Ever since learning about the Great Barrier Reef in elementary school, I’ve always wanted to visit. And finally I was able to go down under and do so. I chose to explore the huge reef’s Whitsunday Islands part, meaning I headed out by fast going boat from Airlie Beach to Cruise Whitsundays’ Reefworld, atop Hardy Reef. A trip that took around 3 hours one way, and that due to very choppy seas made me feel not too good – I basically had to go to sleep to somehow make it through 🙁 On the way out the helpful staff onboard answered every bit of question you might have had to make you fully ready to get the most out of your time once there. At the reef the boat anchored up next to a pontoon, where all of the activities took place. From here you’d get ready to snorkel and dive, or explore the world below the surface without getting wet with the underwater observatory and the semi-submersible. For first time snorkelers and divers (you could do an introductory dive), it looked like a very safe environment to take the plunge. For snorkelers there were ropes across the waters to help when you needed to take a breather. I didn’t dive, which I sometimes regret, but I did go snorkeling. And unfortunately I wasn’t impressed… I don’t know why, I just thought it was going to be a lot better… I found the observatory and submarine a bit boring too. A good thing the sub trip was a fairly short one 😉 While at the pontoon you were still able to make use of the boat. Lunch was served here, and its facilities always open for you to use.
I went with Cruise Whitsundays. It definitely wasn’t cheap, but making sure you have and use a backpacker card (I had a Hostelling International card) you get a sizable discount – actually the biggest deduction I’ve ever gotten using the card 🙂
Website: gbrmpa.gov.au
I’ve been diving a few times on the Great Barrier Reef and loved it! Sorry that it was a little lackluster for you – sometimes we build things up really well and a place can’t live up. Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin
It was built up very well, for sure 🙂 What parts of the reef have you visited? Maybe better elsewhere.
I love that photo of you, Bea. I absolutely love snorkelling. The best snorkelling I’ve found in the world was in Indonesia. I would love to do it at the Great Barrier Reef one day. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Thanks! Happy girl gone travelling 🙂 I’ve gotten very fond of snorkelling. Still not the best at it 🙂 I fell in love with Aitutaki (Cook Islands), insane visibility. Great Barrier Reef would have been a letdown after that, good I did it prior to Aitutaki 🙂
Wow, always so wonderful when you get to fulfill a dream! #farawayfiles
Yes, it is always unreal to tick off those very top bucket list items!
How was the visibility Bea? I think that makes a huge difference when you are snorkelling or diving. I’d be interested in how many people were on the trip too. Thanks for joining #FarawayFiles
It was a big catamaran taking us out, meaning there’s plenty of people. The pontoon is pretty big too, so it didn’t feel too crowded. But it is no small affair… There was one big reef/rock/coral you could swim around and over. There the visibility is good, but off the reef you stare into the deep, and since I don’t dive, I have no idea what the visibility was for divers. Yes, visibility makes a huge difference! Which I discovered on the Cook Islands/Aitutaki, which was amazing! I would say you can get way better places to snorkel than the GBR. It’s more like ticked that box… Maybe it’s better at other parts of the reef though.
It’s a great day trip but so $$ (we’re 5 so it’s almost $1000! We also sailed out to the Low Isles where you get some beach time and snorkelling which was pretty good – and the romance of the sailing made for a superb day.
Yes, it’s definitely not cheap. Glad I got the discount, since I wasn’t too impressed with the experience. Sailing sounds great. Never been on a sailboat. Not sure if I can handle several days at sea on a small boat 🙂 Could do that when I was younger 🙂