Tasmania · Month comparison
February vs December
February ranks #1 overall vs December at #2. February is Tasmania's driest month — the ideal time for multi-day wilderness walks.
February
#1 of 12 months
Best match
February is Tasmania's driest month — the ideal time for multi-day wilderness walks.
- ↑February is Tasmania's best month for the Overland Track — the 65km multi-day trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, rated among the world's great wilderness walks. February's low rainfall (40mm) and maximum sunshine hours make trail conditions as reliable as they get in a Tasmanian summer.
- ↑The Wooden Boat Festival runs in even years (February, Hobart waterfront) — a celebration of maritime craft that fills Sullivan's Cove with historic vessels and draws master boatbuilders from across Australia. The combination of the working harbour, the sandstone Salamanca warehouses, and Mount Wellington behind is one of the great urban settings in the Southern Hemisphere.
December
#2 of 12 months
Best match
Summer peaks with the Sydney–Hobart yacht race finish — the most festive month in Hobart.
- ↑The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race fleet arrives in Hobart from December 28, transforming Constitution Dock and Sullivan's Cove into one of the great sporting finishes in world sailing. The scene — exhausted offshore racers, thousands of spectators, brass bands on the dock, fresh crayfish from the stalls — is an entirely Hobart moment and one of Australia's genuinely special annual events.
- ↑December is the beginning of the Taste of Tasmania food festival (late December through New Year) — the Hobart waterfront transforms into a showcase for the island's food and drink producers. Tasmanian lobster, oysters, smoked salmon, and the full range of Coal River Valley wines make this the best single food event in the Southern Hemisphere.
| Factor | February | December |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 4 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 5 |
| Events score | 7 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 22°C | 21°C |
| Monthly rain | 40mm | 50mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 8hrs |
February trade-offs
- ↓February accommodation across key locations — particularly the Freycinet Peninsula and Cradle Mountain — remains at peak pricing. Self-catering options in Hobart's Battery Point are significantly more affordable than the resort lodges.
- ↓The Overland Track requires advance booking through Parks Tasmania (the quota system fills months ahead). Turning up at Cradle Mountain in February without a track booking is not viable.
December trade-offs
- ↓December is Tasmania's most expensive month — accommodation in Hobart requires booking 4–6 months ahead for New Year's period and the Sydney to Hobart finish days. Prices across the board are at annual peaks, including Cradle Mountain and Freycinet.
- ↓The Taste of Tasmania and Sydney to Hobart festival period draws large crowds to the Hobart waterfront. The market atmosphere is celebratory but the city's normally intimate character is temporarily overwhelmed.
Scores compare months within Tasmania. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →