Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef
Some days we just get lucky. For most people, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef is all about getting into the water to scuba dive or snorkel. But for an eye-opener to just how vast and extraordinarily beautiful the reef is, there’s nothing like seeing it from the air.
I took an afternoon joy-flight with Air Whitsunday on a small seaplane from the tiny private Whitsunday Airport to Whitehaven Beach, which is largely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The whole trip took only an hour, but it’s one where words can’t really describe the experience. Instead, I’m going to mostly let the photos show you.
First, a few statistics. The Great Barrier Reef runs for more than 2500km (that’s 1240 miles) from around Central Queensland to Papua New Guinea (we only ever see a fraction of it when we day trip to it). It covers 348,700 square kilometres (135,993 square. miles), an area bigger than the United Kingdom, and – so I’m told – is the only living thing on Earth that’s visible from the moon. The reef is the habitat for about 1500 kinds of fish, 400 species of corals, 4000 kinds of clams and snails, and countless sponges, starfish, and sea urchins.
The Great Barrier Reef region is listed as a World Heritage Site and contains the biggest marine park in the world. It is also under constant threat from dredging for shipping channels to serve the coal industry, chemical run-off from industry and agriculture, and shipping traffic.
It’s not hard to see why all care should be taken to preserve this natural wonder.
Heart Reef
Approaching Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island
Landing at Whitehaven Beach
A Glass Half Full 
12 Responses to “Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef”
And everyone wonders why we love Queensland so much.
So much to love!
What an incredible view! We had a helicopter ride over the reef out from Cairns, but your photos are even more amazing than what we saw. Your comment about it’s not hard to see why we should be doing everything we can to protect the reef is rather poignant, because unfortunately it seems that we aren’t…
You are so right….on all counts. Glad you liked the images.
I will go back to the reef one day – for the tenth time. Great snaps. What camera do you use?
Thank you Tommy. I am a Nikon girl.
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Such an incredible natural wonder. Now you just have to make sure that your government protects it!
Gorgeous beyond belief! Thank you for showing me something I’ve always wanted to see. Am hoping I get the chance firsthand some day . . .
Wow, that totally redefines blue for me. I thought I’d seen every hue possible flying over Vilanculos in Mozambique last year, but this is spectacular!
There’s nothing quite like it! Bluer than blue, but with a quite distinctive shade of it’s own: barrier reef blue, if you like!
Dulux should capitalise on the new Lee shade :-)