Tasmania · Month comparison

March vs February

February ranks #1 overall vs March at #4. February is Tasmania's driest month — the ideal time for multi-day wilderness walks.

Tasmania March — Cradle Mountain dolerite peaks above the alpine heath in early autumn

March

#4 of 12 months

Best match

The summer crowd thins — 21°C days and excellent walking conditions at lower prices.

  • ↑March is Tasmania's unsung sweet spot: 21°C days, 7 hours of sunshine, and the summer tourist peak subsiding noticeably after the school holidays end. The Overland Track in March has far better availability than February and the conditions remain excellent.
  • ↑The autumn colour season begins in late March across the Huon Valley and in the formal gardens of historic properties — Woolmers Estate near Longford and the gardens of Richmond village show early autumn tones. The drive south from Hobart along the Channel Highway through apple country is at its most beautiful.
Tasmania February — the World Heritage Cradle Mountain boathouse at Dove Lake in summer

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.
FactorMarchFebruary
Weather score
8
9
Value score
6
5
Crowd score
6
5
Events score
6
7
Atmosphere
8
9
Avg high temp21°C22°C
Monthly rain45mm40mm
Daily sunshine7hrs8hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓Rainfall nudges back up to 45mm from February's 40mm — the same as January but with fewer sunshine hours. March weather is reliable but not as guaranteed as the peak summer months.
  • ↓The Freycinet and Bay of Fires coastal experience begins cooling: water temperatures drop slightly from February and the long evening light shortens. Still excellent, but the intensity of the summer peak has passed.

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.
See all 12 months for Tasmania →March in detail →February in detail →
Scores compare months within Tasmania. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →