Of all the things to do on a trip to Australia, exploring the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly one of the most exciting.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest and most breathtaking coral reef. It's home to over 1,500 species of fish and rainbow-coloured coral. You can meet the resident green turtles and discover incredible creatures like giant clams and tiny clownfish (aka ‘Nemo’). Even swim with dwarf minke whales.
There are lots of different ways you can choose to explore the reef. For the more adventurous, there are plenty of dive schools that run daily reef trips from Cairns and Port Douglas. Most give you the option to either dive or snorkel (or both). Some even offer a semi-submersible experience. Glass-bottom boats are also a great way to see the reef, especially for those who’d prefer to keep their feet on solid ground.
For something extra special, you can take a scenic flight over the reef for amazing bird’s-eye views of this natural masterpiece.
Stretching over 2,000 kilometres along the northeast coast, you can base yourself on one of Queensland's many reef-fringed islands such as Lizard Island and Heron Island. Or perhaps one of the beautiful Whitsunday Islands, with their exclusive luxury resorts.
If you'd prefer to move around a bit, then we suggest flying into Cairns and exploring the Tropical North coast on a self-drive. Stopping off to snorkel where and when you want.
Whatever kind of reef adventure you’re after, there’s sure to be a Great Barrier Reef holiday to suit you.
