Anzac Reef lies about 110 km east of Townsville, towards the outer part of the continental shelf, and is recorded by the Marine Life Network as a varied reef of drop-offs, coral gardens and pinnacles with visibility of 10–30 m. It is noted in particular as a productive night-dive location, where lobsters, flatworms and a wide range of small invertebrates emerge from the reef after dark. The combination of habitats makes it a flexible site for a charter.

Drop-offs provide wall-style diving with fish concentrating along the edge; pinnacles give a focal point for current-fed fish life; and coral gardens in the shallows are easy diving for a second or night dive. Being further offshore, the reef benefits from clearer oceanic water than the inshore and mid-shelf reefs, and it is little affected by wet-season river plumes. The Marine Life Network cautions that the reef can be current-affected, which is typical for reefs this far out: tidal flow across the shelf accelerates around reef edges and pinnacles, and dives are best timed around slack water, with a surface marker buoy and boat cover.

Exposure to the south-east trade winds means calm weather is needed. Anzac Reef is not visited by day boats and does not appear on current operator schedules; it is a liveaboard and long-range charter site. For those on a multi-day Townsville expedition, it offers a mix of wall, pinnacle and night diving with the clear water of the outer shelf.

Boat only, and beyond normal day-trip range. The outer Townsville reefs lie 90–130 km offshore; they are reached by liveaboard or extended charter from Breakwater Marina, Townsville (typically an overnight steam or 3–4+ hours by fast vessel), sometimes combined with the Yongala on multi-day itineraries. Private skippers need a capable offshore vessel, long-range fuel, EPIRB and a settled forecast, and should launch from the Townsville Breakwater or Ross River ramps.

There is no shelter on the passage and anchoring must be on sand, never coral.

The Townsville mid-shelf reefs sit fully exposed to the south-east trade winds, which blow 15–25 knots for long stretches from April to September. Operators generally cancel when winds exceed about 20 knots or a strong wind warning is current, and the 2–2.5 hour crossing is rough above 15 knots. The calmest windows are the late-spring and early-summer glassouts (October–December) and occasional winter high-pressure lulls.

Visibility is usually 12–25 m, dropping after big south-easterly blows and after wet-season floods from the Burdekin and Herbert rivers push turbid plumes offshore (January–April). Marine stinger season (box jellyfish and Irukandji) runs roughly November to May – wear a full-length stinger suit or wetsuit with hood and gloves, carry vinegar. Cyclone season November–April; tropical lows and cyclones can close sites and damage coral (TC Yasi 2011, TC Debbie 2017).

Tidal currents around reef edges and bommies are strongest on spring tides; plan wall and pass dives near slack.

By day, dive a drop-off or pinnacle at 12–20 m heading into the current and return along the coral gardens. By night, stay shallow in the coral gardens looking for lobsters and flatworms.

No scheduled day trips. Visited on occasional liveaboard and long-range charters out of Townsville (e.g. Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive liveaboard/charter departures, private and club charters).

Historically on Townsville liveaboard circuits of the 1980s–2000s.