Stinger season cairns 2014

Protecting yourself from cairns jellyfish at the beaches and on the reef. How long does it take to travel to the great barrier reef from cairns. Want to experience one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Most stings occur during the summer wet season in octobermay in north. Stings have occurred at all times of the year, however are more prevalent during the months of november to may. Marine stingers, box jellyfish, annoyus whenhottis, call them what you like, but they are now very much a hot topic. Sun sets on a quiet cairns stinger season cairns post. Avoiding jellyfish season australia queensland australia. Oct 17, 2017 stinger suits are a great way to protect yourself. Click here to read some more about marine stingers. The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in queensland is marine stingers. Irukandji syndrome is a condition that results from envenomation by certain box jellyfish.

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 may. During this period, if you are swimming in the oceans of cairns along the beaches, there is a good chance you will be stung unless appropriate precautions are taken. Boasting a warm tropical climate, port douglas lends itself to outdoor living at its best, with a whole host of outdoor activities to choose from. Stinger season the wet season obviously has a higher chance of rain, but more often than not, it can be raining in cairns, due to its surrounding hills, and not out on the reef. I have been trawling back through the forums to find out about when stingers are out and about, and there is some conflicting advice. Stinger in the tail cairns third star on the right. Cairns is a large town in the tropics of far north queensland.

Stinger season cairns down under tours down under tours. Global warming is causing the stinger season to extend. There are simple precautions that you can take to minimise your risk and swim safely. What are my chances of getting stung by an irukandji. Stinger season cairns and port douglas information. 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. Family accommodation, as well as luxury apartments and penthouses are in plentiful supply in trinity beach, and it is an excellent base being in the middle of cairns northern beaches from which to explore other closeby destinations like cairns, palm cove and port douglas. Marine stinger information for australia and the great barrier reef. Box jellyfish season starts as the wet season officially starts. The streets are lined with palm trees, the township is surrounded by rainforest clad mountains, the great barrier reef is an hours boat ride away and the tropical climate promotes a laid back lifestyle. Although they can be seen in parts of the reef all year, some jellyfish significantly increase in number during stinger season, due to the warmer water temperatures. Dec 10, 2015 the first incident of the 201516 stinger season has been recorded after a woman was stung by a potentially deadly irukandji jellyfish at a far north beach. January is, indeed, the wet season and stinger deadly jellyfish season for the cairns port douglas area.

When you think of cairns you think of clear blue oceans and warm blues skies but during the months between november and may it is stinger season in cairns. Cairns beaches stinger season cairns life information. This covers from geraldton all the way around to exmouth in western australia. The stinger resistant swimming enclosures at local beaches give a high degree of protection against box jellyfish but are not 100 percent stinger proof. Stinger season refers to the period of time when dangerous jellyfish are aplenty. Nasty aquatic pests that invade the coast line every year. There is a baby boom at the cairns tropical zoo with many pregnant.

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. Port douglas jelly fish an email interview by christina james from the cairns holiday specialists with senior marine stinger advisor dr lisaann gershwin curator from the natural sciences queen victoria museum and art gallery in launceston tasmania a discussion on jelly fish and the chances of ever being stung by a jelly fish whilst swimming on. 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. Stinger information marine stingers may be present in the waters of tropical queensland year round, with the higher risk season during october may. Brisbane hadnt exactly been cool temperatures were forecast to hit 41c the day we left but theres nothing quite like humidity to take the weather into oppressive and unbearable. 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. This means you may get up close with cairns jellyfish. Will be relatively safe at the end of september, beginning of october. Most jellyfish are harmless to man, however certain varieties may cause a serious reaction. Opportunity to travel to cairns for a week or 2 january, february or march 2014. Stingers, or jellyfish as they are more universally known, tend to drift to shore at this time of year and getting stung whilst swimming or. Stinger season cairns and port douglas and stinger season great barrier reef. Nov 09, 2017 from the period of november through may, youll be snorkeling during stinger season.

