Hardy Reef in the Beautiful Whitsunday Islands

  • Location  Latitude: 19.745928, Longitude:  149.182583
  • Depth Range : 0-20 metres
  • Visibility: 8 to 18 metres.
  • Access Boat, seaplane or helicopter
  • Rating: Novice to expertise
  • Size: 13 kilometres long.

Hardy Reef is located 78.3 kilometres east of the Queensland coast from Airlie Beach.  Visitors usually travel by boat, which takes approximately three hours.

Helicopters and seaplanes also take visitors to Hardy Reef.

Visitors can start their trip to Hardy Reef from either Airlie Beach, Daydream Island or Hamilton Island.

 

Once you reach Hardy Reef

The 70-metre Reef wall is ideal for rookie divers and snorkelers.  You will find the largest Reef pontoon in Australia, “Reef World’.

There are both hard and soft coral and friendly marine life along the Reef walls.  Visitors can enjoy the day and overnight stays on this multi-activity pontoon.

Cruise Whitsundays operate this Reef pontoon, a must-do when visiting the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.

Visitors can also stay overnight on a reefsleep package, an option available to 24 guests.

Reef-World offers snorkelling, scuba diving and semi-submersible tours for visitors to enjoy.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling over the colourful coral gardens at this location is a treat.  Divine bright Reef fish dart in and out of the coral and are delightful to watch.

Scuba diving

Scuba divers will love the pristine Reef walls that drop down 30 metres.  This location makes a great drift dive.

Semi-submarine tours

Without getting your hair wet visitors can enjoy a tour of the underwater coral reef in a semi-submarine.   Here you will find brightly coloured coral reefs, clams and tropical fish.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Life

Micro Reef critters include nudibranchs, spider shells and flatworms.

Lovers of colourful marine life will be delighted with butterflyfish, clown triggerfish and angelfish.

There are nice mackerel, trevally and Reef sharks along the Reef wall.

Most divers will also see sea turtles along Hardy Reef.

Coral

Hardy Reef has spectacular colourful soft and hard corals.

Here you will find small coral bommies that provide homes for anemones.  Visitors can see Boulder corals, staghorn corals and black coral trees at this location.

While in the water, keep an eye out for gorgonian fans and an abundance of soft corals.

Hardy Reef Map

While you are in the Whitsundays, don’t miss visiting Whitehaven Beach.

Nearby Reef locations