Great Barrier Reef & Coastal Islands, Qld, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia.

A variety of boat tours and cruises are offered, from single day trips, to longer voyages. Boat sizes range from dinghies to superyachts. Glass-bottomed boats and underwater observatories are also popular, as are helicopter flights. By far, the most popular tourist activities on the Great Barrier Reef are snorkelling and diving, for which pontoons are often used, and the area is often enclosed by nets.

Things to see and do

* Scuba diving & Snorkelling
* Whitsunday Islands
* Great Barrier Reef
* Port Douglas, Daintree and Cape Tribulation
* Cairns Northern Beaches

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Australian Dollar (AUD)
Language – English
Population – 25,000 approx
Time – GMT plus eight hours
Electricity - 2 angled pins and 1 flat pin centered below Australian style
International Country Telephone Code – 61

Port Location – Day trips to the reef depart from the following ports: Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas, Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach (Shute Harbour), Mackay, Gladstone, and 1770 (from north to south).

Travel Links – Cairns is considered the gateway to the reef but boats also leave from Cooktown, Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Townsville & Yeppoon.

Cairns International Airport is served by a broad range of domestic and international airlines. Flights are available to and from most Australian capital cities.