Whitsundays Weather & Climate

The Whitsunday Island are located a little over a hundred nautical miles north of the Tropic of Capricorn, between 20 degrees and 21 degrees south. They are cooled by the trade winds for most of the year and have an excellent weather and climate conditions.

The waters are protected by the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef and most islands are surrounded by a fringing reef system. Seasons tend to be dictated by school holidays rather than weather, so some of the best sailing can be found in the off-peak periods.

The summer months, November to April, are warm and sultry with January and February being the hottest months. The wet season is between January - March. And cyclones, if they do occur, are most likely between February & March. Northerly winds in summer cause the temperature and humidity to soar. Average temperatures in the summer are 31°C / 88F.

From April through October the islands and most of the coast of Queensland are fanned by a 10 - 25 knot south easterly trade wind. Peak tourist activity is between May and October when southerners escape their colder winter. Winters are said by many to be the perfect climate, warm by day and cool by night. Average high is 23-28°C / 72-82F. July is the coldest month (23°C/72F avg high), but the temperature rarely drops below 11°C (52 F). The water temperature is between 20-25°C (68-77F). The best holiday months for the Whitsunday Islands are from May to December.