5 of the Best Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Tours

The purest way to see The Great Barrier Reef is to find a well-organised snorkelling trip, take a deep breath and get up close and personal with one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

best great barrier reef tour reddit

(Photo: getyourguide.com)

For anyone with an ounce of travelling spirit in their blood, The Great barrier Reef has to be on the destination bucket list somewhere. Spanning over 2,4000km down Australia’s eastern coastline, this collection of coral formations, turtles, whales and 1,600 species of fish, as well as even the Southern Hemisphere’s only submerged art gallery, is fascinating, fragile and unforgettable. It can be tempting to buy some cheap goggles and budgie smugglers from the dollar store and try to check it out yourself, but one of the purest (and best value for money) ways of seeing the reef is on a well-organised snorkelling tour. Here are the best snorkelling tours to get the most out of The Great Barrier Reef:

Outer Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise & Transfer

Undoubtedly one of the best snorkelling trips out there, this 7.5 hour tour takes in three different reef sites at the pristine Opal or Agincourt Reefs in one day. Good quality gear is all part of the package, including prescription diving masks, wetsuits and flotation devices if needed, and in-between dives tea, coffee and a buffet is provided. The whole idea is to get even beginners acquainted with the reef and its diverse inhabitants – don’t be surprised to see clownfish, giant clams, stingrays, Maori wrasse, codfishes, and colorful parrotfish as you navigate the reef. It’s extremely well organised, with briefings and information throughout the day, the only issue for the more cash-strapped backpacker is probably the price – almost 200 bucks buys a lot of instant noodles at the hostel. From € 174.49.

Book at Getyourguide

Cape Tribulation Ocean Safari Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

For something a bit more wallet friendly this ocean safari from Cape Tribulation packs a lot into half a day. There are only two dive sites as part of the tour, found at Mackay Reef, but it’s still a lot of reef exploring and for some will be enough considering the cost saving over a full day. There is an eco slant so the skipper will be explaining about conservation of The Great Barrier Reef and the coastal rainforest of the Daintree – two world heritage areas side by side. Good value and a perfect toe-in for discovering the reef. The 700hp vessel, based on a rescue craft, is a lot of fun too. From € 111.10.

Sunlover Reef Cruises Cairns Great Barrier Reef Experience

This tour is a little bit different in that the destination is the Moore Reef Pontoon on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, which is not only surrounded by fish but even has a water slide. OK, so maybe this isn’t the one to take the marine biology society for the annual get-together but it is very good for people who either don’t want to be on a boat all day, or just want to have a bit of extra fun. The air-conditioned catamaran that heads there has a glass bottom for observing the marine life, there’s an enclosed ocean pool and sundeck on the pontoon, and all sorts of other goodies aimed at families with children with a short attention span (ie all of them). You can also add on a certified diving, Seawalker Helmet dive, guided snorkel safari or even a scenic helicopter flight. From  €162.81.

Book at Viator

Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Boujee and budget don’t normally end up in the same sentence, but this nine-hour catamaran tour seems to nail both. It’s less than 150 bucks but one of the most pleasant ways to see the reef, setting sail, rather than chugging away with a motor, for the outer Barrier Reef. An onboard marine expert will explain the underwater eco-system and an experienced crew will run through snorkeling techniques during the journey. Then all you have to do is to sunbathe or chill on the upper sun deck or the netted deck trampoline at the bow of the boat, before heading to either Flynn and Milne reef or further north at Norman and Hastings reefs. There’s even a fresh tropical buffet lunch prepared onboard. Pretensions of being a millionaire optional. From € 144.91.

Whitsundays: Ocean Rafting Fly Raft Tour with Snorkeling

You’re probably thinking: this is all well and good, but where’s my aeroplane ride and bushwalk to go with the snorkelling trip? This tour has you covered.  It kicks off with a 60-minute scenic flight in a light aircraft flight over many of the 74 Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including famous Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. The following a high-adrenaline speed boat ride (did we mention that bit?) there is a bushwalk for withering travellers to Hill Inlet Lookout at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach. It culminates with snorkelling for over an hour at Border Island, Dumbell Island or one of the guide’s secret snorkel spots. From € 284.98.

Latest Articles

  • Where to Find Short Term or Monthly Munich Apartment Rentals March 18, 2024
  • Catamaran Charter in Croatia: The Best Companies March 18, 2024
  • A Comparison of Cesky Krumlov Tours from Prague March 18, 2024
  • 5 Fashionable Louis Vuitton Suitcases March 18, 2024
  • 7 Unique Things to do in Bruges March 17, 2024

Thrifty Nomads

How to Visit Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: The Ultimate Guide

best great barrier reef tour reddit

W ords do it no justice. The seventh natural wonder of the world. The largest coral reef on Earth: 344,400 square kilometres of fish of all colors, playful sea turtles, giant clams, swaying anemones, darting eels, sea snarks and reef sharks.

You don’t need to be a pro diver to experience the reef. I’ve visited twice. The first time in 2010, I drifted in my snorkel and fins and watched from a safe distance as a giant sea turtle feasted serenely on a transparent jellyfish. Holding the hand of an instructor, I tentatively attempted a night dive, and swam shoulder to shoulder with dozens of sleek white sharks in the eerie darkness.

Seven years later on my second visit, the reef seemed to have changed. Perhaps it was just reality failing to live up to memory, but I had read extensively about changes in sea temperature caused by climate change leading to massive death of coral. The so-called ‘coral bleaching’ wrecks the entire ecosystem, as each creature depends on the others for survival.

Still, the reef is exquisite beyond. But if you want to see it, do see responsibly, and do so soon!

How Much Does a Trip to the Great Barrier Reef Cost?

The reef proper lies a long way from the shore. To do it justice, you’ll need to go out on a boat. Costs for this vary greatly depending on the length of time, the level of comfort, and the amount of activities you plan to participate in. You can browse tour options along with reviews on GetYourGuide and Viator . Staying in a mid-range boat for a two-night “Liveaboard” trip will set you back around $400AUD per person including (basic) meals. The ‘raw budget’ experience of a one day trip out to the reef and back, with no extras and providing your own equipment, can be done for around $100AUD.

