January is Sydney's peak summer month: the warmest water of the year, the Sydney Festival across the city, Test cricket at the SCG, international tennis at Sydney Olympic Park and Australia Day on the harbour to finish. This guide covers what is on in January 2027, the weather, the school holidays, the beaches and where to stay: Marco Polo Motor Inn Sydney in Summer Hill, with free secured parking and rooms from $140.
Sydney weather in January
January is Sydney's warmest month. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-term averages for Sydney (Observatory Hill) give a mean maximum of 26.0 degrees and a mean minimum of 18.8, with around 100 mm of rain over roughly nine days, usually as afternoon storms. The sun rises at about 5.50 am and sets at about 8.10 pm at the start of the month.
Cancer Council Australia and ARPANSA note that the UV index is at its most damaging in January, with values of 11 or more forecast across most of the country on clear days, and sun protection is advised whenever the index is 3 or above.
What's on in Sydney in January 2027
January 2027 opens with New Year's Day on Friday 1 January, a public holiday, and closes with Australia Day on Tuesday 26 January. The dates below come from the organisers' published schedules.
- United Cup tennis at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney Olympic Park: Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 January 2027, with the semi-finals on 9 January and the final on 10 January
- The Sydney Test, Australia v New Zealand: Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027 at the SCG, play from 10.30 am
- Sydney Festival: 7 to 25 January 2027, with 94 events including 21 free ones, at venues from Barangaroo Reserve and the Sydney Opera House to Powerhouse Parramatta
- Big Bash League at the SCG: Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers on Sunday 10 January and Sixers v Sydney Thunder on Friday 15 January 2027
- Australia Day, Tuesday 26 January 2027: Harbourfest on Sydney Harbour, the Ferrython from Circular Quay and the Australia Day Regatta
School holidays and family visits
The NSW summer school holidays run from Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, and students in Sydney return on Wednesday 3 February 2027, so the whole of January is holiday time. Taronga Zoo is a ferry from Circular Quay, Luna Park at Milsons Point is a train ride across the Harbour Bridge, and Darling Harbour is an L1 light rail ride from Taverners Hill.
Family rooms at the motel sleep up to five, with a fridge, microwave, kettle and toaster for quick breakfasts before an early start to the beach.
Beaches, harbour swims and what to pack
January brings the warmest sea of the year. Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee sit along the coastal walk, each with ocean baths, and the harbour beaches at Nielsen Park and Balmoral offer calm water for families. Swim between the flags at a patrolled beach, and spend the middle of the day in the shade or at a festival show or the cricket. January evenings sit around 19 degrees, so one light layer is enough.
- Swimmers, towel and a rash top or long-sleeved shirt for the beach
- Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and SPF50+ sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle for the free Purezza premium water refills
- Light rain jacket or compact umbrella for summer storms
- Comfortable walking shoes for the coastal walk
- A picnic rug and a cap for a day at the SCG or the tennis
Getting to the January venues from Summer Hill
Summer Hill station is a 400 m walk from the motel, about four to five minutes, on the T2 Inner West & Leppington line. For the Sydney Test and the Big Bash at the SCG, take the train to Central, then the L2 or L3 light rail to Moore Park. For the United Cup at Ken Rosewall Arena, take the train from Summer Hill and change at Lidcombe for Olympic Park station, beside the venues. For the Sydney Festival and Australia Day, Circular Quay, Wynyard and Martin Place are about 15 to 20 minutes by train.
Trains run late into the night on event nights; check Transport for NSW for the night's timetable.
Prices and where to stay in January 2027
Marco Polo Motor Inn Sydney is an independent 3.5-star motel at 42-44 Parramatta Road, Summer Hill, about 6.5 km west of the Sydney CBD. Every booking includes one free secured undercover parking spot, free unlimited Wi-Fi and free Purezza premium water refills. Reception is open 24 hours a day, check-in is from 2 pm and check-out by 10 am, and arrivals after 11 pm are welcome with a small late check-in fee. Rooms range from single and queen to deluxe and family rooms sleeping up to five, each with a fridge, microwave, kettle and toaster.
January rates: rooms from $140 a night Monday to Thursday, and from $200 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, public holidays and high seasons, including New Year's Day and Australia Day. There is no restaurant on site, and Summer Hill's cafes, bakeries and restaurants are a short walk away. Booking direct on the website or by phone on 02 8880 8320 gets the best rate with no booking fees.
Why guests choose us
Why January works in Sydney
- Average maximum of 26 degrees and the warmest sea
- Sydney Festival from 7 to 25 January 2027
- The Sydney Test at the SCG, 4 to 8 January 2027
- United Cup final at Ken Rosewall Arena on 10 January
- Australia Day on the harbour, Tuesday 26 January 2027
- Rooms from $140 with free secured parking
Gallery
A look around & nearby
Photos: Ashes 2010-11 Sydney Test final wicket by Johnlp, CC BY-SA 3.0; The Bennelong Restaurant - Sydney Opera House (16610143376) by Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0; Shane Warne MelbourneStars by Mathew F, CC BY 2.0; AUS Sydney, Randwick, Coogee Beach 001 by -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
Coming up in Sydney this January
- 2026/27 WS Wanderers A League Season (v Macarthur FC)1 Jan 2027 · CommBank Stadium
- Field Day 20271 Jan 2027 · The Domain
- 2026/27 A-League Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar FC2 Jan 2027 · Allianz Stadium
- BBL - Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers2 Jan 2027 · ENGIE Stadium
- NRMA Insurance Pink Test - Australia v New Zealand4 – 7 Jan 2027 · Sydney Cricket Ground
- United Cup - Sydney - Night Session5 Jan 2027 · Ken Rosewall Arena
- United Cup - Sydney - Day Session6 Jan 2027 · Ken Rosewall Arena
- United Cup - Sydney - Night Session - Quarter Final 17 Jan 2027 · Ken Rosewall Arena
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Sydney in January?
The Bureau of Meteorology's averages for Sydney are a maximum of 26.0 degrees and a minimum of 18.8 in January, with about seven hours of sunshine a day and rain on around nine days, usually as afternoon storms.
What is on in Sydney in January 2027?
The United Cup tennis at Ken Rosewall Arena from 2 to 10 January, the Sydney Test against New Zealand at the SCG from 4 to 8 January, the Sydney Festival from 7 to 25 January, and Australia Day on the harbour on Tuesday 26 January 2027.
When do the NSW school holidays end in January 2027?
The summer holidays run until Wednesday 27 January 2027, and students in Sydney public schools return on Wednesday 3 February 2027, so all of January is school holiday time.
When is the Sydney Test in January 2027?
Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027 at the SCG, Australia v New Zealand, with play from 10.30 am each day.
How much is a hotel in Sydney in January 2027?
At Marco Polo Motor Inn Sydney, rooms are from $140 a night Monday to Thursday and from $200 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and public holidays, including New Year's Day and Australia Day, with one free secured parking spot per booking.
Book online here
Book your January in Sydney
Rooms from $140 with free secured parking, 24-hour reception and trains to the SCG, the festival and the harbour.