18th January 2020
The Great Barrier Reef is actually quite a humble place. Despite being named a World Heritage site in 1981 and being dubbed one of the seven wonders of the natural world, it still only calls itself ‘great’. It’s the world’s largest living organism and the largest coral reef system in the world. It can even be seen from outer space. It’s more than great, it’s incredible.
25th July 2019
The Great Barrier Reef will soon be home to its very own underwater museum.
14th June 2019
Canadian man, Justin McIntaggart popped the question to his girlfriend of 5 years, Kate Hartberg in the world's first scUber submersible at the Great Barrier Reef.
9th April 2019
Thanks to the implementation of state-of-the-art satellite imagery, the Great Barrier Reef will now be mapped in unprecedented 3D detail.
22nd February 2019
The Australian government has announced a $60 million rescue grant to the Great Barrier Reef in hope to improve coral and marine life.
25th January 2019
From snorkeling to skydiving, there are so many ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Here are 3 that are sure to get the heart pumping!
8th January 2019
Since November 2018, twenty-two people in Queensland have been hospitalised with suspected Irukandji jellyfish stings.
13th December 2018
Marine biologist and artist, Dr Susan Pillans has created a children's book in hope to inspire school kids to save The Great Barrier Reef.
21st November 2018
Thousands of Green Sea Turtles have migrated to The Great Barrier Reef for their annual nesting season.
7th November 2018
The Good Beer Co has released, the 'Great Barrier Beer' - a delicious Australian Larger that is part of a campaign to protect UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Great Barrier Reef.
23rd October 2018
A Facebook search is underway for the owners of a GoPro camera after it was found on the Great Barrier Reef last November.
11th October 2018
Sometimes a single day trip to the Great Barrier Reef just isn't long enough to truly see and experience it all. Cruising is an amazing way to explore the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory with endless opportunities to snorkel, scuba dive and get up close and personal with the brilliant coral reefs and technicolour tropical marine life. Explore the magic of the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Marine Park aboard our favourite & all-inclusive reef cruises.
26th September 2018
A campaign, promising to regenerate damaged coral in the Great Barrier Reef has launched and is calling on the public for support.
11th September 2018
A tiny underwater drone has been developed to protect The Great Barrier Reef against deadly crown-of-thorns starfish.
The invasive species has been named one of the three major threats to the reef, alongside cyclone damage and coral bleaching.
28th August 2018
At the June G7 summit this year, it was the millions of tonnes of plastic dumped into our oceans annually that topped the agenda.
Following Australia’s failed Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) in 2009, for which there has been no revised action since it was declared a failure in 2015, former federal environment minister Josh Frydenberg admitted that Australia must do more.
16th August 2018
Early this month, Mackay Conservation Group successfully obtained documents under Freedom of Information laws that reveal the communication between Adani and the Queensland Environment Department on the day Cyclone Debbie hit in March 2017.
1st August 2018
This month tourism operators in and around the Great Barrier Reef have called for robust action to protect the World Heritage reef.
In a declaration signed by local businesses across an array of concerned industries, the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) called on the Australian government to “join the rest of the world to rapidly phase out coal and other fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy”.
18th July 2018
Held in Cairns this week, the Great Barrier Reef Restoration Symposium has attracted some of the world’s top restoration practitioners, scientists and engineers together in a forum designed to share ideas on what research is working, what’s failed and how different specialties can help.
4th July 2018
On the Great Barrier Reef this week, a Perth couple has proven just how deep their love runs when tradesman Lawrence Tufnel proposed to his girlfriend of six years, Jasmine Robertson.
On the ledge of a steel platform 3.5 metres underwater, Tufnel got down on one knee as hundreds of tropical marine-life swirled around them in a dizzying wash of colour.
22nd June 2018
A parliamentary inquiry into how $444 million awarded to a small non-profit charity was permitted without any competitive tender-approach or consultation with the Great Barrier Reef marine park authority, has been announced this week.
5th June 2018
In a world first, Australia is trialling an electronic tracking system hoped to reduce the chance of tourists being left behind when diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
Due to manual headcounts which are subject to human error, a number of visitors to the reef have disappeared over the last few decades.
21st May 2018
As part of a recently announced $30 million federal government program, 40 new indigenous rangers will soon be patrolling the Great Barrier Reef.
