The Guest Experience
Completion requirements
Unit 5
Passport to Adventure
Great Barrier Reef
"I am so scared of the sea, so what did I do? Learned to scuba in the Great Barrier Reef." ~ Tracie Bennett, Author
Tropical North Queensland, on Australia's eastern side, covers an incredible amount of natural wonders so there's certainly no shortage of things to do and places to visit. Chances are if you're not in the water snorkelling or cruising around tropical islands, you'll be hiking through forests or spying exotic wildlife. But where to begin?
Click each coloured tab to view information about the activity.
Must Haves
Sun screen, a Hat, and Sometimes . . . a Stinger Suit!
The weather around the Great Barrier Reef varies due to the long distance covered by The Reef. The majority of The Reef is in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The northern part of The Reef has a tropical climate with hot, wet summers that include enormous volumes of rain and humidity. They are occasionally hit by cyclones so that must be considered in deciding on travel dates. The southern end of the Great Barrier Reef is sub-tropical with milder summers and far less humidity.
Regardless of which part of The Reef tourists explore, many visitors are not prepared for the intense Australian sun. That can easily lead to sun-related incidents such as sunburn, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
The best protection is to slip on some clothing that covers the skin. Rashies are sun suits that cover skin and give as much protection as SPF 50 sunscreen. While North Americans are familiar with SPF 30, most Australians have shifted to SPF 50. It's a good idea to slap on a hat. The wider the brim, the better.
Stinger suits are a must during Cairn's jellyfish season, generally November to May. There are many different varieties and stings are extremely painful and in some cases, deadly. When these Lycra stinger suits are worn, they are an excellent protection to all areas where they cover the body.
Currency
The official currency in Australia is the Australian dollar.
How to Get There
Before Diving in, it's Important to Get Your Bearings
The northern part of The Reef runs from the Cape York Peninsula to Cairns. Travelling farther south down the coast, tourists will find the central part of The Reef which includes Townsville and the Whitsunday Islands, where Hamilton Island and Whitehaven Beach reside. South of this, between the Capricorn Coast, along the Tropic of Capricorn and Fraser Island, tourists will find Airlie Beach and the only section of The Reef that has not been impacted by severe coral bleaching events.
Cairns is the tourist hub of Queensland and is a convenient point to begin exploring The Reef. Many tourists fly into the international airport in Cairns. If flying from Canada or US, know that direct flights are not possible. Instead, travellers will need to connect through New Zealand, Sydney, or Brisbane. The Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island welcomes flights from Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne through airlines like Virgin Australia Airlines, Jetstar Airways, and Qantas. Hamilton Island has small charter flights and planes available to connect travellers to neighbouring islands.
A visa and valid passport are required to enter Australia. More specific information depending on the tourist's home country can be obtained from the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection's website. Airlines and travel agencies can also be a great help and can often apply for an Electronic Travel Authority visa on the tourist's behalf.
Once in Tropical Queensland, the best way to get around the Great Barrier Reef is by car or boat, depending on where travellers plan to spend the majority of their time. While on the mainland, renting a car is the best way to get to and from attractions in and around Cairns. However, tourists planning on spending their vacation on one of The Reef's more remote islands, like the Whitsunday Islands or Lizard Island, should catch a boat instead.
Where to Stay
Where Travellers Stay is Dependent Upon What Tourists Want to Do and See
Due to the vastness of The Reef, tourists will first have to determine what they want to do and see. There are hundreds of accommodation options along the Tropical North Queensland coast. There are also a number of stunning islands located throughout The Reef offering fantastic holiday accommodations. Tourists can even choose the unique experience of staying overnight on a dive boat. Regardless of whether tourists choose to stay on the mainland or on an island, all accommodations are conveniently located close to all the most popular local activities and attractions including departure points for Great Barrier Reef tours.
Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef