Season guide · Perth · Australia
Perth in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gnan garra, CC BY 2.5 au
Quick answer
Hot, dry and sunny with sea-breeze afternoons and occasional 40°C heatwaves; festivals, beaches and busy school holidays. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F), with about 4 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 16°C (61°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 4
- Sea
- 21°C (70°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°C (88°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 1 | 14 h | 4/5 |
| February | 32°C (90°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 1 | 13.3 h | 3/5 |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 2 | 14.2 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 31°C (88°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 4 of the year's roughly 82 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: Fringe World festival (usually mid-January to mid-February)
- January: Australia Day (26 January)
- February: Perth Festival (usually February to March)
- February: Rottnest Channel Swim (usually February)
- December: Summer school holidays begin (mid-December)
- December: New Year's Eve celebrations on the foreshore (31 December)
Make the most of the weather
Park · Kings Park
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
About 400 hectares of bushland, lawns and botanic garden on Mount Eliza overlook the CBD and the Swan River.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Beach · Cottesloe
Cottesloe Beach
Swim in the morning before the afternoon sea breeze — the 'Fremantle Doctor' — roughens the water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Perth CBD
Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower
The riverfront precinct opened in 2016 links the CBD to the Swan River with a footbridge, waterfront restaurants, the Spanda sculpture and the copper-and-glass Bell Tower, which houses the Swan Bells, including twelve historic bells from London's St Martin-in-the-Fields.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Views
- Kids
Historic site · Fremantle
Round House
Visit around 1pm, when the time ball and a cannon are traditionally fired on the hilltop.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Zoo · South Perth
Perth Zoo
A short ferry ride across the river from Elizabeth Quay, the zoo has an Australian bushwalk with kangaroos and wallabies walking freely, a nocturnal house, and Asian and African animal areas, all in established gardens.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Day trips in summer
- Rottnest Island (About 30 minutes by ferry from Fremantle) — Wadjemup, a car-free island with about 60 beaches and bays, is best explored by bike.
- The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park (About 2.5 hours each way by car) — Thousands of limestone pillars rise from yellow sand dunes in Nambung National Park, best seen at sunrise or sunset.
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 Perth?
It is a trade-off: Hot, dry and sunny with sea-breeze afternoons and occasional 40°C heatwaves; festivals, beaches and busy school holidays. The best months overall are March–April and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Perth in summer?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F), with about 4 rainy days over the season.