Latest news with #GreatBarrierReef
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aussie kid's clever driveway idea raises $1,600 for critical cause
For most Aussie kids, the summer school holidays are filled with neighbourhood bike rides, video games and long afternoons at the beach building sand castles. But for 10-year-old Zara, there are more important matters at hand. For the past three years, the Melbourne schoolgirl has spent her free time selling cupcakes and lollies at a stall at the end of her driveway, raising an incredible $1,600 for a good cause roughly 2,500km away— the Great Barrier Reef. 'When I was eight-years-old, I was listening to the radio and I heard one of the people on there saying that the Great Barrier Reef was going on the endangered list. So I wanted to do something to help it,' Zara told Yahoo News Australia. 'So I got inspired by my next door neighbour who was selling rosemary on her driveway, and I thought I could set up a little store my driveway with some cupcakes, cookies and home-baked goods to raise money, and then I donate it to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.' Zara, who snorkelled in the reef when visiting the popular tourist destination with her family last year, said she was fascinated by the coral and 'really pretty' marine life, especially the turtles. 'All the unique wildlife there is and how big it is and how just… There's so many mysteries and discoveries to still be made,' she told Yahoo when asked what she loves most about one of the seven wonders of the world. The 10-year-old has hosted four stalls so far with the help of her parents, little brother and some friends. Her family bake the treats together, but her dad is particularly proud of his 'Taylor Swift chai sugar cookies'. 'They are very yummy,' Zara, who has since added homemade colouring books and second-hand toys to the selection of goodies, said. 'I made pamphlets and I put them in letter boxes around my community. And we sent out a message on our some of our WhatsApp groups, and then we got quite a few [customers],' she told Yahoo. While she has no set figure in mind, the schoolgirl said she wants to keep raising money for conservation efforts so everyone can continue to enjoy the iconic reef, which has suffered six mass coral bleaching events in the past decade. Zara's mum, Vida, told Yahoo she is 'extremely proud' of her daughter's determination. 'It was all her own initiatives, and sometimes it was a lot of work, but when we saw the turnout from the community and the support… people were really, really generous, especially when they saw that it wasn't just for pocket money, it was towards a cause. It's really been quite inspiring to watch.' 📸 Incredible photos capture rare moment off Aussie coast 🌊 Veteran diver devastated over grim Great Barrier Reef report 🪸 Fears for future of Great Barrier Reef despite new coral growth Last year, a report conducted by the Federal Government's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority found it had suffered "the worst summer on record", enduring cyclones, severe flooding, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and coral bleaching. In May, UNESCO's World Heritage Centre urged the Australian and Queensland governments to do more to protect the reef, which it said could be considered for inclusion on its 'In Danger' list next year. 'For the first time UNESCO has requested Australia develop plans to mitigate impacts on the Reef during and after extreme weather events,' Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) Great Barrier Reef campaigner Simon Miller said at the time. 'We must treat events such as mass coral bleaching, cyclones and floods with the severity they deserve. We need an emergency response plan that responds to these events in real time, ensuring that key reefs are given the utmost protection to give them the best chance of surviving into the future.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Times
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
My mini gap year in (probably) the most extraordinary place on Earth
It's day four of the gap-year-in-one-week I'm sharing with my 18-year-old son, Rider, in Queensland and we're getting into our groove. Take two flights before lunch and you start feeling like blasé musicians on tour: 'Hello Brisbane, again! Oh hi, Hamilton Island — lookin' good!' We're in the southern hemisphere's largest island resort, 550 miles north of Brisbane, in the Whitsundays — the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. It's hard to decide which Madonna banger best fits the bill: Into the Groove or La Isla Bonita: 'All of nature wild and free/ This is where I long to be…' We're staying at the Sundays, a stylish boutique hotel that has just been fully refurbished to the tune of £16.9 million and has been open again