Undoubtedly, one of Australia's most remarkable natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef.
Blessed with breathtaking beauty the Reef is home to an awesome collection of marine life, it comprises over 3000 individual reef systems and coral quays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the worlds most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, and if you were able to view it from a distance you would understand why.
It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth that is visible from space.
Washed by the warm waters of the South-West Pacific Ocean the perfect environment is created for the world's largest system of coral reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef is of such pristine condition that it was listed by the World Heritage Trust as a protected site and is therefore managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority to ensure that its beauty is maintained for many generations to come.
The Great Barrier Reef marine park stretches over 3000km (1800 miles) along the Queensland coast, from near the coastal town of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York.
The reef, between 15 kilometres and 150 kilometres off shore and around 65 kilometres wide in some parts, is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral providing divers with the most spectacular underwater experience imaginable.
Because of its natural beauty, both in and out of the water, this region has become one of the worlds most visited tourist destinations, attracting almost 2 million visitors each year.
Visitors in their thousands come to marvel at the spectacular sight seeing opportunities that is unique to this area.
The Wet Tropics World Heritage listed Rainforest on one side and the Great Barrier Reef on the other, no other place in the world offers such diversity so close to each other.
The waters of the Great Barrier Reef also provide the worlds busiest and most varied marine habitats.
Marine life is in abundance and you’ll find more species of coral than you knew existed as well as the much sought after Black Marlin and all sizes and species of marine life in-between.
In fact a closer encounter with the Great Barrier Reef's impressive coral gardens reveals many astounding underwater attractions including the world's largest collection of corals (in fact, more than 400 different kinds of coral), rays, dolphins, over 1500 species of tropical fish, more than 200 types of birds and around 20 types of reptiles including sea turtles and giant clams over 120 years old.
Add to that stunning marine life 5,000 to 8,000 molluscs and thousands of different sponges, worms, crustaceans, and 800 species of starfish and sea urchins.
The Great Barrier Reef is listed under all four natural World Heritage criteria for its outstanding universal value.
The Great Barrier Reef is a breeding area for humpback whales, migrating from the Antarctic and is also the habitat of a few endangered species including the Dugong (Sea Cow) and large Green Sea Turtle.
The varied colours of the reef's fish and other marine life will astound the visitor with colour combinations that defy belief.
In 2006 there were approximately 820 operators and 1500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park providing ease of access for all to experience the Great Barrier Reef and learn first hand about its natural delights and World Heritage values.
Cape York Peninsula at the northern tip of Australia is a sparsely populated, relatively untouched wilderness area its rugged coastline pointing towards New Guinea with the eastern side of Cape York fringed by the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef. .
The reef in this region is spotted with many un-spoilt islands, with only a few island resorts such as the luxurious resort on Lizard Island.
Located 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the coast of North Queensland, Lizard Island is a National Park with 24 beautiful sandy beaches and a lagoon.
Further north is one of the Great Barrier Reef's many hidden treasures; Haggerstone Island.
Haggerstone is a remote island getaway, 600 kilometres north of Cairns, where an escape back to nature is guaranteed.
The scenery along Cape York's coast is as spectacular as the reef itself, like Cape Melville National Park, a remote, rugged and diverse park with wild coastal views, impressive geological formations and wonderful wildlife.
Cooktown, the northernmost town on the east coast of Australia, is located at the mouth of the Endeavour River and is a popular tourist destination.
People visiting the town enjoy the historical connections, the delightful tropical environment, and use it as an access point to the Great Barrier Reef, the Lakefield National Park, and for some great fishing.
Cairns is one of Queensland’s major regional cities located about 1700 km north of Brisbane, between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range.
It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its access to the Cairns International Airport, its tropical climate, its proximity to many attractions, and its the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas exist side-by-side.
One of the mainland features of this region is the Daintree National Park with its Skyrail, showcasing, just metres above the rainforest canopy, over 7 kilometres of the impressive, ancient wet tropics park..
Having been preserved while the broader region evolved over millions of years, the Cape Tribulation/Daintree region is recognised throughout the world as a major centre of plant and animal diversity.
Approximately 80 kilometres north of Cairns is Port Douglas, home to some of Tropical North Queensland’s most exclusive resorts and a world class marina.
From the marina, reef operators travel daily to the Low Isles, Agincourt Reef and further away to sites up north like the Cod Hole near Lizard Island.
Heading down the coast, from Port Douglas past Cairns, the reef attractions include Green Island and Fitzroy Island (both popular places for day trippers), Frankland Island and The Bernard Islands.
Further south again, off the coast of Mission Beach and Tully, are the Family Islands.
Surrounded by coral reefs, tidal flats and sandy beaches, the Family Islands are a chain of stunningly scenic continental islands, extending approximately 14km in length off the coast of Mission Beach.
Dunk Island, probably the best known of all of Great Barrier Reef's tropical islands, is the largest of the Family Islands.
Dunk Island is situated about 4.5 km offshore from Mission Beach and is covered by a 730 hectare National Park, an airstrip, a beautiful resort, an 18 hole course and it has a farm situated in the north-west side of the island and covering the remaining 240 hectares.
South from Dunk Island is the privately owned island resort, Bedarra Island.
An island of pure indulgence, Bedarra Island is Australia's most exclusive resort, a private tropical haven.
Bedarra and Dunk Islands are surrounded by other smaller islands, the "children" in the Family Island group.
Some of these islands are national parks, and can be accessed for camping and bush walking.
Just off the coast of Cardwell, Hinchinbrook Island is the largest island National Park in Australia, with its only permanent lodging on the island, located at Cape Richards at the northernmost tip.
All located on the eastern side, the beaches of Hinchinbrook Island are spectacular.
As I said, undoubtedly, one of Australia's and the world’s most remarkable natural wonders..........................enjoy,
John.
