Season guide · Brisbane · Australia
Brisbane in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Original uploader was Lilywatanabe at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hot and humid with afternoon storms and the year's heaviest rain; busy school holidays in January. Expect highs up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 30 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C (86°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 | 13.7 h | 4/5 |
| February | 30°C (86°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 11 | 13.1 h | 2/5 |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 9 | 13.9 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 90 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 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: Brisbane International tennis (usually early January)
- January: Australia Day (26 January)
- February: Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown, Fortitude Valley (late January or February)
- December: Christmas lights and events at King George Square (December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks at South Bank (31 December)
Good choices for summer
Gallery · South Bank
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Australia's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art sits on the river at Kurilpa Point, known for its large-scale installations, the Asia Pacific Triennial and a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Gallery · South Bank
Queensland Art Gallery
Start here, cross to GOMA, then have lunch at the riverside café between the two buildings.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Museum · South Bank
Queensland Museum Kurilpa
The state museum covers Queensland's dinosaurs, wildlife, the Great Barrier Reef and First Nations cultures, with the hands-on SparkLab science centre upstairs.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
Architecture · Brisbane CBD
Brisbane City Hall and Museum of Brisbane
Book the free clock-tower tour on arrival at the museum desk; places are limited.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · South Bank
Queensland Maritime Museum
At the southern end of South Bank, beside an old dry dock, the museum lets you board HMAS Diamantina, a Second World War frigate, and see displays on Queensland's shipwrecks, lighthouses and pearling history.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in summer
- Gold Coast (About 1–1.5 hours by train and light rail) — Surf beaches, theme parks and the SkyPoint observation deck at Surfers Paradise.
- Australia Zoo (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Steve Irwin's family zoo in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is known for crocodile shows in its Crocoseum, plus koalas, Tasmanian devils and an African savannah area.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Brisbane?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid with afternoon storms and the year's heaviest rain; busy school holidays in January. The best months overall are April–June and August–October.
+What is the weather like in Brisbane in summer?
Highs of up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.