Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Exciting Yacht Charter Location

Located off of the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, extending from the top of Queensland down the coast with fringe and outer reefs touching the Whitsunday Islands. Today, much of the Great Barrier Reef is protected as a natural park, and in 1981 was named a World Heritage Site. Crewed yacht charter is one of the best ways to see and privately explore this exciting and diverse eco area.

Besides supporting an outstanding living coral display, the waters are also teeming with marine life, including 6 different varieties of sea turtles, over 1500 varieties of tropical fish, dolphins, porpoise and even whales. Along the surface of the water are a series of deserted sandy cays, ideal for that private beach picnic in the middle of nowhere! In fact, there are miles of sandy cays, reef formations, and fringing reefs to explore, and often without another yacht in sight, for your own private tropical paradise.

Queensland has several great port towns, including Cairnes, and Port Douglas, within easy cruising distance of the Great Barrier Reef. Both Cairnes and Port Douglas are good locations from which to embark and disembark on your crewed yacht charter and are easily reached by air flights out of Sydney. Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is very familiar with the yachts that are available for crewed yacht charter in this stunning location. We have visited the marinas and have cruised in the Coral Sea around the Great Barrier Reef. Following is a suggested itinerary that we recommend for exploring this exciting cruising area.

Fly into Cairns to meet your yacht. After settling in set sail past the mouth of the Daintree River and enjoy spectacular views of the adjacent World Heritage rainforest. At the end of the day, relax with a cocktail while enjoying a magnificent sunset behind the Alexander Range.

Head off to the outer reef to spend the day snorkeling or diving among the profusion of corals and colorful reef fish. Enjoy a barbeque dinner of freshly caught lobster or delicious reef fish served with fresh salads and fine Australian wines. Australian vineyards are producing some great wines. Why not explore the Great Barrier Reef and explore the wine labels of Australia? If you are diving, of course, you must be very careful about how much and when you might drink alcoholic beverages before the next dive. Your chef will certainly include a great selection of fresh caught fish and shellfish, if this is your interest, plucked straight out of the water.

After breakfast cruise north along the Ribbon Reefs. The Ribbon Reefs are a series of ten long reefs which are all relatively close to the surface and in some areas, where the reef pokes through the surface of the water, sandy cays have appeared, just waiting for you to explore. This is a great area for both snorkelers and divers. Island hop along the inner reef islands, which provide a chance to stroll beautiful beaches at sunset.

The Ribbon Reefs are a very special location for yacht charter, as the reefs are around 35 miles offshore, which is too far for one of the day dive boats to venture, that bring people out for the day to dive. Therefore, you may find yourself out on the ribbon Reefs in solitary splendor, enjoying an area only enjoyed by a few. Spend another day cruising along the Ribbon Reefs as you explore the outer reefs. This is the day to spend hours diving or snorkeling, as it is rare to see this much and this variety of coral and underwater life. There are miles of lush coral gardens, and numerous fish, usually swimming by in schools too plentiful to count. This truly is an underwater wonderland. If you like to fish, this reef area is also known as a great game fishing area.

Take a cruise to the Jewel of the Reef, Lizard Island. Walk to the same lookout used by Captain James Cook, who discovered Australia. Lizard Island has spectacular clam gardens, which are coral gardens full of amazing colored giant clams, some three feet in width. Snorkel or dive in the clam gardens to see the brilliant neon colors that adorn the clams along their mouth. You will be amazed that these colors are actually found in nature and at how beautiful the clams are, especially all in a grouping together. Lizard Island is also home to an exclusive resort. You are welcomed ashore for a cocktail or dinner at the resort´s excellent restaurant, The Osprey.

No visit to the Ribbon Reefs and Lizard Island would be complete without a snorkel or dive at the Cod Hole. World famous potato cod, weighing up to 1000 pounds, gather in this area and can be hand fed. You´ll not soon forget this incredible experience of swimming among these huge, gentle creatures, and may find it hard to leave them behind.

Enjoy another day of diving, snorkeling, swimming, or hiking ashore at Lizard Island. There are over 24 beaches with powdery white sand. Yours may be the only footprints you see on your beach. This is a lovely location to have a beach picnic.

You can disembark here at Lizard Island for a flight back to Cairns. The 60 minute flight is available 2 times a day and flies low over the Great Barrier Reef for a stunning aerial view. Alternatively, extend the cruise to the Whitsundays, making a stop at Hayman Island Resort, another lovely exclusive resort with fine dining. Perhaps spend a few days at Hayman Island Resort before returning to the mainland at the end of your Great Barrier Reef experience.

For more information on The Great Barrier Reef and Australia for charter, and information on yachts available in this location, please see: