The International Year of the Coral Reef (IYOR) was created in response to the increasing threats on coral reefs and associated ecosystems, such as mangroves and sea grasses around the world. IYOR is a global effort to increase awareness and understanding on the values and threats to coral reefs, and to support related conservation, research and management efforts.

 

And what better way is there to celebrate the Year of the Coral Reef than by visiting the Great Barrier Reef? Not only is it the world’s most popular coral reef – but with it’s beautiful bright colours, abundance of marine life and incredible size, it’s arguably the most beautiful. Here are just some of the great day trips you can take on or around the Great Barrier Reef to celebrate it in all its glory – and some top tips for responsible tourism too.

 

Whitehaven Beach is a seven kilometre stretch of pure white silica sand, with Hill Inlet at one end. Tourists come from all over the world to marvel at its beauty. It's in the same area as the Great Barrier Reef's Heart Reef, a beautiful coral arrangement in the shape of a heart. Depending on when you're there, you'll take off in a seaplane from Hamilton Island, soaring over the Whitsunday Islands and circling over Heart Reef for photos before landing on the water at a nearby coral lagoon. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef before taking off again and flying to picturesque Whitehaven Beach.

Regarded as one the best dive sites in the world, the wreck of the SS Yongala sits on the sandy ocean floor 28 metres (92 feet) below the surface. It's in an area of the Great Barrier Reef just off the coast of Townsville, a tropical city located a four hour drive, or a one hour flight, south from the city of Cairns. The 110 metre (360 foot) ship sank in 1911 and is now home to turtles, sea snakes, giant trevally, groupers, manta rays, sharks and thousands of tropical fish. You can take a day tour from Townsville, or from Magnetic Island, a popular local holiday destination just off the Townsville coast.

 

This is one of the most sheltered snorkelling destinations on the Great Barrier Reef. Boat tours depart for the Low Isles daily from Port Douglas (a lovely beach town around one hour's drive north of Cairns) with several tour operators. You’ll receive a full safety briefing and all the equipment you need (including floatation devices) on the 75 minute journey to the islands. The snorkelling area is very safe and much of it is in shallow water. Look for sea turtles on or near seagrass. Lunch is provided and you can even hire an underwater camera.

 

From November to January nesting sea turtles, including endangered loggerhead turtles, come ashore at night to lay their eggs at Mon Repos beach, in the city of Bundaberg (about four hours' drive or a one hour flight north of Brisbane). Then, between January and March the hatchlings leave their nests and race down to the sea. Both spectacles can be witnessed in intimate nighttime tours on the beach. Tours are accompanied by an environmental scientist who offers insights into the fascinating life cycle of these gentle creatures.

 

Just off the coast of Bundaberg you'll find Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay that sits on the southern stretches of the Great Barrier Reef. Once you've arrived on the island, which is renowned for its high-visibility water, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. You can snorkel right off its beach with huge manta rays that can have a "wing span" of up to seven metres or enrol in a diving course at the PADI Dive Shop.

 

Dwarf minke whales visit the Great Barrier Reef every year, and you can swim with them in June and July on tours that operate from Port Douglas and Cairns. When the whales are spotted, you'll jump into the water, hold onto a surface rope and simply wait for them to approach. These friendly, curious creatures almost always do.

 

Have a deserted island on the Great Barrier Reef all to yourself when you take a day tour to Vlassoff Cay. Taking off from Cairns, your helicopter pilot will fly over the Great Barrier Reef before landing at the sandy islet with snorkels, flippers and a gourmet picnic for you to enjoy. The serene setting is yours for the next 90 minutes to wander, beachcomb or dive in the warm water for a swim or a snorkel, before the return flight back over the reef to Cairns.

• Don’t let your litter bug the reef – Dispose of your rubbish properly and pick up debris from beaches and waterways.
• Reduce fertiliser use – Too many nutrients from fertilisers cause algae to grow, blocking sunlight.
• Anchor away from corals – Anchor on a sandy bottom, so anchors and chains aren’t dragged across the coral.
• Follow zoning rules – Don’t fish in ‘green’ zones – they help protect the reef’s rich biodiversity.
• Reduce your carbon footprint – Cut back on fossil fuels. Climate change causes ocean warming and ocean acidification and is the biggest threat to the reef.
• Protect coastal ecosystems – Places like mangroves and seagrasses are where many animals feed and breed.
• Look but don’t touch – When snorkelling, enjoy the corals and other marine life but keep your distance. 

 

If you're looking to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, please call our experts Australia experts on 0161 888 5632 for a free, no obligation quote.