Here's Everything You Need To Know About Visiting The Great Barrier Reef

It's the same size of Japan, so there's a lot to know.

So, you want to see the Great Barrier Reef, hey?

Well, listen up because the reef is approximately 350,000 square kilometres and stretches 2,300km along the Queensland coast. It's around the same size as 70-million football fields and is made up of of 2,900 coral reefs, and 1,050 islands and cays.

The reef is home to over 1,500 species of fish, 215 types of birds, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and one of the world's most important dugong populations.

Yeah, it's pretty bloody special.

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There are a lot of towns and hubs that have access to the reef, so the best way to start planning your trip is to pick a section.

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The very bottom of the Great Barrier Reef starts four-hours drive north of Brisbane. It's referred to as the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Just above it is Mackay and the Whitsundays, then the Townsville region, followed by the Cairns area, and finally the tip, which is fondly referred to as the "wild north".

Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach, and Bundaberg all have decent regional airports with plenty of flights from major cities.

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No matter which area of the reef you choose, there's plenty to do. On Raine Island, you can dive with world’s largest green turtle population.

North of Port Douglas is this remote and relatively untouched area of Queensland. Referred to as the "wild north" what it lacks in human population it more than makes up for with wildlife. Yep, it's the island Sir David Attenborough visited in his recent Great Barrier Reef doco. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions makes the trip to the remote Raine Island, off the coast of the tip of Cape York to dive with the green turtles. The seven-day expedition departs from Cairns.

While you're there, swim with friendly minke whales

The Great Barrier Reef is the only place where the annual arrival of dwarf minke whales can be predicted, and was the first place to track them. Mike Ball runs diving expeditions that take divers to Lizard Island. From there divers may see sharks feed at Osprey Reef and swim with whales as they play in the warm water during winter.

If you're in Cairns, there are lots of ways to see the outer reef.

Cairns is all about tourism and you can do everything from inexpensive day trips to local islands Fitzroy or Green, to a day tour to the outer reef, to multi-day sailing trips. Reef Magic, Quiksilver, and Sunlover are three-day cruise companies that will take you to the outer edge.

And if you do visit Green Island, try going underwater without getting your hair wet.

Stick your face in a fishbowl and drop to the ocean floor to experience the reef in all its glory. Seawalker operate on Green Island and with Sunlover Reef Cruises.

Near Townsville, you can see one of the world’s most spectacular wreck dive sites.

SS Yongala, the 100-year-old wreck, has consistently been rated one of the top 10 wreck dives in the world. Tropical fish and other marine life have taken up residence inside the big ships shell, making it a playground for experienced divers.

Offshore from Townsville are a stack of dive sites more suited to beginners. Adrenaline Snorkel & Dive, Remote Area Dive, and Pleasure Divers will get you there.

Or, you can go on a self-guided snorkelling tour on Magnetic Island.

Just a 20-minute ferry from Townsville, head over to the island and explore Geoffrey Bay using this guide. If you'd rather explore with a tour company, Aquascene do a discovery cruise on the fringing reef or join a reef eco-tour and spot giant clams with a marine biologist.

Alternatively, Remote Area Dive will take you out on a day tour to snorkel the barely-touched Pelorus and Orpheus islands. Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive heads to Lodestone Reef, which is filled with massive bommies, bright blue starfish, and sea cucumbers.

If you head towards the Whitsunday islands, see if you can tick off all 74 of them.

Airlie Beach is the spot to access the Whitsundays. Jump aboard a multi-day sailing trip (this area has them in bulk) to explore the white sandy beaches, coral spectacles, and turquoise waters of this palm-fringed paradise.

Just seven of the 74 islands offer accommodation, ranging from basic campgrounds to five-star resorts. The most well-known and developed is Hamilton Island, which has its own airport.

And if you want to sleep on the reef, the water surrounding the Whitsundays is the place to do it.

Once you're there you'll never want to leave, so don't. Cruise Whitsundays have a bunch of swags they roll out on the deck of their permanent pontoon.

On the Southern Great Barrier Reef, you can rent a whole island.

Just a four-hour drive from Brisbane, the Southern Great Barrier Reef stretches from Bundaberg through to Gladstone, Rockhampton, 1770, and the Capricorn Coast.

Pumpkin Island, part of the Keppel Group of Islands 14km off the coast of Yepoon, has five eco-cottages and two beach bungalows that will sleep you and 33 of your closest friends. Rent the whole place for around $2,700 a night and have your own private island party in the middle of paradise.

And plan to be there when the turtles hatch at Mon Repos near Bundaberg.

Put Mon Repos in your diary. From November to March each year you can watch the mother turtles trek up the beach to lay eggs and then witness the tiny hatchlings make the journey by night to the water.

No matter where you are, try and visit any nearby tropical islands.

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If the idea of being out on a big boat floating in the ocean all day makes you feel ill, there are other ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef for a day.

If you can stomach the short boat ride out to Magnetic Island off Townsville you can spend most of the day on dry land, driving a cute convertible around the island, stopping to dive into the off-shore reefs whenever you feel. Same goes for the cute Fitzroy Island off Cairns.

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There are heaps of ways to explore the reef, regardless of where you go. Naturally, snorkelling is one of the top options.

This is the simplest and cheapest way to get up close to the bright coral and tropical fish, turtles, rays, and sharks. Most of the reef is only accessible via boat, but there are a number of small reef clusters just offshore from tropical islands that have coral just off the beach.

Departure towns: Pretty much every town offers snorkelling.

Scuba diving is another popular option.

The closest you're going to get to being a fish is scuba diving. Breathing underwater isn't natural, so once you've managed to master how to equalise, control your buoyancy, and propel yourself, you'll uncover a deeper world on the reef.

There are a number of operators that visit some of the world's top dive sites so you can do your first-time scuba course or gain advanced qualifications.

Departure towns: Townsville and Cairns.

As are day tours on a boat.

Around $200 will get you a full-day outer reef excursion that will typically stop at two to three sites, and allow plenty of time to get up and close with the reef. Lunch, snacks, and snorkel gear are generally included, with other activities such as scuba diving costing extra.

Departure towns: Cairns, Townsville, and Airlie Beach.

A more unique option is an underwater bike, also known as a Scuba Doo.

The Scuba Doo is an underwater scooter that you can control at ride at speeds of up to 2.5 knots.

Departure town: Cairns' Great Adventures is the only operator in Queensland.

Or you can take things to the next level and jump in a submarine.

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You can actually join a little yellow submarine adventure. Leave the sandy beaches of Fitzroy Island behind and stare out the fish-eye windows at schools of fish and the occasional turtle.

Departure town: Cairns.

Helicopters and sea planes are also fancy af options.

Seeing the reef up close is one thing, but once you're in the sky you'll finally start to understand the huge expanse that is the Great Barrier Reef. Helicopters can land on remote coral cays where it'll be just you, the ocean, and an Instagram opportunity.

Departure towns: Pretty much every town has a helicopter tour. While Airlie Beach, Cairns, and Bundaberg are best for scenic flights.

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The reef is a delicate ecosystem that has just undergone a coral bleaching crisis.

While visiting take care not to harm the reef. When out in the water never rest or stand on coral, and don't annoy the marine life. If you've got flippers on: watch where you're kicking. Also expect to pay a $6 reef tax when visiting. This money goes towards the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to help its ongoing efforts to protect the reef.

And always take your rubbish home with you.

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Bring a big ziplock bag to store all your rubbish in, including fruit scraps and biodegradable materials. Don't leave anything on an island or in a boat and always properly dispose of anything on the mainland.