Best Job in the World's Ben Southall set off on a 1600km kayak and sailing journey along the Great Barrier Reef in May 2011. His four month journey was documented on this blog as he navigated his way along the best protected coral reef system in the world.
Ben held the position as Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, during Tourism Queensland’s Best Job in the World campaign, where he developed a passion for this region’s magnificent environment.
"I feel privileged to have had so many wonderful interactions with the natural world whilst out on the Great Barrier Reef and now I’d like to encourage more people to share in the same experiences"
From diving on the Great Barrier Reef to rafting the raging Barron River, Tropical North Queensland has a lifetime's worth of adventure for the intrepid explorer. Get wet and get wild!
Ben has travelled and dived almost everywhere on the Great Barrier Reef over the past three years, documenting, photographing and filming it so that people around the world can share in its wonder and be inspired enough to come and visit themselves.
For the past three years Ben has worked with over 250 different media outlets from around the world showcasing the sights, sounds and smells of Queensland. He's entertaining a group of adventurous Korean editors at Tjapukai, just north of Cairns here.
Having a love for overland travel and the great outdoors, Fraser Island provides the perfect opportunity to jump in a 4WD, hit the tracks and find an uncluttered piece of Queensland paradise.
You don't have to head to the hills for adventure here in Queensland! Ben was the first person to try out the Story Bridge abseil here in Brisbane. Looking a little nervous there Ben!
In August 2011, during the Best Expedition in the World, Ben stopped off in the tropical north for the Cairns Indigenous Art Festival. Four incredible artists had created this masterpiece for him to wear...complete with Torres Strait codpiece to cover his pride!
Last week I headed north to Hervey Bay, home of the best Humpback whale watching experience in Australia.
There are still a few weeks left until these gentle giants return enmasse to our warm waters, but there’ve been a few offshore sightings to whet the appetite already. Talking to the operators about the coming season reminded me how breathtaking a close-up encounter can be with our Antarctic visitors.
In a few weeks time I’ll be heading north for another totally unique but slightly different experience – swimming with the Dwarf Minke Whales onboard Mike Ball’s expedition vessel Spoilsport.
Hervey Bay’s not far from Brisbane. Jump in the car on a Friday after work, book a late table at a restaurant (my favourite in Queensland has to be Coast) and wake up bright and early ready for a day on the water. Simple.
The Queensland coast has been gifted two natural breakwaters from the rolling Pacific swell; the Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island. Hervey Bay takes full advantage of these with sheltered, shallow waters behind Fraser Island offering the most comfortable whale watch cruising in Australia.
Our whales know it too! Between July and November every year the migrating Humpbacks stop off with their calves to jump, spy-hop and cruise for a while in their crystal clear underworld. They’re more curious of us humans than we are of them, often spending hours swimming around the whale-watch fleet grabbing a peak of what life’s like in our world.
The official start to this year’s season starts on June 23rd with a Paddle Out taking place on the main beach at Hervey Bay outside Enzo’s cafe. Last year over 600 people attended the event, which brings awareness to the plight of whales around the planet. This year they’re aiming to have closer to a 1000 people there, so if you own any form of paddle craft, be it a kayak, SUP or outrigger head to the bay for a superb day on the water. I would love to have been there but I’ll be in the UK.
As the season approaches there are some cut-price deals to be had. If you’re thinking about it, stop it! The time to book is now. Visit the Queensland Holidays website to find out more.
At the other end of the Great Barrier Reef, 1400kms to the north, another incredible underwater spectacle is about to take place. From June through to August Dwarf Minke Whales head into the tropical waters around the Ribbon Reefs in North Queensland. They don’t hang around for long though, spending only a few weeks here before disappearing from sight, to date there is no record of where they go.
To witness this fascinating encounter you need to travel further out than a standard reef trip allows. The Ribbon Reefs stretch over 400kms along the outer edge of the reef, and it’s here these eight metre beasts enjoy hanging out. They’ve only been sighted here since the late 1990s but interact with snorkellers and divers in a very special way.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions run a specific trip over seven days that heads to these waters and offer the chance to socialise with these gentle giants by hanging from a line secured to the back of the vessel.
The last three years of diving on the Great Barrier Reef have provided me with the chance to witness some remarkable creatures from tiny, brightly coloured nudibranchs up to immense, agile Manta Rays. But the upcoming trip at the beginning of July has to be one of my most anticipated adventures yet. I’ll be taking a full video and photographic rig with me to capture the escapades and bring them to you on this blog.
