A perfect base for exploring the great barrier reef, the rainforest at daintree and the beaches at cape tribulation, this queensland town has an outofthisworld setting. During the summer stinger season, a net enclosure near the north end ensures that swimmers. 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. Stinger season officially begins with safety reminder. I will be in port douglas during the stinger season, can i still go to the great barrier reef. Port douglas reef charters offers excellent advice and customer service. Melbourne port douglas gbr for new years fodors travel.
Stinger season is a high risk time to go in the ocean without protection. 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. This luxury allsuite hotel is a great choice for a family vacation. Close enough to port douglas for a nice dinner, and far enough too get some quiet time at the pool side. The first incident of the 2015 16 stinger season has been recorded after a woman was stung by a potentially deadly irukandji jellyfish at a far north beach. Fnq stinger season claims first victim after 21yearold. Tourism port douglas daintree acknowledges the custodianship of the daintree rainforest and great barrier reef by the local kuku yalanji and yirraganydji people whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect our natural assets for future generations, and we pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging. Oct 01, 2014 box jellyfish season starts as the wet season officially starts. Barrier or stinger nets are placed in the waters off many cairns beaches during the stinger season. Box jellyfish season starts as the wet season officially starts. During the stinger season there are enclosures on the port douglas four mile beach. When visiting northern australian beaches, there are many signs warning tourists about stingers, however the majority of jellyfish cannot actually sting you. Low wind and ideal water clarity provide perfect conditions. Stinger suits exclusively designed with matching bikinis and sundresses fabulous and functional for surfers, divers, waterskiers, snorkelers, windsurfers.
Travelling from cairns airport to port douglas is part of the beautiful experience of visiting port douglas. Some of my boys ages 9, 7, and 5 want to do the snorkeling. Originally held to mark the start of the sugar cane harvesting season, carnivale has become enshrined in the port douglas calendar of annual events. When to spot whales the port douglas whale watching season is between july and august.
This port douglas resort is just waiting for adventures to be had here in the sun and water and wants you to experience a new level of relaxation. Box jellyfish live up to a mile offshore from the beaches. Almost every day during stinger season, lifeguards on beaches between. Irukandji numbers are expected to be significantly lower this summer following one of the worst stinger seasons on record. Port douglas is a prime destination in todays cruise ship market. This adventure marathon festival in port douglas offers a range of distances including a half marathon, a 10km, 5km and 2. Watch this space on four mile beach stingers newsport. However, one of the downsides when you live in cairns or are visiting cairns is having to put up with stingers.
This was the sign that greeted us as we walked down to the beautiful palm cove beach. Great barrier reef marathon great barrier reef marathon. Some jellyfish can be eaten, and are very popular on the menu in many asian countries, while other jellyfish are dangerous to humans and should be left alone. I know it is stinger season at that time how safe is it to snorkel during this time. These nets prevent box jellyfish from entering the enclosure. Run in the tropical journeys great barrier reef marathon on sunday october 22. The port douglas carnivale is a showcase of the best of tropical north queensland food, wine and entertainment that is packed into ten funfilled days. Fnq stinger season claims first victim after 21yearold was. The first time i went to cairnsport douglas i spent 6 nights there and thought it was a good length of time i was by myself though. The cottage is only a 5 minute walk from the beach, and very close to the swimming area, which is great during stinger season. Stinger season and great barrier reef whitsunday island forum.
The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in queensland is marine stingers. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their hands, feet, and. Aug 31, 2019 the wildlife dome and zoom is one of the best kids activities in cairns for adventurous families. Mar 03, 2015 and of course port douglas is the prime launch pad for boat trips out to the great barrier reef, for snorkeling, fishing and general ocean fun. All queensland beaches north of town of seventeen seventy near gladstone can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of the year.
Port douglas self contained accommodation at the mango tree frequently. Swimmers also have the choice of the citys public pools at tobruk, long tan, and northern beaches leisure centre as well as the rockpool and riverway. In the port of douglas, which is a little over an hour ride from the increasingly popular cairns cruise port, you will find a few glass bottom boat companies to choose from. Port douglas in january 2015 port douglas forum tripadvisor. Can only swim in small netted area at end of beach near town during stinger season. Visit the award winning rainforest habitat in port douglas where you will navigate purpose built native habitats of some of australias rare and endangered animals. Jun 07, 2016 stinger suits exclusively designed with matching bikinis and sundresses fabulous and functional for surfers, divers, waterskiers, snorkelers, windsurfers. Council provides lifeguard services on this beach at certain times. The good thing about glass bottom boats is that you get to view the reef like you would if you were snorkeling. Almost every day during stinger season, lifeguards on beaches between mission beach and port douglas don protective neoprene suits and enter the water, knowing full well it could be teeming with venomous animals capable of killing them. Holiday and travel information about every beach in queensland, australia.
Beach and port douglas don protective neoprene suits and enter the water. Protecting yourself from cairns jellyfish at the beaches and on the reef. I have read about the netted in areas for swimming, but it seems that many do not feel that these provide sufficient protection against the. Over the past 10 years i have done a lot of snorkeling at different islands of vanuatu and have never seen any sign of stingers or heard of any health cases regarding stingers, although i have see blue bottles washed up on shore after very strong winds or cyclones, but again never encountered one in the water so, cannot guarantee that they do not exist because one could. Meanwhile, the areas low season known locally as the wet or stinger season. In fact, youll find most locals have a favourite fresh water swimming hole which is safe from crocs and stingers. Port douglas tourist information port douglas tourism. Best time of year for visiting the great barrier reef from port douglas october to december is the best time to visit the reef after the trade winds and before the heat of summer and monsoonal season. Hi all, i am off to hamilton island in february and wanted to go snorkeling in the great barrier reef. Includes burleigh heads, surfers paradise, whitsundays, palm cove, port douglas four mile beach and the daintree.
