Great Barrier Reef stretches for 3000km so there are a number of access points to it off the Queensland coast. The Great Barrier Reef is a series of over 3000 reef systems and has been divided into a number of more manageable sections these are:.
The Far Northern Reefs or Far North Section, Tropical Northern Reefs or Cairns Section, The Whitsundays or Central Section, The Southern Reefs or Mackay Capricorn Section.
Great Barrier Reef Far Northern section includes The Coral Sea and starts north of Cooktown (around 300Km North of Port Douglas) and extends up to Newcastle Bay in Cape York (the tip of Queensland). This section is not covered by the big tour companoies (specialist diving companies do operate here however) as it is relatively inaccessible and is for the more experienced diver and marine researchers. The reef depths range from a few metres to over 30m below the sea surface.
Great Barrier Reef, Cairns section is the most visited of section as it is accessible from Cairns, Port Douglas and Townsville. The outer reef is also closer in to the coast and the reef is at a relatively shallower depth making it easier to view by snorkelling alone.
It ranges from Innisfail in the south to just past Cooktown. The big tour operators cover this section and have the large multi million dollar pontoons moored just off reef systems. The pontoons usually have underwater viewing chambers, changing rooms, glass bottom boats and or submersibles, sun decks and helicopter platforms moored close by (for sight seeing tours over the reef). They are accessed in air conditioned comfort by High Speed Catamarans which leave from Port Douglas or Cairns and travel time to the reefs is only an hour or so.
Great Barrier Reef Central Section includes The Whitsunday Islands and ranges from Dunk Island in the north to The Lindeman Island group in the south. This is another well visited part of The Great Barrier Reef which is covered by several big operators with large pontoons moored off various reef systems.
The Whitsunday section includes the famous 'Heart Reef' which as the name suggests is heart shaped. This natural formation is one of the most photographed sections on The Great Barrier Reef. High Speed Cats run to the pontoons from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. It is often possible to take helicopter flights over Heart Reef and take your own photographs or video.
Great Barrier Reef Southern Section starts in the south just North of Bundaberg and Harvey Bay and runs north to the Lindeman Island group in The Whitsundays. The Southern Reef is relatively unexplored. Tours to the reef run from Bundaberg, 1770 (a town between Bundaberg and Gladstone), Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island and depending on the time of year it is possible to see migrating whales and sea turtles.
See Great Barrier Reef Hotels. A selection of Hotels is shown below
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