(Australia) – Welcome to The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It the world's most extensive stretch of coral reef and is probably the richest area in terms of faunal diversity in the world. Its great diversity reflects the maturity of an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years on the north-east continental shelf of Australia.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

 

The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps.

A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which helps to limit the impact of human use, such as fishing and tourism. Other environmental pressures on the reef and its ecosystem include runoff, climate change accompanied by mass coral bleaching, and cyclic population outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to and used by the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is an important part of local groups' cultures and spirituality. The reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially in the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns regions. Tourism is an important economic activity for the region, generating $1 billion per year.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Attractions

Atherton Tablelands

- Birdworld Kuranda: Home of the giant cassowary (2mt. tall). Largest collection of free flying birds. Handfeeding and photo opportunities.

- Mareeba: near the town is the spectacular Granite Gorge.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

- Mareeba Heritage Museum: provides a fascinating glimpse into northern pioneering life with its many unique displays.

- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary: at Kuranda; a spectacular, live butterfly exhibition, with hundreds of colourful tropical butterflies flying through an all-weather rainforest environment.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

- Kuranda Heritage Markets: Wander through the beautiful rainforest setting and watch artists at work. Ninety stalls provide an innovative range of handmade local crafts plus Australian opals, gemstones, crocodile and kangaroo leather goods.

- Kuranda Original Markets & Shops: original Kuranda Markets behind the Honey House. Art/Craft, food, clothing stalls etc, operating Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday.

(Australia) – The Great Barrier Reef

- Tolga: has a railway museum and features a woodcraft museum.

- Atherton: in the centre of the Tablelands - Atherton has a historic steam train journey, restored chinese temple and one of the bestmineralogical museums in Australia, the Crystal Caves.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

- Yungaburra: the heritage listed village is famous for its fine restaurants, heritage buildings, festivals, arts & crafts and monthly markets. Nearby is Curtain Fig Tree, and platypus viewing platform.

- Malanda: the environmental centre features a volcanic display and is near Malanda Falls a natural swimming pool with waterfall and environmental walk.

Daintree River

- Millaa Millaa: is famous for the Waterfall Circuit, three waterfalls feature on the circuit with others not far away Herberton - is the historical 'Village in the Hills' and is the terminus for Atherton's steam train journey, and has an excellent museum. Enjoy a self guided walk through the streets.

Cairns

- Night Markets: nightly on the Esplanade, discover an incredible world of arts, craft and true blue Australian souvenirs.

- Flecker Botanic Gardens: afternoon tea at the Gardens with freshly baked scones and lashings of cream will linger in your memory.

- Cairns Civic Centre: located on Sheridan Street regularly hosts visiting entertainers, theatre and dance groups.

- Reef Hotel Casino: the spectacular conservatory atrium presents international class entertainment nightly.

- Cominos House: the arts and environment centre.

- The Pier Marketplace: a leisure retail centre that features Undersea World, a reef aquarium and the Marlin Marina. The Pier is home to the weekend 'Mud Markets'.

- Rusty's Markets: located on Sheridan Street is the place to buy local fruits and goodies.

Cairns Northern Beaches

- Paradise Palms Golf Course: opposite Kewarra Beach, its a world renowned championship course with one of the most striking clubhouses anywhere.

- Wild World: The Tropical Zoo, cuddle a koala, pat a wombat, feed a kangaroo, stoke a snake or watch an incomparable cane toad race.

- Outback Opal Mine: see how dazzling opals are first uncovered deep underground in a mining documentary then walk through an opal mine replica.

Port Douglas

- Sunday Market: at Anzac Park, these colour seaside markets are on every Sunday.

- Art Gallery: redecorate your home with works by local artists.

- Four Mile Beach: here firm white sand provides a playground for families, a base for beach carnivals, festivals and photo opportunities.

- Mossman Sugar Mill: the mill hums its way through the sugar cane harvesting season when it is possible to take a guided tour of the entire process inside the mill.

- Flagstaff Hill: is the best place to capture the striking views of the town and its superb Four Mile Beach.

- Marina Mirage: enjoy a tropical drink as the sun goes down over Dickson's Inlet and watch the tour boats return.

Daintree & Cape Tribulation

- Horse riding: on the only place in Australia where the rainforest meets the beach.

- Daintree River Environmental Centre: an excellent introduction to the rainforest with a 23, touch tower, twin theatres, touch screen displays and boardwalk.

- loraVilla Art Gallery: see the superb arts and crafts produced by the rainforest dwelling locals.

- Dragonfly Gallery: located at Cape Tribulation with quality arts and crafts.

