Cool mornings, tea gardens and mountain goats. If you are flying to Kochi this December or January, give the hills a few days. Here is how to plan a Munnar holiday from Australia.
At a glance: is Munnar worth it in the Australian summer holidays?
Yes. December and January are Munnar’s dry, cool season, with daytime temperatures in the teens and chilly nights. Eravikulam National Park is open (it closes in February and March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season). Fly into Kochi, then it is roughly four hours by road into the hills. Five to seven days covers Munnar, a day at Top Station and an add-on to Thekkady or Vagamon. Kochi fares on manntravel.com.au start from AUD $559 per person from Sydney (checked 11 October 2026, prices change daily).
Why Munnar in December and January
Most Australian families fly to Kerala to see relatives, and the trip gets planned around the family home. Munnar is the easy break inside that trip. Close enough to Kochi for a short drive, far enough to feel like a holiday, and at its best right when our school holidays fall.
The monsoon is long gone. The hills are green, the air is dry and the mornings are cool enough for a jumper. Local reports put December averages around 10 degrees, with frost on the coldest nights in some years and pleasant teens through the day.
One timing point matters. Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr, closes every year through February and March for calving and usually reopens on 1 April. December and January are open.
What to see in Munnar and around
| Place | Time needed | Why go |
| Tea gardens and tea museum | Half a day | Rolling plantations on every side of town. The museum explains how the estates began and lets you taste the local brew. |
| Eravikulam National Park (Rajamala) | Half a day, go early | The Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found only in these hills, often grazes close to the path. Shuttle bus from the gate, then an easy walk. |
| Mattupetty Dam and Kundala Lake | Half a day | Calm water, boat rides and picnic spots on the road out of town. Good for grandparents and small children. |
| Top Station | Half a day | The highest viewpoint in the area, looking over the Tamil Nadu plains. Clearest in the morning before the cloud rolls in. |
| Thekkady (Periyar) | 1 to 2 days add-on | Wildlife sanctuary with lake boat rides, spice gardens and elephants. About three to four hours by road from Munnar. |
| Vagamon | 1 day add-on | Quieter meadows and pine forest, less built up than Munnar. Easy to fit in on the way back towards Kochi. |
A 7 to 9 day Mewar and Marwar itinerary
Trim a night in each city for the seven-day version.
Day | Where | What to do |
Day 1 | Delhi or Mumbai | Arrive from Australia. Rest. Stay near the airport if your domestic flight is early. |
Day 2 | Udaipur | Morning flight. Afternoon walk along Lake Pichola. Sunset boat ride. |
Day 3 | Udaipur | City Palace in the morning. Jagdish Temple. Rooftop dinner. |
Day 4 | Udaipur | Saheliyon ki Bari gardens, Fateh Sagar Lake, then Sajjangarh (the Monsoon Palace) for sunset. |
Day 5 | Drive to Jodhpur | Leave early, stop at the Ranakpur Jain temple, arrive by late afternoon. |
Day 6 | Jodhpur | Mehrangarh Fort with the audio guide. Jaswant Thada next door. Clock tower market at dusk. |
Day 7 | Jodhpur | Blue city walking tour in the morning. Umaid Bhawan Palace museum. Free afternoon. |
Day 8 | Fly back | Jodhpur to Delhi or Mumbai. Rejoin family or connect to your flight home. |
Day 9 | Buffer | A spare day for delays or shopping before the long flight home. |
Getting there from Australia
Fly to Kochi (Cochin International Airport, COK). Mann Travel books one-stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, usually through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or the Gulf. On manntravel.com.au today, Kochi fares start from:
- Sydney to Cochin from AUD $559 per person
- Perth to Cochin from AUD $610 per person
- Brisbane to Cochin from AUD $669 per person
- Adelaide to Cochin from AUD $753 per person
All fares checked 11 October 2026, prices change daily. No Melbourne to Cochin fare was shown today, so Melbourne families should search live fares or call us.
From Kochi airport, Munnar is around 110 to 130 km by road and takes about four hours. The last stretch is slow and winding. Most families hire a car and driver for the whole hill trip. Ask us and we can arrange hotels and transfers with the flights.
Flying to Hyderabad for family first? Read our new guide to flights from Sydney to Hyderabad, then add a Kochi domestic hop for the hills.
