Northern Great Barrier Reef
From Cape York to Hinchinbrook
The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's most amazing locations, impressive in both its grandeur and its minute details.
Spanning most of the east coast of Queensland, from north of the tip of Cape York, to just south of Bundaberg, it is a massive 300,000 square kilometres in size. The area, scattered with beautiful islands and idyllic coral cays full of wildlife, is made up of more than 3000 reefs which range in size from 1 hectare to over 10,000 hectares.
Cape York Peninsula Region.
Cape York Peninsula is a sparsely populated, relatively untouched wilderness area, its rugged coastline pointing towards New Guinea with the eastern side of Cape York fringed by the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef.
The reef in this region is spotted with many un-spoilt islands, with only a few island resorts such as the luxurious resort on Lizard Island located 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the coast of North Queensland. Lizard Island is a National Park with 24 sandy beaches and a lagoon.
Further north is one of the Great Barrier Reef's truly hidden treasures; Haggerstone Island is a remote island getaway, 600 kilometres north of Cairns, where an escape back to nature is guaranteed.
The scenery along Cape York's coast is as spectacular as the reef itself, like Cape Melville National Park, a remote, rugged and diverse park with wild coastal views and impressive geological formations and wildlife.
Cooktown is the northernmost town on the east coast of Australia, located at the mouth of the Endeavour River and is a popular tourist destination. People visiting the town enjoy the historical connections, the delightful tropical environment, and use it as an access point to the Great Barrier Reef, the Lakefield National Park, and for fishing.
Cairns Region.
Cairns is a regional city located about 1700 km north of Brisbane, between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range. It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its access to the Cairns International Airport, its tropical climate, its proximity to many attractions, and its the only place in the world where two World Heritage areas exist side-by-side.
One of the mainland features of this region is the Daintree National Park with its Skyrail, showcasing, just metres above the rainforest canopy, 7.5 kms of the impressive, ancient wet tropics park. Having been preserved while the broader region evolved over millions of years, the Cape Tribulation/Daintree region is recognised throughout the world as a major centre of plant and animal diversity.
Approximately 80 kms north of Cairns, Port Douglas is home to some of Tropical North Queensland’s most exclusive resorts and a world class marina. From the marina, reef operators travel daily to the Low Isles, Agincourt Reef and further away to sites up north like the Cod Hole near Lizard Island.
Heading down the coast, from Port Douglas past Cairns, the reef attractions include Green Island and Fitzroy Island (both popular places for day trippers), Frankland Island and The Bernard Islands. Further south, off the coast of Mission Beach and Tully, are the Family Islands.
Surrounded by coral reefs, tidal flats and sandy beaches, the Family Islands are a chain of stunningly scenic continental islands, extending approximately 14km in length off the coast of Mission Beach.
Dunk Island is probably the best known of all of Great Barrier Reef's tropical islands and is the largest of the Family Islands. Dunk Island is situated about 4.5 km offshore from Mission Beach and is covered by a 730 ha National Park and an airstrip, resort, 18 hole course & farm situated in the north-west side of the island covering the remaining 240 ha .
South from Dunk Island is the privately owned island resort, Bedarra Island. An island of pure indulgence, Bedarra Island is Australia's most exclusive resort, a private tropical haven. Bedarra and Dunk Islands are surrounded by other smaller islands, the "children" in the Family Island group. Some of these islands are national parks, and can be accessed for camping and bush walking.
Just off the coast of Cardwell, Hinchinbrook Island is the largest island National Park in Australia, with its only permanent lodging on the island, located at Cape Richards at the northernmost tip. All located on the eastern side, the beaches of Hinchinbrook Island are spectacular.
Continue to the central region of the Great Barrier Reef
The northern region of the Great Barrier Reef is a diverse area offering the popular detinations of main towns like Cairns, while still allowing the visitor to escape to remote isolation.
Sea kayak around Lizard Island
Lose yourself on one of the many beautiful, tranquil beaches.
The Great Barrier Reef offers a variety of activities available to visitors to the area.
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