Tailor-made The Great Barrier Reef: Introduction

Sweeping from Lady Elliott in the south to beyond Haggerstone Island in the north are the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Some are tiny specks, others little more than sandy cay swirls, crowded with seabirds, whilst several are densely vegetated and encased in rock. Dip below the surface and you’ll find tufts of brilliant blue, vibrant green brain coral and swirling tentacles, the tips of which glow like lights on a Christmas tree.

Washed by the warm waters of the south-west Pacific Ocean this perfect environment is considered to be in such pristine condition that it is protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Trust to ensure that its future beauty is maintained. Out of 2,000 islands less than 20 accommodate visitors, and standards range from remote luxury resorts to basic camp sites. A handful of our favourites are shown here and under the Whitsunday Islands section. Some of the islands have been chosen for their privacy, others for the distinctive nature experience they offer, engaging you in a relaxing yet stimulating stay. Alternatively, you can visit a number of islands on a cruise or by hiring a yacht.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”. Click here for more highlights

Take Coral Princess Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef

A Coral Princess Cruise is perhaps the best way to experience and discover the many National Park islands off the tropical north coast of Queensland...  [more]

Take a day trip on the Great Barrier Reef with Synergy

With over 1,500 species of fish and 460 varieties of coral, the Great Barrier Reef offers a huge variety of marine life. A great way to experience this is on...  [more]

Go diving off Lizard Island

For a luxury island experience it is hard to look further than the exclusive Lizard Island. The most northerly of the Barrier Reef islands it is close...  [more]