Moored in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, ReefWorld is a 45-metre long triple-deck pontoon that up to 200 day-trippers from Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach come to explore the underwater world of Hardy’s Reef.

But after 3pm, the Cruise Whitsundays catamaran returns all by 24 of you for dry land, you’re left with the whole 1,100m² of this giant pontoon at your disposal.

Check out our video from ReefWorld:

Until the sun starts to set, you can snorkel, swim and even scuba (no PADI licence necessary) to your heart’s content.

And after evening cocktails and a three-course feast, you retire to your ReefSleep bed on the top deck.

Is It Easy To Sleep On ReefWorld?

Although the beds aren’t that big and the zip-up canopy covering you is quite low, there’s no feeling of claustrophobia—it’s a good example of glamping really.

The mattress is very comfortable and although the pontoon moves on the waves, the motion isn’t a problem. In fact, the resident marine biologist was surprised when we all told him how well we’d slept.

Overnight winds had gusted up to 40km per hour.

After a full day of snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as an attentive bartender and an ample dinner, not even gale-force winds could keep me awake.

It was early May when we were here and even though ReefWorld is in the tropics, it’s also out at sea. Evenings were cool and the night air could turn chilly when the wind blew.

However, zipping our bed up all the way made things so cosy we didn’t need blankets when we slept.

In the summer, if there’s no breeze, it will probably be warmer, but each ReefSleep bed has an electric fan, and removing the heavy canvas outer layer of the beds would allow for plenty of airflow without compromising privacy.

Do You Get Sea Sick On ReefWorld?

ReefWorld pontoon is permanently and securely anchored to the seabed. However, it does move a bit with the motion of the sea.

The best part about being in the middle of a coral reef is the surges and high waves of the deep ocean don’t get to the pontoon. Those big waves break on the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef a long way from ReefWorld.

We didn’t need seasickness medication or ginger sweets while we were there, but if you’re very susceptible to motion sickness, it’s a good idea to take some just in case.

To be honest, the voyage out to ReefWorld can be a bigger problem, especially if it’s windy.

Christina and I found the movement of the pontoon quite relaxing and kind of rocked us to sleep. Add that to all the fresh sea air and the exertions of snorkelling and scuba diving all day, not to mention the ample dinner and wine, we slept like two logs!

For more stories on the Great Barrier Reef, click here!

The only thing that hampered our sleep was the excitement of being on the Great Barrier Reef. The moon rose out of the ocean in the middle of the night, which I’m glad I woke for, and the sun coming up on the other side of the horizon made sure we didn’t sleep in too long.

So if concerns over what your night will be like on ReefWorld and ReefSleep is the only thing stopping you from going, it’s time to book your bed now!

We visited ReefWorld and spent the night on ReefSleep as media guests of Journey Beyond and Cruise Whitsundays, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post How To Get To Sleep On The Great Barrier Reef, Qld appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Best known and most popular of the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island is a beautiful tropical destination that attracts all kinds of visitors from backpackers to families to couples on a romantic getaway.

It’s the perfect spot to relax, with no cars allowed on the island and beautiful views wherever you look.

And because you’re so close to the Great Barrier Reef here, the options for scuba diving and snorkelling—not to mention boating and kayaking adventures—are abound.

Hamilton Island’s accommodation options vary from private spas and AirBnB-style homes all the way to budget hostels.

But the Reef View Hotel, with its 363 rooms across eight different types, is the obvious option—especially if this is your first time to Hamilton Island.

Check out our video walkthrough of our Garden View Room and some of the facilities at the Reef View Hotel.

Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island

Even though we’re only here on Hamilton Island for one night before we head to Reefworld and Reefsleep in the morning (you can find out more about this amazing overnight experience on the Great Barrier Reef here) we’re so excited to be see what Hamo Island has to offer.

From the ubiquitous golf carts that you can hire to get around (much calmer and less obtrusive than hire cars) to the separate yet affiliated DenT Island next door that’s an 18-hole golf course, Hamilton Island is a holidaymaker’s paradise.

The western side of Hamilton Island is taken up with shops, bars, hotels and the airport, while the eastern side has been left alone. So there are still wild beaches, lookout points and bushland to explore when you want to get away from it all.

But for the best sunset views, these are just down the road on the western side of the island.

The Reef View Hotel is part of the Hamilton Island Resort, which also includes famed qualia, and overlooks the 800m-long Catseye Beach. Staying here means you also have access to the beach facilities, including the main pool with its swim-up bar.

Where to stay on Hamilton Island—Our Garden View Room

Once we’re checked in and the kind receptionist has given us the run-through of the area—including her top tip of downloading the Hamilton Island app that’s full of handy information—we head to our room.

Our Garden View Room in fact has water views, as do all the rooms of the appropriately named Reef View Hotel.

