Australia
Sydney in December
☀️ SummerPleasant and some showers. Watch for wildfire & storm risk.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.4
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (26°C highs / 18°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 16.6°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~67 mm rain)
- Air quality9.1
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~11 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards5.5
- !Wildfire: seasonal wildfire risk (reviewed city profile)
- !Storm: occasional storm risk (reviewed city profile)
- Safety baseline8.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 26° / 18° | 22° / 12° |
| Rain | 67 mm | 59 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 17° | dew pt 10° |
| PM2.5 | 11 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Sydney Airport weather-station normals. Rainfall: Sydney Airport weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore SydneyEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyAustralia's largest city, set around a huge natural harbour, known for the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ocean beaches.
New Year's Eve fireworksEvery year31 December every year
Large fireworks over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at 9pm and midnight.
Why go: Foreshore vantage points fill up many hours in advance and some require tickets.
Where: Sydney Harbour
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race startEvery year26 December every year
The ocean yacht race starts from the harbour on Boxing Day.
Why go: Headlands like South Head are popular viewing spots.
Where: Sydney Harbour
Coming up later
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasDate variesUsually February to early March, parade on a Saturday
A festival culminating in a large night-time parade.
Why go: The parade draws big crowds along Oxford Street, so arrive early.
Where: Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Vivid SydneyDate variesUsually late May to mid-June
A festival of light projections, installations, music and ideas.
Why go: Evening crowds around Circular Quay are very heavy, especially on weekends.
Where: Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and beyond
Whale migrationDate variesUsually May to November
Humpback whales pass Sydney heading north and later south.
Why go: Coastal headlands are good for land-based spotting.
Where: Off the coast; cruises from Circular Quay and Manly
Sydney Opera House
The UNESCO-listed performing arts centre on Bennelong Point.
💡 Guided tours run daily if you do not see a performance.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The steel arch bridge across the harbour, which you can walk across or climb on a guided climb.
Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
A clifftop walk of about 6 km linking eastern beaches, including Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte.
Manly ferry
A public ferry from Circular Quay across the harbour to the beach suburb of Manly.
The Rocks
The historic area near Circular Quay with sandstone buildings, pubs and weekend markets.
Blue Mountains
A sandstone plateau about two hours west by train, known for eucalyptus forest and the Three Sisters.
💡 Bring layers as it is much cooler than the city.
Sydney rock oysters
A native oyster farmed in New South Wales estuaries.
💡 Sydney Fish Market and seafood restaurants
Meat pie
A hand-sized pie of minced meat and gravy, an Australian staple.
💡 Bakeries
Flat white and café brunch
Sydney has a strong café culture centred on espresso and brunch dishes like smashed avocado on toast.
💡 Cafés in Surry Hills, Newtown and inner suburbs
Pavlova
A meringue dessert topped with cream and fruit, claimed by both Australia and New Zealand.
💡 Cafés and bakeries
Lamingtons
Squares of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut.
💡 Bakeries
Aboriginal art
Paintings and prints by Aboriginal artists.
💡 Galleries that work with Aboriginal art centres; check the artist is credited
Tim Tams and Vegemite
Iconic Australian chocolate biscuits and yeast spread.
💡 Supermarkets
Australian wine
Wines from regions such as the Hunter Valley north of Sydney.
💡 Bottle shops