AI-generatedDarwin at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Sep
- Warmest month
- Oct · 34°
- Warmest sea
- Dec · 30.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,120 h
- Rain a year
- 1,901 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+9:30
- Elevation
- 31 m
Climate in Darwin
Darwin has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. October is the warmest month with average highs of 34 °C, while February is the coolest at 30 °C. With around 3,120 hours of sunshine a year, Darwin is very sunny; August is the sunniest month with 10.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: April – September
Keep in mindPeak heatFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 28°
- Midday, 13:00: about 34°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 33°
- Evening, 20:00: about 30°
- Night, 23:00: about 28°
06:2118:43
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:08–06:50 · evening 18:15–18:56
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:00–06:08 · evening 18:56–19:04
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Darwin in October?
In October, Darwin is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 86 mm in total. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 22 min06:21 – 18:43
- UV index
- 13 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 30 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 45 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 31 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+9:30Australia/Darwin
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %59 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %100 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %41 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Darwin
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.1 – 30.4 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Darwin ranges from 25.8 °C in July to 30.9 °C in December. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in December, while the air already peaks in October. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in December, eight out of ten years were between 30.3 and 31.5 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 30.3° | 29.8° | 31.0° | very warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 29.9° | 29.2° | 30.6° | very warm |
| MarchMar | 30.0° | 29.4° | 30.9° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 30.1° | 29.4° | 30.8° | very warm |
| MayMay | 28.7° | 27.8° | 29.5° | warm |
| JuneJun | 26.8° | 25.3° | 27.5° | warm |
| JulyJul | 25.8° | 24.7° | 26.9° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 26.3° | 25.3° | 27.1° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.1° | 27.2° | 28.9° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.8° | 29.1° | 30.4° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 30.8° | 30.3° | 31.3° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 30.9° | 30.3° | 31.5° | very warm |
Sunshine hours in Darwin
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 9.5 of 12.4 hours of daylight in Darwin, 77 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 7 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Darwin
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 13 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in February (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Darwin: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Darwin has about 12 rainy days with 86 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Darwin
How breezy and how cloudy Darwin is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Darwin typically peaks at 15 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 45 % of the sky over Darwin: mostly sunny, with about 9.5 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Darwin
How often the day gets hot in Darwin (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Darwin has about 31 hot days, with an average daytime high of 34 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Darwin
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 25°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 30 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in July (20°), the warmest in December (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 273 days a year, mostly from September to May.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 69 | 30° | 26° | 30.3° | 5.7 h | 28 | 441 |
| FebruaryFeb | 69 | 30° | 26° | 29.9° | 5.8 h | 26 | 375 |
| MarchMar | 73 | 31° | 25° | 30.0° | 7.0 h | 25 | 314 |
| AprilApr | 86 | 32° | 24° | 30.1° | 8.8 h | 11 | 99 |
| MayMay | 97 | 32° | 23° | 28.7° | 9.7 h | 2 | 14 |
| JuneJun | 100 | 30° | 21° | 26.8° | 10.1 h | 1 | 3 |
| JulyJul | 100 | 30° | 20° | 25.8° | 10.4 h | 0 | 1 |
| AugustAug | 97 | 32° | 20° | 26.3° | 10.5 h | 1 | 2 |
| SeptemberSep | 89 | 33° | 23° | 28.1° | 9.9 h | 4 | 19 |
| OctoberOct | 74 | 34° | 25° | 29.8° | 9.5 h | 12 | 86 |
| NovemberNov | 68 | 33° | 26° | 30.8° | 8.5 h | 22 | 204 |
| DecemberDec | 68 | 32° | 26° | 30.9° | 6.5 h | 25 | 344 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
12.46° S, 130.84° E · 31 m · Australia/Darwin
Best time to visit Darwin
The best time to visit Darwin is from April to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from April to September. From September to November it can get very hot, with highs of up to 34 °C. Rain is most frequent from October to March; the wettest month is January with 441 mm.
