Season guide · Gold Coast · Australia
Gold Coast in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shiftchange, CC0
Quick answer
Mild, sunny and dry, with cool mornings, cooler sea and whale migration offshore. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 19 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 11°C (52°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 21°C (70°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 8 | 10.4 h | 3/5 |
| July | 21°C (70°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 6 | 10.5 h | 4/5 |
| August | 22°C (72°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 5 | 11.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 108 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Whale-watching season begins (usually June)
- July: Gold Coast Marathon (usually early July)
Make the most of the weather
Theme park · Oxenford
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
A large water park with high-speed slides, a wave pool, lazy river and splash areas for younger children.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Coolangatta
Snapper Rocks and Point Danger
Bring binoculars between June and November; Point Danger is one of the best spots to watch whales from land.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Zoo · Burleigh Heads
David Fleay Wildlife Park
Run by the Queensland Government, this park in mangroves and eucalypt forest at West Burleigh shows native animals such as platypus, cassowaries, koalas and nocturnal species in a quiet bush setting.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Main Beach
The Spit and Federation Walk
Walk out to the end of the seaway wall at high tide to watch boats come in through the channel.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Main Beach
Whale-watching cruise
Humpback whales migrate along the coast between about June and November, heading north to calve and then south with their young.
- Time needed
- 2.5–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
- Outdoors
Day trips in winter
- Lamington National Park (About 1.5 hours by car) — Ancient rainforest with more than 150 km of walking tracks.
- Byron Bay (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Across the New South Wales border, Byron Bay has the Cape Byron lighthouse walk to mainland Australia's most easterly point, surf beaches and a relaxed café and boutique town centre.
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 winter a good time to visit Gold Coast?
It is a trade-off: Mild, sunny and dry, with cool mornings, cooler sea and whale migration offshore. The best months overall are April–May and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Gold Coast in winter?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.