Cairns is a tropical paradise with endlessly hot days, perfect for a quick cool off in the nearby beach spots. However, due to some not-so-friendly animals which lurk the waters, swimming within Cairns’ beaches is restricted at times.
What may lie underwater the Water’s Surface
The Jellyfish
The beaches of Cairns are truly breath-taking, home to sapphire waters and long stretches of soft sands. However, during a few months of the year, the stingers come to town. Stingers refer to a sub-species of jellyfish, which can be quite dangerous due to their poisonous, and sometimes deadly sting. Due to their massive population, when the jellyfish do invade the waters of Cairns, their seasonal appearance is known as the ‘stinger season’.
Crocodiles
They are the largest reptiles known to man, being at the top of the food chain for millions of years now. Crocodiles are year-round residents to Cairns, with the majority of these creatures found in the murky waters of the rivers and watering holes scattered about. However, there are times when these crocs appear in the beaches of the region, roaming here to find new prey or when they move between watering holes.
How to Avoid these Dangerous Creatures
How to Avoid Stingers
The Stinger season is typical during November until May time, with the entire region packed with a variety of these jellyfish species. Due to this annual event, the locals have put in place a number of precautions for swimmers to follow. Patrolled beaches set up jellyfish nets which block the creatures from entering part of the beach. Otherwise, if you are wanting to explore away from the crowds, you can pull on a stinger wetsuit and swim out to the outer ocean region or to the private beach spots. As these Lycra wet suits work by covering exposed skin and keeping you safe from any stings!
How to Avoid Crocs
Evading the local crocodiles of Cairns is a constant activity for the locals, with strict precautions in place to stop any croc attacks to occur. Any crocodile-infested spots are banned for any swimmers, with signs and pamphlets documenting which waters are safe from crocs and which are not. The lifeguard staff are on constant watch for any crocodiles which may enter the beach spots, with any sightings leading to the entire stretch of sand to be restricted. Simply follow the local guidelines when swimming and you’ll be able to avoid these scary reptiles!
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