Great Barrier Reef Travel
Great Barrier Reef Overview
The Great Barrier Reef is a coral formation, the largest in the world, located off the Pacific coast of Queensland, Australia. It is home to a spectacular array of marine life and offers awesome diving opportunities. The Great Barrier Reef has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: the green and the dry season. The best time to visit the reef is during the dry season, usually in June and ends in October.
Great Barrier Reef Main Attractions
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world, begins just off the coast of Bundaberg, 368 kilometers north of the state capital, Brisbane, and extends over 2000 km north to western Papua New Guinea. Brimming with life, color and adventure, it is in fact not a single reef, but rather a collection of over 2900 individual reefs, 300 coral cays and 600 continental islands. In 1979 the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established, taking in over 98% of the region, looking after the control, care and development of this World Heritage-listed wonder.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to an awesome array of sea life. There are about 1500 kinds of fish known to live in the reef region including angelfish, cod, mantra rays, mackerel, butterfly fish, and surgeon fish. Three species of marine turtles, the green, hawksbill and loggerhead, are found in reefs waters. The reef provides a good breeding spots for different marine life.
Great Barrier Reef Activities
Known for a great breeding place for marine life and having colorful corals, Great Barrier Reef must be seen underwater. There are a number of ways to take in the splendid views the Great Barrier Reef has to offer including snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boats, semi submersibles and underwater observatories. Sailing is also spectacular!
Great Barrier Reef Accommodation & Dining
There are many scattered islands in the Great Barrier Reef. Many of these islands cater for day trips, overnight stays, or both, offering widely varying standards of facilities accommodation. Even nearby islands near the reef offer accommodations. With these accommodations you can spend more time in the island lazing around and having the time of your life. Seafood at the Great Barrier Reef islands and nearby coastal areas is delicious. There are restricted fishing areas, although it would be better if you go a restaurant. Reef fish are also available in fish and chip shops if you want to cook yourself a dinner.
Great Barrier Reef Shopping & Nightlife
Checking out the nightlife in Great Barrier Reef may be difficult for it is limited. Reef islands nearly always have at least one bar, usually much at the centre of island life. Some have a young party scene, others have cocktails by the pool, and others close early, targeting the demographic that prefers to wake early to see the dawn, rather than seeing it through the haze of the night before. This isn't Paris, where a focus of your trip might be shopping. But if you need or want to do a little shopping, there are a few options available here.
Getting To & Around the Great Barrier Reef
You can reach the Great Barrier Reef using day trips that goes all off the coast of Queensland. It is also possible to hire a yacht or launch, or to do an independent charter. The seas inland from the reef tend to be calm. It is possible to hire a boat as a group with no boat license.
