This tour is special in so many ways, and is unrivalled to all other reef tours in Far North Queensland. First of all, it has the shortest open water crossing to get to the Great Barrier Reef. Fantastic news for anyone prone to motion sickness. Although this tour is a ‘Reef’ tour, it includes a ‘River Cruise’ on the journey there with Island activities on arrival. And a huge PLUS to guests that like to avoid the crowds, it has one of the lowest passenger capacities of all the island tours with a maximum of 100 guests. The destination is to an uninhabited continental island called Normanby in National Park which is part of the archipelago of Frankland Islands. It is located 10km offshore from the mouth of the Russell and Mulgrave Rivers at Russell Heads, which is approximately 45km South-East of Cairns. The Normanby Island has an abundance of wildlife not only in the water, but also on the island itself. The island is pristine, and has its own rainforest and a fringing reef not far out from its sandy shores. There are also coral gardens located further out from the island for the those that want to explore the deeper waters. 

Planning on backpacking the east coast of Australia? Here is your complete guide to experiencing the Great Barrier Reef on a backpacker budget.

Australia is one big island and the Queensland mainland coastline alone is nearly 7,000 kilometres. It is near impossible to list all the Queensland beaches but here is our top 10 beaches in Queensland; from Palm Cove to 75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island... so come along and discover our top 10 beaches.

Since winning the Best Job in the World I've swum, snorkelled, kayaked, sailed and flown all over the Great Barrier Reef and every time it’s a uniquely awe-inspiring adventure. Here are my best bits, from the best reef in the world. 

Are you after an insta-worthy holiday photo that will make family and friends jealous? The Mackay Region is teeming with scenic locations and wonderful wildlife that makes visitors never want to put their camera down.