The great barrier reef in stinger season shenannagans. Deadly irukandji jellyfish are heading further south on an. You are here home living in cairns cairns beaches stinger season swimming at beaches is one of the most popular things to do in cairns, simply because there are so many beaches to choose from, many uncrowded. Except the other day a local couple came back with flippers and spear gun. Cairns reef day tour operators take all necessary precautions to protect their guests from the effects of cairns jellyfish. Predominantly a problem along the coast and not usually affecting the great barrier reef, north queenslands. Stinger season has officially begun on far northern. Stinger season and suit hire cairns region forum tripadvisor. Swimming in the ocean stinger season queensland forum. The cyclone season is normally confined to december and april.
From the period of november through may, youll be snorkeling during stinger season. Mr march said 21 people have been stung by irukandji already in the 201516 stinger season, compared to just seven in the previous year. Stingers love the tropical summer weather and can be found in the waters around cairns from november to may. Next, well look at another type of stinger that, while very, very rare out at most reef locations, deserves a mention. Also, safety information about marine stingers and other dangers. The multimillion dollar transformation of the tobruk memorial pool has earned acclaim from the far north queensland engineering industry. Nov 09, 2017 from the period of november through may, youll be snorkeling during stinger season. Aug 28, 2016 stinger season cairns and port douglas and stinger season great barrier reef. As we visited during marine stinger season, the beaches have stinger nets in the water, which act as protective barriers. Any tropical cyclone in the eastern region has a one in four chance of crossing the eastern australian coastline. Swimmers should exercise caution in the water during these months, and beaches may be closed if the risk of stingers is great. You can sting in the stinger nets at beaches like four mile in port douglas and the like if they havent dragged any irukanji that morning. Pool voted years best project the multimillion dollar transformation of the tobruk memorial pool has earned acclaim from the far north queensland engineering industry. Stinger season generally runs from november to may.
Jellyfish and stingers in queensland during summer. Since this is prime diving season, expect to encounter crowds, especially in cairns. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. Stinger season traditionally starts in november across northern australia, and lasts until mayjune. However, one of the downsides when you live in cairns or are visiting cairns is having to put up with stingers. Last time, we examined some basic information regarding one of the far norths most notorious summer visitors, the bluebottle jellyfish. Stinger nets going in today cairns regional council. You should never enter the water if the beach is closed. Magnetic island has the perfect temperature water for swimming throughout the year. The cairns region is characterised by two seasons the wet summer season, which begins around november and ends around may, and the dry winter season. These jellyfish pack a punch, causing injury and deaths throughout human history. Stinger season cairns down under tours down under tours. Predominantly a problem along the coast and not usually affecting the great barrier reef, north queenslands marine and estuarine environment is home to many interesting animals, including some harmful jellyfish collectively known as. With a little bit of information and preparation, enjoying the warm tropical waters of far north queensland can be one of the most unforgettable experiences of a lifetime.
Cairns is located in the tropics and has a warm humid climate. Nasty aquatic pests that invade the coast line every year. A woman stung while wearing a full body stinger suit off cairns in november nearly died from the attack. Sun sets on a quiet cairns stinger season cairns post. The marina in cairns is where the small mini cruise stay aboard barrier reef boats leave from, as well as the numerous day trips to reef pontoons and island trips for diving and snorkelling.
If it helps, we are a family that loves adventure and wed like to. Cairns weather has 2 distinct seasons a warm dry season from april to november and a wet season from november to march with tropical monsoons that includes tropical cyclones. Named project of the year at the 2016 engineers australia far north queensland engineering excellence awards, the project has exceeded expectations with patronage steadily. These jellyfish prefer the warm, tropical waters that summers on the great barrier reef can bring and its not unusual to see them while you snorkel throughout port douglas. Pool voted years best project cairns regional council. Spring september november in spring average temperatures range from 20. Hi, was thinking of coming up for a holiday in may and staying in the vicinity of trinity beach, will it still be stinger season and is there anywhere there i can hire suits so teenagers can swim at the beach. Cairnsport douglas from sydney fodors travel talk forums. Almost every day during stinger season, lifeguards on beaches between. Stinger season in cairns summer time in cairns brings with it the sweltering heat and high humidity which seems perfect for taking a cooling dip. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for north.
