Holiday in Great Barrier Reef

About Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world and one of the seven natural wonders. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers along the northeastern coast of Australia, it is home to over 600 species of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and countless sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and manta rays. From the International Space Station, it is the only living structure on Earth that is visible to the naked eye. Cairns is the main gateway to the reef. From here, boats depart daily to the outer reef sections, where the corals are healthiest and the underwater world is most diverse. A snorkeling trip to the Outer Reef reveals a world of breathtaking colors: neon blue surgeonfish, bright yellow butterflyfish, clownfish in anemones, and giant sea turtles gliding by leisurely. The Whitsunday Islands, 900 kilometers south of Cairns, are the most photogenic access point to the reef. Whitehaven Beach — with its dazzling white quartz sand and turquoise water — is regularly crowned one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Hill Inlet Lookout shows how sand and water mix in a surreal pattern of white and blue at low tide. Port Douglas, an hour north of Cairns, offers a more relaxed access to the reef. Four Mile Beach, the Sunday market, and the short drive to the Daintree Rainforest — the oldest rainforest in the world, which borders the reef — make Port Douglas the ideal base camp. The Great Barrier Reef is under pressure from coral bleaching and rising sea temperatures. Several severe bleaching events in recent years have damaged parts of the reef, and scientists warn that the reef is at risk in its current form. A visit therefore also has an urgent character: it is a natural wonder that should be experienced now — and whose protection concerns us all.