Duration
8
Nights
Great Barrier Reef Conservation Expedition
Cairns to
Cairns
Start your adventure in Cairns
OverviewGreat Barrier Reef Cruise to Cairns
Experience the Great Barrier Reef like never before, over seven nights, alongside marine researchers and conservationists who have dedicated their lives to protecting and restoring this natural wonder.The Expedition has been structured to travel to remote coral reefs and across vast seascapes, due to turtle and seabird nesting season there will be limited opportunities to set foot on land.
ITINERARY
Cairns
Start your adventure in Cairns as we set sail to explore the Northern Great Barrier Reef, and learn more about the toolkit being developed to restore and protect this global icon. Our first evening together will include sunset drinks and canapes, an introduction to the Great Barrier Reef from conservation experts, and evening dinner cooked by your onboard chef.
Wreck Bay
Wreck Bay is a beautiful site for exploring caves, ledges and bommies, and swimming amongst corals, clown fish, turtles and gropers. Spend the morning with researchers who are tagging whale sharks. Once tags are applied you will be able to snorkel with these incredible creatures. Or jump in a helicopter in search of whale sharks, Omura whales and Oceanic manta rays. We will showcase some of the technologies that are being deployed to research large marine mammals, helping to underpin management and conservation decisions being made by Reef managers. There may also be an opportunity to contribute to scientific knowledge as we search from the skies for the illusive omura whale aggregation which has recently been discovered. Afternoons will be spent moored up behind Wreck Bay where there are numerous spots for snorkelling and diving.
Tijou Reef
Tijou Reef is home to many different dive sites, particularly the coral gardens on the inner side and wonderful wall dives on its outer eastern side.
Sandbanks National Park
The northern tip is commonly known as Shark City, as whitetip, grey and silvertip reef sharks are often seen cruising along the wall. Masses of fish gather along the steep wall which is covered with an incredible variety of colourful corals and invertebrates.
Cod Hole
Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns are rich in biodiversity and home to an array of different snorkelling and diving opportunities, including the iconic Cod Hole, home to large and incredibly inquisitive Potato Cod.
Pixie Pinnacle
The boat may also visit Pixie Pinnacle, a small isolated bommie, rising from 30 metres to just below the surface of the water, providing a kaleidoscope of species of coral for us to swim between.
Lizard Island
As well as snorkelling and diving to see marine life under the water including the giant clams of the Clam Gardens, guests will be able to tour the world-leading research station, which is a supplier of on-reef facilities for coral reef research and education. Lizard Island was also ground zero for the bleaching events of 2016, which saw as much as 40% of corals in nearby waters show signs of bleaching, alongside an invasive crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak (COTS) which devastated the local coral populations. The Island has become a key site for restoration activities on the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists from all over the world visit to develop solutions to these challenges, including advancements in reproductive technologies to vastly increase the number of corals that can be replanted, as well as innovative ways to predict and respond to COTS outbreaks.
Lockhart River
Disembark True North II at Lockhart River for a charter flight to Cairns along the beautiful Queensland coastline.
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