Best time to visit Cairns without the crowds

Best match

Peak season — the best reef conditions of the year with Australian and international visitors at maximum

#1 for without crowds

Best match

Still peak conditions — humpback whales, clear reef and slightly less crowded than July

#2 for without crowds

Best match

Peak season begins — world-class reef conditions and the best time to see the humpback whale migration

#3 for without crowds

Strong option

Excellent shoulder season — top reef conditions continue with summer holiday crowds gone

#4 for without crowds

Strong option

Dry season in full swing — perfect reef conditions, whale shark season begins and the best weather of the year

#5 for without crowds

Strong option

Dry season begins — Great Barrier Reef visibility improving rapidly, stingers gone

#6 for without crowds

Strong option

Last good reef month before the wet season — good conditions, manageable crowds

#7 for without crowds

Worth considering

Cyclone season and monsoon — Cairns at its most unstable; Great Barrier Reef trips frequently disrupted

#8 for without crowds

Worth considering

Wet season reopens — Christmas in the tropics is warm and festive but reef visits are compromised

#9 for without crowds

Worth considering

Wet season transitioning — Cairns slowly improving but still unreliable for outdoor activities

#10 for without crowds

Worth considering

Pre-wet season — humid, hot and with stingers returning; the least advisable month to visit

#11 for without crowds

Worth considering

The wettest month — stingers, cyclones and poor visibility make February the worst month for reef visits

#12 for without crowds