If you are fitting South Coast events into a trip, start with the weather, because it shapes the year more than any single festival does. January averages a maximum of 27 degrees, and July sits at about 15 degrees with some of the sunniest days of the year.
This page looks at each season in turn, using 1991-2020 averages for the area, and then at the seasonal highlights and the annual folk music festival at Cobargo.
The South Coast climate month by month
The region has a mild, warm temperate climate. Summer maximums can reach around 30 degrees, while winter days top out at roughly 17 degrees. The monthly averages below give a more precise picture.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.0 | 18.2 | 86.5 | 11.6 | 24.6 |
| February | 25.9 | 18.4 | 124.3 | 12.7 | 22.1 |
| March | 24.1 | 17.2 | 100.6 | 12.7 | 25.1 |
| April | 21.6 | 14.8 | 76.8 | 10.1 | 26.5 |
| May | 18.5 | 12.2 | 76.2 | 9.0 | 27.6 |
| June | 15.7 | 10.3 | 116.2 | 10.2 | 25.5 |
| July | 15.1 | 9.0 | 66.7 | 7.8 | 28.1 |
| August | 16.1 | 9.2 | 70.7 | 7.1 | 28.4 |
| September | 18.7 | 10.9 | 59.5 | 8.1 | 27.3 |
| October | 21.3 | 12.8 | 75.6 | 9.7 | 26.4 |
| November | 23.2 | 14.6 | 85.6 | 11.7 | 23.9 |
| December | 25.3 | 16.4 | 73.5 | 10.9 | 24.6 |
Summer: December to February
This is the warmest stretch, with maximums from 25.3 to 27.0 degrees and overnight minimums of 16 to 18 degrees. February is the wettest of the three, with 124.3 mm over 12.7 days, and it has the fewest sunny days of the year at 22.1.
Summer holidays and school holidays are peak times at coastal resorts such as Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay. Book rooms well ahead for the summer break. If you plan to bring a van, the Holiday Haven White Sands park at Huskisson and the Discovery Parks site at Gerroa both offer powered sites and cabins. Contact the parks for current rates and availability.
Autumn: March to May
Autumn cools steadily. March is still warm at 24.1 degrees, April drops to 21.6, and May reaches 18.5. Sunny days climb from 25.1 in March to 27.6 in May, so it is a pleasant time to be outdoors.
Storms can occur at any time of year, but they are most frequent in late autumn and early winter, and the falls can be heavy and irregular. In May 1925 the region received an average of as much as 860 mm, with some places getting 1,270 mm for the month. That is an extreme record, not a typical May, since the 1991-2020 average is 76.2 mm. It is still a fair reminder to keep plans flexible.
Winter: June to August
Winter is cool rather than cold, with maximums of 15.1 to 16.1 degrees and minimums of 9 to 10 degrees. June is the wettest month outside summer at 116.2 mm, but July and August are drier, with 7.8 and 7.1 rain days, and they deliver the most sunshine of the year at 28.1 and 28.4 days.
We reckon that makes July and August underrated for a quiet trip. Villages like Kangaroo Valley and Berry are known for romantic weekend getaways, and the cooler months suit them well. For a guided day out, the Jervis Bay Highlights small group tour runs 10 to 12 hours from Sydney and includes clifftop whale and dolphin spotting, from AUD 245.
Spring: September to November
September is the driest month at 59.5 mm, with 18.7 degrees as the average maximum. By October the maximum is 21.3 degrees, and November reaches 23.2 with rain days rising to 11.7. Sunny days ease from 27.3 in September to 23.9 in November.
Spring is a sensible choice if you want mild days. A longer walk fits here too. The 3 Day Murramarang Coast Journey from Batemans Bay covers sandstone formations, open beaches and forested ridgelines at a low-to-moderate pace, from AUD 1950, with meals and cabin accommodation included.
Festivals and seasonal highlights
The annual folk music festival is held at Cobargo, a Bega Valley town. Tilba, in the Eurobodalla Shire, is where the TV series River Cottage Australia was filmed, which makes a nice detour at any time of year.
Beyond that, the highlights are seasonal. The Kiama blowhole is famous for spouting seawater high into the air, and the Private Kiama and South Coast Tour from Sydney runs 11 hours, from AUD 1449. Gulaga National Park is the southernmost place in New South Wales with subtropical rainforest. For more ideas, see our pages on South Coast activities. For the official state view, Visit NSW is a good starting point, and general background is on Wikipedia.
Getting there by road
From the South Coast area, Wollongong is 95 km, about 96 minutes, and Sydney is 183 km, about 171 minutes. Jervis Bay is 47 km, about 60 minutes. The Blue Mountains are 260 km, about 239 minutes, and the Hunter Valley 337 km, about 299 minutes. Trains on the Illawarra line run as far as Bomaderry, and the Princes Highway runs the length of the region.
Frequently asked questions
When is the sunniest time on the South Coast?
August and July, with 28.4 and 28.1 sunny days on average. May is next at 27.6.
When is the wettest time?
February averages 124.3 mm and June 116.2 mm. Heavy storms are most frequent in late autumn and early winter.
When are the busiest times to visit?
Summer holidays and school holidays are peak times at resorts like Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay, so book early. Berry and Kangaroo Valley are popular for weekend getaways, particularly in the cooler months.
