Travel
ScubA DIVIng AT THE Osprey’s reef (famous for its underwater
grEAT bArrIEr rEEF walls and resident hammerhead and
Three words sum it up – great, barrier grey whaler sharks); ribbon reef (home
and reef. it’s a coral reef, a complex, to the beautiful but deadly scorpion fish
interlinked system of living organisms. and, in June and July, minke whales);
it’s a barrier, fringing the northeast coast and dozens of other sites. prices start
of australia and separating the shallower, at about €1,000 per person for a three-
calmer waters inside the reef from the night, 12-dive trip with all meals, snacks,
open pacific. and, stretching for more non-alcoholic drinks, tanks and weight
than 1,000 miles, it’s indisputably the
5 things to do
belts included.
world’s greatest barrier reef. Don’t be part of the prestigious Banyan Tree
fooled though. Three words may sum
Up, up and away Reef where you can get
chain, the angsana resort & spa (Tel.
Take a break from all the to grips with the tropical
it up but the gBr is many other things.
action, with a romantic trip rainforest and the vast
+61 74 055 3000, www.angsana.com)
it’s a wonderful nature reserve for coral,
in a hot air balloon. Drift Australian outback. Check
ten miles north of Cairns is big with
marine life, bird life and even terrestrial over the Mpumalanga
out tour options on www.
honeymooners. This isn’t the place to
life. From the human perspective, it’s a
region of South Africa great-barrier-reef.com.
bring a boisterous group; most guests are
(www.drakensberg-tour- Cape Town
big kid’s playground, offering breathtaking
ism.com/airborne- Don’t miss a visit Cape
intent on being couple-y. Those wanting
scuba diving and aquatic experiences.
adventures.html), or the Town with its famous
extra seclusion can book the lavish
island and beach resorts all provide Atherton Tablelands of
landmarks, including
angsana suite, with its private deck,
equipment and lessons for a fee and
Northern Queensland Table Mountain and
barbecue, and pool – but the other 66
(www.great-barrier-reef. Robben Island (where
run daily diving and snorkelling trips to
com/tours/adventure/ad- political prisoners,
asian-colonial-style suites are all plenty
various reef sites. One of the best live-
venture_ballooning.html) including Nelson
idyllic, with gargantuan lounges, wooden
aboard dive operators is Mike Ball Ride the rapids
Mandela, were
shutters and wide balconies overlooking
Dive expeditions (+61 74 053 0500;
Adrenalin junkies will get a imprisoned for decades).
the three saltwater swimming pools. at
kick from white water raft- Coast to coast
www.mikeball.com). Ball, a Brit who’s
ing down the Tully, Barron You can’t miss the spec-
the Far horizons beachside restaurant,
been in the scuba business for 30-odd
and Russell Rivers in the tacular reef that straddles
the food’s elegant but the mood’s
years, runs multi-day excursions from Cairns area of Northern
the coast of Belize. The
relaxed – and there’s a palm-shaded bar
Cairns on his state-of-the-art, 100-foot
Queensland, Australia. second largest in the
for canoodling over preprandial beers or
Get into the outback world, second only to the
twin-hulled boat (for up to 29 passengers
Get the best of both Great Barrier Reef in Oz,
cocktails. love-bunnies who actually feel
at a time). Divers visit sites like Cod hole
worlds and travel inland Belize is perfect for divers
like leaving the property can book scenic
(where they can have close encounters from the Great Barrier
or water fanatics.
flights, cruises, dive trips or day trips to
with potato cod the size of small cars); the chic shopping mecca of palm Cove.
206 The WhiTe pages
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