Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast: which is sunnier?
🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇦🇺 Australia · 180 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Sunshine Coast is the sunnier overall: about 2,956 hours of sunshine a year to Gold Coast's 2,742. 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 | Sunshine Coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,742 | 2,956 |
| Sunniest month | September (89/100) | July (88/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 71/100 | 72/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 84/100 | 84/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,173 mm | 1,297 mm |
| Warmest sea | 26°C / 79°F | 27°C / 81°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 12 (extreme) |
Gold Coast vs Sunshine Coast month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | |
| January | 68 | 69 | 26° | 28° | 153 | 162 | 25° | 26° |
| February | 68 | 69 | 26° | 27° | 161 | 191 | 26° | 27° |
| March | 68 | 69 | 26° | 26° | 160 | 171 | 26° | 27° |
| April | 79 | 76 | 24° | 25° | 90 | 110 | 25° | 25° |
| May | 82 | 79 | 22° | 23° | 74 | 93 | 23° | 23° |
| June | 77 | 79 | 21° | 21° | 100 | 97 | 21° | 22° |
| July | 88 | 88 | 20° | 20° | 41 | 46 | 21° | 21° |
| August | 86 | 85 | 20° | 21° | 49 | 64 | 21° | 21° |
| September | 89 | 88 | 21° | 23° | 34 | 47 | 21° | 22° |
| October | 80 | 80 | 23° | 24° | 83 | 88 | 22° | 23° |
| November | 79 | 81 | 24° | 26° | 90 | 84 | 23° | 24° |
| December | 70 | 70 | 25° | 27° | 138 | 144 | 24° | 26° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Gold Coast · May Gold Coast · Jun even · Jul even · 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, Sunshine Coast 72/100. Sunshine Coast is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 25°C.
- March–May: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 76/100, Sunshine Coast 75/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 25°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 84/100, Sunshine Coast 84/100. Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 21°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Gold Coast averages 85/100, Sunshine Coast 84/100. Sunshine Coast is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 22°C.
Sea temperature
Sunshine Coast's sea gets warmer: 27°C / 81°F at its peak vs 26°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Gold Coast all year, Sunshine Coast all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Gold Coast weather by month · Sunshine Coast weather by month · Best time to visit Australia.
More comparisons: Gold Coast vs Brisbane · Gold Coast vs Ballina · Sunshine Coast vs Brisbane · Sunshine Coast vs Ballina · all head-to-heads