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Great Barrier Reef Information
Highlights of Tropical North Queensland
The city of Cairns is a modern and sophisticated hub of excitement. Not only does it have..
Port Douglas InformationIt's a holiday destination that exceeds all expectations; time spent in Port Douglas is all about..
Dunk Island InformationDunk Island a stunning island just off the coast of Mission Beach in north Queensland. Most of..
Fitzroy Island InformationFitzroy Island is located near Cairns in Tropical North Queensland and is popular for daytrips due..
Palm Cove InformationWorld-renowned Palm Cove is recognised as the spa capital of Australia, a truly indulgent escape..
Kuranda InformationOriginally the destination of choice for those looking for an alternative lifestyle in the late..
Daintree InformationThe Daintree region is a haven for holiday makers wishing to pursue an alternative lifestyle and..
Lizard Island InformationAustralia's northernmost resort, Voyages Lizard Island is located right on the Great Barrier Reef..
Green Island InformationLocated 27km across the Coral Sea from Cairns, Green Island Resort is luxury on the Great Barrier..
Bedarra Island InformationVoyages Bedarra Island is Australia's most exclusive resort, an indulgent tropical private..
Hinchinbrook Island InformationHinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest National Park island. It is uninhabited except for the..
Trinity Beach InformationTrinity Beach is a lovely beach town just north of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. Trinity..
Atherton InformationAtherton is the 'capital' of the lovely Tropical Tablelands, a land of beautiful lakes..
Cape Tribulation InformationCape Tribulation is a small village in Tropical North Queensland where the frontier of the north..
Innisfail InformationInnisfail is a prosperous, colourful town, situated on the North and South Johnstone Rivers, and is..
Mission Beach InformationWith a golden beach that stretches for more than 14 kilometres, scattered tropical islands, a range..
See all locations in Tropical North QueenslandGreat Barrier Reef Information
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world and stretches along around 2000 kilometres of the Queensland Coast. This incredible concentration of corals and sea-life is a natural wonder of the world and is home to literally thousands of species of coral, tropical fish, sponges, mollusc and other sea animals. There are new species constantly being uncovered.
As well as the coral reefs there are vast areas of seagrass supporting communities of Dugong, an endangered and much loved marine mammal sometimes called a "sea cow". The reef also shelters large numbers of loggerhead and green turtles providing both breeding and egg laying sanctuaries and Humpback Whales migrate to the warm waters of the reef to birth their young.
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Above the waterline, the cays and islands of the reef support hundreds of bird varieties, including osprey, reef herons, sea eagles and frigate birds. Surprisingly the Great Barrier Reef also has areas of cultural significance, with quite a few archaeological areas of Torres Strait and Aboriginal origin in particular some sites on Lizard Island and Hinchinbrook Island where rock paintings can be found.
Of course the reef provides many opportunities for snorkelling and diving which is undoubtably the best way to experience the underwater wonders which will truly boggle the mind. There a numerous operators offering accredited dive courses, introductory dives or for those more experienced it is easy to find an extended dive charter or even night dives. If you are not keen to get wet, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the underwater sights, including glass bottom boat tours, semi-submersible craft, and on shore reef exhibits.
To enjoy the reef over an extended stay there are heaps of options, many of the islands dotted along the vast 35 million hectares area of the reef have resorts and many of the national parks have camping available. Perhaps the most popular gateway to the reef is Cairns where visitors will find dozens of options to get to the reef and there are plenty of hotels and deals available throughout the year.
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Highlights of Queensland
Nestled into the extreme south east corner of Queensland, Australia's Sunshine State, the Gold..
Brisbane Region InformationBrisbane is the capital city of Australia's Sunshine State, Queensland. Tucked into the south-east..
Sunshine Coast InformationThe blue waters of the many beaches, the thundering waterfalls of the ranges, the perfect..
Surfers Paradise InformationWithout doubt on of Australia's most popular and enduring holiday spots is Surfers Paradise, the..
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