The Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef, Australia

In celebration of Australia Day I thought it would be the opportune time to publish these photos from the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef – my favourite Australian destination I’ve experienced so far and one I could not highly recommend enough for anyone visiting our glowing shores. And I’m sure after seeing these photos you can understand why.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram @garypeppergirl, you may have noticed my support for WWF and the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s #fightforthereef campaign. It’s devastating (and in all honesty, quite baffling and idiotic to me) that one of the seven natural wonders of the world is under threat of vanishing due to the Queensland Government’s ambitions to fast-track mega port developments, dredging and dumping of millions of tonnes of seabed and rock in the Reef’s waters, and a near-doubling of the bulk-carriers (taking it up to 7,000 ships) cutting through the reef every year.

The Australian Government is approving these developments, including one of the world’s biggest coal ports at Abbot Point, just 50 km from the beauty of the Whitsunday Islands.

As I’ve always encouraged anyone to visit the Great Barrier Reef, I can only encourage you all to protect it too. You can show your support or read more information about #fightforthereef here.

Happy Australia Day!

Photographer: Luke Shadbolt