Gold Coast · Month comparison
February vs August
August ranks #1 overall vs February at #10. The locals' favourite — 22°C, 8 hours of sun, perfect surf, no crowds.
February
#10 of 12 months
Worth considering
School back, but wettest month of the year — afternoon downpours daily.
- ↑Schools back so beaches empty out by mid-month; rates drop 40%
- ↑Sea at 26°C, peak warmth — ideal for stand-up paddle and learn-to-surf
August
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The locals' favourite — 22°C, 8 hours of sun, perfect surf, no crowds.
- ↑8 hours sun, lightest winds of the year, glassy point breaks at Burleigh and Snapper
- ↑Pan Pacific Masters Games (every two years) — biggest masters event in the world
| Factor | February | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 10 |
| Value score | 6 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 8 |
| Events score | 5 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 6 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 29°C | 22°C |
| Monthly rain | 175mm | 45mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 8hrs |
February trade-offs
- ↓Wettest month statistically — 175mm in 11-12 wet days
- ↓Humidity 74% with thunderstorms; lightning closes outdoor activities
- ↓Cyclone-remnant systems can bring 200mm in 24 hours
August trade-offs
- ↓Sea at 20°C — swim caps needed for distance work
- ↓Westerly winds late August can drop humidity to bushfire levels
Scores compare months within Gold Coast. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →