What is the best way to get to the Great Barrier Reef?
The best way to get around the Great Barrier Reef is by car or boat, depending on where you plan to spend the majority of your time. If you’re on the mainland, renting a car is the best way to get to and from the attractions in and around Cairns.
Is it better to go to the reef from Cairns or Port Douglas?
Looking towards the ocean, Port Douglas is closer to the Outer Great Barrier Reef than Cairns, which can make for a shorter trip. However, with the wider variety of tour operators in Cairns available that feature high-speed vessels, the time difference is mostly negligible.
How much is the ferry from Cairns to Green Island?
Green Island ferry departs several times a day from Cairns. Choose from a half-day or a full-day trip or combine the Island with the Great Barrier Reef. Prices start $88 for an adult, $44 for a child or bring the whole family for $220.
How far out to sea is the Great Barrier Reef?
The Great Barrier Reef extends in roughly a northwest-southeast direction for more than 1,250 miles (2,000 km), at an offshore distance ranging from 10 to 100 miles (16 to 160 km), and has an area of some 135,000 square miles (350,000 square km).
Are there crocodiles on Great Barrier Reef?
Saltwater crocodiles are typically found in the murky waterways, rivers, lakes, and swamps in the Northern region of Australia. However, on occasion, they can be found in the ocean region, with the beaches and islands in the Great Barrier Reef known to have an occasional croc sighting.
How much does the Great Barrier Reef make a year?
The Great Barrier Reef is an economic powerhouse, contributing more than $6.4 billion each year to the Australian economy and around 64,000 full-time jobs.
How much money is spent at the Great Barrier Reef?
More than the jobs it supports and the value it adds to the economy each year, the Great Barrier Reef is valued at $56 billion as an Australian economic, social and iconic asset. That’s more than 12 Sydney Opera Houses, or the cost of building Australia’s new submarines.
Why is the Great Barrier Reef one of the 7 Wonders of the World?
One of the world’s seven natural wonders, it is a prized World Heritage Area, the largest coral reef system and the biggest living structure on the planet. It sprawls over a jaw-dropping 344,400 square kilometres – an area so large that it can be seen from space.