Season guide · Adelaide · Australia
Adelaide in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Festival season in March, then mild, settled weather, vintage in the wine regions and autumn colour in the Hills. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 19 rainy days across March–May. March–April are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 26°C (79°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 | 12.4 h | 5/5 |
| April | 23°C (73°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 6 | 11.3 h | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 9 | 10.3 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 86 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Adelaide Festival (usually late February to mid-March)
- March: WOMADelaide world-music festival in Botanic Park (usually the March long weekend)
- April: Barossa Vintage Festival (biennial, usually April in odd-numbered years)
- May: Tasting Australia food festival (usually late April or early May)
Make the most of the weather
Beach · Glenelg
Glenelg Beach and Jetty
Take the tram from Victoria Square, which takes about 30 minutes, and stay for sunset at the end of the jetty.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Iconic
Zoo · North Adelaide
Adelaide Zoo
Opened in 1883, Australia's second-oldest zoo is a compact, walkable site beside the Botanic Park, with heritage buildings, an Australian native section, primates and big cats.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
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Waterfront · Riverbank
River Torrens and Elder Park
Hire a paddle boat or walk the riverbank at dusk, when the Festival Centre and Adelaide Oval are lit up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- After dark
Viewpoint · Adelaide Hills
Mount Lofty Summit
At 710 metres, the summit gives a sweeping view over the Adelaide Plains to the gulf, with the Flinders Column marker and a café.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the walk
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
Zoo · Adelaide Hills
Cleland Wildlife Park
Buy a bag of animal food at the entrance and visit early in the day, when the animals are most active.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Day trips in autumn
- McLaren Vale (About 45 minutes by car) — A Mediterranean-climate wine region known for shiraz and grenache, close to the sea and the beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
- Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills (About 30 minutes by car) — Hahndorf, founded by Prussian settlers in 1839, is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, with a main street of stone buildings, bakeries and pubs.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Adelaide?
Yes: March–April are among the best months. Festival season in March, then mild, settled weather, vintage in the wine regions and autumn colour in the Hills.
+What is the weather like in Adelaide in autumn?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.