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Queensland and The Great Barrier Reef
From its famous Reef to the mysterious undersea mountains of the Coral Sea, Queensland offers a mythic range of excellent dive locations, many of which are still unexplored. Brilliantly coloured coral, magnificent underwater terrain and exotic underwater wildlife are immersed in warm, clear water where visibility is measured in the hundreds of feet.
Extending along Queensland's coastline for more than 1200 miles, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest expanse of living coral. The Reef comprises 2900 individual reefs and 71 coral islands. The reef is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and is a protected World Heritage area. Formed around 10,000 years ago, the coral reefs flourish in the warm seas of Queensland's tropical coast. Some 1,500 types of fish, 4,000 types of molluscs, 350 types of echinoderms and 400 types of coral attract divers from around the world each year.
The Great Barrier Reef can be accessed from Cairns and Townsville in the North and the Whitsunday Islands further south. The Southern Reefs covers the reef from south of the Whitsunday's to Bundaberg and includes the Capricorn bunker Group and the Swains Reef complex. The further south you head (towards Brisbane) the further out the reef is from the shore.
Cairns and Townsville are full of diving and snorkelling companies itching to take you out there. You can learn to dive, just go for a day trip or go for an extended trip on a live aboard. Townsville is famed for the beautiful Yongala Wreck (but don't go inside it!). Hint: Waters around the Yongala can be rough and it is often not possible to dive there even when advertised as part of a liveaboard itinerary. Don't be disappointed if this is the case.
THE WHITSUNDAYS, QLD
Many islands in the Whitsunday Reefs are national parks and are easily accessible by aircraft, cruise boast, or private charters. Many of the islands have dive shops where you can hire equipment, learn to dive and organise dive trips. There are many dive charters servicing the Reef, offering both one-day and extended cruises departing from Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach and the island resorts. The most popular scuba diving locations around the Whitsunday's are located north end of Hook Island, which is sheltered for the southerly weather.
Heron Island
A resort right on the reef - a coral cay formed as part of the Great Barrier Reef and rated as one of the best diving locations on earth. The island is also a sanctuary to thirty species of birds and six species of turtles. Visit the Marine Research Station or watch humpback whales. There are dozens of different dive sites to choose from. Heron is also a great place to learn to dive.
Lady Elliot Island
A beautiful coral cay and surrounding reef, set in an idyllic natural environment, surrounded by a pristine coral lagoon. A Maximum of 105 guests are permitted to stay overnight on the Island at one time, protecting the environment and guaranteeing a true getaway for a lucky few. Accommodation is relaxed and very much in keeping with the Reef's least commercialised island. More than 200,000 birds nest here during summer and sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs.
The island has approx ten dive sites including Lighthouse Bommie, Coral Gardens, Moiri and Shark Pool. The visibility is excellent and ranges from 80-125 meters (185 feet). You can also explore the many shipwrecks in the waters off the island.
Lady Elliot is also regarded as one of the best snorkelling locations on the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is easily accessed from the beach and from here you can discover an underwater world of brilliantly coloured species of marine life. The tropical waters allow up to 25 metres of visibility, providing easy viewing of the reef either by snorkelling, diving or through the glass bottom Boat.
Lady Musgrave Island
Off Gladstone and Bundaberg in the Bunker Group, the best diving locations are at the western end where turtles, Manta Rays, sharks and many tropical fish swim around bommies resplendent with Gorgonia bushes and soft corals
There are islands all along this coast offering excellent offshore diving. These island resorts range from tiny eco friendly atolls to luxury resort, to family oriented mega resort. You can literally take your pick according to inclination and budget. One that is lesser visited but attracts rave reviews from divers is Lady Elliot Island which is the first island of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is located in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, about 900 km north of Brisbane. Hamilton Island is the only Queensland Island with a modern jet airport.
The whole of Hamilton Island is a world-class resort and includes a village of boutique shops, eight swimming pools, a marina and nine restaurants. The Island includes a fifty acre fauna park featuring kangaroos and koalas. There are at least 150 species of birds, and eucalypt bush walks to mountain peaks with 360 degree Island views.