for precisely 24 hours. Our twin room, home for two nights, is a lovely airy space with a big balcony overlooking the glorious Catseye Beach, an even larger bathroom and a Balearic vibe, despite the fact that Ibiza and Hamilton Island are more than 10,000 miles apart. My 'on-tour' stresses start to melt away and though we've missed the hotel's lunch window we eat a couple of burgers over the road at the Hamilton Island Resort Centre, where Rider confronts his first chip-stealing flock of laughing kookaburras; like a cheeky bunch of seagulls, in drag. Fortified, we head off to collect a golf buggy — one of the only methods of transport on the car-free island — while kangaroos hop across our path. By the time we've done an island recce (it's gorgeous from every angle, a cross between The Prisoner-era Portmeirion and an animated Disney movie) the sun is slipping away. It's the perfect moment to arrive at One Tree Hill, on the island's northern tip, where buggies cluster nightly for chillaxed live music and sundowners, until a semi-acoustic cover of Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall ('Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone!') gives me and a similarly aged couple (on a mini-break from Melbourne, we've bonded while sharing a table) the collective giggles. So much so, indeed, that Rider escapes us to take sunset selfies for Snapchat, leaving the retro hits behind. Back at the hotel dinner is a wow. The chef Josh Niland is an Aussie superstar — the 'fish butcher' and his wife, Julie, run Saint Peter, a Sydney restaurant widely regarded by critics as one of the country's best, while his CV also includes a stint at the Fat Duck, Heston Blumenthal's three-Michelin-starred restaurant. At the Sundays' Catseye Pool Club, Rider says Niland's tasting menu is 'basically the best thing, ever'. From the batter fried wild fish tacos to the crumbed white Pyrenees lamb cutlets and their accompanying sides (grilled beans and pecorino polenta with the lamb, fermented pineapple hot sauce with the tacos) every dish sings. It's a great evening, with another early night for an early start. We're getting used to these. • The ultimate guide to the Great Barrier Reef: everything you need to know At the time of writing, two months later, our fifth day now feels like a fever dream. I had known for weeks that we would be joining Cruise Whitsundays' 'outer reef day cruise' and that if the weather was optimal we'd also take a 15-minute helicopter ride over the heart-shaped coral cluster at Hardy Reef. I had also known for weeks that, after the flight, we would be snorkelling and discovering the reef up close. Yeah, I knew all of this in theory, however, it wasn't until we were halfway through the two-hour boat trip from Hamilton Island to the reef that I thought, 'Hang on — where precisely are we headed? What will we see when we arrive?!' The answer: Reefworld, a permanently moored pontoon 45 miles away from the Whitsundays. At this shimmering reef-side oasis, the weather is perfect for choppers and three soon appear on the horizon, landing on their own pontoons. I'm suddenly glad I haven't spent any time contemplating being in a helicopter above the Pacific, 45 miles from dry land, because once our Hamilton Island Air pilot, Luke, is swooping us over Heart Reef, breathtaking doesn't come close to describing being a human drone, observing the contrast between the endless expanse of ocean and the reef ecosystem directly below us. This high-definition ride is one of the greatest things I've experienced. I'm thrilled that Rider — 'co-piloting' in the chopper's front seat, next to Luke — has done this at just 18; doubly delighted to be sharing it with him. Yet soon after we put on 'stinger' suits, flippers and snorkels and launch ourselves off the pontoon and into the reef, that amazing helicopter ride is memory-holed. While it remains one of the most extraordinary things I've done, being underwater in the Great Barrier Reef turns out to be at the next level. We've swum a couple of hundred metres away from the pontoon, mesmerised, punctuating the silence with an occasional 'wow!', when Rider turns to me and says: 'This is as good a place as any, right?' • 10 amazing ways to see the Great Barrier Reef I agree, so we slip below the surface, back into our parallel underwater world teeming with brilliant fluorescent fish and glistening coral. Here, Rider deftly unscrews the lid of the small container we've brought with us — and will take away with us too — while behind my mask tears flow; crying underwater is yet another new experience. My eldest son, Jackson, was about to embark on his post-graduation gap year when he died in an accident in September 2023 and now, as we set a tiny amount of his ashes free at one of the most extraordinary places on earth, Jackson's gap afterlife is just beginning. Kathryn Flett is spending a month travelling in Australia. She was a guest of Tourism and Events Queensland ( The Sundays has B&B doubles from £430 ( • Kathryn Flett: Should I crash my son's gap year?• Kathryn Flett: Yes… I crashed my son's gap year. Here's what happened• Kathryn Flett: Me, my son and the gap year I crashed: what's working (and what's not) Read Kathryn's final column next week
