The Best of the Great Barrier Reef Islands

Visitor come to Australia, from all over the world, and most of them plan to visit the Great Barrier Reef, but unless they are divers, their visit is usually a day trip, on one of the many boats that take visitors to the Great Barrier Reef, which gives them only a few hours on the reef. It is much better to spend a few days, at one of the Great Barrier Reef Islands, enjoying the diversity of what they have to offer. Let me introduce you, to what I consider the best of the islands of the Great barrier Reef.

Hamilton is the largest of Queensland's 74 Whitsunday Islands and is located on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. It's azure waters, awe inspiring coral reefs, fascinating flora and fauna and sandy beaches, makes it an experience you'll long remember. The island is used almost excluisively for tourism and has the only airport in the Whitsunday Islands. The beautiful weather, many land and sea activities, too many to mention here, and fine food and wines are just a few of the reasons so many visitors, both from Australia and other countries, spend their vacations here.

Hayman Island is the most northern Island of the Whitsunday Islands, and is renown for its elegance, service and great location. Besides providing easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, it has lush tropical gardens, a variety of bird species and Australian Flora and Fauna. Guests can enjoy the many pools including the famous Hayman pool that is 7 times an Olympic pool.

Green Island is north of both of the above Islands it is a 600 old coral cay and national park, located right on the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors can explore its emeral rainforest, visit the coral reefs in the semi submarine, ride the Big Cat Reef Cruiser, walk on the smooth clean sand of the sea floor with Seawalker, or just relax with your favourite book.

Dunk Island is a tropical rainforest island, just 4 kilometers off the north Queensland's coast. It is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the largest island in the Family Islands National Park. Because of a lack of predators and the ample supply of food from the reef waters it is an ideal nesting site. For visitors there are luxury accommodations, fine dining and endless things to do.

Lizard Island, is one of the northernmost islands right on the Great barrier Reef. The private resort is in a National Park with 24 white sandy beaches and a lagoon. It is rated as one of the top ten island resorts with only 4o luxury suites, the perfect get-a-way from it all vacation.

Brampton Island located at the southern entrance to the Whitsunday Passage is surrounded by reefs, twelve beautiful beaches, coral gardens and spectacular views from the walking and jogging tracks. It has less rooms than many of the other island resorts and no day trippers making it the ideal spot for uninterrupt peace and solitude.

Fraser Island lies at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, it is the world's largest Sand Island and the only place where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes. The white sandy beaches are flanked by coloured sand cliffs and there are over 100 freshwater lakes. 4WD Safaris are the best way to explore the islands spectacular beaches.

Magnetic Island is the only island, in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef with a combination of untouched National Park and Resident population. There is also a variety of holiday resorts offering the guests much to choose from, such as secluded beaches which can be reached only on foot or by boat, rocky headlands, scenic walking tracks and native wildlife. It is only 20 minutes by fast "CAT" from Townsville and boasts 320 days of sunshine per year.

Depending on your personal life style, these islands offer a variety of of accommodations, choice of activities that vary between islands, proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, and different topography and scenic views. Staying at one or more for a few days will give you the opportunity to enjoy a vacation, not easily found elsewhere in the world, and one you will not soon forget.