April in Australia: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See (2024)

Even though temperatures are comfortable, April is considered to be the tail-end of the rainy season in many parts of Australia and you're likely to encounter some precipitation. As you travel farther north and closer to the equator, the climate becomes more tropical and therefore wetter, especially in cities like Cairns. Meanwhile, cities in the southern part of the country like Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide, are likely to be a little chillier in April but also drier.

If you're in the far north of the country in the tropics, cyclones are a possibility at this time of year.

What to Pack

Given Australia's massive size, recommendations for what to pack can vary significantly based on where you're planning to visit. The single most important item to pack on your trip to Australia is, undoubtedly, sunscreen. A hole in the ozone layer here results in significantly higher UV levels than much of the rest of the world, so protect yourself adequately by bringing along plenty of sunscreen, ideally SPF 50 or above. Beyond that, your packing list should include the following:

• Jeans or other trousers
• T-shirts or long-sleeve T-shirts, depending on the climate where you're traveling
• A lightweight jacket or windbreaker
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A swimsuit

April Events in Australia

Fall means plenty of festivities and events throughout Australia, ranging from historical observances to culinary celebrations.

• The major fixed-date event in April is Anzac Day on April 25, which is marked throughout the country with dawn services, wreath-layings, parades, or a combination of these. The national focal point of Anzac Day commemorations is the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Expect dawn services and parades in cities and major towns. Sydney holds a dawn service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place and a parade through George St which then turns toward Hyde Park where the Anzac Memorial stands.
• Sydney's Royal Easter Show is an annual livestock show that's taken place since 1823 and is held for two weeks around the weekend of Easter. Now, the show is Australia's largest annual event and draws more than 800,000 people.
• During Easter weekend, the coastal city of Byron Bay holds the Byron Bay Bluesfest at Red Devil Park. Blues, reggae, and roots-pop are complemented with alternative country, hip-hop, soul, world, and rock genres at this massive music festival, about two hours south of Brisbane.
• Barossa Valley holds the biennial Vintage Wine Festival every other year. It's the longest-running wine tourism event in Australia and takes place in April during odd-numbered years to celebrate good food and even better wine.

April Travel Tips

• The regional town of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory is often used as the jumping-off point for exploring the Outback. The expansive red landscape is extra special in April since the rainy season brings splashes of color to the otherwise desolate landscape.
• If you're going to visit Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, don't forget a fly-net for your hat to keep insects out of your face.
• The Easter holiday, which often falls in April, is a busy travel time in Australia. Many families head to the beach for one final trip before winter, so prices are likely to jump during this popular holiday period.
• Daylight saving time, also known as summertime, ends at 3 a.m. on the first Sunday in April in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria. Australia's Northern Territory and the states of Queensland and Western Australia do not observe daylight saving time.

If you're deciding when to plan your next trip to Down Under, read up on the best times to visit Australia.