Australia, Oceania & Pacific

Great Barrier Reef in February

Typically the wettest month in Cairns, with the highest cyclone risk and poorest visibility from runoff. Trips can be cancelled for weather.

Think twiceHot and very wet, highs near 88F (31C)

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef — Great Barrier ReefPhoto: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

February is a month to think twice about visiting Great Barrier Reef. Typically the wettest month in Cairns, with the highest cyclone risk and poorest visibility from runoff. Trips can be cancelled for weather.

Weather: Hot and very wet, highs near 88F (31C)
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What February is like in Great Barrier Reef

February is usually the wettest month in Cairns and the one to avoid for a reef trip. It is hot, with highs near 88F (31C), heavy rain, and the highest cyclone risk of the year. River runoff clouds the water, so visibility is at its poorest, and boats can be cancelled for weather. Stingers are present, and prices and crowds are low for a reason.

Only come now if the dates are fixed or you mainly want rainforest and waterfalls. Divers and first-time reef visitors should pick another month. September is the single best month, and June to October as a whole gives you dry weather, calmer seas, and clearer water.

Make the most of February

What is especially good about Great Barrier Reef this month.

Hatchlings at Mon Repos

Loggerhead hatchlings emerge at Mon Repos near Bundaberg through the late summer. Ranger-guided tours are the one real wildlife bright spot this month.

Waterfalls at full power

The rains feed the falls of the tablelands and rainforest around Cairns. They are at their most dramatic now, weather and roads permitting.

Low prices, if you accept the risk

Hotels and tours are at their cheapest. Book refundable options, since cancellations are common.

What to pack for February

A sturdy rain jacket and quick-dry clothes
Insect repellent for humid evenings
Rash guards to wear under stinger suits
Flexible, refundable bookings and good travel insurance

Our timing tip

If you must go in February, pick an operator with a free rebooking policy and check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast each evening before your reef day.

Book Great Barrier Reef for February.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Great Barrier Reef
Opens a hotel search for Great Barrier Reef in February, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for February
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Vacation rentals in Great Barrier Reef
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets in Great Barrier Reef
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Great Barrier Reef for February. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in February

Stinger season

Roughly November to May, sometimes starting in October

Box jellyfish and Irukandji can be present. Wear the stinger suits operators provide and swim at netted beaches on the coast.

Turtle nesting and hatching at Mon Repos

Nesting roughly November to January; hatching roughly January to March

Ranger-guided evening tours let visitors watch loggerhead turtles nest and hatchlings head to the sea. Book ahead.

Things to do in Great Barrier Reef

Full guide

An outer reef day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas

The outer reef has clearer water than inshore sites. Port Douglas boats reach the Agincourt Reefs; Cairns boats cover many outer reefs. Go on a calm-forecast day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

Pure silica sand swirling with turquoise tidal channels. Time Hill Inlet's lookout for low tide for the famous patterns.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A liveaboard to the Ribbon Reefs and Cod Hole

Multi-day dive trips reach remote reefs few day boats visit. Dwarf minke whale encounters happen here around June and July.

Tickets and tours →

Heart Reef by scenic flight

The heart-shaped reef can only be seen from the air. Seaplane and helicopter flights run from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island.

Tickets and tours →

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

Ancient rainforest meeting the reef. Best in the dry season when roads and the Daintree River ferry run smoothly.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Lady Elliot Island

A small coral cay at the southern tip of the reef, renowned for manta rays and turtles, reachable by light aircraft.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Choose September or October over July: dry-season conditions, warmer water, and fewer southern Australians on their winter escape.
Book smaller-capacity boats or a liveaboard; the biggest pontoon trips carry hundreds of passengers to the same sites.
Stay in Port Douglas rather than Cairns if you want a quieter base with quicker access to the Agincourt and Low Isles reefs.
Avoid the Easter, late June to mid July, late September, and Christmas to January school holiday periods when Australian families fill resorts.

Know before you go

Reef trips operate year-round, but cyclones and strong winds can cancel departures on short notice, especially from December to April.
In stinger season, coastal beaches in tropical Queensland rely on stinger nets for swimming; some nets are removed in heavy weather.
The Daintree region's roads and river crossings can be affected by flooding in the wet season.
Reef tours include the Environmental Management Charge (the reef tax), which funds reef management; it is collected by operators.

Great Barrier Reef in February, quick answers

Is February a good time to visit Great Barrier Reef?

What is the weather like in Great Barrier Reef in February?

Hot and very wet, highs near 88F (31C).

Is Great Barrier Reef crowded in February?

February is one of the quieter months in Great Barrier Reef; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Great Barrier Reef in February?

Stinger season (roughly november to may, sometimes starting in october); Turtle nesting and hatching at Mon Repos (nesting roughly november to january; hatching roughly january to march).