Why you should go to the Great Barrier Reef in the rain

The Great Barrier Reef is a fantastic site to explore rain or shine!

When organising your Great Barrier Reef holiday, chances are you had a grand idea in your head of what that would look like. Long, sunny days. Clear skies. Returning home with your skin perfectly tanned by the Australian sun.

But what happens if it rains? Is it the end of your trip? Will your Great Barrier Reef tour be cancelled?

Visiting the reef in the rain

One of the most common questions asked when rain is forecast is will my tour be cancelled? The answer to that question is no.

All our Great Barrier Reef tours are all-weather events. Regardless of the yearly weather, this means that unless it is unsafe for you to be in the water the tour will go ahead. The few things that might result in your tour being cancelled are extreme rough seas, lightning and hail.

So, first thing first, you 100% can and will still go on your tour if it happens to be raining. Yay!

If you’re wet, you’re wet

Let’s be real for a minute. If you’re going to the Great Barrier Reef, you’re going to get wet. Chances are you’ll be diving, snorkelling, boom netting or sea walking already. You’ve already come with the intention of getting wet. So what does it matter if you’re getting wet from the rain or the sea?

We like to think of rain at the Great Barrier Reef as a warm-up for when you get into the water. You’re already a bit damp so jump on in, not much is going to change!

Just be sure to bring an extra towel and a change of clothes. This will help you to stay as dry as possible when you’re back on land and trying to get back to your hotel or out for a meal. If you know it is going to rain, a backup towel and clothes can be helpful in case your things get wet.

The underwater calm

There’s something almost magical about the way life under the water keeps on going no matter how rainy it is. It might be dull and wet on the boat, but once you’re below the surface of the ocean, you won’t even realise that it’s raining.

The delightful reef system is bustling with plenty of marine life and they truly do not care about the rain. Life in the sea carries on the same as usual rain or shine. This means that you will still have the amazing experience that you have been dreaming of!

The rain isn’t cold

A common misconception is that if it is raining it must be cold, but that’s not what happens here!

The Great Barrier Reef is situated just off of Cairns and the rainfall here is tropical. What does that mean? Well, it means that rain here is typically accompanied by warm weather. So even if you do find yourself getting a bit damp from the rain, you certainly won’t be cold.

It doesn’t last long

The final thing to remember is that when it does rain in this part of Australia, most of the time it is not for very long. In fact, it is very unlikely that it will rain all day if you do happen to go on a tour on a rainy day. Plus, the clouds help protect your skin a little bit from the harsh sun, which is a bonus!

We hope this has helped to settle your nerves about any potential interruption to your Great Barrier Reef tour from rain. We may not be able to control the weather, but we can help make your experience the best, unforgettable adventure!

Related article: Annual Great Barrier Reef Weather Overview

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.