|
Great Barrier Reef Description: The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly the most famous marine-protected area in the world and the largest World Heritage area according to UNESCO. Covering a geographical area of 35 million hectares (86 million acres) and stretching approximately 2000km (1243 miles) along the coast of northeastern Australia from Budaberg to Cape York, the Reef is bigger in size than the states of Victoria and Tasmania combined; it is, however, not a continuous barrier, but a maze of small islands and coral reefs ranging in size from one to 100,000 hectares (247,104 acres). The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world and home to approximately 400 different types of coral. It is also an area of outstanding natural beauty and home to around 1500 different species of fish, 4000 types of mollusc and many endangered species, such as the dugong, as well as other rare animals and birds, including marine worms and reef herons. There are also more than 30 historic shipwrecks in the area and a number of archaeological sites which are of Aboriginal origin. Contact Addresses: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2-68 Flinders Street, PO Box 1379, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia Tel: (07) 4750 0700. Fax: (07) 4772 6093. E-mail: registry@gbrmpa.gov.au Website: www.gbrmpa.gov.au Transportation: Air: Brisbane Airport, Cairns Airport; many domestic airlines fly to national airports located closer to the Reef on the Australian mainland. Water: Catamaran: The Great Barrier Reef can only be reached by boat; tour operators can arrange transfer from mainland Australia to resort islands via catamaran. Opening Times: Daily 24 hours. Admission Fees: AS$4 per day into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
