Season guide · Adelaide · Australia
Adelaide in summer
December–February: 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
Hot, dry and sunny with beach days and cricket; heatwaves above 40°C are possible, and the Fringe begins in February. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 11 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 15°C (59°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 11
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C (84°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 | 14.3 h | 4/5 |
| February | 29°C (84°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 | 13.4 h | 5/5 |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 5 | 14.5 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 11 of the year's roughly 86 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Tour Down Under cycling race (usually January)
- January: Australia Day celebrations (26 January)
- February: Adelaide Fringe (usually mid-February to mid-March)
- December: Test cricket at Adelaide Oval (most summers, often December)
Make the most of the weather
Garden · East End
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Founded in 1855, the garden includes the 1877 Palm House, a German-made Victorian glasshouse, the Bicentennial Conservatory with tropical rainforest plants, and the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
Landmark · North Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
Walk there from the city across the Riverbank footbridge, and book a stadium tour on a non-match day to see the museum and players' areas.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
Beach · Glenelg
Glenelg Beach and Jetty
A broad sandy beach on Gulf St Vincent at the end of the tram line, with a jetty, Moseley Square's Town Hall and the Bay Discovery Centre museum.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Iconic
Zoo · North Adelaide
Adelaide Zoo
Walk there through the Botanic Garden and Botanic Park, or arrive by the riverboat from Elder Park in warmer months.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Waterfront · Riverbank
River Torrens and Elder Park
The river's lake runs past the Adelaide Festival Centre and the Victorian rotunda in Elder Park, with paths along both banks to the zoo and the University of Adelaide.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- After dark
Day trips in summer
- Barossa Valley (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Australia's most famous wine region, settled by Prussian and Silesian Lutherans in the 1840s, with more than 150 wineries, old-vine shiraz, German bakeries and towns such as Tanunda and Angaston.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Adelaide?
It is a trade-off: Hot, dry and sunny with beach days and cricket; heatwaves above 40°C are possible, and the Fringe begins in February. The best months overall are March–April and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Adelaide in summer?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 11 rainy days over the season.