When is Stinger Season in Cairns?

Stinger Season in Cairns

First off, what is a stinger season? It is the period in the year when dangerous jellyfish are aplenty within Northern Australia. These jellyfish pack a punch, with around 80 confirmed deaths since 1883, and countless injuries affecting both tourists and locals.

What are the stingers?

There are two main stingers during this time to watch out for, the Irukandji and the Box Jellyfish. The Irukandji jellyfish is tiny, around 1–2 centimetres long, making it a hard creature to spot. You can find these guys in both offshore areas, as well as deeper out to sea. There is an easy treatment for these types of stings, so as long as the victim receives prompt medical action, they can have a full recovery within 24 to 48 hours. The Box Jellyfish are found in the shallow coastal areas of Northern Australia and are rarely seen in the outer areas. These jellyfish can grow much larger, around 38 centimetres long, with tentacles that can extend up to 3 meters. These fella’s stings are painful whip-like marks, turning red and swelling up to a large degree.

When is stinger season?

There isn’t a fixed date for stinger season, but it is usually during the warmer Aussie months of November to May. A lot of areas of Queensland’s set up stinger nets for popular beaches, making swimming a lot safer. However, if travelling out to deeper waters, make sure you know of the risks before getting in the water.

How to help prevent stings?

There are several ways to help prevent any issues to occur. Swimming at patrolled beaches is a lot safer, so make sure you don’t swim when the beach is closed or if there are any warning signs. Protective clothing is very important, so investigate into getting a stinger suit. These are wetsuits that protect you from any jellyfish stings. All tours will have these available for you during the stinger season.

Things to do in Cairns

Now you are safe, enjoy your holiday! Cairns is bursting with incredible water activities that are still just as fun during the stinger season. Head down to the local beaches and splash in the shores. Scuba dive or snorkel the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef and check out the amazing marine life. Head on board a glass-bottom boat tour, so see the underwater wonderland as you cruise along the surface. Or try out some of the reef’s incredible islands, such as the Green Island.

Visit https://cairnstoursaustralia.com.au/ today to find out more about our range of Cairns Tours!

Original Source: https://sightseeingtoursaustraliaonline.wordpress.com/2018/09/06/when-is-stinger-season-in-cairns/

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