It is the middle of the wet season, so its low tourist season to begin with. The last big cyclone to hit cairns was probably yasi in early 2011. However there are three ferry companies, with different checkin locations. I was stung inside the net at palm cove in mid december 2014 and i was only half in the water. Marine stingers box jellyfish queensland beaches australia. Stinger nets across the far north are being rolled in this week to mark the end of a quieterthanusual season. Stinger season in cairns and port douglas 2019 2020. However, one of the downsides when you live in cairns or are visiting cairns is having to put up with stingers. Col sparkes from surf life saving queensland says the season. Summer time in cairns brings with it the sweltering heat and high humidity which seems perfect for taking a cooling dip. Port douglas provides a great escape anytime of the year. 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. During this period, jellyfish are prevalent in the waters around the mainland, islands and have occasionally been found out on the reef.

In an average season, the eastern region has around four tropical cyclones any tropical cyclone in the eastern region has a one in four chance of crossing the eastern australian coastline. Since there is a rise in the jellyfish population, there is also a slightly elevated risk of beachgoers and snorkelers getting stung. Swimmers should exercise caution in the water during these months, and beaches may be closed if the risk of stingers is great. Because it was it was stinger jellyfish season didnt see one so we had to wear fully body suits plus a hood as well as the mask, and were restricted to a fairly small area of cordonedoff water, which was disappointing. The kewarra beach is located at the coastal suburb of cairns, australia.

The daintree rainforest, great barrier reef, and kuranda. You should never enter the water if the beach is closed. Stinger season cairns, port douglas, the great barrier reef area. Jul 03, 2016 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. Fitzroy island is located 29 kilometres southeast of cairns, with transfers taking only 45 minutes by ferry. Stinger and croc information marine stingers are found in the warmer waters of tropical queensland year round with the highest occurrence in stinger season from october to may. 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. Experts prefer not to use the term stinger season as this implies that jellyfish are only prevalent during this time. Although you would have to be very very unlucky to visit cairns at the same time as a cyclone. During this time you need to swim inside the stinger enclosures at the beaches or wear a stinger suit.

This mainly pertains to the irukandji and the box jellyfish, which are more abundant during the summer months. Holloways beach my place, cairns, queensland, australia. Its tropical rain, so the best option is to ignore it and dry out later. Trinity beach cairns family beach queensland beaches. Be aware of the season, find a beach with a safety net, and remember first aid skills. Mar 24, 2020 cairns is the destination of choice for beach worshippers, and if youre one of them read on because weve sussed out the optimal time to visit when you wont feel like a hot and sticky. Stinging jellyfish reef and rainforest research centre.

If you book a great barrier reef tour during the stinger season, stinger suits will be handed out on the boat before your dive. Stinger season great barrier reef forum tripadvisor. Incidents involving serious marine stings in this area are becoming more common during the 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. Being a monsoonal climate, most rainfall occurs between january and march. As sea temperatures are increasing, so too is the occurrence of jellyfish. These jellyfish pack a punch, causing injury and deaths throughout human history. I am also considering doing a coral reef tour to cairnsiport doughlas around that time, but considering the whole coral bleaching episodes, the stinger season and the hot weather. Jan 09, 2014 stinger in the tail cairns it hits you like a slap as soon as you get off the plane the wet, thick heat that tells you youre back in the tropics. Your plan though does have other potential difficulties for mid march is not really a great time to be in northern australia because of weather, be it cairns or darwin as you would be there at pretty close to what may be the peak of the wet season and so you can expect to get hot humid and wet days with the possibility of severe storms and even. Stinger season traditionally starts in november across northern australia, and lasts until mayjune. Stinger season in the great barrier reef down under. All queensland beaches north of town of seventeen seventy near gladstone can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of the year. Surf life savers have been hard at work, rolling out protective nets in our far northern beaches.

Stinger season traditionally runs from november to may. May 21, 2018 stinger nets across the far north are being rolled in this week to mark the end of a quieterthanusual season. Nov 25, 2014 i love beaches, and i relish a dip in the oceanbut i just cant relax and enjoy the experience in far north queensland even when it is not officially stinger season. It is the period in the year when dangerous jellyfish are aplenty within northern australia. From november it is sensible to wear stinger suits in the water, as box jellyfish and irukandji the smallest of the box jellyfish family can be deadly. The wet season obviously has a higher chance of rain, but more often than not, it can be raining in cairns, due to its surrounding hills, and not out on the reef. Cairns jellyfish information for snorkellers and divers. But there are a lot of other reason that make august the best time to visit cairns and well look at some of these now. These jellyfish pack a punch, with around 80 confirmed deaths since 1883, and countless injuries affecting both tourists and locals.

