Daydream Island Living Reef

The Living Reef, the star attraction of Daydream Island, is home to over 110 species of marine fish, including stingrays, star fish and clown fish, while also hosting over 70 different species of coral reef. Amazingly, the entire reef is artificial, built with the intention of showcasing a microcosm of the Great Barrier Reef itself. The sheer size, a massive 28,500 square feet (2,650 square meters), makes it one of the largest man-made reefs in the entire world. In total, over 7 million liters of sea water are circulated through the artificially grown reef every 24 hours.
Located at the entrance to Daydream Island Resort and Spa, the Living Reef serves as a great educational tool. It lets visitors gain a hands-on experience dealing with coral reef and the organisms that live within them and offers the opportunity to do hand feedings with the animals twice a day. Within the park, there are two different lagoons for people to visit: south and north. The north lagoon is unique in that night-time viewings are possible with the blue lighting within the coral making the underwater world glow to life in an insightful nocturnal experience.

Practical Info

Daydream Island is accessible via chartered boat or the ferry system that also connects Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. The reef is found at the entrance to the resort on the island. Feedings take place twice a day, once at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.