The driest place in Australia by far is around Lake Eyre in South Australia, but for a city, Adelaide is considered the driest capital, known for its hot, dry summers and low humidity, though other remote towns like Coober Pedy (SA) are even drier overall. Adelaide receives less rain than many other major cities, with very dry conditions for much of the year, especially in summer, according to the Department for Environment and Water and 9News.com.au.
Perth has been named as the sunniest capital city in Australia with clear skies 70% of the year. The average yearly temperature is 21ºC and there are an average 24 rainy days annually. Let's take a look at what the weather is like across each season.
The area of lowest rainfall is in the vicinity of Lake Eyre in South Australia, where the median annual rainfall is only about 100 mm. Another very low rainfall area is in Western Australia in the region of the Giles-Warburton Range, which has a median annual rainfall of about 150 mm.
While several places get extremely hot, Onslow in Western Australia shares the record for Australia's highest temperature ever recorded (50.7°C in 2022), and Marble Bar, also in WA, is famous as "Australia's Hottest Town" for its record-breaking 160 consecutive days over 37.7°C (100°F) in 1923-24. The Pilbara region, where these towns are located, consistently experiences Australia's most extreme heat.
The wettest town in Australia is a friendly rivalry between Babinda and Tully, both in Far North Queensland, with Babinda often taking the title for higher average rainfall (around 4,200mm annually) compared to Tully's 4,000mm, though Tully holds the record for highest recorded annual rainfall in a populated area. The towns even compete for the "Golden Gumboot" award, a monument celebrating their high rainfall.
Its stunning coastline, lower cost of living compared to Sydney or Melbourne, and strong economy make Perth an attractive option for British families, professionals, and retirees. At Central Moves Ltd, we've helped thousands of families move from the UK to Australia.
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
It's official! Adelaide is the happiest city in Australia, and one of the happiest in the world! 🙌 We ranked #29 globally in the Happy City Index across six categories - environment, economy, mobility, citizen wellbeing, health and governance.
If there's one thing Perth doesn't gatekeep, it's the sunny vibes. Besides being known for its dreamy beaches, adorable quokkas, and seriously laid-back vibes, Perth also wears the crown as Australia's sunniest capital city - boasting around 3,200 hours of sunshine a year (that's about 8.8 hours a day on average!).
In short: Tasmania has a reputation as a refuge from the impacts of climate change, due to its sprawling wilderness areas and cool climate. Couples like Anna Graham and Jack Taylor have moved to the state to escape the extreme heat and humidity of Queensland.
1. San Diego, California. San Diego is the poster child for pleasant weather year-round. This Southern California city enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with average high temperatures of 65 to 77 F (18 to 25 C) throughout the year.
Mean average annual precipitation is very low: 171.8 mm (6.76 in), spread between 34.4 precipitation days. The town is very sunny, with 182.5 clear days and only 59.1 cloudy days per annum. There is a large sign in Oodnadatta claiming the town is "The driest town, the driest state of the driest Continent".
Sydney is Australia's largest city and considered the best by many families and professionals. It boasts some of the best beaches, world-class dining, and cultural attractions like the Opera House and Harbour. Sydney is also an expensive city to live, yet it remains highly desirable.
Perth is the windiest city in Mainland Australia. Here is visual proof..... Look how far that bin goes!
Best cities for nature lovers in Australia
Brisbane has just been named as one of the friendliest cities in the world and we're the only Australian city to be listed in the top twenty. We've always known this about Brisbane but now the world is starting to discover it too.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
So, where's everyone moving? South Australia's South East – also known as the Limestone Coast, including Mount Gambier, Robe and Coonawarra – leads with the highest inbound-to-outbound ratio of 1.59. In other words, for every 100 people leaving, almost 160 are moving in.
A recent study by Compare the Market Australia found that Canberra ranked highest for safety among Australia's major cities, thanks to low crime rates, affordable housing and strong job opportunities.
Yes, AUD 5,000 (around $3,300 USD) can be enough for a single person's month in Australia, especially in regional areas or if you're budget-conscious and can find work quickly, but it will be tight in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne, where it covers basics but leaves little for luxury, according to Anzuk Education and Reddit users, as city living costs, especially rent, can quickly consume most of that, requiring careful planning for accommodation, food, and activities.
No, Australia is not 90% white; while a large majority identify with European ancestry (around 76-80% in recent years), a significant and growing portion identifies as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous, making it a highly multicultural nation with diverse ethnic backgrounds, not overwhelmingly white. Recent census data shows European ancestry (English, Irish, etc.) makes up a large chunk, but Asian ancestries are also substantial, with over 17% Asian population and around 3.8% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, per the 2021 census data from Wikipedia.
An analysis of the jobs held by the resident population in City of Perth in 2021 shows the three most popular occupations were:
The United Nations process the annual World Happiness Report to understand what happiness is and how it affects our lives, cultures and economy. Australia is ranked under 12, Canada 15 and the United States is 16th and a popular destination for most South Africans, the United Kingdom is 17th.