THE CORAL SEA & GREAT BARRIER REEF

Travel eastward from the Gladstone Region’s 150 kilometre coastline and you enter an amazing marine world of great scenic attraction and offering ideal sailing cruising conditions for skippered sailing holidays. Many colourful reefs and coral cays are visible in crystal clear waters located in the southern-most section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and far enough from coastal influence to ensure pristine snorkelling and scuba diving as well as excellent sailing and cruising conditions for skippered charters.

The Reef must be seen to be believed – whether during the clear blue days of winter, or in the summer months when aquatic life is most active and the number of seabirds and turtles appears endless. There are several ways to experience the reef – visit scuba diving resorts, plan a day cruise or arrange a skippered sailing holiday to go fishing and diving.

Heron Island, where Voyages operate the Heron Island resort is a jewel within an extensive complex of reefs. It is known worldwide for quality diving, as well as snorkelling, fishing or skippered sailing holidays, reef walking and nature walks. From a range of quality accommodation, you step straight to the reef where the waters are teeming with colourful life. Between October and March, green turtles laying their eggs are joined by up to 100,000 terns and mutton birds nesting and raising their young. Island access is by fast reef catamaran from the marina, or by a scenic helicopter flight. For holiday bookings contact us.

Further south is Lady Musgrave Island, another coral cay where visitors snorkel and dive in the protected warm waters of a large calm reef lagoon. A day sailing cruising trip to the island operates several days a week from the Town of 1770. This features about five hours around the uninhabited island, with a buffet lunch. Lady Musgrave Island is also accessible from Bundaberg with day skippered charters departing five days a week.

Island camping is permitted in several locations including Lady Musgrave and North West Islands out from Gladstone. These should be pre-planned, with a National Park permit and self-sufficiency in food, water and fuel required. Visitors have the opportunity to organise skippered charters and skippered sailing holidays for island visits, fishing and diving around more than 20 reefs and islands of the Capricorn and Bunker groups. Holidays Allover can assist with skippered charters, just contact us.

Underwater sightseeing, including reef diving, reveals the wonders of the reef extensively and close-up. With current certificates, arrangements can be made by us for diving operators or skippered charters.