Does the Great Barrier Reef land a spot on your travel bucket list? One thing's for sure - it definitely deserves it! It’s spectacular, breathtaking, and one of the most diverse spots on the planet. How much do you know about the 7th wonder of the natural world?
Here are 15 mind-blowing facts about the Great Barrier Reef:
- It is the world’s most extensive reef system
- It’s REALLY enormous
- It can be viewed from space
- The Great Barrier Reef is 500,000 years old
- You can find 2 World Heritage sites here
- It is home to 900 islands
- It is a diver’s haven
- Around 5,000 marine species call it home
- You can meet the Great Eight here
- It is also home to land animals
- Even prehistoric animals
- Watch out for coral spawning
- Perfect for visiting even during the winter
- It needs protection
- There are tons of safe tours and cruises on the Great Barrier Reef
Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef! Credits: @greatbarrierreefaustralia
1. It is the world’s most extensive reef system
No, the Great Barrier Reef is not a single organism. It is an expansive reef system home to around 3,000 individual reefs and more than 400 coral species. In fact, it makes up 10% of the world’s coral reefs!
2. It’s REALLY enormous
Get to see firsthand how massive the Great Barrier Reef is!
Trust us when we say the Great Barrier Reef is massive. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres along ⅔ off the coast of Queensland. Can you imagine that it is actually bigger than Tasmania and Victoria combined?
Go on a full-day Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns, and see it for yourself! Start your journey from Cairns and embark on a cruise aboard a modern superyacht that will take you to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. You’ll be given five hours of free time where you can snorkel and dive to witness the vibrant marine life that resides in this wonderland.
3. It can be viewed from space
This magnificent ecosystem is so large, it can be seen from space! Reefs are easy to spot from above, thanks to the contrast between the shallow reef surface and the ocean’s dark depths. Plus, its size contributes a lot to its visibility!
Watch different colours unfold underwater!
4. The Great Barrier Reef is 500,000 years old
The living coral reef system is sitting on ancient structures which could be up to 20 million years old!
Can’t wait to see just how gigantic this World Heritage Site is? Join this four-day and three-night tour around Cairns and the Reef because one day is just not enough! Day two is when you explore the Great Barrier Reef aboard Ocean Spirit, a 32-metre sailing Catamaran. You’ll also get to visit Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway on this trip.
This view awaits you at the Great Barrier Reef! Credits: @seeshots from @gbrmarinepark
5. You can find 2 World Heritage sites here
One surprising fact about the Great Barrier Reef is that it is actually the location of another World Heritage Site. The Reef’s coastline meets Daintree Rainforest, the oldest surviving rainforest in the world!
Planning to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest? This two-day combo tour lets you explore both in one hassle-free package. Spend two full days snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and discovering Daintree Rainforest with a local guide. It even comes with a PADI certified dive instructor for novice divers!
Sit back and observe the awe-inspiring sights of the Great Barrier Reef!
6. It is home to 900 islands
The GBR is not just coral reefs. It also has 900 tropical islands (600 are continental!) in its system, home to sea turtles, birds, and pristine coastlines.
Did you know that there is another way to explore the Great Barrier Reef? To easily spot these islands, we suggest you hop aboard a flight experience to view the Reef from a different perspective! With this scenic flight from Port Douglas, you’ll catch sight of the fantastic Low Isles and spot Snapper Island from a distance. You can choose a quick 30-minute flight or go for an extended 45-minute tour to make the most out of your trip.
Even beginners can try diving at the Great Barrier Reef! Credits: @greatbarrierreefaustralia
7. It is a diver’s haven
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced diver, you’re spoilt for choice here. It is a well-known fact that the Great Barrier Reef offers tons of fantastic diving locations, such as North Horn! The Reef is shallow with an average depth of 35 metres, so you can easily spot marine wildlife and snorkel for leisure.
Keen to try it for yourself? Book this diving trip and cruise tour from Cairns, and have a day filled with underwater fun! Sail from Cairns towards two outer reef locations, where you can snorkel to meet sea turtles and colourful coral cays. If you want to dive deeper, you may add in a scuba dive session.
Greet a turtle along the way! Credits: @greatbarrierreefaustralia
8. Around 5,000 marine species call it home
Another impressive feat of this World Heritage site is its outstanding biodiversity! More than a thousand Great Barrier Reef fish species, 30 whale species, and around 10,000 dugongs can be found here.