Darwin through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Darwin in the dry season
Apr – Sep
Excellent
- 30–33 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 10 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days in all
Darwin in the rainy season
Oct – Mar
Good
- 30–34 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 138 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Darwin for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Darwin
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Darwin: score 100 against 74. In June, days are 4 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in June. June has 11 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 74 | 100better |
| Day high | 34° | 30° |
| Night low | 25° | 21° |
| Sea | 29.8° | 26.8° |
| Sunshine | 9.5 h | 10.1 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 1better |
| Rainfall | 86 mm | 3 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 30 | 8better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Apr – Sep
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Sep – Nov
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Oct – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Darwin month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
69January30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In January, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 30.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 441 mm. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in January69February30° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In February, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 375 mm. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in February73March31° · Sea 30° · 7 h
In March, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 314 mm. On about 23 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in March86April32° · Sea 30° · 9 h
In April, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 30.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 99 mm in total. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in April97May32° · Sea 29° · 10 h
In May, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 14 mm in total. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in May100June30° · Sea 27° · 10 h
In June, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 26.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in June100July30° · Sea 26° · 10 h
In July, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in July97August32° · Sea 26° · 11 h
In August, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 26.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in August89September33° · Sea 28° · 10 h
In September, Darwin is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 19 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in September74October34° · Sea 30° · 10 h
In October, Darwin is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 86 mm in total. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in October68November33° · Sea 31° · 9 h
In November, Darwin is very hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 30.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 204 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in November68December32° · Sea 31° · 7 h
In December, Darwin is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 30.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 344 mm. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Darwin.
Darwin in DecemberDarwin compared
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Darwin vs. Dili
In October Dili has the better holiday weather (score 91 vs. 74). During the day Dili is 2 °C cooler than Darwin. The sea in Dili is 1 °C cooler. Dili gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Darwin | Dili |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 74 | 91 |
| Daytime high | 34° | 32° |
| Sea | 30° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 10 h | 9 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 7 |
| Best time | Apr – Sep | May – Oct |
Through the year
Australia in October: the best places
In October, Darwin ranks 21 of 24 destinations in this country.
- Airlie Beach (Whitsundays)29°25°99
- 2Perth22°19°97
- 3Cairns26°26°96
- 4Adelaide20°16°94
- 5Toowoomba25°94
- 6Mackay26°25°92
- 7Sunshine Coast25°23°89
- 8Brisbane25°89
- 21DarwinThis page34°30°74
Planning a trip to Darwin
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Darwin in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Darwin has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 98) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 69).
- 82
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 32 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 98
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 9.8 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 98
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 10.5 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 74
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 34 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 9.5 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat, Frequent rain
- 69
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 31 °C
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 17 h 15 min
- Distance
- 13,870 km
- Time zone
- UTC+9:30
- Jet lag
- About 9 days (9 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Darwin lies in an area that Australian tropical cyclones can reach. The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January: Peak
- February: Peak
- March: Peak
- April: Season
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November: Season
- December: Season
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Darwin
When is the best time to visit Darwin?
The best time to visit Darwin is from April to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Darwin?
The sea temperature in Darwin ranges from 25.8 °C in July to 30.9 °C in December. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Darwin in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Darwin?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C and nights around 25 °C. February is the coolest month at 30 °C.
When does it rain most in Darwin?
Rain is most frequent from October to March; the wettest month is January with 441 mm. The driest month is July with 1 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Darwin get?
Darwin gets around 3,120 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is August with 10.5 hours a day; in January there are 5.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Darwin in?
Darwin uses the time zone Australia/Darwin, at UTC+9:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Darwin?
A nonstop flight from London to Darwin takes about 17 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 13,870 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is cyclone season in Darwin?
Darwin lies in an area that Australian tropical cyclones can reach. The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Darwin?
Darwin has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 98) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 69). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 82, May half-term 98, Summer holidays 98, October half-term 74, Christmas holidays 69.
Near Darwin
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Darwin
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Darwin's – good alternatives.