Great Barrier Reef Islands

Stretching more than 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coastline, Great Barrier is the world's largest coral reef. It is home to a boggling number of marine wildlife species, including brilliantly coloured and curious tropical fish (1500), shy molluscs (4000), trippy sponges (400) and 300 species of hard corals. The reef's islands and cays support bird species by the hundreds, including the mighty frigate birds and sea eagles. It’s an amazing natural ocean sanctuary, and is also of cultural importance, with many archaeological sites with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander galleries of rock paintings. You can dive it, explore it with flippers and a snorkel, or if delving into the deep blue is not for you there are semi-submersible craft and glass bottom boats. The most important thing about visiting this great reef is leaving it the way you found it and not touching the coral so it gets to stick around for future generations. Practice buoyancy over sand first, make sure your gear doesn't drag behind or underneath you, never feed anything, and don't hang onto the reef for photos.