We are in the very early planning stages of a trip to Australia next year. We're planning to go in October.

Now I'm not so sure though. I'm worried about the stingers in Northern Queensland.

I guess I'd thought that the stingers could be avoided by staying on an island (I'm not sure I want to trust the nets that they put around the mainland beaches).

But--now I'm reading conflicting information. Does Lizard Island get stingers? What about Heron Island?

Stinger season starts in November in Far North Queensland, probably a bit later as far south as Gladstone, which is nearest coastal town to Heron.

There's a lot of information on this forum if you do a search under "box jelly fish". They live and breed near coast, beaches are not entirely netted, some beaches have netted enclosures. Beaches are not for snorkelling or diving, reefs are quite a way out to sea.

Whilst no-one can guarantee there are totally no dangerous marine stingers on Great Barrier Reef its extremely unlikely and the crew on your reef vessel are in the best position to guide you. If worried, rent a stinger suit on board, which also offers sun protection; sunburn is a far likelier problem than the miniscule possibility of a box or irukandji jellyfish sting on the reef.

Thanks so much for answering. I keep reading conflicting things--some say that the box jellies start in october and some say they start in november. After reading some of the other posts on this forum, you really do sound like the expert--so I feel like if you say it's novemeber, then that must be right.

That said--I guess my other question would be about the irukandji jelly. Are they found at the reef year-around? Also are they as deadly as the box jellies? It seems scary with the box jelly, because as I'm understanding it, if you get stung, there's nothing that can be done about it. It seems awfully "final".

Heron island which is one of the smallest island in Australia is the most beautiful island which guarantees you the best traveling destination spot. The island is very much rich in its flora and fauna. I literally left out my heart there when i have first visited the island. The accommodation here are absolutely good withe good services provided by the staff. The white sandy beaches and the crystal clear water add more beauty to this place.
www.travelaustralia360.com/heron-island.html

I do not agree with Sandra123 about Heron - it is lovely BUT it is by no means the most beautiful island and its very, very, very tiny and I would not say that it is rich in fauna ( unless you are counting the number of noisy birds and not the variety)