Fiona Harper is a travel writer based in north Queensland, Australia. A water baby at heart, it's no surprise that she specialises in the Great Barrier Reef and Pacific Island dream destinations like Fiji. Follow her at Travel Boating Lifestyle. Widely travelled, highly acclaimed and much published, when she's not writing she's probably running a marathon or exploring the world by foot, bike, kayak, camel or boat: whatever mode of transport she can get her hands on!
The Great Barrier Reef‘s Whitsundays are a splendid destination for family holidays – there is so much to see and do for kids of all ages. Whether you holiday on the mainland at Airlie Beach or choose an island getaway, slow down, reconnect with your loved ones and enjoy a fun family getaway in the Whitsundays! The kids will be wide-eyed...
This is more like it – one whole week to lap up the very best of the Whitsundays! We’d suggest the first thing you do is find yourself a boat. Whether you’re a round the world sailor in the making, starting in the Great Barrier Reef, or don’t know your port from starboard, there’s a boat to suit your style. Whitsunday...
Discover Whitsunday Islands on a 2 day getaway. This is tough! Two days is only just long enough to give you a taste of island life but not quite long enough to allow you slip onto island time. Do yourself a favour and allow at least five days for a Great Barrier Reef Whitsundays visit. But if you’re seriously time poor...
With 74 islands to explore in the Great Barrier Reef, the best way to get amongst them is to hop aboard a boat for a daytrip or overnight and cruise around the Whitsunday Islands. Cruises depart daily from Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour. Can’t decide which island, bay, beach or cove to visit first? Here’s a run down of...
Here’s a Great Barrier Reef island adventure to three gorgeous islands accessible from Cairns and Port Douglas – Frankland Islands, Fitzroy Island and Low Isles. Each are worthy contenders for the prettiest islands on the Great Barrier Reef! Frankland Islands The little known Frankland Islands are located south of Cairns. Normanby Island is a National Park part coral cay, part continental island,...
It seems slightly ludicrous to even contemplate spending just one day in the Great Barrier Reef holiday hub of Airlie Beach. But if you find yourself with a day to kill either side of an island adventure and want to get the most out of a short visit to Airlie listen up. Be aware: you’ll be tempted to stay much longer! 6 am You’ve only...
It’s possible to explore the Great Barrier Reef on a budget and we’ll show you how. Blessed with World Heritage status, the Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders. For good reason it appears on just about every bucket list ever dreamily penned. Indeed, the Great Barrier Reef is a little like those A-list celebrities...
Toss away your watch, unroll your sleeping bag and prepare to become fully immersed in the Great Barrier Reef, up close and personal. Camping out on an uninhabited island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef is something rather special. With none of those pesky conveniences such as power (the ipad won’t need to be charged), internet connection (ditch the...
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great wonders of the world and a top place for a diving adventure. The great naturalist David Attenborough said ‘the most exciting natural experience of my life was the first time I dived on a coral reef. Being on the reef is a revelatory, thrilling and unbeatable experience.’ From above the sea...
In the mountain range west of Cairns lie the Atherton Tablelands, a rich, fertile horticultural region almost 1,000 metres above the coastal plain. Gourmands and foodies will find much to get excited about in these parts – prepare your tastebuds for titillation! We’re talking green rolling pastures, deep red volcanic soil, abundant sunshine and tropical rain. Toss the whole lot...
Tropical Cairns on the shores of the Great Barrier Reef has plenty of opportunities for romantics to share special moments with loved ones. Watching a full moon rising above the Coral Sea is one very romantic way to connect with nature in all its kick-butt glory. It’s not a bad way to connect with your loved one either! Cairns is...
Take a road trip when you visit Cairns. Is there anything better than hopping in the car and driving without a plan or a schedule? No, we don’t think so either. A road trip is freedom on wheels, one of the most fun ways to travel if you’ve enough time to wing it and see where the road takes you...
Make the most of your visit to Cairns. Food, shelter, entertainment – there’s not much that we humans need. Especially on holidays. Actually, we need quite a bit of each when we’re on holidays! A tropical city strong on tourism and hospitality Cairns delivers on all counts. The major hub for visitors to the northern Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is...
Eating outdoors is one of the great pleasures in a tropical climate. Here’s our top picks for rolling out the blanket for some of the best picnic spots within easy reach of Cairns. Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands Within the Crater Lakes National Park Lake Eacham is a former volcanic crater filled with fresh sweet water perfect for cooling off in....
Spend a perfect 3 days in Cairns. The laid-back vibe in Cairns means visitors should do as they please, from exploring the city’s eclectic dining scene to day trips, which take you to the tranquil, charming village of Kuranda. Take it slow with strolls past the lagoon and stopping for picnic lunches along the Cairns Esplanade. Immerse yourself in Aboriginal...
“Located in the heart of the South Pacific, Fiji is blessed with 333 tropical islands that are home to some of the happiest people on earth. Known for its luxurious private islands, all-inclusive resorts, top spas, culinary destinations and outdoor adventures, Fiji is most widely celebrated for its culture, which uniquely welcomes visitors home. Fiji’s white sand beaches and pristine, crystal-clear ocean...
Three little words to make the heart sing: Great Barrier Reef. It’s undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest attractions yet its immense underwater treasures remain mostly hidden to the naked eye. Despite the difficulty in unlocking its secrets the Great Barrier Reef is absolutely worthy of its global reputation for extraordinary diversity and magnificence. It helps having famous fans who can’t...
A tropical city that proudly showcases the natural beauty of its environs Cairns is the energetic heartbeat of Tropical North Queensland. Built on the shore of the Coral Sea, Cairns is a modern city that attracts sun seekers and fun seekers year round. It’s the gateway to two World Heritage icons the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest,...
The wind will take you wherever it wants: the key to an enjoyable and fun journey is in adjusting your sails accordingly. Have an open mind, don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy the ride.
I don’t mind who I travel with. Getting to know people or reconnecting with myself is one of the joys of travel.
The Solomon Islands was a real surprise – I didn’t expect to fall in love with the country. I’d visited Honiara many years ago while cruising the South Pacific. Though I did a fabulous dive on a WW2 wreck, my lasting impression was of a very downtrodden Honiara. Years later I had the opportunity to spend time in some of the islands and was hooked by the natural beauty and the warmth of people.
This is a no brainer! Travelling by yacht is absolutely my favourite way to travel. I was introduced to sailing while hitching around Australia in my late teens. Getting a lift on a yacht from Broome through the Kimberleys, back then I had no clue about yachts or sailing. Arriving in Darwin six weeks later my course was set for the next 30 years. I went home, bought a yacht, beginning a lifelong obsession with sailing (don’t ask me about my tattoo!). These days I’m not quite so obsessed, though I still yearn for the right time when I will return to sea again.