Which is the best reef in Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the world and Australia’s most visited attractions year-round.

Undoubtedly on everyone’s bucket list, as visitors come from all around the world to witness this beauty in person. But as it spans over 2,300 kilometres, covering roughly 348,000 square kilometres, it’s pretty much impossible to see the entire thing during your stay. Therefore, you need to work out which of the 2,900 individual reefs you should visit.

• Hastings Reef

  Hastings Reef is one of the top spots for any snorkeler, being deep in the inner regions of the reef, and expanding out to more than 10 square metres. There are a range of corals to see, including fire, plate, pillar and brain corals. With these corals, comes a range of brightly coloured fish, including the famous clownfish from the popular movie ‘Finding Nemo’.

• Saxon Reef

  Saxon Reef is famous for its kaleidoscope of colour once the sun shines down upon the water. It has both deep and shallow areas, letting inexperience swimmers take a break from paddling in some parts. What’s great about this reef is the exceptional creatures found here, with eels, crayfish, stingrays, and even sharks milling through the waters.

• Green Island

  Undoubtedly, the best coral cay within the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island is a hub of marine life. Being a ripe age of 60 thousand years, the island has been a home base for fish, birds, mammals or hundreds of years. Its blend of colourful coral and plant life makes it a lush underwater world, perfect for a snorkel or dive. As it is so close to land, you don’t even need to hop on a boat to reach the best reef spots, simply wading out from the beach into the deeper sections will do.

• Moreton Bay

  See the contrast of man and nature fighting it out at Moreton Bay’s shipwreck coast. Fifteen ships were deliberately sunken in the 1960s to create a safe waterfront for the local boats, with the cluster of ships lining just outside the storefront. Over the years, marine life has taken over, using the rusting ships to their advantage and transforming them into a safe haven for smaller animals and thriving plant life. Dive or snorkel below the water surface and discover the abundant marine life amidst these massive ships, seeing hundred species of fish and even larger creatures such as dolphins, turtles and dugongs.

• Agincourt Reef

  A series of smaller reefs all jumbled together, Agincourt is home to a wide range of exceptional reef spots. Located 65 kilometres off the coast of Port Douglas, the reef is suitable for all experience levels. Wack on those goggles and head out to swim, snorkel, or dive along the reef floor, seeing the unique animal’s whiz around the colour coral spots.

Related article: 11 Amazing Facts About The Great Barrier Reef!

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.