What is the weather like in different regions of Australia during December?

December marks the start of summer across Australia with temperatures varying by region. Sydney sees average temperatures of 25°C (77°F) while Cairns in the north reaches 31°C (88°F) and gets occasional tropical rain. The Red Centre near Uluru can hit 35°C (95°F) making early morning activities ideal. A TourRadar traveler mentioned "The weather was perfect for outdoor activities in Byron Bay though we needed to stay hydrated during the midday heat when hiking in Uluru."

Which coastal destinations are best to visit in Australia during December?

The Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef and Byron Bay provide excellent beach conditions with water temperatures around 25°C (77°F). The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are at their prime for water activities. Beachfront stays like the Beachcomber Resort in Byron Bay or Rainbow Getaway Apartments give direct beach access. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "Byron Bay in December was absolute paradise - perfect weather for surfing and beach activities."

What wildlife experiences are unique to Australia in December?

The summer month brings peak wildlife activity. Kangaroos are active at dawn and dusk at places like Daisy Hill Koala Centre near Brisbane. The east coast sees whale migrations while Queensland beaches host turtle nesting. Port Macquarie offers wild dolphin sightings and Tasmania's Devils @ Cradle showcases native species. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Seeing wild dolphins play in the harbor at sunset was magical and the koalas were especially active in the cooler morning hours."

How crowded are major tourist attractions in Australia during December?

December brings peak tourist numbers especially during the Christmas and New Year period. Sydney Harbour Bondi Beach and Great Barrier Reef tours see high visitor counts. Book stays at places like Holiday Inn Potts Point Sydney or Aurora Hotel Alice Springs several months ahead. A TourRadar traveler advised: "The crowds were manageable early in December but it got much busier closer to Christmas - book activities in advance."

What are the best places to visit in Australia during December?

The summer season makes coastal areas and the Great Barrier Reef ideal destinations. The Whitsundays offer clear conditions for water activities while Tasmania provides mild weather for hiking trails. A TourRadar traveler noted about their December reef experience: "The water visibility was excellent and we saw amazing marine life including turtles and colorful coral." Key spots include Bondi Beach the Gold Coast's entertainment district and Port Douglas beaches.

