Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Burleigh Heads. See “The Gold
Coast” in chapter 6.
•
Cable Beach
(Broome, WA): Is it
the South Sea pearls they pull out
of the Indian Ocean, the camels
loping along the sand, the sun-
sets, the surf, or the red earth
meeting the green sea that gives
this beach an exotic appeal?
Maybe it's the 26km (16 miles) of
glorious white sand. The only
time to swim here is June through
September, when deadly marine
stingers aren't around. See “The
Kimberley: A Far-Flung Wilder-
ness” in chapter 9.
•
Cottesloe Beach
(Perth, WA):
Perth has 19 great beaches, but this
petite crescent is the prettiest.
After you've checked out the scene,
join the fashionable set for brunch
in the Indiana Tea House, a mock-
Edwardian bathhouse fronting the
sea. Surfers head to Scarborough
and Trigg. See chapter 9, “Perth &
Western Australia.”
6 The Best Diving & Snorkeling Sites
•
Port Douglas
(QLD): Among the
fabulous dive sites found off Port
Douglas, north of Cairns, are
Split-Bommie, with its delicate
fan corals and schools of fusiliers;
Barracuda Pass, with its coral gar-
dens and giant clams; and the
swim-through coral spires of the
Cathedrals. Snorkelers can glide
over coral and reef fish life of
Agincourt Reef. See “Port Dou-
glas, Daintree & the Cape Tribu-
lation Area” in chapter 6.
•
Lizard Island
(QLD): Snorkel
over 150-year-old giant clams—as
well as gorgeous underwater
coral—in the Clam Garden, off
this exclusive resort island north-
east of Cairns. Nearby is the
famous Cod Hole, where divers
can hand-feed giant potato cod.
See p. 287.
•
Cairns
(QLD): Moore, Norman,
Hardy, Saxon, and Arlington reefs
and Michaelmas and Upolu
cays—all about 90 minutes off
Cairns—offer great snorkeling and
endless dive sites. Explore on a day
trip from Cairns or join a live-
aboard adventure. See “Cairns,”
chapter 6.
•
Coral Sea
(QLD): In this sea east
of the Great Barrier Reef off north
Queensland, you'll see sharks
feeding at Predator's Playground;
1,000m (3,280 ft.) drop-offs in
the Abyss; reefs covering hundreds
of square miles; and tropical
species not found on the Great
Barrier Reef. This is not a day-trip
destination; many dive operators
run multiday trips on live-aboard
vessels. Visibility is excellent—up
to 100m (328 ft.). See “The
North Coast: Mission Beach,
Townsville & the Islands” in chap-
ter 6.
•
Yongala
wreck
(QLD): Sunk by a
cyclone in 1911, the 120m (394
ft.) SS
Yongala
lies in the Coral Sea
off Townsville. Schools of trevally,
kingfish, barracuda, and batfish
surround the wreckage; giant
Queensland grouper live under
the bow, lionfish hide under the
stern, turtles graze on the hull,
and hard and soft corals make
their home on it. It's too far for a
day trip; live-aboard trips run
from Townsville and Cairns. See
“The North Coast: Mission
Beach, Townsville & the Islands”
in chapter 6.
•
The Whitsunday Islands
(QLD):
As well as Blue Pearl Bay, these 74
breathtaking islands offer count-
less dive sites both among the
islands themselves and on the
Outer Great Barrier Reef 90 min-
utes away. Bait Reef on the Outer
