Get to know more about Australia’s wet seasons and learn about the pros and cons.
Through Australia’s six states and two territories, the climate varies greatly! Different parts of Australia experience cold conditions, sweating humidity, and some areas as dry as the Sahara desert.
Australia experiences these varieties of climates due to the vast size of the continent. There are six distinct climate groups within the country, named the Equatorial, Tropical, Sub-tropical, Desert, Grassland and Temperate.
Most of Australia has the classic four seasons of weather. But the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the northern parts of Australia experience a wet and dry season. This covers the regions of the Northern Territory, the northern region of Western Australia as well as a large portion of Queensland.
What is the wet season?
From November until April, the tropical region of Australia faces its wet season. The wet season brings on high temperatures, monsoonal rains, and sweltering humidity. The wet season can also bring on tropical lows and cyclones which can cause serious damage to the towns.
In comparison, the dry season has clear blue skies, warm days, and cool nights. The dry season is considered more of an ideal time to travel.
The wet season may seem like the worst of the two seasons, guaranteeing you a terrible time amidst Australia’s north. But it can in fact provide you with some great advantages. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of the wet season and what it means for you travelling during this time of year.
Cons for the wet season
Understandably the wet season can have its drawbacks, as the rain can put a damper on outdoor activities if you are unlucky. Tropical cyclones can cause several issues, including tours being cancelled, flooded roads, and cloudy waters for snorkelling. There are also a lot of swimming holes that end up being closed due to crocodiles being in these waters.
If you aren’t one for heat and humidity, the wet season guarantees these two features no matter what week you visit. If that’s the case, perhaps you can reconsider your travel and visit these parts of Australia when it’s slightly cooler during the dry season.
Pros for the wet season
Though there may be some cons with the wet season, there are indeed pros for this time of year too.
• Spot the wildlife and plants
See the landscape come to life with pops of colour from the flourishing flowers. The wet season means rain, and with rain comes an array of unique plant life you wouldn’t see any other time of year. The season is a wonderland for wildlife, with animals busy breeding across the wilderness. This time of year brings out the bright green frogs, more crocodiles (that you can safely see), and tropical birds.
• Watch the lightning storms
The wet season usually brings on incredible tropical storms which may seem scary to some, but they can be amazing to watch. Watch the sky spark and light up as the lightning flashes. Sometimes there are spectacular lightning storms where you can see the lightning without any rain or thunder.
Speaking of skies, the sunrises and sunsets during this time of year are beautiful and worth seeing! Head down to the nearest beach with some fish and chips and enjoy the sunset.
• Avoid the crowds
Due to most people wanting to skip out on the rain and humidity, the wet season of Australia is typically less crowded with visitors. This means you’ll have more flexibility with travel and space to explore and go sightseeing. Park rangers and staff will have more time for you, and you may be lucky enough to get one on one experiences during tours.
Another bonus is accommodation costs are lower and there isn’t a need to book months in advance.
• Full flowing waterfalls
Waterfalls are best seen during the wet season as they suddenly explode into a thundering torrent once the rain arrives. This can make for some impressive photo opportunities. But make sure you stay safe as rising water levels and currents can be unpredictable during downpours.
Sometimes you may not be able to see waterfalls on the viewing platform due to flooding. However, you can go on an incredible scenic helicopter ride where you can see the surrounding areas and waterfalls!
If you don’t have a car, you can book in a tour, with a selected amount running during the wet season. However, there are likely to be some limitations depending on where you want to travel. With the rain blocking off roads, it stops tours from going to certain parts of a national park. Though this means you will see other parts of an area that you wouldn’t see during the dry season!
