As Australia is actually a continent there are many variations in climate across the country. For example, snow and temperatures below zero are not uncommon in the mountainous regions, while the north-west of the country can become unbearably hot. Australia is officially one of the driest continents on the planet and some areas do not see rain for several years at a time. The south of the country has a temperate climate, with cool and wet weather during the winter months and warm summers with very little rain. The climate in the north is tropical with one warm and dry season and a hot season with plenty of rain.

It should be noted that the seasons in Australia are the opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. Summer takes place from November to February, while winter is from June to August. If you want to visit the north then it is recommended that you do so at the beginning of the dry season, which begins in April. This is considered to be a good time to visit northern Queensland too.

Each of the states of Australia has its own climate and it is worth noting the average temperatures for each, measured in the state capital cities. Adelaide has an average temperature of 22°C during the summer, although highs of 30°C are not unheard of. Adelaide has average temperatures of 11°C in winter, although they could be as low as 7°C. Brisbane has average summer temperatures of 25°C with highs of 29°C regularly recorded. Winter temperatures are an average of 15°C although can be as low as 10°C. Canberra has summer temperatures of 20°C with highs of 28°C possible. Winter temperatures average around 5°C but can drop as low as zero.

The city of Darwin has an average summer temperature of 28°C with highs of 32°C not unheard of. Winter temperatures are an average of 25°C and they rarely drop below 19°C. The city of Hobart in Tasmania has average summer temperatures of 16°C but they can be as high as 21°C. Winter temperatures average 8°C but can be as low as 8°C. Melbourne has average temperatures of 22°C in summer with highs of around 26°C while the temperatures in winter are an average of 11°C with lows of 6°C.

The city of Perth has average summer temperatures of 25°C with highs of 30°C. Average winter temperatures in Perth are 14°C with lows of 9°C. Sydney has summer averages of 23°C with highs of 26°C. Winter temperatures in Sydney average 12°C with lows of around 8°C. Alice Springs is located in the centre of the country and summer average temperatures are 28°C with highs of 36°C. Winter temperatures are only a few degrees lower, with averages at 25°C and lows of 19°C.

In the warmer regions, light breathable clothing is recommended, so clothes made from fabrics such as cotton or linen are the best option. Due to the strong sun and extreme heat in some areas, sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are recommended for much of the year. There is an average of 7.2 hours of sunshine each day.

Rainfall is rare in many areas and in the country as a whole, it is very rare for any region to see more than 8cm in a month and the wettest month is October. Humidity can reach 64% in June and rarely falls below 35%. Wet days each month can be between 6 and 11 and a wet day is categorised as a day that sees more than 0.1cm of rain.

Australia does experience severe weather and hurricanes in the country are known as cyclones and these are usually confined to the northern areas of the country. Earthquakes take place every few years and some of these occur offshore. While some earthquakes have caused a great deal of damage to buildings only a few have left human casualties. Every few years the Australian coast is affected by a tsunami although the vast majority of these are small. Some areas are prone to storms and there are many areas for which the biggest risk is bushfires, due to the heat and extreme dryness of the region. Sandstorms and dust storms also take place in the desert regions.