Tips to book the best Great Barrier Reef getaway
The Great Barrier Reef is a mind-blowing, UNESCO heritage site that stretches over 2000km on the east coast of Australia and inspires awe and wonder in everyone who sees it. Here’s our simple guide to getting the most out of your Reef visit.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is between June and November. Northern Queensland has a distinct wet season from December to March that brings oppressive heat and abundant rainfall, but the milder weather during the middle of the year generally lends to better visibility for spotting coral and fish.
How do I get there?
Depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re hitting but all of Australia’s major carriers (Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia) connect Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne with airports in Cairns, Townsville, Airline Beach and Hamilton Island.
Where should I base myself?
Choosing an entry point to the 2,000km long reef can be difficult, as there are quite a few excellent options available:
- Cairns – probably the main launching pad for reef tours, Cairns gives you flexibility offering everything from inexpensive day trips to intimate, multiple-day luxury cruises.
- Port Douglas – just a little north of Cairns, Port Douglas provides an upmarket gateway to the Low Isles and Agincourt Reef, allowing access to particularly stunning corals.
- Airlie Beach – this small town is becoming increasingly popular for its sailing trips out to the Whitsunday Islands and offers a range of lodgings from campgrounds to resorts.
- Townsville – if you’re looking to dive the reef, Townsville might be the option for you, offering a range of immersive diving experiences for divers of all skills and levels.
What’s the best way to see the reef?
Well, it really depends what sort of experience you’re after, but here are a few options:
- Diving and snorkelling – there’s nothing like donning a mask and finds and getting face to face with spectacular coral, sea turtles, rays and fish of every colour and size.
- Boat excursions – embarking from many locations along the coast and stopping at a few different sites, boat excursions generally include a meal and plenty of dive time.
- Scenic flights – for those opting for a bird’s eye view of the reef there are plenty of scenic flight excursions available from Airline Beach, the Whitsundays and Cairns.
- Reef walking – many reefs in the southern part of the Reef are exposed at low tide and if you’ve got a naturalist guide this can be a great way to learn about marine life.
Additional Information
If you’d like to learn more about visiting the reef and the experiences you can have, check out he Great Barrier Reef’s online resource, or North Queensland Tourism’s website.
Tourism Australia also has some great info available on the Great Barrier Reef here.
Related links:
The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world
10 most amazing man-made structures
12 odd (but amazing) toilets from around the world