The Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 gave birth to the Powerhouse Museum. Few of the exhibits that were placed in this event were held back to make a new and original collection for the Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum of New South Wales. The museum was expected to have an exhibition of these items in a new building and was to be known as Garden Palace. Garden Palace was later damaged by the fire which took place in the year 1882 and in the month of September. Unfortunately the museum required to share the place of its exhibition with the Sydney Hospital’s morgue. The museum moved in the year 1893 in the month of August on its new location on the Harris Street. It was named as Technological museum. The museum also included the Sydney Observatory in the year 1982. The museum moved to Old Ultimo Powerhouse, 500 Harris Street which is its current location in the year 1988. The museum got its new name from its location.

One of the most unique items kept in the museum is the world’s the oldest operational rotative steam engine. Few items which dated 1785 which were made by Watt and Boulton are found in the exhibit. Also there are handful items of London Brewery that belong to 1888. The unique engine is declared by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as the Mechanical Engineering Landmark in the year 1986. Another important item was the Locomotive No 1 which was made in Robert Stephenson in the year 1854. Locomotive No 1 was the first steam locomotive that was used in the New South Wales. The Strasburg Clock Model is the most debatable as well as the most popular among all the exhibits in the museum. The model was made by Richard Smith, a 25 year old watchmaker from Sydney. The model is been inspired from the Strasbourg astronomical clock in Strasbourg Cathedral which is located in Strasbourg. Smith had never got a chance to visit the original model but he made the model based of the picture and the information he got through a pamphlet. The Powerhouse Discovery Centre which is located at Castle Hill was opened for the general public to visit on 10 March 2006.

The Great Barrier Reef is the sole natural wonder formulated out of living organisms, comprising of billions of tiny organisms called as coral polyps. The year 1981 proved to be a golden moment as it was designated in the prestigious “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO. Even, CNN awarded it the tag of “One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.” It is been referred as “State Icon of Queensland” by the Queensland National Trust. Nurturing innumerable species of marine life and corals, this peerless structure outshines rest of the others as no one can emulate its supremacy and uniqueness. The Great Barrier Reef is an unparalleled coral entity that shelters countless coffers of coral mishmash.

When I was enlightened with these unique facts and figures, I couldn’t stop myself from visiting this out-of-the-world spot. I did extensive research on The Great Barrier Reef and went ahead for a magnificent encounter with this natural wonder. There, I came across the expansive breathtaking islands and enthralling diversity of abundant marine species. The Great Barrier Reef’s crystal clear waters are in its best round the year, except the period of coral spawning or after storm. Grabbing the fabulous opportunity, I dived in famous diving spots around Townsville such as Wheeler’s reef, Davis reef, Broad Hurst reef, Bowden reef and many others. After all the enchanting diving experiences, I personally preferred diving outside the main barrier reef. The underlying reason behind this was water visibility was much clearer than inside. The diving experience is completely indescribable; the reef stretching from 15 kilometers to 150 kilometers off shore possesses a treasure of stupendous and stunning coral. The entire diving experience is similar like a visit to a fairyland, glimpsing the world’s marvelous and vivid species underwater is something that makes me speechless.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to diverse life that includes endangered species and some of which are endemic to the reef system. The Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples have set Great Barrier Reef in a momentous stature, also the indigenous group of people have attached with it tremendous amount of spiritual and cultural significance. Its diverse marine life comprises of world’s largest collection of corals figuring up to more than 400 distinct types of corals, coral sponges, molluscs, rays, dolphins, tropical fishes exceeding 1500, more than 200 different birds¸ about 20 kinds of reptiles consisting of sea turtles and giant clams, whose existence can be traced from the past 120 years.

The 400 different types of corals include both hard and soft corals. The most striking attraction that is a must-see is coral spawning. One can experience it live in the Great Barrier Reef. The living species of corals reproduce every year for a couple of nights, wherein all the corals let their eggs and sperms go freely underwater packaged in bundles. Large huddle of corals act in the same manner and the sea is flooded with millions of bundles of eggs at simultaneous point of time. However, these mass spawning events are affected by the escalating temperatures of spring, summer, lunar cycle and diurnal cycle. When the spawning period is concerned, the inner Great Barrier reefs spawn after the full moon in October, whereas the outer moon spawns between November and December. The experience is totally exceptional; no other spot in the world can provide such an exotic experience. The inner reef shelters five hundred species of marine algae or seaweed which includes thirteen species of Halimeda genera. They accumulate calcareous stack up to 100 meters. All this formulates to a kind of mini eco-systems on the surface, which is somewhat similar to rainforest cover.

The Great Barrier Reef is a home to diverse species comprising of humpback whales, Indo-pacific humpback dolphin, dolphins, porpoises, dwarf minke whale. There are six species of six turtles that come up to the reef which include green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, flatback turtle and olive ridley. Also, the island shelters seven different species of frog, 215 different bird species that includes 22 species of seabirds and 32 species of shorebirds. The Northern and Southern terrains of the Great Barrier Reef are enriched with most of the diverse species. Amidst the regions, the Whitsunday can be referred as the most diverse one.

The Great Barrier Reef boasts natural treasures both above and below the waters, which has made it one of the most looked after location amidst tourists. Over two million tourists crowd this natural marvel annually for experiencing its underwater diving, snorkeling and glass-bottom boating. This region is inundated with large cluster of tourists, which can trigger adverse repercussions on the island. But the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has adopted essential measures and precautions to alleviate the impact of tourism. It protects certain part of reef against human concentration and human activities like fishing. Not only this, this reef suffers from other ecological pressures like climate change, water quality from runoff, mass coral bleaching and cyclic outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish.

The Great Barrier Reef is an elaborate as well fragile wonder that needs to be handled with care. This delicate wonder can be damaged by harsh approach. The large influx of tourists is perceived as a severe threat by the Great Barrier Reef conservationists as there actions are contributing pollution and deteriorating this natural wonder. Other damaging threats include boats, farms, ranches, industrial pollution, over fishing and large number of tourists. Even, many scientists predict that Great Barrier Reef’s existence will come under danger if the water temperature rises by 5% or beyond its current average.

In today’s times, when global warming, climate change and many such environmental and human related issues are posing strong threat against the existence of such magnificent natural wonders, it should be seen as a responsibility by each individual to protect their mother nature. Because it is true that human existence can’t be perceived without soothing nature. So, when you are moving to the Great Barrier Reef, indulge in activities that have a minimum impact on nature. As someone has rightly said “Give respect and take respect” which clearly states that if we care for our nature, it will ultimately care for our well-being.

Get there and enjoy the divine beauty of Great Barrier Reef, as it is the world’s most spectacular and impeccable spot.

Best time to visit

The Great Barrier Reef witnesses warmth round the year. Its southern region Rockhampton is cool during the mid-winters and gets hotter during the summers. So, the best time to visit here is March, May, September and November. These islands fall under summer cyclone belt, so you can delight yourself by indulging in diving between August and November.

How to reach

For reaching in Great Barrier Reef, you can catch a flight to Cairns. It is by far accessible easily from the regions of Cairns, Prosperine and Townsville. Cairns is the mainland port and accessible by 15 major Australian countries, Bali, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.

Accommodation

It offers a wide-range of accommodation ranging from camping grounds to bungalows to grandeur resorts.