The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the northeastern coast of Australia bordering the Coral Sea. It is the world’s largest coral reef system and extends about 2010 km roughly parallel to Queensland’s coast. The reef is made up of nearly 3000 individual coral reefs and some 300 small coral islands, which include at least 350 species of coral. It is also a World Heritage Listed Site.

There are approximately 1500 species of fish to be found around the Reef, with many other marine animals including sharks, sea snakes, whales, dolphins, sea turtles and giant clams. You can explore the reef via snorkeling, scuba diving, passenger ferries, fishing charters, helicopter tours, whale watching and swimming with the whales, kayaking, bare-boats, taking a glass-bottomed boat or just going swimming.

Fishing on the Reef

The Great Barrier Reef offers many exciting and different fishing opportunities. Although one should always practise responsible fishing to protect the natural environment and maintain the ecological balance, there some extra guidelines when fishing in a marine park. These include not removing, interfering or killing protected fish species in the Great Barrier Reef Park. Fishers must also abide by the fishing zone requirements:

• General Use Zone (light blue) and Habitat Protection Zone (dark blue) : maximum 3 lines/rods per person to a total of 6 hooks.
• Conservation Park Zone (yellow): 1 line/rod with 1 hook per person.
• Buffer Zone (olive green): same as General Use, but trolling for pelagic species only.
• Scientific Research (orange), Marine National Park (dark green) and Preservation Zones (pink) : no fishing allowed.

Responsible reef practices include taking only what you need, not fishing where fish feeding takes place, return all unwanted or undersized fish quickly, not using pest or non-native fish for bait. If you’re unsure of the fish identity or size it should be returned to the water immediately. By fishing responsibly you can have fun without harming the marine environment and the life it supports.

Daintree Activities

If you are planning a holiday to Far North Queensland, Heritage Lodge is the perfect place to stay. This holiday resort is located on Cape Tribulation, where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, just across the Daintree River. Heritage Lodge offers accommodation for couples and families alike, with facilities such as a fully licensed restaurant and a day spa.

The Daintree Area has heaps of activities for those wanting to learn about the Daintree Rainforest or the Great Barrier Reef. You can take a crocodile cruise to try to spot a great saltwater crocodile in the Daintree River, take a tour through the rainforest with a 4WD safari, go on a guided walk, or explore the reef and all its marine life while snorkeling or scuba diving.

Horse Riding

Horse riding is another fun way to see the Daintree region. You can take a ride across the pristine beaches of the Daintree Coast or along rainforest trails with freshwater swimming holes. Some horse riding tours will even pick you up from wherever you’re staying. Just let them know what riding experience you have – it is important to be matched to a suitable horse otherwise it can lead to dangerous situations.

The beginner level includes those who have never ridden a horse, those who have ridden a horse less than 30 times, or those who are not confident trotting or controlling a horse. An intermediate rider is one who has a bit of riding experience and is confident controlling the horse. Advanced riders are confident in every aspect of riding, have several years experience and continue to ride frequently. Horse riding lessons are also available for those who like to improve their riding skills.

Just remember to wear comfortable clothing, including long pants and closed in shoes. Most riding tours will provide riders with helmets, and sometimes riding boots as well.

Kayaking

Kayaking is where you use a paddle-powered boat to move across water. A kayak is different to a canoe is that the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double bladed paddle, whereas in a canoe the paddler sits or kneels in the boat and uses a single bladed paddle.

There are different forms of kayaking, from whitewater kayaking, to sea kayaking and river kayaking. There are six main classifications for kayaks depending on their use: polo, slalom, whitewater, touring/expedition, light touring /day tripping, and general recreation. Within these, kayaks can be modified for specific purposes (such as fishing kayak) and can be designed with different levels of performance in mind. They can also be used as a means of transportation for other sports such as snorkeling or diving.

Kayaking Adventures

There is heaps to do in Far North Queensland where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, one of which is to tour the area via a kayak. In fact there are two options when it comes to kayaking around Cape Tribulation, the first is to explore the Daintree River and the second is to explore the coast and surrounding islands with sea kayaking.

The Daintree River runs through the Daintree Rainforest in the Cape Tribulation region of Far North Queensland. It was given a Wet Tropics World Heritage Listing in 1988 in recognition of its outstanding natural universal value as an outstanding example representing the major stages of Earth’s evolutionary history, significant ongoing ecological and biological processes, and containing significant habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity. The only other way to cross the river is via ferry as there is no bridge. The Daintree River supports an array of tropical life, featuring both saltwater and freshwater marine life. This is because it winds through mangrove swamps where the water remains quite salty, gradually turning fresh as it progresses through the rainforest.