Our family of two adults and twin daughters aged 9, are looking at a 3-4 week holiday in Australia next April, and before flying home, we would like to spend a week at a resort near to the Great Barrier Reef. We heard that some of the resorts are over commercialised and have jellyfish problems. Can you recommend a suitable, convenient and family friendly place that we can stay? - Mike Jones, Cardiff

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: The reef stretches for 1,600 miles, and choosing the right resort is a might tricky.

However balancing the points you make, and sticking my neck out, I'd say you should go to Heron Island (www.heronisland.com ). It's a stunning place that's right on the reef. The emphasis here is on the natural environment, which has kept it unspoilt ­ there are no buildings above the tree line, and no day-trippers ­ it's a private island for resort guests only.

There are some stunning dive sites just short boat skims away, but at Heron Island you can swim straight off the beach and over expanses of coral too.

Bridge & Wickers (020 7483 6555, www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk) has a seven-night package from £2,136 for a family of 4 sharing a Reef Room. This includes domestic flights from Brisbane, boat transfers and breakfasts.

Hamilton Island (www.hamiltonisland.com.au) in the Whitsunday's is stinger-free (as the Box Jellyfish are called locally) at that time of year, but you may find it too commercial, and the same goes for much of the mainland coast. Another thought is Dunk Island (www.dunk-island.com), which is very family friendly, has flights from Cairns, and like Heron Island, is in a conservation area. It does have stingers in April, but there are nets that keep set areas safe for swimming.

You are best off talking to specialist tour operators; like All Ways Pacific (01494 432 747, www.all-ways.co.uk), Austravel (0844 412 4620, www.austravel.com), Trailfinders (0845 054 6060, www.trailfinders.com).

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