Can You Swim In Cairns Beaches?
You can swim in Cairns beaches as long as you take the necessary precautions against marine stingers during the months of November to May. That means wearing a stinger suit and only swimming in the safety nets provided! Cairns, like all of Tropical North Queensland, has lots of beautiful beaches but the ocean is not 100% safe year-round. We're going to provide all the details you need to stay safe while swimming in Cairns!
Is It Safe To Swim In Cairns Beaches?
It is safe to swim in Cairns beaches if you wear a stinger suit and swim within the installed stinger nets! It's also safe to swim in Cairns beaches outside stinger season in the months of June, July, August, September, and October. Cairns is known for many things, including the Great Barrier Reef, the tropical islands offshore, the vibrant cityscape, and the surrounding rainforests.
One thing Cairns is not particularly known for is its beaches. The beaches around Cairns are beautiful, but the presence of marine stingers for half the year makes them less appealing. If you're looking for a true beach holiday in Australia, you'd be better off going further south to Noosa, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, or Sydney. Those who visit Cairns come here for the incredible snorkelling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the magical, ancient rainforests.
Here are some things to know about the beaches in Cairns, which you can still enjoy with the right precautions!
Stinger Season in Cairns
Stinger season in Cairns, and all of Tropical North Queensland, runs from November to May. During these months, marine stingers such as box jellyfish and Irukandji inhabit the oceans and could potentially harm humans. So you can technically swim in Cairns year-round, but you don't want to risk being stung so you have to protect yourself against the tiny little ocean creatures.
How to stay safe from stingers in Cairns
You can swim safely in Cairns by avoiding the ocean from November to May, or wearing a stinger suit if you do decide to swim within those months. If you've booked a Great Barrier Reef trip or island tour, stinger suits will be provided for you. There are also places to hire or purchase stinger suits in Cairns if you want to go swimming without a tour.
Another option is choosing a stinger-free swimming location such as a public pool or a freshwater swimming hole. Many Cairns resorts have their own swimming pools, and the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a fun, family-friendly place to swim, sunbathe, and relax safely. There are also several waterfalls, streams, lakes, and gorges outside Cairns that offer safe swimming conditions and beautiful tropical scenery!
Here are some of the most popular Great Barrier Reef day tours from Cairns!
Which Cairns beaches have stinger nets?
There are some beaches in Cairns where you can swim year-round because there are stinger nets in place. These heavy, rectangular or square nets create a small swimming area that is protected from the open ocean. In a stinger net, your chances of being stung by a jellyfish are greatly reduced. But the nets are not 100% stinger-proof! It's recommended to still use a stinger suit when swimming in the ocean in a stinger net, but if you're just going for a quick dip these locations are a safe bet!
- Ellis Beach
- Palm Cove
- Clifton Beach
- Kewarra Beach
- Trinity Beach
- Yorkeys Knob
- Bramston Beach
- Port Douglas Beach
- Etty Bay
- Mission Beach
- South Mission Beach
- Forrest Beach
- Balgal Beach
- Pallarenda Beach
- The Strand
- Strand South
- Picnic Bay
- Holloways Beach
- Bucasia
Check out our list of the best beaches in Cairns so you can choose where you want to have a beach day!
Are there crocodiles at Cairns beaches?
Another natural element to be aware of at Cairns beaches is saltwater crocodiles. These intimidating reptiles are present in Tropical North Queensland, though you won't find them at the majority of beaches near Cairns. Saltwater crocodiles tend to congregate near river mouths and streams where fish are plentiful and the water is murky. That means that any Northern Queensland beaches situated near river mouths may be a popular spot for crocodiles, so always be wary of that!
An example is Myall Beach in Cape Tribulation of the Daintree Rainforest. This wide, deserted beach is stunning, but there is a river near the northern end of the beach that may have crocodiles there at high tide. Any beaches where there is a risk of crocodiles, such as Myall Beach, will have a warning sign near the entryway. Beaches close to the city center of Cairns have a low risk of crocodiles so it's still safe to swim there.
Is It Safe To Swim In Cairns In June - October?
You can safely swim in the ocean if you visit Cairns between June and October! These months fall outside of the stinger season when the temperatures drop for winter, so the beaches are safe for swimming. The ocean is generally clear of jellyfish so the conditions are safe and pleasant.
However, basic ocean safety rules should be applied to all Cairns beaches. Avoid swimming at beaches where there is no lifeguard, especially if you have young children. Most beaches in Tropical North Queensland are calm because the Great Barrier Reef blocks any major swells from reaching shore. But you never when strong currents may appear, so it's always smart to swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches only. This general ocean safety rule applies to all beaches in Australia!
