Coral Sea water along Australia's Queensland coast averages 26–29°C year-round, but stinger (box jellyfish) season runs November to May — most swimming during those months happens inside netted enclosures or on protected reef pontoons. Dry-season months (June – October) are the safest for open swimming.
Great Barrier Reef Coast
Tropical Queensland — Cairns, Whitsundays and beyond.
Sea
Coral Sea
Avg sea temp now
…
Best months
June – October (stinger-free)
Beaches in the Great Barrier Reef Coast
Ranked by current live sea temperature.
- 1Surfers ParadiseGold Coast, Australia—
- 2BroadbeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 3Mermaid BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 4Burleigh HeadsGold Coast, Australia—
- 5Currumbin BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 6Palm Beach Gold CoastGold Coast, Australia—
- 7Coolangatta BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 8Snapper RocksGold Coast, Australia—
- 9Greenmount BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 10Kirra BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 11Main Beach Gold CoastGold Coast, Australia—
- 12Bilinga BeachGold Coast, Australia—
- 13Mooloolaba BeachMooloolaba, Australia—
- 14Maroochydore BeachMaroochydore, Australia—
- 15Alexandra HeadlandAlexandra Headland, Australia—
- 16Kawana BeachKawana, Australia—
- 17Caloundra Kings BeachCaloundra, Australia—
- 18Bulcock BeachCaloundra, Australia—
- 19Noosa Main BeachNoosa Heads, Australia—
- 20Sunshine BeachSunshine Beach, Australia—
- 21Peregian BeachPeregian Beach, Australia—
- 22Coolum BeachCoolum Beach, Australia—
- 23Rainbow BeachRainbow Beach, Australia—
- 24Agnes WaterAgnes Water, Australia—
- 25Whitehaven BeachWhitsundays, Australia—
- 26Airlie BeachAirlie Beach, Australia—
- 27Magnetic Island HorseshoeMagnetic Island, Australia—
- 28The Strand TownsvilleTownsville, Australia—
- 29Mission BeachMission Beach, Australia—
- 30Palm CovePalm Cove, Australia—
- 31Trinity BeachTrinity Beach, Australia—
- 32Four Mile BeachPort Douglas, Australia—
- 33Cape Tribulation BeachCape Tribulation, Australia—
- 34Ellis BeachEllis Beach, Australia—