Winter begins on 1 June across Australia. June brings the southern states their coldest mornings of the year so far, while the tropical north enjoys settled, dry conditions well clear of its wet season. The winter solstice falls in the third week of June 2028, the shortest day and longest night on the calendar, after which daylight hours slowly begin to lengthen again. King's Birthday falls on the second Monday of June in six of the eight states and territories.
King's Birthday gives most of the country a mid-year long weekend in June 2028, falling on the second Monday for every state except Western Australia and Queensland. Leave planned around this long weekend commonly extends into the ski season opening in the Snowy Mountains and Victorian Alps the same week, one of the busiest travel weekends of the Australian winter. The winter solstice falls in the third week of June every year, the shortest day on the calendar.
June 2028 closes the financial year on 30 June, handing over to July and a fresh set of budgets, targets and tax paperwork. The new financial year opens on 1 July, alongside the coldest stretch of winter still ahead across the southern states and the ski season now in full swing further south. The ski season across the Snowy Mountains and Victorian Alps opens during June.