The world’s largest coral reef system extending over 2,300km over an area of at least 344,400 square kilometres, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is in the Coral Sea, on Queensland’s coast, and is home to over 2,900 individual coral reefs and 900 islands.
With a magnificent view that can be witnessed from outer space and being the world’s single largest structure made up of living organisms, the Great Barrier Reef offers many fun activities that make it an incredibly popular tourist destination. Whenever it is safe for you to make that year-round trip, and the Great Barrier Reef is on your destination list, we have for you some incredible activities you must partake in to make memories and an experience that will last you a lifetime.
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
A thrill for everyone partaking in the glass bottom boat tours allows tourists to get a feel of this gorgeous water and its life without physically touching it. The boats are designed to accommodate a maximum number of passengers without hindering the views of even a single person. While many companies offer glass-bottom boat tours at the Great Barrier Reef, some come with a tour guide who provides a detailed understanding of every major thing tourists come across. Some even offer the opportunity for diving and snorkelling in certain designated areas that will take you closer to life underwater. Not only are glass-bottom boat tours famous during the day, but special ultraviolet lights make the night-time tour a wonderful and relaxing opportunity to witness the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef just as breathtaking.
Snorkelling the Reef
If you love the water, are an experienced snorkeler, or even a first-timer, the Great Barrier Reef is the ideal destination to tick off ‘being one with life under water’ from your bucket list. The reef not only provides a brilliant snorkelling opportunity to those who have done it before but is also a great place to learn how to snorkel. With breathtaking underwater scenery and warm water hugging your body, the only requirements to jump into the lessons are having good swimming skills and physical health. Being one of the best as well as the most accessible coral reefs in the world, there are various opportunities for snorkellers of various skill levels. While those who are professional may choose to dive right into the best spots of the reef, others have the opportunity to use float coats, start by walking towards the water rather than diving from a boat, and even have plenty of space to rest during their snorkelling journey with the multiples large resting buoys that are scattered throughout the water.
Skydive over the Reef
Whether you chose Cairns, the gorgeous city surrounded by lush green rainforests, or beaches such as Airlie or Mission, skydiving is an experience all you adventure junkies must experience over this beautiful reef. The skydiving companies will brief you about your freefall from the sky and then you can indulge in the best adventure of your life over scenic blue views and deep green rushes. The best thing about skydiving is you choose how high you want to dive from; just remember, your freefall depends on the height you pick; the higher you go, the longer your freefall, but it’s all worth it for the experience of a lifetime and an adrenaline rush!
A Bird’s Eye Reef View
Swimming, snorkelling, diving, relaxing by the beachside, or taking a walk on the soft white sand are all incredible experiences to get a grasp of the reef, but you have never truly experienced Australia’s Great Barrier Reef until you get a bird’s eye view of the magnificent destination. Hot air ballooning and seaplanes are two incredible ways to indulge in a full tour of the Great Barrier Reef. The experience on a hot air balloon is thrilling from the very beginning. Feel the rush and admire the functioning of the balloon as it inflates, takes shapes, and then flies you up in the air for a long-lasting joyride. Similarly, with seaplanes, various companies are cover different areas of the Great Barrier Reef; giving you a chance to explore secluded islands, sapphire blue waters, world heritage rainforests, and even some stunning photographic views.