You’ll also have to factor in accomodation in Cairns or another gateway city (search HotelsCombined and  Airbnb  to cover all your options of hotels, hostels, and homes), as reef tours tend to leave at the crack of dawn. Search Skyscanner by “entire month” to find the cheapest dates to fly from your origin. Not including flights, I would say a realistic budget to enjoy the reef and the Cairns experience starts at $600AUD, though it is possible to spend a lot more!

best great barrier reef tour reddit

How to Choose a Great Barrier Reef Tour

With so many tour companies competing in such a popular region, it can be hard to know which company to go with. Here are a few factors to consider:

  • Destination: The outer reefs are typically more colorful and less damaged than the closer reefs, which suffer from coral bleaching due to overtourism.
  • Vehicle: Catamarans, sailboats, and even helicopters are all some of the options for visiting the reef. Many boats have glass bottoms, so you can look at the sealife below without ever getting wet.
  • Activities: You'll most likely want your tour to include snorkeling, but scuba diving tours are also an option.

We recommend browsing the tours on GetYourGuide and Viator , which let you compare tours, read real reviews from travellers who have booked them, and book any tour with immediate confirmation. Most offer 24 hour free cancellation and allow you to show confirmation on your mobile device, no printer required.

Look beyond the rating and read a few of the actual reviews. These can also be useful to give you an idea of the type of person on each tour – for example if you’re a young group of friends, you’re probably looking for a different atmosphere than a couple traveling on their 50th wedding anniversary! More reviews are available on TripAdvisor too.  With many tour companies seeming to offer more or less than same thing at the same rates from first glance, a little extra time in planning and research can help you make the most of your time and budget.

Here are a few of the top-rated tour options:

Cairns Great Barrier Reef Catamaran Tour

From Cairns: Premium Great Barrier Reef Catamaran Cruise ($169 AUD)

Goes to 2 outer reef locations, chef-prepared lunch, luxury catamaran, and options to snorkel, swim, or dive.

Green Island Day Trip from Cairns

Green Island Day Trip From Cairns ($97 AUD)

Goes to Green Island, catamaran tour, glass bottomed boats, upgrade options for lunch and semi-submarine tours.

Cairns Great Barrier Reef Green Island Sailing Tour

Cairns: Green Island & Reef Full-Day Sailing Cruise ($195 AUD)

Goes to Green Island, travel by sail boat, max 25 ppl, onboard lunch, pastries, tea/coffee.

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Beyond the Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is normally accessed from Cairns, a vibrant tourist city on the far north tip of Queensland. The reef is the biggest draw, but there’s so much else that makes this region worth visiting in its own rights. Crocodiles, rainforests, aboriginal culture, and pioneering cuisine blend together with a wild nightlife and a youthful vibe.

As we explore the highlights below, we’ll look beyond the reef itself to the neighbouring attractions and activities that will add value to your trip.

Far North Queensland Highlights

Cairns at nightfall

The “capital” of the far North, Cairns is a dynamic tourist town. Walk down the esplanade during sunset and listen to the bats in the thick trees above you. You’re closer to Papua New Guinea or Indonesia than you are to Sydney, and things are different here. A thumping nightlife and eclectic dining scene contrasts with the general wildness of the town – it’s worth a couple of days. Your cheapest accommodation option is likely Airbnb , but you can compare hostels and hotels on HotelsCombined too.

Often overlooked, Townsville is Cairn’s quieter cousin. If you’re averse to tour groups, it can make a cheaper and gentler waypoint to the reef, and there’s plenty of good snorkelling around. The Reef HQ aquarium and Museum of Tropical Queensland make good educational antidotes to the hedonism of nearby Cairns (by Australian standards!).

The Daintree Rainforest

Daintree Rainforest

Want to experience an unspoilt tropical rainforest, or prefer to relax with a cocktail on the beach? At the Daintree, you can have both. The terrifying, ancient Cassowary birds still stalk the bushes, and in the water you’re taught to be weary of crocodiles, jellyfish and venomous seashells, but the natural beauty more than compensates for the danger. Tours leave from Cairns, as well the most developed rainforest town, Port Arthur.

The Whitsundays

best great barrier reef tour reddit

74 unspoilt islands lie between the mainland of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. Mostly uninhabited, you don’t go there for the bar scene or fine dining. Instead, white sand beaches lead you to never ending horizons and blood red sunsets. Leave only footprints along bush hiking trails, and feel yourself part of vast wilderness of the Reef. A variety of cruises, sails, snorkelling trips, and more can be booked on GetYourGuide and Viator for as little as $59 AUD.

Kuranda Village, Skyrail Cable Car, and Kuranda Scenic Railway

A gorgeous small town with friendly locals and comfortable hospitality, this popular day trip from Cairns has charming shops, restaurants, and markets to explore. But it is perhaps best known for the connecting Skyrail Cable Car and the Kuranda Scenic Railway . The cable car ride is 7.5 kilometers long, offering a bird’s eye view of the dense, green rainforest as you sail gently over the tops of the trees. The railway was built over 120 years ago, winding through mountains and offering spectacular views of waterfalls and the Barron Gorge. It's a must-do when visiting Cairns!

Skyrail Cable Car

There are a number of ticket options, which can be a bit confusing, but we recommend taking  both the cable car and scenic railway . Here's how to choose your ticket type:

  • If you have your own vehicle: Go for the  Skyrail Rainforest Cableway & Kuranda Rail Self-Drive option ($112.50 AUD). You will first park at the Skyrail Smithfield Terminal to take the cable car to Kuranda Village. Then return on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and get off at Freshwater station. A free shuttle bus will take you back to the Smithfield Terminal where your car is parked (about 7km away). You can also do this itinerary in reverse, starting with the train and returning on the cable car. Check the self-drive guide for details.
  • If you need transportation: Get a combination package of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway & Kuranda Scenic Railway with transfers to and from your accommodation in Cairns ($126 AUD) or Port Douglas ($153 AUD). You will choose to either take the cable car to Kuranda and the train back, or vice-versa. Your transfers will handle everything else.

