Named Muga dhambi by traditional Aboriginal owners, at 10.5 metres wide, four centuries old and twice the size of its nearest cousin, an “exceptionally large” coral has been discovered on the Great Barrier Reef – the widest known in the area.

The coral was discovered off the coast of Goolboddi – the Indigenous name for Orpheus Island, part of the Palm Island group in Queensland – by a group of scientists and community members participating in a marine citizen science course.

Orpheus Island is located on the North East Coast of Australia’s Queensland state, host of the Great Barrier Reef, popular for superyacht charter guests year-round.

Whilst Australian guests rediscover their backyard, this is your opportunity to create a unique itinerary including marine science, exceptional diving, world-renowned fishing, and even an underwater art museum!

In Townsville, the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) offers guests a completely unique experience of the reef.  Designed and sculpted by world-renowned British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, this is Australia’s very own Atlantis and the first-ever underwater art installation in the southern hemisphere. It aims to inspire visitors by telling visual stories that highlight the importance of reef conservation through visual storytelling.

MOUA in Townsville. Credit: Grumpy Turtle Creative

Worth knowing: whale season in North Queensland (Humpbacks in August-November & Dwarf Minkes in June-July); Marlin & fishing season (September-November).

Tail fin of the mighty humpback whale above surface of the ocean. Scientific name: Megaptera novaeangliae. Natural habitat. Pacific ocean, near the Gulf of California also known as the Sea of Cortez.

Feeling inspired by this destination?

Contact our team to add the experiences to your charter itinerary in Tropical North Queensland: https://www.oceanalliance.com/sub-destinations/australia/

To arrange your next charter experience or discuss your brief, simply contact the Ocean Alliance charter team by clicking here.