Hotels in Southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Southern Great Barrier Reef stretches from just north of Bundaberg to the Queensland-New South Wales border, famous for its coral cays and the world's largest sand island, Fraser Island (K'gari). Winters (June-August) are dry with highs around 68°F (20°C), perfect for kayaking around the Whitsunday Islands or spotting marine life like sea turtles at Lady Elliot Island. Summers (December-February) are hot and humid, hitting 86°F (30°C), ideal for diving with manta rays at Heron Island, but you can also explore the historic Lady Musgrave Island's lighthouse ruins during the cooler spring months.