Great Barrier Reef
Australia UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef system located in Queensland, Australia. Stretching 2,300 kilometers and covering 348,000 square kilometers, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is listed on the Australian National Heritage List. It is one of the most looked-up sights in Australia.
Planning a visit
The driest months to visit are July, August, September, and October, which see average temperatures between 22 °C and 25 °C and the fewest rainy days. The wettest conditions occur from January through March, with average temperatures around 27 °C and high rainfall. The nearest airport is Cairns International Airport, located 54 kilometers away. The site is 2,127 kilometers from the capital, Canberra. Travelers can combine a trip to the reef with a visit to the Daintree Rainforest, which is 48.1 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is February, averaging 27 °C. The wettest is January, with about 500 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Rainfall, mm | 500 | 492 | 499 | 283 | 137 | 68 | 58 | 51 | 44 | 55 | 120 | 238 |
| Rainy days | 25 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
