A super-yacht in the Marine Park

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a wonder of the natural world and every year visitors from around the globe experience its beauty. We all have a responsibility to make sure the Reef is protected, its World Heritage values are presented and visitors are able to experience, appreciate and enjoy the Reef now and into the future.

Super-yachts (a high value, luxury vessel) can access most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The following guidelines relate only to private recreational use of super-yachts in the Marine Park.

Different rules apply if elements of your operation include commercial use such as providing transport, accommodation or services for tourists or guests who have paid for the charter of the vessel. Special rules apply when super-yachts are chartered for commercial use.

There is a summary of management arrangements available which sets out where different types of super-yachts can go in the Marine Park.

In addition to the management arrangements for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, other rules may also apply to the operation of your super-yacht in Queensland waters. Further information is available from Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Australian Customs Service (ACS).

Where can you go?

As a recreational user you may access most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. You do need to be aware of three things: zoning, the size of your super-yacht, and the activities you do.

Zoning

The Marine Park is divided into various zones that are described in the Zoning Plan. You are 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.

Size matters

In some areas of the Marine Park there are special management strategies in place to manage use. As some of these rules apply to vessel and group size, they will relate to you.

• Super-yachts less than or equal to 35 metres in overall length
• Super-yachts between 35 and 70 metres in overall length
• Super-yachts over 70 metres in overall length

What activities you do

For each zone there is a range of activities that may or may not be undertaken (for example, no fishing in the Marine National Park (green) Zone). Use the zoning maps to check that your activities match the zoning for that area.

Some specific recreational activities may have special rules. Please follow the links for any of the following activities:

• Fishing
• Motorised water sports including use of jetskis
• Whale watching

If you use helicopters or semi-submersibles, please contact the GBRMPA.

Acting responsibly

While in the Marine Park, consider how you can adopt Responsible Reef Practices, and further help protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Related information

• Boating and yachting
• Anchoring and mooring
• Motorised water sports
• Incident reporting
• Onboard - The Tourism Operators Handbook