Our friends from “Oz” have supported us from the beginning: Australia is one of the top five locations where TWSE readers visit us. While some of the stations we recommend to readers here in the States are locally available, they’re expensive. So, we researched and came up with this list of the best home weather stations in Australia at various price points.
While Ambient Weather is available in Australia, nearly the same station is available through Ecowitt. You lose the smart home connectivity Ambient adds, but everything else is the same.
This Tempest look-alike doesn't have all its features, but is significantly cheaper.
If the HP2553 is too expensive, consider the HP2551 instead.
Best Home Weather Stations in Australia
After much research, here are our picks for Australia’s best home weather stations. We’ll keep this list regularly updated.
ECOWITT HP2553 Wi-Fi Weather Station
The HP2553 is Ecowitt's top-of-the-line weather station, and it shows.
The Ecowitt HP2553 is the company’s high-end weather station (and sold as the Ambient Weather WS-5000 in the US). Our tests of the American version of this weather station were stellar. With practically nothing different — save for the lack of smart home support — we had no reservations about making this our top pick.
The HP2553 features a redesigned sensor suite from previous models and an ultrasonic anemometer, drastically reducing the number of moving parts. This should extend its useable life as the traditional anemometer requires ongoing maintenance to ensure trouble-free use. The sensors are more accurate in our tests than in previous Ecowitt stations, and you can add additional sensors, including air quality, soil moisture, water temperature, and lightning. The brilliant colour, easy-to-read LCD console looks great just about anywhere.
The company’s made it easy to share your data publicly through Weather Underground, Ecowitt.net, and many other networks, which is a nice touch and view station data from the Ecowitt app.
Ecowitt HP3500 Wi-Fi Weather Station
The HP3500B is Ecowitt's entry level Wi-Fi compatible weather station, but it isn't expandable.
The Ecowitt HP3500B is the company’s cheapest weather station that doesn’t require PC software to share your weather data online. The console isn’t as flashy as the HP2551 but is still readable from a reasonable distance and can display graphs on its screen, something the cheaper WS2320 cannot do.
You do lose the capability to add additional sensors, which may be a reason to opt for any of the above three models if expandability is a concern. But the savings make the HP3500B a contender if you want to save money.
Ecowitt Wittboy Weather Station
This Tempest look-alike doesn't have all its features, but is significantly cheaper.
The Wittboy is Ecowitt's latest Wi-Fi weather station, and it's aimed at those outside of the U.S. who might not want to pay the extra duties to import in the WeatherFlow Tempest. It doesn't have lightning detection or smart home capabilities (that we can tell), but it does pretty much everything else the Tempest does.
The outdoor sensor contains a haptic rainfall sensor, light and UV sensors, an ultrasonic wind speed sensor, and temperature and humidity sensors. Ecowitt also includes its Wi-Fi hub, which allows you to send your data to Weather Underground. The Wittboy is new, so we're hesitant to give it our full-throated endorsement, but it's worth considering.
ECOWITT HP2551 Wi-Fi Weather Station
If the HP2553 is too expensive, consider the HP2551 instead.
The Ecowitt HP2551 isn’t sold in the US under the Ambient Weather brand, but its feature set is similar to the Ambient Weather WS-2000. While you won’t get the accuracy of the HP2553, it is significantly cheaper and measures everything its more expensive sibling does. The nice console you get with the HP2553 is paired with Ecowitt’s base instrument suite.
The Netatmo was the first smart home weather station (really!).
Unlike most home weather stations in the U.S., there aren't many options for those looking to integrate their home weather station with the smart home elsewhere. However, French technology company Netatmo's popular weather station provides one alternative if you want just that. We tested the Netatmo weather station several years ago, loved the app, and were pleasantly surprised with its accuracy.
The only negative to Netatmo's weather station is everything is sold separately. The package above includes the base station and two temperature/humidity sensors. You'll still need the optional rain gauge and sonic anemometer to complete the station, which costs more. However, it may be worth it if you are looking for a way to use weather data to control your smart home.
Ecowitt WS2910 Wi-Fi Weather Station
Save a little bit of money with the WS2910.
