Gold Coast

Queensland Weather in January

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

Planning a getaway to Queensland, Australia this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Queensland in January

Queensland, Australia is a region in Australia. The weather in Queensland in January can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from warm to very hot and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Point Lookout at 27°C (81°F) to very hot in Winton at 38°C (100°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 25°C (77°F) in Winton and 24°C (75°F) in Point Lookout. On average, January is the warmest month of the year in Queensland, Australia. So be prepared and pack summer clothes.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Saint George with an average of 56 mm (2.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Weipa with 400 mm (16 in).

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in January. Gold Coast typically receives 230 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Queensland by month

Best Places to Visit in Queensland in January

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

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 Queensland

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Queensland, Australia?

Temperature range in Queensland (January)

Precipitation variation in Queensland (January)

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

Noosa Heads

In January Noosa Heads generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°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
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
127 mm (5 in)
169 mm (6.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Cairns

In January Cairns generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
232 hours
208 hours
171 hours
Monthly rainfall
153 mm (6 in)
252 mm (9.9 in)
292 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Port Douglas

In January Port Douglas generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
232 hours
208 hours
171 hours
Monthly rainfall
215 mm (8.5 in)
341 mm (13 in)
378 mm (15 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Queensland, 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 Queensland in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
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)
Brisbane 29°C (84°F) 22°C (72°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Noosa Heads 29°C (84°F) 23°C (73°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Port Douglas 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 341 mm (13 in)
Mooloolaba 29°C (84°F) 23°C (73°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)

Queensland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Queensland, Australia in January?

Queensland, Australia typically experiences pleasant weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Gold Coast average around 27°C (81°F), and temperatures drop to about 23°C (73°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Queensland, Australia in January?

Gold Coast averages a daytime maximum of 27°C (81°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 23°C (73°F).

Does Queensland, Australia get a lot of rain in January?

Queensland, Australia sees substantial rainfall in January. Gold Coast typically averages about 139 mm (5.5 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Queensland, Australia?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Queensland, Australia due to the typically pleasant weather in Gold Coast.

On average, the best time to visit Queensland, Australia is in April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November with generally perfect weather in Gold Coast.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Queensland.

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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