The Australian television program 60 Minutes featured the Minkes back in 2010, this clip gives you some idea as to how special the experience really is:
If you’ve never witnessed any of these marine creatures up close and personal like this then there’s no better time to start planning your adventure. Whether you choose to hop onboard with one of the operators in Hervey Bay for an experience tailored to your needs, or on a serious dive trip deep into the Coral Sea you can be guaranteed an adventure that will change your perspective of our world.
In 2009 Ben Southall was announced as the successful candidate for Tourism Queensland's 'Best Job in the World' campaign and became the Caretaker for the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Since then he has worked as a Queensland Tourism Ambassador travelling extensively throughout the state filming, photographing and blogging about his adventures. Read More
Ben embarked on the 'Best Expedition in the World' in 2011. A four month, 1600km kayak and sailing journey from the Town of 1770 on the Central Queensland coast, north to Cooktown in Queensland’s Tropical North. The incredible adventure showcased this natural wonder of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, to a global audience through this website.
Today Ben works with Tourism Queensland promoting the state, taking journalists and industry friends on adventures throughout Queensland and gets out to the Great Barrier Reef whenever possible. Ben is passionate about Queensland which is now well and truly home. Read Less
One of those incredible moments…
Last week I headed north to Hervey Bay, home of the best Humpback whale watching experience in Australia.
There are still a few weeks left until these gentle giants return enmasse to our warm waters, but there’ve been a few offshore sightings to whet the appetite already. Talking to the operators about the coming season reminded me how breathtaking a close-up encounter can be with our Antarctic visitors.
In a few weeks time I’ll be heading north for another totally unique but slightly different experience – swimming with the Dwarf Minke Whales onboard Mike Ball’s expedition vessel Spoilsport.
___________________________________________________________________
Hervey Bay’s not far from Brisbane. Jump in the car on a Friday after work, book a late table at a restaurant (my favourite in Queensland has to be Coast) and wake up bright and early ready for a day on the water. Simple.
The Queensland coast has been gifted two natural breakwaters from the rolling Pacific swell; the Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island. Hervey Bay takes full advantage of these with sheltered, shallow waters behind Fraser Island offering the most comfortable whale watch cruising in Australia.
Our whales know it too! Between July and November every year the migrating Humpbacks stop off with their calves to jump, spy-hop and cruise for a while in their crystal clear underworld. They’re more curious of us humans than we are of them, often spending hours swimming around the whale-watch fleet grabbing a peak of what life’s like in our world.
The official start to this year’s season starts on June 23rd with a Paddle Out taking place on the main beach at Hervey Bay outside Enzo’s cafe. Last year over 600 people attended the event, which brings awareness to the plight of whales around the planet. This year they’re aiming to have closer to a 1000 people there, so if you own any form of paddle craft, be it a kayak, SUP or outrigger head to the bay for a superb day on the water. I would love to have been there but I’ll be in the UK.
As the season approaches there are some cut-price deals to be had. If you’re thinking about it, stop it! The time to book is now. Visit the Queensland Holidays website to find out more.
_________________________________________________________________
At the other end of the Great Barrier Reef, 1400kms to the north, another incredible underwater spectacle is about to take place. From June through to August Dwarf Minke Whales head into the tropical waters around the Ribbon Reefs in North Queensland. They don’t hang around for long though, spending only a few weeks here before disappearing from sight, to date there is no record of where they go.
To witness this fascinating encounter you need to travel further out than a standard reef trip allows. The Ribbon Reefs stretch over 400kms along the outer edge of the reef, and it’s here these eight metre beasts enjoy hanging out. They’ve only been sighted here since the late 1990s but interact with snorkellers and divers in a very special way.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions run a specific trip over seven days that heads to these waters and offer the chance to socialise with these gentle giants by hanging from a line secured to the back of the vessel.
The last three years of diving on the Great Barrier Reef have provided me with the chance to witness some remarkable creatures from tiny, brightly coloured nudibranchs up to immense, agile Manta Rays. But the upcoming trip at the beginning of July has to be one of my most anticipated adventures yet. I’ll be taking a full video and photographic rig with me to capture the escapades and bring them to you on this blog.
The Australian television program 60 Minutes featured the Minkes back in 2010, this clip gives you some idea as to how special the experience really is:
If you’ve never witnessed any of these marine creatures up close and personal like this then there’s no better time to start planning your adventure. Whether you choose to hop onboard with one of the operators in Hervey Bay for an experience tailored to your needs, or on a serious dive trip deep into the Coral Sea you can be guaranteed an adventure that will change your perspective of our world.
Now it’s time to read Jonah and the Whale or watch Whale Rider…whilst I’m in the mood for massive mammals!
Ben