There is no single time in Australia: it spans 6 offsets, and daylight saving time applies only in some regions.
Australia at a glance
| Capital | Canberra |
|---|---|
| UTC offsets | UTC+8 … UTC+11 |
| IANA time zones | 12 |
| Daylight saving time | Some regions only |
| Next clock change | Sunday, April 4, 2027 |
| Abbreviations in use | AEST, AEDT, AWST, ACST, ACDT |
Time zones of Australia by region
Across Australia, the tz database lists 12 zones. They differ in two ways: the base offset, and whether daylight saving time applies. A trip or call between regions can cross either difference.
| Time zone | Time now | UTC offset | Daylight saving time | Main cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia/Perth | --:-- | UTC+8 | Not observed | Perth, Mandurah |
| Australia/Eucla | --:-- | UTC+8:45 | Not observed | |
| Australia/Darwin | --:-- | UTC+9:30 | Not observed | Darwin |
| Australia/Brisbane | --:-- | UTC+10 | Not observed | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast |
| Australia/Lindeman | --:-- | UTC+10 | Not observed | |
| Australia/Adelaide | --:-- | UTC+10:30 | Observed | Adelaide |
| Australia/Broken_Hill | --:-- | UTC+10:30 | Observed | |
| Antarctica/Macquarie | --:-- | UTC+11 | Observed | |
| Australia/Hobart | --:-- | UTC+11 | Observed | Hobart |
| Australia/Lord_Howe | --:-- | UTC+11 | Observed | |
| Australia/Melbourne | --:-- | UTC+11 | Observed | Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat |
| Australia/Sydney | --:-- | UTC+11 | Observed | Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra |
Daylight saving time in Australia
Daylight saving time applies in some parts of Australia only. The table shows which zones change and when, so check the exact region before you fix a time.
Clock changes in Australia, 2026 and 2027
| Date | Change | Zones that change |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Clocks go back 1 hour in every zone that uses daylight saving time (AEDT→AEST and ACDT→ACST) | Sydney, Adelaide |
| Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Clocks go back 30 minutes: 2:00 AM becomes 1:30 AM | Australia/Lord_Howe |
| Sunday, October 4, 2026 | Clocks go forward 1 hour in every zone that uses daylight saving time (AEST→AEDT and ACST→ACDT) | Sydney, Adelaide |
| Sunday, October 4, 2026 | Clocks go forward 30 minutes: 2:00 AM becomes 2:30 AM | Australia/Lord_Howe |
| Sunday, April 4, 2027 | Clocks go back 1 hour in every zone that uses daylight saving time (AEDT→AEST and ACDT→ACST) | Sydney, Adelaide |
| Sunday, April 4, 2027 | Clocks go back 30 minutes: 2:00 AM becomes 1:30 AM | Australia/Lord_Howe |
| Sunday, October 3, 2027 | Clocks go forward 1 hour in every zone that uses daylight saving time (AEST→AEDT and ACST→ACDT) | Sydney, Adelaide |
| Sunday, October 3, 2027 | Clocks go forward 30 minutes: 2:00 AM becomes 2:30 AM | Australia/Lord_Howe |
Current time in cities in Australia
| City | Region | Time now | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | New South Wales | --:-- | Australia/Sydney |
| Melbourne | Victoria | --:-- | Australia/Melbourne |
| Brisbane | Queensland | --:-- | Australia/Brisbane |
| Perth | Western Australia | --:-- | Australia/Perth |
| Adelaide | South Australia | --:-- | Australia/Adelaide |
| Gold Coast | Queensland | --:-- | Australia/Brisbane |
| Newcastle | New South Wales | --:-- | Australia/Sydney |
| Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | --:-- | Australia/Sydney |
Time difference between Australia and other countries
Differences below use the time in the capital, Canberra. Other regions of Australia differ by up to 3 hours.
| City | Time now | Difference now | In January | In July |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (United States) | --:-- | 16 h behind | 16 h behind | 14 h behind |
| Los Angeles (United States) | --:-- | 19 h behind | 19 h behind | 17 h behind |
| London (United Kingdom) | --:-- | 11 h behind | 11 h behind | 9 h behind |
| Paris (France) | --:-- | 10 h behind | 10 h behind | 8 h behind |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | --:-- | 7 h behind | 7 h behind | 6 h behind |
| Mumbai (India) | --:-- | 5 h 30 min behind | 5 h 30 min behind | 4 h 30 min behind |
| Singapore | --:-- | 3 h behind | 3 h behind | 2 h behind |
| Tokyo (Japan) | --:-- | 2 h behind | 2 h behind | 1 h behind |
| UTC | --:-- | 11 h behind | 11 h behind | 10 h behind |
Daylight across Australia
Australia stretches far from north to south, so daylight differs a lot between regions. Around the June solstice, Brisbane gets 10 hours 24 minutes of daylight and Melbourne 9 hours 33 minutes.
Countries on the same time as Australia
These countries read the same time as Canberra right now.
Plan around the time in Australia
- Convert a time to or from Australia: pick a date and time and see it in every city on your list.
- Add Canberra to your world clock to keep it next to your own time.
- Find a meeting time that falls inside office hours in Australia and the other cities you work with.
- Open a full-screen clock for your own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
How many time zones does Australia have?
6 offsets, from UTC+8 to UTC+11. The tz database splits them into 12 named zones.
Does Australia use daylight saving time?
Only in some regions. Clocks change in places such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, while Brisbane, Perth and Darwin keep the same offset all year.
What is the time difference between Australia and New York?
It depends on the region. The capital, Canberra, is 16 hours ahead of New York in January and 14 hours ahead of New York in July.
What time is it in the capital of Australia?
The capital, Canberra, uses Australia/Sydney (UTC+11 right now). The live clock for Canberra is on its own page.
Time zone rules: IANA tz database, version 2026e. Place names and coordinates: GeoNames. Sunrise and sunset are calculated from the coordinates and can differ by a minute or two from local almanacs.