The world's largest coral reef system is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef consists of 2900 reefs and 900 islands, and it's one of the biggest natural spectacles in the world.
At this natural wonder, Cruise Whitsundays launched a unique pontoon in 2019, right before Covid hit and everything came to a halt. But once tourism returned to normal, people started to flock to experience underwater life.
Whitsundays is the location of the pontoon and is one of Australia's most popular destinations, as it sits in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.
A fast boat takes off from the Airlie Beach Marina dock to bring you to Hardy Reef, 40 nautical miles (64 kilometers) from the shore.
The pontoon's name is Reefworld, and this hotel offers two types of accommodations; glamping and underwater.
The floating hotel is safely docked at the coral reefs without causing any harm to the amazing marine life found here.
The on-deck Reefsleep has cozy tents with a sea view, while the lucky ones can take one of the two underwater suites.
The open-air tents are on the boat's top deck, and here you can experience sleeping under the stars.
And you will not have to move an inch to see the breathtaking sunsets over the Great Barrier Reef.
Australia's first underwater hotel
There is a door with a private sign, hiding a staircase with glossy white walls leading down to your underwater suite.
The rooms are submerged 10 feet (3 meters) deep in the sea and have a large wall of windows. Even the floor is (partially) glass! It's made of proper hard stuff, so you can lay on it if you wish to.
The king-size bed is sea-facing, so you can wake up to the view of playful fish swimming around.
Underwater sunset
Another unique experience to have is an underwater sunset. Sounds weird? Maybe, but as the sun goes down and less light penetrates under the water's surface, you can see how the sea gets progressively darker, and life slows down.
It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you should take advantage of, as the suites don't come cheap.
During the dark hours, the seabed's spotlight turns on, illuminating the marine life that gets close to your window.
The bathroom comes with a full-size shower, linen ropes, plush towels, and an unforgettable view. Have you ever showered with fish staring at you? No? I thought so.
And although you can use the blinds if you are worried about snorkelers passing by, you would miss all the fun.
If your skin looks blueish, don't panic! The underwater room gets colored with hues of blue.
There are only two underwater suites that book up quickly, so there are months-long wait times.
If you book the Reefsuites, a fine dining experience awaits you, prepped by gourmet chefs. The dishes are served on the boat's deck with a stunning sea view and fresh breeze of air.
When you are ready to leave the spectacular underwater room, you can go for a private guided snorkeling tour.
The experienced guide will point you to the fascinating marine life and share information about it.
So next time you snorkel alone, you will recognize yellow and blueback fusilier.
24 Port Dr, Airlie Beach QLD 4802, Australia
