Sydney holiday weather

Sydney weather averages and climate

Average daily maximum temperature (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
27.4	27.0	25.9	23.0	20.3	18.1	17.4	19.0	21.9	22.6	24.6	26.2	23.0

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
70	72	70	70	69	69	66	60	61	64	68	68	67

Average monthly rainfall (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
96	129	111	141	120	117	80	94	70	83	104	79	1222

Average daily sunshine (hours)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
8	7	7	6	6	6	7	8	8	8	8	8	7

Average wind speed (mph)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
13.0	12.3	11.5	10.5	10.4	10.7	10.6	11.2	11.9	12.4	13.1	13.4	11.7

When is the best time to visit Sydney?

For the best of the Australian sunshine, it is best to visit during the summer months from December to February, making Sydney the perfect destination for some winter sun. Those who prefer a cooler trip should visit in September to November, when Australia is in spring. Temperatures are cooler in this season, but rainfall is at its lowest. Springtime visitors also enjoy the longer daily sunshine hours.

Spring

Australia’s spring falls from September to November. At the beginning of the season, rainfall is at its lowest, with September seeing an average of 70.1mm. In the lead up to Australian summer, temperatures slowly increase, reaching average daily highs of 24.6°C. September tourists can enjoy around 8 hours of daily sunshine. The warm spring weather provides a pleasant environment for visitors to sightsee, without being as hot as the summer months.

Summer

Summer in Sydney falls in the UK’s coldest months; December to February. December’s temperature averages 26.2°C. January brings Sydney’s highest temperatures, with average daily maximums of an impressive 27.4°C. Visitors will need to prepare for the strong sun, but wind speeds are at their highest in these months, providing relief from the warmth. Rain is likely, as February brings an average rainfall of 128.6mm and there can be some particularly thundery weather at times.

Autumn

Autumn falls in March to May and produces cooler temperatures than the summer months. March sees the temperature drop to an average daily high of 25.9°C. By May, this drops further to a pleasant 20.3°C. Sunshine hours decrease to 6 hours per day in April, when rain is also at its highest level, with a monthly average of 140.5mm. The weather is milder than other seasons, with May seeing the lowest average wind speed of 10.4mph.

Winter

Australia experiences winter from June to August, while the UK enjoys summertime. Sydney’s winter weather is generally mild. July sees the coolest temperatures, with an average daily high of 17.4°C. June has some of the shortest sunshine hours, experiencing around 6 hours of sunshine per day.

Sydney tourist information

People often associate Sydney with the beautiful Harbour Bridge and Opera House - one of the most iconic buildings from the last century. Surprisingly, the Jørn Utzon designed Opera House was not opened until 1973, despite construction beginning in 1958. Sydney Harbour is a facet of Port Jackson, and the harbour reaches out to some of the world's most famous beaches. Historians will be familiar with Botany Bay - the location where Captain James Cook landed - which is just up the coast from Port Jackson/Sydney Harbour.

Beaches and parks

Manly Beach and Bondi Beach are on either side of Port Jackson; and there are numerous other beach locations making for a welcome diversion from the city.

One of the attributes that seems to separate Sydney from many other leading world cities is its pleasant open spaces. The Royal Botanic Gardens enjoy a central position near the Opera House and is adjacent to the Domain Park.

Many visitors enjoy strolling from the park to the Opera House on the well thought out promenades and walkways. Hyde Park is another favourite amongst visitors, being named after the original version in London.

Sydney's central business district sits just behind the Opera House, with Sydney serving as Australia's financial and economic hub. HSBC and Deutsche Bank both have premises here, but dominating the skyline you are sure to notice Sydney Tower.

Crossing the harbour on the opposite side of the central business district are attractions such as Taronga Park Zoo which is popular and a good place from which to survey the panorama that is the Sydney Harbour.

Sport

Most of us are aware of Australia's undying affinity with the game of cricket and there are several important cricket stadia in the city; the ANZ Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground are the two most notable.