Australia

Australia Weather in January

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

Considering a trip to Australia this January and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Australia in January

Australia offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from mild to very hot, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. During January, summer is in full swing.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from mild in Adventure Bay at 18°C (64°F) to very hot in Marble Bar at 41°C (106°F). At night it cools down to 26°C (79°F) in Marble Bar and 13°C (55°F) in Adventure Bay. On average, January is the warmest month of the year in Australia. So be prepared and pack summer clothes.

To explore the conditions in Australia in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Denham with an average of 6.1 mm (0.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Palmerston with 443 mm (17 in).

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this January. For example, Melbourne gets approximately 276 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Australia by month

Best Places to Visit in Australia in January

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 January for some of the most popular destinations in Australia?

Temperature range in Australia (January)

Precipitation variation in Australia (January)

Melbourne

In January Melbourne generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
276 hours
227 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
52 mm (2 in)
53 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Sydney

In January Sydney generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
257 hours
233 hours
207 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Gold Coast

In January Gold Coast generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
250 hours
230 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
118 mm (4.6 in)
139 mm (5.5 in)
167 mm (6.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Brisbane

In January Brisbane generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
268 hours
233 hours
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
133 mm (5.2 in)
152 mm (6 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Perth

In January Perth generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly sun hours
354 hours
355 hours
320 hours
Monthly rainfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
3 days
6 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: Australia January extremes

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

  • In our records, the warmest January day in Australia reached 46°C (115°F) in Ballarat on January 29, 2009.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Melbourne 26°C (79°F) 14°C (57°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Sydney 26°C (79°F) 20°C (68°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Cairns 29°C (84°F) 24°C (75°F) 252 mm (9.9 in)
Gold Coast 27°C (81°F) 23°C (73°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Perth 32°C (90°F) 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Uluru 38°C (100°F) 24°C (75°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)

Australia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Australia in January?

In January, Australia generally has perfect weather conditions. Melbourne sees daytime temperatures near 26°C (79°F), with nights cooling to roughly 14°C (57°F).

What is the average temperature in Australia in January?

Average temperatures in Australia during January range from a nighttime low near 14°C (57°F) to a daytime high around 26°C (79°F) in Melbourne.

Does Australia get a lot of rain in January?

Not particularly. Melbourne averages just 52 mm (2 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Australia.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Australia?

We consider January to be one of the best times to travel to Australia. Typically, the climate in Melbourne is perfect. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

On average, the best time to visit Australia is in January, February, March, April, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Melbourne. On the other hand, the months of May, June, July, August and September tend to have tolerable weather conditions.

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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