Best Things to Do in Australia for Every Season

14.10.2024 - 21:22 / cntraveler.com / Red Centre / Cooper

The best things to do in Australia go well beyond Bondi Beach and having a flat white. While those are absolute musts, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Australia over and over again, and at different times throughout the year.

Chief among those reasons is the country’s size and diversity of landscapes. From the ancient rainforests of Queensland, to the waterfalls and islands in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, to the dynamic urban atmospheres of Sydney and Melbourne, there’s something for every type of traveler to enjoy here. Since Australia is roughly the same size as the United States, it has just as many—if not more, dare we say—different natural environments and cultural scenes. In the same way that no sensible travel expert would suggest combining New York and Los Angeles into the same itinerary, you can’t cram all of Australia into one trip. To really experience the vast array of experiences that Australia has to offer, you'll find yourself wanting to return—again and again.

Given Australia’s location in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s an ideal destination for travelers looking to escape the winter doldrums or oppressive sun where they live. When it’s high summer in July in the deserts of Las Vegas, a trip Down Under, where it would be winter at that time, is the perfect cool-weather antidote to that arid heat. Or when the Chicago freeze gets to be too much in December, there’s nothing quite like celebrating Christmas while wearing shorts on the sands of Bondi Beach. And if you do end up craving a different type of climate while you’re in Australia, other spots like the desert plains of Australia’s Red Centre or the country’s many islands are just a short flight away from the bigger cities.

All that said, let this guide be your compass: No matter when you decide to visit Australia, there’s always something to try, see, and taste. To get the best advice, we reached out to travel experts who know the country best for their recommendations: Rachel Cooper, regional manager for Australia of travel specialist Red Savannah; and Sarah​​​​ Shields, media relations manager at Baillie Lodges, a collection of luxury lodges predominantly found in Australia. Here’s a hefty but far-from-complete list of some of the best things to do in Australia in every season.

• Things to do in Australia in the fall
• Things to do in Australia in the winter
• Things to do in Australia in the spring
• Things to do in Australia in the summer
• How to get to Australia

March is a great time to visit Lord Howe Island, where the waters offer excellent visibility for diving—and the luxurious Capella Lodge awaits.

In Australia, the months of March, April, and May bring about the autumn season. This is one of the best