West vs East Australia

Eastern or Western Australia? When to travel? How to travel?

So many things to consider, so many choices to make.

Sick of endless comparing, researching? You just want clear answers? Than you have come to the right article! Just follow two simple steps.

Step 1, determine for yourself: 

• When do I want to travel? Or am I flexible with dates?

• What type of trip do I want? Relaxed, adventurous or party vibes?

• How much time do I have to travel?

• How much do I want to plan ahead?

Got it? Okay! Ready for...

Step 2, read this article😜Lets compare Australia's West coast vs Australia's East coast!

• When do I want to travel?

The Northern parts of Australia (meaning Northern Queensland up from Cairns, Northern territory and the Kimberley region in WA) only know two tropical seasons:

• Wet season: November till April.

• Dry season: May to October.

  
  

The other parts of the West and East Coast experience the 4 seasons we know as: 

• Summer: December through February.

• Fall: March through May

• Winter: June through August

• Spring: September through November.

  
  

Now, lets check out your best options month by month!

1. Average temperature 

2. Sea temperatures 

3. Rainfall days 

(source 2, 8, 9)

- December, January & February: both coastlines not recommended.

Throughout the entire country, temperatures can get up to 40 degrees Celsius. The temperatures on the West coast are a bit more extreme in summer, compared to the East coast.

What also characterizes this time period is the big amount of rain up North. Combined with these high temperatures, this results in a very high humidity percentage (easily past 80 percent). Tropical storms are also not uncommon in these weather conditions. Northern territory and Queensland are prone to such natural disasters like floods, bushfires and cyclones. Of the entire Australian coastline, the area between Exmouth and Broome is most prone to cyclones (1).

Okay, while weather conditions are extreme, nature is also one upside about wet season, since no waterfall or lake is dried up and everything is in full bloom. Extra bonus: areas around Perth will blossom with little purple flowers, aka Jacarandas, everywhere.

But still, a few purple flowers and impressive waterfalls does not sum up enough reason for me. I would NOT recommend to travel either the East or West coast during December-February. If I'd have to choose one, I would travel the East Coast because of the somewhat milder temperatures, but I would still avoid Northern Queensland (around Cairns) because increased risk of tropical storms.

- March & April: Average to travel both Eastern and Western Australia.

Still very much the tropical storm season, so same risks and advice as described above.

More southern parts of Australia call this season fall, the Northern part of Australia still calls these months the wet season. Oh, and travel blogs call these months "shoulder season". Australian summer holidays have come to an end so destinations will be less crowded and and prices will drop.

In March and April temperatures are getting milder and the sea water is still hot from summer. It is still warm enough to swim around Sydney and above. Up North you can still experience the lakes and nature in its full glory. This makes the West- and East Coast pleasant to travel. Because of the risks of tropical storms I would recommend to start as much South as possible in April and slowly make your way up. So for the East Coast I would start in Tasmania or Melbourne and for the West coast I would start in Albany/Perth.

Extra bonus: whale sharks are starting to migrate down the West Coast and humpback whales are starting to travel alongside the East and West Coast (in April). So both coastlines call for some awesome whale activities!

- May: The PERFECT month to travel both coastlines.

The Northern part of Australia is coming into dry season. Temperatures are getting even milder and humidity percentage is going down. The colors of the rainforests are at their brightest and gorges and waterfalls are filled with spectacular amounts of water.

The nice temperatures and impressive surroundings makes May a really good month to travel the Northern parts of Australia (for example Cairns, Darwin and the Great Barrier Reef). Extra good news for the last one: May is also the end of stinger season, so ideal month to snorkel without a wetsuit.

Further down south (Perth, Sydney) temperatures are nice in May, it is ideal weather to hike and explore. It is also the time to attend one of the many events, festivals and special activities going on in major cities like Perth and Sydney. Go on a humpback whale watch cruise (last change for Perth!) or swim with whale sharks in Exmouth. Sydney will also host their big annual light festival end of May/ beginning of June called 'VIVID'. I visited in 2024 and wrote a honest review about VIVID Sydney.

Apart from during those big events, both the West and East coast are is still way less travelled in May than the summer months. Therefore May is the last month to call itself 'shoulder season'. Prices are generally lower than during peak season but travel conditions are still very good.

So yes, I would recommend both coast lines in May. It would be perfect tot travel south to North so your out of the south part before it gets too cold and arrive in the tropical north ones dry season starts in...

- June,July & August: Winter in the south, dry season up North. 

Cold and rainy in the south, hot in Exmouth/Airlee beach and above, is how I would describe these months for the West & East coast of Australia. Although temperatures wise it is cold in places like Sydney and Perth, when the sun is out it feels way hotter. Especially in Perth I noticed the sun feels very strong still very. But sunny days and clear blue skies also mean the heat does not stay so once the sun is set the temperature drops rapidly. Still, A sweater and rain jacket did the job for me in Perth. he more I travelled up, the hotter it got. Up from Exmouth, weather was perfect for sunbathing and swimming with whale sharks. 😉 The Great barrier reef can be snorkeled without a wetsuit as well, since stinger season is officially over.