The Island has a fringing coral reef with the best snorkelling and diving at Catseye Beach. You can also visit the Outer Reef by high-speed catamaran or helicopter. Hardy Reef is a particular spot for diving or reef viewing.
Hamilton Island Resort boasts five different styles of accommodation and is suitable for families, couples, singles and disabled guests with a variety of options from self catering apartments and bungalows to full service hotel rooms and suites.
Lizard Island resort
This is an exclusive boutique style resort, one of Australia's premier resorts offering total indulgence. Located one hour's flight north of Cairns, the island is remote, ruggedly beautiful and surrounded by some of the finest beaches and clearest waters of any Great Barrier Reef island.
The resort offers magnificent reefs and is internationally renowned for its underwater adventures, superb cuisine, discreet yet attentive service and stunning natural environment. It recently underwent a $13 million rebuild.
The resort has 40 rooms, it is an adult retreat, children under 10 years are not catered for and there are no day trippers.
Ex-HMAS BRISBANE CONSERVATION PARK
The ex-HMAS Brisbane is a decommissioned warship which was sunk in 28 metres of water on 31 July 2005 to create an artificial reef exclusively for scuba diving. It lies off Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, which is 100km (about 80 minutes) north of Brisbane by road. The artificial reef site is 9km (about 20 minutes) by boat from the mouth of the Mooloolah River. More information is available from Park Info.
Some other popular Whitsunday Dive Sites:
Brampton Island - 32 kms north of Mace lies Brampton Island which boasts an excellent resort and a resident diving instructor.
Mystery Cay is located in the far northern section of Swain Reefs (south of Pompey complex), and is famous for its Manta Ray Bommie. Exotic underwater wildlife including giant Manta Rays (up to 300 at a time) school here at this huge natural fish cleaning station covered in soft coral.
Bait Reef and its famous Stepping Stones in the north-east of the region is the closest reef to the mainland.
Net Reef - Gropers Grotto (resident groper). Sheltered lagoon to 20 metres. Coral gardens, Wall diving on southeast face. Home to a pod of Dolphins.
Oublier Reef - one of the best reefs in the Whitsunday's with 2 meter and plate coral, brilliant diverse coral gardens with excellent visibility. Exciting deep and wall dives. Ponds have great swallow dive sites and also good for snorkelling.
THE SOUTHERN REEFS, QLD
Stretching from just North of Tropic of Capricorn, near Rockhampton, south to Bundaberg these waters offer so many experiences almost a lifetime could be spent exploring it. From mid-August to mid-October you can see Humpback whales frolicking in the warm waters off the coast. Giant sea turtles come ashore regularly to lay their eggs in the sand dunes during the nesting season from mid-November till the end of February.
Great Keppel Island - Just 16 kms (10 miles) from the mainland Great Keppel Island resort boasts one of the most comprehensive array of sports. For snorkelling or diving, apart from Clam Bay, Shelving Beach and Monkey Point, there are nine great diving sites on Capricorn Reef alone.
Swain Reefs - Located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, about 200 kms (125 miles) offshore, this vast patchwork of maze of coral gardens and lagoons provides some of the most spectacular dive sites you could ever hope to visit. Most of the area is unexplored, offering you a world of towers, terraces, swim-through, and spirals of coral , with a host of marine life including sea snakes, sharks, Manta rays and schools of migrating fish.
North West Island - the largest coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, covering an area of 91 hectares. An important nesting place for green turtles from October to December. Spectacular gardens of staghorn and soft coral, clams, sea anemones and Blue Link starfish. The island's southern end has drop offs with deep gutters eroded into the reefs.
Other popular dive sites include Man and Wife Islands, Bald Rock, Halfway Island, Middle Reef Island, Barren Island, Parkers Bommie sea gardens and Child Rock.
TOWNSVILLE
Townsille is the largest city and capital of Tropical Queensland.
