THE BEST TIME TO VISIT CANBERRA
Are you wondering when is the best time to visit Canberra? The busiest times for visitors are March, September and December.
Most people visit Canberra during the spring (September to November) when the Floriade Festival (Sept/Oct) brings the city to life. These times see the highest hotel prices. The city really comes alive during any of the major events like Enlighten Canberra (March) or the National Folk Festival (April).
Autumn when the city’s plantings of deciduous trees see the streets bathed in a palette of bright red, orange, yellow and even shades of deep purple is every bit as pretty as the spring festival. The autumn display is at its best from mid-April to mid-May.
If you are in town for a museum hit consider visiting in winter when hotel prices and crowds are at their lowest.
Tip: Visiting on weeks when Parliament is not sitting may help you score a more affordable hotel room.
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Weather in Canberra
With a high inland location, Canberra is warmer than the coastal capitals in the summer and decidedly colder in winter. In fact, there is occasional snow in July and August some years. Regardless of what you see here between March and October, you will need to carry a warm jacket for the evenings.
Rainfall is fairly even throughout most of the year with the lightest falls in April, May and June. November receives the most rain followed by December and January.
Summer (December to February)
Summer weather gets pretty warm and temps over 30 °C are not unusual. While rain is not all that common in Canberra at any time of year it’s most likely in November and December. You will encounter 5-7 days with some rain at this time of year.
Autumn (March to May)
Autumn sees clear blue skies and relatively warm days. However, you can get caught out by just how cold it can get at night. As soon as the sun goes down you may find you need at the very least a light jacket. By May it will need to be a decent warm one!
Winter (June to August)
It’s cold in Canberra in Winter, and some of the outskirts of the territory may see occasional overnight snow but the skies are blue and with the right clothing you can really enjoy a visit at this time. Winter sees on average 4 rainy days per month.
Spring (September to November)
Cool nights and early mornings then comfortable days make spring a very popular time for visitors. November can see a few more wet days than the previous months.
Average Temperatures in Canberra are as below:
| Month | Maximum temperature | Minimum temperature | Average rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.3 | 13.6 | 40mm |
| February | 26.5 | 14.1 | 37mm |
| March | 24.1 | 12.7 | 39mm |
| April | 20.4 | 10.1 | 38mm |
| May | 16.6 | 8.4 | 36mm |
| June | 13.7 | 6.3 | 39mm |
| July | 13.0 | 5.5 | 39mm |
| August | 14.5 | 6.0 | 43mm |
| September | 16.6 | 7.1 | 44mm |
| October | 19.3 | 8.5 | 51mm |
| November | 22.1 | 10.4 | 61mm |
| December | 24.2 | 12.0 | 51mm |
Find out more weather and temperature details on the Bureau of Meteorology.
Canberra Event Calendar
The biggest event of the year might be Floriade, but there are several other times when the city really comes alive.
| January | Street Machine Summernats |
| 25-27 February | Royal Canberra Show |
| Cancelled for 2022 | The National Multicultural Festival |
| 4-6 March | Surface |
| 4-20 March | The Enlighten Festival is Canberra’s version of Vivid. |
| 14-18 April | National Folk Festival |
| 25 April | If you have a chance to experience the ceremony at the War Memorial do it! |
| 17-21 August | Canberra Writers Festival |
| 17 Sept-16 October | Floriade |
ACT and Canberra School and Public Holidays
Long weekends see prices rise and availability drop, so book in advance for the best deals. Most attractions only close on Christmas day and perhaps Anzac Day or Good Friday; please check individual places before visiting.
Public Holidays in Canberra 2022-2023
| New Year’s Day + Monday Holiday | 01 and 03 January* | 01 – 02 January** |
| Australia Day | 26 January | 26 January |
| Canberra Day | 14 March | 13 March |
| Good Friday | 15 April | 07 April |
| Easter Sat. | 16 April | 08 April |
| Easter Mon. | 18 April | 10 April |
| Anzac Day | 25 April | 25 April |
| Reconciliation Day | 30 May | 29 May |
| Queens Birthday | 13 June | 12 June |
| Labour Day | 03 October | 02 October |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | 26 December |
| Christmas Day Holiday | 27 December | N/A |
Correct as of Jan 2020, Information presented is from ACT Government sources.
** As 1 January 2023 falls on a Sunday in 2023, the following Monday is observed as the public holiday.
School Holidays in Canberra 2022-2023
If you don’t have children avoiding these dates will save you money, and you will find the museums a lot less crowded.
| Period | 2022 | 2023 |
| Autumn break: | 09 April – 25 April | 07 April – 23 April |
| Winter break: | 2 July – 17 July | 22 June – 09 July |
| Spring break: | 24 September – 9 October | 23 September – 08 October |
| Summer break: | 17 December – 23 January 2023 | 16 December – 28 January 2024 |