When is the Best Time to Visit New South Wales?
Anytime! Just steer clear of the summer school holidays unless you book way in advance and a happy to part with a large sum of money. February to April is ideal for a coastal holiday; head west from April to October.
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Sydney is busy from Dec through to the end of January with many people arriving to enjoy the NYE fireworks. The country has a 6-week school holiday period, and it seems almost everyone heads to the coast. Inland areas are not as busy, but they are hot and it’s not an ideal time to head west.
If you plan to be in Sydney over New Year’s Eve, get your accommodation sorted early and it’s worth noting many properties with views of Sydney Harbour have minimum stays (3 days usually) at this time of year. This is the most expensive time to visit most of the state.
For a summer visit that combines the best of the weather and accommodation prices, then early December or after school returns from the end of January is your best bet.
Daylight saving operates from early October until the end of April, seeing an extra hour added to your day for sightseeing!
The winter is the lowest season for prices and while you won’t want to be taking a dip in the sea, the days can be lovely with low visitor numbers and the lowest hotel prices.
Bottom line – March to May and October to early December are our choice for a mix of weather and things to do.
Weather in New South Wales
Summer (December to February)
Temperatures get progressively warmer as summer progresses. Most days will see temperatures above 25°C and by Jan these are likely to be high 20s. Humidity is at its highest in February and summer sees about 5-7 days of rain a month, particularly at the end of the season.
Autumn (March to May)
The weather at this time of year is still warm, and many locals are swimming until early May. Average temperatures range from 19-26°C. This is a very comfortable time to visit. The chance of rainy days increases towards the end of the season.
Winter (June to August)
While the temperatures drop and locals may describe it as cold by most standards, winters in Sydney and NSW coastal areas cool rather than cold. Perfect weather for hiking and the best time to visit Outback NSW. There are 6-9 days of rain per month.
Spring (September to November)
Mid spring is one of the best times to visit NSW. Temperatures range from 20.1°C to mid-20s and there are about 7 days of rain per month.
Average Temperatures in Sydney by Month
Month | Maximum temperature | Minimum temperature | Average rainfall (mm) |
---|---|---|---|
January | 27.0 | 19.5 | 79mm |
February | 26.7 | 19.7 | 118mm |
March | 25.3 | 18.0 | 88mm |
April | 23.0 | 15.0 | 119mm |
May | 20.3 | 12.0 | 106mm |
June | 17.8 | 9.2 | 100mm |
July | 17.1 | 8.1 | 73mm |
August | 18.7 | 8.9 | 74mm |
September | 21.1 | 11.4 | 62mm |
October | 23.0 | 14.0 | 64mm |
November | 24.1 | 16.0 | 85mm |
December | 26.0 | 18.2 | 74mm |
New South Wales Festivals and Events
Some events may have their dates changed or be postponed, so please check individual links before making any plans.
January
- Tamworth Country Music Festival: 14-23 January 2022
- Guyra Lamb & Potato Festival: 12-23rd Jan 2022
- Bangalow Film Festival: 13-29 January (Bangalow, Lismore, Murwillumbah)
February
- Bathurst 12 Hour: 25-27 Feb 2022
March
- Supercars Newcastle: 4-6 March 2022
- Steampunk Victoriana Fair: 11-13 March 2022 (Goulburn)
- Maitland Taste Deconstructed: 11-13 March 2022
- Forster-Tuncurry Lakeside Festival 19th of March 2022
- Blue Mountains Music Festival: 18-20 March 2022
- South Coast Food and Wine Festival: 18-19 March 2022
- Broken Heel Festival: Broken Hill 24-28 March 2022
April
- Newcastle Food Month: 1 April-30 April 2022
- Orange Food Week: 1-10 April 2022
- Hunter Valley SteamFest: 8-10 April 2022
- Lakelight Sculpture Festival: 15-18 April (Jindabyne)
- Byron Bay Bluesfest: 14-18 April 2022
- Elvis Festival: 20-24 April 2022 (Parkes – moved from Jan.)
- Steampunk@Altitude 2022: 30 Apr-1 May 2022
May
- Narooma Oyster Festival: 6-7 May 2022
- Tulip Time Festival: 7-15 May 15 2022 (Southern Highlands)
June
- Australian Celtic Festival: TBC (Glen Innes)
- Henry Lawson Festival: TBC (Grenfell)
- Pie Time: TBC Usually the month of June (Southern Highlands)
- Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival: 18 June 2022
July
- Splendour in the Grass: Byron Bay 22-24 July 2022
- Art Month Sapphire Coast: 30 Jul – 31 Aug 2021
August
- Peak Music Festival: 27 Aug-3 Sep 2022 (Perisher Valley)
- Wollongong 2022 (Cycling) 18-25 September 2022
- Snowtunes Festival: 31 August 2022 (Jindabyne)
September
- Big Picture Fest Street Art Festival: 30 Sept-2 Oct (Newcastle)
- Broken Heel Festival: 8-12 September 2022
October
- National Thunder Motorcycle Rally: 30 September-3 October 2022 (Tamworth)
- Let’s Dance, David Bowie Tribute Festival – TBC October long weekend (Carinda)
- Riverlights Multicultural Festival: 8 October (Maitland)
- Floriade: 17 Sept-16 October 2022 (Canberra)
- Trundle Abba Festival: 15 Oct 2022
November
- Bitter and Twisted Boutique Beer Festival: 5-6 November 2022 (Maitland)
- Crookwell Potato Festival: November 2022
- Cooma Motorfest: TBC November 2022
December
- National Cherry Festival: 3-5 December 2021 (Young)
New South Wales School and Public Holidays
School holidays see prices go up and availability reduce. If you don’t need to be travelling at this time, you can save quite a bit by avoiding it.
Public Holidays in New South Wales 2022-2023
Holiday | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|
New Year’s Day + Monday Holiday | 01 and 03 January | 01 and 02 January |
Australia Day | 26 January | 26 January |
Good Friday | 15 April | 07 April |
Easter Sat. | 16 April | 08 April |
Easter Mon. | 18 April | 10 April |
Anzac Day | 25 April | 25 April |
Queens Birthday | 12 June | 12 June |
Labour Day | 02 October | 02 October |
Christmas Eve | 24 December | 24 December |
Christmas Day | 25 December | 25 December |
Proclamation Day | 27 December | 26 December |
Boxing Day | 26 December | 26 December |
New Year’s Eve | 31 December | 31 December |
School Holidays in New South Wales 2022-2023
Period | 2022 | 2023 |
Autumn break: | 15 April – 1 May | 10 April – 21 April |
Winter break: | 28 June – 9 July | 3 July – 14 July |
Spring break: | 20 September – 1 October | 25 September – 6 October |
Summer break: | 20 December -27 January 2022 | 20 December – 29 January 2024 |
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