If you want to meet the whole ensemble of Finding Nemo, you might get that chance with this adventure tour at Cape Tribulation! Spend half of your day swimming and snorkelling on two spectacular locations at Mackay and Undine Reefs, where you’ll be greeted by thousands of vibrant marine life. Tours leave at 8:30 a.m. for the morning tour and at 12:30 p.m. for the afternoon session.
Catch sight of bump head parrotfish! Credits: @greatbarrierreefaustralia
9. You can meet the Great Eight here
Familiar with the Great Eight? It comprises the reef’s most spectacular marine creatures and is the aquatic counterpart to the African safari’s Big Five. When snorkelling, you might encounter Queensland’s Great Eight, which includes clownfish (Nemo!), Giant Clams, Manta Rays, the distinct Maori Wrasse, Potato Cods, sharks, turtles, and whales.
Join this 3-day Outback Adventure where reef meets rainforest and caves for the ultimate wildlife adventure. A day is allotted for each stop, so you’ll have enough time to experience each location to its fullest!
Say hi to Nemo! Credits: @greatbarrierreefaustralia
10. It is also home to land animals
If you think the Reef is only home to sea animals, this Great Barrier Reef fact might surprise you! Six species of sea turtles and 215 species of birds also call the Reef their home. Most of them nest in the Reef or on the tropical islands.
Watch the turquoise sea unfold beneath you in this Great Barrier Reef flight experience from Cairns. You’ll even catch sight of picturesque locations such as Green Island, Arlington Reef, and Upolu Sand Cay. Plus, if you’re lucky, you might spot humpbacks during their annual migration season!
Make sure to pack your cameras for these postcard-perfect shots!
11. Even prehistoric animals
Another Great Barrier Reef fact that will blow your mind is that it is also home to prehistoric animals! Try to spot the unique nautilus, which is a distinct cousin to the squid. Did you know that this species remained relatively unchanged over the last 500 million years?
Get the best of the Great Barrier Reef with this snorkel, dive, and flight day tour that lets you experience the best of both worlds: above the sky and below the depths of the ocean! Jump aboard a 35-metre modern superyacht, and get over five hours of fun snorkel time plus a 10-minute scenic flight.
Get to know more about Great Barrier Reef trivia!
12. Watch out for coral spawning
Ever wondered how the Great Barrier Reef corals reproduce? They release eggs and sperm simultaneously, creating a cloud-like sheet in the water that rises to the surface to fertilise. This phenomenon is called coral spawning, and it happens annually every November!
If you schedule your visit during this month, you might even witness it happening before your eyes. To increase your chances, get front-row seats to the majestic views of the Great Barrier Reef with this reef cruise and scenic helicopter flight tour, which will take you to Moore Reef. You can even include convenient round-trip transfers to and from Cairns CBD!
Soak under the sun aboard the Quicksilver!
13. Perfect for visiting even during the winter
While visiting the Reef during the summer months is a joy, planning your trip during winter also has its own perks. During the winter, you’re less prone to stingers, plus you might encounter humpbacks on their migration route along the Great Barrier Reef!
Up for an experience of a lifetime? This Outer Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas will take you to Agincourt Reef at the edge of the Continental Shelf. Here, you can snorkel and marvel at the majestic underwater world, or if you prefer to stay dry, you can view the corals from the semi-submersible viewing tour.
Plan your visit to the Great Barrier Reef today!
14. It needs protection
Since part of our world’s wildlife relies on healthy coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is considered crucial for our planet's survival. For years now, increased efforts on protecting the Great Barrier Reef have been initiated by the Australian government and other conservation organisations. In fact, part of the profits in reef tourism goes to the protection of the World Heritage Site.
Learn more about why the reef system is important while experiencing it firsthand in this fly and cruise combo from Port Douglas. You can take your pick from flying to the Reef then cruising back to Port Douglas, or vice-versa. Either way, you get spectacular views of the Great Barrier Reef corals, as well as close encounters with the marine wildlife it houses.
Learn how to scuba dive at the actual Reef!
15. There are tons of safe tours and cruises on the Great Barrier Reef
While human interaction can contribute to the degradation of the Great Barrier Reef, reef tourism actually contributes a lot to its protection and conservation. Plus, it’s vital to know that when more people are conscious about the Reef, more would be motivated to help it.
We urge you to join this five-day scuba dive course by PADI if you want to learn how to snorkel and scuba dive without disrupting the fish and marine species. Get the chance to learn from certified dive instructors at the actual Great Barrier Reef and other dive sites around Cairns. You will receive a PADI Gold Open Water Certificate at the end of the course that will turn you from novice diver to certified open water scuba diver!
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