19th October 2011
Daydream Island Resort and Spa’s iconic Living Reef has been awarded best Tourism Attraction in the 2011 Whitsunday Tourism Awards held in Airlie Beach.
The award was presented to Daydream Island chief executive officer Mr Phil Casey at Saturday night’s Whitsunday Tourism Awards. It is the second win in a row for the Living Reef in this category.
“We’re thrilled with receiving this award again,” Mr Casey said. “The Living Reef team headed by manager Brett Jeffries has put in an extraordinary amount of time developing the product over the last couple of years.
“It has become a regional attraction in its own right and continues to thrill visitors, old and young, with an amazing array of marine life.”
The Living Reef is one of the world’s largest man-made living coral reef lagoons and guests have the opportunity to get up close and personal by hand feeding resident stingrays, sharks and barramundi.
Living Reef manager Brett Jeffries said that more than 100 species of marine fish and 50 species of coral call this microcosm of the Great Barrier Reef, home.
“We’ve developed an attraction which encourages guests to get their feet wet,” Mr Jeffries said.
“We conduct regular private and public fish feeding sessions and run a popular Reef Ranger program which allows guests to participate in caring for the marine life and lagoons.”
Mr Jeffries said a new initiative introduced this year was a series of educational modules introducing students to the living wonders of the Great Barrier Reef utilising Daydream’s team of marine biologists.
A newly installed grand stand gives up to 30 people prime viewing of the main lagoon and shark and fish feeding sessions and is especially suitable for school groups.
Living Reef facts:
Daydream Island Living Reef facts:
· Is home to over 100 species of fish and 50 coral specimens, including Sharks, stingrays and sea-stars;
· totals a massive 2650 sq m in size and contains over 1.5 million litres of water through its numerous lagoons and displays.
· has an average width of around 12m and a depth of more than a metre in some areas
· has sea water pumping into the lagoon system at a rate of 80 litres per second
· has 7 million litres of sea water pumped through it every 24 hours
· contains about eight tonnes of living coral rock.
· Living Reef regularly contributes to on-going research and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef and marine environments.
For details or to make a reservation to stay at Daydream Island Resort and Spa phone
1800 075 040 or visit www.daydreamisland.com
1800 075 040 or visit www.daydreamisland.com
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