Daintree River

 Gulf Savannah & Outback

- O'Briens Creek Gemfields: located at Mount Surprise; dig your won topaz stone and have it faceted Search for gold near Forsayth and Georgetown Picnic at Lawn Hill Gorge and see what a real oasis looks like.

- Croydon: features the Working Mine Museum with its restored gold milling stamper, and for train buffs an original A10 Steam Engine.

- Karumba: visit the Barramundi Farm where you can see feed and even touch a 'barra'.

- Undara Experience: voted best unique Accommodation in Australia for 2003. Visit the Undara Lava Tubes or relax and enjoy genuine outback hospitality. Full lodge facilities and a variety of accommodation.

Cooktown & Cape York

- Black Mountain: named by the local indigenous people 'Place of Spears', the mysterious pyramid of stones is a natural geological formation thought to be 150 million years old.

- Lakeland Downs Coffee House: pause to sample some of the excellent locally grown coffees.

- Cooktown Cemetery & Chinese Shrine: reflect early pioneering history

- James Cook Museum: featuring the original anchor and a cannon from the'Endeavour'.

- Bicentennial Park: home to the re-enactment of Captain cook's landing which takes place during the Discovery Festival held each Queen's Birthday weekend in June.

- Grassy Hill: one of the most popular walking trails because of its 360 degree views.

- Aboriginal Rock: located in the Laura River Valley explore the 32,000 year old Quinkan Aboriginal Rock Art sites.

- Lion's Den outback pub: a tenacious survivor of the frontier days of the late 1880's

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(New Zealand) – Visiting Milford Sound

Milford Sound, located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, is located within the Fiordland National Park. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 m or more on either side. Among its most striking features are Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 m above the sound, the Elephant at 1,517 m and resembling an elephant’s's head, and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m, in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins populate the water.

(New Zealand) – Visiting Milford Sound

 The beauty of this landscape draws thousands of visitors each day, with between 550,000 and 1 million visitors in total per year. This makes the sound one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist spots, and also the most famous New Zealand tourist destination, even with its remote location and the long journey from the nearest population centre. Almost all tourists going to the sound also take one of the boat tours which usually last between 1–2 hours. They are offered by several companies, departing from the Milford Sound Visitors' Centre. There is also the option of extended overnight cruises on Milford Sound.

Tramping, canoeing and some other water sports are also possible. A small number of companies also provide overnight boat trips. There is otherwise only limited accommodation at the Sound, and only a very small percentage of tourists stay more than the day.

(New Zealand) - Milford Sound Map

An underwater tourist observatory found in one of the bays of the sound provides viewing of black coral, usually only found in much deeper waters. A dark surface layer of fresh water, stained by tannins from the surrounding forest, allows the corals to grow close to the surface here.

In rainy and stormy days tourists can admire the play of the wind with the numerous waterfalls in Milford Sound. When meeting the cliff face the powerful wind often goes upward and waterfalls with a vertical drop get caught by wind, causing the water to go upwards.

Things to do in Milford Sound
Milford Sound Cruises
A range of day and night cruises will take visitors to see the attractions of Milford Sound, including the native wildlife, dramatic waterfalls, Mitre Peak and the Underwater Observatory at Harrison Cove. All day cruises depart from the wharf complex, a short walk from the Mitre Peak Café and carpark.

(New Zealand) - Milford Sound Cruises

Mitre Peak
This towering rock face - said to resemble a Bishop's mitre - is one of Milford Sound's most famous sights, rising 1695m from the serene waters.

(New Zealand) - Mitre Peak Milford Sound

Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
Located 9m underwater, this circular observation gallery has windows which look out over the heart of the fiord. Specially cultivated window-box gardens contain rare black corals which usually only grow at levels deeper than 40m. Visitors can see brightly coloured fish, sea fans, giant starfish, tubeworms - and, if they are lucky, the odd seal or shark may swim by.

(New Zealand) - Milford Sound Underwater Observatory

Milford Track
Said to be one of the finest walks in the world, the Milford Track (54km) takes in pristine rainforest and crystal-clear streams. The four-day track starts at Glade House, at the northern end of Lake Te Anau. From here, it pases through rainforest, over the dramatic Mackinnon Pass, down to Quintin Hut and through Arthur River Valley to Milford Sound. Walkers can enjoy breathtaking views from the top of Mackinnon Pass, or make the return walk from Quintin Hut to the beautiful Sutherland Falls.

(New Zealand) - Milford Track

Sutherland Falls
New Zealand's highest waterfall cascades 630m down a sheer rockface. The falls were named after Milford Sound's earliest settler, Scotsman Donald Sutherland, who established the area's first accommodation upon his arrival in 1877.

