Water temperature in Australia

Queensland waters and the Australian coast

Australia lies in the southern hemisphere, so the swimming season runs roughly from December to February. In the tropical north, along the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait, the water is warm all year, while the south of the continent is markedly cooler. Inland rivers such as the Condamine, Dawson, Burnett and Mary vary greatly with the wet season and can rise quickly and turn murky after heavy rain.

Most of the 188 sites are in Queensland. The Queensland Government supplies river readings from its water monitoring portal along with data from coastal wave buoys. The Australian Institute of Marine Science runs weather stations on the Great Barrier Reef, and further values come from IMOS moorings operated with SARDI off South Australia. Other states are barely represented in this dataset so far. All values here are measured rather than modelled.

On surf beaches, the rule is to swim between the red and yellow flags that mark patrolled areas, as rip currents are the main hazard on many beaches. In the tropical north, dangerous stinging jellyfish occur during the warmer months, and many beaches provide enclosures or recommend protective suits. Saltwater crocodiles live in northern rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, so warning signs must be taken seriously. State agencies and local councils monitor water quality.