Facts on the Great Barrier Reef

Recently, the Great Barrier Reef was voted best destination by the World Travel and Tourism Council. So, what makes this place so special?

Established as a park in 1975, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest marine protected area in the world at almost 348,700 square kilometers. Found off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to over 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusks, and 500 species of seaweed, as well as several species of birds, sea snakes and sea turtles.

What exactly is a coral reef? It is made up of both dead and living coral, located just below the water’s surface. Colorful coral is the living part of the reef, while white coral is dead. The Great Barrier Reef is actually comprised of roughly 2,800 individual reefs; it is not a single, continuous barrier.

Located north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the Great Barrier Reef has beautiful temperatures all year long. However, it is largely agreed that the best time to dive is October through December, while January through March can often be quite rainy.

The Great Barrier Reef is a snorkeling and scuba diving adventure park! Popular diving spots include some of the many shipwrecks found within the Reef. Additionally, the Reef is breeding grounds for humpback whales.

Sounds exciting, right? Well, there’s no time better than the present to start planning your vacation to “The World’s Best Destination!” View packages to Australia, many which include an unforgettable trip to the Great Barrier Reef.