Month guide · Sydney · Australia
Sydney in October
What October is really like in Sydney: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
October is one of the best months to visit Sydney. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 13 hours of daylight. Warm days and comfortable conditions for every outdoor activity; jacaranda trees start turning streets purple late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in October
October is the 7th-warmest month in Sydney: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with September (21°C (70°F)), October is warmer; by November highs stay near 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 06:13
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 19:08
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Summer (December–February). Hot beach days, warm sea and long evenings, but also peak crowds and prices, school holidays, humidity and occasional heatwaves and storms.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in October
- Sculpture by the Sea — outdoor art on the Bondi to Tamarama walk (usually late October to early November)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Gallery · Circular Quay
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
In an Art Deco building on the western side of Circular Quay, the MCA shows contemporary Australian and international art, with a strong collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander work.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
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Park · Barangaroo
Barangaroo Reserve
Walk from Barangaroo Reserve through Walsh Bay to The Rocks for a quieter harbour route than the crowds at Circular Quay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay and South Head
A ferry ride from Circular Quay, Watsons Bay is a former fishing village near the southern entrance to the harbour.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Theme park · Milsons Point
Luna Park Sydney
Walk across the Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point, finish at Luna Park, then take the ferry back to Circular Quay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- After dark
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 14°C and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Sydney?
One of the best months to visit Sydney, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are March–April, September and November. Compare every month.
Sydney in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Sydney?
It is one of the best months to visit Sydney. Warm days and comfortable conditions for every outdoor activity; jacaranda trees start turning streets purple late in the month.
+How warm is Sydney in October?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Sydney in October?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.