The great barrier reef comes alive at this time of year with coral spawning and all the large pelagics make their way form the other side of the world to the great barrier reef. Whether you plan to take a day trip, a scenic flight, or stay at a resort on one of the more than 900 islands, this guide will help you decide when to visit the great barrier reef. It is stretches 2,300 km along the queensland coastline. Yes, you can have an amazing day out on the great barrier reef in. Mar 11, 2016 yes, you can have an amazing day out on the great barrier reef in the rain. Great barrier reef holiday rentals great barrier reef holiday packages flights to great barrier reef great barrier reef restaurants great barrier reef attractions great barrier reef travel forum great barrier reef photos great barrier reef map great barrier reef guide all great barrier reef hotels. The great barrier reef the 8th wonder of the world. It is the largest reef in the world and consists of nearly 3000 individual reefs, 880 islands and hundreds and thousands of different types of plant, bird and marine life. The great barrier reef the good, the bad and the ugly. This is the low season which can be better on the budget, but increases the chances of weather that interrupts your snorkeling and diving options. Ive read its prob worst time of year but its when ill be there.
At this time of year, the great barrier reef is also phenomenal, with perfect water temperatures and visibility. Overall, the best time of year to go scuba diving on the great barrier reef is octoberdecember. Cairns tropical climate is a bit unpredictable at times but as a local i know better and will assure you that it will not stop you from enjoying a day out on the reef. The rainy season this year has sprung a surprise on us by turning it on with some amazing conditions at the great barrier reef. This peak season offers some key advantages for travelers.
Humpback whales migrate from antarctica spend winter around the great barrier reef. Quick question, has anyone visited the great barrier reef in january and february from cairns or other nearby location. Another spectacular ocean display is the sight of migrating whales. We plan to visit the area north of brisbane to snorkel the great barrier reef sometime in the january march 2011 timeframe. You wont find any problems booking snorkeling tours in the great barrier reef during wet season, and they. This is the end of the dry season when humidity starts to build with the onset of the wet season from december. Seasonal information on the cairnsport douglas great barrier reef region. Great barrier reef weather great barrier reef, queensland.
The main attractions here are snorkeling, diving, and swimming which causes massive crowding during these months. As to the best time of year to visit and dive, anytime is a good time to dive on the great barrier reef off cairns. Whens the best time to snorkel in great barrier reef ninja. I arranged to join the fullday great barrier reef tour with cruise whitsundays the following day which meant a ferry departure back to hamilton island bright and early at 7. It is just one of those special places on earth that should be visited one day. January is an excellent month for swimming in great barrier reef with very warm sea temperatures. Can i visit the great barrier reef in the rainy season. The great barrier reef marine park is in 345,000 km and that is larger than the entire area of the uk and ireland combined.
Whens the best time to visit cairns, australia down under. Great barrier reef australia weather seasons barrier reef. Is cairns the best choice out of sydney that time of year or is there somewhere else that. Cairns is very popular with divers at this time of year, with the crystal clear blue waters giving divers great views of the reef. In november the reef comes alive with the annual coral spawning. Hot humid days and nights are the norm at this time. Minke whales visit the great barrier reef area in may. Rainy days on the great barrier reef may not sound like fun, but they are still a great day out. Humpback whales migrate from antarctica spend winter around the great barrier reef from may to september where they give birth. Most overseas visitors come to australia during the cold months of the northern hemisphere winter i. Dont be too worried because there are plenty of tours to do during a rainy day, with some of them even better during the wet season. To cap it off, you avoid the worst of stinger season.
The reef is an enormous ecosystem, and visibility at any given location on the reef changes. Dear fellow travelers and destination experts, greetings. Many different species of animals live amongst the islands of the great barrier reef. Visible from space, the great barrier reef grows on the northeast coast of australia. So if youre planning a trip to the great barrier reef, be sure to remember the busy, high season is may through october, and during those months, reservations can be harder to come by and rates will be a bit higher. Where geology and tides are favorable, coral reefs are created by innumerable minute organisms, animal and vegetable corals and the microorganisms they host.
Great barrier reef dry season this is the best time to snorkel the great barrier reef, with cooler weather of about 25degrees and water temperatures of. For example, the most rainfall on the great barrier reef occurs in the rainy season, which starts in september and ends in march. With loads of sunshine, warm seas, refreshing sea breezes and a warm climate all year round, tropical north queensland weather is hard to beat. The best time to visit the great barrier reef is, in three simple words, whenever you can. Australia doesnt have a summer and winterit has a wet season and a dry season.
