Perhaps the most iconic natural site in Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, stretches all the way from Cape York Peninsula to Bundaberg. Located at the southern end of the reef, Townsville is your perfect launching pad from which toexplorethisUNESCO Heritage Site. Be truly awed by the beauty that lay on the ocean floor.
Under the water
It’s thriving ecosystem plays home to a multitude of marine life, from bright tropical fish and stunning coral, to starfish, turtles, dolphins and even sharks.
The best way to explore the depths of this underwater paradise is to strap on a pair of goggles and get up close and personal with the magnificent life under the sea. There are a few diving schools scattered around town that rent the requisite equipment and teach you to snorkel with ease.
If you fancy getting your heart racing a little bit, deep sea diving is your must-do activity. Sign up for a diving class and explore the SS Yongala; a shipwreck moored on the ocean floor just moments from Townsville. This passenger ship sunk right at the turn of the 20th Century, and its hundred years beneath the ocean have secured it as the home of many underwater creatures.
Sail the day away
If you would prefer to remain on the ocean’s surface, Townsville offers up an array of boat and yacht tours that take you to some of the most stunning islands around. You can opt for a daytime cruise, or take to the oceans at twilight to see the stars stretching above you as you make your way along some of the most iconic waters.
Take to the sky
Once you have finished exploring the ocean’s depths, jump on one of the many helicopter rides and jet into the clouds. A trip in a chopper will create a lifetime of memories as you enjoy some of the most panoramic scenery around. See stretches of white sands and luminescent ocean, offset by lush tropical rainforests from the comfort of your very own airborne vessel.
