The rugged and remote Kimberley region is best visited during the dry season from May to October. During this period, the days are warm and dry, with lower humidity than at other times of the year. The temperatures are also marginally cooler during this period, which is ideal if you plan to explore the Kimberley’s amazing wilderness. You can also cool off by swimming in the sea during this season without concerns about Irukandji or Box Jellyfish. Lastly, the dry season is when the wildflowers bloom, bringing an explosion of color to the surrounding countryside.
The Kimberley is one of Western Australia’s nine regions and is located in the far north of the state. It’s one of the most sparsely populated areas in Australia. Despite the region covering a sizeable 423,000 km², it has only 35,000 residents. The region shares a long border with the Northern Territory in the east and the Pilbara Region in the south. The Kimberley region has an extensive coastline, with the Indian Ocean located to the west and the Timor Sea to the north.
The Kimberley region’s northern location between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator ensures the area benefits from a warm, tropical climate. When deciding when to visit, there are three climatic factors to consider: rainfall, temperature, and humidity.
As a tropical destination, the year is split into a wet and a dry season rather than four distinct seasons. The wet season typically runs from November through until March/April, while the dry season runs from May until October. Both October and April tend to be fringe months and can see considerable rainfall in some years, while others are dry.
During the wet season, rainfall tends to be in the form of short, sudden downpours. These usually occur in the afternoon or evening, often accompanied by spectacular lightning shows. Outside of these downpours, the days remain hot, clear and dry.
Daytime temperatures in the Kimberley region are consistently high with a slight easing of temperatures over the Australian winter season. This consistency of temperature is one of the big draws for the area, particularly during the winter when other parts of Australia are particularly wet and cold. The winter temperatures are perfect for hiking, swimming and visiting the various national parks.
Night time temperature are more variable. During the summer months nights are balmy both on the coast and inland. However during the winter season, night time temperatures cool significantly and can fall close to freezing inland, especially in the desert regions. Camping out at this time of year will require some cold weather kit.
One of the biggest bugbears of visiting the Kimberley Region is the humidity. During the cooler and drier winter months, the humidity is a comfortable 42%, but as you enter the wet season, this substantially increases. The highest relative humidity is across January and February, when it hits 67%. While it’s not quite the levels of Darwin and other areas in the Northern Territory, it’s still quite uncomfortable. The humidity also persists late into the evening, which can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on your viewpoint.
As the Kimberley’s biggest settlement, we’ve used Broome as the location for a month on month view of the weather. Bear in mind that Broome is a coastal destination and the climate will vary slightly in comparison to inland areas.
Month | Maximum Temp | Minimum Temp | Days of Rain |
January | 33°C | 26°C | 8 |
February | 33°C | 25°C | 9 |
March | 34°C | 25°C | 7 |
April | 33°C | 23°C | 2 |
May | 32°C | 18°C | 1 |
June | 29°C | 16°C | 1 |
July | 29°C | 14°C | 1 |
August | 30°C | 17°C | 0 |
September | 31°C | 19°C | 0 |
October | 32°C | 23°C | 1 |
November | 33°C | 25°C | 1 |
December | 34°C | 27°C | 5 |
Situated between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Equator, the Kimberley Region doesn’t have a four season cycle. However to make it more convenient to breakdown and understand the different conditions at various times of the year, we’ve used the four seasons of the southern hemisphere.
The Australian spring season falls across September, October, and November. This period marks the end of the dry season, and you should expect to see rainfall in November, if not before. It also marks the transition to higher temperatures and higher humidity. While September and, to a lesser extent, October are a good time to visit, it’s generally best to avoid November. Not only will you face higher rainfall, temperatures, and humidity, but you’ll also not be able to swim in the sea due to the arrival of Irukandji and Box Jellyfish. You’ll also find some tourist facilities begin to close from November onwards.
The summer season across December, January, and February brings uncomfortable weather conditions. Peak temperatures, rainfall, and humidity combine to make the Kimberley an especially sweaty destination. You won’t be able to cool off in the sea either, as this is the peak season for the various jellyfish that frequent the area. One benefit of the heavy rain is that the region’s waterfalls will look spectacular, although parts of the Kimberley also become inaccessible because of this rain. This is especially true of the Kimberley’s central plateau.
The autumn season from March through to May marks the end of the wet season and an easing of both temperatures and humidity. It also marks the start of the tourist season, with visitor numbers picking up from the Easter vacations. The region’s waterfalls are at their best during this time, with rivers swollen with the wet season’s rainwater. Previously inaccessible areas, such as the central plateau, begin to open again from April onwards. Temperatures in the evening notably start to cool. You’ll be able to swim in the sea again towards the end of the autumn period.
The winter season attracts the best balance of conditions in the Kimberley Region. Days are warm, dry, and pleasant, and the tourist season is in full swing. This can mean costs rise and accommodation is scarce, so book ahead. While it’s warm enough to make the best of the beach during the day, the evening can become very cool. This is especially true in the inland desert areas. Access to the sights across the region is easy during the winter months but be warned that waterfalls often reduce to a trickle. While the waterfalls are declining, wildflowers are rising, and there are some exceptional blooms during winter.
Overall the best time to visit the Kimberley is during the dry season, from May through to October. During this time, you’ll benefit from the following:
While there are some negative factors to consider with a visit during the dry season, such as cost and crowds, these can largely be mitigated by visiting at the start or end of the season.
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