The good thing is february is our summer and the school holidays will have just finished. Summer is breeding season for many reef fish and there is much activity under water. The great barrier reef is considered a tropical destination and the weather has some consistency to it. Its the most perfect time of year for snorkelling, diving as the water is crytsal clear. When to go to the great barrier reef best time when to go. Best time to visit great barrier reef responsible vacation. Seasonal information on the cairns great barrier reef area metric. On average, 75% to 90% of the areas rainfall comes during these months. April and may are easily argued to be the best time to visit the great barrier reef when. Sadly this is the wrong time for the great barrier reef.
What to do when visiting far north queensland in the wet season. The temperatures are still very high, but tropical downpours hit the region between. The majority of visitors to the great barrier reef are looking to snorkel or scuba dive. Highly rated activities for a rainy day in great barrier reef. Winter is known as the dry season and is characterised by warm temperatures and little rainfall while the summer season features higher temperatures and rainfall resulting in more humidity. Out on the great barrier reef the risk of marine stingers is low. They are a collection of raised sandy cays and tropical islands, some colonized with thick tropical rainforest. Out on the great barrier reef the risk of marine stingers is low, however stinger suits are recommended and available for hire on tour boats. The great barrier reef is one of the worlds great natural wonders.
Whens the best time to snorkel in great barrier reef. The yearly average rainfall varies depending upon the location of the coral reef. There are numerous tours to the reef, to the islands, to the rainforest, but what about during the wet season. What happens if it rains or the weather is bad, will my cairns great barrier.
January is a hot and very rainy time for sunbathing in great barrier reef. It usually rains only in early mornings and at night, but beware of deadly box jellyfish. In this article, we are going to attempt to answer this common question. Sydney, june 2 reuters australias iconic great barrier reef is under imminent threat from industrial development and may be considered for listing as a world heritage site in danger within the next year, a u. I will be traveling from bali to cairns by jetstar any experience with that airline. Beach weather in great barrier reef, australia in january. Great barrier reef australia weather seasons barrier. Snorkelling and diving on the great barrier reef is a mustdo experience. Great barrier reef seasons there are two seasons in the great barrier reef area, wet and dry season. Unlike the typical four seasons experienced by most of the country, the great barrier reef is divided by only two seasons however the two are quite distinct. Jun 14, 20 sydney, june 2 reuters australias iconic great barrier reef is under imminent threat from industrial development and may be considered for listing as a world heritage site in danger within the next year, a u. Out on the great barrier reef the risk of marine stingers is low, however.
I will be in sydney 216221 and would like to do a 36hour trip to gbr. Great barrier reef tourism great barrier reef hotels great barrier reef bed and breakfast great barrier reef vacation rentals. June to october is the best time to visit the great barrier reef. Some places are safer than others check out the individual islands for their recommendations. The great barrier reef, a series of coral reefs along queenslands coast, is the largest structure created by organisms. The best time to visit the great barrier reef is around maynovember, which avoids the hottest australian weather and the wet, rainy season. The rainy season arrives around november with the first monsoonal rains and ends in may, generally. Yes, you can have an amazing day out on the great barrier.
The great barrier reef includes over 2,900 reefs, around 940 islands and cays also. Whens the best time to visit cairns, australia down. We, from tourism cairns have put together a list of tours and activities perfect to do in the wet season. On the flipside, summer is also the wet season in the great barrier reef. This is the great barrier reefs wet season, with average daytime temperatures in the north hovering in the high 80s.
Great barrier reef tourism great barrier reef accommodation great barrier reef bed and breakfast great barrier reef holiday rentals. First, this is a tropical climate, so the temperatures are rarely cold and rarely exceedingly hot. Best time to visit the great barrier reef down under. Generally the most consistently great visibility in the northern great barrier reef region is during september through november. Great barrier reef weather great barrier reef weather try and come in the dry season. Jun 05, 2017 the true summer period arrives in cairns in december. And after all, even if it rains, youre already wet anyway. The best time to visit the great barrier reef is from june to october. Best time to visit great barrier reef responsible travel. Winter, or the dry season, begins in may and ends in october offering sunshine, fresh breezes and low humidity. The negative is the the great barrier reef has box jellyfish during this period and is not safe to swim except by wearing special stinger suits. With 75 90 per cent of the annual rainfall recorded during. Irukandji jellyfish while he was swimming on the barrier reef, off queensland.
