As one of Australia’s premier natural attractions, the Great Barrier Reef attracts visitors from all over the world. The reef is truly an amazing sight, and with so many different tours available, can be enjoyed by visitors of all diving and swimming experience. Over 2600 kilometers long, the reef also has more than 1000 islands, so it can be difficult to know where to start planning your visit. Whether you are planning on just spending a day on the reef, or whether it is the focal point of your trip, the best place to start is the city of Cairns in northern Queensland.
Cairns is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and here you’ll find a multitude of tour companies offering a large variety of reef tours on all kinds of vessels. Most tours enjoy a three hour stop on the reef for diving and snorkeling, and a stop on Fitzroy or Green Island. Depending on the tour you decide upon, you might enjoy a relaxing day out on a boat or spend your time listening to marine biologists explain more about the reef habitat. There really is something for everyone.
Tours usually leave early in the morning and are gone all day. Consider leaving valuables and passports back at the hotel, and don’t forget to wear your swimsuit with light clothing over top. A towel, sunglasses, and shoes for walking on hot pavement will all make your trip more enjoyable. You’ll probably want to take lots of pictures, so an underwater camera and lots of film is a must. Most tour companies do provide some kind of lunch, usually buffet style.
Those who prefer to enjoy the area on their own terms might want to consider taking the ferry across to Green or Fitzroy Island where there are a handful of resort hotels offering snorkeling and diving packages.
Located on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, this region has four unique areas, each with many attractions to draw visitors. Rainbow Beach is named for its multicolored sand, and with seventy-four different shades it makes it a natural wonder not to be missed. Also at Rainbow Beach is the Double Island Pointhouse where you might see whales during migration seasons, and the Carlo Sand Blow where you can watch hang gliders and paragliders. There is excellent scuba diving area, and divers can expect to see manta rays, eagle rays, the giant Queensland groper, and also the endangered grey nurse shark.
For those who want to get out on the water, Tin Can Bay is a great spot for fishing or renting a yacht to cruise around the bay. Also, houseboats can be rented here for a truly different vacationing experience. If you’d rather stay on the shore, an environmental walkway allows visitors to view local wildlife without disturbing them.
Gympie is an old boomtown from the goldrush era, and still retains its mining roots. Here visitors can ride an old steam train or peruse the Gold Mining and Historical Museum as well as the Woodworks Forestry and Timber Museum. Those hoping to strike it rich can try their hand at panning for gold, just be sure to pick up a fossicking permit from the local information centre.
Mary Valley is a beautiful and natural area of rolling hills. Lake Borumba is a popular fishing spot and also a great place to enjoy waterskiing and other water sports. Visitors can also look for bell-birds in the specially preserved bell-bird habitat or take the fourteen kilometer forest drive through Imbil State Forest. Country music fans may choose to visit the area over the last weekend in August to enjoy the National Country Music Muster. With the natural setting as a backdrop, campers enjoy a beautiful setting and great music!
Noosa is a diverse region located on Australia’s Sunshine Coast and is made up of a variety of coastal villages and country towns. With a variety of beaches, including Main Beach, the area is an excellent place to enjoy ocean swims and lazy days soaking up the sun. There are also some great places to learn to surf, as well as some more experienced surfing locations such as First Point, Granite Bay, and Sunshine Beach. Additionally, the area is known for its excellent fishing with a reef system located only three kilometers offshore.
Noosa National Park’s Headlands section is one of Australia’s most visited national parks, and here you’ll find an abundance of ecosystems in a small area. Home to many types of wildlife, visitors often see koala and goannas, and there are also excellent walking tracks with incredible views. The park is home to a vast network of trails, so horse-back riding and mountain biking are also popular. The peace and quiet of the river system north of Tewantin is a haven for those needing to get away from the hubbub of the city, and is best enjoyed by canoe or kayak. The Kinaba Information Centre is a unique spot that can only be reached by boat.
Fraser Island is also nearby, and is a great destination for ecotourism activities. The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island is 123 kilometers long and covers 184,000 hectares. The island is home to very large numbers of birds, and also has what are considered the most genetically pure dingoes in Australia. The island is also home to a small population of brumbies, Australia’s wild horses, which can be seen on the north end. Barges ferry cars over to the island, so you can either book a guided tour or take your own vehicle. There is limited accommodation available on the island as well.
