Sleep with the fishes and live to tell the tale

You’ll be able to bed down under the stars — and underwater — on a giant new pontoon designed to draw 60,000 more visitors to the Great Barrier Reef.

IF YOU’VE ever wanted to sleep with the fishes and wake up in the morning, this $8 million pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef is the answer.

The State Government will partner with Cruise Whitsundays to build the Reefworld pontoon at Hardy Reef, in a plan intended to bring an extra 60,000 visitors to the Great Barrier Reef.

Couran Cove Island Resort sells for a buck

Cairns tourism operator calls for more campaigns to promote Great Barrier Reef

Elysian Retreat - the first luxury Great Barrier Reef resort that is entirely solar powered

The attraction, to be completed this year, will boast 28 beds under the stars, while offering underwater reef suites to cater for up to four overnight guests.

The suites will have expansive glass windows, allowing guests to watch marine life from bed.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the pontoon would be able to carry 300 visitors a day.

A reef suite in the Reefworld pontoon

She said the extra 60,000 visitors expected would mean $23 million spent locally.

Ten jobs will be created during construction, with 35 ongoing positions.

The pontoon, which will measure 12m by 45m, will also include an underwater observatory and enable guests to use semi-submersible vessels, diving and snorkelling activities.

Night deck on the Reefworld pontoon

Owner of Cruise Whitsundays, Journey Beyond Group chief executive officer Chris Tallent, said the pontoon would offer premium, underwater accommodation and “we expect to welcome many more travellers to this very special part of Australia”.

An overall view of the Reefworld pontoon