Best time to visit Sunshine Coast
The best time to visit Sunshine Coast is June–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 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 | 28.4 °C / 83 °F | 21.4 °C / 71 °F | 151 mm / 5.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 28.1 °C / 83 °F | 21.2 °C / 70 °F | 140 mm / 5.5 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 27.1 °C / 81 °F | 20.3 °C / 69 °F | 154 mm / 6.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 25.1 °C / 77 °F | 16.9 °C / 62 °F | 80 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| May | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 13.5 °C / 56 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| June | 20.5 °C / 69 °F | 11.2 °C / 52 °F | 65 mm / 2.6 in | best month |
| July | 20.5 °C / 69 °F | 10 °C / 50 °F | 45 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| August | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| September | 24.1 °C / 75 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 42 mm / 1.7 in | best month |
| October | 25.6 °C / 78 °F | 16.1 °C / 61 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| November | 27.1 °C / 81 °F | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 27.9 °C / 82 °F | 20.1 °C / 68 °F | 135 mm / 5.3 in | neither best nor good |
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: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–September
- Good
- April–May, October
Hot, humid, wet weather from November through March rules out comfortable walking; June through September is mild, dry and sunny, with April, May and October as decent but rainier shoulder months.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.7 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 25.1 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 16.9 °C / 62 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, relative humidity 79%, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter long weekend travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 23 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 13.5 °C / 56 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%, wet days 10.7 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in.
Also on: Maleny Arts and Crafts Fair.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 11.2 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 7.9 days, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, relative humidity 78%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, wet days 6.7 days, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F, relative humidity 74%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, wet days 5.3 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 71%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.1 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 6.5 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 72%.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.2 °C / 81 °F, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Against: precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, wet days 9.1 days.
Beach and swimming
Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: best
- Best
- December–March
- Good
- April–May, September–November
Hot air and warm sea make December through March the top window despite regular afternoon showers; the sea and air both cool from June to August, when swimming is poor, while April-May and September-November are comfortable but short of peak.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 28.4 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, feels like (high) 32.1 °C / 90 °F, average daily low 21.4 °C / 71 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 151 mm / 5.9 in, wet days 15.9 days, days with heavy rain 3.6 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 53%.
Also on: Australia Day.
Watch out for: New Year's Day closures, Summer school holidays travel rush.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 28.1 °C / 83 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, feels like (high) 31.4 °C / 89 °F, average daily low 21.2 °C / 70 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 140 mm / 5.5 in, wet days 15.9 days, days with heavy rain 3.6 days.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 27.1 °C / 81 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, feels like (high) 30 °C / 86 °F, average daily low 20.3 °C / 69 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 154 mm / 6.1 in, wet days 17.4 days, days with heavy rain 3.6 days.
Watch out for: Easter long weekend travel rush.
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 25.1 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, feels like (high) 26.7 °C / 80 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph, average daily low 16.9 °C / 62 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter long weekend travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, wet days 10.7 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, sea temperature 23 °C / 73 °F, feels like (high) 23 °C / 73 °F, average daily low 13.5 °C / 56 °F.
Also on: Maleny Arts and Crafts Fair.
September · good
In its favour: precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, average daily high 24.1 °C / 75 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, wet days 6.5 days, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: sea temperature 21.7 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, feels like (high) 27.2 °C / 81 °F, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F.
Against: sea temperature 22.9 °C / 73 °F, wet days 9.1 days.
November · good
In its favour: average daily high 27.1 °C / 81 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, feels like (high) 29.6 °C / 85 °F, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, average daily low 18.4 °C / 65 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: wet days 10.5 days, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, sea temperature 24 °C / 75 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 54%.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 27.9 °C / 82 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, feels like (high) 31 °C / 88 °F, average daily low 20.1 °C / 68 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: precipitation 135 mm / 5.3 in, wet days 13.6 days, days with heavy rain 4 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 53%.
Also on: Woodford Folk Festival.
Watch out for: Christmas Day closures, Summer school holidays travel rush.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–September
- Good
- April–May, October
Cool, dry, sunny conditions from June to September are ideal for trekking; the hot, humid, wet summer from November to March is too heavy going, with April, May and October as workable shoulder months.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily high 25.1 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 11.5 h, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph, average daily low 16.9 °C / 62 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, precipitation 80 mm / 3.1 in, relative humidity 79%, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%, feels like (high) 26.7 °C / 80 °F.
Watch out for: ANZAC Day closures, Easter long weekend travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 13.5 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, feels like (high) 23 °C / 73 °F, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: wet days 10.7 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, relative humidity 79%.
Also on: Maleny Arts and Crafts Fair.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 11.2 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 10.5 h.
Against: wet days 7.9 days, precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 6.7 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 10.6 h.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 5.3 days, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, feels like (high) 21.5 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 8 mph.
September · best
In its favour: precipitation 42 mm / 1.7 in, average daily high 24.1 °C / 75 °F, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 11.9 h, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 12.7 h, days with heavy rain 2.6 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, average daily low 16.1 °C / 61 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 27.2 °C / 81 °F, wet days 9.1 days, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, average daily high 25.6 °C / 78 °F.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Perisher, 1168 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) | 32.1 °C | 31.4 °C | 30 °C | 26.7 °C | 23 °C | 20 °C | 19.5 °C | 21.5 °C | 24.5 °C | 27.2 °C | 29.6 °C | 31 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.6 days | 3.6 days | 3.6 days | 1.6 days | 1.8 days | 1.9 days | 1.2 days | 1.2 days | 1.1 days | 2.6 days | 3.2 days | 4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm | 8 am | 2 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 11.1 h | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.1 h | 9.3 h | 8.7 h | 8.9 h | 9.8 h | 10.6 h | 11 h | 11.4 h | 11.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 77% | 79% | 80% | 79% | 79% | 78% | 74% | 71% | 72% | 73% | 74% | 76% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 26.5 °C | 27.3 °C | 26.4 °C | 25.2 °C | 23 °C | 21.7 °C | 20.7 °C | 20.5 °C | 21.7 °C | 22.9 °C | 24 °C | 25 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 26.6 °C | 27.5 °C | 26.5 °C | 25.3 °C | 23.1 °C | 21.8 °C | 20.8 °C | 20.7 °C | 21.8 °C | 23 °C | 24.2 °C | 25.2 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
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 | 7.4 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.8 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 9.7 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
- Australia Day
26 January
- Maleny Arts and Crafts Fair
May
- Woodford Folk Festival
21–31 December
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year's Day closures
1 January
- Summer school holidays travel rush
January and December
- Easter long weekend travel rush
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- ANZAC Day closures
25 April
- Christmas Day closures
25 December