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. When visiting northern australian beaches, there are many signs warning tourists about stingers, however the majority of jellyfish cannot actually sting you. Select either a shuttle or seat on bus or private transfer to suit you. Run in the tropical journeys great barrier reef marathon on sunday october 22. 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. 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. The good thing about glass bottom boats is that you get to view the reef like you would if you were snorkeling. This luxury allsuite hotel is a great choice for a family vacation. 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. 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.
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. Port douglas is a small coastal town about 1 hour north of cairns in north queensland. Aug 31, 2019 the wildlife dome and zoom is one of the best kids activities in cairns for adventurous families. Port douglas tourist information port douglas tourism.
Almost every day during stinger season, lifeguards on beaches between. Stinger season generally runs from november to may. 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. I will be in port douglas during the stinger season, can i still go to the great barrier reef. We are doing a reef trip with quicksilver in november. Nets go in for stinger season townsville city council. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for north.
Originally held to mark the start of the sugar cane harvesting season, carnivale has become enshrined in the port douglas calendar of annual events. One of the many great aspects of this port douglas resort is the panoramic vista that appear everywhere you look. Locals dont swim off the beaches unless they are in the nets its part of the way of life up this way. At last count, there were approximately 20 such cairns jellyfish nets in the waters across north queensland. 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. 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. Hi all, i am off to hamilton island in february and wanted to go snorkeling in the great barrier reef. Stinger season officially begins with safety reminder.
Port douglas in january 2015 port douglas forum tripadvisor. Marine stingers box jellyfish queensland beaches australia. 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. 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. 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. 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. The wildlife dome and zoom is one of the best kids activities in cairns for adventurous families. 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. The lack of stingers was one of the reasons i first went to vanuatu and started posting in trip advisor too. 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. 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. I know they provide stinger suits on snorkelling trips.
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. 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. 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. 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.
Close enough to port douglas for a nice dinner, and far enough too get some quiet time at the pool side. Stinger season four mile beach, port douglas traveller. I know it is stinger season at that time how safe is it to snorkel during this time. Port douglas water sports, esplanade, port douglas 2020. Melbourne port douglas gbr for new years fodors travel.
Race, stay and play here in paradise at the tropical journeys great barrier reef marathon festival on october 22nd located in port douglas, queensland. Winter dry season starts in may and finishes in october offering sunshine, fresh breezes and relatively low humidity. When to spot whales the port douglas whale watching season is between july and august. 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. Low wind and ideal water clarity provide perfect conditions. 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. In fact, youll find most locals have a favourite fresh water swimming hole which is safe from crocs and stingers. 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. 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.
And they do it in the name of keeping other people safe. Deadly jellyfish and crocodiles all in a days work for. We recently checked into the peppers beach club in port douglas, in australias far north queensland. Can only swim in small netted area at end of beach near town during stinger season. We are traveling to port douglas next month and understand that it will be during stinger season. These nets prevent box jellyfish from entering the enclosure. Jun 07, 2016 stinger suits exclusively designed with matching bikinis and sundresses fabulous and functional for surfers, divers, waterskiers, snorkelers, windsurfers. I stayed 2 nights in kuranda and then 4 nights in port douglas. Some of my boys ages 9, 7, and 5 want to do the snorkeling. Meanwhile, the areas low season known locally as the wet or stinger season. It is our opinion, as locals, that the ideal time is the shoulder seasons either side of stinger season and the wet season. For more ideas for entertaining the kids read things to do in port douglas with kids.
Great barrier reef marathon great barrier reef marathon. It is home to the worlds first challenges rope course in a wildlife park. Cairns jellyfish information for snorkellers and divers. 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. Perfect and healthy breakfast and peter and sheila are attentive and very nice. The stinger resistant swimming enclosures at local beaches give a high degree of protection against box jellyfish but are not 100 percent stinger proof. Port douglas reef charters offers excellent advice and customer service. 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. Travelling from cairns airport to port douglas is part of the beautiful experience of visiting port douglas. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their.
During the summer stinger season, a net enclosure near the north end ensures that swimmers. 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. From my understanding, even with lycra suits on, their hands, feet, and. The stinger season has officially begun in far north queensland, with nets being installed at popular beaches between port douglas and. Box jellyfish live up to a mile offshore from the beaches. All queensland beaches north of town of seventeen seventy near gladstone can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of the year. 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. Nov 25, 2014 is it safe to swim in far north queensland. 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.
Between the months of october and mayish, anywhere north of about gladstone in queensland, box jellyfish are prevalent close to the shore. Holiday and travel information about every beach in queensland, australia. 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. The four mile beach is located in port douglas, 45 minutes from palm cove and an hour from cairns,in north queensland. 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. Check here for the latest prices and more information about peppers beach club port douglas. 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. Stingers and jellyfish season in port douglas abc scuba. Port douglas self contained accommodation at the mango tree frequently. Are there marine stingers in vanuatuan waters port vila. Last time, we examined some basic information regarding one of the far norths most notorious summer visitors, the bluebottle jellyfish.
Beach and port douglas don protective neoprene suits and enter the water. Council provides lifeguard services on this beach at certain times. This was the sign that greeted us as we walked down to the beautiful palm cove beach. Box jellyfish season starts as the wet season officially starts. The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in queensland is marine stingers. Protecting yourself from cairns jellyfish at the beaches and on the reef. Stinger season is a high risk time to go in the ocean without protection. Active things to do in port douglas thego townsvilles. If you are traveling port douglas, this is a muststay. 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. Tuck into succulent fivestar meals in port douglas, the culinary gem of queensland, or suck down a killer cocktail at a casually swanky lounge. Fnq stinger season claims first victim after 21yearold was.
Cairns jellyfish, all you need to know about jellyfish in cairns and the great barrier reef. However, one of the downsides when you live in cairns or are visiting cairns is having to put up with stingers. Between november and may yes, but can be longer, stingers dont have a calendar. Summer wet season extends from november to april and refreshes. Im a little concerned about the stingers, especially in stinger season. Barrier or stinger nets are placed in the waters off many cairns beaches during the stinger season. 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. During the summer stinger season, a net enclosure near. Outer reef diving sand cay diving green island fitzroy island port douglas. The cottage is only a 5 minute walk from the beach, and very close to the swimming area, which is great during stinger season. Includes burleigh heads, surfers paradise, whitsundays, palm cove, port douglas four mile beach and the daintree.
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