Great Barrier Reef Rum Runner Hostel and Sailboat

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and home to thousands of species of marine life, according to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation

It’s dotted with 3,000 individual reef systems, according to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and spans nearly 1,500 miles along the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation

For many scuba divers, it’s a dream destination with the chance to see new species and explore a grand underwater world. The reef has remained at the top of my bucket list since I was scuba certified in 2018.

The desire to explore the natural wonder has only increased in recent years. Due to climate change, over 50% of the shallow water reefs have experienced coral bleaching, which is when coral expels the algae living in its tissue, according to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. As Insider previously reported, at the current rate of coral bleaching, the reef will be gone by 2050.

Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Insider

In the kitchen, I spotted an impressive array of gadgets, utensils, and appliances. There was an oven, toaster, stacks of pots and pans, hot plates, slow cookers, enough utensils, plates, and cups for 20 people, and, of course, food for two days.