Best time to visit South Australia

Our South Australia travel guide tells you all you need to know about visiting this fantastic part of the country well away from the tourist crowds. Discover South Australia’s amazing beaches and marine life on Kangaroo Island, get under the skin of the Aboriginal culture or sample the regions amazing food and wine. Our South Australia travel guide gives you insider’s information from local people passionate about where they live and the things they do. All the vacations and accommodations in this South Australia guide are run by responsible operators dedicated to protecting the environment and supporting local communities.

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South Australia weather & climate

Glenelg beach, South Australia. Photo by South Australia Tourist Board

Seasonal weather
South Australia is the perfect place to escape the chill. It has mild winters and warm, dry summers. South Australia’s summer runs from December to February. The average temperature is 28.3 degrees Celsius (°C). People flock to the beaches, so coastal towns are popular during summer, with many dining out al fresco style.

Northern parts of the state (such as the Flinders Ranges and outback of South Australia) experience very hot conditions during summer. Many of these areas are desert, so the days can be hot, while the nights are often cold. The sun can be extremely intense in Australia. To avoid skin burn, seek shade whenever possible, particularly between the hours of 11am and 3pm. When out in the sun, wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your face, ears and neck. Use a maximum protection, broad based spectrum sun screen of at least SPF 30+.

Seasonal weather
South Australia gets most of its rainfall during the winter months of June, July and August. It rains more around the city and Mount Lofty Ranges (up to 1000 millimetres), than it does in the outback.

The Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre can be particularly dry (receiving around 100 millimetres of rain). Winter temperatures in South Australia hover around 15.9°C. It gets colder in the Adelaide Hills and the outback, often dipping below 10°C.

Autumn (March to May) is a great time to visit Adelaide. There’s a lot of sunshine and the weather in Adelaide usually stay in the low to mid 20s. Spring (September to November) is awash with colour. Flowers bloom and the wildlife flourishes. The weather in South Australia warms up, as it gets closer to summer.

Average seasonal temperatures

Average daily winter (June-August) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 15.9°C, Min 8°C

Average daily spring (September-November) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 21.7°C, Min 11.6°C

Average daily summer (December-February) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 28.3°C, Min 16.5°C

Average daily autumn (March-May) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 22.4°C, Min 12.5°C

Climate chart

Adelaide	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average Maximum Temperature	29	29	26	22	19	16	15	16	19	22	25	27
Average Minimum Temperature	17	17	15	12	10	8	7	8	9	11	14	15
Average Rainfull mm	21	11	25	38	58	79	82	69	62	43	29	29