Australian lifesaving bodies all say the same: swim only at patrolled beaches and between the red and yellow flags. Between them, lifeguards (lifesavers) watch the water and can get to you quickly. Surf Life Saving Queensland explains this for overseas visitors.
The official tourism website adds: never swim alone, at night or after drinking alcohol. In any emergency, call 000: the details are in the emergency guide.
What each flag means
According to Surf Life Saving Queensland:
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red and yellow | Swim only between these two flags |
| Red | Swimming prohibited |
| Yellow | Caution: there may be hazards |
| Black and white | Area for boards, kayaks and other surf craft |
The sources for New South Wales and Western Australia confirm the red and yellow flag, but do not explain the others.
Also read the signs when you arrive. Some are permanent and others are put up each day depending on the hazard. They warn of strong currents, sudden drop-offs, big waves, rocks, shallow water, jellyfish, sharks, crocodiles and snakes.
The free Beachsafe app shows sea conditions, patrolled beaches and the hazards at each one.
Rip currents (rips)
They are the number one hazard on Australian beaches. On average, they are blamed for at least 21 drowning deaths a year.
How to spot them, according to Surf Life Saving NSW:
- Darker or deeper water.
- Fewer waves breaking than on either side.
- Sandy-coloured water flowing out beyond the waves.
- Seaweed or debris moving away from the shore.
You will not always see all of these signs, and rips move from one day to the next.
If one pulls you out:
- Stay calm and float to save energy. Fighting a strong current is almost impossible.
- Raise one arm and call for help.
- Wait. The current may take you back to a sandbank.
- If you can, swim parallel to the beach, towards where the waves are breaking.
- If something is not working, try something else.
There is information in Spanish on the Beach Safety Hub page.
Jellyfish: where and when
The dangerous jellyfish season runs from November to May in tropical Queensland, although they can be there all year. Healthdirect speaks of late spring to early autumn, depending on the place and the climate.
| Species | Where |
|---|---|
| Box jellyfish | Shallow tropical waters, north of Agnes Water |
| Irukandji, very small and almost invisible | Tropical waters, from the south of K'gari (Fraser Island) northwards |
| Bluebottle | All of Australia |
There are also warnings about box jellyfish and Irukandji in northern Western Australia.
In this season, nets are set up at around 30 places in northern Queensland, such as Palm Cove or Port Douglas. Surf Life Saving Queensland warns that they are not completely safe and asks people to:
- Wear a full-body stinger suit.
- Swim inside the nets and at patrolled beaches.
- Not touch jellyfish on the shore, because they can still sting.
- Report any sting to the lifeguards.
If you are going to Cairns or Darwin, also look at the signs at each beach.
What to do for a sting
According to Healthdirect and Surf Life Saving Queensland:
| Tropical waters (north of Bundaberg or Geraldton) | Other waters (bluebottle) | |
|---|---|---|
| First | Call 000. If you do not know what stung you, treat it as a box jellyfish | Rinse with seawater, never fresh water |
| Vinegar | Yes, for at least 30 seconds | No: it may increase the pain |
| Then | Remove the tentacles, apply ice and go to hospital | Remove the tentacles and apply hot water at about 45 °C for 20 minutes |
Irukandji symptoms take 20 to 30 minutes to appear: severe pain in the back, abdomen or chest, nausea and agitation. They need hospital care. If the person does not respond, start resuscitation (CPR).
Sharks, crocodiles and rocks
- Sharks. Surf Life Saving advises against swimming at dawn, at dusk, at night, near river mouths or in murky water. If the siren or bell sounds, get out of the water. Queensland has nets and other equipment near many patrolled beaches: do not swim next to them.
- Western Australia, including Perth. Shark sightings are reported to Water Police, 08 9442 8600. There is a SharkSmart WA app. Beach access points have signs with an emergency number that speeds up help.
- Crocodiles. In the north, they can also be in the sea and on the beach. This is covered in the animals guide.
- Rock fishing. In some areas the law requires a life jacket. If someone falls in, do not jump in after them: find a flotation device and call 000.
What we could not confirm
- The meaning of the yellow, red and black and white flags outside Queensland.
- The official Northern Territory guides and the New South Wales SharkSmart guides, which we could not check.
- The jellyfish season in northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
This is general information, not medical advice.
Sources
All viewed on 5 November 2026.
- Surf Life Saving Queensland (lifesaving body, not government): International Safety, Flags & Signs, Rip Currents, Marine Stingers, Sharks, start of the stinger season, 28 October 2026.
- Surf Life Saving NSW and Beach Safety Hub (lifesaving body): Rip Currents, Marine Creatures, How to stay safe, What is a rip current?, Español, Beachsafe, Rock fishing.
- Surf Life Saving WA (lifesaving body): Staying safe at the beach, Shark safety.
- Jellyfish stings, Healthdirect (official).
- Health and safety FAQ, Australia.com (official, tourism).