Australia Travel Destination Great Barrier Reef
Cairns Hamilton Island
Whitsundays,
Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas
Australian Travel Destination 4
The Great Barrier Reef is huge - it is the world's largest feature made up of living organisms. Stretching some 2,600 Kms (1,600 miles) down the north east coast of Queensland, Australia, it is so large that is can be seen clearly from outer space. Consisting of more than 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs, it is not a feature that can just be visited by strapping on a mask, snorkel and fins and taking a casual swim from the beach. A deal of thought has to be given to the style of Great Barrier Reef trip you would like, which part of the Reef you wish to visit, and the main access point for that area of the Great Barrier Reef itself. If you are a serious SCUBA diver you will want to visit the reef on an expedition designed for the purpose and dedicated to diving. To visit on a more casual basis, a day trip from your onshore or island accommodation will show you the diverse sealife of the area.
For more detail, see the Map of Australia Travel Destination The Great Barrier Reef Cairns, Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays, The Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas. Also see the Cairns City Map
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History of the Great Barrier Reef Australia
It is hard to imagine the difficulties faced by the early European explorers of the Great Barrier Reef as they battled wind, strong currents and tides in a strange ocean riddled with dangerous reefs and sand bars. The first European to record the presence of the Great Barrier Reef was Louis de Bouganville in 1768, though he did not claim the area for France. In 1770, Captain James Cook ran aground at the aptly named Cape Tribulation while exploring and charting the Reef, but it was not until the early 20th Century that serious consideration was given to the study and use of the Reef as a national Australian treasure worth preserving. The Great Barrier Reef today falls under the control of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act passed by the Australian Federal Parliament in 1999.
Geography of The Great Barrier Reef Australia
The Great Barrier Reef follows the continental shelf down the East Coast of Australia, and is made up of many separate reefs interspersed with the occasional island and deep channels used by shipping. It is a complex area and one that requires local knowledge and skill to navigate safely. There are many different access points to the Reef, the main one being Cairns for access to the northern Reef, Lizard Island and the Daintree Rainforest Area. Hamilton Island is the main airport access area to the Whitsundays and Bundaberg is the entry to the southern reef, Lady Elliot Island and Heron Island. It is worth noting that the Great Barrier Reef ends north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island. The Satellite image of the Great Barrier Reef on the left covers The Great Barrier Reef's 2,600 Kilometre length, from Cape York at the northern tip of Australia, to Bundaberg in the south. The Whitsundays, Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach are in about the middle of the Satellite view.
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Cairns, Kuranda, Port Douglas, The Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef
Cairns is a major gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and also the point from which many day trips to the Atherton Tableland, Kuranda and the Daintree Tropical Rainforest leave. Flying into Cairns, one is struck by the lush tropical vegetation contrasting with the bright blue of the Coral Sea. Many veterans of the Vietnam war comment on the similarity of the landscape to their old battleground. A wide range of hotels and accommodation in Cairns exists, both in the city itself, and along the northern beaches as they stretch north to Port Douglas. A great number of Great Barrier Reef Day Trips leave from the Cairns Marina, and this option is the best for the casual visitor who wants to get their feet wet, snorkel and see the Reef. The day trip to Kuranda aboard the Kuranda Railway or Skyrail is well worth the trip, and rafting the Barron River between Kuranda and Cairns is a good introduction to this activity. Hot Air Ballooning on the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns is a great way to get out in the great Australian bush at sunup and to be among Kangaroos as they begin their day in the wild. The Daintree Rainforest is a World Heritage Protected eco destination, and can be visited by any number of day trips from Cairns or Port Douglas. Quality accommodation is also available in the Daintree Village and in the Mossman Gorge area.
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Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays
For an easily accessible Island stay on the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island is hard to beat. There is a wide range of Hamilton Island accommodation and the nearby Hayman Island provides an upscale, luxury option for those looking for a unique, quality experience in total privacy. Both Hamilton Island and Hayman Island are accessed by way of the Hamilton Island Airport with direct flights from most major Australian cities. Every Great Barrier Reef activity from Hamilton Island is available on either a day trip, or multi day tour. If you want to sail the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays is the area in which to do it. There are Whitsundays sailing adventures available on a daily basis, or for the more adventurous wanting longer afloat, bareboat (you sail it yourself) to fully crewed charters.
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Diving Islands - Lady Elliot Island, Heron Island and Lizard Island
For a diving and snorkeling experience on the Great Barrier Reef it is hard to beat a stay on an island that specialises in providing services for the serious SCUBA enthusiast. Islands range in locations on the Great Barrier Reef and in the quality of the services offered. Lizard Island is accessed out of Cairns (you will need to fly another hour north on a commuter plane), but offers the famous Cod Hole as one of its drawcards. Lizard Island is a designated National Park on the Great Barrier Reef and offers a very sophisticated level of accommodation. Find Lizard Island Accommodation. At the southern end of the reef, and accessed out of Bundaberg or Brisbane, Lady Elliot Island is a fabulous, low key diving location and is one of the best places to see turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. Accommodation on Lady Elliott Island is more basic than Heron or Lizard, but the staff and the pristine diving conditions make it a wonderful destination. The lagoon at Lady Elliot provides an excellent snorkeling alternative to those who do not wish to SCUBA. Heron Island, located in the same area as Lady Eliot Island is a more popular, and more upscale destination on the Great Barrier Reef. Accommodation on Heron Island is available in a number of configurations.
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