Season guide · Sydney · Australia
Sydney in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Coekon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mild sunny days and cold nights, low hotel rates, Vivid Sydney in early June and humpback whales along the coast. Expect highs up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 22 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 18°C (64°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 9 | 9.9 h | 3/5 |
| July | 17°C (63°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 7 | 10.1 h | 2/5 |
| August | 18°C (64°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 6 | 10.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 22 of the year's roughly 95 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Vivid Sydney (usually until mid-June)
- June: Sydney Film Festival (usually June)
- August: City2Surf — mass fun run from the CBD to Bondi (usually the second Sunday of August)
- August: Sydney Marathon (usually late August or September)
Good choices for winter
Aquarium · Darling Harbour
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
On the eastern shore of Darling Harbour, the aquarium leads through underwater tunnels past sharks and rays, with a large Great Barrier Reef section, penguins and local harbour species.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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Architecture · Sydney CBD
Queen Victoria Building
Use the underground walkway that links the QVB with Town Hall station for a dry route across the CBD on a wet day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · The Domain
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The gallery spans two buildings in the Domain parkland: the sandstone original with Australian, European and Asian collections, and the newer Sydney Modern building, opened in 2022 with terraces over Woolloomooloo Bay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Circular Quay
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Pair it with a wander through The Rocks next door; it is also the obvious shelter when a summer thunderstorm rolls in.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Hyde Park
Australian Museum
Founded in 1827, Australia's oldest museum faces Hyde Park on College Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
Day trips in winter
- Royal National Park (About 1 hour by train or car) — Established in 1879 and often described as the world's second-oldest national park, the Royal protects sea cliffs, heathland and surf beaches on Sydney's southern edge.
- Palm Beach and the Northern Beaches (About 1.5 hours by bus) — At the tip of the Northern Beaches peninsula, Palm Beach has surf on one side and the calm waters of Pittwater on the other.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Sydney?
It is a trade-off: Mild sunny days and cold nights, low hotel rates, Vivid Sydney in early June and humpback whales along the coast. The best months overall are March–April and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Sydney in winter?
Highs of up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.