Booking on GetYourGuide gives you the advantage of instant confirmation and easy cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. If you're on a budget, you can also opt to just take a return trip on the Skyrail Cableway ($79 AUD), but it's a lot more interesting to combine with the train if you can afford it. You can also skip the cable car and railway entirely and just drive yourself to Kuranda Village. But the train and cable car are really the highlight here!

Paronella Park

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Treat yourself to a taste of luxury and experience eco-tourism at its best. This highly awarded Queensland highlight offers a skywalk, waterfalls, botanical gardens and more all located around a lovingly built castle within 5 hectares of ground containing 7,500 tropical plants and trees. Prices start from $46 AUD per adult . You can book on GetYourGuide to enjoy instant confirmation, skip the line with a mobile or printed ticket, and cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Sample Trip Itineraries

If, like me, your main goal in hitting the Far North is to experience the Great Barrier reef, but you have time and budget to experience a bit of the region as well, here’s a sample itinerary for you:

  • Day 1: Arrive Cairns, settle into your accommodation, walk on the esplanade and enjoy dinner and a local craft beer or two
  • Day 2 – 4: Two day liveaboard reef tour. Starting early you’ll meet your boat on the wharf and head out a couple of hours to a nice spot on the reef. You’ll eat and sleep on the boat for two nights, and snorkel/dive depending on your experience and preference several times a day
  • Day 4-5: Daintree Rainforest. Your boat will return you to Cairns in time to make your way to Port Douglas or elsewhere in the Daintree. Settle into one of the many accommodation options, and recover from the exertions of the reef in the tranquility of the forest
  • If you have longer, consider basing yourself in Cairns and making day trips to the surrounding attractions, for example a day hiking on the Whitsundays, the Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway , or Paronella Park .

Great Barrier Reef Accommodation

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Options are available to suit most budgets. You can kill 2 birds with 1 stone and rent a Jucy campervan , driving and camping as you go (see more under transportation section below). Camping options are plentiful around Cairns and Townsville. Airbnb is also abundant and affordable (especially for 2 or more travellers), with a private room in Cairns as cheap as $25 AUD/night. Backpacker hostels are everywhere, with dorm rooms starting from around $20 AUD a night. You can compare across most hostel and hotel sites using HotelsCombined .

Private hotel accommodation is likely to set you back at least $70/night for even the most basic, though Townsville can offer cheaper options. Luxury lodges and “Bed and Breakfast” eco retreats are available in the Daintree rainforest .

Editors note: We had an unforgettable stay at Sanctuary Retreat in Mission Beach , halfway between Cairns and Townsville. You stay in private huts in the middle of the rainforest upon a steep hill, surrounded by nature, and delicious food at the restaurant. A truly unique experience, and extremely affordable ! ~ Jen and Ted

Locals joke that Far North Queensland has two seasons: Bloody hot and dry (April to November) and bloody hot and wet (November to March). The weather is truly tropical, with high humidity, cyclones and typhoons. Mosquitoes and other lovely creepy crawlies can be killer, so stock up on high strength repellent before you go!

Eating & Drinking

oysters

Seafood was the culinary highlight of my trips to Cairns! Along the esplanade many fine restaurants compete with for the tourist dollar, and will set you back at least $30 AUD for a decent meal, easily twice this if you’re drinking as well. Some of the boats along the harbour also sell seafood, including the exotic Moreton Bay Bug, a tasty but surreal looking crustacean. Aboriginal bush tucker (fancy a kangaroo stack or crocodile carpaccio?) is also served at some restaurants.

Luxury options are common throughout, with the price tags to match. If you’re on a budget, you’ll be relieved to learn that most hostels have comprehensive cooking facilities, and supermarkets (Woolworths and Coles are the big chains, and the less common Aldi can be cheaper) are easy enough to find in the big towns. For a cheap hot meal in Cairns, Townsville, and larger towns, hit up the RSL (Returned and Services League of Australia).

Transportation

Cairns and Townsville are major transport hubs, with frequent flight connections to each other (just over 1 hour) and other Australian cities (Jetstar and Tiger Air are typically the cheapest options). If coming from overseas, you’ll most likely have to transit through Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, a whopping 1,700 kilometers away! Use Skyscanner and search by entire month to see the cheapest dates and options to fly.

Jucy Crib

The Greyhound bus makes a cheap but painfully slow way to get around. Tour companies will handle transportation for you between attractions themselves. If hiring a car, companies like Ace and Avis can offer deals as low as $20 AUD per day. You can compare many car rental sites at once using BookingBuddy .

Yugambeh

  • Crocodile Spotting. They’re green, they’re scary, and they’re spectacular to watch in their native environment. Tours are available from Cairns with companies such as Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures , starting at $39 AUD per adult ( also available with a transfer from Cairns for $80 AUD). While guided tours are safe, tourists who ignore the signs and step off the paths occasionally come to harm, so think twice before living out your Crocodile Hunter fantasy!
  • Scuba Diving. Snorkelling is a default choice for seeing the reef, but for those who wish to go deeper and stay down longer, the Great Barrier Reef remains a scuba diver’s dream come true. You can learn to dive from scratch at the reef with a 4-day PADI open water dive course (from $620 AUD), making you internationally certified. More options are available from companies like  Prodive ,  though they can be a pricey and time consuming option.
  • Aboriginal Culture. With claim to over 40,000 years of history, the Australia aboriginals have a rich and fascinating history that it intricately entwined with the rugged and beautiful country. Tjapukai Cultural Park offers tours during the day as well as spectacular, fiery nighttime performances.
  • Hiking. From the white sands of the Whitsundays to the dense jungle of the Daintree, Far North Queensland has a host of hiking trails and coastal walks. You’ll experience broad range of botanical features, and unique scenery that will keep you fascinated despite the heat.

