Reefworld

About 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Hamilton Island, the Great Barrier Reef is too amazing to miss. Most boat and flight tours head to Reefworld, a visitor-friendly pontoon platform (with snack bars, an underwater observatory and even a waterslide) moored on Hardy Reef, but select trips hit lesser-known areas such as Bait Reef Marine Park. Beneath the surface is a kaleidoscope of clown fish, parrot fish, giant clams, moray eels and sea turtles set against a backdrop of staghorn coral.