If you prefer an "all-in-one" sensor suite (especially with limited space), opt for the Ecowitt WS2910. It includes the same sensor suite as the HP2551, but has a more basic console. You also lose the capability to expand. However, the WS2910 still features the Wi-Fi connectivity of more expensive Ecowitt weather stations.
Other Options
While we think the best home weather stations in Australia are from Ecowitt, we can understand if you’d still want the accuracy or smart weather station features. You’ll want to import the Davis Vantage Vue, Pro2, or WeatherFlow Tempest.
- Accuracy is nearly on par with the Vantage Pro2
- Extremely reliable
- Well-constructed and durable
- The WeatherFlow Console makes it even better
- A 5-in-1 sensor isn't the best for accurate readings
- You pay a premium for the name
Far behind its competitors in terms of high-tech features, the Davis Vantage Vue remains the most accurate mid-range home weather station weather watchers can buy. Amazon U.S. sells this package, so there is an additional wait time for it, but it is the cheapest we’ve found the Vantage Vue sold in Oz at the moment, and after the exchange rate, it is similarly priced to the station in the states.
- The best accuracy of any home weather station
- Top-notch reliability
- Durability is impressive
- Expandability through additional sensors
- A 5-in-1 sensor isn’t the best for accurate readings
- No expandability
With how expensive the Vantage Vue is in Australia, we’d recommend the Davis Vantage Pro2 instead. This is available from an Australian Davis supplier and is priced competitively considering the USD-AUS exchange rate (it’s a few dollars cheaper!). Plus, the Vantage Pro2 is the best weather station on the market, bar none, and one survived the 2017 NSW wildfires and continued to report data.
We can’t say that many other stations on our list would be able to perform a similar feat. It’s an expensive piece of kit, but you won’t need to buy a new home weather station anytime soon — Davis weather stations are known for providing years of trouble-free service.
- Super quick setup
- Outstanding lightning detection
- Fairly accurate instrumentation
- Ready for the smart home
- The haptic rain sensor doesn’t measure rainfall accurately enough
- No expandability
Finally, we’d be remiss not to mention the WeatherFlow Tempest in our list. Even though the Tempest is one of the newest home weather stations on the market, the company behind it has spent decades building professional-grade stations, many of which are found at coastal locations throughout the U.S. — and have played a critical role in the monitoring of landfalling tropical cyclones.
The WeatherFlow’s smart home support is another reason why we’re big fans of the Tempest, and with no moving parts, completely solar-powered, and a simple installation, this is as close to “set it and forget it” as you come in a home weather station.
FAQ
Are you thinking about purchasing a weather station? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions from readers, some unique to Australia.
What is the best home weather station in Australia?
We’d argue the best deal overall for our Australian readers would be the Ecowitt HP2553. It is nearly the same station as the Ambient Weather WS-5000 in the States. However, if you don’t mind paying the duties to import it in, Davis weather stations or the WeatherFlow Tempest are well worth it.
Are home weather stations worth it?
While television or your mobile are reliable sources of weather information, it’s not always current. Weather can differ considerably over just a few kilometres. A home weather station always provides a “hyperlocal” look at the weather outside.
Is a home weather station durable?
Yes! The weather in some parts of Australia can be pretty extreme. But this is nothing a weather station can’t handle. There’s a story of a Davis weather station in New South Wales that continued to report data after the devastating 2017 wildfires. Other stations have survived hurricanes, hail, and more. Of course, weather station maintenance is essential.
How much does a home weather station cost?
Generally, local brands will cost between $150-300 AUS. However, if you are looking for an imported brand such as AcuRite, Ambient Weather, or Davis, these stations range from $300-800 AUS or more.
Where should home weather stations be located?
You should always site your home weather station in an open area free of obstructions. For more information, please see our weather station installation guide.
Wrapping Up
Australia has a lot of great options for home weather stations, and we think the Ecowitt HP2553 is by far the best buy. However, if you’re looking for top-tier performance, you can’t beat the Davis Vantage Vue or Vantage Pro2. Have questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments below.