Responsible Travel

As mentioned at the start, the Great Barrier Reef has been put through hell recently due to climate change and environmental hazards. And yet, even the most caring conservationists will tell you that’s not a reason not to go. Better to see and experience nature up close and personal, and gain an appreciation for what we have, the better to fight hard so that we can keep it.

When you go on a tour of the reef, a certain percentage of your ticket fare will be used as a “reef tax” to help fund conservation efforts. There are other things you can to do help minimize your own impact on the environment. When staying in rural areas, be discerning about what you buy and take your rubbish away with you.

When in the water, use biodegradable sunscreen and cut down on skin products to avoid the toxic effects on the surrounding coral and sea life. And of course, never step on coral or attempt to touch sea life of any kind – for your own safety as well as theirs!

The Thrifty Gist

  • Great Barrier Reef tours leave from hubs like Cairns and Townsville. You can go in one day, but for the full experience choose a “liveaboard” option. Tours can be browsed with real reviews and booked instantly on GetYourGuide and Viator .
  • While the Great Barrier Reef is a highlight, Far North Queensland has many other activities and attractions that are certainly worth the extra time.
  • The cheapest accommodation options are camping, youth hostel dorms, and Airbnb . Use HotelsCombined to compare hostels and hotels. Private accommodation can be expensive, but is often very comfortable, particularly in the eco-lodges and B&Bs outside of the big cities. Cairns has a dynamic food scene, but to save money shop at supermarkets like Woolworths and self-cater at the cooking facilities provided by most hostels.
  • Choose your tour companies wisely by looking beyond the surface and getting a sense that the company caters for people with your goals and priorities. Practice responsible tourism and be conscious of your footprint on the delicate environment that you are enjoying.

PlanetWare.com

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef: 11 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Oct 21, 2021 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

The World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is, quite simply, Australia's top tourism treasure. Stretching from the northern tip of Queensland south to the coastal town of Bundaberg, it's the planet's largest coral reef system and comprises one of its richest ecosystems. So vast is this complex of reefs, islands, coral cays, seagrass beds, and mangroves, it is the only living structure visible from space .

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Experiencing the Great Barrier Reef is a top Australian outdoor adventure , and you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy it. Among the most popular things to do are scuba diving and snorkeling along the shimmering coral reefs, sailing around idyllic tropical islands, fishing in designated zones, peering at the abundant marine life from a glass-bottomed boat, and soaring over this magnificent natural wonder on a scenic flight.

Thanks to its vast size, you can access the Great Barrier Reef from various points along the Queensland coast. One of the most popular launching points for reef adventures is the thriving tourist town of Cairns in Far North Queensland. About an hour's drive north of Cairns, picturesque Port Douglas , is a smaller and more peaceful base for reef trips. It's also the closest mainland port to the Great Barrier Reef.

This magnificent spectacle is a must-see addition to your Aussie itinerary . Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the Great Barrier Reef, causing large-scale coral die-off, especially along the reef's far northern stretches, so try to see this natural wonder as soon as you can. The Australian and Queensland Government introduced a long-term sustainability plan to help combat the effects of climate change and pollution, but more action is needed to conserve this important resource for future generations.

Learn about the best places to visit in this tropical paradise with our list of the top things to do at the Great Barrier Reef.

1. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

2. whitsunday islands, 3. whitehaven beach, 4. dive or snorkel the great barrier reef, 5. hop aboard a reef cruise or sailing trip, 6. soar over the reef on a scenic flight, 7. take a day trip to fitzroy or green island, 8. magnetic island, 9. lizard island, 10. orpheus island, 11. book a day trip to lady musgrave, lady elliot, or hinchinbrook island, map of the great barrier reef: top-rated attractions & things to do, frequently asked questions, why is the great barrier reef important, how big is the great barrier reef, when is the best time of year to visit the great barrier reef, how many islands make up the great barrier reef.

Moorish idol fish in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 to protect the reef's fragile ecosystems. Within its borders lie more than 2,900 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays, seagrass beds, and many mangrove islands.

One of the top things to do in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is marvel at the astonishing variety of marine life. More than 600 species of hard and soft corals flourish here, ranging from bulbous spheres of brain coral to craggy staghorn and graceful gorgonian sea fans. These thriving underwater jungles are also home to mollusks such as giant clams, and more than 1,625 species of fish. In the surrounding waters, you can spot sharks, rays, sea snakes, dugongs, turtles, dolphins, and whales.

Unlike some other marine reserves, the park operates as a mixed use protected area and allows sustainable fishing in designated zones. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority administers the park in consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, whose heritage is closely linked with the region. Together, they work to protect this rich patchwork of fragile ecosystems and astounding biodiversity.

Note that due to large tidal shifts, reef access and many activities in the park depend on tide times and heights.

Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands

Strung along the Great Barrier Reef, the 74 tropical islands of the Whitsunday Group are great bases for exploring the wonders of the reef. Six national parks protect their fragile ecosystems, and several are home to eco retreats, campsites, and luxury resorts. To explore the reef from these sun-splashed shores, you can sign up for a snorkel or scuba diving trip, enjoy a cruise, or hop aboard a sailboat.

Sightseeing cruises visit some of the top attractions in the Whitsundays . See sublime Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and snorkel along fish-rich reefs. Are you an avid diver? Heron boasts some of the best diving of all the Whitsunday Islands.

Colorful reef fish

Whitsunday accommodation ranges from five-star resorts to apartments and campsites. Hamilton Island offers plenty of places to stay, from the mid-range Whitsunday Apartments to the exclusive Qualia Resort , and it's the only Whitsunday Island with an airport catering to large jets. Luxury-seekers head to Hayman Island , home to an exclusive five-star nature resort, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort . Families love Daydream Island Resort . Long Island is another great choice, with two boutique resorts and beachfront campsites.