Home weather great barrier reef marine park climate. The great barrier reef, which extends for over 2,300 kilometers 1429 miles along the northeastern coast of australia, is home to over 9,000 known species. Consider visiting great barrier reef in the months of august, september, october, december, for the best beach weather. The great barrier reef is the largest natural wonder of our underwater world. Temperatures hover in the low 60s to mid80s, and rainfall is. Its the big time season for catching marlin and other famous reef fish. February visit great barrier reef forum tripadvisor. Viewed up close from a boat, these awesome creatures will be a highlight of any naturalists visit. Raine island is a vegetated coral cay that is 32 hectares in total area and is situated on the outer edges of the great barrier reef, approximately 620 km 390 mi northnorthwest of cairns in queensland, australia, about 120 km eastnortheast of cape grenville, cape york peninsula. During the summer season, the rainforests surrounding cairns are at their finest. The great barrier reef is well worth a visit all year round, though the rainy season, jan march, can get very hot, with a few more stingers, and water visibility wont be as clear due to run off from the rivers. Aug 28, 2015 so you have decided to come to cairns. When i look at average weather, it looked like it was rainy every day. This richness and uniqueness make the reef crucial for.
The majestic humpback whales migrate past the coast of queensland between july and september. In summer, the average sea temperature at cairns northern beaches ranges from 28. Feb 21, 2018 the rainy season this year has sprung a surprise on us by turning it on with some amazing conditions at the great barrier reef. At over 2800 km long it can be explored by great barrier reef tours. The great barrier reef the good, the bad and the ugly the worlds largest coral system is a magical place, but climate change, bleaching and irresponsible tour operators threaten one of the. Frequently asked questions about the weather in cairns. You can dive to 20 metres in a tshirt and shorts and still be hot with all that warm tropical water around you. Seasonal information on the cairns great barrier reef. I received several messages that its not the best season to go to the reef those months. Scuba diving port douglas great barrier reef youtube. If youre heading to the great barrier reef, there are a few things to know about the weather. So if youre planning a trip to the great barrier reef, be sure to remember the busy, high season is may through october, and during those months, reservations can be. The reef is an enormous ecosystem, and visibility at any given location on the reef changes with tides, winds, weather, currents and the seasons.
Seasonal information on the cairns great barrier reef area. What is the best time of year to dive the great barrier reef off cairns. Im here to see the great barrier reef which is, conveniently, underwater. At great barrier reef airport, the wet season is warm, oppressive, and partly cloudy. The 10 best indoor things to do in great barrier reef on a. During far north queenslands rainy season, you can still see and experience so many amazing places. The great barrier reef has a tropical climate with pleasant temperatures all year round. Marineland melanesia offers excellent wet weather activities whilst some people are. For most people, the best time to visit the great barrier reef is between june and october to avoid the wet season and the dangerous box jellyfish. How much rain in great barrier reef areas january march. Yes, you can have an amazing day out on the great barrier reef in the rain.
Clear waters and balmy weather make june through october the best time to visit great barrier reef. The great barrier reef is accessible year round, but there are times that are better and times that bring into question about a trip to this wonder of nature. How to make your great barrier reef trip awesome the getaway. We also tend to get more offshore winds in the dry season so the ocean can be a bit rougher ie. Ulli from germany joined us as an experienced certified diver and we. Some of our best diving has been experienced during the wet season thanks to warm waters, while the dry season offers visitors more comfortable day time temperatures and conditions, and once in a lifetime opportunities to swim and dive with dwarf minke whales more. Snorkelling the great barrier reef in the rain awesome. Great barrier reef tours, cruises and accommodation. The wet season is between october and april, the dry season is from may to september. Some of our best diving has been experienced during the wet season thanks to warm. Best time to visit great barrier reef weather and temperature. Temperatures can be 3040 degrees, with water temperatures of 32 degrees. You can visit all year round, though the rainy season januarymarch tends to be hotter and with lower visibility due to run off from the rivers. Tropical queensland has pronounced rainy and dry seasons, most rainfall.
Average weather at great barrier reef airport, australia. There are likely many morenew discoveries are frequently being made, including a new species of branching coral discovered in 2017. Great barrier reef wet season the rainy season in the great barrier reef has high humidity and cloudy waters. What todo on the great barrier reef when its raining. During these months, the weather is exceptionally favourable, and the chances of rainfall are low. The plus side to this season is that it is considered the driest of them all so chances of encountering rain are much slimmer. As it is the coast, summer and monsoons are damp and humid while winters are too cold for any water sports or beach activities. If you have no choice but to book your great barrier reef trip in the rainy season its not all bad. The coral reef biome experiences an average yearly precipitation of 78.
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