Location
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The Great Barrier Reef is within the Coral Sea and is located on Australia’s North-Eastern coast. The reef stretches more than 2km along the coastline of Queensland starting from the tip of Cape York Peninsula in the North and extending down to Bundaberg in the South.
Interesting Facts
- The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest reef in the world
- The Great Barrier Reef is an extremely ancient, enormous host of living things, composed of living coral growing on dead coral dating back to almost as much as twenty million years.
- The Great Barrier Reef has over 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres
- The reef is visited by over 2 million tourist per year
- Sea Grasses
- Seaweed (Algae)
- 1500 species of fish (including sharks)
- 360 types of coral
- 5,000 clams and the sea slug
- 215 species of birds
- 17 species of sea snake
- 6 species of sea turtle
- 600 species of starfish
- 30 species of whales and dolphins
- 22 species of sea birds and 32 species of shorebirds
Useful Tips
- Motion sickness can be avoided if you take the tablets at least 30 minutes before you board the boat
- Sunscreen is highly recommended, as it is very sunny and hot
- Sunglasses and hats should be worn for further protection from the sun
- Wet suits which is highly recommended to be worn when in the water to prevent being stung
Things to Do
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Snorkel Magnetic Island on the Great Barrier Reef, it is the most accessible coral reefs in the great barrier reef marine park.
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Watch the sunset over the Great Barrier Reef, it is a time to relax!
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Townsville’s Reef HQ Aquarium is the worlds largest aquarium and is the the Australian Government's national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef.
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Skydiving above the Whitsunday Island has an amazing view and the drop zone is in the heart of Queensland's most popular tourism spot
Bibliography
Greatbarrierreef.org, (2015). Great Barrier Reef Facts - Facts about the Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/great-barrier-reef-facts.php [Accessed 21 Jul. 2015].
Great-barrier-reef.com, (2015). Great Barrier Reef Weather & Climate. [online] Available at: http://www.great-barrier-reef.com/great-barrier-reef-weather.html [Accessed 21 Jul. 2015].
Travel.usnews.com, (2015). Best Times to Visit Great Barrier Reef | U.S. News Travel. [online] Available at: http://travel.usnews.com/Great_Barrier_Reef_Australia/When_To_Visit/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].
Cairns Dive Adventures, (2015). Where is the Great Barrier Reef Located? Queensland, Australia. [online] Available at: http://cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-info/where-is-the-great-barrier-reef-located/ [Accessed 28 Jul. 2015].
Panique.com.au, (2015). Great Barrier Reef Facts: Animals Plants Coral Fish Tours. [online] Available at: http://panique.com.au/trishansoz/barrier/great-barrier-reef.html [Accessed 29 Jul. 2015].
Cairns Dive Adventures, (2015). Top Tips on visiting Cairns Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: http://cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-tours-cairns/visiting-the-great-barrier-reef-top-tips/ [Accessed 23 Jul. 2015].
Australia.com, (2015). Top 10 Things to Do on the Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: http://www.australia.com/en/places/great-barrier-reef/top-10-things-to-do.html [Accessed 1 Aug. 2015].
Pleasuredivers.com.au, (2015). [online] Available at: http://www.pleasuredivers.com.au/snorkelling/guided_tour.htm [Accessed 1 Aug. 2015].
Queensland.com, (2015). Reef HQ Aquarium - Attraction - Queensland. [online] Available at: http://www.queensland.com/attraction/reef-hq-aquarium [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].
Skydive.com.au, (2015). Airlie Beach Skydiving | Skydive the Beach and Beyond. [online] Available at: http://www.skydive.com.au/locations/airlie-beach/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].
Great-barrier-reef.com, (2015). Great Barrier Reef Weather & Climate. [online] Available at: http://www.great-barrier-reef.com/great-barrier-reef-weather.html [Accessed 21 Jul. 2015].
Travel.usnews.com, (2015). Best Times to Visit Great Barrier Reef | U.S. News Travel. [online] Available at: http://travel.usnews.com/Great_Barrier_Reef_Australia/When_To_Visit/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].
Cairns Dive Adventures, (2015). Where is the Great Barrier Reef Located? Queensland, Australia. [online] Available at: http://cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-info/where-is-the-great-barrier-reef-located/ [Accessed 28 Jul. 2015].
Panique.com.au, (2015). Great Barrier Reef Facts: Animals Plants Coral Fish Tours. [online] Available at: http://panique.com.au/trishansoz/barrier/great-barrier-reef.html [Accessed 29 Jul. 2015].
Cairns Dive Adventures, (2015). Top Tips on visiting Cairns Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: http://cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/reef-tours-cairns/visiting-the-great-barrier-reef-top-tips/ [Accessed 23 Jul. 2015].
Australia.com, (2015). Top 10 Things to Do on the Great Barrier Reef. [online] Available at: http://www.australia.com/en/places/great-barrier-reef/top-10-things-to-do.html [Accessed 1 Aug. 2015].
Pleasuredivers.com.au, (2015). [online] Available at: http://www.pleasuredivers.com.au/snorkelling/guided_tour.htm [Accessed 1 Aug. 2015].
Queensland.com, (2015). Reef HQ Aquarium - Attraction - Queensland. [online] Available at: http://www.queensland.com/attraction/reef-hq-aquarium [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].
Skydive.com.au, (2015). Airlie Beach Skydiving | Skydive the Beach and Beyond. [online] Available at: http://www.skydive.com.au/locations/airlie-beach/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2015].