Climate snapshot for alpacas
87/100Alpaca climate comfort score
27°CAverage high, Dec
2°CAverage low, Jul
~5Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~40Frost nights per year
681 mmAnnual precipitation
5Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jan
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Jan, Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov)
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 87/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb). GBIF holds 2 alpaca occurrence records for Australia.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°C | 14°C | 87 mm | 150 · high | worms, grass |
| Feb | 26°C | 14°C | 42 mm | 147 · caution | grass |
| Mar | 25°C | 12°C | 53 mm | 145 · caution | worms, grass |
| Apr | 18°C | 7°C | 99 mm | 142 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 14°C | 4°C | 40 mm | 137 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 12°C | 2°C | 58 mm | 136 · ok | — |
| Jul | 12°C | 2°C | 29 mm | 136 · ok | — |
| Aug | 15°C | 2°C | 58 mm | 139 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 18°C | 4°C | 18 mm | 131 · ok | — |
| Oct | 20°C | 7°C | 51 mm | 133 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 24°C | 11°C | 97 mm | 144 · caution | worms, grass |
| Dec | 27°C | 13°C | 46 mm | 143 · caution | grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -33.4°, 149.6°, elevation 665 m.
Alpaca care calendar for New South Wales, Australia
January 26° / 14°C
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 26° / 14°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
March 25° / 12°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 18° / 7°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
May 14° / 4°C
- Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 12° / 2°C
July 12° / 2°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 15° / 2°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
September 18° / 4°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
October 20° / 7°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
November 24° / 11°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 27° / 13°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: September.
- Best months for crias to be born: Aug–Nov (breed in Sep–Dec).
- Heat precautions: Jan.
- Barber pole worm season: Jan, Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Oct–May, Aug (about 9 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Alpaca Barn | shop | 76 km | — |
| Miktam Alpacas | farm | 138 km | — |
| Australian Alpaca Barn | shop | 139 km | Visit |
| Quentin Park Alpacas & Studio Gallery | farm | 158 km | — |
| The Alpaca Barn | shop | 172 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in New South Wales, Australia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. New South Wales, Australia scores 87/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in New South Wales, Australia?
Plan shearing for September, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in New South Wales, Australia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Aug–Nov. For births then, breed females in Sep–Dec (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in New South Wales, Australia?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in New South Wales, Australia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jan. We estimate about 5 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Coordinates -33.400, 149.600. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.