Yes there are stingers in ab in december see links to beaches and info. April weather and stingers airlie beach forum tripadvisor. The best time to visit the great barrier reef is from june to october. Boathaven beach airlie beach 2020 what to know before. Excursions to whitehaven beach are organized all year round, and tour companies can usually provide you with stinger suits, if you visit during stinger season. Road trip from airlie beach to cairns watch this topic. Airlie beach has made the most of its proximity to the great barrier reef, swelling in size over the years to become a bustling tourist town. Whitsunday regional council today endorsed an agreement with uninet to provide a stinger net swimming enclosure at cannonvale beach until 30th june 2016. At the beginning of each stinger season, usually early november, the nets are installed along the allocated beaches by anchors and machinery. Next stop is airlie beach, part of the whitsundays.
Youll also find stinger nets at palm cove, clifton beach, yorkeys. Nomads airlie beach or base airlie beach resort are goodvalue backpackerstyle hotels, while the 4star airlie beach hotel has been completely renovated. Will these greatly effect swimming in airlie and surrounding islands. Stingers but no worries boathaven beach, airlie beach. If youre looking for cheap or even free things to do in airlie beach, the whitsunday sailing club conducts twilight yacht racing every wednesday from 3pm to 7pm.
Stinger season airlie beach message board tripadvisor. Tropical stingers have potent toxic stings which can cause serious illness and death in some cases. Avoiding jellyfish season australia queensland australia. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 kmh becoming light in the middle of the day. Im aware that it is stinger season in queensland that time of year, but we are not familiar with stingers except that they are some kind of jellyfish.
Airlie beach itself is located in the centre of town along shute harbour road and airlie esplanade and overlooks pioneer bay and airlie bay. There are 74 islands, as well as plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving on the great barrier reef, and luxury resorts to stay at. 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. Is it still safe to swim at this time or is it better to stay out of the water during these months. Christmas on hamilton island hamilton island message board. The stinger thing is a touchy one, but i have seen people stung in july, so personally i dont believe in stinger season. Stinger season cairns, port douglas, the great barrier reef area. Get the monthly weather forecast for airlie beach, queensland, australia, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. I am from canada live near no oceans so this is all new to me. Exploring whitehaven and the whitsundays outback yarns. This peak season offers some key advantages for travelers. Generally box jellyfish will gather along the coastline and are uncommon at the whitsundays snorkel and diving sights. We plan to use air whitsunday to get to whitehaven beach in the early december. Stinger season whitsunday islands message board tripadvisor.
Stinger suits during stinger season licensed bar national park fees rated. Of course, theres also the infamous airlie beach lagoon a great option if youre campervanning around with small kids or if its stinger season on the coast. Free things to do in airlie beach and the whitsundays. This mainly pertains to the irukandji and the box jellyfish, which are more abundant during the summer months. Get your 3day weather forecast for airlie beach, queensland, australia. Pay attention to any posted signs regarding the presence of jellyfish in the area. According to a 2016 census, airlie beach had a population of 1,208 people. The traditional stinger season in the tropics is during the warmer months from november to may. Is there much possibility for beach swimming during the season at all. Airlie beach enjoys a subtropical climate that provides fine, mild weather year round. Stinger season summer in the whitsundays super cheap addons.
These are fullbody lycra suits that provide a good measure of protection against marine stingers. Near latitude 20 degrees south, airlie beach, proserpine and the nearby whitsunday islands enjoy a tropical climate and lifestyle. We plan to just be on the beach and go into the water to cool off, probably not more that 510 feet from the shoreline. The whitsundays january 2017 15 cooking master classes with the food junkie december 2016 hamilton island junior triathlon and slashn dash hamilton island whitehaven beach ocean swim. Airlie beach and the whitsunday sailing club was host to over 300 visiting competitors and supporters for the 2016 sail airlie regatta over the easter period.
Pacific coast way brisbane to cairns apollo motorhome. May 22, 2016 what s on in airlie beach events, happenings, markets, festive celebrations. What are my chances of getting stung by an irukandji. Airlie beach stingers in december airlie beach forum tripadvisor. With it being a natural occurrence, you cant quite pin in down to precise dates. Want to visit airlie beach and the whitsundays but like to snorkel and swim in water from the shore. These suits can be purchased or rented, and cover your whole body, protecting you from getting stung. Would it mean we cant take the kids out even to the shallow end of the beach where they can paddle. Swimming is second nature at airlie and you can either swim at airlie beach itself great for families, bbqs or picnics or head to the manmade boathaven beach to the east. My driving has improved, or at least my confidence in my driving. Late may through to september or early october is the best times to avoid them.
