Summer
Dec → Feb29 to 30°
nights 25°
- 20 rainy days · 319 mm
- sea 30°
When is the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef?
- Jan30°not recommended
- Feb30°not recommended
- Mar29°not recommended
- Apr28°not recommended
- May26°fair
- Jun25°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug24°recommended
- Sep26°recommended
- Oct28°recommended
- Nov29°fair
- Dec29°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Great Barrier Reef, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 25° | 400 mm | 23 d | 30° | |
| February | 30° | 25° | 268 mm | 20 d | 30° | |
| March | 29° | 25° | 321 mm | 21 d | 29° | |
| April | 28° | 24° | 209 mm | 18 d | 29° | |
| May | 26° | 22° | 91 mm | 13 d | 26° | |
| June | 25° | 20° | 51 mm | 11 d | 24° | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 19° | 60 mm | 9 d | 24° | ✓ |
| August | 24° | 19° | 36 mm | 7 d | 23° | ✓ |
| September | 26° | 21° | 42 mm | 9 d | 25° | ✓ |
| October | 28° | 22° | 47 mm | 9 d | 26° | ✓ |
| November | 29° | 24° | 54 mm | 12 d | 28° | |
| December | 29° | 25° | 289 mm | 16 d | 29° |
The four seasons in the Great Barrier Reef, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Cairns) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May26 to 29°
nights 22 to 25°
- 17 rainy days · 207 mm
- sea 28°
Winter
Jun → Aug24 to 25°
nights 19 to 20°
- 9 rainy days · 49 mm
- sea 24°
Spring
Sep → Nov26 to 29°
nights 21 to 24°
- 10 rainy days · 48 mm
- sea 26°
Book early for June to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in the Great Barrier Reef, month by month
EventsDwarf minke whalesJune to JulyHumpback whalesJune to SeptemberMass coral spawningNovember to DecemberSea turtle nestingNovember to JanuaryDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: July, August, September, October
- Towns & culture: June, July, August, September, October, November
- Diving & snorkelling: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Great Barrier Reef, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- June to JulyDwarf minke whales
In June and July, dwarf minke whales come up close to divers on the Ribbon Reefs, north of Cairns.
- June to SeptemberHumpback whales
During the southern winter, humpback whales head up to the warm waters of the reef, spotted on boat trips from the Whitsundays.
- November to DecemberMass coral spawning
A few nights after the full moon in late southern spring, the corals release their eggs and sperm into the water all at once.
- November to JanuarySea turtle nesting
In early southern summer, loggerhead and green turtles come ashore to nest on Heron Island and Lady Elliot, and the hatchings follow.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended30°25° at night
- 400 mm · 23 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended30°25° at night
- 268 mm · 20 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended29°25° at night
- 321 mm · 21 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 209 mm · 18 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair26°22° at night
- 91 mm · 13 d
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended25°20° at night
- 51 mm · 11 d
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°19° at night
- 60 mm · 9 d
- sea 24°
High season, book early
August
Recommended24°19° at night
- 36 mm · 7 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
September
Recommended26°21° at night
- 42 mm · 9 d
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended28°22° at night
- 47 mm · 9 d
- sea 26°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair29°24° at night
- 54 mm · 12 d
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended29°25° at night
- 289 mm · 16 d
- sea 29°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 400 mm of rain over 23 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 268 mm of rain over 20 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 321 mm of rain over 21 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 209 mm of rain over 18 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (91 mm). The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (51 mm). The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (60 mm). The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 7 days. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. 26 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (42 mm). The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (47 mm). The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (54 mm). The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 289 mm of rain over 16 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef?
June to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 24 to 28 °C, with 9 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Cairns).
Which month should you avoid in the Great Barrier Reef?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 400 mm over 23 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Cairns).
What is the hottest month in the Great Barrier Reef?
January, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cairns).
What is the coldest month in the Great Barrier Reef?
July, with 24 °C at best during the day and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Cairns).
What is the driest month in the Great Barrier Reef?
August: 36 mm over 7 days of rain, against 400 mm in January, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Great Barrier Reef?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 23 to 30 °C depending on the month (warmest in January), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Cairns).
When is the best time to hike in the Great Barrier Reef?
July, August, September, October: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Cairns), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef?
January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Cairns).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Great Barrier Reef guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Australia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Brenda Holland / Pexels · Eden Curtis / Pexels · louloua asgaraly / Pexels · Relaxing Journeys / Pexels · Eclipse Chasers / Pexels · Lukas Kloeppel / Pexels