If you plan on camping, national park campsites are available on Whitsunday and Hook Islands. Airlie Beach is the main gateway for Whitsunday sightseeing. From here, ferries, luxury yachts, helicopters, and seaplanes can transport you to the island of your dreams.

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is one of Australia's top beaches . This stunning seven-kilometer swirl of dazzling white silica sand and vivid blue sea is one of the top places to visit on the Great Barrier Reef and also graces lists of the most beautiful beaches on the planet .

Wondering how to get here? You can visit the beach on day trips aboard luxury yachts, ferries, powerboats, or sailboats, and Tongue Bay is a favorite anchorage for bareboats.

Walking trails thread through the island. One of the most popular is the 10- to 15-minute hike from the beach up to Hill Inlet lookout for spectacular views of the swirling white sands, turquoise water, and lushly-cloaked hills.

If you don't have time to step foot on the soft sands, you can book a scenic flight and soar over the marbled seascape on a plane.

Want to linger here for more than a day? Camping is allowed on the southern end of the beach.

Diver admiring a gorgonian sea fan

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most desirable dive destinations. This underwater wonderland is home to more than 2,900 separate reefs, featuring kaleidoscopic walls, spectacular coral canyons, swim-throughs, and pinnacles. Gliding off the edge of the continental shelf over 90-meter drop-offs can feel like flying over an underwater jungle.

Other diving highlights include the shark-feeding frenzy of North Horn ; the Cod Hole, near Lizard Island, with its giant potato cod; and the drift dives of Osprey Reef . The Agincourt Ribbon Reefs , easily accessible from Cairns, are also popular dive spots, as are the coral gardens at Flynn Reef . At the right time of year, you can also spot migrating minke whales at Lighthouse Bommie .

In the Whitsunday Islands, Heron Island offers some of the best diving of all the islands, including a manta ray cleaning station at Heron Island bommie.

Wreck diving is also possible along the reef. From Townsville or Magnetic Island, visitors can explore the SS Yongala , a steel and timber steamship that met its fate during a cyclone in 1911 and claimed 121 lives.

Day trips are a great way to experience a taste of the reef, and liveaboard dive trips maximize underwater time and offer a chance to see some of the more remote and less-visited reefs.

If you are staying in Cairns, an easy way to experience the spectacular underwater scenery is on the Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns . This full-day trip includes transportation on a comfortable boat, a barbecue lunch, snorkeling stops, and optional upgrades for scuba diving and helicopter flights.

Great Barrier Reef pontoon

Great Barrier Reef cruises and sailing trips are one of the best ways to explore the top attractions. Full- or half-day cruises zip you out to well-equipped reef pontoons for easy access to the water. Freshwater showers, change rooms, and underwater observatories are some of the facilities available here.

Staying in Cairns? From here, you can join a Great Barrier Reef Cruise , which whisks you out by catamaran to a pontoon for snorkeling, as well as glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible tours. This full-day tour includes a buffet lunch, and you can choose an upgrade such as a Seawalker Helmet dive and scuba dive. Or hop aboard the Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Trip from Cairns , which visits two exclusive outer reef locations and offers an optional helicopter flight.

If you're based in Port Douglas and prefer to experience the reef on a sailing adventure, the Low Isles Great Barrier Reef Sailing Cruise from Port Douglas is a great option. It includes a full-day sailing catamaran cruise to Low Isles, where you can snorkel straight off the white-sand beach, guided by a marine biologist, with the chance to see green sea turtles. The trip also includes a glass-bottom boat coral viewing, a guided beach walk, and a tropical buffet lunch.

Quicksilver operates popular cruises aboard high-speed catamarans from Port Douglas with coach transfers from Cairns. Trips typically include presentations by marine biologists, dive or snorkel experiences, and coral viewing in a semi submersible. Multi-day luxury cruises and whale-watching trips are other popular water-based options.

For a more intimate and peaceful experience, you can charter a sailboat. Idyllic mooring spots include dazzling Whitehaven Beach and Butterfly Bay . Bareboat charters are also available from Cairns or Airlie Beach to the outer Great Barrier Reef and are especially popular around the Whitsunday Islands. You can learn the ropes with a qualified instructor or charter vessels with an experienced crew.

Heart Reef

A scenic flight is a great way to appreciate the awe-inspiring magnitude of this natural wonder. Helicopter and seaplanes soar over the mottled expanses of coral reefs and palm-fringed islands. Options range from 15-minute flights to full-day flying trips, with water sports and lunch included.

One of the best natural features of the Great Barrier Reef to see from the air is Heart Reef . This naturally formed heart-shaped coral reef is a favorite venue for romantic flyover proposals.

If you want to see the reef from more than one perspective, the Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Tour and Cruise from Cairns is an excellent option. This full-day tour includes a 25-minute flight with informative commentary and a chance to snorkel, swim, or dive along the reef.

Fitzroy Island

If you're based in Cairns, you can take a day trip to one of these beautiful tropical islands. Green Island , about a 45-minute cruise by high-speed catamaran from Cairns, is the most popular but also the most crowded of the two. Popular things to do here include snorkeling, glass-bottomed boat tours, and seeing the world's largest captive croc at Marineland Crocodile Park . You can also stay overnight at the Green Island Resort .

If you prefer a more peaceful, low-key island escape, Fitzroy Island is a great choice, with better snorkeling opportunities, scenic hiking trails, and lovely white-sand and crushed-coral beaches.

A fun way to experience these islands is on the Green Island Day Trip from Cairns and the Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns . Both these trips include return transport to the islands, and you can tailor your itinerary to include other activities such as snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, and more.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is famous for its beautiful beaches, secluded bays, and resident koalas. It's about a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville .

Magnetic Island National Park covers more than half the island and protects these lovable creatures, as well as the other species that make their home here, including many nesting sea turtles.

