Best Time to Visit Canberra

Four seasons, and you'll feel each one

Canberra sits inland and fairly high up, so it has proper seasons. Summer (December to February) is warm and mostly pleasant, though January is the hottest month at 29°C. Afternoon storms are common. Autumn is gentle and the city's trees turn red and gold. Winter is crisp, with cold nights and frosty mornings. Spring brings blossom and wind.

Rain doesn't change much through the year. Wet days run from 7 to 12 a month, and November is the wettest at 87 mm. The driest is May at 35 mm.

Which month for which trip

April and October score best for comfort. Both have highs around 20°C, which is ideal for walking around Lake Burley Griffin or climbing Mount Ainslie for the view down Anzac Parade to Parliament House. April is calmer and a bit drier. October is greener.

If you love museums, winter works well. The National Gallery, the National Museum and the Australian War Memorial are all indoors, and June to August are rated Good. Nights fall to 2°C in July, so you'll want a coat for evenings in Braddon's restaurants. Skiers use the city as a base for the Snowy Mountains, roughly two to three hours' drive away.

Summer suits swimming and paddling on the lake. Travelling with kids? Questacon, the science centre, is a good wet-day backup.

Crowds and events

Canberra is never truly packed. The busiest times are school holidays, especially late December to January, and Parliament sitting weeks, when hotels in the centre fill with politicians and lobbyists. Midwinter is the quietest time, and you'll often have galleries to yourself.

Events give the year its shape. Floriade, the huge flower festival in Commonwealth Park, runs from mid-September through mid-October. It's the main reason to come in spring, so expect more visitors. The Enlighten festival lights up the national buildings in March. The National Multicultural Festival in February fills the city centre with food stalls. Anzac Day on 25 April brings a dawn service at the War Memorial, and it's moving but very busy.

Want the best mix of weather and space? Aim for late April or early October, outside the main event weekends.