Distance from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef: Approximately 2,000 km

Sydney, on Australia's southeast coast, lies about 2,000 km (1,200 miles) south of the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches along the Queensland coast in the Coral Sea. The reef's southern end (near Lady Elliot Island) is roughly 1,800 km from Sydney by air; the main tourist hubs (Cairns, Port Douglas) are ~2,400 km away. Travel is typically by 3-hour flight to Cairns or a multi-day drive/coach journey.