To get to Hardy Reef and the world famous Aussie landmark, the Heart Reef, which are in the Whitsunday chain of islands in the Great Barrier Reef, your best bet is to go via Shute Harbour and Airlie Beach in Queensland. You can reach Airlie Beach by car or bus and by plane or train to Proserpine approximately 30 minutes drive away from Airlie. Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays and it is the best place to begin your journey to the Heart Shaped Reef.
Although the Heart Shape Reef itself is best viewed by seaplane or helicopter tour there are many types of suitable accommodation in Airlie Beach including holiday apartment and home rentals, resorts, spas, backpackers, caravan and camping holiday parks. You can even charter a boat and stay overnight out in the reef.
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Seen on TV and in movies, the Heart Shaped Reef, in Hardy Reef, has become quite a famous Queensland landmark and Australian icon. Hardy Reef boasts some of the best underwater viewing of the Great Barrier Reef in general, so snorkeling and scuba-diving should certainly be at the top of your list.
Hardy Reef is home to the Reefworld pontoon, from which many activities are available. Whether you are looking for sea turtles or the elusive moray eel, the pontoon is perfectly located amidst the largest reef on the planet, so whenever you travel you'll be surrounded by spectacular fish and the amazing oceanic life of the world's largest living structure.
Situated in calmer shallow waters and with a lifeguard keeping an eye on you, we think you'll be hard pressed to stay out of the water at Reefworld pontoon but even if you must stay dry, there's helicopter tours (from which all the famous photos are taken), semi-submersible tours and an underwater observatory to explore.
Whether you're swimming, snorkeling or diving, taking one of the tours, chatting with one of the reef experts or just relaxing on the sun deck, the thing to remember when checking out the Heart Reef, Hardy Reef and the Great Barrier Reef, is bring plenty of sunscreen.
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