Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - On Arrival

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is responsible for protecting and managing activities such as tourism and recreation on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef and attracts millions of visitors to Queensland each year. The reef is a major contributor to Queensland’s tourism industry and is the perfect destination for superyacht cruising.

Superyacht visitors can access and visit most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park subject to certain restrictions. There are differing requirements for Private Recreational Users and Commercial users.

There are also different restrictions depending upon the size of your superyacht. The following links outline where the various categories of superyachts can go and provide the relevant links and contacts for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Private Recreational Users

•  less than 35m
• between 35m and 70m
• greater than 70m

Commercial/Charter Users

• less than 35m
• between 35m and 70m
• greater than 70m
   

Private Recreational Users – less than 35m in length

If you are a Private Recreational User and your vessel is less than 35m in length you will be able to access most parts of the Great Barrier Reef except for those mentioned above. 

Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management arrangements. These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

Private Recreational Users – between 35m – 70m in length

You are able to access most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as a recreational user. Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management provisions that apply to vessels 35 to 70 metres in length.

These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

Private Recreational Users – greater than 70m in length

You are able to access most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as a recreational user. Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management provisions that apply to vessels over 70 metres in overall length. These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

There are also compulsory pilotage requirements for vessels greater than 70m in length. Please refer below.

Commercial/Charter Users

Commercial access to the Great Barrier Reef requires that you have a permit to access the various parts of the reef.  Permits are issued by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and fall into three categories:

Superyachts less than 35m – Commercial Use

Generally, your permit will allow every day 'roving access' to the Marine Park unless you specifically request regular access to nominated locations.

This means you will be able to visit most areas of the Marine Park, provided you stay no longer than two days at any one reef.

Generally, you will be able to access all of the following zones:

• General Use (light blue) Zone
• Habitat Protection (dark blue) Zone
• Conservation Park (yellow) Zone
• Buffer (olive green) Zone
• Marine National Park (green) Zone

Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management provisions. These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

Outside the Planning Areas, you may only visit a location (generally a reef, island or bay) for two days in any seven-day period.

To help conserve and protect some important locations, and to provide a range of opportunities for private recreational users, there are some locations that you may not be permitted to visit. These areas will be listed as exclusions on your permit.

If you are planning to visit these areas you will need to contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority who can provide you with more detailed advice. 

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

Superyachts 35m to 70m – Commercial Use

Generally, your permit will allow:

• Access for your superyacht to the General Use (light blue) Zone and Shipping Areas. These areas are shown on zoning maps
• Ability to access other zones, except Preservation (pink) Zones, when transiting to and from or anchoring at a cruise ship anchorage. There is a comprehensive network of cruise ship anchorages throughout the Marine Park which you are able to access
• Ability to access other zones, except Preservation (pink) Zones, within the Planning Areas
• Operation always beyond 500 metres of a reef or coastline except when transiting to and from or anchoring at a cruise ship anchorage.

Generally, your tender will be able to access all of the following zones:

• General Use (light blue) Zone
• Habitat Protection (dark blue) Zone
• Conservation Park (yellow) Zone
• Buffer (olive green) Zone
• Marine National Park (green) Zone

Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management provisions. These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

Outside the Planning Areas, you may only visit a location (generally a reef, island or bay) for two days in any seven-day period. To help conserve and protect some important locations, and to provide a range of opportunities for private recreational users, there are some locations that you may not be permitted to visit. These areas will be listed as exclusions on your permit.

There is a comprehensive network of cruise ship anchorages, which you are able to access. If you are planning to visit these areas you will need to contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority who can provide you with more detailed advice.

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

Superyachts greater than 70m – Commercial Use

Generally, your permit will allow:

• Access for your superyacht to the General Use (light blue) Zone and Shipping Areas. These areas are shown on zoning maps
• Ability to access other zones, except Preservation (pink) Zones, when transiting to and from or anchoring at a cruise ship anchorage. There is a comprehensive network of cruise ship anchorages throughout the Marine Park which you are able to access
• Ability to access the cruise ship transit areas. These areas are shown on the cruise ship anchorages map
• Ability to access other zones, except Preservation (pink) Zones, within the Planning Areas
• Operation always beyond 500 metres of a reef or coastline except when transiting to and from or anchoring at a cruise ship anchorage.

Generally, your tender will be able to access all of the following zones:

• General Use (light blue) Zone
• Habitat Protection (dark blue) Zone
• Conservation Park (yellow) Zone
• Buffer (olive green) Zone
• Marine National Park (green) Zone

Some areas that experience high use or have high conservation values have additional management provisions. These areas are:

• Offshore Cairns and Port Douglas (covered by the Cairns Planning Area)
• Hinchinbrook
• The Whitsundays

Outside the Planning Areas, you may only visit a location (generally a reef, island or bay) for two days in any seven-day period. To help conserve and protect some important locations, there are some standard  exclusions. All your exclusions will be listed on your permit.

If you are planning to visit these areas you will need to contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority who can provide you with more detailed advice.

For further information on the management requirements for these areas you should visit the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.

Any vessels travelling in the Great Barrier Reef are encouraged to use AUSREP and must use REEFREP (Ship Reporting Systems) if over 50 meters.  The entry and reporting requirements under REEFREP can be found in the Great Barrier Reef & Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service User Manual.

Disclaimer:
The information on this site is subject to change and that for the most up to date information the relevant government agencies should be consulted via their websites.  It remains the responsibility of the owner, master or appointed agent to ensure they are relying on current information as to their specific obligations.