It’s a surprisingly big room. In fact there are two queen beds here and they fit easily. There’s enough room for a dining table and two armchairs, and the broad balcony fits furniture too.

But it’s the bathroom that really impresses us.

The twin vanity and giant shower show a good start, but the deep-fill bath is an unexpected addition.

The room also has a pretty good minibar and microwave, but no other cooking facilities, so you are at the mercy of the restaurants on the island.

Thankfully, there are hundreds of them and they all seem of high standard.

Where to eat and drink on Hamilton Island

We’re only here for one night, but we still test out a couple of the bars on the resort.

We immediately head down to the Main Pool, which overlooks Catseye Beach, and have a dip. The swim-up bar is very tempting, but after having to wait just a bit too long, we decide to jump ship and head to Sails Restaurant instead.

The food here is ok though the fries that come with my sandwich are overcooked and hard. That’s ok though, because the beers are going down so well—as they should when you’re on a tropical island!

As the sun dips towards the horizon, we hot-foot it up to One Tree Hill. It’s a favourite spot for sunset with its beautiful views out towards the west, and the sun sets over the water—a rarity for Australia’s east coast.

There’s a bar here—One Tree Hill Bar in fact—which sells the basics but also some pretty good pre-mix cocktails to salute the sun’s departure.

But in food and drinks terms, it’s dinner that’s the real treat.

Hamilton Island Restaurants—Coca Chu

If you’re into your Thai food, Coca Chu is for you. This overwater restaurant and its elevated modern Thai menu is the ideal match for the location.

The ambience is lively and friendly, and the open-air lofted ceiling allows the warm evening air in straight off the sea.

We’re here with a small group, so we’re able to sample quite a few of the dishes. There are some delicious entrees worth checking out here–the son-in-law eggs with daikon and caramelised tamarind, and the tiger prawns and saw tooth in betal leaves are amazing.

From the mains, the curries—especially the massaman beef and kipfler potatoes and the red curry pork belly—are excellent, but there are plenty of other dishes here that we love too.

We make our very full way past the satisfyingly parked rows of golf carts back to the vast airy lobby of the Reef View Hotel.

We curl up in our queen beds (nothing more romantic than no arguments about bed cover theft) and drift off to the sounds of the ocean and light breeze drifting in through the fronds of the palm trees.

The post Where To Stay On Hamilton Island – Reef View Hotel appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

We’ve been lucky enough to visit the Great Barrier Reef a few times, either sailing between the stunning archipelago of the Whitsunday Islands or snorkelling amongst its coral. We’ve even driven remote submersibles around the reef.

But this is the first time we’ve been able to spend two days here.

Leaving Hamilton Island—one of the biggest in the Whitsunday group—in the morning, our catamaran hurtles through the water to moor against Reefworld’s 45-metre-long rig a couple of hours later, disgorging its 200 or so passengers.

The majority of them are day-trippers, spending a blissful four hours on the reef before motoring back to dry land at 3pm.

Book your daytrip to Reefworld here!

For the two dozen of us that are left, we get the whole place to ourselves until 11am the next day when the Sail Whitsundays boat returns.

Reefworld has become Reefsleep!

Check out our video of our time on Reefworld and Reefsleep here:

What Is Reefworld And What Do You Do Here?

Permanently moored over Hardy Reef 71km from Hamilton Island and some 40km from the nearest land, Reefworld is the perfect destination for anyone wanting to get to know the Great Barrier Reef more intimately than just a quick boat tour.

The structure is almost 50m long and over 10m wide, its two above-water decks providing you with nearly 1,100m² of space—plenty of room for the over-night visitors, which are capped at 24.

Reefworld’s Top Deck

On the top deck, are the 12 surprisingly comfortable Reefsleep beds. These double beds have a twin canopy (one fly-screen/privacy layer and a  thick canvas layer) that zips up at night. They are also set up as waterproof daybeds for you to enjoy post-swim, snorkel or scuba.

Also on the top deck are the showers and toilets for Reefsleep as well as the bar, which overnight guests have free rein of (though spirits and cocktails are extra).

Reefworld’s Main Deck And Semi-Submersible

At the water level, things are a bit more functional. Snorkelling gear, including wetsuits and stinger suits, are here. Also the kitchen, where you’ll find breakfast in the morning and where dinner is served at the communal table, are on this level.

This deck gives you access to the patrolled ‘pool’ area where you can snorkel the reef right from the pontoon.

There’s also a scuba base here where you can dive directly too.

If you don’t want to go in the water though, you can access the semi-submersible, which is always moored alongside the pontoon. This half-boat half-submarine has seating and windows in its hull, and regular tours show you round the reef without getting your feet wet.