The marine ecosystem around cairns is one of the most healthy, beautiful and diverse in the world. Scientists predict the jellyfish, of which there are at least eight species, will reach the. It is recommended that a fullbody lycra suit, or equivalent, be worn to provide a good measure of protection against marine stings, particularly during the stinger season, which generally runs from november to march. Nov 09, 2014 heres some incentive to don a stinger suit and swim between those stinger nets during the summer months in the tropical regions of the world. So when you are visiting cairns and the surrounding areas, be sure to do a bit of homework. Why you should visit in the wet season travel nqs guide to cairns beaches aboriginal rock art on the bama. Low season cairns region message board tripadvisor. Stinger netsenclosures are very effective at preventing the more dangerous box jellyfish chrionex fleckeri from entering the enclosure. Stinger season cairns and port douglas information. Stinger season and great barrier reef whitsunday island forum. Hi all, i am off to hamilton island in february and wanted to go snorkeling in the great barrier reef.
A great place to relax and only 20 mins from downtown cairns. The beaches of cairns are truly breathtaking with glorious stretches of white pearl sands and a bounty of blue stretching to the horizon, yet with the high season sunlight pouring down this is also. Cairns beaches stinger season cairns life information. I did hear through the grapevine that a stinger got through and stung a child, so it can still happen, but its far less likely when you swim between the. Snorkel or scuba the great barrier reef retired and. Check out our resources for adapting to these times. While march is stinger season, they are an issue at the beaches, not on the reef itself. The beaches of cairns are truly breathtaking with glorious stretches of white pearl sands and a bounty of blue stretching to the horizon, yet with the high season sunlight pouring down this is also the time for stingers. Hi i will be staying in cairns at the end of february and was planning to do the fitzroy island day trip, as it is stinger season will it be worth doing it, i realise i will need to wear a stinger suit to go in the water for snorkeling and doing sup. Data has shown that box jellyfish stings have dropped significantly since stinger nets were introduced.
Its hard not to get just a little bit excited when school holidays fall during winter in the tropics. Decembermarch is the worst time to go with the lowest prices due to wet season, humidity, clouds, cyclones, marine stingers meaning sea swimming is not possible without stinger suitsin stinger net enclosures. If you are swimming outside the nets during the season it is adviseable to wear a stinger suit which you can either buy or hire from outlets on the island. Stinger season refers to an influx of jellyfish species in and around the great barrier reef, and they come to this area because of the warm, tropical waters. However, stinger nets cannot prevent the much smaller irukandji from entering the enclosure.
Tropical cyclone seasonal outlook for the coral sea. Marine stinger information for australia and the great barrier reef. Winter in cairns brings slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity, making it the peak tourist season. The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in queensland is marine stingers. I know it is stinger season at that time how safe is it to snorkel during this time. The stinger resistant swimming enclosures at local beaches give a high degree of. Nov 16, 2015 stings from any kind of jellyfish are extremely rare during the socalled stinger season and blue bottles make up the majority of instances out at the reef. This means you may get up close with cairns jellyfish. Protecting yourself from cairns jellyfish at the beaches and on the reef. Humidity is negligible, the sky is often a crisp blue and the temperatures hover around the mid 20s celsius not fahrenheit. However, this prime snorkelling period also falls right in stinger season each year.
These reef trips leave in the morning and stay out on the companys pontoon on the reef for the day. Briefings are provided on the way to the great barrier reef, giving you the information you need to be informed, and all operators offer guests a range of stinger lycra suits for their comfort and protection. Stinger season and great barrier reef whitsunday island. Experts prefer not to use the term stinger season as this implies that jellyfish are only prevalent during this time. I would recommend not going in the water during stinger season which starts in late september and extends right. People are advised to swim inside stinger enclosures and to wear full body lycra suits to protect themselves against jellyfish stings. Hello, i know that the xmasnew year period is generally considered high season. Avoiding jellyfish season australia queensland australia. Marine stingers box jellyfish queensland beaches australia.
Stinger season in the great barrier reef down under. But you wont be spear fishing so you wouldnt do that. Stinger season has officially begun on far northern beaches. There was a fixed price for every person to swim in the great barrier reef that included the boat ride, snacks and a full lunch buffet. The season traditionally runs from november to marchapril. Meanwhile, the areas low season known locally as the wet or stinger. May 21, 2018 sun sets on a quiet cairns stinger season. Sep 05, 2016 while march is stinger season, they are an issue at the beaches, not on the reef itself. At last count, there were approximately 20 such cairns jellyfish nets in the waters across north queensland. Jul 03, 2016 north queensland is one of my favourite places to escape during our freezing sweateronsweaterminusdegreewindywinters. Surf lifesavers are rolling out stinger nets across far northern beaches to protect swimmers from box. They provide full stinger suits thin lycra suits with full arms, full legs, a hood and gloves since it was still technically jellyfish or stinger season.
