Great Barrier Reef - Waddy Point

On the northeast coast of Australia lies the largest living structure on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef. Located in the Coral Sea, it stretches over 1,200mi (2,000km), and its width is between 37-155mi (50-250km). Made up of over 3,000 individual reefs and more than 600 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is so big that it can be seen from outer space.

The first European discovery of the Barrier Reef happened by accident in 1770. Captain James Cook was on a secret mission to explore Australia's east coast when he crashed his ship into solid rock only 12mi (19km) from shore. Cook and his crew scrambled throughout the day to plug a leak and save the ship from sinking. Fortunately, high tide on the following eve dislodged the boat from the rocky ledge back into deep water and sailed into safer waters for repairs. Cook didn't know at the time that the solid rock was a coral reef and that he stumbled on the Great Barrier Reef.

Thirty-three years later, Englishman Matthew Flinders circumnavigated Australia, and while sailing through a collection of reefs on the northeast coast, he promptly named it the Great Barrier Reef. It is a suitable name since the outer reef that sits on the edge of the continental shelf acts like a barrier, protecting the mainland from powerful waves and storms from the Pacific Ocean.

Aside from protecting Australia's shores, the Great Barrier Reef is an exquisite marine environment teeming with all kinds of fish species, colourful corals, lush rainforest-covered islands, shallow aquamarine waters, sandy shoals, and plenty of shipwrecks. It is also home to the "Great Eight" living icons: whales, manta rays, clownfish, turtles, potato cod, giant clams, humphead wrasse, and sharks. The reef is such an extraordinary place that it is Australia's tourism crown jewel and has earned its position on the:

● UNESCO World Heritage list;

● Seven Natural Wonders of the World list; and

● Australian World Heritage site.

Beginning at Waddy Point, a rocky headland on Fraser Island, I head north and start my long journey through the Great Barrier Reef. I look forward to island hopping and underwater exploration, swimming with dolphins, and checking out green sea turtle nesting grounds. I look forward to learning about the Traditional Owners and the impact of climate change on the reef's health. I am very excited to see what wonders the Great Barrier Reef holds.



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