Daylight Saving Time (DST)

The clocks in parts of Australia change twice a year. Find out when, and how, Australian time relates to the rest of the world...

Australia observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), with the exception of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

  • Clocks go forward by one hour at 02:00 on the first Sunday in October
  • They go back one hour at 03:00 on the first Sunday in April

Due to its geographic size Australia is divided into three time zones:

  • Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - UTC +10
  • Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) - UTC +9½
  • Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) - UTC + 8
  • Further information on DST and Australian time zones are available on the Australian government website

If dealing with other countries, it can be helpful to know how the different varieties of DST (for those countries that use the system) map on to each other. Most countries adjust their clocks at some time between midnight and 03:00.

Note: Many countries and territories change days of transitions to DST from year to year and some do not employ it every year.

Continent Country Beginning and ending days
Europe European Union and rest of Europe (except Iceland) Start: 02:00 last Sunday in March
End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Greenland (regional; changes annually) Start: 22:00 mid to late March
End: 22:00 last Saturday in October or first Sunday in November (depending on location)
North & Central America United States (except Arizona
and Hawaii), Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, St-Pierre, Miquelon, Turks and
Caicos		 Start: 02:00 second Sunday in March
End: 02:00 first Sunday in November
Mexico (except Sonora) Start: 02:00 first Sunday in April
End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Cuba (subject to change) Start: 00:00 mid to late March
End: 01:00 end of October
South America Brazil
(some states): Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goias, Matto Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal		 Start: 00:00 on third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 on third Sunday in February
Chile Start: 00:00 between August and October
End: 00:00 between March and May
Falkland Islands Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September
End: 02:00 third Sunday in April
Paraguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Uruguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October
End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Africa
Namibia Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September
End: 02:00 first Sunday in April
Tunisia
Changes annually; DST may not be observed
Asia
Israel
(changes annually)		 End: September or October    
Start: March or April
Lebanon Start: Last Sunday in March
End: Last Sunday in October
Syria
(may change annually)		 Start: First Friday in April
End: Last Thursday in October
Australasia Australian Capital Territory,
New South Wales,
Victoria,
Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Lord Howe Island		 Start: 03:00 first Sunday in October
End: 03:00 first Sunday in April
New
Zealand, Chatham Island		 Start: 03:00 last Sunday in September    
End: 03:00 first Sunday in April