Unforgettable moments at sea
As temptations go, it’s hard to go past Tropical North Queensland’s unique offerings: the world’s most extraordinary reef – dotted with tropical islands where the only sound is the waves lapping the shore (or a cocktail being mixed in the swim-up bar) – and pristine ocean bordered by kilometre-after-kilometre of white-sand perfection.
Start your adventure on the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. You could spend weeks exploring this amazing underwater universe, with its colourful coral gardens and bommies and its abundant marine life, from tropical fish to turtles, rays and even whales.
There are plenty of snorkelling and scuba-diving excursions to choose from, but that’s just the start. Non-swimmers will love the glass-bottomed boats that give you a window onto the reef, while thrillseekers might want to try helmet diving. Prefer staying above water? Set sail for a day or take a kayaking tour between Mission Beach and Dunk Island. Take to the skies in a heli or fixed wing aircraft for an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of all this unmatched beauty.
To make the most of your stay, book into one of the area’s tranquil oceanside retreats. From family-friendly apartments in Trinity Beach, north of Cairns, to a back-to-nature experience sleeping under canvas or one of Port Douglas’s fabled five-star resorts, an unforgettable experience awaits.
The Reef in 360
Filmed at Agincourt Reef, a reef system located on the outer edge of the continental shelf off the coast of Port Douglas. Dive off the back of a boat and into this incredible part of the Outer Great Barrier Reef, which is uniquely different to fringing island reef systems or those inner reefs located closer to shore. The deep reef walls are home to intricate eco-systems where colourful corals flourish in the continual movement of the ocean and marine-life comes in all shapes and sizes. Even though it takes a little longer to reach sites on the Outer Barrier Reef, the visibility is often better creating a pristine environment for scuba divers and snorkellers to spot sea turtles and larger fish like Maori Wrasse.
Welcome to wonderland
Beautiful ocean and the world’s largest coral reef: dream holidays are made of this.
All you need to know about the coral spawning
Strap on your mask and snorkel or oxygen tank for the Great Barrier Reef’s biggest event of the year – the beautiful and mysterious mass coral spawning. The 2018 spawning event is predicted to occur between November 26 and November 29.
25 Fun facts about the Great Barrier Reef
As you’d expect from one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef is home to some weird, wonderful and just plain loveable creatures. Here’s 25 fun Great Barrier Reef facts about a marine world larger than Italy.
Diving 101 – Everything you need to know about scuba diving
Have you ever dreamed of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef? Just imagine sinking down into the warm waters, exploring coral gardens and seeing this wondrous world through the eyes of a fish. Learning to scuba dive is easy and is your passport to a brave new world. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about learning to Scuba Dive.
Reef Talk – A chat with marine biologist Gareth Phillips
The Great Barrier Reef is a thriving, living marine environment. It inspires all who visit, even those who see it every day, like marine biologist and owner of Reef Teach, Gareth Phillips.
Swim with dwarf minke whales
The Great Barrier Reef is the only place in the world that you can swim with dwarf minke whales: an experience so exclusive it only happens for two months of the year and only in Tropical North Queensland.
12 Famous residents of the Great Barrier Reef
Only 12 residents? There’s probably a gazillion of them, but let’s start things slowly shall we. It’s not easy to keep track of every single one of the Great Barrier Reef’s inhabitants but here are some of the most famous ones in Tropical North Queensland.
Ways you can help the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is an extraordinary mosaic of coloured corals spotted with curious creatures. While the threats to its future are real and immediate, it’s important to know that there are many things you can do to help.
Explore attractions
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cairns northern beaches
Great Adventures Reef and Green Island Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
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diving
Quicksilver Cruises
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diving
Ocean Spirit Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Cairns Harbour and Sunset Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Sunlover Reef Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Pro Dive Cairns
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diving
Quicksilver Silver Series
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cairns northern beaches
Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom – Cairns
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great barrier reef ocean
Aquarius Sail and Snorkel
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cairns northern beaches
Down Under Tours Australia
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cairns northern beaches
Down Under Cruise and Dive
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dive sites
Coral Gardens Dive Site, Flynn Reef
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beaches
Frankland Island Reef Cruises
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cairns northern beaches
Passions of Paradise
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great barrier reef ocean
Low Isles Sailaway
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cairns northern beaches
Divers Den
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beaches
Mission Beach Dive
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