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www.queenslandholidays.com.Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, it’s hard not to think of one without the other. The World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef comprised of 3,000 individual reefs and coral islands along 2,300km of the Queensland coast. It's the only living organism that can be seen from space and is home to a myriad of sea creatures including dolphins, turtles, dugongs and more than 1,500 species of fish.
Emerging out of the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef is the famous Heart Reef. Discovered in 1974 by a local charter plane company, this is a not to be missed site. It is made up completely of natural coral and organisms into the shape of an everyday heart. This magical piece of nature can be viewed from the air, either by helicopter, seaplane or light aircraft.
There are literally hundreds of islands along the Great Barrier Reef, and 74 of those are in the Whitsundays alone! There's really no better place to escape for a sailing trip to experience that Queensland has to offer.
The Great Barrier Reef is easily accessed from the Queensland coast. There are many delightful towns near the reef such as Cooktown - the gateway to the wilderness.
It was founded in 1873 as the port for the Palmer River Goldfields. This was more than a century after Captain James Cook spent 48 days in 1770 on the banks of the Endeavour River repairing his ship.
Every June the town celebrates Cooktown's status as Australia's first, if brief, European settlement at a Discovery Festival which includes a colourful re-enactment of Cook's landing. A highlight of a visit to Cooktown is an extended tour of the James Cook Museum - built in 1888 as a convent school run by Irish nuns.
The Museum documents Cook's voyages, Aboriginal and natural history, the gold rush days and their Chinese legacy. Walking tracks in the area allow for visitors to explore areas of beach, bush and mountains. Closer to town is Grassy Hill where one can share the same view as Captain Cook. | 
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