relative humidity 80%, average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, feels like (high) 12.1 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 3.7 °C / 39 °F.
September · good
In its favour: precipitation 47 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, wet days 6 days, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, relative humidity 73%.
Against: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 3.7 °C / 39 °F.
Also on: Floriade flower festival, Thai Food & Cultural Festival.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.4 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, relative humidity 69%, average daily low 6.7 °C / 44 °F.
Against: wet days 7.1 days.
Also on: 24-hour Mountain Bike Race, Floriade flower festival.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 22.3 °C / 72 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F, relative humidity 67%.
Against: wet days 8.6 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, precipitation 66 mm / 2.6 in.
December · good
In its favour: precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, wet days 7.3 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 65%.
Against: feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F.
Watch out for: Algal blooms in the lakes, Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays (Christmas–January).
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: good
- Best
- April–May, July–October
- Good
- March, June, November–December
Cool, dry, sunny conditions make April, May and July through October best for hiking around Canberra; March, June, November and December are good but a little warm or wet, while the summer heat of January and February makes climbing uncomfortable.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 6.6 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 12.3 h, feels like (high) 22.6 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F.
Also on: Canberra Balloon Spectacular, National Folk Festival.
Watch out for: Easter weekend travel rush, Good Friday and Easter Sunday closures.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 19 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 36 mm / 1.4 in, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 1 days, feels like (high) 17.2 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
Also on: National Folk Festival.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day morning closures, Easter weekend travel rush, Good Friday and Easter Sunday closures.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 4.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, feels like (high) 12.1 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily low 3.7 °C / 39 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.
Against: relative humidity 80%.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 11.3 °C / 52 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, average daily low 2.1 °C / 36 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 8.4 °C / 47 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, wet days 6.8 days, sunshine per day 7.4 h, relative humidity 85%, daylight per day 9.8 h.
Also on: Canberra Truffle Festival.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 10.8 °C / 51 °F, precipitation 36 mm / 1.4 in, wet days 6.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, average daily low 1.3 °C / 34 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph, daylight per day 10 h.
Against: feels like (high) 7.4 °C / 45 °F, relative humidity 83%, sunshine per day 7.9 h.
Also on: Canberra Truffle Festival.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 7.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily low 1.8 °C / 35 °F, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 9 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 79%.
Also on: Canberra Truffle Festival.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 47 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 6 days, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, average daily low 3.7 °C / 39 °F, daylight per day 11.9 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Also on: Floriade flower festival, Thai Food & Cultural Festival.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.4 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 6.7 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, daylight per day 13 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 7.1 days.
Also on: 24-hour Mountain Bike Race, Floriade flower festival.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 66 mm / 2.6 in, wet days 8.6 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 14 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: average daily high 22.3 °C / 72 °F, feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F.
December · good
In its favour: precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, wet days 7.3 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: average daily high 24.8 °C / 77 °F, feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F.
Watch out for: Algal blooms in the lakes, Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays (Christmas–January).
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Perisher, 138 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 27.6 °C | 25.7 °C | 22.6 °C | 17.2 °C | 12.1 °C | 8.4 °C | 7.4 °C | 9 °C | 13.1 °C | 17.6 °C | 21.4 °C | 24.3 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.4 days | 1.7 days | 1.2 days | 1 days | 1.1 days | 1.6 days | 1.1 days | 1.2 days | 1.5 days | 1.5 days | 2 days | 1.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 4 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 7 am | 10 am | 1 pm | 5 pm | 8 pm | 10 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 11.9 h | 11.1 h | 10.1 h | 9.3 h | 8.6 h | 7.4 h | 7.9 h | 8.8 h | 10.4 h | 10.8 h | 11.5 h | 12.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 65% | 69% | 72% | 75% | 80% | 85% | 83% | 79% | 73% | 69% | 67% | 65% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.9 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 4.1 µg/m³ | 3.6 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ | 3.7 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.7 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 6.8 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Summernats car festival
January
- Australia Day celebrations
26 January
- National Multicultural Festival
February
- The Canberra Show
February
- National Folk Festival
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Canberra Balloon Spectacular
March
- Canberra Truffle Festival
June, July and August
- Floriade flower festival
September and October
- Thai Food & Cultural Festival
September
- 24-hour Mountain Bike Race
October
Worth knowing before you go
- Summernats crowds
January
- Algal blooms in the lakes
January, February and December
- New Year's Day closures
1 January
- Summer school holidays (Christmas–January)
January and December
- Easter weekend travel rush
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Good Friday and Easter Sunday closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- ANZAC Day morning closures
25 April
- Christmas Day closures
25 December