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Weather in Australia in December – is it worth traveling to?

Is the weather good for travel in December? Find out what the weather is like in Australia to plan your trip accordingly.
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December

Is the weather good in Australia in December 2024?

Good Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy

For the past few decades, the average daily temperatures in Australia during December have been around +27°C.

In Australia the temperature rarely varies more than seven degrees between the different parts with the highest temperature +27°C in Cairns to +23°C in Melbourne. So you should be able to pack for similar conditions wherever you go in the country.

Temperature, wind and humidity in December

Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
☀️
+27°C
Avg. max. temperature
+6°C
Min.
+44°C
Max.
77 mm
Total precipitation
67%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
9 ☀️
Sunny Days
7 ⛅️
Cloudy
13 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Australia has good weather in December.
Australia in December – what city is the…
  • rainiest? Cairns, with an average of 5 mm of rain and humidity of 77%;
  • warmest? Cairns, with daytime temperatures averaging +29°C;
  • windiest? Perth, with an average of 5 m/s;
  • coolest? Melbourne, with daytime temperatures averaging +23°C;
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How good is the weather in Australia in December?

During December, the Australia usually offers good weather overall, with air pressure around 1015 HPa. This means you may encounter some rainy weather too – December brings around 69 mm of rain and winds averaging 4 m/s. Humidity ranges between 55% in Perth and 77% in Cairns. In general, it tends to be more humid near the sea and lake and drier inland.

How warm is it in Australia during December?

The weather is usually pretty good this time of year, with daytime temperatures around +26°C.

This is how hot it usually is in December

The average daily temperatures above don't tell you everything about how hot it can be in Australia. For example, cold nights can make a big difference for those staying in tents or unheated houses. Extra hot days, on the other hand, can make a big difference for those who plan to engage in demanding physical training or competition. So here are some more temperatures for December:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
  • Average maximum temperature for the month: +26°C;
  • Average minimum temperature for the month: +18°C;
  • Highest monthly temperature: +28°C;
  • Lowest monthly temperature: +17°C;

Monthly temperatures:

Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
  • Warmest: January with an average +28°C during the day;
  • Coldest: July with an average +17°C of the day;
  • Hottest month in hottest city: January in Cairns;
  • Coldest month in coolest city: July in Melbourne;

Can you swim in Australia in December?

Here are the minimum and maximum water temperatures in cities in Australia in December:
Sydney
🏊
Comfortable
20°C - 25°C
Brisbane
👙
Warm
24°C - 27°C
Cairns
🔥
Very warm
28°C - 30°C
You can definitely swim in Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns in December, with the water temperature of +20°C and up.

Winds in Australia during December

Wind speed in Australia in December based on historical data:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney

December tends to offer light winds averaging 4 m/s. However, coastal cities may experience breezes during the mornings and afternoons.

Comparison between cities in December:

  • Highest average wind speed: Sydney with 4 m/s;
  • Lowest average wind speed: Brisbane with 3 m/s;
  • Windiest day of the month: Perth with 5 m/s;
  • The least windy day of the month: Cairns with 2 m/s;

Humidity and precipitation in Australia in December

Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Australia based on historical data:
Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
December tends to be an extremely humid month with 70% humidity and 69 mm rainfall. In general the humidity tends to be a little lower in mountainous regions and more humid closer to water.

Comparison between cities in December:

Average
Adelaide
Brisbane
Cairns
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
  • Highest average rainfall: Cairns with 170 mm;
  • Lowest average rainfall: Perth with 10 mm;
  • Most number of rainy days: Cairns with 20 rainy days;
  • Least number of rainy days: Perth with 4 rainy days;
  • Highest risk of rain during the day: Cairns with 65%;
  • Least risk of rain during the day: Perth with 13%;
  • Highest average humidity: Cairns with 77%;
  • Lowest average humidity: Perth with 55%;

Tips for traveling to Australia in December

Looking for some tips for traveling to the sun, snow, or whatever you're aiming for Australia? Activities, weather, and clothing are closely linked. In addition, it's important to pack only what you really need so you don't have to worry about heavy packing or paying extra baggage fees.

Here is some advice on what to pack and what kind of activities you can do in the Australia based on the weather that December is expected to bring. The advice applies to the country as a whole – local weather and possible activities may differ somewhat.

rainy, warm weather with light winds and very high humidity in December
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Pack right for December

The weather makes a difference when it comes to packing - especially which items should go in your suitcase. The tips below are designed to help you pack light and right without carrying more than necessary.
  • For light showers, an umbrella or a thin and light rain cape is usually sufficient, while more rain may require rainwear and rain boots.
  • Warm - neither hot nor cool, are probably the most comfortable when you think of sunbathing. Shorts, shorter skirts or dresses, tank tops and t-shirts are the basics here. If you're going to a seaside resort, don't forget your swimwear and maybe even a snorkel, mask and flippers.
  • Light winds are probably most comfortable in hot weather but is cooling in cool and cold weather. If it is hot (when the air temperature is about 30 degrees), the wind can have a warming effect. A thin, windproof jacket and long trousers help to counteract these effects.
  • High humidity means that the air conducts heat to and from the skin more easily. For example, if the air is hot (above skin temperature), it will be harder to stay cool. On the other hand, if the air is cool or cold, it is more difficult to stay warm. In high humidity, the choice of clothing makes less of a difference. However, your physical activity plays a bigger role.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Australia in December:

What can you do outside when it's warm in Australia?

Bathing and sunbathing can be suitable. Warm (but not hot) days are also good for activities that are not so physically demanding: sightseeing on foot, by boat, on a scooter, camel riding. You can also exercise easily as long as you make sure to cool down and quench thirst.

Is December a good time to visit Australia?

December is a really good time to go to Australia. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check other months when is a good time to visit Australia.

Monthly weather in Australia

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Australia, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.