Trained by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the rangers will be instated to help monitor remote regions of the protected Marine Par, patrolling sites between the tip of the Cape York Peninsula and Gladstone.
9th May 2018
Late last month, Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg announced a $500 million package set to help protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef.
Promised in a bid to support the improvement of water quality, reef expansion works and control of the crown-of-thorns starfish, the package will also fund the development of coral that can withstand higher temperatures and light stress.
26th April 2018
Between the covers of the May issue of GQ Australia, Australian model and soon-to-be actor Jarrod Scott announced the upcoming launch of his new passion project set to help save the Great Barrier Reef.
12th April 2018
Calling for the attention and financial commitment of top Australian businesses to defend the Great Barrier Reef, Prince Charles partook in a round table discussion at Lady Elliot Island in Central Queensland late last week.
7th February 2018
Over 30 tourism operators in Port Douglas and Cairns have joined the pledge to ban the use of plastic straws by businesses within the Great Barrier Reef. Australians use approximately 10 million straws every day which eventually make their way into our waterways and oceans where they damage corals and kill marine life. Nicole Nash is a marine biologist who founded The Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef initiative in an attempt to remove all plastic straws off commercial vessels operating on the Great Barrier Reef.
17th January 2018
Jurassic Park creator Michael Crichton once said that ‘women will inherit the earth’ and on the northern Great Barrier Reef this might just be true. According to a study published by the Current Biology journal, Green Turtle offspring are increasingly being born female due to warmer ocean temperatures.
3rd January 2018
Grammy-award winning Sydney musician and DJ Flume has joined the campaign to save the Great Barrier Reef, producing a track for Greenpeace highlighting the fight against climate change. The electronica and hip hop record producer released the video collaboration on Facebook, asking fans to tune into the previously unreleased music stating, “this is important!”
13th December 2017
Veteran marine biologist Charlie Veron is known as the ‘Godfather of Coral’ and it’s a title that is well-deserved when you consider that he’s named one fifth of all corals in the world. Clearly he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to coral and according to Dr Veron, there’s good news for the Great Barrier Reef thanks to the discovery of some ‘super corals’.
29th November 2017
Spring has sprung, and while it is usually a time of year associated with new life and the pitter patter of tiny animal feet, there is a new place where breeding is taking place and it’s not the lush green fields or flowering meadows that you might expect. In fact, it’s not even on land. Playing environmental matchmakers, scientists have successfully begun breeding baby coral on the Great Barrier Reef.
8th November 2017
Great Barrier Reef holidaymakers have a lot to look forward to with promising results released for the Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016. Landholders have been given an A+ for their efforts in continuing to make progress towards the targets outlined in Australia’s Reef Plan.
25th October 2017
A World Heritage listed natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most iconic attractions. It’s also incredibly cheap to visit and some are now asking the question – is it too cheap? The cost to enter the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is just $6.50. In contrast, other precious natural attractions around the world ask a lot more. For example, visiting the mountain gorillas in Rawanda will set you back US$1,500. Can you really put a price on paradise? It seems only time will tell.
11th October 2017
Relieving scientists from difficult to access and time consuming work, a new high-tech drone has been praised with improving the data capture and monitoring of the precious World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.
20th September 2017
For Catherine Smith, diving through the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef seemed little more than a dream. The 50-year-old is wheelchair bound and lives in a north Sydney aged care home. Only able to move with the use of a wheelchair, Smith doubted she’d ever make her dream a reality. But thanks to the help of a nation-first virtual reality project, Smith can now experience the wonders of the reef.
6th September 2017
A new sculpture has been unveiled on the Cairns Esplanade to help promote a global social movement to protect the future of the Great Barrier Reef. The towering $1.1 million sculpture was created by Cairns artist Brian Robinson and is designed to inspire those who view it to reflect on their connection to the reef. Officially opened with a special dawn smoking ceremony, the 6m high and 11m wide helix frames the view to the reef.
23rd August 2017
Let’s face it, no trip to the Great Barrier Reef is complete without sticking your face under the water to peep on the colourful coral and unique marine life. There are so many Great Barrier Reef day trips that offer snorkelling and scuba diving to allow you to get up close and personal with the incredible underwater world that exists below the surface. However you may be wondering, which method is best? When it comes to putting your face underwater on the Great Barrier Reef you really can’t lose, but we’ve put together the pros and cons of diving versus snorkelling to help you decide.
