Best time to travel to Great Barrier Reef

Breeding and Nesting Sea Birds in Great Barrier Reef 2026

Great Barrier Reef is great for underwater activities, but what happens above might be so much more exciting during summer!

Best time: January

So much love around cannot be disappointing! Especially if it's in the air with thousands of birds breeding and nesting in the middle of summer on the sandy shores. There are up to 100 000 individual birds around during this time, breeding and nesting, offering you one of the cutest sights on Earth.

Practical info

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    Birdwatching

    Macaw Clay Lick
    Machu Picchu and Cusco, August–March
    Blue-Footed Booby Performing its Mating Dance
    Galapagos Islands, March–April
    Watching Puffins
    Ireland, April–early August
    Greater Flamingos
    Cyprus, November–March
    Atlantic Puffin
    Norway, late May–early August
    Gannet Colony
    New Zealand, mid-October–April
    Kiwis' Breeding Season
    New Zealand, August–April
    Atlantic Puffins
    Iceland, mid-April–August
    Flamingos
    Mexico, April–July | November–February
    Laguna Colorada Flamingos
    Bolivia, December–April
    Flamingoes in Ulcinj
    Montenegro, April–early June
    Flamingos in the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve
    Lisbon, October–November
    Drunken Parrot Season
    Australia, October–December
    Budgie Tornado
    Northern Territory, November–February
    Sandhill Crane Migration
    Midwest, mid-February–mid-April
    Birdwatching
    Mauritius, March–December
    Waved Albatross
    Galapagos Islands, April–November
    Resplendent Quetzal
    Costa Rica, November–April
    Birdwatching in Camargue Natural Park
    Provence & French Riviera, March–May | September–November
    Migrating Birds at Falsterbo
    Sweden, mid-August–late October
    Snow Geese Spring Migration
    Alaska, late February–April
    Atlantic Puffins
    Quebec, April–August
    Birdwatching
    New Zealand, September–November
    Birdwatching
    Alaska, May–June
    Puffin Watching
    Maine, June–July
    Birds Migration
    Bulgaria, April–May | August–September
    Kea Bird
    New Zealand, July–January
    Atlantic Puffins on Skomer
    Wales, mid April–July (best early to mid-July)
    Frigatebirds
    Galapagos Islands, March–April
    Galapagos Flamingos Courtship Dances
    Galapagos Islands, July–August
    Fuente de Piedra Flamingos
    Spain, February–September
    Sandhill Crane Migration
    New Mexico, late October–early February
    Sandhill Crane Migration in Wisconsin
    Wisconsin, September–October
    Flamingos on the Rift Valley Lakes
    Kenya, November–May
    Flamingos
    Tanzania, September–April
    Birdwatching
    Indonesia, May–October
    Snow Geese Fall Migration
    Quebec, late September–late October
    Birdwatching
    Puerto Rico, all year round (best in November–May)
    California Condor
    Grand Canyon, April–September
    Birdwatching
    Hawaii, December–February
    Birdwatching
    Malaysia, March–June | September–November
    Migrant Birds
    Faroe Islands, May–mid-August
    Puffins on the Farne Islands
    England, April–mid-July
    Birdwatching
    South Africa, September–April (best November–February)
    White Storks
    Ukraine, April–August
    Winter Birds
    Niagara Falls, mid-November–February
    Sandhill Crane Migration in Minnesota
    Minnesota, early September–mid-November
    Philippine Eagle
    Philippines, all year round
    Birdwatching the Rare Species
    Morocco, March–April | October–November
    Birdwatching
    Mongolia, May–mid-September

    More experiences in Great Barrier Reef

    Coral Polyps Spawn
    Great Barrier Reef, October–November
    Stinger Season
    Great Barrier Reef, November–May
    Dugong
    Great Barrier Reef, December–February
    Fishing
    Great Barrier Reef, September–December
    Diving and Snorkelling
    Great Barrier Reef, May–November
    Minke Whale
    Great Barrier Reef, June–August
    Tropical Cyclones
    Great Barrier Reef, November – February

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