book tours & activities

book accommodation

book airport transfers

book car rentals

buy travel insurance

The Great Barrier Reef is a marine park that extends from the mainland coast of Australia to the continental shelf, an area so large as to be visible from the moon. The reef is home to spectacular marine life and bird colonies.

The park extends over 2000 km along the Queensland coast from Gladstone in the south to Cape York in the north and encompasses more than 2900 individual reefs and 71 coral islands.

Great Barrier Reef - What To Expect

The islands and reefs are typically located in remote locations and access is via resort stays, day trips with tour operators or self-sail rentals. National parks are common on the islands.

There are approximately 25 resorts throughout the islands, ranging from 5 star luxury to backpacker budget. Several resorts are built on coral islands and many have their own fringing reef. All resorts offer a year round season. Jumping off points for the islands are all serviced by road, rail and air.

Most resorts offer shuttle services between the resort and the nearest mainland town. Airlie Beach is the access point for the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns is the most popular location for access to the islands of the northern reef.

Resort activities vary according to the locale and style of each resort. Typical activities are snorkelling, scuba diving, coral viewing, reef walking, swimming, sailing, yacht charter, jet skiing, parasailing, sailboarding, kayaking, catamarans, canoes, big game fishing and whale watching. Learn to dive classes are available in most major centres and resorts.

The inner reef is closest to the mainland and is where many of the Great Barrier Reef holiday resorts are located. The inner reef islands often have a nearby or surrounding fringe reef and their own particular marine environment.

This differs from the deep water environment of the outer reef with its appeal to scuba divers. Each environment has its own attractions and any visit to the Barrier Reef will be a memorable experience.

Great Barrier Reef - Planning Your Tour

A Great Barrier Reef vacation is a once in a lifetime event for most people, so it's important the tour is correctly planned. The reef is not the same all over with "inner reef" and "outer reef" being just two of the many terms used to describe different types of reef conditions.

A "holiday of a lifetime" for experienced divers will almost certainly involve the outer reef. For others, the island resorts and fringing reefs may provide exactly the holiday they want. If "Barrier Reef" accommodation is booked at a mainland address, there may be reef transfer costs.

However a mainland address may be perfect for the visitor who wants to combine the reef with mainland activities and attractions.

These simple examples illustrate different factors that need to be taken into account when planning the trip. If in doubt, ask whatever questions are necessary of your booking agent to ensure that your expectations are going to be met.

Barrier Reef Introduction from the people at Wikitravel

A Great Barrier Reef Travel & Tourism resource from the Qld Tourism authority

Australian Tours Booking Centre

Brisbane | Barrier Reef | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | South East | Central | North | Tropical North | Outback

Australian Holidays | School Holidays | Public Holidays | Links | Site Map | Contact | Advertising

Site Design & Management By Australian Travel Emporium