9th August 2017
Tourism Research Australia has released the data from its International Visitors Survey which shows a record-breaking contribution to Queensland’s economy. Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones said that the state had received 2.6 million international visitors who pumped a whopping $5.2 billion into the state’s economy, surpassing all previous tourist dollar contributions.
19th July 2017
On Thursday 13 July, Twitter took users on a guided tour of the Great Barrier Reef, broadcasting the World Heritage listed natural wonder life on video streaming platform Periscope. In two separate broadcasts, Twitter users were able to tune into the reef live and learn about how they can help to protect it.
28th June 2017
According to a Deloitte Access Economics report commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Great Barrier Reef is worth $56 billion. As one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the largest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is visible from outer space and is considered part of the country’s cultural DNA. The $56 billion price tag demonstrates the global value of this Australian national treasure as well as its economic importance to Australia.
7th June 2017
Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is on the bucket list, not only for many Australians but for plenty of tourists around the world as well. Although no visit to North Queensland would be complete without spending some time exploring this incredible marine park and natural wonder, there is so much more to see and do on land. Let's face it, you can't stay in the water forever (unfortunately) so why not check out some of the other popular Great Barrier Reef attractions during your stay.
26th April 2017
Jason deCaires Taylor, an acclaimed international artist, will visit North Queensland in early July to scope out the potential for an underwater art museum off the Townsville coast. The unique gallery concept has been hailed as a game changer and has the potential to boost the region’s marine tourism industry.
5th April 2017
Fluorescent coral, crown of thorn starfish and other intricate parts of a reef ecosystem sprang up overnight at Brisbane’s Southbank as part of the World Science Festival. The event, hosted by Reef Alive and researchers from the Queensland University of Technology, aimed to fight the threat that the Great Barrier Reef is currently experiencing by encouraging members of the public to get up close and personal with marine life and become a scientist for a day.
1st March 2017
Great Barrier Reef holidays are a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list experience for many overseas tourists. In fact, this magical part of the world is popular for romantic escapes with both local and international tourists. There's something truly special about the beauty and ecological uniqueness of this World Heritage listed Wonder of the World, and many people have chosen to incorporate it into special moments and milestones in their lives.
8th February 2017
A $300,000 public sculpture dubbed the 'Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef' is set to be unveiled on the Cairns Esplanade later in the year. Designed to increase awareness of reef conservation, the sculpture aims to become the cornerstone of the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef campaign.
25th January 2017
It may sound strange, but ancient coral samples recovered from the Great Barrier Reef have shown that it once came perilously close to extinction. New research into the history of the UNESCO World Heritage wonder shows that the reef almost 'drowned' in the Last Interglacial, an ancient period which followed the second last ice age. Water was inundating coastlines around the world as ice sheets melted - a nearly fatal event for the Great Barrier Reef.
11th January 2017
Miss Universe Australia Caris Tiivel is joining the fight to protect the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and is using her platform in the global beauty pageant to take a stand. The Perth model used the reef as inspiration for the unique design of her 'national costume' and Miss Universe Australia dress. Despite best intentions behind the dress, the design immediately divided critics.
28th December 2016
A rare omura whale has been spotted on the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, surprising passengers on a tour boat and exciting whale experts all over the world. The first ever confirmed sighting of the rare whale in Australian waters, the sighting in far north Queensland occurred in mid-December and is unusual in more ways than one.
16th November 2016
The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival just keeps taking everything in its stride (if you'll pardon the pun) and this year was no different. Another record-breaking event, festival ambassadors expect to see even more people joining the Great Barrier Reef Marathon next year. Not only does the event promote good health, it's also for a good cause with more than 1900 participants helping to raise over $55,000 for marine research.
26th October 2016
There couldn't be anything more Aussie than being able to save the environment just by chugging a beer however thanks to The Good Beer Co you can do just that. It almost sounds too good to be true, but it's official - Great Barrier Beer is going to help save the reef. By donating 50 per cent of their profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the new tasty Indian pale ale is doing its bit to save the Great Barrier Reef.
