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Best time to visit Sydney

The best time to visit Sydney is July–May, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January24.5 °C / 76 °F20.6 °C / 69 °F77 mm / 3 inbest month
February24.3 °C / 76 °F20.6 °C / 69 °F103 mm / 4.1 inbest month
March23.6 °C / 74 °F19.7 °C / 67 °F117 mm / 4.6 inbest month
April21.5 °C / 71 °F16.9 °C / 62 °F91 mm / 3.6 inbest month
May19.1 °C / 66 °F14 °C / 57 °F73 mm / 2.9 inbest month
June16.7 °C / 62 °F12.1 °C / 54 °F109 mm / 4.3 ingood month
July16.5 °C / 62 °F11.1 °C / 52 °F72 mm / 2.8 inbest month
August17.3 °C / 63 °F11.5 °C / 53 °F62 mm / 2.5 inbest month
September19.2 °C / 67 °F13.4 °C / 56 °F55 mm / 2.2 inbest month
October20.7 °C / 69 °F15.4 °C / 60 °F64 mm / 2.5 inbest month
November21.8 °C / 71 °F17.3 °C / 63 °F76 mm / 3 inbest month
December23.1 °C / 74 °F18.9 °C / 66 °F65 mm / 2.5 inbest 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'.

  1. JJanuary: best
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: best
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: best
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: best
  12. DDecember: best
Best
July–May
Good
June

A remarkably comfortable year for exploring outdoors, sunny and mild nearly every month. Only June's lower sun and heavier rain drop it to good; summer (Jan-Mar) is excellent too but noticeably wetter and a little muggy, and the Mardi Gras adds a reason to visit in February-March.

Why these months

  • January · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 26.4 °C / 80 °F, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.

    Against: wet days 10.8 days, relative humidity 77%, precipitation 77 mm / 3 in.

    Also on: Australia Day, Big Day Out, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, International one-day and Twenty20 cricket, Lunar New Year parades, New Year's Eve fireworks, New Year's Test cricket, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, Sydney Festival, Yabun.

    Watch out for: Australia Day Harbour crowds, Bluebottle jellyfish, New Year's Eve crowds and prices, Summer school holiday peak season.

  • February · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 25.9 °C / 79 °F, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, days with heavy rain 3 days, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F.

    Against: wet days 12 days, precipitation 103 mm / 4.1 in, relative humidity 77%.

    Also on: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, International one-day and Twenty20 cricket, Lunar New Year parades, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Bluebottle jellyfish.

  • March · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 23.6 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, average daily low 19.7 °C / 67 °F.

    Against: wet days 13.6 days, precipitation 117 mm / 4.6 in, relative humidity 76%.

    Also on: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Biennale of Sydney, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, King Street Carnival, Royal Easter Show, St Patrick's Day, Sydney Writers' Festival, Vivid Sydney, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Easter school-holiday mini-peak season, Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze, Vivid Sydney crowds and closures.

  • April · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 21.1 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 16.9 °C / 62 °F, relative humidity 73%.

    Against: wet days 12.1 days, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in.

    Also on: Anzac Day, Biennale of Sydney, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, King Street Carnival, Royal Easter Show, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Writers' Festival, Vivid Sydney, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Anzac Day closures, Easter school-holiday mini-peak season, Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze, Vivid Sydney crowds and closures.

  • May · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 19.1 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, wet days 9.8 days, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 71%.

    Also on: Biennale of Sydney, King Street Carnival, National Reconciliation Week, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Writers' Festival, Vivid Sydney, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze, Vivid Sydney crowds and closures.

  • June · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, feels like (high) 14.2 °C / 58 °F, average daily high 16.7 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, average daily low 12.1 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 72%.

    Against: precipitation 109 mm / 4.3 in, wet days 11.3 days.

    Also on: Sydney Film Festival, The Rocks Aroma Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze.

  • July · best

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 90%, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, wet days 8.6 days, average daily low 11.1 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 69%.

    Also on: NAIDOC Week, The Rocks Aroma Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: July school-holiday crowds, Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze.

