The Great Barrier Reef runs along the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea. Day trips to the reef can be arranged from virtually any of Queensland's coastal cities and towns with Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and Budaberg being popular choices. All of these can be accessed by domestic and/or international flights and coach tours. For an extended stay, whatever style you travel in, with 27 islands supporting resorts, there will be somewhere to suit you along the The Great Barrier Reef.
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About The Great Barrier Reef
Composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, running for over 2,300km (1,400miles) and covering an area of approximately 344,400 square km (133,000 sq miles), all combines to make The Great Barrier Reef the largest reef system in the world. Built by tiny coral polyps, the reef is the biggest structure made by living organisms on Earth and being bigger than the Great Wall of China, it is the only living thing visible from space. Predictably, The Great Barrier Reef is often included as one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.
Housing the world's largest diversity of corals (over 400 types), more than 1600 species of Fish, almost 5000 types of Mollusc (such as 100 yr old Giant Clams), around 125 species of Shark and Stingray, 23 species of Reptile (17 sea snakes and 6 turtles), 215 types of Bird and 30 types of Whale, Dolphin, Porpoise and Dugong (Sea Cow), The Great Barrier Reef's vibrant diversity proves itself an unsurpassable snorkellers, scuba divers and all round nature lovers paradise.
Over 2 million visitors every year enjoy the multitude of activities, trips, tours and resort stays. The Great Barrier Reef is arguably the most famous of all Australian Landmarks, though one thing is for sure, no trip Down Under is complete without a visit to this awe inspiring marvel of nature.
Seen on TV and in movies, the Heart Shaped Reef, in Hardy Reef, has become quite a famous Queensland landmark and Australian icon. Hardy Reef boasts some of the best underwater viewing of the Heart Shaped Reef and the Great Barrier Reef in general, so snorkeling and scuba-diving should certainly be at the top of your list.
With fantastic water clarity from being far offshore, a sparkling lagoon on the eastern side and postcard reefs right off the beach on the southern side, Lady Elliot Island is an absolutely perfect place to snorkel and scuba dive. If your a nature lover it would be hard to beat this island anywhere in the world for diversity and accessibility.
