Only well above sea level does Australia experience the cold winters that can be felt in many parts of North America or Northern Europe. The city with the lowest average minimum temperature is Hobart with just above 12°C (12.27), closely followed by Canberra at 12.43°C.
In terms of location, Canberra is located in the southern part of Australia, further away from the equator. The further north you travel in Australia, the warmer it gets. Canberra isn't the coldest area in Australia but it is the coldest city. Even though Hobart is further south, the temperature won't drop below zero.
The coldest city in Australia is Hobart, Tasmania, with its average temperature being the lowest among Australian capital cities during winter.
Tasmania is Australia's coldest state overall because it is closer to the polar zone compared to the other Australian states and territories, and experiences more frequent bursts of cold Antarctic air.
Winter (June – August)
Winter in Canberra is cold with average temperatures between 1 - 12°C (33.8 - 53.6°F), dropping below 0°C at night. Snow falls in the nearby Australian Alps, making Canberra a great stopover on your journey to the slopes.
The town is an ex-Hydro village and now a residence for Inland Fisheries Services (IFS) and a Tasmania Police station. It is known for its exceptional fishing at nearby Great Lake and hosts several trout fishing events. Liawenee is the coldest permanently-inhabited place in Australia.
Winter. With June, the winter months set in Canberra, largely in common with the winters of Chicago. Frost and fog slowly clear out by the day time to reveal striking sunny days with light winds. The cold and chill of Canberra winters are largely due to the westerly winds.
During the winter, the island feels the southerly winds from the Antarctic and experiences some of Australia's coolest temperatures. Mount Wellington is dotted with snow and average daily temperatures range from 5 - 12.3°C (41 - 54.1°F). Overnight temperatures can drop as low as 3°C (37.4°F).
The highest recorded maximum temperature in Tasmania is 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) at Scamander on 30 January 2009, during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave.
It's not unusual to hear the complaint that 25 degrees Celsius feels different in Tassie than it would on the mainland. It's also common to hear that the stifling heat has to do with Tasmania's position near a hole in the ozone layer.
Interestingly, Hobart is Australia's 2nd driest capital city based on average rainfall, but the country's rainiest city based on rain days.
Instead Tasmania's weather tends to be middle of the road but mostly about 5 degrees cooler than Melbourne or 8 degrees cooler than Perth, Sydney or Adelaide.
The city of Perth has the best weather/climate in Australia. The city enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild but wet winters. Perth is also the sunniest capital city in Australia and is considered one of the hottest experiencing over 250+ days of sunny blue skies.
The nation's capital, Canberra, has a population of 394,000, larger than Darwin and Hobart combined.
DISCOVER CANBERRA
The population is about 370,000 inhabitants or one-tenth of that of Sydney. This makes it a rather quiet city where you can enjoy your surroundings peacefully. Unlike the majority of Australian cities, Canberra is inland. This results in a climate characterised by hot summers and cold winters.
The weather on Tasmania's east coast is often milder than other parts of the island, thanks to the moderating influence of the ocean. Here, you'll enjoy long summer days, crisp, clear winters, mild autumn weather and the vibrant freshness of spring.
"Tasmania is unique with the fact that in summer it gets to extreme level, and in winter it doesn't even get to moderate," Mr Carr said. "A few places on the mainland get below 3 in winter, but Tasmania — the whole island — struggles to get to 2 or 2.5, even on a sunny day."
That said, a little more than an hour and a half by car will get you to Ben Lomond. The snowiest place in the state is generally regarded as being Liawenee, a small inland town mostly devoted to fishing in the Great Lake.
In Hobart, the summers are comfortable, the winters are cold and windy, and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 41°F to 71°F and is rarely below 35°F or above 82°F.
Summer. Arguably the best time of year to visit Tasmania is in their summer, from December to February, when it is warm and dry. Maximum temperatures average between 20 Celcius to 24 Celcius along the coast, and the valleys west of Hobart (the warmest locations), regularly rise above 25 Celcius.
The warmer annual averages are due to the milder winters in Tasmania. Briefly New Zealand is a long thin country with Auckland situated in the north of the North Island at 36 degS, Tasmania on the other hand is much further south at 42° S, so no, the climates are not similar.
Rug up and stay healthy
Invest in a decent jacket and do not be afraid to accessorise with gloves, a scarf and a beanie. Rugging up gives you the chance to show off to your friends further north that you actually have a separate winter wardrobe, but it can also help you avoid getting sick.
June to August
Winter in Canberra is cold, with the average temperatures between 1 and 12°C (33.8 - 53.6°F), dropping below 0°C at night. July is the coldest month, when the average temperature is 11°C (51.8°F).
Canberra's inland location and its height above sea level cause its climate to have a drier, more continental flavour than Sydney's, so its summers are hotter and winters colder.