The Great Barrier Reef (XCQ) (DVD)

Great is an understatement.

Advantages: natural outstanding beauty
Disadvantages: remote, expensive

They say it is the only living thing that can be seen from space. They say it is the largest living thing on Earth. They say it is an area of outstanding Natural Beauty. I am not too sure about the first two claims, but whoever they are, they are absolutely spot on about the last. ***Background*** There is some dispute as to how big The Great Barrier Reef ("GBR") is but it is somewhere between 2300-2600 km long and consists of between 2700-2900 individual reefs and 900 islands. Each individual reef is made up of billions of individual coral polyps between 3-50mm in size and colony sizes between 75mm-1500mm. As each polyp dies, new growth starts on top of it building the size of the colony and the GBR is around 600,000 years old although the modern reef started growing on the older reef platform around 20,000 years ago ...

TheWizardsSleeve 08.05.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Herron Island, Great Barrier Reef

Advantages: A wonderful holiday destination with great facilities and activities.
Disadvantages: Expensive, but worth it.

There really is no other place in the world quite like the Great Barrier Reef. There are so many activities and opportunities for visitors that whatever time you have on Herron Island is not enough. There is a wide range of things to do, from whale-spotting to sitting at a bar watching the sun go down with a cocktail you've never even heard of!! The most obvious attraction of Herron Island and the Great Barrier Reef is diving and snorkling. Just off the beach there is an entirely different world just waiting to be viewed. You have to make sure it stops there though, as some coral can cause nasty cuts and many of the marine animals can pack a poisonous punch, such as the Stonefish or Stingray. The easiest way to avoid injury is just not to touch anything! Slightly further into the sea, where diving equipment is necessary, the reef ...

John-Q-Public 30.08.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef

Advantages: A warm tropical place, with plenty of activities and extensive scenery.
Disadvantages: Can end up being expensive and sun block is a must!

Hamilton Island is probably the most well known Whitsunday Island, located near the Great Barrier Reef. For me, Hamilton Island was one of those annual family holidays that would usually take place in September. Depending on where you live (locally or internationally) it will require at least two flights, one on a domestic flight to Brisbane airport and the other a charter flight to Hamilton Island itself (yes it does have an airport although very small). Take note that if you plan on staying at another island in the area you will have to fly to Hamilton Island and then catch a ferry from there. Accommodation is extremely flexible to suit different types of families and budgets with beach fronted apartments (up to 5 people) and rainforest bungalow retreats. Getting around the island by foot is no huge drama, however if you are lazy ...

hatchepsut 11.12.2003 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)