|
One of the most impressive natural wonders of the world, The Great Barrier Reef runs virtually the entire length of the Queensland coast and is considered the largest structure on earth made by living organisms. This spectacular underwater phenomenon extends between 200 and 300 miles offshore and stretches for 1200 miles covering a staggering 214,370sq miles.
There are 2900 individual reefs scattered throughout the Great Barrier Reef
area which began to grow more than two million years ago. Don’t mistake
its size for hardiness - coral is sensitive to disturbance. Make sure your
visit leaves nothing but memories.
You can access the Great Barrier Reef from numerous regions in Queensland
from Bundaberg, the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef heading north
via Gladstone,
Capricorn,
the Whitsundays,
Mackay,
Townsville,
Tropical
North Queensland. It is possible to see the reef by air from southern
tourism regions such as Brisbane
and the Gold
Coast for those on a tight touring schedule. Reef islands are also accessible
north of the Fraser
Coast South Burnett destination.
Diving and snorkelling gives you the full opportunity of appreciating the
Great Barrier Reef’s many wonders. There are around 400 hard and soft coral
types in Queensland - see fan-like plates, delicate vase-like formations,
branching corals which can be easily broken and large brain corals. QueenslandÂ’s
professional tourism industry can offer PADI professional learn-to-dive
courses, introductory reef dives and for the experienced, extended dive
charters incorporating night dives or guided ecology dives. Take care to
avoid damaging corals, some only grow 1 centimetre a year.
A wide choice of operators offer day trips to the Great Barrier Reef from
Bundaberg north to the Tropical North Queensland region. You can enjoy a
fast catamaran trip out to the reef, the opportunity of snorkelling, a sumptuous
lunch and be back on land by sunset. It takes 90 minutes to two hours to
reach the outer Great Barrier Reef on water from Queensland coastal points.
Some areas have platforms and you can even be accommodated on the reef.
If delving into the deep blue is not for you - there are semi-submersible
craft, glass bottom boats or the land-based Reef
HQ complex.
For holidays, many travellers choose Queensland’s coral cays and islands
located directly on the Great Barrier Reef. Ecological sanctuaries such
as Heron
Island, Lizard
Island, Green Island, Lady Musgrave Island and Lady
Elliot Island give you the chance to dive, snorkel or reef walk.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a myriad of sea life - brilliantly coloured
tropical fish, turtles, sea anemones, starfish and clams. To ensure your
safety, follow the policy of "look, don’t touch" as you can suffer poisonous
stings from creatures such as stonefish and cone shells. View general Safety
Information for more information.
There’s also a huge array of coral and fringing reefs, platform reefs and
ribbon reefs accessible from all coastal areas suitable for diving and snorkelling.
To learn more about this natural wonder, view http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/
or visit http://www.epa.qld.gov.au.
Have you been to Australia and know about some more great highlights worth a mention? Add details for other visitors to read about.
Add a Australia highlight > >.
|
|