Popular things to do on Magnetic Island involve nature, history, and the water. You can hike along 24 kilometers of walking tracks, explore historic World War II forts, kayak, snorkel, dive reefs and wrecks, horseback ride, enjoy a spa treatment, or shop at the local markets and galleries.

Big-game fishing is also excellent in the surrounding waters, with the chance to catch coveted species such as marlin, sailfish, tuna, and mahi-mahi. Accommodations on the island range from campsites and the mid-range Island Leisure Resort to the upscale Peppers Blue On Blue Resort .

You can access the island, affectionately known as "Maggie Island" by the locals, via the 20-minute Magnetic Island Round-Trip Ferry From Townsville , or you can take your own vehicle across on the car ferry.

Lizard Island's beautiful blue lagoon

Lizard Island is a tropical escapist's fantasy. This ravishing and remote island lies in the far north of the Great Barrier Reef, about 250 kilometers northeast of Cairns. Here, you'll find 24 secluded beaches and coral reefs just offshore in a luminous blue lagoon.

Lizard Island National Park protects the rich wildlife here, which includes the island's abundant namesake monitor lizards, as well as flying foxes, snakes, and prolific birdlife. Some of the other islands in the national park are popular nesting sites for seabirds, particularly terns.

On Lizard Island's northwestern side, the exclusive 40-villa Lizard Island Resort is a favorite hideaway for honeymooners and couples. This luxury all-inclusive retreat offers five-star service, gourmet meals, day trips to deserted beaches and top dive sites such as the famous nearby Cod Hole , and snorkeling in the flourishing fringing reefs right off the beach.

On a budget? Campsites are also available on the northwest side of Lizard Island at Watsons Bay. You can access the island on a scenic flight from Cairns.

Aerial view of Orpheus Island

About 110 kilometers north of Townsville, Orpheus Island is a peaceful island retreat within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Tranquil bays and fringing reefs provide the perfect playground for nature lovers, and a national park protects the local flora and fauna.

The island is tiny. It's only about 12 kilometers long and one to 2.5 kilometers wide and lacks roads or formal hiking trails. The only way to access the island is by charter or private boat, keeping visitors to a minimum.

If you want to stay overnight, camping is available at Yanks Jetty, South Beach, and Pioneer Bay. The only other accommodation on the island is the beautiful Orpheus Island Lodge , an exclusive retreat with a maximum of only 28 guests at a time who arrive by helicopter from Townsville (30 minutes) or Cairns (1.5 hours). Popular things to do at the resort include picnics on secluded beaches, fishing, snorkeling, dive trips, and spa treatments. You can also borrow a dinghy and explore the island's beautiful bays on your own.

Aerial view of Lady Elliot Island

You can explore the Great Barrier Reef's southernmost islands on day trips. Protected by national parks, these three islands are all popular destinations for nature lovers, with the chance to see turtles, manta rays, and whales in typically crystal-clear waters with excellent visibility.

About eight kilometers from the town of Cardwell, Hinchinbrook Island is Australia's largest island national park. It's known for its dramatic topography, with craggy headlands, rainforests, waterfalls, pristine beaches, and mangrove-fringed estuaries. You can access the island, by private vessel or commercial ferries from Cardwell.

About 80 kilometers from Bundaberg, Lady Elliot Island sits in a Green Zone, the reef's highest protection zone, with superb diving and snorkeling opportunities. Turtles, manta rays, dolphins, sharks, and whales are among the abundant marine life in these waters, and the island is also home to a popular, no-frills eco-resort. You can access the island on a scenic flight from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay , Brisbane , or the Gold Coast .

Lady Musgrave Island is also a top spot for wilderness lovers. Camping is a popular pastime here, thanks to the island's beautiful lagoon, sheltered anchorage, and regular ferry service. Green and leatherback turtles, rays, and seabirds are among the rich wildlife found on the island and in its reef-dappled waters. The island is best accessed by passenger ferry from the town of 1770, five hours north of Brisbane. You can also hop aboard a sightseeing cruise from the Bundaberg port in Burnett Heads.

An organized tour such as the 3-Day Southern Great Barrier Reef Tour Including Lady Musgrave Island is also a great way to experience this island and the surrounding reefs. It includes eco-friendly beachside accommodation and round-trip transportation from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, or the Sunshine Coast.

The Great Barrier Reef is not just one of Australia's most precious tourist assets. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have strong cultural ties to this national treasure. It's also one of the world's richest ecosystems, protecting countless different species of animals and plants, including many fish that provide food for us. One of the most interesting Great Barrier Reef facts is that it is home to 10 percent of the world's fish species. The reef also protects the east coast of Australia from wave and storm erosion.

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 2,300 kilometers along the coast of Queensland , from Bundaberg to the northern tip of Queensland. It's the largest coral reef system on the planet, covering more than 344,000 square kilometers (half the size of Texas).

The best time of year to visit the reef is the dry season, between May and October , when humidity is low and the visibility is better. From October through May, marine stingers inhabit the waters. If you're planning to swim during this time, you should wear stinger suits for protection, especially when swimming off mainland beaches.

The Great Barrier Reef is an island paradise, comprising 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays, and about 150 inshore mangrove islands.

instagram logo

More on Australia

Australia Travel Guide

Complete Guide to the Great Barrier Reef

best great barrier reef tour reddit

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral system, stretching for 1500 miles along Australia's northeast coast. It's a bucket list destination for snorkeling and scuba diving, dotted with more than 900 white-sand islands where you'll find the country's best beach resorts.

Due to the tropical climate in Far North Queensland, it is essential to consider the weather when planning your visit to the Great Barrier Reef. Most travelers incorporate the Reef into a larger itinerary across Queensland and New South Wales, flying in and out of Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns.

