How to plan your ultimate Great Barrier Reef holiday

When Sir David Attenborough refers to something as an “unforgettable and revelatory” experience, you know it’s got to be good. The world's most famous biologist himself classes the first time he donned scuba gear and dived on a coral reef as “the single most revelatory moment” of his life - and its a sentiment you'll come to understand after you meet the Reef yourself. 

Here are a few fascinating facts that will have you diving into a Great Barrier Reef holiday:

• The Great Barrier Reef stretches 2600km along the Queensland coast, and is so large it can be seen from space
  
• It’s home to thousands of animal species (10% of the world’s fish species live right here), including our iconic Great Eight
  
• The Great Barrier Reef has been inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1981
• There’s more than 900 islands scattered across the Reef

While its CV sounds impressive, there's nothing quite like the magic of seeing it for the first time. Are you ready?

Where to go

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system, and is made up of seven regions and five distinct precincts, each with their own characteristics and endemic wildlife.

To choose where to go, start with this guide to the Great Barrier Reef and decide where you want to start your adventure. Each offers something a little different - but here's a quick snapshot:

• Cairns & Port Douglas: The most popular gateway to the Reef, this region is easy to access with an international airport in Cairns. A huge range of day tours will take you to the Outer Reef, and from here you can also jump off into adventures in the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Most liveaboard dive experiences will depart from Cairns or Port Douglas.
• The Wild North: A more remote part of the Reef that stretches north from Port Douglas to Cape York and Torres Strait Islands. Perfect for those seeking a more rugged, remote escape.
• Townsville: A few hours' drive south of Cairns and with its own airport access, Townsville is a bustling coastal city, known for Magnetic Island and its world-class dive sites including SS Yongala.
• The Whitsundays: Further south again, The Whitsundays offers Queensland's iconic white sand beaches and pristine island escapes for honeymooners, families and adventurers. Come here to captain your own yacht on a sailing holiday, explore the Reef and play on Whitehaven Beach.
• Southern Great Barrier Reef: On the southernmost reaches of the Great Barrier Reef, this region covers coast of Gladstone, Capricorn and Bundaberg. The best way to experience it is to escape to its coral cay islands, such as Lady Musgrave, Lady Elliot, Wilson, Great Keppel and Heron Island. This is one of the best places on the Reef to witness turtle nesting and hatching.

When to go

The Great Barrier Reef never sleeps: it's always bustling with marine activity, and is always ready for an adventure. And being in the tropics, you'll enjoy year-round warm weather in this endless summer.

Peak season on the Great Barrier Reef runs from May - October, when rain is minimal, water is just-right and our coastal cities are a hive of activity. 

Visiting November - April is great for underwater adventures due to fantastic water clarity. Just don your protective suit before you dive in. Above the surface, things can be a little wetter at this time of year but it's when waterfalls will be at their peak, and the rainforests at their most lush. 

A great way to time your trip instead is to plan around the marine life you'd like to encounter here on the Great Barrier Reef: 

• November/December – turtle nesting
• January-March – turtle hatching
• July-October – humpback whales
• June/July – dwarf minke whales
• October/November - coral spawning
• Winter – manta rays

Seasonal milestones don’t just happen below the surface, either. If you’re the kind of traveller who prefers to show up where the party is at, synchronise your diary with one of these Great Barrier Reef events.

What to do

Whether you’re a snorkeller, avid diver or have never swum without a personal floatation device before, the Great Barrier Reef is yours to explore.

It’s a destination where no two days ever look the same and there's always something new to experience, whether you’re travelling as a couple, with little ones or big kids in tow.

And if you’re not a natural water baby, don’t worry: there are plenty of ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef without even getting wet, including options for those with accessibility needs. 

If you’re here to make a splash, there’s no better place to try underwater sports for the first time than on your Great Barrier Reef holiday. If you’re new to wearing a mask and fins, check out this first timers’ guide to snorkelling. To dive a little deeper, earn your dive certificate on the Great Barrier Reef and access all the world-class diving on offer.

And if you want to help a hand with the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef, take a look at these citizen science hoidays.

Where to eat and drink

It's not just below the surface where things are bustling: the Reef's many gateway cities boast vibrant food scenes that take advantage of our world-class seafood and surrounding farmlands. 

Treat your taste buds and refuel for more Reef adventures by bookmarking some of our best advice:

• Unforgettable dining experiences on the Great Barrier Reef
• Best restaurants in Cairns and Port Douglas
• Best restaurants in Airlie Beach and The Whitsundays
• Where to eat in Townsville

Planning to explore the Great Barrier Reef from an island instead? Luxury resorts such as Lizard Island, Orpheus Island and Hamilton Island's qualia are known for next level dining experiences. On Orpheus Island, they’ll even cook your catch from a fishing trip - it doesn’t get fresher than that!

Where to stay

There’s no shortage of places to stay on a holiday to the Great Barrier Reef, whether you’re basing yourself on the mainland, staying at an island resort, camping, or actually sleeping on the reef itself.

For our breakdown of the best accommodation for each precinct on the Great Barrier Reef, head here. 

If you haven't quite decided which precinct of the Reef to visit, these incredible accommodation options might steer you in the right direction - whether you want to snorkel from dawn ‘til dusk, swing in a hammock with a good book, or have action-packed activities at your fingertips. 

• If you want to snorkel all day and learn about the Reef from marine biologists: Lady Elliot Island
• If you want to be close to all the activities and have holiday options: choose one of the best hotels in Cairns
• If you want to explore the Reef on an island getaway: stay on one of Queensland's best islands
• If you want to stay in the destination dubbed the heart of the Great Barrier Reef: look no further than our Whitsundays Island Accommodation Guide
• If you want to rent an island all to yourself: discover these 7 islands you can rent like a rock star
  
• If you want to turn your Great Barrier Reef adventure into a sailing holiday: check out how to go bareboating

The important thing to remember is that you can do the Great Barrier Reef on any budget.

Can’t decide? Get your pen ready and start ticking off this list of things to do on your Great Barrier Reef holiday.