This is the largest inshore reef in the world thought to be around 400 sq kms.

Montgomery Reef has an unusual wide tidal range up to 10 metres (33 ft). The outward movement of the tide forms a torrent of water, creating a river cutting through the reef and hundreds of cascading waterfalls.

While the tide is going out, the waterfalls attract migratory wading birds, feeding turtles, manta rays, sharks and dugongs.

Our visit has to be timed with the tides – this area has the second highest in the world – When the tide drops the reef was exposed 4.2 metres. David Attenborough said it was the 8^th wonder of the world.

The story behind its naming is that Phillip Parker King was travelling in this area in the 1880s and they ran into trouble with some Aboriginals. There was a fight and the surgeon was speared. He treated himself with leeches and survived and Parker King decided to name the reef after him – he was an unpleasant and grumpy man and the thought was that because the reef is literally drowned twice a day it was like a backhanded compliment to the surgeon.

The reef has Coralline Algae growing on it– they are very rich in nutrients and so you have lots of reef Herons perched on it as well as other shore birds – there was a Caspian tern diving into the reef and an osprey eating its breakfast.

We saw the water cascading off the reef in steps and rivulets, in little waterfalls and big flows.

The sea was teeming with shy green turtles popping their heads up everywhere. There was a competition for the best photo of a sea turtle’s head! The Montgomery reef is truly an astonishing natural haven and habitat for birdlife and marine life but it is hard to capture its size and grandeur in the small parts we saw up close.