Swag camping at Uluru Australia

Because it is the dry season up North, conditions are perfect for SWAG camping in the NT, Uluru and the Kimberley region. A SWAG is basically a very thick sleeping bag on the ground and is the hardcore Australian way to camp. At the end of a busy day, roll out your swag next to the campfire. Fall a sleep to the little crisper sounds of the fire and under the most breathtaking sky full of stars... Sweet dreams. ZzZzZ....

- September, October: Perfect to travel the East Coast.

Actually, PLEASE WAKE UP FOR THE PERFECT EAST COAST TRAVEL SEASON!

Wild flowers in Karijini, WA

September and October mean, spring in the South, dry season up North. The West coast will be filled with beautiful wildflowers during these months.

Just like April and May, September and October are considered "shoulder season" , these months are a really good month to travel the east- or west coast! Not too crowded, not too expensive and comfortable temperatures to explore the cities and forests. As the weather is getting hotter in areas around Sydney and humidity and rainfall will increase in the North, these months is perfect to travel from North to South.

I travelled Cairns to Sydney in October 2022 and the weather was great! The temperatures in Cairns are end 20s/begin 30s (Celcius) and it is dry most of the time. The water in the Daintree was still a bit cold for a swim but that is honestly the only downside I can think of. Another good thing, stinger season is not fully on yet, so you can mostly swim without a wetsuit.

For the West Coast temperatures are between 20-30 degrees celsius as well and it can be a bit windy. Actually a big problem in late spring/early summer are the bush flies. I would not travel Mid Western Australia during peak fly season which is October to November.

- November: okay for both coastlines.

Summer time baby!

"what do you mean??" ,asks the Northern territory.

Oh sorry I mean 'wet season' for you, Northern Australia.

For the West Coast, November is kind off similar to December and January, only without the perks of travelling later in the wet season. Waterfalls are likely still dried up, and did I tell you about the bush flies? EVERYWHERE.

Also, November marks the start of the tropical cyclone season, so very high risk of cyclones between Broome and Exmouth and Northern parts of Queensland (1+4).

While the northern parts have their downsides during this month, the southern parts of each coastline are very well travelable. In Perth for example, temperatures vary from 25 to 27 degrees perfect weather to explore and swim. In november Perth is filled with beautiful wildflowers. And in Sydney the streets fill up with beautiful purple flowers called Jacaranda's. Temperature wise Sydney is also pleasantly warm (around 24 degrees celsius). And a big pro for both southern parts of the coastline is that november is still just outside of the peak travel season, so less crowds and lower prices than in summer.

So yes, both coastlines definitely have their charm in November, especially the southern areas. Because of the flies and tropical storms, I would prefer the East Coast over the West coast in November. I would also recommend to travel North to South. This way you will have fled the North before wet season is fully on and risk of natural disasters occur and arrive in the south just in time to experience the south's beauty , without peak crowds and prices.

Overview of different seasons:

Australia's special seasons, mentioned in paragraphs above.

Stinger season	November-May	East coast and Broome
Wildflower season	June-September July-November	Karijini WA
Whale shark season	March-July	Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia)
Whale watch season	April-November/December	East coast and West coast (till December)
Flies season	October-November	Western Australia
Jacaranda season	October-December	Sydney-Brisbane and Perth in November-December

(Source 5, 6 and 7)

• What type of trip do I want?

Full relax mode? Or adventure mode? What is the purpose of your trip and therefore which "type' of trip do you desire?

-Want to experience the buzz of the cities? Want to go out and party? Than the East Coast is the destination for you!

The coastline is filled with city after city. It is a very "busy" well-travelled part of Australia. That way, it is easy to meet fellow travelers and there is always something going on. Want to go to a good restaurant? No problem, there certainly is one close by! Want to go to a nice club? Plenty of choice! Especially in Surfers Paradise, aka "party paradise". 

The West Coast on the other hand, an entirely different world... Fancy good restaurant? Want to visit a club? Sure! Please drive 20 hours to the next " Town", or be lucky there is one pub open in the village. As you can imagine, you are in for an entirely different trip if you travel the West coast. 

-The West coast is not city after city, but beautiful nature after beautiful nature, farm after farm, nothing after nothing. You can drive HOURS without seeing anything, without seeing another car, human, gas station,.... This is so fascinating and was weirdly calming for me. (Also, not having cell phone service might have contributed to that calmness, LOL).

