Uncovering The Heart Of The Reef

Project Leaders Dr Lindsay Simpson and Dr Rachael Smith. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville.

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The Whitsunday Conservation Council recently gave the community its first look at an ambitious new digital trail designed to help visitors discover the hidden stories of the Whitsundays, at a Green Drinks evening event.  

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The evening brought community members together for a presentation on the Heart of the Reef Discovery Trail, with project leaders Dr Lindsay Simpson and Dr Rachael Smith outlining how the interactive experience will connect people with the region's natural and cultural landscapes.  

“It was so good to get it out there and we know we've been working on it behind the scenes for so long,” Dr Simpson said.  

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“To get all the feedback that we did tonight was excellent.”  

Designed as a self-guided digital experience, the Heart of the Reef Discovery Trail will give tourists and locals alike the chance to look deeper into the scenery, revealing the stories that make the area so special.  

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Through QR codes placed at locations across the region, users will be able to access interactive content exploring local ecosystems, wildlife, history and conservation efforts before continuing their journey.

Organisers hope the trail will give visitors another reason to explore the region.

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"It will encourage longer stays, helping people discover more things we've got to do in town," Dr Simpson said.

Dr Smith said the trail was also about helping people better understand the environment around them and why it matters.

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"I think education is such an important part of conserving anything," she said.

"By connecting those environments with people, particularly the things they value, we can help them realise those things are actually connected to these ecosystems."

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