Gold Coast · Month comparison
May vs August
August ranks #1 overall vs May at #3. The locals' favourite — 22°C, 8 hours of sun, perfect surf, no crowds.
May
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Underrated month — 23°C, dry, whales arrive, locals reclaim the beaches.
- ↑Humpback whale migration begins late May — visible from Burleigh headland
- ↑23°C, 7.5 hours sun, sea still 22°C — long swims possible
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 | May | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 10 |
| Value score | 8 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 8 |
| Events score | 7 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 23°C | 22°C |
| Monthly rain | 75mm | 45mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7.5hrs | 8hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓Nights drop to 15°C — wetsuit needed for early surf
- ↓Rare east-coast low can still drop 100mm in a weekend
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 →