Ellison Reef is a pristine outer Great Barrier Reef site located about 40 km off the coast of Mission Beach, North Queensland. This vibrant coral garden in shallow, clear waters is a favoured feeding and resting area for green sea turtles, with multiple sightings possible year-round. Unlike the crowded reef tours from Cairns, Ellison Reef sees far fewer visitors, offering an intimate snorkeling experience among thriving coral bommies, colourful reef fish, and the occasional reef shark. The 90-minute boat ride from Mission Beach is one of the shortest distances to the outer reef, making this an accessible yet uncrowded gem of the Marine Park.
Ellison Reef
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Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 5.3 sWind Speed 7.0 knPrecipitation 5.4 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Marine stingers (jellyfish)
Stinger season for marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) occurs during the warmer months from November to May.
Low risk: Ocean currents
Ellison Reef is in an open ocean environment. Currents can vary with tides and weather conditions, particularly around the reef edge.
Low risk: Boat transit seasickness
The reef is reached by a 1.5-2 hour boat ride from Mission Beach. Passengers susceptible to seasickness should prepare accordingly.
Low risk: Sun exposure
Sun exposure is intense on the reef with limited shade. Sunburn can occur rapidly even on overcast days.
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Getting in
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Entry
Ellison Reef is located approximately 40 km offshore from Mission Beach, North Queensland. Tours depart from the Mission Beach jetty. The closest major airport is Cairns (about 2 hours drive north), or you can reach Mission Beach via the Bruce Highway.
Parking & facilities
Free parking is available near the Mission Beach jetty and along Porter Promenade. Street parking is also plentiful in the town centre within walking distance of tour departure points.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports