UV index and sunburn time in Australia
Peak UV index and how quickly unprotected skin burns, for 40 cities in Australia.
| City | Peak UV | Category | Month | Burns after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 11.4 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Melbourne | 10.5 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Brisbane | 12.9 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Perth | 11.7 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Adelaide | 11.1 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Gold Coast | 12.8 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Newcastle | 11.6 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Sunshine Coast | 13.1 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Canberra | 11.5 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Central Coast | 11.5 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Logan City | 12.9 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Geelong | 10.4 | Very high | January | 23 min |
| Wollongong | 11.3 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Hobart | 9.2 | Very high | January | 25 min |
| Townsville | 14.7 | Extreme | February | 16 min |
| Cairns | 15.2 | Extreme | February | 15 min |
| Toowoomba | 13.3 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Darwin | 15.7 | Extreme | February | 15 min |
| Ballarat | 10.8 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Mandurah | 11.6 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Bendigo | 10.8 | Very high | January | 22 min |
| Caloundra | 13.1 | Extreme | January | 18 min |
| Launceston | 9.6 | Very high | January | 24 min |
| Maitland | 11.7 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Tuggeranong | 11.4 | Extreme | January | 20 min |
| Mackay | 14.3 | Extreme | January | 16 min |
| Rockhampton | 13.8 | Extreme | January | 17 min |
| Coffs Harbour | 12.3 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| Bunbury | 11.4 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Bundaberg | 13.5 | Extreme | January | 17 min |
| Adelaide Hills | 11.4 | Extreme | January | 21 min |
| Hervey Bay | 13.4 | Extreme | January | 17 min |
| Port Macquarie | 12.0 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| Gladstone | 13.7 | Extreme | January | 17 min |
| Tamworth | 12.3 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| Dubbo | 12.0 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| Orange | 12.2 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| Wodonga | 11.0 | Very high | January | 21 min |
| Geraldton | 12.5 | Extreme | January | 19 min |
| St Albans | 10.5 | Very high | January | 22 min |
The same UV also drives vitamin D synthesis — and stops entirely for part of the year at higher latitudes. Vitamin D winters in Australia →
Burn times are for skin type III with no sunscreen. How these are calculated