The Whitsundays enjoys a tropical climate of hot summers, warm winters and bright spring and autumn days. Average daily temperatures range from around 22 to 23 degrees celsius in the winter months of June and July, and up to 29 to 30 degrees celsius in December and January during the height of summer. Water temperatures remain a welcoming 25 degrees celsius most of the year round.

The tropical wet season occurs from January to March when days can be steamy, and the summer heat is often broken by tropical showers.

Marine stingers may be present in the waters year round, with the higher risk season during October – May.  During this period, jellyfish are prevalent in the waters around the mainland, islands and have occasionally been found out on the reef.  It is recommended that our guests wear stinger suits which are provided free of charge on our Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach tours.

Home to an explosion of colourful marine life, the Whitsundays’ natural environment is truly special. Offshore you’ll find six of the world’s seven species of turtle, along with delicate coral reefs and migrating humpback whales, who frequent the area from June to October. Thirty-two of the islands are protected as the Whitsunday Islands National Park – including Whitsunday, Hook, Hamilton and Hayman – but it remains our responsibility to reduce the human impact as much as possible.

• Leave shells and plants where you find them: the only thing you should take with you is your rubbish
• Don’t rush to flush and take short showers: fresh water is precious on the islands
• Never touch or stand on coral, even if you are wearing flippers
• Never touch marine life (fish, turtles etc) – human bacteria can make them sick