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Australia Weather in August

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Australia in August.

Are you planning a trip a to Australia in August and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Australia in August

Australia offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In August, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to very warm, and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy. August falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is cold in Liawenee at 7°C (45°F) to very warm in Marrakai at 34°C (93°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 19°C (66°F) in Marrakai and -1°C (30°F) in Liawenee.

For a closer look at conditions across Australia, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In August, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Kununurra with an average of 0.2 mm (0.01 in) to heavy rainfall in Strahan with 264 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Melbourne receives about 166 hours of sunlight in August, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore Australia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Australia — and find the best time to visit. (based on Melbourne)

Best Places to Visit in Australia in August

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Australia.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Australia

What is the weather like in August for some of the most popular destinations in Australia?

Temperature range in Australia (August)

Precipitation variation in Australia (August)

Melbourne

In August Melbourne generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
166 hours
185 hours
Monthly rainfall
52 mm (2 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Sydney

In August Sydney generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
208 hours
242 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
53 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Gold Coast

In August Gold Coast generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
210 hours
240 hours
250 hours
Monthly rainfall
47 mm (1.9 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Brisbane

In August Brisbane generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
11°C (52°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
272 hours
269 hours
271 hours
Monthly rainfall
34 mm (1.3 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
7 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Perth

In August Perth generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
191 hours
222 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
13 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Australia.

In our records: Australia August extremes

Notable August records observed across cities in Australia in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest August night in Australia dropped to -13°C (9°F) in Thredbo on August 18, 2025.
  • In our records, the coldest August daytime high in Australia was -5°C (23°F) in Thredbo on August 5, 2020.

Popular cities in August

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Australia in August.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Melbourne 15°C (59°F) 7°C (45°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Sydney 18°C (64°F) 11°C (52°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Cairns 24°C (75°F) 18°C (64°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Gold Coast 21°C (70°F) 14°C (57°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Perth 19°C (66°F) 9°C (48°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Uluru 24°C (75°F) 8°C (46°F) 6.2 mm (0.2 in)

Australia weather in August: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Australia in August?

Australia typically experiences tolerable weather in August, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Melbourne average around 15°C (59°F), and temperatures drop to about 7°C (45°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Australia in August?

Average temperatures in Australia during August range from a nighttime low near 7°C (45°F) to a daytime high around 15°C (59°F) in Melbourne.

Does Australia get a lot of rain in August?

August is on the drier side in Australia. Melbourne averages only about 59 mm (2.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is August a Good Time to Visit Australia?

In our view, August might not be the best time to travel to Australia with often tolerable weather in Melbourne.

On average, the best time to visit Australia is in January, February, March, April, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Melbourne. The weather in May, June, July, August and September, on the other hand, tends to be tolerable.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Australia.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Australia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Australia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.