Great Barrier Reef Water Temperature
The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of Queensland, Australia in the appropriately named Coral Sea area of the Pacific Ocean. The reef is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s the largest living structure on the globe, and can even be seen from outer space.
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The reef has hundreds of beautiful tropical islands with some of the most gorgeous sandy beaches you could wish for. Towns like Cairns and Port Douglas have excellent accommodation, entertainment and shopping for visitors.
Great Barrier Reef Summary
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Current water temperature | / |
| Warmest Month Water Temperature: | February with 29°C / 84.2°F |
| Coldest Month Water Temperature: | July with 23.1°C / 73.6°F |
| Warmest Month Air Temperature: | February with 24.5°C / 76.1°F |
| Coldest Month Air Temperature: | July with 18.4°C / 65.1°F |
| Wettest Month: | February with 337.2mm / 13.3in |
| Driest Month: | September with 3.3mm / 0.1in |
| Highest Humidity | February with 84.1% |
| Lowest Humidity | September with 74.6% |
| Best Time to Visit: | May, June, September, October, November |
| Climate Classification | tropical monsoon climate |
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Great Barrier Reef water temperature by month
pacific ocean water temperature by month
| Max. Water
Temperature (°C) |
ø. Water
Temperature (°C) |
Min. Water
Temperature (°C) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
29.2 | 28.8 | 28.5 |
|
February |
29.2 | 28.9 | 28.6 |
|
March |
28.8 | 28.3 | 27.9 |
|
April |
27.8 | 27.1 | 26.3 |
|
May |
26.3 | 25.6 | 24.7 |
|
June |
24.8 | 24.1 | 23.5 |
|
July |
23.6 | 23.2 | 23 |
|
August |
23.8 | 23.4 | 23 |
|
September |
25 | 24.4 | 23.8 |
|
October |
26.5 | 25.8 | 25 |
|
November |
27.7 | 27.1 | 26.5 |
|
December |
28.5 | 28.2 | 27.6 |
pacific ocean water temperature by month
| Max. Water
Temperature (°F) |
ø. Water
Temperature (°F) |
Min. Water
Temperature (°F) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
84.6 | 83.8 | 83.3 |
|
February |
84.6 | 84 | 83.5 |
|
March |
83.8 | 82.9 | 82.2 |
|
April |
82 | 80.8 | 79.3 |
|
May |
79.3 | 78.1 | 76.5 |
|
June |
76.6 | 75.4 | 74.3 |
|
July |
74.5 | 73.8 | 73.4 |
|
August |
74.8 | 74.1 | 73.4 |
|
September |
77 | 75.9 | 74.8 |
|
October |
79.7 | 78.4 | 77 |
|
November |
81.9 | 80.8 | 79.7 |
|
December |
83.3 | 82.8 | 81.7 |
Coral needs warm water to live and grow, and the sea around the Great Barrier Reef maintains a steady water temperature of between 71F or 22C to 28F or 82C throughout the year. Diving, surfing and sailing are all popular pastimes in this glorious region, and you’re almost guaranteed great conditions.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver there are sites that are perfect for you, and numerous dive schools and boat charters cater to all levels. The reef is a protected natural environment so do check which areas allow certain activities.
Best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef
Any time of year is perfect for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. However, during the ‘green season’ which lasts from December to March tropical downpours through the night are likely. On the plus side, mornings tend to be glorious and sunny with light trade winds, the perfect climate for sailing holidays or diving and surfing trips.
Throughout the rest of the year, the clear, unspoiled waters are ideal for swimming and other water sports in designated areas, and the seas around the Great Barrier Reef are considered among the world’s cleanest.
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Great Barrier Reef weather today & 14-day weather forecast
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Great Barrier Reef weather by month / climate table
Max. Temperature °C | ø. Temperature °C | Min. Temperature (°C) |
Precip. (mm) |
Rainy Days (d) |
Rel. Humidity (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
28.2 | 24.5 | 22.3 | 333.6 | 24 | 82.6% |
|
February |
28.5 | 24.5 | 22.3 | 337.2 | 23 | 84.1% |
|
March |
27 | 23.7 | 21.3 | 291.3 | 20 | 83.7% |
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April |
25.9 | 22.5 | 19.9 | 76.7 | 9 | 80.7% |
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May |
24.5 | 20.9 | 18.2 | 22.7 | 0 | 78.3% |
|
June |
22.4 | 19.3 | 16.4 | 10.8 | 0 | 78.6% |
|
July |
21.6 | 18.4 | 15.9 | 4.8 | 0 | 77% |
|
August |
23 | 18.8 | 15.5 | 4.2 | 0 | 75.4% |
|
September |
24.5 | 20.5 | 17.5 | 3.3 | 0 | 74.6% |
|
October |
26.7 | 22.2 | 18.9 | 32.4 | 0 | 75.5% |
|
November |
27.1 | 23.5 | 20.6 | 65.7 | 4 | 77.3% |
|
December |
27.9 | 24.5 | 22 | 164.6 | 12 | 80.1% |
Max. Temperature °F | ø. Temperature °F | Min. Temperature (°F) |
Precip. (in) |
Rainy Days (d) |
Rel. Humidity (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
82.8 | 76.1 | 72.1 | 13.1 | 24 | 82.6% |
|
February |
83.3 | 76.1 | 72.1 | 13.3 | 23 | 84.1% |
|
March |
80.6 | 74.7 | 70.3 | 11.5 | 20 | 83.7% |
|
April |
78.6 | 72.5 | 67.8 | 3 | 9 | 80.7% |
|
May |
76.1 | 69.6 | 64.8 | 0.9 | 0 | 78.3% |
|
June |
72.3 | 66.7 | 61.5 | 0.4 | 0 | 78.6% |
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July |
70.9 | 65.1 | 60.6 | 0.2 | 0 | 77% |
|
August |
73.4 | 65.8 | 59.9 | 0.2 | 0 | 75.4% |
|
September |
76.1 | 68.9 | 63.5 | 0.1 | 0 | 74.6% |
|
October |
80.1 | 72 | 66 | 1.3 | 0 | 75.5% |
|
November |
80.8 | 74.3 | 69.1 | 2.6 | 4 | 77.3% |
|
December |
82.2 | 76.1 | 71.6 | 6.5 | 12 | 80.1% |
You should see this when you visiting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a spectacular variety of unique and diverse marine life including over 30 species of whales, porpoises and dolphin, 17 types of sea snake and an astounding 1500 species of fish. Try snorkelling and scuba diving, at Heron Island in the southern part of the reef which is home to Loggerhead and Green Turtles, or book a sailing trip from Cairns in North Queensland to take in a range of exceptional sights.
Cairns is a great base for explorers and is one of the closest cities to the Great Barrier Reef. Discover designer shopping, sophisticated nightlife and elegant restaurants, all within easy reach of tropical rainforest, pristine white, sand beaches and of course, the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
Activities & POI in Great Barrier Reef
| Type of Activity | List |
|---|---|
| Attraction | Raging Thunder Adventures HQ, Outer Reef Platform - Great Adventures, Dragonfly Zen, Cairns Night Markets, Magic Reef Plattform, Reef Teach, Down Under Diving, Crocodiles, Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome, Cairns Botanic Gardens |
Picture Copyright Flickr CC 2.0: brian.gratwicke