At a glance
- Stinger season
- Generally November to May, so it covers the 2026-27 summer; beaches may be closed when stingers are present
- Lifeguarded beaches
- Ellis Beach, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach and Bramston Beach
- If stung at a beach without a lifeguard
- Get out of the water, apply liberal amounts of vinegar (on all main beaches), monitor breathing and send for urgent medical attention
- Always safe to swim?
- The council says the stinger-resistant enclosures give a high degree of protection but are not 100 percent ‘stinger proof’
- Who it’s for
- Anyone swimming at a Cairns beach between now and May, locals and visitors
- What to do now
- The council says to swim only at a beach patrolled by a lifeguard; current beach status is on the NQB Beach Report, and closures are to be obeyed
- Last checked
- Sunday 8 November 2026, against the council’s Beaches and foreshores page, which was last updated on 7 November 2025
- Not yet confirmed
- Which beaches are closed today (see the NQB Beach Report), and whether the 2026-27 season dates differ from the council’s “generally November to May”
Cairns stinger season generally runs from November to May, according to Cairns Regional Council, which means it has started for the 2026-27 summer. The council says to swim only at beaches patrolled by a lifeguard, and it names eight: Ellis Beach, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach and Bramston Beach. Cairns is in Queensland and stays on Brisbane time all year (AEST, UTC+10).
This guide uses the council’s Beaches and foreshores page, which was last updated on 7 November 2025 and was read on 8 November 2026. The council describes stinger season as “generally” November to May.
When is stinger season in Cairns?
The council says stinger season generally runs from November to May. It says the stinger-resistant swimming enclosures at local beaches give a high degree of protection against Box Jellyfish, but are not 100 percent ‘stinger proof’.
Beaches may be closed when stingers are present. According to the council, closures stay in place until weather patterns change and drive stingers away from the coastline. It asks people to always heed lifesavers’ warnings and not to swim when beaches are closed.
Which beaches have lifeguards?
The council says it provides lifeguard services on the beaches in the table below. It says all lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers are fully trained in first aid and in treating stings from dangerous marine stingers, and have direct contact with emergency services.
| Lifeguarded beach | Notes from the council page |
|---|---|
| Ellis Beach | Beach wheelchair and all-access mat available for free hire |
| Palm Cove | Beach wheelchair and all-access mat available for free hire; the council’s free Palm Cove Jetty car park (37 spaces) is at the northern end of Williams Esplanade |
| Clifton Beach | Lifeguarded |
| Kewarra Beach | Lifeguarded |
| Trinity Beach | Lifeguarded |
| Yorkeys Knob | Lifeguarded |
| Holloways Beach | Lifeguarded |
| Bramston Beach | Lifeguarded |
The council’s wording is to swim safely and only swim at beaches patrolled by a lifeguard. For up-to-date information, it points to North Queensland Surf Life Saving, which it lists as available during working hours.
How do I check whether a beach is open?
The council’s page says that for the current status at the beaches, you should visit the NQB Beach Report on the Surf Life Saving Queensland website. This guide does not list daily closures, because they change with the weather and the stingers.
How can I reduce the risk of a sting?
The council says you can reduce your exposure to potential stings by wearing protective clothing, either a wetsuit or a full-body lycra suit, and by entering the water slowly, because stingers will often swim away if given the chance.
What should I do if I am stung?
The council gives instructions for a sting at a beach without a lifeguard: get out of the water and apply liberal amounts of vinegar, which it says can be found on all main beaches. Then monitor the patient’s breathing and send for urgent medical attention. At a lifeguarded beach, the council says lifeguards and lifesavers are trained in treating stings and have direct contact with emergency services.
Is there a beach wheelchair?
Yes, at two beaches. The council says its beach wheelchair and all-access mat are available for free hire at Palm Cove and Ellis Beach. The lifeguards can show you to the wheelchair, open the storage shed and answer questions about the booking process. The council notes that lifeguards are not trained or permitted to help beach wheelchair users, so a support person is needed to use the equipment safely, and that severe winds or storms can pose dangers for swimmers.
Is there a safer place to swim in the city?
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a 4,800 square metre salt water swimming facility that the council says offers an all-year-round, safe swimming location monitored by lifeguards, with free entry. It is open Thursday to Tuesday from 6am to 9pm and on Wednesday from noon to 9pm (it is closed before noon for cleaning and maintenance). The council’s Swimming pools page also lists public pools at Babinda, Gordonvale, Woree, Tobruk Memorial and Marlin Coast, and says Sugarworld Waterpark in Edmonton is closed from 20 April to 19 September each year. Our Cairns Esplanade Lagoon guide covers the Lagoon’s rules and parking.
Who do I contact?
The council lists North Queensland Surf Life Saving for up-to-date information during working hours, and the NQB Beach Report for current beach status. For council questions, the council’s customer service team is on 1300 69 22 47.
Sources
- Cairns Regional Council — Beaches and foreshores (last updated 7 November 2025; read 8 November 2026)
- Cairns Regional Council — Esplanade sport and fitness facilities (last updated 17 August 2026)
- Cairns Regional Council — Swimming pools (last updated 21 April 2026)
- Cairns Regional Council — Off-street car parks (last updated 26 October 2026)
Featured image: Palm trees at Palm Cove Beach, Queensland, July 2020 (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added). The photos in this guide show Palm Cove and the Esplanade Lagoon, not the sea conditions on any given day.
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Cairns Regional Council, North Queensland Surf Life Saving or Surf Life Saving Queensland. Beach status and rules change; check the official pages above and obey the lifeguards and signs.