     Lying in the tropics, close to 20° South and cooled by the trade winds for most of the year, the Whitsundays have an excellent climate. 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 & boating can be found in the off-peak periods. Summers are warm with frequent rain showers and winters are said by many to be the perfect climate - warm by day and cool by night.
The trade winds usually blow slightly stronger from May to August. July is the coolest time, January the warmest. And cyclones, if they do occur, are most likely between February and March. Good anchorages are plentiful and varied.
| Average Maximum Daytime Temperatures |
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Temp °C |
31 |
30 |
29 |
28 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
25 |
26 |
25 |
31 |
31 |
| Temp °F |
88 |
86 |
82 |
82 |
78 |
74 |
72 |
76 |
78 |
82 |
88 |
88 |
|
