Tourism in action: transforming how visitors connect with the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Stretching over 2,300 kilometres, the Reef’s vibrant corals, diverse marine life, and crystal-clear waters attract over 2 million people each year.

And it’s little wonder why.  The Great Barrier Reef isn’t just a destination. It’s a transformative experience that stays with you – a 360 degree immersion in nature that feeds the senses and the soul. It’s the tourism operators that make our once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the Reef possible, but it’s not all they do.

Increasingly, tourism operators are taking proactive action to support the critical work needed to secure our Reef’s future and transforming our experiences in the process.

Reef tourism operators live and breathe the Reef daily and are witnesses to the pressures the Reef is under. Determined to help protect it, the industry is actively engaging in conservation efforts, with skilled tourism operators monitoring coral health, assisting in reef recovery and working to protect live coral cover. Combining the knowledge of marine science experts and the resources and experience of the tourism industry has enabled us to fast-track local reef restoration.

Now, some of these operators are providing visitors with unique experiences and insights into these conservation efforts first-hand. By choosing an operator that’s working to restore and protect the Reef, your tour provides a unique education in protection and restoration, turning each of us into an active participant in the Reef's story of resilience.

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is proud to partner with tourism operators along the Reef to help preserve this natural wonder so holidaymakers can come back and visit time and time again. For eco-curious travellers, there are so many options available if you know what you’re looking for. These are just a few examples of the partners we’re working with.

Through the Coral Nurture Program, six major tourism operators in the Cairns-Port Douglas region and three operators in the Whitsundays region are working directly with scientists to boost resilience and assist recovery at high value reef sites.

While many tourism operators undertake a number of site actions to help monitor and protect live coral cover, operators in this program extend those actions to actively grow corals in nurseries and outplant them to boost coral abundance at sites on the Great Barrier Reef. With some of these operators, you can witness firsthand the efforts taken by this program to recover damaged reefs – seeing the nurseries where corals are grown and the restoration sites where corals are outplanted.

A hands-on opportunity for the would-be citizen scientists among us, is to become a marine biologist for a day and contribute to real-world science by helping monitor conservation sites and providing important data for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Under the guidance of marine experts, even beginner snorkellers can take part in this meaningful experience that fosters a personal connection to Reef conservation and contributes to valuable long-term data of the Reef and the life it supports.

If species spotting is your thing, head to one of the 900 islands scattered across the Great Barrier Reef. Many of these islands offer eco-friendly accommodation with renewable energy, reduced waste and sustainable materials taking away some of the environmental concerns that come with travel. 

The world-leading, award-winning ecologically sustainable Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in the southern-most part of the Reef is a wonderful example, where you can snorkel with over 1,200 species of marine life including whales, manta rays, turtles, dolphins and corals directly from the shore.

Bird watchers are in for a treat here too. Over 159 different species of birds have been documented as part of Leaf to Reef, a program supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Reef Islands Initiative. This intensive research project is a collaborative effort led by researchers from various universities to investigate the resilience of the island and its surrounding reefs to the impacts of climate change. Guests to the island are encouraged to share their observations in the sea and on land contributing to the biodiversity data of this island cay.

To deepen your connection with land and sea Country, take advantage of the cultural tours on offer. Through the timeless wisdom of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures, learn from Australia’s Traditional Custodians about the way Country was used by their ancestors and how they in turn give back to the ecosystem. 

For example, Mungalla Aboriginal Tours have been operating for over 18 years, guiding visitors through the history of Mungalla Station and introducing them to the Nywaigi Aboriginal culture. Mungalla Station is a 2,174-acre historic working cattle property adjacent to some of the most significant wetlands in the region as it feeds into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Managing Director of Mungalla Station, Jacob Cassady, and his community have worked with organisations such as the Great Barrier Reef Foundation over past decades to restore the wetlands and bring back the biodiversity: endangered birds, native fish, crocodiles, goanna, and wallabies.

One of the most impactful ways you can help the Great Barrier Reef is to visit it—and to do so responsibly. By choosing eco-conscious options for your visit you can enjoy the Reef’s beauty while minimising your impact on and supporting the conservation of this natural wonder.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) has partnered with Expedia to launch ‘Guardian of the Reef,’ a world-first platform which promotes reef-positive travel choices and rewards you for learning about the Great Barrier Reef. Guardian of the Reef blends science and environmental education with Indigenous wisdom and sustainable products, to help travellers learn more about the health of the Great Barrier Reef and conservation initiatives.

Conservation curious travellers can work through a series of videos and fast facts earning travel discounts on Reef experiences booked through Expedia and there’s also a chance to win a trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

Another way you can help is to achieve Green Tier. Qantas Frequent Flyer members are recognised and rewarded for making sustainable choices. By completing a number of activities in a Membership Year, you can unlock Green Tier and enjoy exclusive benefits.

There is an opportunity within these activities to support the Great Barrier Reef Foundation by redeeming Qantas Points. Your contribution will help us to create a better future for coral reefs by protecting coastal habitats, restoring coral reefs and helping them adapt to the impacts of climate change.

There is so much to see and do as you explore the natural wonder that is our Great Barrier Reef and it’s never been easier to have a holiday with heart.

Want to find out more about the eco-experiences available? Visit Queensland.com to explore the many ways that you can travel for good as you make memories that will last a lifetime.