  • August · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, precipitation 62 mm / 2.5 in, average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, wet days 7.9 days, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 67%.

    Also on: City2Surf, The Rocks Aroma Festival, University Revues, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze.

  • September · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 7.5 days, average daily low 13.4 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 67%.

    Also on: Festival of Winds, Manly Jazz Festival, Sydney Design Week, Sydney Running Festival, University Revues, Winter rugby league season.

  • October · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 20.3 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 20.7 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, wet days 9.3 days, average daily low 15.4 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 70%.

    Also on: Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney International Food Festival, Sydney Running Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: October school-holiday crowds.

  • November · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 22.3 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 21.8 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, wet days 9.5 days, average daily low 17.3 °C / 63 °F, relative humidity 74%.

    Also on: Eastern Water Dragon sightings, Sydney Running Festival.

  • December · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 23.1 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, precipitation 65 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, wet days 9.4 days, average daily low 18.9 °C / 66 °F, relative humidity 75%.

    Also on: Eastern Water Dragon sightings, New Year's Eve fireworks, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

    Watch out for: Bluebottle jellyfish, New Year's Eve crowds and prices.

Beach and swimming

Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.

  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: good
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: good
Good
October–April

Good beach weather from October to April with warm, sunny days, though the air never turns truly hot and the sea stays merely mild rather than balmy; from May to September it turns too cool, with the sea dropping into the high teens.

Why these months

  • January · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 81%, average daily high 24.5 °C / 76 °F, feels like (high) 26.4 °C / 80 °F, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F, wind (daily max) 27 km/h / 17 mph.

    Against: wet days 10.8 days, precipitation 77 mm / 3 in.

    Also on: Australia Day, Big Day Out, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, International one-day and Twenty20 cricket, Lunar New Year parades, New Year's Eve fireworks, New Year's Test cricket, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, Sydney Festival, Yabun.

    Watch out for: Australia Day Harbour crowds, Bluebottle jellyfish, New Year's Eve crowds and prices, Summer school holiday peak season.

  • February · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily high 24.3 °C / 76 °F, feels like (high) 25.9 °C / 79 °F, days with heavy rain 3 days, average daily low 20.6 °C / 69 °F, wind (daily max) 26 km/h / 16 mph.

    Against: precipitation 103 mm / 4.1 in, wet days 12 days.

    Also on: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, International one-day and Twenty20 cricket, Lunar New Year parades, St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Bluebottle jellyfish.

  • March · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily high 23.6 °C / 74 °F, feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, average daily low 19.7 °C / 67 °F, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 16 mph.

    Against: precipitation 117 mm / 4.6 in, wet days 13.6 days.

    Also on: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Biennale of Sydney, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, King Street Carnival, Royal Easter Show, St Patrick's Day, Sydney Writers' Festival, Vivid Sydney, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Easter school-holiday mini-peak season, Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze, Vivid Sydney crowds and closures.

  • April · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph, average daily low 16.9 °C / 62 °F.

    Against: wet days 12.1 days, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, feels like (high) 21.1 °C / 70 °F.

    Also on: Anzac Day, Biennale of Sydney, Eastern Water Dragon sightings, King Street Carnival, Royal Easter Show, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Writers' Festival, Vivid Sydney, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: Anzac Day closures, Easter school-holiday mini-peak season, Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze, Vivid Sydney crowds and closures.

  • October · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 85%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, wind (daily max) 27 km/h / 17 mph, average daily low 15.4 °C / 60 °F.

    Against: sea temperature 19.3 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.7 °C / 69 °F, feels like (high) 20.3 °C / 69 °F, wet days 9.3 days.

    Also on: Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney International Food Festival, Sydney Running Festival, Winter rugby league season.

    Watch out for: October school-holiday crowds.

  • November · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, average daily low 17.3 °C / 63 °F, wind (daily max) 27 km/h / 17 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 21.8 °C / 71 °F, feels like (high) 22.3 °C / 72 °F, wet days 9.5 days.

    Also on: Eastern Water Dragon sightings, Sydney Running Festival.