The whitsundays is the perfect location for a luxury weekend getaway, romantic retreat or a stylish business trip, and has a range of hotels, motels and resorts to suit every style and budget. Meanwhile, the areas low season known locally as the wet or stinger season takes place between november and may and brings more rain, resulting in poorer water visibility and an. 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. The staff are friendly and youll feel safe with them. Stingers are a very uncommon event at any time of the year on the islands, but there is always a chance. Filled with rainforest, the sort of beaches they put on postcards, and an abundance of. The youthfulness of airlie beach lateral movements. Airlie beach foreshore airlie beach running festival 2020 the unique four lap off road run on concrete, footpaths and boardwalks standard marathon will be offered again with the opportunity for your support team to cheer you on several times at one location. Yes it is the stinger season but there are numerous pools for swimming and if you go snorkelling the.
Otherwise, there is fun rentals in the town that hire bikes but not sure of the quality. Whitsunday islands sailing adventure 2020 airlie beach viator. Sailing need not be a milliondollar hobby provided you dont own the boat. November is start of the stinger season which means u will need to wear a stinger suit or swim in the protected swimming pool nets. I know people used to swim around the reefs without suitsnot sure if they still take that risk. The waters of the great barrier reef change throughout the year, depending on the season and currents. Tourism whitsundays, queensland australia, whitsundays. Stingers in the whitsundays is a concern for many travelling to our destination. 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. Summer falls in december and ends in february in australia and is certainly the hottest time of year in the whitsundays. Many popular tropical holiday destinations, including port douglas, palm cove, cairns and mission beach, install stinger nets during summer to. Always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags, inside the stinger nets where provided. Campervan hire airlie beach find and compare motorhomes. There is a mountain bike hire company now in airlie beach that hire good bikes and also operate day tours to different areas.
What size stinger suits should we order airlie beach. Weather the whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Join the local crew for the ultimate whitsunday island day tour. Yorkeys knob cairns beach with stinger net protection from stingers. Stingers in the whitsundays queensland yacht charters. Marine stingers box jellyfish queensland beaches australia. I have just read that it is stinger season at that time of the year. Heres some tips to protect yourself in tropical waters. November may is stinger season here and there were plenty of warnings about it while i was here in march. These nets are now used at 28 beaches across queensland from port douglas to airlie beach and from gladstone to the gold coast. The youthfulness of airlie beach november 29, 2016 by lauren 2 comments it was the last bar on the strip that made me realize id changed since my visit to airlie beach 11 years ago. April weather and stingers airlie beach message board. Stinger season whitsunday islands forum tripadvisor.
How much of a concern should jellyfish or stingers be if i plan to go to whitsunday island and airlie beach, or any of the surrounding islands should this deter travel. Most popular beaches in areas prone to marine stingers have stinger resistant enclosures so beachgoers can enjoy swimming throughout the year. The whitsundays, 74 island wonders located in the heart of the great barrier reef, on the tropical coast of queensland, australia. Getting here getting around drive itineraries stories. Dont want to worry about stingers originally was looking to come november. Stinger season runs from october may when there is an increase in jellyfish and stingers in the ocean due to warmer water temperatures. Stinger nets are a good way to exclude the larger box jellyfish, but be aware that smaller stingers like the irukandji at only 2cms may still be able to penetrate the net. 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. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 30. Data sourced from the national climatic data center. Also looking for what month would be best for weather so we can plan for 2019 trip to the area.
During the warmer months of october may, the waters warm up, inviting in guests such as marine stingers, or jellyfish. Stinger season cairns down under tours down under tours. Oct 15, 2016 drive to bundaberg, where if its the season and if youre lucky you might get to see some turtles hatching at mon repos. As we wandered down the beach, we were impressed with the tranquility of the place and sat to relax for a while. All snorkeling gear provided including stinger suits.
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. Located in the heart of the town, its a popular choice for local families and tourists alike, with change rooms, showers, and even barbeques, there is plenty of space to relax. Airlie beach, queensland, australia monthly weather accuweather. Few people swim in broome, although the beaches are wonderful when the weather isnt overbearing.
Airlie beach is one of many departure points for the great barrier reef. Taxi from proserpine airport to airlie beach 08 december 2019. It is good to know that stinger season generally runs during the warmer months of the year, and in the whitsundays this is from october to may during our summer season. Cruise ships visit the area, anchoring offshore while passengers are transported via ships tender to the marina. Its a hard thing the weather and if we could predict it id have a lot more in the bank than i have now. The palm tree lined beach is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine by day, the sunset at night and then devour fish and chips and watch the world go by. Mrtravel is a fully licensed australian travel agent for your protection, our. One great thing that comes with age you care way more about your safety than whether or not youre the only person in a stinger suit. With over 70 boats competing in six divisions, the event attracted entrants from tinnaroo and mission beach down to brisbane. Start the 89h drive to airlie beach, taking in the sights along the way. Considered to be the wet season, it is often humid with frequent rain showers throughout the season. Getting around airlie beach on foot is quite easy due to the flat and very scenic boardwalk that curves around the foreshore of airlie beach to abell point marina and through to cannonvale beach. I know this has probably been asked but when is stinger season. Hi, planning a trip to airlie over the new years break and have read up on the stingers and jelly fish.