Times
18 hours ago
- Times
The biggest lesson from my mini gap year with my son
Yesterday at the Great Barrier Reef was always going to be a tough act to follow, physically and emotionally; we had scattered my son's ashes there. However, on day six of our gap-year-in-one-week my younger son, Rider, and I check out of the stylish Sundays hotel, heading to the marina for the appropriately named Reef Ryder — Hamilton Island Watersports' half-day, super-fast cruise. There is snorkelling off Chalkies beach, Haslewood Island, before hopping over to Whitehaven beach, Whitsunday Island, for more swimming and staring in wide-eyed wonder at the loveliness of it all. Rider snorkels at Chalkies, but I miss meeting a giant sea turtle by opting to hunker in the shade, contemplating our 'journey' thus far. Because it really doesn't matter how far you travel (and it's 9,721 miles from Heathrow to Chalkies beach), the cliché is true: you take yourself with you. For Rider and me, the challenge was not to 'escape' our grief at the death of his older brother, Jackson; that would be — will always be — impossible. Instead these extraordinary shared experiences are a temporary sticking plaster while we make more permanent memories. Which conceivably helps us to move forward, carrying our grief. Since Jackson left us many of those who miss him most profoundly are using his 21 years of abundant energy, charisma and zest for life as fuel to see us through the rest of our lives. Personally, after Jackson's death and my partner's recent cancer surgery I have also shrunk my universe to fit, to cope. Here, however, I sense it gently expanding again. And that feels good. At Hamilton Island's marina, it's a five-minute walk from the Reef Ryder Rib to the ferry taking us back to the mainland. There, at Airlie Beach — formerly a backpacker pitstop, now moving upmarket — we'll spend our final two nights in separate rooms (much to Rider's relief) at the pretty Coral Sea Resort hotel, situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the bay. In fact the rooms are very comfortable apartments with yet more gorgeous views. And breathe … Rider wanders back into town to explore and I take the rest of the afternoon off — decamping to the poolside bar for a Caesar salad and a mocktail, accessorised by a good book. Which, in turn, segues into sunset cocktails and poolside dinner at the hotel's Coral Sea Pavilion restaurant with Rider. We have one more shared adventure in the diary tomorrow, and although packing so much into our days has been exhilarating, it has reminded me that I'm not 18. My head and heart are always up for new experiences — hungry for them even — however my body is also keeping the score. As a result I occasionally feel fragile and exhausted — yet why on earth wouldn't I feel every minute of my 61 years when the last two have been so brutal? That night happily we both have the deepest and most relaxing sleeps of our trip. Our final scheduled outing also sounds suitably relaxing: Red Cat Adventures' trip to Cedar Creek Falls with rock pool swimming followed by a 'chillout session at the Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill' is right up my alley. Unfortunately at the Red Cat office in Airlie Beach we're told that this trip doesn't take place on Mondays. I've entirely lost track of the days of the week, but I take their word for it — and I'm happy to clock off early. Nonetheless I can also see Rider's crest falling — as can the (charming, British) staff member at Red Cat: 'Mate, how do you fancy jet-skiing?' I happen to know this is a box Rider is keen to tick and while this is our last full day together I'm very happy to bale. 'Go,' I say. 'I'm really enjoying my book.' In truth you couldn't get me on a jet ski if you paid me. Two hours later I spot jet skis shooting across the bay and have to avert my eyes. I've always tried hard not to be the kind of 'helicopter' mother who worries about young men pushing their physical boundaries — even without the benefit of a joined-up prefrontal cortex. Indeed I never was that mother until September 20 , 2023. A policeman arriving at the front door at 1.45am to tell me that my son was dead ensured I am capable of catastrophising depressingly fast these days. It's a relief when Rider eventually returns, wearing a smile as wide as the Great Barrier Reef. 