The Great Barrier Reef is a beautiful, natural phenomenon, easily accessed from Australia’s east coast. It’s the perfect place to dive, swim and explore on an exciting getaway. One of the best places to explore the Great Barrier Reef is Townsville, Australia. There, you can stay in a resort, bungalow, holiday house, motel or apartment located steps from the ocean.
Locals attest to the attractiveness of staying in Townsville, as there are many shops and things to do, but with a mere 500,000 people, the area is not overpopulated. From Townsville, you can explore the Great Barrier Reef in a number of ways, including their unique Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium with the largest living coral in the world.
A huge thanks to Crowdsourced Explorer for providing this guest post.
What you’ll see in Townsville
From Townsville, you can experience the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, which has some of the most amazing sights of the whole reef. You can go all the way to the seafloor to see many kinds of colourful coral.
The clear water allows for you to see all kinds of marine life, including manta rays, turtles, parrot fish, clownfish, angelfish, stingrays and reef sharks. If you dive deep enough, you’ll see giant clams, rare whales and over 1,000 other types of fish.
Snorkel and Dive in Townsville
If you want to swim along the reef and catch a glimpse of some of its wonders, there are many spots for snorkelling in Townsville.
You can rent snorkelling equipment and explore on your own or take a boat ride to Magnetic Island or other islands for a more guided experience. This area of the reef is perfect for getting your feet wet as a snorkeler or diver, as you can view coral by diving a few feet in some areas.
There are many boats in the area that will take you to explore different famous areas of the reef such as Lodestone Reef.
There are a wealth of opportunities for guided explorations, too. If you do decide to go solo, make sure you have good directions and someone who knows the waters well keeping an eye out for you.
If you want to go a little deeper, you can rent diving equipment. Unless you’re an advanced diver, you’ll also want to hire an instructor. There are numerous great dive sites to explore, including the SS Yongala, which is a well-preserved historic shipwreck. It’s about 100 feet (30 meters) under the sea and covers about 330 feet (107 meters) of the ocean floor -this dive is not for beginners!
One experience you don’t want to miss is the underwater art museums. There are two well-known ones near Townsville: The Strand and John Brewer Reef. Sculptor Jason de Cairns Taylor has created stunning displays you can swim around and explore.
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Fly from Townsville to the Great Barrier Reef
If you’d rather explore the reef from a different perspective, you could take a helicopter over the magnificent waters. Though it’s expensive, it’s a unique and unforgettable experience.
You’ll see the whole reef at once and many of the beautiful islands in the area, too. Many helicopter trips stop at one of these islands so that you can snorkel and grab a bite to eat. Helicopters can also quickly get you to more remote parts of the reef, such as Wheeler Reef.
Cruise along to the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville
There are many cruises along the reef. The high season for these cruises is between May and September, and each sailing will give you the chance to explore islands such as Palm Island, Pelorus Island and Orpheus Island. Along the way, you’ll see dance shows or historical sights, eat great food, and enjoy magical snorkelling.
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Explore the Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium
One of the most unique draws in Townsville is the Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. This aquarium offers a holistic educational experience as you view the world’s largest living reef.
Here, you’ll get an amazing tour by experts and see hundreds of different kinds of fish. The biodiversity is truly astounding, including 88 kinds of sharks! You’ll see the animals up close and personal with the touch tank, too.
***The aquarium is undergoing construction and will re-open late 2023.
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Sail from Townsville
Another way to enjoy the reef is by sailing. From Townsville, you can take a yacht to one of the surrounding islands. From the yacht, you can swim, dive or even go fishing. You can take a pleasure sail instead and enjoy the reef at night, too, with a nice dinner and glass of wine.
If you want to know more about Townsville and many other special places, check out what locals are saying on CrowdsourcedExplorer.com