When Do the Clocks Change in Australia?
Clocks go back on Sunday, April 4, 2027. At 2:59 AM the clocks jump to 2:00 AM, putting the country on AEST.
What Happens, and When
Australia is split. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT move to daylight time on the first Sunday in October and back on the first Sunday in April. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not change at all.
| Zone | Next change | Clocks |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Apr 4, 2027 | 2:59 AM → 2:00 AM (back) |
| Adelaide | Apr 4, 2027 | 2:59 AM → 2:00 AM (back) |
| Brisbane | no change | stays on UTC+10:00 all year |
| Perth | no change | stays on UTC+8:00 all year |
| Darwin | no change | stays on UTC+9:30 all year |
| Hobart | Apr 4, 2027 | 2:59 AM → 2:00 AM (back) |
Brisbane, Perth, Darwin do not change at all, so the gap between there and the rest of Australia is different in summer and winter.
Which Time Differences Move on Apr 4, 2027
A clock change is only interesting because of what it does to the gap between you and everyone else. These are the differences from Australia before and after the change — note that a gap only moves if the other side does not change on the same date.
| Difference to | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| New York | -15:00 | -14:00 changes |
| London | -10:00 | -9:00 changes |
| UTC | -11:00 | -10:00 changes |
| India | -5:30 | -4:30 changes |
| Tokyo | -2:00 | -1:00 changes |
| Dubai | -7:00 | -6:00 changes |
6 of these 6 differences move on the day.
Why Australia Does Change Its Clocks
Queensland ran a daylight saving trial in the late 1980s and rejected it in a 1992 referendum. Western Australia has held four referendums and voted no every time, most recently in 2009. The result is that for five months a year the country runs on five different clocks instead of three.
The practical consequence is that every time difference involving Australia shifts by an hour on Sunday, April 4, 2027. Anything recurring — a standing call, an automated report, a flight connection — is worth checking across that date, particularly against countries that change on a different day or not at all.
To see the exact gap between any two places on any date, use the time zone converter, or the meeting planner for a whole group at once.
Cities Affected
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the clocks change in Australia?
The next change is Sunday, April 4, 2027, when clocks go back — 2:59 AM becomes 2:00 AM. That is 174 days from today.
Do the clocks go forward or back?
They go back at the next change. Clocks going forward means an hour of sleep lost and lighter evenings; going back means an hour gained and darker afternoons.
Does everywhere in Australia change its clocks?
No. Brisbane, Perth, Darwin do not change at all, so the gap between there and the rest of Australia is different in summer and winter.
Will my meetings be affected?
Any recurring meeting booked across a clock change needs checking, because the two ends move at different times — or one end does not move at all. The time zone converter shows the exact gap for any pair on any date.