Book your two-day one-night stay on Reefworld here.

Reefworld’s Underwater Deck And Reefsuites

Below the waterline, there are also things to see. An observatory has windows that let you see what’s happening under the waves. Sitting here watching the underwater world go by is mesmerising.

In fact, the amazing crew onboard organise a romantic dinner for Christina and me.

While the rest of the overnight guests dine upstairs on the main deck, we’re served our delicious three-course meal at a table for two in the observatory.

We watch the silver flashes of trevally, whitebait and a variety tropical fish—not to mention the gargantuan shadow of George the enormous 300kg giant groper—while we eat. It’s a truly unforgettable experience.

But perhaps most impressive are the two Reefsuite bedrooms that are down here.

Below the level of the water, down a private stairway, these bedroom suites, which have their own bathrooms with full showers, are below sea level. The bed looks directly out into the open ocean through floor-to-ceiling windows to the deep blue yonder. There are even glass panels in the floor.

These Reefsuites are—obviously—very popular and book out early, so make sure you don’t wait too long if you want to stay here in these unique rooms.

Food And Drink On Reefworld

For everyone who comes to Reefworld—overnight guests and day-trippers alike—lunch is provided onboard the catamaran. It’s buffet style with a good range of tasty morsels.

Once the catamaran leaves again at 3pm, the bar opens for people staying overnight. Beer, wine, cider and soft drinks are included in your stay.

Dinner begins with a selection of tasty hors d’oeuvres like grilled prawns, sautéed scallops and fresh oysters.

Mains and desserts are a la carte, and—perhaps for the sake of good taste—there are no fish dishes for us to choose. In fact, Christina and I both go for the thick-cut steak with greens and a rich red-wine jus.

We also go for the same dessert of chocolate brownie, though the cheese selection almost wins me over.

Breakfast is hotel buffet style, with eggs, bacon, sausages and hash browns, as well as fruit, yoghurt and barista-made coffee. You might even be tempted by a breakfast mimosa!

You also have lunch at Reefworld before the catamaran leaves for Hamilton Island at 3pm.

Snorkelling, Scuba Diving And Scenic Flights

Reefworld is situated on the brink of what was once a huge river valley. Since the end of the last Ice Age though, this nutrient-rich river system has been completely submerged, providing the perfect environment for coral to grow.

From the pontoon, you can borrow wet suits, stinger suits, masks, snorkels and fins to check out the reef.

However, there’s an option to go on a guided ‘snorkel safari’ with the amazing divemasters onsite.

A lot of the reef is easily explorable from the surface just with snorkels, but for a more immersive experience (pun intended), scuba dives will show you more of the secrets this ancient river valley holds.

And the best part of this is you can even try a dive if you don’t have a licence.

The divemasters will literally hold your hand and take you deep beneath the waves to see the stunning coral, inquisitive fish and other marine life further down than snorkels can take you.

If you do have a diving licence, you can book dives further afield at some of the designated sites around the reef.

Scuba dives and guided snorkel tours cost extra and it’s a good idea to book them beforehand.

Semi-submersible tours and the underwater observatory are free for everyone to enjoy throughout their stay.

While you’re here, there’s also an opportunity to really take your stay to the next level. Scenic helicopter flights take off and land from a pontoon close to Reefworld!

From the air you get to see evidence of the ancient river system and the reef in all its glory.

As well, you can check out iconic Heart Reef, the ethereal white and blue swirls of Hill Inlet and the pristine stretch of silica sand of Whitehaven Beach.

For us, it’s an experience we’ll never forget.

We visited Reefworld as media guests with Journey Beyond, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Sleeping With The Fishes—staying at Reefworld on the Great Barrier Reef appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

I’ve always been a fan of the window seat on a plane—for a few reasons. But when you’re flying to Hamilton Island Airport, having a view makes all the difference.

From the air, the emerald sight of the Whitsundays archipelago and the shapes of the glimmering Great Barrier Reef from the pearlescent sea raises the pulse of even the most hard-bitten, jaded traveller.

You also get a perspective of Hamilton, girt by white beaches and smothered in natural bushland.

In fact, over 80% of this 7km² island is untouched, which offers a lot of bushwalking opportunities for keen hikers.

The only other way to get around—apart from the shuttle bus that runs the resort circuit—is by electric golf buggy. There are no cars on Hamilton Island. You can hire a buggy for the day for up to four days at a time.

Where To Watch Sunset On Hamilton Island, Qld

The best part of being on an island is that, even though you’re on the east coast, the Hamilton Island sunset is over the water.

There’s nothing quite like watching the brilliant burnished orange orb of the sun dip slowly into the sea. Even more so from one of the best vistas on Hamilton Island.

One Tree Hill on the north of the island is a popular spot for visitors to come and watch the sunset.