Planning on travelling through airlie beach during the first 2 weeks of march and wondering if someone could explain about the stinger season. Are there any good snorkeling spots accessible right off the shore, around airlie beach. Airlie beach and my whitsunday weekend lost in translation. Youll experience whitehaven beach from north to south, featuring guided walks, relaxation on the silicon sands, time to frolic in the calm waters, and a scrumptious aussie bbq lunch. The tropical islands, warm blue water and white beaches are what snorkeling and cruising dreams are made of. Stings have occurred at all times of the year, however are more prevalent during the months of november to may. 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.
I keep hearing that december is a bad time to visit as its rainy season and the jellyfish are really bad and will ruin our visit can. While not all jellyfish, or stinger species are harmful, it is always best to exercise caution around these fascinating creatures. For the cost of your deckhand skills, youll be voyaging the tropical high seas on board a yacht. Would the island have a net or enclosure to keep the stingers out.
Airlie beach weather forecast, qld 4802 willyweather. Although the sting from an irukandji is unpleasant, it is. Most popular places either have an expansive lagoon on the foreshore mackay, airlie beach, townsville, cairns, or have sections of the natural beach fenced off with stinger nets port douglas, palm cove, and elsewhere. Remember to be mindful of stinger season during summer. If you are taking a dip on your own accord in the swimming enclosures off airlie beach, a stinger suit is certainly recommended as smaller types of jellyfish can. Temperatures reach up to 29ac and 30ac in the day with water temperatures hovering around a nice 28ac. If youre staying in airlie beach during stinger season, its always a good choice to swim at airlie beach lagoon, where you have a safe place to swim with lifeguards and no marine stingers.
Id be lying if i said box jellies hadnt irrationally haunted my nightmares long before i had any solid plans. Stinger information marine stingers may be present in the waters of tropical. Stingers are only in north queensland you cannot swim in the ocean in december up there without a stinger suit i know people used to swim around the reefs without suitsnot sure if they still take that risk. Airlie beach is a coastal locality in the whitsunday region of queensland, australia. Take note if you are going during stinger season cape york to townsville from october to june, townsville to gladstone december to june. I am very wateractive and love to swim, snorkel, and want to scuba dive in the great barrier reef to mark off of my bucket list. Experts prefer not to use the term stinger season as this implies that jellyfish are only prevalent during this time. Hi, we will be travelling up to the whitsunday islands, airlie beach, etc. However, wearing a stinger suit will you protect you fro their stingers so its a good idea to always wear a stinger suit when swimming in stinger season in all waters of the great barrier reef and the whitsundays. Known for thrilling nightlife and the airlie beach lagoon featuring a swimming area and park, airlie beach offers activities for everyone. Most locals dont swim in a lot of areas, but beaches in cairns and mission.
This is when box jellyfish are at their peak, but stings have occurred as early as september. The tropical wet season occurs during january to march when days can be steamy and the summer heat is often broken by tropical showers. Dangerous marine stingers are present at queensland beaches during the following periods. Jellyfishstingers in late novemberdec whitsunday islands. The ideal time of year to see whitehaven, airlie beach and the whitsundays is around september theres good weather, low humidity and an avoidable stinger season. Most popular beaches in areas prone to marine stingers have stingerresistant enclosures so beachgoers can enjoy swimming throughout the year. Otherwise, there is fun rentals in the town that hire bikes but not sure of the. Jellyfish and stingers in queensland during summer. The surrounding islands experience a hot and humid wet season from november to may however airlie beach remains at a relatively steady 32 degrees celsius with less humidity during these summer months. Airlie beach stingers in december airlie beach forum. It seemed a shame that the beach wasnt used more, but it was stinger season and the sea in this area was filled with poisonous jellyfish.
Airlie beach is a perfect place to stay if you plan on doing multiple day trips and want to come back to a vibrant mainland destination each night. Temperatures hover in the low 60s to mid80s, and rainfall is. Can you even go for walks on the beach during this season. Airlie beach is the vibrant hub of the whitsundays and the ideal mainland base for fun and adventure in the whitsundays. I only had one full day there and at around 2 oclock in the afternoon i. Airlie beach tourism airlie beach accommodation airlie beach bed and breakfast airlie beach holiday rentals airlie beach holiday packages airlie beach flights airlie beach restaurants airlie beach attractions airlie beach travel forum airlie beach photos airlie beach map airlie beach guide all airlie beach hotels. Planning on travelling through airlie beach during the first 2 weeks of march and wondering if someone could explain about the stinger season is it still safe to swim at this time or is it better to stay out of the water during these months. These should especially be used in high stinger season, but can be worn throughout the year. If its not the season for turtles, push on to agnes waters to stay the night. 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 when stinger nets are in place, you should only swim in the ocean if you are inside the nets. Popular airlie beach categories honeymoon hotels airlie beach.