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Best time to visit Townsville

Before you pen in the dates for next trip to Townsville, read this guide.

Stephanie Yip
Stephanie Yip

Updated

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Struggling to get your head around the top time of year to visit Townsville? Here’s a handy guide to the weather and the peak times for everything from diving to sightseeing.

Best time to visit Townsville

May to October.

Why?

Townsville experiences 320 days of sunshine a year. But between November and April temperatures start to spike up to the 27°C mark and humidity soars.

In May, the mercury settles down to daytime averages of around 23°C. Between June and August daily lows of 16°C can occur, which makes for great sightseeing weather.

Visit at this time of year and you'll also dodge Townsville’s cyclone season, which is at its peak in April.

Overview

Townsville's climate is tropical, but due to its position it doesn’t experience quite as much rainfall as other tropical regions.

Winter runs from June to August when daily highs reach between 20 and 23°C and lows sink to 16°C.

In summer – September to May – temperatures are higher, with the hottest months clocking up tops in the high 20s and early 30s.

The humidity leads to thunderstorms in October and November, and cyclone season takes place from November to April. Severe cyclones are rare, however.

Weather and prices

Best time to visit Townsville, weatherwise: May to October

Cheapest time to visit Townsville: January to March

Best time to visit Townsville for...

  • Sightseeing: With the exception of the Reef HQ museum, most of Townsville’s attractions are outside, so it’s best to visit when it’s dry and not too hot. The months of May to October fit these criteria.
  • Scuba diving: It’s possible to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef year round. However, the best visibility is to be had between August and December. If you want a better chance of seeing manta rays and hammerheads, head to the reef between April and September. For minke whales, make it June or July.
  • Snorkelling: The sea temperature off the Townsville coast is warm all year round so there’s not really any bad time to go snorkelling when you are here. If you feel the chill easily, visit in May or October when temperatures are around 25°C.
  • Beach: If your reason for visiting Townsville is to bake on the beach then head here between December and February, You’ll have to share the sand with other holiday-makers on their Christmas breaks, but you’ll bask in 31°C heat.

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