Great is an understatement.

Advantages: natural outstanding beauty
Disadvantages: remote, expensive

...They say it is the only living thing that can be seen from space. They say it is the largest living thing on Earth. They say it is an area of outstanding Natural Beauty. I am not too sure about the first two claims, but whoever they are, they are absolutely spot on about the last. ***Background*** There is some dispute as to how big The Great Barrier Reef ("GBR") is but it is somewhere between 2300-2600 km long and consists of between 2700-2900 individual reefs and 900 islands. Each individual reef is made up of billions of individual coral polyps between 3-50mm in size and colony sizes between 75mm-1500mm. As each polyp dies, new growth starts on top of it building the size of the colony and the GBR is around 600,000 years old although the modern reef started growing on the older reef platform around 20,000 years ago...

TheWizardsSleeve 08.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Herron Island, Great Barrier Reef

Advantages: A wonderful holiday destination with great facilities and activities.
Disadvantages: Expensive, but worth it.

...There really is no other place in the world quite like the Great Barrier Reef. There are so many activities and opportunities for visitors that whatever time you have on Herron Island is not enough. There is a wide range of things to do, from whale-spotting to sitting at a bar watching the sun go down with a cocktail you've never even heard of!! The most obvious attraction of Herron Island and the Great Barrier Reef is diving and snorkling. Just off the beach there is an entirely different world just waiting to be viewed. You have to make sure it stops there though, as some coral can cause nasty cuts and many of the marine animals can pack a poisonous punch, such as the Stonefish or Stingray. The easiest way to avoid injury is just not to touch anything! Slightly further into the sea, where diving equipment is necessary, the reef...

John-Q-Public 30.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Green & Great

Advantages: Good value, lots to see
Disadvantages: Beach was a bit dissapointing

...lovely. Being in such close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef it would have been almost criminal not to go and have a look but my friend and I had different ideas of what we were looking for in a reef trip. I was looking for a boat trip with some snorkelling, I wasn't too bothered about doing a dive but I thought a snorkel was a must. My friend on the other hand is not a big fan of snorkelling or diving and she was looking for maybe a glass bottom boat or something of that nature. I was confidant we would find something that would meet both of our requirements so I went and spoke to our very helpful receptionist at the resort and amongst some others she gave be a flyer for Big Cat Cruises to Green Island. Green Island was formed by a build up of sand on a coral cay. Over the years, between the birds and the wind, the seeds...

Looby5 22.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Green Island, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef

Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef

Advantages: A warm tropical place, with plenty of activities and extensive scenery.
Disadvantages: Can end up being expensive and sun block is a must!

...Hamilton Island is probably the most well known Whitsunday Island, located near the Great Barrier Reef. For me, Hamilton Island was one of those annual family holidays that would usually take place in September. Depending on where you live (locally or internationally) it will require at least two flights, one on a domestic flight to Brisbane airport and the other a charter flight to Hamilton Island itself (yes it does have an airport although very small). Take note that if you plan on staying at another island in the area you will have to fly to Hamilton Island and then catch a ferry from there. Accommodation is extremely flexible to suit different types of families and budgets with beach fronted apartments (up to 5 people) and rainforest bungalow retreats. Getting around the island by foot is no huge drama, however if you are lazy...

hatchepsut 11.12.2003 · Read review
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Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

The Reef - a hive of activity and experience

Advantages: Such an unforgettable experience
Disadvantages: Cost (well not when parents pay!)

...The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 and is the world's largest marine protected area in the world. It is approximately 2,300 kilometres long, running from just north of Bundaberg to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula. A lot of people think that the Great Barrier Reef is one massive reef in the middle of the ocean. It is actually made up of over 2,700 coral reefs! The Reef is also quite a young reef compared to many other is the world at around 500,000 years old. The GBF is home to such classes as corals, anemones and sea pens and has waters ranging in temperatures from 18 - 33 °C. The individual corals range from 3 - 56 mm in diameter or height; while colony size varies from 75 mm -1500 mm (1.5 m) in width, height or length. They're massive really! The animals that live among the reef are spectacular...

ronnie1955 14.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Want to pet a huge blue fish?!

