Australia, Oceania & Pacific

Great Barrier Reef in September

Warming water, excellent visibility, and the last of the humpbacks. Arguably the single best month.

BestDry and warming, highs near 82F (28C), water near 77F (25C)

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

The straight answer

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Great Barrier Reef. Warming water, excellent visibility, and the last of the humpbacks. Arguably the single best month.

Weather: Dry and warming, highs near 82F (28C), water near 77F (25C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What September is like in Great Barrier Reef

September is arguably the single best month for the reef. The weather is dry and warming, with highs near 82F (28C), the water climbs to around 77F (25C), and visibility is excellent. Stingers are not yet in season, and the last humpbacks are still passing through. Crowds are steady, with a busy patch during the late September school holidays.

This month suits everyone: first-timers, families, divers, and whale fans. It is the one to pick if you can only go once. The only thing to plan around is the school holiday stretch late in the month, when family resorts fill up and prices rise.

Make the most of September

What is especially good about Great Barrier Reef this month.

The best visibility of the year

Calm, clear water and warming temperatures make outer reef trips from Cairns and Port Douglas especially rewarding.

Last of the humpbacks

Humpbacks are still around the Whitsundays early in the month before heading south again.

Warmer water, no stingers

You can snorkel comfortably without a thick wetsuit, and stinger season has not begun.

What to pack for September

A rash guard or thin wetsuit
Reef-safe sunscreen and a sun hat
An underwater camera for the clear water
A light layer for breezy boat decks

Our timing tip

Go in the first half of September to catch the humpbacks and avoid the late-month school holiday rush.

Book Great Barrier Reef for September.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Great Barrier Reef
Opens a hotel search for Great Barrier Reef in September, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for September
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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 September. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in September

Humpback whale migration

Roughly June to September, sometimes into October

Humpbacks migrate north from Antarctica to calve in the warm waters of the Whitsundays and the southern reef.

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 September, quick answers

Is September a good time to visit Great Barrier Reef?

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Great Barrier Reef. Warming water, excellent visibility, and the last of the humpbacks. Arguably the single best month.

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

Dry and warming, highs near 82F (28C), water near 77F (25C).

Is Great Barrier Reef crowded in September?

Great Barrier Reef is busy in September, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Great Barrier Reef in September?

Humpback whale migration (roughly june to september, sometimes into october).