Gold Coast vs Ballina: which is sunnier?
🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇦🇺 Australia · 74 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Gold Coast and Ballina are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,742 vs 2,742 hours a year. Gold Coast has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Gold Coast | Ballina | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,742 | 2,742 |
| Sunniest month | September (89/100) | September (88/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 71/100 | 71/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 84/100 | 80/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,173 mm | 1,221 mm |
| Warmest sea | 26°C / 79°F | 26°C / 79°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 11 (extreme) |
Gold Coast vs Ballina month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Ballina | Gold Coast | Ballina | Gold Coast | Ballina | Gold Coast | Ballina | |
| January | 68 | 68 | 26° | 26° | 153 | 154 | 25° | 26° |
| February | 68 | 68 | 26° | 26° | 161 | 163 | 26° | 26° |
| March | 68 | 68 | 26° | 25° | 160 | 166 | 26° | 26° |
| April | 79 | 77 | 24° | 24° | 90 | 98 | 25° | 25° |
| May | 82 | 80 | 22° | 22° | 74 | 80 | 23° | 23° |
| June | 77 | 74 | 21° | 20° | 100 | 113 | 21° | 22° |
| July | 88 | 80 | 20° | 19° | 41 | 45 | 21° | 20° |
| August | 86 | 85 | 20° | 20° | 49 | 55 | 21° | 20° |
| September | 89 | 88 | 21° | 21° | 34 | 39 | 21° | 21° |
| October | 80 | 80 | 23° | 23° | 83 | 83 | 22° | 22° |
| November | 79 | 77 | 24° | 24° | 90 | 99 | 23° | 23° |
| December | 70 | 72 | 25° | 25° | 138 | 126 | 24° | 24° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun Gold Coast · Jul Gold Coast · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 71/100, Ballina 71/100. Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 25°C).
- March–May: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 76/100, Ballina 75/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 24°C).
- June–August: Gold Coast (average score 84/100 vs 80). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 20°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 85/100, Ballina 84/100. Daytime highs are similar (22°C vs 22°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 26°C / 79°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Gold Coast all year, Ballina about 10 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Gold Coast weather by month · Ballina weather by month · Best time to visit Australia.
More comparisons: Gold Coast vs Brisbane · Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast · Ballina vs Brisbane · Ballina vs Sydney (Mascot) · Ballina vs Newcastle · all head-to-heads