Advantages: You get to see the Great Barrier Reef
Disadvantages: All this tour company want is your money

...Reef Magic Cruise - Cairns (Marine World) When I was in Cairns I decided I wanted to take a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. I had snorkelled previously at the Whitsunday Island and enjoyed it very much so thought it would be nice to have another go at snorkelling but this time out in the open ocean. I booked the Reef Magic Cruise with the YHA, which was hassle free and I only had to walk a short distance to the Marina, which was the meeting place. It took us approximately 15 minutes. It was simple to locate and checking in was easy. To give you a rough idea on the price 1 Australian Dollar is equal to 0.483602 sterling pounds. It costs $165 adult, $85 Child (4-14 years), $415 family (2 adults and 2 children). Children under the age of 4 are free. All these prices include all charges (Government Environmental Management...

DeniseKelly40 02.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Reef Magic Cruise, Great Barrier Reef

Cabins in Heaven

Advantages: Peaceful cabins in tranquil surroundings, beautiful beach
Disadvantages: Remote, stinger season

...on the beach, popping back to the pool for a swim (you can't dip in the sea during Stinger season), to the internet in one corner of the restaurant to check emails (it's slow, expensive and doesn't let you upload photos. Don't bother), to the pool table beside the PCs for a quick game and then back to the beach. If you're feeling especially energetic you could join in morning yoga on the beach, go for a horse ride, indulge in jungle surfing, go on a cruise to the reef or hike into the village or up the coast. You could do your laundry on site for the lowest price I ever came across ($3 total for wash and dry as the dyers were free) or play a board game from the bar - battle of the sexes, Pictionary or Scrabble which I won when I finally managed to convince my partner that 'fob' was a real word - just as well given what we were betting. For writing...

zoe_page 15.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Cape Tribulation Beach House, Great Barrier Reef

Home of the Dingoes

Advantages: Great fun, gorgeous lakes and veiws
Disadvantages: Camping - no showers or toilets

...many of the wild Dingos in this area you are warned not to take any food down to the lake and to only eat in the closed of picnic areas close to the car park. The Dingos are perfectly safe but if provoked they may attack so the best thing to do is follow the rules. Ship Wreck - Fraser Island is famous for ship wrecks and the remains of one of the most famous wrecks The Maheno still remains on the island. On our way back from India Heads we stopped to have a look and it really is a site to see. India Head - From the top of India Heads you will have great views and sometimes you can see sharks and whales swimming in the sea below. India Head was names by Captain Cook. Champagne Pools - These can be found just north of India Head and are a great spot for swimming. The ocean comes crashing over the rocks into sand pools creating...

LIZKEMPO 13.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Fraser Island Retreat, Great Barrier Reef

Such an average barrier!

Advantages: Tops up your moisturizer
Disadvantages: Price

...This is another review about a Dermalogica product which I do like, I cannot say I love it as I think it can be easily replaced but it is worth letting you know about. When your skin is dry,especially during winter periods, and you want an extra moisture and barrier on top of your normal moisturizer, this might be the product for you. WHAT IS IT? *********** This product is described as an anhydrous (waterless) moisturizer that just melts away in your skin. It is meant to smooth, repair any damage caused by pollution, the environment, temperature extremes, heavy make up, irritating cosmetic products, stress, poor diet, harsh detergents used on your skin, hormonal factors. The list is pretty long but as you can see this looks like a versatile product aiming to repair damage. It contains Anti-Ozonate complex to protect skin from...

petal99 29.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Dermalogica Barrier Repair

DayDream Island/Paradise

Advantages: Great to unwind
Disadvantages: none

...is the most advanced Hydrotherapeutic,salon equipment and also after you under went this wonderful treatment to unwind you can the enjoy refreshments on the exclusive balcony. There is an Open Air Cinema where they show films 3/4 times a week. So if you are staying at Airlie Beach or near by this is worthwhile to visit and if you want to be pampered more just stay on the island for an extra special time and enjoy all what the island has to offer. You are also near the Great Barrier Reef and you can arrange daytrips to go and see that or visit the many other islands which make up the Whitsundays. Next time I certainly will be staying on the island as this time I only had time to visit it for the day....

ruth1957 28.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Daydream Island Resort, Great Barrier Reef