Australia Tours in December 2026

10 best Australia trips in December 2026

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City & Culture
7-Day Uluru to Adelaide Tour
5.0 (4 traveler reviews)
"It was a great trip, with a great guide."
Christian, traveled in January
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Yulara, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru,Watarrka National Park,Kings Canyon,Coober Pedy,Flinders Ranges,Wilpena Pound,Quorn,Clare,Adelaide+8 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
Untamed Escapes
From
US$948per person
Price based on Shared Room
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6 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
20 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Tasmanian Discovery - 6 Day Comfort Tour of Tasmania
4.8 (14 traveler reviews)
"What a beautiful state! We had a fantastic time traversing Tasmania, listening to entertaining and informative stories."
Mary, traveled in November
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Hobart, Mount Field National Park,Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park,Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park,Queenstown,Strahan,Macquarie Harbour,Tullah,Dove Lake,Sheffield,Launceston,Cataract Gorge Reserve,Bay of Fires Conservation Area,St Helens,Freycinet National Park,Orford,Tasman National Park,Port Arthur,Richmond+17 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Country Region
Tasmania
Operated in
English
Operator
Under Down Under Tours
From
US$1,525per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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5 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
12 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Ultimate Tasmania - 10 Day Comfort Tour of Tasmania
4.9 (20 traveler reviews)
"What a great team! I will not be able to go up to the peak without his help & lots of his encouragements."
Mandy, traveled in February
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Hobart, Queenstown, Stanley, Devonport, Launceston, Bicheno,Bay of Fires Conservation Area,Freycinet National Park,Richmond,Bruny Island,Port Arthur+5 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Country Region
Tasmania
Operated in
English
Operator
Under Down Under Tours
From
US$2,307per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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7 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
14 Dec, 2026
8 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Brisbane to Cairns - 7 Day Boutique Tour
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"It was my first tour in over 10 years and if I had known what an amazing job Jason, Tara, and the rest of the crew at Via does each and every day."
leslie, traveled in March
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach,Atherton,Cairns,Great Barrier Reef+3 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Regions
Great Barrier ReefEast AustraliaSouth East QueenslandQueensland+3 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Via Travel Australia
From
US$2,941per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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13 Dec, 2026
8 spaces left
27 Dec, 2026
8 spaces left
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City & Culture
15-Day Great Australian Adventure - Private
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"We had a great time & it went very smoothly. I appreciate also that she would contact us to see how things were going."
Stanley, traveled in March
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Melbourne, St Kilda, Uluru,Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,Yulara,Sydney,Bondi Beach,Gold Coast,Surfers Paradise,Mount Tamborine,Springbrook,Currumbin,Cairns,Kuranda,Daintree National Park+12 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
East Australia
Operated in
English
Operator
Vio Travel
5% Off
From $2,241
US$2,129per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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1 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
2 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Sydney to Cairns Adventure
4.2 (6 traveler reviews)
"Fraser Island and the Whit Sundays are just beautiful. We had a fantastic time."
Sue, traveled in March
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Sydney, Hunter Valley, Cessnock, Port Macquarie, Bellingen,Dorrigo National Park,Coffs Harbour,Yamba,Byron Bay,Surfers Paradise,Brisbane,Noosa,Hervey Bay,Fraser Island,75 Mile Beach,Airlie Beach,Whitsunday Islands,Townsville,Lucinda,Tully,Mission Beach,Millaa Millaa,Yungaburra,Lake Eacham,Cairns+20 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Country Region
East Australia
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
5% Off
From $6,091
US$5,787per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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6 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
20 Dec, 2026
7 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Best of Australia with Sightseeing Tours
2.6 (5 traveler reviews)
"This tour was one of the most thoughtful and rewarding trips I've ever taken. In 12 days, we experienced the heart, soul, and wild beauty of Australia."
Zerene, traveled in December
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Melbourne, Apollo Bay, Otway,Twelve Apostles Marine National Park,Loch Ard Gorge,London Bridge,Yulara,Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,Uluru,Cairns,Port Douglas,Daintree National Park,Mossman Gorge,Cape Tribulation,Sydney,Bondi Beach,Blue Mountains+14 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Made Easy Pty Ltd
5% Off
From
US$4,438per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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1 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
2 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Melbourne to Adelaide 2 Day Tour - via Great Ocean Road & Grampians
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
2 days
Destinations
Melbourne, Apollo Bay, Great Otway National Park,Port Campbell,Grampians National Park,Bordertown,Adelaide+4 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Operated in
English
Operator
Autopia Tours
10% Off
From $419
US$377per person
Price based on Private Single Room
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7 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
14 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Sydney to Brisbane Adventure - 8 days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The full experience of sites and culture of Australia, both European and Indigenous."
Timothy, traveled in March
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Sydney, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Port Macquarie,Byron Bay,Noosa,Rainbow Beach,Fraser Island,Brisbane+5 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Australia East CoastEast Australia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
10% Off
From
US$3,750per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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6 Dec, 2026
4 spaces left
20 Dec, 2026
4 spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Adelaide to Melbourne 3 Day Overland Tour via Grampians and Great Ocean Road
4.8 (9 traveler reviews)
"The coastline along the coastal road is stunning. I would strongly recommend this trip and the operator."
David, traveled in January
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Adelaide, Bordertown, Grampians National Park, Halls Gap,Warrnambool,Great Ocean Road,Twelve Apostles Marine National Park,Loch Ard Gorge,London Bridge,Great Otway National Park,Apollo Bay,Melbourne+8 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Country Region
Great Ocean RoadEast AustraliaVictoria+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Autopia Tours
10% Off
From $669
US$602per person
Price based on Private Single Room
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2 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
9 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Hiking & Trekking
Famous 5 - 5 day Tour of Tasmania
4.7 (185 traveler reviews)
"Lots of options regarding in hikes. Accommodation in the motels was good, each had a kitchenette."
Doris, traveled in February
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Hobart, Mount Field National Park,Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park,Queenstown,Strahan,Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park,Dove Lake,Sheffield,Launceston,St Helens,Bay of Fires Conservation Area,Freycinet National Park+10 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Country Region
Tasmania
Operated in
English
Operator
Under Down Under Tours
10% Off
From
US$771per person
Price based on Shared Room
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1 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
3 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
City & Culture
Perth to Exmouth Explorer & Ningaloo Reef 7 Day Original Tour
4.7 (75 traveler reviews) award winner
"Well-informed, fun, caring, always concerned about our safety as well as making sure we got to experience as much of western Australia as possible."
Amy, traveled in March
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Perth, Nambung National Park, Kalbarri National Park,Monkey Mia Reserve,Coral Bay,Cape Range National Park,Exmouth,Geraldton+5 more
Age Range
Ages 6+
Country Region
Australia West CoastWestern Australia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Autopia Tours
10% Off
From $1,405
US$1,265per person
Price based on Private Single Room
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4 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
11 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
Nature & Wildlife
Super 7 - Seven Day Tour of Tasmania
4.4 (96 traveler reviews)
"Every day felt different from wild west coast scenery to beaches, mountains and history and it all flowed really well."
Sabrine, traveled in January
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Hobart, Mount Field National Park,Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park,Queenstown,Strahan,Henty Dunes,Macquarie Harbour,Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park,Dove Lake,Sheffield,Launceston,St Helens,Bay of Fires Conservation Area,Freycinet National Park,Richmond,Mount Wellington,Port Arthur,Tasman National Park+16 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Country Region
Tasmania
Operated in
English
Operator
Under Down Under Tours
10% Off
From
US$1,124per person
Price based on Shared Room
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3 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
5 Dec, 2026
10 spaces left
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Safari
6-Day Esperance & Margaret River Adventure Tour
4.6 (57 traveler reviews)
"We saw the most beautiful beaches."
Katharina, traveled in January
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Perth, York, Esperance, Cape Le Grand National Park,Bremer Bay,Albany,Walpole,Hamelin Bay,Margaret River,Busselton+6 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Country Region
Western Australia
Operated in
English
Operator
Untamed Escapes
10% Off
From
US$955per person
Price based on Shared Room
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7 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
14 Dec, 2026
10+ spaces left
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Nature & Wildlife
Sydney to Brisbane – 8 Day Boutique Tour
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"The itinerary struck a great balance between structure and flexibility, and the accommodations were comfortable and thoughtfully chosen."
Amy, traveled in December
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Sydney, Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie,Byron Bay,Noosa,Rainbow Beach,Fraser Island,Brisbane+5 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
Australia East CoastEast Australia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Via Travel Australia
10% Off
From
US$3,230per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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6 Dec, 2026
8 spaces left
20 Dec, 2026
8 spaces left
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