TRAVEL WITH CHRIS BROWN

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1 TRAVEL WITH CHRIS BROWN FACT OR PHOTOSHOP: THE WHITSUNDAYS Australia is known as a picture-perfect holiday destination - but sceptical Amanda wants to find out whether our most iconic postcard images are the real deal. She sends Chris on a spectacular mission to the Whitsundays to uncover whether Heart Reef and Hardy Reef are fact... or Photoshop. WHITSUNDAY FAST FACTS The Whitsundays are a collection of islands off the Queensland coast situated approximately 900 km north of Brisbane* Of the 74 islands, that make up the Whitsundays, 66 are completely untouched* The Whitsundays is one of the top places in the country to see the World Heritage Site, the Great Barrier Reef* In the year ending June 2014, almost 700,000 domestic and international tourists visited the Whitsundays** Source: * **

2 ABOUT HARDY REEF To start his Fact or Photoshop mission, Chris has taken off in a seaplane to see the Number One Best View in Australia.* The breathtaking Hardy Reef is a large expanse of coral reefs situated 60 km off the mainland coast. Hardy Reef makes up part of the larger World Heritage Site, the Great Barrier Reef. As Chris endeavours to take his postcard shot, he decides to see the reef up close. One quick water-landing later, Chris is up close and personal with one of the few natural structures that can be seen from space. Aboard one of only a handful of snorkeling pontoon boats stationed out on Hardy s, Chris and his pilot Dan mingle with the unique ecosystem that is thriving in the reef. This area is home to countless species of coral and fish including barracuda, moray eels, unicorn fish and the up to two-metrelong giant Queensland groper. Hardy Reef remains one of the most spectacular stretches of both the Great Barrier Reef and the entire world. The water depth ranges from 5 to 18 metres but is mostly quite shallow around the naturally enclosed pool Hardy Lagoon. These shallow waters and massive reef structure shield the area from large tides and harsh ocean conditions which is a major factor in the abundance of marine life in the area.** Sources: * Australian Traveller Magazine Best Views in Australia ** Tourism Whitsundays.com.au

3 ABOUT HEART REEF After getting up close and personal with the marine life at Hardy Reef, Chris continues his fact-finding mission. Heart Reef is synonymous with the Whitsundays but is this highly photographed natural wonder actually fact or photoshop? Heart Reef is a small section of coral that is part of the larger Hardy s Reef. Discovered in 1975 by an Air Whitsundays pilot, Heart Reef has become one of the most iconic images of the Whitsundays and Australia in general. Despite its international fame, the Heart Reef is actually quite small. Only 17 metres in diameter, the heart is essentially only visible from the air. If at sea level, the heart just looks like the rest of the reef visually stunning but not necessarily the most unique. However from above, Heart Reef will take your breath away. It s easy to see, soaring above the reef, why it is the scene of countless inflight proposals. Heart Reef is, in fact, a protected area so there is no access at ground level boats and ships are not permitted to pull up alongside of it. Sources: Air Whitsundays Tourism Whitsundays

4 ABOUT AIR WHITSUNDAY Air Whitsunday began in 1973 as the brainchild of Kevin and Sue Bowe. During the following 37 years, the company has grown to the premier seaplane carrier in the area. What makes your seaplane experience with Air Whitsunday so unique is the ability to provide YOU the guest, with some of the most breathtaking and memorable visuals provided by Mother Nature from a bird s eye perspective. The small team is built upon passion, professionalism and providing their guests with the best experience possible! Beginning with the engineers who have spent much time developing and enhancing the aircraft to ensure your flight is a comfortable experience; the multi-talented pilots foremost for their piloting capabilities, who will also act as knowledgeable reef guides and boat skippers; to the operations staff, who look forward to welcoming you with genuine enthusiasm and assisting to help make your experience top notch. Today, with five operating aircraft; consisting of two De Havilland Beavers, three Cessna Caravans and one other in its last stages of overhaul, they are proud to carry the banner of largest seaplane operator in the Southern Hemisphere. Air Whitsunday s hard work and dedication to tourism has been recently awarded by winning Best Tour and Transport Operator at the Whitsunday Tourism Awards for the past two consecutive years and in 2011 were awarded finalists in the same category at the Queensland Tourism Awards. To book your Whitsunday aerial adventure contact (07) or visit

5 ABOUT HELI TAXI Chris spent the day with the fantastic crew from Heli Taxi as part of his mission to capture that perfect photo. The founder of Heli Taxi, Ron Harris, was previously founder of a computer company, Harris Technology, which he sold to Coles Myer in 2002 and retired to Airlie beach. Ron then learned to fly helicopters and as a Commercial helicopter Pilot he has now un-retired to establish and run helicopter services around Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. Heli Taxi own and operate five Robinson helicopters, two new Robinson R66 Turbines with 4 passenger seats, two Robinson R44s with three passenger seats, and one two seater R22 helicopter which is currently being put onto floats for lowest cost over water transfers around the Whitsunday islands. Heli Taxi operate 7-days a week at Shute Harbour Airport, a short 5 kms from Airlie Beach township. If you d like to get in touch with the Heli Taxi team call WEBLINKS Tourism Whitsundays Whitsundays Marketing and Development Air Whitsunday Seaplanes