'That was the best. Thing. Ever. Our guide was the coolest bloke.' He pauses … 'His name is Jackson.' While travelling together, Rider and I have learnt that you can feel simultaneously blessed and cursed, and that navigating life's extreme light and shade remains hard work. Nonetheless sharing this past week with my son has been a privilege. Courtesy of my Aussie parents, Australia has been a home from home for me for a lifetime; now it is Rider's happy place too. 'Mum — it's been incredible.' Thirty-six hours later and we're back in Brisbane airport. Rider's off to spend a month at a Muay Thai martial arts boot camp with some of his brother's friends in Thailand — where it will be his dad's turn to 'crash' our son's gap year. And though there's still an hour before his flight, after a final hug he says — gently but firmly — 'And now you can leave.' So, reluctantly, I do. Because here's another thing I've learnt the hard way: if you really love them, somehow you find the strength to let them go. Kathryn Flett is spending a month travelling in Australia. She was a guest of Tourism and Events Queensland ( The Coral Sea Resort has B&B doubles from £176 ( • Kathryn Flett: Should I crash my son's gap year?• Kathryn Flett: Yes… I crashed my son's gap year. Here's what happened• Kathryn Flett: Me, my son and the gap year I crashed: what's working (and what's not)• My mini gap year in (probably) the most extraordinary place on Earth
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hamilton Island Race Week: A look back at iconic event celebrating 40 years in 2025
From Prince Frederick of Denmark to boyband popstar Ronan Keating, comedian Magda Szubanski and socialites galore — when it comes to the who's who of the party scene — one Aussie island has seen it all. Hamilton Island is cemented as one of the country's most popular places to holiday — especially if you have a young family in tow — but for a week each year spanning the past four decades, 'Hammo' transforms into a world of glitz, glamour and of course … a major sailing event. Hamilton Island Race Week first emerged in the mid-80s, and while the week has since exploded from a modest gathering to drawing some of the world's major heavyweights — this year is tipped to be the biggest event yet. Think champagne, multi-million-dollar yachts, iconic views and luxurious lunches galore — Hamilton Island CEO Nick Dowling said the winter event has set off over the decades to become one of the most sought after of the year. 'Race Week started in 1984 with a bunch of mates who loved sailing, who knew the secret of the unspoilt Whitsunday islands, who loved the challenge of the southeast trade winds and Great Barrier Reef tides, and who loved the camaraderie of time on the water,' Mr Dowling told 'In those early days, it was all about the racing – and a few post-race beers with your crew and rivals. In 1984, 93 boats turned up for the first series. Race Week has since grown into a real spectacle and, today, we welcome around 200 yachts from across Australia and around the world – from high-performance Grand Prix yachts to family cruisers.' But while the likes of Olympians and even King Frederik IX of Denmark has taken part in the annual event, Mr Dowling said the events off the water have seen the biggest transformation. From cocktails and canapes to candlelit dinners extending into the night — guests come for the spectacle both on and offshore. 'Over the years, we have had the privilege of welcoming some of Australia's most celebrated chefs – names like Josh Niland, Kylie Kwong, Danielle Alvarez, Will Cowper, Guillaume Brahimi, Peter Gilmore and Matt Moran – all of whom have elevated the onshore experience and turned Race Week into a proper feast for the senses,' he said. But while the week may give the impression of glitz and glam, Mr Dowling said the week-long event is the perfect time for anyone to visit — especially those seeking a winter escape. 'What makes Race Week so unique is its accessibility and appeal to everyone – from the superyacht-set to the mums and dads, whether you're racing, spectating or simply soaking up the atmosphere with a glass of wine and a magic Whitsundays view,' he said. 'Sailing remains at the heart of Race Week, but today it's complemented by world-class food and wine, live music and entertainment, and a full social calendar that brings Hamilton Island to life.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Australia's ghosted islands, resorts abandoned and under siege
