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Campervan Hire

Best Times to Travel

Before You Book

The best months for a campervan trip in each Australian state and territory, with typical temperatures, seasons and events.

The best months for a campervan trip differ by region. Find your state or territory below for the best times to travel, typical temperatures and events to plan around. In the tropical north, the best time is the dry season. If your dates fall in a peak period, our guide to booking well in advance or close to pick-up explains when to start looking.

Australian Capital Territory

Australia’s capital city, Canberra, is well known for its museums, galleries and Australian historical sights. Located just over 3 hours from Sydney and a little under 7 hours from Melbourne, Canberra is worth the visit.

A popular time to visit Canberra is during March while the Comedy Festival and the Canberra Balloon Spectacular are on show, or September to October during Floriade and NightFest. Average temperatures will range between highs of 25° in March and during September to October highs of 16° to 20°.

Floriade is held annually in Canberra on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and displays over one million beautiful flowers in full bloom along with art exhibitions, live music, food stalls and entertainment.

When the sun goes down, NightFest lights up the night and Floriade transforms into an illuminated wonderland with horticultural illuminations and entertainment.

New South Wales

December to March is a great time to travel around New South Wales. With its harbour and beaches, Sydney and many parts of the state suit a summer holiday.

From December to March, average temperatures in Sydney range from highs of 25° to 26° to lows of 18° to 19°. Parts of NSW regularly reach the high 30s over summer, though.

Watching the New Year's Eve fireworks from the banks of Sydney Harbour is a popular way to see in the New Year. You can also visit the Sydney Opera House, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, explore Taronga Zoo or stay for the Mardi Gras.

From Bondi down south to Merimbula and up to Byron Bay, New South Wales has some of the world's best beaches. You can also head west to the Blue Mountains, south to the Snowy Mountains or explore the Hunter Region in the north.

Northern Territory

Darwin and the Top End

The best time to tour Darwin and the tropical north of the NT is during the dry season months of June, July and August. From May to September, Darwin has only 1 or 2 rainy days a month on average. From June to August, average temperatures in Darwin range from highs of 31° to 32° to lows of 19° to 20°.

August brings the Darwin Cup Carnival and the Darwin Festival. The Darwin Cup Carnival is the Northern Territory’s biggest social and sporting event, with over 40,000 racegoers across its 2-day carnival. The Darwin Festival includes musicians from around the world, comedians, theatre and cabaret. Along with local food, there's also a deckchair cinema, rodeo, Beer Can Regatta and much more. Mindil Beach Sunset Market runs on Thursday and Sunday afternoons into the evening, with local and international food, arts, crafts and entertainment.

During the dry season, Kakadu National Park or Litchfield National Park is an easy drive of under 2 hours in your campervan. Our Darwin National Parks itinerary covers both parks across a week-long route. We suggest staying at least 2 or 3 days at Litchfield National Park and 5 to 7 days at Kakadu to take in the full experience.

Alice Springs and Central Australia

The best time to travel in Alice Springs and Central Australia is from April to September, when Alice Springs only gets 1 day of rain per month. Summer (December to February) is hot, with days that can reach 40°.

From April to September, average temperatures in Alice Springs range from highs of 20° to 29° to lows of 4° to 12°. Winter nights can drop below zero, so pack warm clothes and consider a van with heating.

If you're heading south from Darwin and the Top End along the Stuart Highway, it's 1,500 kilometres to Alice Springs, or approximately 16 hours of driving in your campervan. Plan at least 3 days for the trip, so you can travel safely and at your own pace.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a 5-hour drive (470km) from Alice Springs. The full Adelaide to Darwin self-drive covers this stretch and more across a 3,978km journey through Central Australia. Other must-see attractions are Simpsons Gap, Devils Marbles and a day trip out to Kings Canyon.

Queensland

Cairns and Far North Queensland

The best time to travel to tropical Far North Queensland is during the dry season, from May to October. It's popular with families escaping the cold winter months down south. Average temperatures in Cairns range from highs of 25° to 30° to lows of 17° to 20° in the evenings.

A cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef is a must-do. You can also add the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Whitsunday Islands to your list.

Brisbane & Gold Coast

Southern Queensland is a popular holiday destination for families, with great beaches and plenty of attractions for children. Expect highs of 26° to 28° over the Easter holidays and 24° to 25° in the September holidays.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast have a subtropical climate, averaging around 300 days of sunshine a year. That suits visits to Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Dreamworld, Gold Coast Aqua Park, Seaworld, Sea Life, Surfers Paradise, Warner Bros Movie World and Wet’n’Wild water park. There are also plenty of family-friendly beaches along the coast.

South Australia

October to December is a great time to travel in South Australia. Average temperatures in Adelaide then range from highs of 21° to 26° to lows of 12° to 16°.

In spring, the vineyards turn a vibrant green, so a drive through Adelaide’s wine regions is a must. South Australia has over 700 wineries. The Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale are all within an hour of Adelaide, so they're easy to tour in a day. When you don’t have to worry about the weight of your luggage, your campervan or motorhome will have plenty of room to courier a box of wine home.

You can also visit Glenelg beach and Hahndorf, or head out east to the Blue Lake or Naracoorte Caves National Park.

Tasmania

December to February are the most popular months for a campervan holiday in Tasmania. Average temperatures then range from highs of 21° to 22° to lows of 11° to 13°.

The Port Arthur Historic Site, Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay, Cataract Gorge Reserve and Cradle Mountain are all an easy drive from Hobart and feature in our Tasmania east coast itinerary.

Around Hobart, tour the Mona Art Museum, visit Salamanca Market and have a quiet drink at the Cascade Brewery Bar.

Victoria

Victoria is at its best in late summer and autumn. In February and March, temperatures range from highs of 24° to 27° to lows of 12° to 16° in the evenings. The average high in April is 21°.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix comes to Melbourne in March. With the Moomba Festival and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival too, it's a great city to be in. You can tour the MCG or stay for an AFL game, and visit the Queen Victoria Market or the National Gallery of Victoria.

Popular destinations in Victoria include the Great Ocean Road for Bells Beach and the Twelve Apostles, Phillip Island and the Penguin Parade, the Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory National Park, the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley wineries, the Puffing Billy Railway and the Dandenong.

Western Australia

April to June is a great time to visit Perth and tour southern Western Australia. After the hot summer, temperatures are much more pleasant, with average highs of 19° to 26° and lows of 11° to 15° through April, May and June.

In Perth, visit Kings Park and the Botanic Garden, the Swan River, Fremantle Prison, and Scarborough or Cottesloe Beach. Then choose from road trips to Margaret River, Busselton, Rottnest Island, Monkey Mia, Wave Rock or the Pinnacles Desert.

The north of the state has a tropical wet and dry climate, like the Top End. Plan a trip from Broome or through the Kimberley for the dry season (May to October), when there's little rain and roads are usually open. June to September is the busiest time. In the wet season, from November to April, heavy rain and flooding can close roads.

Next steps

Part of Before You Book in the Campervan Hire Handbook.