Southern Great Barrier Reef Islands

With miles of coral-filled ocean and unspoilt, sandy beach to play with, Southern Great Barrier Reef Island holidays are all about spending time outdoors. On Great Keppel Island alone, there are 17 amazing beaches for you to explore. Spend a day sunbathing and snorkelling. Or, for added fun, set off on a boomnetting cruise and go whizzing through the waves.

If you’d rather a more laidback activity, make your way to Lady Elliot Island for some reef walking. Get an up-close look at sea cucumbers, starfish and sea urchins, and learn about the fascinating ecosystem. Alternatively, you can make your way over to Heron Island for a totally relaxing spa day, followed by a wine-tasting cruise at sunset.

As you might expect, there’s a lot of incredible marine life to see when visiting the largest coral reef system on Earth. If you’re thinking about sharpening your scuba skills, this is the place to do it. Away from Heron Island, you’ll have the chance to spot blacktip and whitetip reef sharks. Or, if you stay during nesting season, you can catch sightings of green sea turtles on the beach as well as in the water.

There’s plenty more to see on the other Southern Great Barrier Reef Islands, too. Best known for its huge manta ray population, Lady Elliot Island is worth a visit if you fancy an encounter with these gentle giants. Or, you can try to find the 420-year-old brain coral that lies off the shore of Great Keppel Island.

Thanks to its sheer size, finding peace and quiet in Australia isn’t always a difficult task. But, if you want to take your secluded escape to the next level, a trip to one of the smaller Southern Great Barrier Reef Islands is just the answer. Enjoy an eco-stay in a safari tent at Wilson Island and fill your time kicking-back in a hammock, kayaking over the calm waters, and tucking into freshly-prepared picnics on the empty beach.

Pumpkin Island offers a similar ‘off-grid’ experience. Only 34 guests can stay on this road-free paradise at a time, so the serene atmosphere is a given whenever you book your trip. Clear your mind with a day of uninterrupted relaxation, or explore more of the dazzling ocean on a private boat trip.

Unlike most of Australia that experiences all four seasons, the Southern Great Barrier Reef is typically seen as having two seasons. Winter, or the dry season, is May to October while summer and the wet season takes place between November and April. With less rain and better visibility for snorkelling and diving, winter is often argued as the best time to visit the reef. But, this season is also the most popular, so some attractions can be more crowded.

If you want your Southern Great Barrier Reef Island all to yourself, consider visiting in summer instead. There’s still plenty of incredible marine life to witness beneath the waves, and you’ll be in with a good chance of seeing tiny turtle hatchlings at one of the nesting beaches.