Stinger season is officially between november to may, but you will find that most beaches are dragged much earlier for any signs of marine stingers and many beaches will install the stinger nets earlier than november. Enter the water slowly this gives marine stingers time to move away. The whits are for sailing or lazing around on an island resort. Summer is the wet, cyclone and stinger season in the tropics. Its comfortable, flexible and ensures 100% protection from a sting. 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. Port douglas four mile beach has a large stinger net enclosure at its. If you book a great barrier reef tour during the stinger season, stinger suits will be handed out on the boat before your dive. Locals dont swim off the beaches unless they are in the nets its part of the way of life up this way. Council provides lifeguard services on this beach at certain times. Some of my boys ages 9, 7, and 5 want to do the snorkeling. When wether is best there is onsite of when its best south in melbourne. From the first of november until the start of may, the stinger nets are out around cairns and port douglas. Stingers and jellyfish season in port douglas abc scuba.
Some beaches in queensland that have stinger nets in use during summer include. Stinger season refers to the period of time when dangerous jellyfish are aplenty. Surf life saving queensland is at four mile beach port douglas. Is it safe to swim in port douglas port douglas deals. Stinger irukandji and box jellyfish season around cairns, port douglas, the great barrier reef area stretches from the beginning of november to may. Marine stinger information for australia and the great barrier reef. Sun sets on a quiet cairns stinger season cairns post. It is important to follow the below precautions to avoid being stung. Incidents involving serious marine stings in this area are becoming more common during the stinger season. The ultimate travel guide to port douglas love swah. 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 net removal will please a lot of people in port. Cairns jellyfish, all you need to know about jellyfish in cairns and the great.
Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for north. 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 time stinger nets will be in the water for areas possible danger. Its really important that beachgoers are taking all steps possible to protect themselves in. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their hands, feet, and.
Stinger nets are installed at beaches across port douglas and cairns. When visiting northern australian beaches, there are many signs warning tourists about stingers, however the majority of jellyfish cannot actually sting you. They roam the shores of cairns and deep seas of the great barrier reef in significant numbers. There seems to be a lot written about them being sold all over, but can they really protect you from dangerous stings. Queensland, the state that port douglas is in, does not follow daylight savings time, so they were an hour behind melbourne time. The stinger season has officially begun in far north queensland, with nets being installed at popular beaches between port douglas and. In fact, youll find most locals have a favourite fresh water swimming hole which is safe from crocs and stingers. Port douglas is a beach town located in far north queensland and is an excellent place to base yourself to explore the great barrier reef and daintree rainforest, which are both unesco world heritage sites. Green season which is a real shame as there is nothing to be scared of at all. You couldnt go swimming in the ocean because its stinger season there deadly jellyfish.
From the gorgeous marine life to the breathtaking blue water, the great barrier reef has it all, and people flock here each year to have a once in a lifetime experience. We are doing a reef trip with quicksilver in november. Snorkeling can be an exciting and beautiful hobby or profession, and few places compete with the wonder of the great barrier reef. 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. Many popular tropical holiday destinations, including port douglas, palm cove, cairns and mission beach, install stinger nets during summer to keep box jellyfish out, but they offer no protection. Stinger season is when the poisonous irukandji and box jellyfish are prevalent in the coral sea and are found in. The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in queensland is marine stingers. There are simple precautions that you can take to minimise your risk and swim safely.
Make sure you plan to spend at least five days in this sensational part of australia, so you have the opportunity to properly see the reef and explore the local villages. Predominantly a problem along the coast and not usually affecting the great barrier reef, north queenslands. Stingers, or box jellyfish, d o not affect the great barrier reef stingers are a very dangerous jellyfish. Stinger season cairns and port douglas information. Stinger season is a high risk time to go in the ocean without protection. Surf life saving queensland stinger drags four mile. Surf life saving queenslands jay march confirmed today that four mile beach will be netfree from monday 22 may.
Will be in pd for about 11 days at the end of dec and am now freaking out. In the stinger season between november and june dangerous marine. The marine stinger season will officially begin this weekend as surf life savers begin to roll out the stinger nets. Check out our resources for adapting to these times.
Stinger season as its known locally runs from november to may and is when the highly venomous species of box and irukandji jellyfish are most likely to be floating in the water. In queensland this is the season for box jellyfish, known for the extremely potent venom. In queensland this is the season for box jellyfish, known for the. Stinger season port douglas message board tripadvisor. Stingers and jellyfish season in port douglas abc scuba diving. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. Ive just read a msg about people being stung in netted areas. What is the go with netted beaches are they generally safe. I know they provide stinger suits on snorkelling trips but, say if we did the low isles snorkelling tour, do they have a net on the beach so you can. Box jellyfish like to hang out around river mouths, estuaries and creeks, especially after rain, which is why there are frequent incidents from october november.
Great barrier reef marine stingers port douglas travel information on great. Dont want to worry about stingers originally was looking to come november. I know they provide stinger suits on snorkelling trips. Generally these signs are referring to box jellyfish and their smaller cousin, the irukandji. At certain times of the year, jellyfish, commonly called marine stingers, can affect the coastal waters of north queensland. December 18, 2019 port douglas, qld, australia stunning day in port douglas with our lifeguards routinely checking the water for stingers over the highrisk stinger season. I know this has probably been asked but when is stinger season. Swim in stinger nets and wear fullbody lycra body suits. Silversonic provides daily reef tours departing from port douglas and visiting. Im heading to port douglas for my honeymoon this october and am wondering if its stinger season at that time. All queensland beaches north of town of seventeen seventy near gladstone can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of the year. Stinger season officially begins with safety reminder.
It was a quiet season for the most part, surf lifesaving qld supervisor jay march said. Cairns jellyfish information for snorkellers and divers. These jellyfish pack a punch, causing injury and deaths throughout human history. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their. Jellyfish pose a real risk for swimmers during some months of the year in port douglas.
If you are unable to wear a stinger suit, a rash vest is advisable. 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. Stinger season port douglas november 9, 2017 snorkeling can be an exciting and beautiful hobby or profession, and few places compete with the wonder of the great barrier reef. Port douglas stinger season from the start of november through to the end of may is what is known as stinger season in port douglas.
The beach view from the resort was reallllly nice, but the actual beach was not super picturesque. The stinger nets will go in at four mile beach this saturday. A swimming enclosure located at four mile beach, port douglas is in the water to provide safer swimming conditions during the dangerous marine stinger season. Want to visit airlie beach and the whitsundays but like to snorkel and swim in water from the shore. Stinger season port douglas and cairns stretches from around the first of november to may, the stinger nets will be in the water as soon as there. Whether you want to swim along gorgeous beaches and hike through the hinterlands or simply relax by your resort pool with a cocktail in hand, port douglas. Im a little concerned about the stingers, especially in stinger season. Stinger season cairns down under tours down under tours. Net rollout will commence on friday in the cairns region with the port douglas net set to go in on saturday, weather permitting. The stinger nets are designed to prevent large box jellyfish and large segments of box jellyfish tentacles from entering the enclosure.
442 48 1157 702 513 50 1602 791 659 1024 1616 705 1078 713 1089 872 45 1390 1369 429 222 1056 1239 937 551 360 297 605