A shocking tale of neglect and abandoned opportunities is unfolding in one of Australia's most cherished regions as a dozen once-thriving island resorts lie in ruins. Critics warn the derelict properties are a blight on the pristine beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, left to decay by absentee owners who have turned their backs on resorts that were once jewels of the tourism industry. From cyclone-ravaged Double Island, once held by billionaire Benny Wu and now under state control, to the ghostly remains of Hinchinbrook Island Resort, these islands are a haunting reminder of what could have been. The Queensland government, under Premier David Crisafulli, is cracking down – issuing ultimatums to negligent owners to either revive their properties or face losing their leases. The economic impact is undeniable, with a government inquiry into island resorts warning such long-abandoned sites represent a colossal missed opportunity for the economy and the tourism industry. Pressure is building with the world spotlight set to focus on the region in a little over a handful of years when the Olympics are hosted in the state. MORE: Cash-strap student turns $40k to 38 homes Govt pays $3.3m for unliveable derelict house Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Natassia Wheeler expressed her dismay: 'It's disappointing to see so many of Queensland's island resorts closed. Island tourism put Queensland on the map decades ago, and whether or not visitors choose to stay on an island, these destinations remain critical to positioning Queensland as a leading holiday destination.' She said the need for investment was dire. 'Reinvigorating island resorts will require significant investment, particularly in infrastructure including transport to ensure accessibility, along with a reduction in red tape.' 'The industry that we represent tells us that streamlining operational and approval processes is essential to the long-term success of the state's island resorts.' But there's a glimmer of hope. New investors, like Annie Cannon-Brookes - wife of billionaire co-founder of Atlassian Mike Cannon-Brookes - who bought the beleaguered Dunk Island – are being heralded as offering a chance to breathe new life back into forgotten paradises. Ms Wheeler said there are strong examples of success to draw from. 'Hamilton Island, InterContinental Hayman Island, and Daydream Island in the Whitsundays continue to perform well thanks to major investment, strong brand presence, and reliable access.' 'In Central Queensland, Heron, Wilson, and Lady Elliot Islands are thriving with eco-focused models that offer unique Great Barrier Reef experiences. Further north, Orpheus Island near Townsville stands out as a high-end, sustainably operated resort attracting premium travellers.' 1. Double Island (Cairns Region) Status: Abandoned; resort in ruins. Ownership: Previously owned by Benny Wu; now state-owned. Current Status: Queensland government issued an ultimatum to redevelop or forfeit lease. 2. South Molle Island (Whitsundays) Status: Resort devastated by Cyclone Debbie in 2017; remains abandoned. Ownership: Previously purchased by a Chinese company; now under state control. Current Status: Up for sale; expressions of interest sought for redevelopment. 3. Lindeman Island (Whitsundays) Status: Club Med resort abandoned; uninhabited for nearly a decade. Ownership: Recently bought after 10 years of vacancy. Current Status: Restoration efforts began in early 2024. 4. Hook Island (Whitsundays) Status: Abandoned after Cyclone Anthony in 2011. Ownership: New owner plans eco-lodge development. Current Status: Development application for $40 million eco-lodge lodged. 5. Brampton Island (Mackay Region) Status: Resort closed; infrastructure deteriorating. Ownership: Owned by United Petroleum since 2010. Current Status: Resort remains abandoned; future uncertain. 6. Great Keppel Island (Yeppoon) Status: Resort deteriorating since 2008 financial crisis. Ownership: Ownership changes; current status unclear. Current Status: Efforts to revive resort ongoing. 7. Laguna Quays (Near Airlie Beach) Status: Resort closed shortly after opening due to bankruptcy. Ownership: Ownership and future plans unclear. Current Status: Resort remains abandoned. 8. Capricorn Resort (Yeppoon) Status: Closed in 2016 due to neglected facilities. Ownership: Ownership and future plans unclear. Current Status: Resort remains abandoned. 9. Keswick Island (Mackay Region) Status: Resort inactive; Chinese leaseholder controversies. Ownership: Owned by Chinese company; leaseholder issues. Current Status: Queensland government threatening to seize control. 10. Dunk Island – QLD Status: Iconic resort wiped out by Cyclone Yasi (2011). Current: Remains in ruins; several failed redevelopment attempts. Ownership: Privately owned (recently sold in 2022); no confirmed rebuild. 11. Hinchinbrook Island Resort – QLD Status: Luxury wilderness lodge closed after Cyclone Yasi. Current: Site vandalised and collapsing. Ownership: Privately owned; no development activity. 12. St Bees Island – QLD Status: Not necessarily rundown as under-utilised. Resort facilities are unused, the island is leased long-term. Current: Known for rock wallabies; tourism infrastructure inactive.
