Winter Weather in the Whitsundays
Updated 17/01/22
Winter in the Whitsundays falls from June to August and maintains a relatively warm, blissful temperature throughout! You can expect average high temperatures of 24°C to 25°C.
Evenings generally are colder, which may require you to pack a light sweater, jumper, or jacket out on the water, but it rarely gets any colder than this. Our local team highly recommends that you still wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses during the winter months to protect yourself from the strong Queensland UV rays. The average ocean temperature during winter remains cozy - at a warm 21°C, so don't forget your swimsuit to enjoy the serene swimming and snorkelling opportunities that winter in the Whitsundays creates!
Winter also coincides with the dry season, which means the winter months boasts near to no rain, and ideal south-east trade winds to sail around the Whitsunday Islands too! There is very little use of an umbrella or raincoat during this season - the month of August only collects a tiny average of 42.4 mm of rain!
Whitsundays average temperature and rainfall during winter
Whale season in the Whitsundays
In addition to the dreamy tropical winter weather and ideal sailing conditions, winter in the Whitsundays is also when whales migrate to the Whitsundays to birth their calves! Whales seek shelter and protection in the calm Whitsunday Islands, where over the course of the winter period they will birth their calves, teach them to breach, and nurse them before returning on their journey to the cold Antarctic waters.
Whilst out on the water during the winter months you are more than likely to see full-grown whales such as humpback or minke whales, and you may also see whale calves during their first few days or weeks of life! We recommend that you book your idyllic sailing tours of the Whitsunday Islands early, as the winter season is popular amongst travellers near and far!
Many Australians visit the Whitsundays during the winter months to escape colder temperatures in the regions of Southern Australia. The days provide ideal weather for exploring world-renowned tropical destinations, whilst the colder nights provide ideal ideal sleeping conditions, free from heat or humidity!
For up-to-date radars and alerts for severe weather during your trip to the Whitsundays, check the Bureau of Meteorology’s radar. Find more information on the Whitsundays weather here.