Jellyfish we often receive phone calls from concerned travellers regarding the jellyfish. Predominantly a problem along the coast and not usually affecting the great barrier reef, north queenslands. The nets will protect swimmers from box jellyfish and deadly irukandji during the upcoming 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. During stinger season, the beaches will have stinger nets set up and you should only swim within that enclosure. Fnq stinger season claims first victim after 21yearold was. Every year the beach hosts thousands of visitors from around the world. Stingers love the tropical summer weather and can be found in the waters around cairns from november to may.

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 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. My solution is to enjoy the beach by walking along it each day, or by sitting on the sand to watch the sunrise, but swim in the hotel or resort swimming pool. People who trip to the great barrier reef often visit kewarra beach. 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.

At last count, there were approximately 20 such cairns jellyfish nets in the waters across north queensland. Stinger nets will be installed today monday 4 november at eight cairns regional council beaches, to help protect swimmers against potentially deadly jellyfish stinger season traditionally starts in november across northern australia, and lasts until mayjune. Stinger season or jellyfish season is generally between november and may in cairns and port douglas. The australian box jellyfish season now runs from november through to july in cairns, whereas it previously only lasted until may. May 15, 2014 stinger nets at etty bay and bramston beach were removed on wednesday, with mission beach and kurrimine beach to follow thursday.

But they may be present in the waters of northern australia year round. 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. Nov 09, 2014 published on nov 9, 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. Marine stingers can be found in north queensland waters during the summer months, often from october through to may, and you can check the north queensland surf lifesaving website to see whether beach swimming enclosures stinger nets are in the water or have been taken out. Heres some incentive to don a stinger suit and swim between those stinger. Jan 26, 2006 gershwin says that at the start of stinger season mostly small jellyfish are found near the shore, suggesting they breed in shallow estuaries and creeks and move into the coastal zone as they grow. Stinger season generally runs from november to may.

American couple in our 30s going to sydney for work in late march, and extended the trip by a week to explore a little. Barrier or stinger nets are placed in the waters off many cairns beaches during the stinger season. Stinger nets going in today cairns regional council. Stinger in the tail cairns it hits you like a slap as soon as you get off the plane the wet, thick heat that tells you youre back in the tropics.

However they are not alone in these coastal watersnot at least in february to march. 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. In recent times the public have been informed that its not safe to swim in the ocean off port douglas and other tropical north queensland towns during the wet and now also called stinger season. Best travel time to cairnsavoiding stinger season cairns forum. Cairns reef day tour operators take all necessary precautions to protect their guests from the effects of cairns jellyfish.

Best travel time to cairns avoiding stinger season. This is not to say you cant go there at that time, but you should be aware of the. November to may is therefore termed high season or peak season for marine stingers as they are more active and more numerous during this time. Oct 01, 2014 box jellyfish season starts as the wet season officially starts. I am planning a trip beginning of january 2014 to cairns or port. Likewise, gbr tour boats will give you stinger suits to wear when you snorkel, although stingers. 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. The wet season also coincides with stinger season, when there are noticeably more jellyfish in the water. Beaches in the northern section of queensland have longer stinger seasons than beaches in the south due to the warmer water and greater prevalence of mangrove swamps.

And will it be too hot and sunny to be out and about. They roam the shores of cairns and deep seas of the great barrier reef in significant numbers. Its comfortable, flexible and ensures 100% protection from a sting. Nov 20, 2015 so when you are visiting cairns and the surrounding areas, be sure to do a bit of homework. Appreciate recommendations which of those months is best to come. Published on nov 9, 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. Take an australianew zealand cruise to the great barrier reef being the largest coral reef system in the world you will have the chance to be immersed in one of the most unique and beautiful creations on earth. A stinger suit is an allover body stocking that can be worn while snorkeling or diving. Stinger nets are installed at beaches across port douglas and cairns.