Brief History
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. It stretches over 1600 miles in the Coral Sea off the coast of northeast Australia. The reef is the largest single living structure in the world. Composed of billions of tiny organisms, it can be seen from outer space.
The waters of the Great Barrier Reef provide the world's busiest and most varied marine habitats. Marine life is in abundance. Some of the indigenous species include the deadly box-jelly fish, the lionfish, stonefish, blue-ringed octopus, and many deadly sea snakes. Not so dangerous, but popular species include sea turtles, clownfish, whales, and dolphins.
Some interesting facts: Sea turtles do not have a sex when they are laid; the heat of the sand that they are laid in determines their sex. Sand with a temperature of more than 80º F produces more females. Cooler sand produces more males!
Hard corals build reefs by growing atop the stony skeletons of previous coral colonies. They consist of limestone cases made by coral polyps extracting calcium from seawater.
When to Go
October thru March is summer in Australia, though the weather is pretty nice year round. January thru March is the rainy season.
Currency
The official currency is the Australian Dollar.
Passport/Visa Requirements
A passport valid six months or longer after return and visa are required for entering Australia. US citizens are eligible for ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), which can be issued prior to departure.
Ready to Go?
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Itinerary 1 – Down Under Experience
Begin your vacation down under in Sydney – take in a performance at the beautiful Sydney Opera House, explore Darling Harbour, spend a day in the Blue Mountains, climb the famous Harbour Bridge. Next, fly to Adelaide, your base for Kangaroo Island, the Barossa Wine Country, and Coober Pedy. In the Outback, experience the incredible “Sounds of Silence” dinner as well as Ayers Rock at sunrise and the aboriginal culture. Cap the Down Under experience off at The Great Barrier Reef snorkeling or diving; explore the remarkable rainforest; meet a crocodile up close and personal. 15 days, starting at $5,496 including air. Book it! |
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Itinerary 2 – Live Aboard
Love diving? Want to spend as much possible time in the water viewing The Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants as you can? Then a live aboard is the answer. Staff of six; maximum 18 passengers. Air conditioned cabins with private bath and shower. 7 days with 23 dives (including four night dives), starting at $2,242 including transfers from Cairns. Book it! |
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Itinerary 3 – Customize It!
OK. We’ve given you a couple of ideas. Not quite what you are looking for? Whether you are a solo traveler or a group of 1000, like to rough it or prefer being pampered, we’ll create your dream vacation. We can tweak one of these, or start from scratch. Call today and we’ll get right on it. Book it! |
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