Best place to see the Great Barrier Reef in December

My wife and are planning a trip from Canada to visit Australia for the first time this December (\\\'08). We\\\'re planning a couple weeks between Sydney and Melbourne and would somehow like to see the GBR, as well. However, from what I\\\'ve read its too wet and hot in the Cairns and Port Douglas area plus there\\\'s deadly stingers in the water. Would anyone recommend visiting Carins this time of year, even if we planned a 3-4 day trip out to the GBR? Is there another place that would be better that\\\'s reasonably accessible? - don\\\'t want to break the bank on travel.

Thanks!
Jason Reply to this

I don't know anything for sure, but you might want to look into going to the Whitsunday islands (part of the GBR) for a sailing trip - it may be they don't run trips during the summer months, but I've a feeling they still do, you just have to wear stinger suits. You can take a trip out there from Airlie Beach which is about two-thirds of the way to Cairns from Sydney. Airlie beach itself is horrible, completely overrun with drunk tourists, but the Whitsundays are fantastic - I took a 3 day yacht trip where we snorkelled most of the day, it was really magical. Google whitsundays and see what you come up with Reply to this