(New Zealand) - Sutherland Falls

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(Australia) –Getting to Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of Australia's most recognizable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m high above sea level with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km in circumference. Uluru appears to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year.

(Australia) –Getting to  Uluru (Ayers Rock)

 

What to see

Uluru is an isolated sandstone rock (not technically a monolith) that stands 346 meters high and more than 8 km (5 miles) around. Roughly triangular in shape, it stretches for over 2 miles in length and nearly 2 miles in width. It has a harder exterior than most other rock formations, which allows for the unusually steep rock faces all the way to ground level.

Uluru is a completely bare rock without the least bit of vegetation, which only adds to its stark and mysterious beauty. By great contrast, however, the base of the rock is nourished by rain runoff from Uluru and is a fertile oasis of water pools, rich greenery and a variety of wildlife. It is thus an ideal ceremonial site for the Aborigines, who camp in the caves and are sustained by the water and available food.

Aside from its imposing size the most impressive feature of Uluru, beloved by Aborigines and visitors alike, is its beautiful range of changing colors throughout the day and year. Sunrise and sunset are particularly remarkable, with the rock glowing a deep rusty red. The rock derives its rust colour from oxidation, and the glowing effect at sunrise and sunset is due to the arkosic sandstone of the rock, which contains reflective minerals and changes color according to the attitude of the sun.

(Australia) –Getting to  Uluru (Ayers Rock)

 Ayers Rock contains a variety of interesting cracks, canyons, caves and natural formations, all of which the Anangu attribute to the activities of ancestral beings at the creation time. The shallow caves at the base of the rock contain ancient carvings and paintings. But unlike the Lascaux Caves and other cave art sites, the Uluru rock drawings are just not artifacts of some distant culture — they are still being created by the Anangu.

At Uluru, the old cave drawings are simply painted over with new ones, and the paint is made largely of water and is therefore quite delicate. For these reasons, the rock art in these caves is impossible to date with any certainty. The rock art includes figures like boomerangs, human beings, waterholes and abstract symbols.

The base walk around the perimeter of Uluru is 9.4 km long. There is also a Mala Walk (2 km) and Mutitjulu walk (1 km). Guided walking tours are available from park rangers and by the Anangu themselves. These are popular activities and are encouraged by the Anangu. However, the most popular thing to do at Uluru is to climb it (see Making the Climb, below).

About 25 km from Uluru is another sacred rock formation known as Kata Tjuta (“many heads”) or the Olgas (named for Queen Olga of Württemberg in 1872). Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park also includes a Cultural Center, where you can learn more about Aboriginal culture and the sacredness of Uluru.

(Australia) –Getting to  Uluru (Ayers Rock)

 The Aboriginal community of Mutitjulu (pop. approx. 300) is near the western end of Uluru. From Uluru it is 17 km by road to the tourist town of Yulara (pop. 3,000), which is situated just outside of the National Park. Ayers Rock Resort just outside the park has accommodation for a wide range of budgets. The buildings of the tourist resort are colored to blend in with the surrounding desert.

Getting there

The most common journey to Ayers Rock begins at Alice Springs, from which it is 280 miles (450 km) southwest by road to the site. You can drive yourself, take a bus or join a tour from Alice Springs. See map below.

Flights depart daily from most capital cities to Connellan Airport, which is located just outside the Park. Contact a travel agent for further details. Car hire is available from the airport and is best arranged through a travel agent before arrival.

(Australia) –Getting to  Uluru (Ayers Rock)

 

Our tour partner Viator offers a variety of tours, walks, transportation options, night shows and workshops that you can book ahead in your own currency

Quick Facts

Site information:

Name:                             Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Location:                         Northern Territory, Australia

Faith:                               Indigenous

Denomination:                  Aboriginal

Categories:                      Sacred Rocks; Rock Art; World Heritage Sites

Size:                                1,100 feet (335 meters) high; 2.2 miles (3.6 km) long; 1.5 miles (2 km) wide

Features:                         Petroglyphs

Status:                             Active

Visitor information:

Address:                         Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, PO Box 119, Yulara NT 0872 Australia

Coordinates:                   25.344722° S, 131.0325° E

Phone:                            Park administration: (+61) 8 - 8956 1100

                                      Cultural Center: (+61) 8 - 8956 1128

Website:                         www.deh.gov.au/parks/uluru/

Email:                             uluru.info@deh.gov.au

Opening hours:               Open during daylight hours, including sunrise and sunset.

Cost:                              Free

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