The coast of Queensland has some of Australia’s most iconic destinations, such as the Great Barrier Reef. For the adventure-seeking boating enthusiast, it also offers up some great holiday spots for fishing, scuba diving, and snorkelling while exploring historic shipwrecks, islands, and waterways. Here are 3 of the best areas to explore.

The Great Sandy Strait

There is no shortage of inlets from which you can drop anchor and set off to wander the beaches, rocky shorelines, and caves. For example the entrance points to Hervey and Kingfisher Bays, Fraser Island, and Great Sandy. The strait covers 40 nautical miles, stretching from Tin Can Bay in the south to Hervey Bay at its northern tip. The southern entry, via the Wide Bay Bar, is for the experienced mariner due to its extensive shallow areas. It is best approached with paper charts, navigation guides and at high tide.

The Heritage-Listed Fraser Island boasts a diverse landscape. Firstly with clear-water inland lakes to abundant wildlife and lush rainforest with crisscrossing hiking trails.

The Whitsunday Islands

There are one-hundred-and-fifty islands to cruise and explore here. Most of them heritage-listed, and just seven with small towns and resorts. The Queensland boating region has something for everyone. Mainland Airlie Beach is home to many shopping centres and bars. However for a more natural experience, you can partake in dophin and dugong watching from the Worl Heritage-listed Marine Park waters. You can also relax on the wild, natural shoreling of Whitehaven Beach.

The peaceful bays off Langford, Border and Hook Islands are three of the top spots for diving and snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef. Here you will see many examples of the 600 different shapes, sizes and colours of the Reef’s corals.

Moreton Bay

St. Helena, North Stradbroke, Peel, and Green Islands can be found here, between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. There’s easy access to the natural parks and freshwater springs and historic walks. You can also cruise by the 15 highly-visible shipwrecks known as the Tangalooma Wrecks. However, if you’re feeling more adventurous you can swim, snorkel or dive alongside wobbegongs, kingfish yellowtail and a wide range of tropical fish that call the wrecks their home.

For island-hopping adventures along one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, these Queensland boating trips offer the experience of a lifetime.

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