5th October 2016
Amongst a tourism industry that is constantly striving to be bigger, bolder and more luxurious, Peter Gash is a man who makes a difference. Co-owner of Lady Elliot Island, world environment champion and ecological crusader, Gash is intent on protecting and preserving his tiny piece of paradise on the Great Barrier Reef.
14th September 2016
Australia's tourism industry on the Great Barrier Reef is thriving, with new hotels and resorts opening along the coast all the time. One of the most fragile ecosystems in the world, concerns have been raised that perhaps tourism is doing the reef harm. However tourism is far from the biggest threat for this natural wonder. In fact, it's actually helping to save it.
24th August 2016
A world-first research centre has opened in Townsville and is focused on unravelling the mysteries of the Great Barrier Reef's green turtle population. The physiology of the turtles play a significant role in protecting the ecosystem of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, yet little is known about their physiology and mortality rates are high. The research centre hopes to learn more about the Green Turtles and help put a stop to their demise.
3rd August 2016
Australia's most famous humpback whale Migaloo is missing after being spotted on the Gold Coast on his annual migration. Known for his distinctive all-white colouring, he was the world's only white whale when he was first sighted. Each year he makes his migration up Australia's east coast, all the way from the cold waters of Antarctica to the warm waters of Tropical North Queensland.
20th July 2016
If you've ever dreamed of owning your own tropical island, now might be your chance. That is, as long as you have a cool $30 million spare. In fact you'll have more than just a chance if you happen to have the cash laying around, as Keswick Island is up for sale.
29th June 2016
This month, a three-year study was published in nature research journal Nature Communications that has shed some light on the instrumental nature of microbes that live on coral reefs. Although the study was conducted on a reef in the Florida Keys in the United States, its findings could have serious implications for the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
8th June 2016
Top marine officials from the United Nations have praised the Australian government and their management of the Great Barrier Reef, urging supporters to go beyond green groups and donate directly to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a trustworthy advisor.
4th May 2016
The Federal Government has announced an additional $50 million to be spent on projects improving water quality on the Great Barrier Reef, with more announcements to come according to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt. This comes after environmentalists put pressure on both state and federal governments to fully finance reef protection programs.
13th April 2016
World-famous natural history broadcaster Sir David Attenborough first visited the Great Barrier Reef back in 1957. Now, sixty years on, much has changed and he returns to the reef at a time when it is under serious threat. Since his first visit, the reef has lost nearly half of its coral and, true to form, Attenborough is determined to find out how it can be saved.
30th March 2016
A proposed $8.15 billion casino and resort slated for Yorkeys Knob is now even closer to development thanks to an alliance with two Chinese-backed groups to provide financial backing and development. Tony Fung's Aquis Great Barrier Reef casino and resort is a long-awaited project which proposes to transform the coastal strip north of Cairns into an international standard casino, resort and convention centre which will encompass eight hotels with a total of 7500 rooms as well as an artificial lake and golf course.
9th March 2016
What's better than helping to save the Great Barrier Reef? Drinking beer to do it! Surely there's nothing more Australian than that! Get excited because it's official, The Good Beer Co. is brewing Great Barrier Beer - a tasty Indian pale ale that will donate 50 per cent of its profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society to help save the Great Barrier Reef. Cheers to that!
17th February 2016
While there has been much discussion about whether the Great Barrier Reef is feeling the effects of climate change, there has been little tangible scientific evidence to go by. Now, NASA is on a mission to discover just how much coral is actually left on the Great Barrier Reef with a large-scale monitoring project.
27th January 2016
If it's not already at the top of your bucket list then the Great Barrier Reef is about to be, with an incredible endorsement from the world's most famous naturalist - Sir David Attenborough. The renowned English broadcaster has said that it is the most memorable place he's ever visited and at 89 years old, you know he's seen it all. Having first visited the reef almost 60 years ago, Attenborough has now made it the subject for his ground breaking new BBC series.
6th January 2016
If you've got the back to work blues and are looking for your next opportunity for a day off after all the craziness of Christmas and New Year's as well as the school holidays, then you've got your sights firmly set on the upcoming Australia Day public holiday. We can't say we blame you, and thankfully you'll only have to wait a couple more weeks. Our national day of celebration falls on Tuesday this year, so why not take the Monday off as well and treat yourself to an extra long weekend? There's no better way to celebrate our day of national pride than by exploring this great country of ours.
