Guide
By Sarah Bristow
Count yourself lucky if you call Queensland home. Not only are our borders flooded with sunshine and picturesque landscapes, but we’re awash with an impressive population of native animals. The Sunshine State is a turtle haven in particular, with six out of seven of the world’s sea turtle species calling the Great Barrier Reef home.
Yearly, Queensland beaches are swarmed by thousands of baby turtles marching their way to the sea from their sandy nests. It’s a magical sight to behold that if not already on your bucket list, should be placed there immediately.
Eager to experience it for yourself? Follow our guide to Queensland’s hatching season below.
Save your annual leave for sometime between January to March. This is when the majority of Queensland’s shelled residents make their way to the shoreline.
Summer heat is preferred by turtles as it means the sand is warm enough to incubate eggs; these are laid between November and January, with hatching commencing six to eight weeks later.
Queensland is heavy in hatching offerings, thanks to the Great Barrier Reef where a cluster of secluded sandy beaches lie (the preference of expecting turtle mothers). The very northern and southern tip of the reef in particular are firm favourites for the marine creatures during turtle hatching season in Queensland.
Heron Island turtle hatchling season | By @Aleksmutated