It is not quite so popular with tourists as Cairns and you will have less choice of dive operators in Townsville but this has its advantages. For starters it's quieter! Secondly the live aboard operators in Townsville tend to offer the more northerly dive destinations.
The section of the Great Barrier Reef covering Mission Beach, Townsville and Bowen offers some great diving experiences along the outer edge of the Reef. This is a region where the serious diver should look to make use of the many excellent charter boats and take extended trips.
Most of the reefs in this region boast terrific photograph opportunities. Bowl Reef No. 1 has many large and varied Gorgonian fans, caves, drop-offs, fish feeding and good night diving. John Brewer Reef is good for shallow reef diving and some shark feeding. When your time is limited Kelso Reef is a great day trip option.
The coral reefs off the coast of Bowen are littered with shipwrecks including the famous Gothenburg which sank with great loss of life and a cargo of gold in 1854.
Diving Australia
Queensland
Queensland Fact File
Getting there
The quickest route is a flight from Sydney or other major towns & cities. Expect to pay anything between A$200-500 if you buy the flight locally. By road its just under 1000km from Sydney to Cairns and 2100km to Townsville. From Brisbane, its 1400km to Townsville.
When to go
The Climate ranges from a cool 21°C in June/July (winter) through to 29*C in Nov-Jan (summer) but the Queensland summer is not only hot but humid with the most rain falling at this time of year. Rainfall increases dramatically between November to May.
Dangers
During Box Jelly Fish season from November to May, it is not advised to swim outside of net protected beaches
Accommodation
Cairns
Cairns has an abundance of hotels in the centre of town and along the coast, where most of the major chains are represented. There are also self catering apartments, camp sites and smaller bed and breakfast style accommodation on offer. Some of the bigger hotels that are slightly out of town, provide free shuttle buses to and from the hotel which is helpful.
Townsville
Smaller than Cairns, but Townsville still has plenty of accommodation. At the top end of the scale is the Jupiters Townsville Beach Hotel & Casino but there are also Bed & Breakfasts, and regular hotels. Slightly further a field, why not try a 'Home Stay' on a local working farms, for something a little bit different?! You'll definitely need your own transport though if you choose this option.
Island resorts
Of all the island resorts, Lizard & Fraser Islands are the most exclusive, boasting luxury accommodation and cuisine. Packages are available to all the resorts with transfers from Cairns either by boat or plane.
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Rates To Go
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Non Divers & other activities in Queensland
There is something for everyone in Queensland, from relaxing on the beach to shopping in Cairns, or one of the many outdoor activities. The state is blessed with magnificent beaches, tropical rainforests and lush rambling countryside. Whatever pace your looking for, there is an activity to suit.
Out & About
Explore the many walking tracks and nature trails in State forests, national parks or on beaches. Organised guided walks can be arranged through the tourist office or through the hotels. They include Aboriginal culture or insights into local plants and animals.
Action and Adventure
Whether you're young or just a big kid at heart, there's a wide choice of Queensland holidays for people seeking adventure and action. Try bungee jumping, snorkeling, white water rafting, bushwalking, four wheel driving or stay on an outback sheep station & try your hand at a bit of sheep shearing!
Cruising
Extended cruising is available from areas such as Cairns,Townsville and the Whitsundays Crewed sailing adventures are a superb way to feel the wind in your face without the worry. Along the coast, all regions have fishing charters, island and day cruising operations on vessels including large catamarans, sailing ketches and water taxi services. Areas such as the Whitsundays draw mariners from across the globe. There are learn-to-sail and bareboating adventures from areas such as The Whitsundays and Townsville. Hire a houseboat for that little bit extra luxury - you'll find operators along the coast including areas such as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Fishing
Queensland has a wealth of fishing opportunities with premier gamefish, freshwater and beachfront fishing grounds. Tag and release marlin, try your hand at hooking fine-tasting barramundi or join the thousands of locals fishing off piers, beaches and river points around the State
More information
Destination Queensland
Queensland
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