| Australia's biggest attraction in
undoubtedly the Great Barrier Reef , now a protected marine park. The World Heritage Site
lists the Great Barrier Reef as a rare heritage area and a marine sanctuary. |
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Australia's Great Barrier Reef is
truly a natural wonder, a rare phenomenon and the largest structure built completely by
and of living organisms. The Reef spans 2000km from the tip of Cape York to Gladstone in
the south and is actually composed of a number of individual reefs and tiny islands. Some
of these islands are deserted while others are small sand cays, some with permanent
vegetation, others just bare sand and rock and the rest are continental islands.
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It is a nature lovers and a scuba
divers paradise with 2900 separate reefs, 71 coral islands, 10,000 species of sponge, 350
different species of coral, 4000 species of molluscs, 350 species of echinoderms and over
1500 species of fish. |
The Reef is a dedicated
breeding area for some rare and endangered species like the Humpback whales, sea
turtles and dugongs or sea cows. The whales travel all the way up from the Antarctic to
give birth to their young in the waters of the reef. Six of the world's seven species of
sea turtle breed on the Reef while the endangered and reclusive dugongs live in the
sheltered areas of the seagrass beds.
Average water temperatures on the reef range from around 22°C in July to around 27°C in
January, making it perfect for diving all year round.
Visitors to the Reef enter a fathomless underwater world inhabited by thousands of
brilliantly coloured marine species.
| The different hues of the corals, the strange vividly
coloured fish and swaying plant life creates a kaleidoscope for divers, snorkellers and
people viewing from underwater observatories and glass-bottomed boats. |
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All visitors to the Reef have to pay an Environmental Management Charge (ECM) imposed by
the Australian Government for all adults and children above four years entering the Great
Barrier Reef World Heritage area. The money goes towards the preservation of this natural
wonder. The EMC is currently levied at the rate of A$4 per person per day, to a maximum of
A$12 per person.
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All visitors to the Reef must make more than just a
monetary contribution to the conservation efforts - they must treat the Reef as a rare and
precious thing and ensure its longevity for future generations by not coming into direct
contact with the coral, not breaking or taking away any corals, shells or marine plants or
animals, not polluting the Reef in any way thus minimising the impact of humans on this
natural wonderland. |
Getting there: Trains and bus services connect Brisbane
to
Cairns, the central hub for the Great Barrier Reef. At Cairns, on offer is a
variety of transportation choices. Catamarans are a slick and fast way to get to the reef,
boats, cruisers, yachts and sailboats are all available and come fully equipped with
knowledgable crew and guides. Those who can afford to fly to the reef by either a small
fixed wing aircraft or a helicopter. The last two come with the bonus of areial views of
the reef but the best way is definitely by boat.
When to go: Any time is a good time for a visit to this natural wonder
but the winter months between June and August are best, mainly because the weather is dry
and far less humid than it is in summer. January to March is high summer - extremely hot
and very wet. July is the coldest time of the year - temperatures hover between 17ºC
-26ºC.
Accommodation is prolific on the many islands that have been developed
as resorts in the area. Tour operators are equally easy to find. Check around for which
are the best tours and then opt for the combination that suits you best. Don't forget the
wetsuits hiring and the introductory dives cost. The further out you go into the reefs,
the better the diving.
For state and visitor information, see Queensland.
For country information, see Australia. |