Beautiful nature @ West coast Australia

The West coast is a lot less travelled by international travelers. We met lots of Australians travelling their own country, especially in Broome. A pro is that this will give you a very local feeling and experience. A con is that it might be a bit harder to meet fellow international (solo) travelers. 

So, depending on your wishes, both destinations can suite you. I must say, the West coast's nature absolutely blew me away, stunning and so rough. If you have time, make a loop through the middle as well and don't forget Lake Argyle and Karajini!

• How much time do I have to travel?

Some people have an entire year to travel, others are allowed to take a short break from work and want to make the most of it. I have been on both sides. 

-Short on time/limited time.

When I was short on time, I travelled the East Coast, which I would recommend. The Greyhound bus travels regularly between most popular destinations, this makes it easy to travel a bit faster and plan ahead (which I would recommend if you are limited on time, to be sure you do not miss out on experiences and the greyhound does incidentally sell out).

On the West Coast public transport IS available, but will likely run 2 times a week on rly specific ' weird" times. This will result in you sometimes have to " wait" until the next available bus to continue your travels, not convenient when you're already short in time.

So, if you plan to rely on public transport and have a shorter period of time to travel, the East Coast is your best destination. 

-All the time of the world (no pun intended 😉)

If you have more time to travel and rely on public transport, it makes sense to choose for the West Coast. Popular destination are really far and stretched out so you'll definitely need that time! Even if you hire a vehicle of your own. Which brings me to our next question..

• Should I hire a van/car?

-No

Of course a car does give you more freedom and flexibility, but when you want to travel the East Coast I wouldn't bother. Not necessary. As I said, the Greyhound bus runs multiple times a day and I think it is quite comfortable way to travel!

-Yes

Hired a car at Magnetic Island, fun times!

For Western Australia it is another story. Would recommend to hire a vehicle of your own so you do not have to wait a week to be able to travel to your next destination. Imagine you're sitting next to your travel mate, having good conversations, driving hours without seeing another car. You conquer the looong straight roads, with only nature and (watch out!) kangaroos on the side of the road, surrounded by beautiful big mountains, plants and sunrises and sunsets. As someone who hates driving, I must admit that I did not mind it in Western Australia😉. 

• To plan or not to plan?

So many people tell you that planning is something you shouldn't do, leave room for the spontaneous adventures because they are the best, etc.

I DO NOT agree. I think " to plan or not to plan?" is a personal preference. 

When travelling the East Coast in 2022 I was short in time. I pre planned EVERYTHING.

-Advantages of planning:

1. You will never miss out on experiences or travel opportunities.

   YES, tours and busses do sell out. Especially in peak seasons (December, January, holiday in July). It was good and easy to have it all sorted out and not miss out on anything.

2. You won't experience stress about your next move.

   Imagine this, you went to Australia and booked your first hostel for a week. You do not know what is next. The end of the week is coming up.. You still do not know what's next. Your trying to enjoy your time in your first hostel, explore but you also need to research your next destination and how to get there. Yes, that will come with a lot of stress! Especially if you find out short after that there is a school holiday going on and destinations like Coral Bay and Monkey Mia are sold out a year in advance. Yea, indeed that happened to me last year, lol.

-Disadvantages of planning:

1. I actually only have one, the cliché of having less flexibility.

   Once in 2022 I had an amazing time with some girls on Magnetic Island and I wished I could have stayed longer. If I did not pre plan I could have stayed a bit longer to explore more. But also, this had to do with me being short on time, the two go hand in hand.

   
   
   
   

CONGRATULATIONS if you made it this far LOL.

Tell me in the comments: are you a planner or a 'take it as it comes' kinda gal?

Resources

1. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/about/australian-climate-influences.shtml?bookmark=tc#:~:text=Tropical%20cyclones%20affect%20all%20of,few%20have%20occurred%20in%20November.

2. https://www.holiday-weather.com/cairns/averages/january/ 

3. https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/when-to-go/australias-seasons.html#:~:text=The%20'wet%20season'%3A%20November%20%2D%20April&text=The%20wet%20season%20in%20Australia's,Nitmiluk%20Gorge%20at%20full%20flow.

4. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153852/tropical-cyclone-sean-lashes-western-australia#:~:text=Australia's%20tropical%20cyclone%20season%20runs,to%20warm%20sea%20surface%20temperatures.

5. https://www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au/page.nature-wildlife.html#:~:text=In%20the%20cooler%20months%20(June,button%20can%20also%20be%20spotted.

6. https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/things-to-do/nature-and-wildlife/wildlife-encounters/whale-sharks

7. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/marine/marine-species/cetaceans/humpback-whales-eastern-australia#:~:text=the%20fact%20sheet-,Each%20year%20between%20April%20and%20November%2C%20Australia's%20eastern%20coastline%20comes,waters%20to%20mate%20and%20calve.

8. https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/exmouth-december.htm

9. https://farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lc=5051