Reef Flight - August 2020
A couple of years ago I did a Reef Sleep, which was an amazing experience, staying on a pontoon on the reef and swimming amidst it. Today, however, a Reef Flight may have eclipsed that. To see this wonderful sight from the air is truly breathtaking. Luck was with us as the day dawned perfectly clear, with not a hint of wind.
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The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres off the coast of Queensland. We were delighted to fly over the Whitsunday section and marvel at the structure that is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. We reached it after first passing over many islands, the highlight being Whitsunday Island, crested by the famous Whitehaven Beach.
Whitehaven Beach stretches for seven kilometres and its sand is made from 98.9% pure silica. It is this silica which gives the sand its unique white colour and a particularly fine powdery grain. It does not retain heat and is cool to walk on, even on the hottest days.
Located in Hardy Reef, Heart Reef is stunning from the air. Due to its protected status, visitors are unable to snorkel or dive there. It is an internationally recognised attraction of the Whitsundays and features on many postcards and brochures promoting the Whitsunday region and the Great Barrier Reef.
This little adventure has been one of the biggest highlights of my life. We flew with GSL Aviation, and thanks to Coronavirus affecting local tourism, we got a very good deal. No matter the cost, this was something worth doing, as an aerial perspective gives you a better understanding of the lie of the land and the sea. I loved seeing the islands and reef, but also the beautiful countryside around Proserpine. The hour flight seemed much longer as it was filled with so much to take in.