The Great Barrier Reef summary of why people should visit
By Alan
Stretching over nearly 2000 km along the coast of Queensland between
Gladstone and Cooktown, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a huge
lagoon and a complex set of reefs, atolls and "islets” and is recognised
across the globe as one of the wonders of the natural world.
Given its size, it is not usually practical to visit the Great Barrier
Reef as a whole most of the reefs are between 30 and 70 km off the
coast, requiring a boat trip, so it is often most practical to select a
destination to make a base camp such as Cairns.
 First you will need to choose your region: north, centre and south. In
the north, Cairns is the starting point of many cruises for a day on the
Great Barrier, combined with the discovery of the tropical rainforest in
northern Queensland a fascinating region. Departure of several excellent
diving cruises from 2 to 6 days can be found in Cairns. For a stay on an
island, a very popular choice is Dunk Island.
In the central region, the Whitsundays archipelago is a paradise for
sailing. You can rent a sailboat with or without a skipper or take one
of many cruise options (often with an option to dive). To see corals and
tropical fish take a day tour on the reef. For a stay in the islands we
recommend Daydream Island, Hamilton, Hayman Island or Brampton Island
all of which have a lot to offer.
To the south, two extraordinary coral islands located directly on the
reef and strongly recommended for diving are Heron Island and Lady
Elliot Island. Under the water is a delight of fish and sea life and the
stunning coral its self. And from November to April, the turtles come up
to lay their eggs on the beach.
Another island that deserves special mention for excellence: Lord Howe
Island. Located two-hour flight off the coast, it is not part of the
Great Barrier Reef lagoon but its beauty makes it a paradise for divers
and its stunning volcanic reliefs are very reminiscent of Polynesia.
Its not just divers that enjoy the reefs, glass bottom boats ply their
trade as do sailing ships, and snorkelling trips are also popular with
those who do not have diving skills.
The beaches are stunning and can be almost deserted or thriving with all
the beach and water sports activities known to man. Many of the towns
and cities offer a vast array of entertainment and nightlife as well as
a vast variety of excellent eating places.
The region of Brisbane is not part of the Great Barrier Reef: Islands of
southern Queensland and are not coral sand but the extraordinary Fraser
Island is strongly recommended especially to explore with a 4x4, or the
very pleasant Couran Cove Island Resort with her where a multitude of
activities are offered, or Moreton Island where tame dolphins approach
every night up to the beach, almost at hand. |