In this guide, we break down everything you need to know for your trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

About the Great Barrier Reef

More than 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups have traditional connections to the Great Barrier Reef. The Yidinji clan, for example, believe that the reef was created by Bhiral, the Creator, throwing lava and hot rocks down from sky. Many of the islands hold special significance for different First Nations groups.

The Great Barrier Reef is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the natural world and received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1981. This incredible environment is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, as well as sharks, rays, turtles, and marine mammals. Unfortunately, the warming of the ocean caused by climate change has resulted in severe bleaching of the coral reef over the past five years.

There are still plenty of beautiful spots where you can see colorful coral and a thriving marine ecosystem. To help preserve the reef for future generations, visitors should minimize their impact on the reef by following all advice from local authorities .

Best Time to Visit

The Great Barrier Reef (and the rest of Far North Queensland) experiences two seasons, the wet season from November to April and the dry season from May to October. Stinger season, when dangerous box jellyfish can be found along the coast, runs from around November to May.

For most people, the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is between June and October to avoid both the wet season and the box jellyfish. During the wet season, rain can impair underwater visibility on the reef, but the warm water temperatures are great for swimming. However, you may also see cheaper tour, flight, and accommodation prices during the wet season.

For more information, check out our full guide to the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef .

Getting There

The Great Barrier Reef is a three-hour flight (or a 26-hour drive) north of Sydney and can be visited from a couple of different departure points. Cairns has an international airport , while Hamilton Island , Proserpine (near Airlie Beach), and Townsville can be reached via domestic flights.

For both day trips and longer tours, you'll find regular departures from Cairns, Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas, and Townsville. There are ferry services between Cairns and Green Island and Fitzroy Island . If you're headed out to the Whitsundays, there are shuttles and transfers available from Proserpine Airport and Airlie Beach.

The Great Barrier Reef is all about the snorkeling and scuba diving, though there are options for those who'd rather keep dry too. Michaelmas Cay , just 90 minutes by boat from Cairns, is a popular spot for keen snorkelers, while Agincourt Reef off Port Douglas is an interesting and accessible dive site.

For budget travelers, a day trip may be the best option. Take the 45-minute ferry to Green Island for the best of sand and sea, with beaches for swimming and snorkeling just offshore and a crocodile park on the island.

Other things to do on the reef:

  • Marvel at the wonders below the surface from a glass-bottom boat .
  • Take a semi-submersible submarine tour .
  • Experience coral spawing between October and December.
  • See baby turtles hatching between January and March.
  • Join Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel for an Indigenous cultural reef experience.
  • Go for a hike on one of the island national parks, like Lizard Island or Fitzroy Island .
  • Relax on Whitehaven Beach , an unspoilt stretch of impossibly white sand that regularly tops lists of the best beaches in Australia.

Multi-day tours are also available, visiting multiple dive and snorkel sites and offering accommodation onboard. For the ultimate luxury, charter a yacht to sail the Whitsundays, take a scenic flight over Heart Reef, or book in at a beachfront resort.

Where to Stay

When visiting the Great Barrier Reef, there are three main places to stay: the mainland, the Whitsundays, and the more isolated islands on the reef.

Cairns is the mainland tourist hub for the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest , where you'll find everything from hostels to apartments, Airbnbs and well-known hotel chains like the Hilton. Read our full guide to hotels in Cairns for more options.

Port Douglas, Mission Beach, and Airlie Beach are smaller towns that still have everything you will need, with a more relaxed atmosphere. Further south, you can also reach the Reef from the city of Townsville.

The Whitsundays , off the coast of Airlie Beach, are a group of 74 islands that offer a true resort experience. Accommodation here is spread over four main islands (Hamilton, Hayman, Long and Daydream Island) and is generally more upmarket than the mainland.

Further afield, islands like Bedarra (near Mission Beach), Lizard (north of Cooktown), Haggerstone (in the far north), Orpheus (north of Townsville) offer secluded escapes.

Travel Tips

The Great Barrier Reef is a unique destination, so there are a couple of things to keep in mind to ensure you make the most of your trip without damaging this precious natural resource.

  • Book accommodation at least a month in advance if you're traveling during peak season (June to October).
  • Plan to spend at least a couple of days exploring the reef, or up to a week to cover all the highlights.
  • Some people experience seasickness during boat tours on the Great Barrier Reef. If you know you're prone to motion sickness, you can buy medication over the counter at any pharmacy in Australia.
  • Choose reef-safe (mineral-based) sunscreen , or use a physical barrier like a hat and a rash guard or swim shirt to prevent sunburn.
  • If you visit between November and May, wear a stinger suit or swim at patrolled beaches protected by nets.
  • Never touch the reef to avoid breaking or damaging the coral.
  • Avoid heatstroke by drinking lots of water, especially when you are spending time in the sun.
  • Pack a waterproof bag or case for you phone or camera to make sure you can capture the magical underwater world that is the Great Barrier Reef.

The Best Time to Visit the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns vs the Gold Coast: Which Is Best?

Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef: Planning Your Trip

The 7 Best Beaches Near Cairns

The Best Day Trips From Cairns

The Best Time to Visit Cairns

10 Foods to Try in Cairns, Australia

The Best 15 Things to Do in Cairns, Australia

The World’s 9 Most Romantic Islands

12 of Africa's Best Beach Destinations

Weather in Cairns: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

The Best Time to Visit Australia

The Best Time to Visit the Galapagos Islands

13 Amazing Trips to Take Before You Turn 40

Daintree Rainforest: The Complete Guide

15 Great Natural and Wildlife Adventure Travel Trips

Deals of the Week   Bucket List   Up to 50% OFF

Great Barrier Reef Tours & Trips

Admire the white-washed coral beaches of Fitzroy Island, tackle a scenic hiking trail on Magnetic Island, or fly high above a UNESCO rainforest on the iconic Skyrail in Palm Cove. Whilst a magical underwater world awaits you, there's so much to discover on a Great Barrier Reef adventure.

