What Is The Best Time Of The Year To Visit The Whitsundays?
The Whitsundays enjoy balmy and beautiful weather all year round, thanks to its location in the heart of the tropics. The tropics generally host two major seasons each year – the wet season and the dry season. Each season offers a unique and wonderful way to experience the beauty of the Whitsundays, so there’s no particular time of the year that’s best to visit! However, many visitors and locals alike have voted September the best time of year to visit the Whitsundays due to fewer crowds and dry, sunny weather! Read below to find out the best time of the year to visit the Whitsundays for you and your family.
Summer - the wet season
It’s the most common time of the year to hit the beach, so it’s no surprise that the Whitsundays are pumping during the summer. The heat is turned up, the rain is around and the sailing boats are well in action! Summer runs from around November to February, but you’ll definitely still feel the heat on its surrounding shoulder seasons. Wet season usually graces the Whitsundays from December to March, often producing monsoonal weather and producing heavy rain. Although the weather isn’t perfect, it never scares locals or tourists away from having fun! The rain generally doesn’t stick around for too long, meaning the weather should not interfere with your adventure! Tours usually run every day unless the weather is extremely bad – but that is rare.
If you enjoy the heat, the possibility of crowds and an abundance of food and drink options, visiting the Whitsundays during the summer season is for you. As it coincides with the summer school holidays, the region can be quite bustling at this time of the year – but that just means there’s more excitement, more events and more entertainment available!
Autumn - the shoulder season
As the two biggest seasons in the Whitsundays are summer and winter, autumn comfortably squeezes in as a shoulder season. Running from February to May, it’s a wonderful time of year to visit the Whitsundays. By this time of year, the rain has usually mostly eased off and the heat has cooled off, too. As there are no prominent school holidays during this time of the year (aside from the busy Easter long weekend holiday), the crowds have also usually dissipated by autumn. If you like the heat without the burn, medium crowds and clearer days, visiting the Whitsundays in autumn might be perfect for you.
Winter - the dry season
The beauty of the tropics is that even when the winter months set in, you can still flounder around in swimmers and a snorkel. The days are warm and balmy, usually sitting around the mid-20s mark, making it perfect for hiring a boat or embarking on a boat tour. Although nighttime can get a little chilly, the cold is never crisp enough to warrant a thick coat – it may as well be summer all year round in the tropics!
The best part of winter in the tropics is that it’s the drier season, meaning monsoons are out, good weather is in and the adventures never stop. With the winter school holidays falling in late June, the winter season is usually packed out with families from all over the country. One of the other big drawing cards to visiting the Whitsundays in winter is whale watching! As the whales migrate up the east coast of Australia each winter, the Whitsundays are the perfect place to watch these magical creatures frolic about.
Spring - the second shoulder season
Spring is a wonderful time to visit the Whitsundays because of its cooler than average temperatures, dispersed crowds and magnificent weather. As the second shoulder season of the year, springtime graces the Whitsundays from around August to October, bringing with it blue skies, perfect temperatures and less crowds. Springtime is an amazing time to visit the Whitsundays and hire a boat if you’re after a less bustling, more expansive holiday. After winter, locals and tourists alike are coming out of their cosy cocoons and gearing up for another amazing Whitsunday season!
Which Season is the best in the Whitsundays?
To wrap up, every season in the Whitsundays is perfect for a getaway. However, September and the whole of Spring are voted the best times to visit the Whitsundays due to fewer crowds, more options and divine weather! However, Summer are the most popular due to school holidays, so keep this in mind when you're picking your dates. Whether you love cooler weather, want to watch whales or love the feeling of the cool water on your skin on a hot day, there’s a season for everyone in the Whitsundays!
