Life on the Reef

View the reef as tourists enjoy the perfect weather, humpback whales give birth and fire destroys a luxury yacht. On the most protected island in Australia, 20,000 green sea turtles return to the biggest reptilian breeding colony on Earth.

Witness the explosion of life on the reef as the wet season approaches: corals spawn, sea birds nest and thousands of turtles hatch on beaches. Soon torrential rain and storms will bring change and upheaval to the delicate ecosystem.

The human and animal residents of the reef prepare as a category five cyclone brings destruction to the North Queensland coast. But as cyclone season finally gives way to calm seas, the reef begins to recover and thrive. From the mangroves to the coral cays, reef fish populations flourish and mysterious dwarf minke whales arrive to enjoy the warm tropical waters.