Great Barrier Reef - should we or shouldn't we?
 

After 15 nights on the South Island of New Zealand, we will fly to Sydney to spend New Year's Eve there. From Sydney, we will have 3-4 nights before we fly home and are considering visiting the Great Barrier Reef as we've never seen it on prior trips to Australia.

We are non-swimmers so we would be looking at viewing the structure from a glass-bottom boat, semi-submarine, etc. We understand that it will be hot and humid during this time of year, although, to be honest, we are more dissuaded by the coral bleaching. We would love to see some colorful coral and marine life, but appreciate that it may be challenging given climate change and trying to view it without getting into the water.

We've been looking at some of the islands in the southern portion of the Reef - Lady Elliot and Heron - as well as the resorts in the Whitsunday Islands (Hamilton, Hayman, Daydream). We understand we may be able to walk onto the reef at Lady Elliot and Heron, but don't know about the harm it may cause.

Hoping some of you have been and have some advice for me. Thanks.

It is years since I have dived on various locations the GBR- maybe 10+ but I do recall being somewhat concerned/ disappointed by the state of the reefs back then. Coral bleaching in parts and damage caused by over diving and poor environmental controls were very evident.

My father in law, a non swimmer visited a few years ago and raved over his day trip to the reef which involved life jackets, masks and snorkels, so it is possible even for a non swimmer.

I have heard tell of "reef walking" but don’t really know enough about operation to comment except to say that when we did our dive training we had it drummed into us relentlessly, never to touch the coral. It always angers me to see that rule ignored by divers, snorkelled and , most of all the boat operators. It terms of environmental impact, I would say that the least invasive/ damaging way to experience the reef would be in a glass bottom boat.