There are many reasons to vacation in the Great Barrier Reef. From its natural beauty to its diversity of marine life, there are numerous options for family vacations. In addition to diving and snorkeling, this region offers an abundance of accommodation options. Luxury resorts are also available in the area. In addition, it is possible to find luxury accommodations above the reef.
Cairns
The town of Cairns is renowned as the adventure capital of Australia. It is surrounded by the world’s most extensive coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching across more than 2,600 kilometers of the Queensland coastline, the reef is a unique ecosystem declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are endless activities to partake in during your stay in Cairns, and the city is compact and easy to reach. Aside from the Great Barrier Reef, the city offers beautiful scenery and a friendly atmosphere.
Restaurants and bars offer a diverse selection of cuisine, and the Esplanade is a great place to dine. The town is also home to a vibrant food market and local suppliers. There are numerous parks, a skate park, and plenty of beaches and other outdoor activities.
Cairns offers many day trips, including excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. Most liveaboard boats leave from the city, and Cairns is the best base to enjoy most of these trips. Port Douglas, on the other hand, has a great beach and plenty of shopping, and alfresco dining.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas, Australia, is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It is a popular vacationing destination with a tree-lined Four Mile Beach, hip cafes and restaurants, and a marina home to superyachts and tour boats from around the world. A short drive from Cairns, Port Douglas has something for everyone.
Port Douglas is the perfect jumping-off point for snorkeling or diving tours of the Great Barrier Reef, where multiple times leave daily. The city is also a short drive to the pristine Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ties to Aboriginal culture. It is also close to Four Mile Beach, where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling.
Port Douglas is a perfect getaway for those who want to experience the Barrier Reef without spending too much money. The town’s Four Mile Beach is famous for swimming and kite surfing. The tropical backdrop of the beach makes it an ideal photo location. You can also visit the Ngarru Gallery in the shopping district on Macrossan Street, which features Indigenous fine art.
Port Douglas’s reefs are as diverse as those found in Cairns. There are numerous dive sites near the Port Douglas Marina, including the Tongue Reef. Another great dive site is St Crispin Reef, which has a beautiful flower garden coral formation. You can also choose a private fishing tour with East Coast Angling for the more adventurous.
Chabil Mar Villas
The Chabil Mar Villas are a unique luxury destination in Belize, nestled between pristine rainforests and the Caribbean Sea. Each villa is a private haven, with 950 to 2000 square feet of interior living space. Each has a hammock and personal veranda decorated with original Belizean art. The resort also boasts two infinity pools on the beach and is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
Guests can enjoy the unrestricted use of sea kayaks, and the staff can organize off-site activities or day tours for guests. The Chabil Mar is popular with families and couples and offers chic lounge areas for guests to relax. There are many restaurants on-site, including a restaurant serving sumptuous cuisine.
Chabil Mar Villas provides guests with an all-inclusive experience. In addition to its full-service villas, the property also offers concierge services. For example, guests can request coffee delivered directly to their door and book private massages in their rooms. They can also order a romantic moonlit beach dinner.
There are many activities that guests can enjoy in Placencia, including horseback riding, scuba diving, and cultural food tours. The Chabil Mar Villas offer privacy and exclusivity while remaining close to all the activities and sights available in Placencia.
Low Isles Great Barrier Reef Sailing Cruise
The Low Isles is a tropical paradise just an hour’s sailing from Port Douglas. With a calm lagoon and wide sandy beach, it’s an excellent place for snorkeling. The water is home to a wide variety of marine life, including clownfish and turtles. And the crew is friendly and attentive to the needs of guests. It’s a great family outing and is an excellent value for money.
The Low Isles is a coral cay surrounded by a reef of around 55 acres. The trip starts with a pickup from your Palm Cove hotel, where you’ll board a 98-foot sailing catamaran. This luxury vessel accommodates up to 200 guests and offers air-conditioned lounges. After a day exploring the reef, enjoy a buffet lunch and afternoon tea on board.
The tour departs from Port Douglas in the quiet morning hours and takes about four and a half hours to complete. You’ll visit the Low Isles lighthouse and snorkel in its sheltered lagoon during the voyage. You’ll also learn about the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef from a marine biologist.
Liveaboard diving
Suppose you plan a vacation to the Great Barrier Reef. In that case, liveaboard diving is a great way to see the most beautiful underwater sites. These cruises typically include a four to the eight-day itinerary. They have ocean-view cabins, a sun deck, and a welcoming staff.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s richest marine environments, home to more than 1,500 species of fish and 350 different species of coral. There are also several species of sharks and manta rays. These magnificent creatures can be seen during liveaboard tours and are perfect for both beginners and advanced divers.
Most liveaboards depart from Cairns Harbour. You can also arrange to have the liveaboard crew pick you up at the airport. Alternatively, you can book a ride-sharing service or taxi from your hotel. The primary airport serving the Great Barrier Reef is Cairns International Airport, located in Cairns.
Liveaboard diving allows you to dive in remote areas that land-based trips cannot access. It can also provide more opportunities to attack, such as at night. In addition, you can dive directly from the liveaboard instead of loading into a zodiac boat to reach the dive site. It’s also a great way to meet fellow divers. A liveaboard diving trip can last from a few days to as long as two weeks.
Coral reef conservation measures
If you are planning to spend your vacation in the Barrier Reef, then there are several steps you can take to protect it. Several groups organize beach and reef clean-up events. You can participate by volunteering your time to contribute to marine conservation. Volunteering can help you to learn more about the condition of the Barrier Reef and its environment.
Another critical step is to avoid leaving behind trash, especially plastic bags. This is the single most significant threat to the Great Barrier Reef. With increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the water is becoming warmer, which kills marine life and coral. One way to help prevent the damage is to participate in carbon offset programs. These programs help balance the carbon emissions you generate by traveling to the Great Barrier Reef. These offsets plant native, biodiverse forests that protect the environment.
You can also volunteer to help clean up the local beach or reef. Remember, it takes decades to build a reef. Be sure to pick up the garbage, and don’t use excessive chemicals that might endanger the ecosystem. Excess fertilizer can promote algae growth and block the sun from reaching the coral. Also, when you anchor your boat, ensure the anchor chain is not dragging over coral and sea grasses.
