Best time to visit Sydney

Sydney's seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere, and its summer runs from December to February: hot, humid, busy and expensive, with the Harbour fireworks on New Year's Eve the single most crowded night of the year. Autumn, from March to May, is the local favourite, with warm sea, settled weather and thinner crowds after Easter. Winter is mild, sunny and dry, cool enough for a jacket but never freezing, with Vivid lighting up the Harbour in late May and June and the cheapest hotel rates in July and August.

Spring brings jacarandas and the return of beach weather. The beaches are patrolled by lifesavers from September to April; swim between the flags, and expect bluebottle jellyfish warnings on onshore-wind days in summer. The Opal card covers ferries, trains and buses, and the ferry to Manly is the cheapest Harbour cruise. School holidays fall in mid-April, early July, late September and from mid-December. For the best balance of weather, sea and price, take March after the schools return or November.