Frost Dates by Region
Average last frost in spring and first frost in autumn for every region we cover in Australia, and the growing season each one gives you.
Frost dates for your postcode
Enter your postcode for frost dates worked out for where you actually garden, not just your region.
Frost dates are what actually schedule a vegetable garden. They tell you when it is safe to sow and how long you have before the cold comes back. For fruit trees there is a second number that matters just as much, winter chill, which decides whether a variety will set fruit at all. Check your chill hours.
| Region | Climate | Frost window | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide & SA | Mediterranean | 20 August to 1 June | about 285 days |
| Canberra & ACT | Cool highlands | 1 November to 10 April | about 160 days |
| Darwin & Top End | Tropical wet/dry | effectively frost free | year round |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Cool temperate | 10 September to 15 May | about 247 days |
| North Queensland | Tropical wet/dry | effectively frost free | year round |
| Northern Rivers NSW | Subtropical | effectively frost free | year round |
| Perth & WA | Mediterranean | effectively frost free | year round |
| South East Queensland | Subtropical | effectively frost free | year round |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Warm temperate | effectively frost free | year round |
| Tasmania | Cool temperate | 5 October to 25 April | about 202 days |
These are regional midpoints. A region covers a lot of ground, and a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall will shift your own dates by weeks. Treat them as a starting point, then watch your own garden.
Find your region, or open the free app for a local forecast with frost alerts.
Postcode frost dates: SILO (Queensland Government), daily minimum temperatures 2011 to 2020, CC BY 4.0.