More than two thousand visitors leave to visit the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, Australia, alone, each day during the peak tourist season. Aside from knowing that the reef is the largest in the world, many visitors do not know much about it or the surrounding area. Len Rutledge is one person who does know. When not travelling, he has lived in the reef region for much of the past twenty-five years and has amassed a vast amount of knowledge and experience about the area. He has written this guidebook with three distinct purposes in mind. First, it can be read through quickly to get a general feel for the region to decide if the Great Barrier Reef is a suitable vacation site for you. Second, it is ideal to plan your itinerary and decide on accommodations should you decide to visit. Finally, the book is designed to be used during your trip to brush up on any of the information you may need. The amount of information in the Maverick Guide to the Great Barrier Reef, like the reef itself, is formidable.