Queensland Beaches
Burleigh Heads
Coolangatta
Surfers Paradise –
Main Beach
Broad Beach
Maroochydore
Noosa Heads
Noosa Main Beach
Fraser Island
Airlie Beach & Whitsundays
Hinchinbrook Island
Mission Beach
Kurrimine Beach
Flying Fish Point
Fitzroy Island –
Nudey Beach
Turtle Bay
Cairns Beaches
Cairns Esplanade
Machans Beach
Holloways Beach
Yorkeys Knob
Trinity Beach
Kewarra Beach
Clifton Beach
Palm Cove
Ellis Beach
Four Mile Beach (Port
Douglas)
Daintree Rainforest
Beaches
Beach Information
What makes them special?
Beach Safety
Marine Stingers
Other Dangers
Queensland Beach Attire
Queensland Sun
Nude Beaches in Queensland
Caring for Queensland Beaches
Queensland Climate
About Queensland Beaches
Other Travel Guides
Cairns Accommodation
Port Douglas Accommodation
Palm Cove
Port Douglas
Cairns Tours & Sightseeing
Dangerous Marine Stingers
The most notable concern when swimming at beaches in Queensland is marine
stingers. All Queensland beaches north of Town of Seventeen Seventy (near
Gladstone) can attract the marine stingers during the summer months of
the year.
Beaches in the northern section of Queensland have longer stinger seasons
than beaches in the south due to the warmer water and greater prevalence
of mangrove swamps.
Dangerous Marine Stingers are present at Queensland beaches during the following periods:
From Cape York to Townsville - October to June
From Townsville to Gladstone - December to March
Most popular beaches in areas prone to marine stingers have stinger-resistant
enclosures so beachgoers can enjoy swimming throughout the year. It is
important to swim inside the enclosures as they are the only safe swimming
zone on the beach.
The nets are constructed of a robust floating tube that defines the swimming
area. Hanging from this floating tube is 25mm square mesh that descends
to the ocean floor and is weighed down by chain. The stinger nets are
designed to prevent large box jellyfish and large segments of box jellyfish
tentacles from entering the enclosure.
Some beaches in Queensland that have stinger nets in use during summer include:
Port Douglas: Four Mile Beach
Cairns: Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove, Ellis Beach.
Tropical Coast: Mission Beach
Townsville: Rowes Bay, The Strand, Picnic Bay at Magnetic Island
Mackay: Seaforth Beach, Bucasia Beach, Halliday Bay, Mackay Harbour
Constant research and monitoring of marine stinger behaviour is conducted at Queensland beaches to try and develop more effective ways of combating marine stingers from the beautiful Queensland beaches. Surf Lifesaving Queensland have an effective policy of dragging nets through the water to determine if stingers are lurking off the beach. If any are found, beachgoers are warned and lifeguard activity is heightened. In addition, if a stinger at a Queensland Beach stings anyone the beach enclosure is closed until a change of weather patterns can drive the stingers away from the coastline.
Remedies for marine stings
Vinegar is the tried and tested way to treat a marine sting. Most beaches have containers of vinegar available for use if a sting occurs, located at the dune segment of beach. Pouring the liquid on the stung area deactivates the stinging cells, although this will not reduce the pain. Do not rub the victim's skin. Symptoms of a sting can include nausea and severe abdominal pain. It is necessary to go to the hospital and seek professional treatment.The most dangerous marine stingers found in Queensland waters are the Box Jellyfish and Irukandji Jellyfish.
Box Jellyfish
Watch out for the nasty Box Jellyfish. Found in shallow waters north of
Gladstone, they can administer a sting that can inflict searing pain and
leave prominent scares. A sting, if severe enough, can also be fatal. Box Jellyfish breed in mangrove swamps and they are more numerous after rain, which flushes them out of river systems towards beaches. It is very important to swim in stinger net enclosures to avoid making contact with the Box Jellyfish.
Irukandji Jellyfish
Irukandji are much smaller than box jellyfish, and inhabit a large sea area that includes the Great Barrier Reef and beaches.
At only 2cm in diameter, the Irukandji is most prevalent in northern waters of Queensland, such as beaches near Cairns. The sting is only moderately painful and scarring is minimal, but approximately 30 minutes after the sting the patient develops severe back and abdominal pain, limb or joint pain, nausea and vomiting, sweating and agitation.
Likewise with the Box Jellyfish, it is important to swim in stinger net
enclosures and report any stings to Life Guards and other relevant local
authorities.