6th November 2015
The colourful coral and tropical marine life have always been one of the biggest Great Barrier Reef attractions, however there's a new buzz on the World Heritage listed natural wonder. A unique manta ray has been spotted in the waters around Lady Elliot Island in what has been dubbed an Australian first by scientists.
6th November 2015
The colourful coral and tropical marine life have always been one of the biggest Great Barrier Reef attractions, however there's a new buzz on the World Heritage listed natural wonder. A unique manta ray has been spotted in the waters around Lady Elliot Island in what has been dubbed an Australian first by scientists.
10th September 2015
This month marks the beginning of spring on the Great Barrier Reef. Although Tropical North Queensland is known for remaining fine and fairly warm during it's so called 'winter', just like the rest of the country, the reef is enjoying seeing the end of the cooler weather and is welcoming warmer temperatures.
25th June 2015
Excited marine scientists will keep a close eye on north Queensland after commercial fisherman spotted a group of whale sharks on the Great Barrier Reef. The discovery was made off the coast of Townsville on the outer reef and came as a surprise to Marine Park authorities. Although whale sharks have previously been spotted on the reef, this was the first sighting of a group recorded.
19th March 2015
Perhaps one of Australia's most iconic tourist attractions and certainly one of our more famous natural attractions, the Great Barrier Reef has once again attracted the attention of naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
4th February 2015
One of the world's most famous and most popular natural attractions, the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is a must-see on any visit to Tropical North Queensland. However, being located out in the middle of the ocean, it's not like you can exactly stay close to the Great Barrier Reef. Or can you?
21st January 2015
As a UNESCO World Heritage site and world famous natural attraction, the Great Barrier Reef draws thousands of tourists each year from across Australia and all over the world. An incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is high on the bucket list of many travellers. While the idea of idyllic days spent submerged in crystal waters, tropical fish and colourful corals is very romantic, there's still the practical side to consider to ensure you enjoy and make the most of your time on the Great Barrier Reef.
17th September 2014
When planning a visit to the amazing Great Barrier Reef, it can seem like a bit of a strange concept. It is a World Heritage listed natural attraction. It is one of the modern wonders of the world. It is a reef, in the middle of the ocean, which means you can't exactly just pack up the car and drive there. However with so many holiday hot spots in Tropical North Queensland, it's almost that easy.
9th July 2014
So you may have heard about the underwater post office in Vanuatu but have you ever heard of a package at the bottom of the sea? While it may evoke images of colourful corals tied up in ribbon and tropical fish wearing bows, it's not quite that Disney. Still, you'll be feeling like you're in the happiest place on earth when you discover the fantastic savings you can enjoy with Great Barrier Reef holiday packages!
16th May 2014
As winter starts to set in over most of the country, especially in the south, travellers are looking to counteract the dropping temperatures with sunny days, blue skies and warmer climes. However with many people also feeling the freeze on their budgets, holiday makers are looking for a cheaper option and are therefore focused on domestic holiday rather than expensive overseas destinations.
2nd May 2014
When you think of the Great Barrier Reef, you think of the World Heritage listed gem as an attraction in itself, however the region stretches along thousands of kilometres of coastline and boasts a huge range of fantastic attractions along the way. Whether you're visiting the Atherton Tablelands, Cairns, the Northern Beaches, Port Douglas, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, the Gulf Savannah and Outback or Cooktown and Cape York, there's plenty of Great Barrier Reef attractions to enjoy.
17th February 2014
While controversy continues to rage over the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, a European company has taken a futuristic approach to enjoying the natural wonder by expressing interest in creating an underwater hotel on the Great Barrier Reef at a Sydney marine conference in early February.
6th January 2014
The Great Barrier Reef has long been known as one of Australia's most popular tourist attractions both domestically and aboard but just when you thought this World Heritage listed wonder of the world couldn't top any more lists, the Great Barrier Reef has become host to the first underwater art gallery in the world.
24th December 2013
As a gateway to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, Cairns has always been a shining star on Queensland's east coast, however this Christmas the Esplanade lit up with some shining Christmas stars of its own.
