North Queensland beaches will remain closed across a scorching weekend because of fears of deadly jellyfish.
Beaches across the north have been closed since Tuesday, when a 45-year-old woman was taken to Cairns Base Hospital, after being stung by an Irukandji jellyfish at Palm Cove.
Authorities said the presence of the stingers meant all mainland beaches from Port Douglas - 50km north of Cairns - to South Mission Beach, near Tully, would remain closed until further notice.
Irukandji jellyfish have been blamed for two deaths in Australia in the past decade, both in Queensland in 2002.
They are common on the north Queensland coastline, particularly during the summer months.
