While flipper power is perfect for delighting at the wonders of the reef, on dry land, you can cover greater distances and get around more easily if you rent a car.
Check bookings
Some businesses in the remote parts of the Tropical North close down during the wet season (November to February), so always reconfirm your bookings before you arrive.
Underwater snaps
To get the best colors in your underwater photographs, stay shallow and keep the sun behind you.
Best snorkeling
One of the best and most easily accessible places for snorkeling is Heron Island. The coral cay is situated right on the reef itself, so you can snorkel directly from the beach. It’s also a bird sanctuary and a turtle nesting ground.
Watch for whales
June and July are the perfect times for spotting dwarf minke whales. Unlike other whale species, these inquisitive creatures actively seek encounters with divers and snorkelers.
Drive on the left
You might find it a little confusing at first, but unlike the U.S., drivers keep on the left.
Fast facts
The largest reef structure in the world (1,200 miles long), the Great Barrier Reef can even be seen from the moon! Contrary to popular belief, the reef is not one continuous barrier, but a broken maze of some 3,400 individual reefs and coral cays.
History
While Captain James Cook was the first person to record the existence of the reef when he stumbled across it in 1770, it was English navigator Matthew Flinders who named it. Australia’s aboriginal people, however, knew of the reef long before, and many of their important cultural sites (including burial sites and rock art paintings) still exist.
Get wrecked
Bearing witness to the hidden dangers of the reef, there are more than 1,600 known shipwrecks resting at the bottom of its waters. One of the most accessible wreck dive sites is the S.S. Yongala, a steamship sunk during a cyclone (hurricane) about 48 nautical miles from Townsville, taking the lives of all 121 passengers.
Stormy weather
November to April is cyclone (hurricane) season, and the coastal regions of Queensland are vulnerable to these storms.
Stinger season
Dangerous marine stingers known as box jellyfish congregate in the waters of the far north from November to May. During these times you should only swim in specially netted zones.
Emergency
In case of emergency, dial “000” from a fixed line or “112” from a mobile phone for police, paramedic, and fire departments.