Because it’s elevated, you can see for miles around across to other islands and out to sea. As the sun begins to set, the whole sky lights up gold and deep orange.

There’s plenty of space to sit on the grassy slopes of the hill to have a picnic. Alternatively, the little bar here—creatively One Tree Hill Bar—is open from 3.00pm till 7.30pm-ish and serves a whole range of drinks from beers to ready-mix house cocktails.

Grab a table and enjoy the sunset from the little deck.

I’m not entirely sure why it’s called One Tree Hill though. Surrounded by swaying palm trees, firs and other evergreens, the trees here frame the views out to the magnificent sunset beautifully.

Getting To Hamilton Island

There are direct flights to Hamilton Island Airport—the only island airport in the Whitsundays—from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

You can also arrive by boat to Hamilton Island. Transfers run from Port of Airlie with Cruise Whitsundays and take about an hour.

Where To Stay On Hamilton Island

There are hundreds of places to stay on Hamilton Island. From holiday homes and apartments to beachside hotels to private ultra-luxe spa resorts.

We stayed at the Reef View Hotel, which has over 360 rooms of all types – you can read our full review here.

Our King Coral Sea View Room was huge—big enough for not one but two king-size beds, a reasonable balcony and all the usual comforts of a 4-star hotel.

From the Reef View Hotel, it’s about a 15-minute walk up hill if you don’t have a buggy. Alternatively, the free shuttle bus goes up there too.

The walk back down hill is much easier, and that’s as much to do with gravity as it is the memory of the incredible sunset you’ve just witnessed extinguish into the Coral Sea.

We visited Hamilton Island as media guests but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where To Watch The Sunset On Hamilton Island, Queensland appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef of the north Queensland coast is one of the most incredible places we’ve ever visited.

Amongst the great living caves and mountains of vivid moving coral flit gemstones of colour. Shoals of jewelled fish decorate the world’s largest living organism with sapphires, emeralds, rubies and opals.

Bigger, in fact, than the states of Victoria and Tasmania combined, the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef is home to an abundance of marine life, its waters fading from lapis lazuli to aquamarine.

And although it spans over 344,000km² of the Australian east coast, visiting the Great Barrier Reef is something many of us will never get to do.

That’s where Teleportal and its submarine robots hands you a virtual jeweller’s loupe.

How to see the Great Barrier Reef from your own home

Anchored to 100m tethers dotted around a section of the Great Barrier Reef are several 10kg remote control submersible drones.

The mastermind of documentary maker and naturalist Adam Cropp, this incredible project allows you to take full control of your own remote submarine and drive it amongst the corals and creatures of this underwater paradise.

All from your own computer.

It’s the closest you’ll get to a real scuba dive without getting wet and feels like you’re in an scientific expedition roving the ocean with your own submersible.

In fact, Teleportal is part of Adam’s Osibot open source robot design system that’s invested in improving real-life global scientific research and conservation efforts. So it probably should feel like you’re part of an expedition.

Talking of expeditions, we were lucky to meet Adam for the first time aboard the National Geographic ship Orion when we explored the wild coast of the Kimberley.

He was the expedition leader and showed us some incredible parts of the region.

What does your underwater drone do?

Starting off on the surface, you arm your drone and dive beneath the waves. It doesn’t take long to reach the seabed, where you’ll find most of the life.

The front-mounted 1080HD camera captures a 110-degree field of vision and can tilt up and down as you move. And if you want to try a night dive, the submersible’s 4000 lumens lights illuminate the dark waters around the reef perfectly.

You can take photos of your voyage as you go too, which save automatically to the system’s gallery.

You steer the submersible with your keyboard using classic gamer keys. It’s a very responsive system, giving you an impressive amount of control and agility.

Motors and gyroscopes on the robots are powerful enough to cope with currents, and the sonar-based obstacle avoidance system helps out if you get too close to your surroundings.

Actually, it’s surprising how close you can get to the wildlife (the proximity detector kicks in at around 65cm) and the fish aren’t bothered by the robot’s presence at all.

It’s a phenomenal experience.

You can watch Adam take a robot down for a live dive here on his YouTube channel.

Diving with Teleportal

To begin, you sign up for an account here and choose the package you want.

You buy credit packages that translate to minutes of dive time and there’s a full training simulator to practise as well. And trust me, you’ll want to buy more credits than you think you’ll need.

We had an hour in the deep blue (about 200 credits) and it felt like 10 minutes.

We spent most of our time among reefs at around 5m, but we went as far as about 10m down. This is not a problem for these submersibles, which can dive down to 100m.

At the end of the session, the submersible drifts casually up to the surface where its solar batteries can recharge ready for its next voyage.

Images from our experience with and courtesy of Teleportal.

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