The Heart Reef is a reef formed by coral and algae into the shape of a heart. It is located on Airlie beach and is known as the Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays.

The Heart Reef is all natural and stretches out 17 meters. It is apart of the Whitsunday stretch to the Great Barrier Reef and has been the key spot for love and proposals due to the significant heart shape.

Heart Reef was discovered in 1975 by John Ramsden who was a local pilot. It was formed 20 million years ago by many massive pieces of dead coral that was built and formed into a stone wall that then shaped into a heart. Nowadays its one of the top tourist attractions and features brochures and postcards.

There is some marine life in Heart Reef like sea snakes, which are venomous snakes that live in the water, sharks, humpback whales , a species of baleen whale and the dugong a marine animal that is turpedo shaped.

Heart Reef is known as a romantic spot, as it features many forms of love including proposals. It can be seen in the air from seaplane or helicopter but you can also ocean raft there. Unfortunately you are prohibited to swim there or snorkel there due to the amount of salt in it.

Heart Reef has one of the largest reef systems, with a wide diversity of species. The best month to visit it is in winter due to it being dry and having good temperatures.