What To See On The Great Barrier Reef

Tropical North Queensland’s Cape Tribulation is the setting for a dramatic meeting of two World Heritage-listed sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.

The name Cape Tribulation originates from the problems Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour encountered on the reefs in 1770. You’ll have no such trouble though, as you gaze at this truly unique part of the world. Nowhere else on Earth can claim to house two such vital and famous natural environments side by side. Read all about the dramatic sights in these two wildly contrasting landscapes.

WHAT TO SEE ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Nothing can truly prepare you for the sheer scale and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Indeed, numerous facts can illustrate what a miracle of nature it is, but one of the most striking is that 10 per cent of the world’s entire fish species are found in Great Barrier Reef waters.

What makes the reef a near perfect travel destination is its accessibility – regular boat trips from Port Douglas and frequent journeys from Cairns’ Reef Fleet Terminal mean travellers have a good range of options. A stay at Thala Beach Nature Reserve will make your visit even more special. Book your stay with Flight Centre, from £114pp.

A particularly fertile area to explore is Agincourt Reef. Located on the Outer Barrier Reef, it takes a little longer to get to from Port Douglas than the Tongue or Rudder reefs, but it’s worth the journey. You can dive off the back of the boat into intricate ecosystems housed in deep reef walls, while clear conditions give you the opportunity to spot larger marine life, such as sea turtles.