The Frost Guide
Australian Frost Datesby cityWhen the last frost lifts, and the first one bites.
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Frost Dates for Australian Capital Cities
Typical timing based on long-term averages. Frost arrives later and lifts earlier in built-up inner suburbs, and is harsher in low-lying, elevated and rural areas, treat these as a guide, not a guarantee.
| City | Last frost (spring) | First frost (autumn) | Frost-free window | Frost risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SydneyTemperate | Frost-free on the coast · early August inland | Frost-free on the coast · June inland | All year (coastal & eastern suburbs) | Light frostJune - August (only west of the ranges) |
| MelbourneTemperate/Cool | Early September (outer suburbs) | May (outer suburbs) | October - April | Moderate frostJune - August |
| BrisbaneSubtropical | Frost-free | Frost-free | All year | Frost-freeNone in the urban area |
| PerthMediterranean/Temperate | Frost-free on the coast · August in the hills | Frost-free on the coast · July in the hills | All year (Swan coastal plain) | Light frostJune - August (Perth Hills & inland only) |
| AdelaideMediterranean/Temperate | Late August (plains) · September in the Hills | Frost-free plains · May in the Hills | September - April | Light frostJune - August (Adelaide Hills & inland) |
| HobartCool Temperate | Mid-October (later in cold pockets) | April | November - March | Moderate frostMay - October |
| DarwinTropical | Frost-free | Frost-free | All year | Frost-freeNone |
| CanberraCool Temperate | Late October / early November | Early-to-mid April | November - March (short) | Severe frostApril - November |
Coastal and eastern Sydney effectively never frosts, so tender crops can stay in year-round. Only gardens west toward the Blue Mountains foothills need to watch June-August.
Inner Melbourne is largely frost-free, but outer, northern and Dandenong suburbs get regular frosts. In a frost pocket, hold tomatoes and basil until after Melbourne Cup weekend (early November).
Brisbane's subtropical climate is frost-free across the city. Only elevated inland spots (Toowoomba, the Scenic Rim) see light frosts, the urban area grows year-round.
The Swan coastal plain is frost-free. Only the Perth Hills and inland market gardens get occasional light frosts through winter.
Adelaide's plains rarely frost, but the Adelaide Hills and inland areas get light frosts in winter. Hold tender seedlings until early September in cooler suburbs.
Tasmania's short, sharp season means frosts linger into October and return by April. Start tomatoes, beans and basil indoors in August-September and don't plant out until after the Hobart Show (late October).
Darwin is tropical and never frosts. Your growing constraint is the Wet (Nov-April) versus the Dry (May-September), the Dry is the main vegetable season, not the cold.
Canberra has the harshest frosts of any Australian capital, April right through to November, with heavy frosts June-August. Frost-sensitive crops can't go out until after Melbourne Cup; start them indoors from late August.
How to Find the Frost Date for Your Area
Capital-city averages are a starting point, but frost is intensely local. A low-lying rural block can frost three to four weeks later than the nearby city centre, while a north-facing, sheltered raised bed against a brick wall can dodge light frosts entirely. Three things shift your real frost date:
Elevation
Higher and inland is colder. Hills suburbs frost weeks longer than the coast.
Cold-air pooling
Frost settles in dips and valleys. Low spots in your yard frost first.
Urban heat
Built-up inner suburbs hold warmth and frost far less than rural fringes.
Which Crops Care About Frost?
Frost-tender, wait until after last frost
A single frost will blacken these. Plant them out only once your last frost has passed, or start them indoors 6-8 weeks earlier and transplant when it's safe.
Frost-hardy, plant right through winter
These shrug off frost, and many, like kale, broad beans and brassicas, are actually sweeter after a cold snap. They're your cool-season workhorses.
Frost-Aware Scheduling
Plant Planner knows your climate zone from your postcode and won't schedule frost-tender crops until your safe window opens, so you never lose seedlings to a late cold snap again.
Unlock FreeProtecting Your Garden from Frost
Cover before dusk
Throw frost cloth, hessian or even an old sheet over vulnerable plants in the late afternoon, before the heat escapes. Remove it in the morning once the air warms.
Water the day before
Moist soil holds and releases more heat overnight than dry soil. A good water the afternoon before a forecast frost measurably lifts ground temperature.
Mulch deeply
A thick layer of sugar cane or pea-straw mulch insulates roots and buffers soil temperature swings through the cold months.
Use the warmest microclimate
Plant tender crops against a north-facing wall or fence that radiates stored heat, and avoid low-lying frost pockets where cold air pools.
Frost Date FAQs
What is a frost date and why does it matter?
A frost date is the typical calendar point for the last frost in spring and the first frost in autumn. The window between them is your frost-free growing season. It matters because frost-tender crops, tomatoes, capsicum, basil, beans, cucumber, zucchini, are killed or badly set back by frost, so they should only be planted out after your last frost has passed.
When is the last frost in Melbourne?
In Melbourne the last frost is typically early September, though outer and northern suburbs and the Dandenong Ranges can frost later. If you're in a frost pocket, wait until after Melbourne Cup weekend (early November) before planting tomatoes and basil outdoors.
When is the last frost in Canberra?
Canberra has the latest and harshest frosts of any Australian capital, frosts run from April through to November, with the last frost usually in late October or early November. Frost-sensitive crops shouldn't go outdoors until after Melbourne Cup; start them indoors from late August.
Does Sydney or Brisbane get frost?
Coastal and eastern Sydney is effectively frost-free, with only light inland frosts west of the ranges in June-August. Brisbane's urban area is frost-free year-round, only elevated inland towns like Toowoomba see frost.
How do I find the exact frost date for my postcode?
Frost timing varies with elevation, aspect and how built-up your suburb is, a low-lying rural block can frost weeks later than the nearby city centre. Plant Planner uses your postcode to estimate your local climate zone and frost risk, then schedules frost-tender crops only after your safe planting window.
From the makers
Plant at the Right Time, Every Time
Plant Planner combines your postcode's frost risk, your bed size and your family's needs into a personalised planting schedule, with reminders so you never miss a window or lose a crop to frost.