the world’s largest collection of coral reefs

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc. It also holds great scientific interest as the habitat of species such as the dugong (‘sea cow’) and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction. 

Brief synthesis

As the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a globally outstanding and significant entity. Practically the entire ecosystem was inscribed as World Heritage in 1981, covering an area of 348,000 square kilometers and extending across a contiguous latitudinal range of 14 o (10 o S to 24 o S). The Great Barrier Reef (hereafter referred to as GBR) includes extensive cross-shelf diversity, stretching from the low water mark along the mainland coast up to 250 kilometres offshore. This wide depth range includes vast shallow inshore areas, mid-shelf and outer reefs, and beyond the continental shelf to oceanic waters over 2,000 meters deep. 

Within the GBR there are some 2,500 individual reefs of varying sizes and shapes, and over 900 islands, ranging from small sandy cays and larger vegetated cays, to large rugged continental islands rising, in one instance, over 1,100 metres above sea level. Collectively these landscapes and seascapes provide some of the most spectacular maritime scenery in the world.

The latitudinal and cross-shelf diversity, combined with diversity through the depths of the water column, encompasses a globally unique array of ecological communities, habitats and species. This diversity of species and habitats, and their inter connectivity, make the GBR one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on earth. There are over 1,500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk, and some 240 species of birds, plus a great diversity of sponges, anemones, marine worms, crustaceans, and other species. No other World Heritage property contains such biodiversity. This diversity, especially the endemic species, means the GBR is of enormous scientific and intrinsic importance, and it also contains a significant number of threatened species. Attime of inscription, the IUCN evaluation stated … if only one coral reef site in the world were to be chosen for the World Heritage List, the Great Barrier Reef is the site to be chosen.

The GBR is of superlative natural beauty above and below the water, and  provides some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. It is one of a few living structures visible from space, appearing as a complex string of reefal structures along Australia's northeast coast.

Why the Great Barrier Reef is so amazing

• One of the 7 natural wonders of the world.
• Largest living structure on the planet, so big it’s visible from space.
• World’s largest coral reef stretching 2,300 kilometers along the Queensland coastline and covering an area of 344,400 square-kilometers. 
• The size of about 70 million football fields or the size of Japan or Italy. It eclipses the world number two, the Caribbean’s Belize Reef, which is a mere 290 km long.
• World Heritage Listed in October 1981.
• World Heritage Listed area spans 348,000 km², which is slightly more than the 344,400 km² Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area because it also includes some 980 islands, internal waters, inter tidal areas and other state waters.
• 7% of the World Heritage area is made up of coral reefs. The rest is an extraordinary variety of marine habitats, ranging from shallow inshore areas – such as sea grass, mangroves, sand, algal and sponge gardens, and inter-referral communities – to deep oceanic areas more than 250 km offshore.
• Inshore waters average a depth of around 35 meters while on outer reefs the plunge is more than 2,000 meters.
• November, spawning season, is when the corals get busy reproducing. Resembling an underwater snowstorm, the exact timing of the annual spawning release is linked to water temperature and phases of the moon.
• 1975 is the year the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was created.

The 2300-kilometer (1430-mile) Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. You can swim, snorkel, dive and sail this living masterpiece.

How to get there

International flights fly directly into Cairns Airport, while domestic flights fly onto Hamilton Island or into Proserpine (on the Whitsunday Coast) or airports on the mainland. The gateway town for many island resorts in the is , a 25-minute shuttle bus from Proserpine Airport.

Things to do 

Cruise Michaelmas Cay 

Visit the Great Barrier Reef in style on board, a 32-meter (105-foot), high-performance catamaran. It sails daily from to Michaelmas Cay, a stunning reef sand island. You can dive and snorkel the reef among the turtles and colorful fish, lie on the deck and soak up the sun or enjoy a glass-bottomed boat tour. Michaelmas Cay is also home to more than 23 species of seabird and is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries on the Great Barrier Reef.

Seaplane over Heart Reef

Create the perfect romantic surprise for a loved one by flying over the world-famous natural wonder,. From above, you'll not only marvel at the pure turquoise waters, but also see the composition of coral that has naturally shaped itself into a heart. This scenic flight is just one of the tours offered by  and  with the white silica sand of on Whitsunday Island also on the menu.

Cruise the Agincourt Reef

is home to over 16 different dive sites, making it a popular destinations for divers and snorkelers. will take you on a journey to the renowned jewel-like ribbon reef on the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef. From the spacious activity platform you can snorkel, dive and helmet walk in an underwater world filled with a kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. 

Sail or skydive the Whitsundays

It's hard to beat the romance of sailing through the think spectacular sunsets, clear moonlit nights, secluded beaches and pure air. You can sail, swim, snorkel and dive at sheltered anchorages such as Blue Pearl, Butterfly and Hook Island bays. Visit Whitsunday Island and walk the pure white, silica sands of White haven Beach. Several cruise companies will provide you with all that you need, including  and . If you'd rather up the adrenaline, sign up to into one of the most picturesque drop zones in the world.

Trek the Thorsborne Trail

Along the eastern coast of  an untouched tropical paradise on the coast between Townsville and Cairns, is the four-day, 32-kilometer (20-mile) Thorsborne Trail traversing cloud-cloaked mountains, jungle-like rain forest and pristine beaches. See a panorama of wildlife, from butterflies and birds to crocodiles, turtles, dugongs and dolphins.  in advance – especially to stay in one of the seven camping areas accessed from the trail – then reach the island on a ferry or water taxi from the mainland towns of Cardwell or Lucinda.

Relax in Airlie Beach

The coastal village of is a vibrant town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks and alfresco dining restaurants. You are sure to instantly warm to its bohemian charm and carefree ambience. 's warm, tropical climate means winters at are very mild and you can enjoy water activities all year round.

Sleep on the Reef 

 three-day live aboard dive and snorkelling cruise is ideal for adventure seekers. The custom-designed dive vessels take guests to a choice of 16 exclusive dive sites and offer a vast array of marine environments for divers and snorkellers to explore. You can also take part in two night dives, offering a unique chance to see marine life that you would never see during the day.