Hotels in Southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Southern Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland's coast, has a subtropical climate with mild winters (70-80°F / 21-27°C) and humid summers (85-95°F / 29-35°C). It's famous for manta rays and whale migrations-you can snorkel at Lady Elliot Island from June to October when humpbacks pass by, or dive Heron Island's coral gardens during the dry winter months. In summer, the water warms up for turtle nesting viewing, but watch for stinger season (November-May) when you'll need a stinger suit.