  • December · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 82%, precipitation 65 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, average daily high 23.1 °C / 74 °F, feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 18.9 °C / 66 °F, wind (daily max) 27 km/h / 17 mph.

    Against: sea temperature 20.8 °C / 69 °F, wet days 9.4 days.

    Also on: Eastern Water Dragon sightings, New Year's Eve fireworks, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

    Watch out for: Bluebottle jellyfish, New Year's Eve crowds and prices.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Perisher, 377 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 26.4 °C25.9 °C24.6 °C21.1 °C17.4 °C14.2 °C13.5 °C14.7 °C17.6 °C20.3 °C22.3 °C24.3 °C
Days with heavy rain 2.1 days3 days3.4 days1.9 days2.3 days3.3 days1.6 days1.8 days1.4 days1.8 days2.3 days1.7 days
Time rain usually falls 5 pm1 am11 am10 am12 am6 am7 am9 pm10 am12 am3 pm6 pm
Sunshine per day 11.4 h10.7 h10.1 h9.6 h9 h8.4 h9.1 h9.4 h10.6 h11 h11.1 h11.8 h
Relative humidity 77%77%76%73%71%72%69%67%67%70%74%75%

Sea temperature

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sea temperature 2022–202522.3 °C23.3 °C22.8 °C22 °C21 °C19.5 °C17.9 °C18 °C18.6 °C19.3 °C20 °C20.8 °C
Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–202522.5 °C23.5 °C23 °C22.2 °C21.1 °C19.6 °C18 °C18.1 °C18.8 °C19.4 °C20.2 °C21.1 °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.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–202510.6 µg/m³10.9 µg/m³10.9 µg/m³10.9 µg/m³11.4 µg/m³11.6 µg/m³9.1 µg/m³10.1 µg/m³11.1 µg/m³10.4 µg/m³10.2 µg/m³11 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202516.2 µg/m³16.9 µg/m³17.4 µg/m³20 µg/m³21.2 µg/m³23.5 µg/m³17.7 µg/m³18.5 µg/m³20.2 µg/m³17.4 µg/m³17.2 µg/m³17.4 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

  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Major

    1–7 March

  • New Year's Eve fireworks

    31 December–1 January

  • New Year's Test cricket

    1–5 January

  • International one-day and Twenty20 cricket

    January and February

  • Sydney Festival

    January

  • Yabun

    26 January

  • Australia Day

    26 January

  • Big Day Out

    26 January

  • St. Jerome's Laneway Festival

    January and February

  • Lunar New Year parades

    January and February, dates vary from year to year

  • Eastern Water Dragon sightings

    January, February, March, April, November and December

  • Winter rugby league season

    February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October

  • Vivid Sydney

    March, April and May

  • Biennale of Sydney

    March, April and May

  • Sydney Writers' Festival

    March, April and May

  • St Patrick's Day

    17 March

  • King Street Carnival

    March, April and May

  • Royal Easter Show

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Sydney Comedy Festival

    April and May

  • Anzac Day

    25 April

  • National Reconciliation Week

    May

  • Sydney Film Festival

    June

  • The Rocks Aroma Festival

    June, July and August

  • NAIDOC Week

    1–7 July

  • City2Surf

    15–31 August

  • University Revues

    August and September

  • Sydney Running Festival

    September, October and November

  • Festival of Winds

    September

  • Manly Jazz Festival

    September

  • Sydney Design Week

    September

  • Sculpture by the Sea

    October

  • Sydney International Food Festival

    October

  • Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

    26 December

Worth knowing before you go

  • New Year's Eve crowds and prices

    31 December–1 January

  • Summer school holiday peak season

    January

  • Australia Day Harbour crowds

    26 January

  • Bluebottle jellyfish

    January, February and December

  • Vivid Sydney crowds and closures

    March, April and May

  • Easter school-holiday mini-peak season

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Seasonal burn-off smoke and haze

    March, April, May, June, July and August

  • Anzac Day closures

    25 April

  • July school-holiday crowds

    1–14 July

  • October school-holiday crowds

    1–7 October

Other places in Australia

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).