Hayfever on the Gold Coast: why our season is different

Health advice ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

Hayfever on the Gold Coast doesn’t follow the southern script. Most of our grasses are subtropical types that flower through summer and autumn, so grass pollen here tends to build over the warmer months rather than arriving in a short spring burst. If your nose and eyes play up from late spring right through to autumn, that’s the pattern you’re feeling.

Below we explain why our season is different, how to cut down your exposure, and the kinds of options our pharmacists can talk you through at Pacific Fair.

What is hayfever?

Hayfever (allergic rhinitis) is an allergic reaction to things in the air, such as pollen, dust mites, mould and animal dander, landing in your nose and eyes. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with hay and doesn’t cause a fever. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) estimates it affects about 18% of people in Australia and New Zealand.

It can be:

• Seasonal: triggered by airborne pollen at certain times of year
• Perennial: year-round, usually from dust mites or indoor mould

Common hayfever symptoms

• sneezing
• an itchy, runny or blocked nose
• itchy, watery eyes
• an itchy throat

When symptoms aren’t well managed, they can disrupt your sleep and leave you with headaches and poor concentration. For some people, untreated hayfever also makes asthma harder to control.

Why is hayfever season different on the Gold Coast?

In the southern states, “hayfever season” usually means spring, when temperate grasses such as ryegrass flower. South-east Queensland is different. Asthma Australia notes that most grasses in Queensland are subtropical types that flower throughout summer and autumn, which gives the region an extended grass pollen season. In Brisbane, the nearest city with an official pollen count, airborne grass pollen typically peaks around February, depending on the weather.

Rain matters too. Asthma Australia has pointed out that good rainfall in late spring and early summer can mean more grass growth and higher pollen levels, while dry conditions tend to mean a milder season. So if you’ve moved up from Melbourne or Sydney and found your hayfever arriving later and lasting longer, you’re not imagining it.

Your local hayfever calendar

This is a general guide for south-east Queensland. Every season depends on rain and temperature, and your own triggers may differ.

How to reduce your exposure to pollen

You can’t avoid pollen completely on the coast, but these steps from healthdirect can help:

• Stay indoors when it’s windy and the pollen count is high.
• Wear sunnies when you’re outside. They help keep pollen out of your eyes, and you need them for our UV anyway.
• Shower and change your clothes after time outdoors.
• Keep windows closed at home and in the car.
• Dry your washing inside on high-pollen days.
• Check a pollen forecast. Asthma Australia suggests using a pollen forecast app that can send alerts before high-risk days.

What can help with hayfever symptoms?

There are several types of hayfever products available from pharmacies. The right one depends on your symptoms, your age, other medicines you take and any health conditions, so ask your pharmacist which suits you.

Non-drowsy antihistamine tablets

Antihistamines may help ease sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. Some are less likely to cause drowsiness than others, so it’s worth asking which suits your day, especially if you drive or work outdoors.

Steroid nasal sprays

ASCIA describes these sprays as most effective when used regularly, because they work on the inflammation in your nose. Technique makes a difference, so ask your pharmacist to show you how to use your nasal spray.

Eye drops

If itchy, watery eyes are your main problem, there are eye drops designed for hayfever. Your pharmacist can help you choose one.

Saltwater (saline) sprays and rinses

healthdirect notes that saline sprays and rinses help clear mucus and allergens from your nose and are safe for most people.

A word on decongestant nasal sprays: they can clear a blocked nose quickly, but healthdirect advises against using them for more than a few days at a time, because longer use can make your symptoms worse. Always follow the label or your pharmacist’s advice.

Hayfever and asthma: what’s the link?

Hayfever and asthma often go together. healthdirect reports that about 4 in 5 people with asthma also have hayfever. Untreated hayfever can make asthma symptoms more frequent, so keeping your nose under control is part of looking after your lungs.

What about thunderstorm asthma?

Thunderstorm asthma happens when a storm during grass pollen season breaks pollen into tiny particles that can be breathed deep into the lungs. The major epidemics in Australia have mostly happened in south-eastern Australia, typically in October and November, where ryegrass pollen is plentiful. The people at highest risk are adults who are sensitive to grass pollen (especially ryegrass) and have hayfever, including people who have never had asthma before.

It’s mainly a south-eastern Australia concern, but Gold Coast summers bring plenty of storms, and Asthma Australia advises people in south-east Queensland to stay indoors with windows and doors closed on high-pollen storm days. If you have asthma, keep your reliever puffer with you and make sure your asthma action plan is up to date. If you’re travelling south for Christmas or the spring racing season, be extra aware.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to a pharmacist if your symptoms are mild or come and go. See a GP (our in-store Help Medical GPs are one option) if:

• you have symptoms at least 4 days a week for 4 weeks or more
• hayfever is affecting your sleep, work, study or daily activities
• products from the pharmacy aren’t helping
• you also wheeze, cough at night, or feel tight in the chest
• you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or you’re buying for a young child

Your GP may refer you to an allergy specialist, who can test your triggers and discuss longer-term options such as allergen immunotherapy.

Call 000 in an emergency. If you or someone else has severe trouble breathing or shows signs of a severe asthma attack, call triple zero (000) immediately.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.