Between november and may yes, but can be longer, stingers dont have a calendar. Between the months of october and mayish, anywhere north of about gladstone in queensland, box jellyfish are prevalent close to the shore. The first time i went to cairns port douglas i spent 6 nights there and thought it was a good length of time i was by myself though. We are traveling to port douglas next month and understand that it will be during stinger season. I walked into a travel agency and she basically said its not the best time to visit since its the cyclone season for queensland but unfortunately its the only time that we can go as a family.
Cairns jellyfish, all you need to know about jellyfish in cairns and the great barrier reef. Its spacious suites are more like selfcontained apartments, it is a short walk from all of port douglas amenities, and right round the corner from the famous four mile beach. We are doing a reef trip with quicksilver in november. Locals dont swim off the beaches unless they are in the nets its part of the way of life up this way. The stinger season has officially begun in far north queensland, with nets being installed at popular beaches between port douglas and. The stinger resistant swimming enclosures at local beaches give a high degree of protection against box jellyfish but are not 100 percent stinger proof. At last count, there were approximately 20 such cairns jellyfish nets in the waters across north queensland. Jellyfish are found in oceans, lakes and streams around the world, from america to scotland, japan to australia and everywhere in between there are freshwater jellyfish and those that prefer saltwater. Tuck into succulent fivestar meals in port douglas, the culinary gem of queensland, or suck down a killer cocktail at a casually swanky lounge. Last time, we examined some basic information regarding one of the far norths most notorious summer visitors, the bluebottle jellyfish. It is home to the worlds first challenges rope course in a wildlife park. Stinger season generally runs from november to may. I love far north qld but the frustration of not being able to swim safely in the hottest time of the year led me to look for places without the stingers. 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.
Cairns jellyfish information for snorkellers and divers. And they do it in the name of keeping other people safe. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for north. In a positive sign for far north queensland swimmers, a return to a traditional wet season should greatly reduce the occurrence of the potentially dangerous jellyfish in port douglas and surrounding beaches, according to surf life saving queensland. The four mile beach is located in port douglas, 45 minutes from palm cove and an hour from cairns,in north queensland. The deadly box jellyfish has been virtually unsighted over the christmasnew year break while its pesky cousin, the tiny irukandji, seems to have made its way further south with 10 people stung. The port douglas surf life saving club is reminding swimmers to be vigilant despite four mile beach enjoying a quiet stinger season this holiday period. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for. I stayed 2 nights in kuranda and then 4 nights in port douglas. In a positive sign for far north queensland swimmers, a return to a traditional wet season should greatly reduce the occurrence of the potentially dangerous jellyfish in port douglas and surrounding beaches, according to surf life saving queensland regional manager col. Outer reef diving sand cay diving green island fitzroy island port douglas. For more ideas for entertaining the kids read things to do in port douglas with kids.
If you are traveling port douglas, this is a muststay. We recently checked into the peppers beach club in port douglas, in australias far north queensland. The wildlife dome and zoom is one of the best kids activities in cairns for adventurous families. Select either a shuttle or seat on bus or private transfer to suit you. Over the last couple of decades it has grown from a small undiscovered village to a raging tourism mecca for far north queensland, and there are no signs of a slowdown, with ever more brand name resorts and shops opening their doors in this beautiful beach. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their. Port douglas water sports, esplanade, port douglas 2020.
Im a little concerned about the stingers, especially in stinger season. I know they provide stinger suits on snorkelling trips. Nets go in for stinger season townsville city council. 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. It is our opinion, as locals, that the ideal time is the shoulder seasons either side of stinger season and the wet season. Are there marine stingers in vanuatuan waters port vila. Check here for the latest prices and more information about peppers beach club port douglas. Winter dry season starts in may and finishes in october offering sunshine, fresh breezes and relatively low humidity. Stingers and jellyfish season in port douglas abc scuba. Nov 25, 2014 is it safe to swim in far north queensland. Stinger season four mile beach, port douglas traveller. One of the many great aspects of this port douglas resort is the panoramic vista that appear everywhere you look. 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.
Perfect and healthy breakfast and peter and sheila are attentive and very nice. Race, stay and play here in paradise at the tropical journeys great barrier reef marathon festival on october 22nd located in port douglas, queensland. 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. The lack of stingers was one of the reasons i first went to vanuatu and started posting in trip advisor too. 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 typically from november to may subject to seasonal variability. Generally these signs are referring to box jellyfish and their smaller cousin, the irukandji. Summer wet season extends from november to april and refreshes. Marine stingers box jellyfish queensland beaches australia. During the summer stinger season, a net enclosure near. Active things to do in port douglas thego townsvilles. It is something very magical that you will miss as soon as it comes time to leave. Port douglas is a small coastal town about 1 hour north of cairns in north queensland. Animal lovers will love exploring the rainforest aviary, wallaby walk and lizard lounge, and there are plenty of photo ops and feeding times to enjoy. Also, safety information about marine stingers and other dangers.
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