Australia’s First Underwater Hotel Opens Reservations

Guests at Reefsuites on the Great Barrier Reef can choose between premium king or twin single accommodation below sea level, complete with private glass ensuite

Giving all new meaning to ‘sleeping with the fishes’, reservations have now opened at ReefSuites – the highly anticipated underwater accommodation at the Great Barrier Reef – for stays as early as December 2019.

Cruise Whitsundays’ ‘Reefsuites,’ at Hardy Reef feature floor-to-ceiling windows affording guests panoramic views of marine life.

Guests can choose between premium king or twin single accommodation with private glass ensuite below sea level, with the conjoining wall between the two suites able to be opened to create one large suite for families.

The full Reefsuite experience includes a return cruise out to the reef, all meals and beverages, a selection of marine activities and overnight accommodation.

Cruise Whitsundays General Manager, Shaun Cawood, said Reefsuites provided guests an unrivalled chance to experience the Great Barrier Reef. “We wanted to create a one-off experience that would leave an indelible impression on guests. It’s a privilege to have access to the world-heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and for people to be able to interact with the marine environment in this way is truly remarkable.”

The Reefsuites are the centrepiece of the $8 million redevelopment of the Reefworld pontoon, which has been meticulously reconstructed after damage sustained in 2017’s Cyclone Debbie.

Reefworld is also home to the renewed Reefsleep experience, which will allow up to 24 guests at a time to sleep under the stars on the pontoon’s top deck in specially designed ‘reefbeds’.

Both Reefsuite and Reefsleep guests will enjoy meals featuring local produce and ingredients from regional Queensland, prepared by an onboard chef.

While at Reefworld, guests will have the chance to snorkel, scuba dive, tour in the semi-submarine and view the marine life from the underwater observatory. Once the day guests have departed, Reefsuite and Reefsleep guests will have the pontoon, and the reef, to themselves.

According to Cawood, the welfare of the reef had been a major consideration throughout the project. “Naturally, we have worked closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure we protect the environment. This included sustainably removing 4000 pieces of coral from old moorings and replanting them on the existing reef wall to rejuvenate Hardy Reef,” he said.

The relaunch of the Reefworld pontoon has been supported by Queensland Government’s Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund with a $2.75m contribution towards works.

Reefsuite bookings can be made here.

 

cruisewhitsundays.com