Tasmania weather month by month — Hobart, Launceston, Wineglass Bay and the highlands
Dec to MarchBut the island is three climates, not one.
December to March, and the island is not one climate. Launceston runs about 3°C warmer than Hobart in summer — 25°C against 22°C — but colder at night, down to 2°C in winter against Hobart's 5°C. The highlands are a different place again: Cradle Mountain country averages 6°C in July with minimums below freezing from May to September. The east coast, where Wineglass Bay is, is the driest side of the island. Pick your month for where you are going, not for Tasmania.
Checked on 6 October 2026.
Tasmania gets treated as one cold place. It is three: a mild south, a warmer-by-day north, and highlands that are genuinely alpine. Here are all three together, which is the comparison nobody publishes.
Daytime temperature, three stations
| Month | Hobart | Launceston | Highlands | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C | 25°C | 19°C | Best month. Long days everywhere |
| February | 22°C | 25°C | 18°C | Equal best, and the driest in the north |
| March | 20°C | 23°C | 16°C | Very good, and quieter |
| April | 17°C | 18°C | 12°C | Cool. Autumn colour in the fagus |
| May | 15°C | 15°C | 9°C | Cold. Highland frosts start |
| June | 12°C | 12°C | 7°C | Winter |
| July | 12°C | 12°C | 6°C | Coldest. Snow on the tops |
| August | 13°C | 13°C | 7°C | Wettest in the highlands, 122mm |
| September | 15°C | 15°C | 9°C | Thawing |
| October | 17°C | 18°C | 12°C | Improving. Hobart's wettest month |
| November | 19°C | 20°C | 15°C | Good and quiet |
| December | 20°C | 22°C | 17°C | Very good. Season opens |
Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages — Hobart (Ellerslie Road), Launceston Airport and Liawenee for the Cradle Mountain highlands.
The three things people get wrong
- Launceston is warmer by day and colder by night.25°C in January against Hobart's 22, but 2°C in July against Hobart's 5. It is inland, so it swings further.
- Hobart's wettest month is October, not winter.62mm in October against 52mm in July. Tasmanian rain is spread through the year.
- The highlands are a different climate.Minimums below freezing from May to September, and August is the wettest month at 122mm. Pack for Cradle Mountain, not for Hobart.
By where you are going
- Wineglass Bay and the east coastthe driest side of the island. Workable year round, best December to March. The lookout walk is 45 minutes uphill in any month.
- Cradle MountainDecember to March. Cloud sits on the mountain often, so give it two days if you can. See our best time for Cradle Mountain page.
- Bruny Island and the southgenuinely fine in winter, because the food is indoors and the ferry runs year round. See Bruny Island in winter.
- Strahan and the westthe wettest part of the island, which is what makes the rainforest what it is.
So which month?
January and February for the warmest and longest days, and the busiest. March and November for nearly as good and far quieter. April for the autumn colour in the fagus, Tasmania's only native deciduous tree. June to August if you want it empty and are prepared for 12°C and snow inland — which plenty of people are, because the island in winter is extraordinary.
5 Day Tasmania Tourfrom $9395 days, 4 nightsMotel / Cabin5 days — the full loopView trip
2 Day Cradle Mountain & Wineglass Bay Tourfrom $3992 days, 1 nightMotel / Hostel2 days — Cradle Mountain and Wineglass BayView trip
2 Day Best of Tasmania Tourfrom $2992 days, 1 night2 days — the south, including BrunyView trip
10 Day Ultimate Tasmania Tourfrom $321010 days, 9 nightsMotel Accommodation10 days — Tasmania properlyView tripWhere this comes from. Temperatures and rainfall are Bureau of Meteorology long-term monthly averages for Hobart (Ellerslie Road), Launceston Airport and Liawenee. Trip lengths and prices are each trip's own details as held on its page here, and prices update on their own.