Where is it?      

Check out the links to some great sites at the bottom of this page...

For a larger view of the photos on this page, click on the images

The Cochrane Artificial Reef is located off the coast of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.

Bundaberg is a four hour drive or fast train trip north of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland.  It lies halfway between Sydney and Cairns.  There are daily flights into Bundaberg from Brisbane, which take about one hour.  The home of the famous Bundaberg Rum, it is a city of approximately 80,000 people, including a number of small seaside townships within a few kilometres. Apart from the Cochrane Artificial Reef, there are numerous tourist attractions in and around Bundaberg, including whale watching (August to October), the Mon Repos Turtle Rookery (the only turtle rookery on the east coast of mainland Australia), the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Hinkler House (the home of pioneer aviator, Bert Hinkler), the Botanical Gardens and sugar museum Fairymead House,  and many others.  From Bundaberg visitors can access the Southern Great Barrier Reef by either day trips to Lady Musgrave Island, live aboard 3-day/3-night trips to a number of islands and cays, or stay for a while at the resort on Lady Elliot Island.

Click on the links below for more information about Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island or live-aboard trips to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Photo right:  An aerial view of Lady Musgrave Island and lagoon, which is easily accessed by boat from Bundaberg.  Day trips and 3-day, 3-night live aboard cruises visit this and other islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.  Lady Musgrave Island is uninhabited, although it is possible to camp there for short periods at certain times of the year.

Photo left:  An aerial view of Lady Elliot Island.  Day or extended stays at the resort are available, and daily flights leave from Bundaberg or Hervey Bay.

Photo right:   Venus II, a 72-foot live-aboard vessel offers 3 day/3 night dive cruises to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, visiting Lady Elliot, Lady Musgrave, Fairfax and Hoskyn Islands.

Follow this link for more information on Bundaberg.  www.bundabergcity.qld.gov.au.

Another site packed full of information on the Bundaberg region is  www.sunzine.com.au/bundaberg/welcome.html

The Burnett Shire Council also has a website with information on the district and this can be found at http://www.widebay.net/lgas/burnett/Locality.htm

Dive shops in the area include:  Bundaberg Aqua-Scuba, Salty's Dive Centre, and Bargara Beach Dive Centre.  All shops run boat trips to the Cochrane Artificial Reef. 

Contact phone numbers are below:  
(or click on the link to the website of each dive centre for more information)

Salty's Dive Centre    208 Bourbong Street    Bundaberg   Qld   4670  (Australia)    Ph:  (07) 4151 6422        Fax:  (07) 4151 4938    Freecall:  1800 625 476    Web site:  www.saltys.net        Email:       dive@saltys.net

Bargara Beach Dive Centre    Shop 4/16 See Street,    Bargara   Qld   4670   (Australia)    Ph:  (07) 4159 2663    Fax:  (07) 4159 2600    Web site:  www.bargaradive.com         Email:       info@bargaradive.com

Some other great links to follow are: 

www.oakwoodvanpark.com.au -
If you're looking for a pleasant place to stay, try this site.

http://www.fishingmonthly.com.au   -
This site will fill you in on all that is happening on the fishing scene.

www.diveoz.com.au  - 
Here you will find lots of information about dive sites, dive gear, and much more...
Look in the "News and Articles/Feature Articles" area for progressive photos of the sinking of the lightships.

http://www.amcs.org.au
This is the site of the Australian Marine Conservation Society.  

http://www.widebay.net/wmpme/default.htm
Information about the Woongarra Marine Park Monitoring Project.  The Woongarra Marine Park  was principally established to provide protection for the turtle rookeries situated at Mon Repos.

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