A 5 to 7 day plan for the summer school holidays
This fits inside a two or three week Kerala trip. Swap the order to suit.
Day 1: Kochi to Munnar
Leave Kochi after breakfast, stop at the waterfalls and spice stalls on the way up, and walk the tea paths near your hotel before dark.
Day 2: Eravikulam and the tea museum
Go to Eravikulam when it opens. The queue is shorter and the tahr are more active. Spend the afternoon at the tea museum and the town market.
Day 3: Mattupetty, Kundala and Top Station
Drive out early for Top Station while the view is clear. Come back through Kundala Lake and Mattupetty Dam for a boat ride and lunch.
Day 4: Slow day
A plantation walk, a long lunch, an early night. Everyone needs one day with nothing planned.
Day 5: Munnar to Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady. Afternoon boat ride on Periyar Lake and a spice garden tour.
Day 6: Thekkady, then Vagamon or back to Kochi
Morning in the sanctuary, then return towards Kochi via Vagamon if you have the extra day.
Day 7: Back to the family base
Return to Kochi or carry on to your relatives. The backwaters are a separate trip, covered in our Kerala backwaters houseboat guide.
Travelling with children and elderly parents
Munnar suits mixed-age families, with a bit of planning.
- Take motion sickness seriously. The road up is a long series of bends. Sit older parents and prone children in the front or middle row, keep the car cool, and ask your pharmacist about travel sickness tablets before you leave Australia.
- Break the drive. Four hours on paper is often five with stops. Plan a proper tea break halfway.
- Warm layers are not optional. Nights can drop close to freezing in cold years. Pack a fleece, a light jacket and socks for everyone, including the grandparents who insist they will be fine.
- Choose a hotel with lifts and level paths. Many resorts are built down steep hillsides. Ask before you book.
- Start early, finish early. Viewpoints are clearest in the morning and hill roads are no fun after dark.
- Carry regular medicines and a small first aid kit. Town pharmacies may not stock Australian brands.
- Keep plans loose. Mist can close in and change the day. A spare afternoon saves the trip.
What to pack for Munnar in December and January
- Warm layers: fleece, light jacket, beanie for early mornings
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip for tea paths and viewpoints
- Sunscreen and a hat. The sun is strong at altitude even when it is cool
- Travel sickness tablets and any regular medicines
- A light rain jacket, just in case
- Reusable water bottle and snacks for the drive
- Passport, Indian visa or OCI card, and printed hotel details for the driver
Check entry rules before you fly. Australian passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card, and the Smartraveller India page has the latest travel advice.
Why book your Kerala trip with Mann Travel
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped Australian families get home to India. We specialise in flights and hotels to India, including Kochi, and our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English and is on call 24/7. Students and education staff can join MannPass for free and take an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India. If the full fare is not ready yet, PayLite lets you secure your seats with a low deposit and pay in up to 26 weekly instalments on selected refundable fares. Afterpay is also accepted.
Let’s take you home, and up into the hills.
Search live fares to Kochi at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our team on 1300 754 002. Ask us to add Munnar hotels and transfers to your booking, or send us a message.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Munnar in December and January?
Cool and mostly dry. Daytime temperatures sit in the teens, nights are cold, and frost is possible on the coldest mornings.
Is Eravikulam National Park open in December and January?
Yes. The park closes each year in February and March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season and usually reopens on 1 April. The Australian summer holidays fall in the open season.
How do I get to Munnar from Australia?
Fly to Kochi (Cochin) with one stop from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide, then travel about four hours by road into the hills. A car and driver is the easiest option for families.
How many days do I need in Munnar?
Three to four days covers Munnar itself. Add two or three more for Thekkady and Vagamon.
Is Munnar suitable for elderly parents?
Yes, with care. Choose a hotel with level access, plan for the winding drive, pack warm clothes and keep each day short.
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped Australian families get home to India. We specialise in flights and hotels to India, including Kochi, and our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English and is on call 24/7. Students and education staff can join MannPass for free and take an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India. If the full fare is not ready yet, PayLite lets you secure your seats with a low deposit and pay in up to 26 weekly instalments on selected refundable fares. Afterpay is also accepted.