The influx was attributed to northerly winds, which forced the regular closure of most cairns beaches throughout last summer. Named project of the year at the 2016 engineers australia far north queensland engineering excellence awards, the project has exceeded expectations with patronage steadily increasing since it was opened in may the popularity of. Fitzroy island stinger season cairns forum tripadvisor. Being a monsoonal climate, most rainfall occurs between january and march. Contractors uninet installed two stinger nets on the strand and one at pallarenda today. Stingers nets are being rolled out off townsville beaches with just days until the official start of the higher risk stinger season. For the 201920 season, there is 40% chance of more than average or 60% chance of fewer than average tropical cyclones in the coral sea region. Palm cove, cairns and mission beach, install stinger nets during. It is about a 500m stroll to the enclosed, patrolled section of the beach so you can take a dip in the ocean even in stinger season. Stings have occurred at all times of the year, however are more prevalent during the months of november to may. Stinger season refers to the period of time when dangerous jellyfish are aplenty.
Nets go in for stinger season townsville city council. Be aware of the season, find a beach with a safety net, and remember first aid skills. Mar 23, 2016 it is about a 500m stroll to the enclosed, patrolled section of the beach so you can take a dip in the ocean even in stinger season. Nov 20, 2015 so when you are visiting cairns and the surrounding areas, be sure to do a bit of homework. But they may be present in the waters of northern australia year round. Could anyone advise do accom prices in cairns come down a bit say a the week after new years day.
Stinger nets are available at picnic bay and horseshoe bay. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for. I doubted diving in the great barrier reef in stinger season would be an option, but queen suebah and i decide, where theres a will, theres a way. Swimming at beaches is one of the most popular things to do in cairns, simply because there are so many beaches to choose from, many uncrowded. Includes burleigh heads, surfers paradise, whitsundays, palm cove, port douglas four mile beach and the daintree. Will we not be able to swin in the ocean at places like cairns, port doug, barrier reef, whitsundays, magnetic island due to. Great barrier reef snorkeling 1 spence st, cairns, queensland, australia 4870 rated 4. Stinger season in far north queensland abc news australian. This covers from geraldton all the way around to exmouth in western australia. The season of the sting has officially begun but there has been no sign yet of potentially deadly jellyfish in far northern waters. Its the curse of the tropics the stinger season, natures reminder that. They roam the shores of cairns and deep seas of the great barrier reef in significant numbers.
Stingers are not commonly seen at the reef and all gbr boats will provide lycra stinger suits in the small chance that a snorkeler encounters a stinger at the gbr. September 7, 2016 cairns, qld, australia 10 cairns 1 cairns. Between the months of november to may although over the last few years its been much shorter, jellyfish of all types hit the shores of cairns beaches. Barrier or stinger nets are placed in the waters off many cairns beaches during the stinger season. Is it better to go up to cairns for a few days and make that our base to go around to green island and other outer reef areas or. If stingers were a real danger at the gbr, boats would not be going out there. Visiting the barrier reef from your cruise ship cairns. However, one of the downsides when you live in cairns or are visiting cairns is having to put up with. Cairns jellyfish information for snorkellers and divers. According to australian marine stinger advisory services, a box jellyfish can kill a child and even a fullgrown adult within two to three minutes once it has touched human skin. A lot of people also think they have to go to cairns to see the great barrier reef which is not quite so for the gbr is a series of reefsislands running from far northern queensland right down to several hundred kilometres north of brisbane so if you are looking at cairns because of mainly the gbr, you could get to see it by driving to 400 km. Having visited the reef several times, i know there is a risk, despite its beauty, that the kids could get hot, tired and whiney spending a whole day on the water. Dec 20, 2016 keeping out of the water is a surefire way to stay safe, but it puts a bit of a dampener on your holiday. Heres some incentive to don a stinger suit and swim between those stinger nets during the summer months in the tropical regions of the world.
I know most tour companies put you in a scuba suit but just want to be sure before i. A highlight of anyones visit to cairns is a swim in the warm tropical waters amongst the coral and the fishes. Many popular tropical holiday destinations, including port douglas, palm cove, cairns and. Some of the irukandji jellyfish caught on far north queensland beaches during the 201516 stinger season have been preserved in formaldehyde. All queensland beaches north of town of seventeen seventy near gladstone can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of the year. Predominantly a problem along the coast and not usually affecting the great barrier reef, north queenslands marine and estuarine environment is home to many interesting animals, including some harmful jellyfish collectively known as marine stingers. Keeping out of the water is a surefire way to stay safe, but it puts a bit of a dampener on your holiday. Stings from any kind of jellyfish are extremely rare during the socalled stinger season and blue bottles make up the majority of instances out at the reef. This is our peak season for tourists and its easy to see why. And they wore a stinger suit, said it was rather hot in the water. Jan 03, 2017 a woman stung while wearing a full body stinger suit off cairns in november nearly died from the attack. For this reason, stinger net enclosures are a constant at beaches across north queensland between november and may when stinger season is in full swing.