135 Great Barrier Reef tour packages with 277 reviews

Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays Tour

  • In-depth Cultural
  • Christmas & New Year

Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays

I liked all of the activities we did, it would have been nice to have some chill time.

Best of Australia Tour

Best of Australia

fantasitc trip seeing lots of the highlights of the east coast. great tour guide

East Coast Explorer: 5 Week  | ULTIMATE Tour

East Coast Explorer: 5 Week | ULTIMATE

Great Tour with great people. A good way to travel the eastcoast.
  • €35 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Brisbane to Cairns Adventure (8 Days) (14 destinations) Tour

Brisbane to Cairns Adventure (8 Days) (14 destinations)

Sydney to Cairns Adventure (14 Days) (26 destinations) Tour

  • Coastal Walks

Sydney to Cairns Adventure (14 Days) (26 destinations)

Oz East Coast Adventure 28 Days Tour

Oz East Coast Adventure 28 Days

I had an amazing time with Intro Travel in Australia, the 28 days were packed but that ensures you see the most and do the most worthwhile activities around the east coast! All the activities included (as well as optional) were outstanding. Travelling for the first time can be scary, but everything was well taken care of especially due to our amazing tourguide Zack. He was always able to keep the group together, set a good mood, joker around helped out / fixed issues if needed and thus provided everyone with a sense of security. Honorable mention: 10/10 at card tricks and playing ****head, dad jokes and really bad puns

Learn To Dive (5 Days) Tour

Learn To Dive (5 Days)

Absolutely amazing, best instructors!
  • €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Snorkel to Adventure (3 Days) Tour

Snorkel to Adventure (3 Days)

This tour was excellent. The skipper and crew worked seamlessly through some rough weather to ensure we had the best opportunity to view the reef with comfortable, clean, and safe accomodations onboard. Exceeded all of my expectations, particularly the chance to discover dive with Christine and the delicious food prepared by Zoe and Joost, who also kept us entertained with his fantastic music selection between dives. Good vibes from everyone working with us really made the trip special!

Best Beaches, Rainforest and Islands – 13 Day Flashpacker Adventure Tour Tour

  • Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • Kayak & Canoe

Best Beaches, Rainforest and Islands – 13 Day Flashpacker Adventure Tour

My boyfriend and I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns with Via travel two weeks ago and had the trip of a lifetime! The tour had the perfect balance of sight-seeing and relaxing so it really felt like a holiday while also seeing and experiencing some amazing places! It was fun, well-organised and stopped at all of the must-see places on the East Coast! Our tour guide, Jason, was friendly and informative and had an outrageous amount of knowledge on everything East Coast, from local knowledge, information about the wildlife, history and culture to restaurant and bar recommendations! His energy kept us going, even when we were tired, and made sure that everyone had a great time! Although everywhere we visited was amazing, some of the highlights for me were Magnetic Island (our favourite!!), which gave us the chance to see koalas, wallabies and lots of wildlife up close and in their natural habitats, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, where we saw incredible aquatic life and coral (an absolute must do!!) and our Indigenous culture experience with Kuku Yalanji tours where we were completely out of our comfort zone but learned so much and got a real insight into local culture. We absolutely loved the small tour group size too, which allowed us to get to know everyone really well within a couple of days and make friends from all corners of the world! The group dinners and nights out that we had were so much fun! Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply looking to explore the beauty of the East Coast, this tour with Via travel is a must-do experience and one that I will be recommending to all of my friends!!

Contrasts of Australia (9 Days) Tour

  • Coach / Bus

Contrasts of Australia (9 Days)

A wonderful trip with a knowledgeable, personable guide. Enjoyed all the stops and excursions.

Best of the Coast Sydney to Cairns - 16 Day Flashpacker Adventure Tour Tour

Best of the Coast Sydney to Cairns - 16 Day Flashpacker Adventure Tour

Have been on 3 trips with Via Travel now. Can't recommend highly enough. Guides were enthusiastic, knowledgable and went above and beyond to ensure the group enjoyed the trip and always had extras to suggest for those that wanted a little more. Accommodation was always clean and well situated. The itineraries are much better designed than what all the other big companies offer. Much more thought out, always including an indigenous experience or two, some down time (so important and usually overlooked on multiple day tours. It is a holiday after all!) and always covering the highlights. Looking forward to my next trip!

15 Day Dingo Adventure Tour: Brisbane > Cairns Tour

15 Day Dingo Adventure Tour: Brisbane > Cairns

What an enthousiastic and fun guide!! She took us on hikes, and did her very best to give us a wonderful time. Especially the snorkeling on great kepple island i will never forget!

Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days Tour

  • Sightseeing

Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days

19-Days Australia Surf Camp and Ultimate East Coast Adventure Tour

19-Days Australia Surf Camp and Ultimate East Coast Adventure

Highlights of Australia Tour

Highlights of Australia

My travel goal was to get to Uluru and this tour got me there.

Reviews of Great Barrier Reef Tours

The trip was great. However, I didn’t like the hostel in Airlie Beach. It was the worst one in this trip. Overall was great
Cool group, great guide, some long drives. Would need a driver and a guide A flight from Byron Bay to avoid 2 long drives on the bus
Had the best 5 weeks of my life traveling the east coast with ultimate travel, our tour guide Zoe was amazing and always happy to help us with anything and had the most fun I couldn’t recommend enough made so many amazing friends and memories to last a lifetime , Zoe your were amazing x

Great Barrier Reef Tours starting in:

  • Sydney (20)
  • Cairns (19)
  • Brisbane (14)
  • Melbourne (10)
  • Airlie Beach (5)
  • Group (121)
  • Explorer (113)
  • Fully Guided (111)
  • Family (63)
  • Active (36)
  • Personalized (20)
  • Coach / Bus (16)
  • In-depth Cultural (13)
  • Partially Guided (13)
  • Private (11)
  • Sailing (8)
  • Self-Guided (7)
  • Jeep & 4WD (5)
  • Ocean Cruise (5)
  • Small Group (11)
  • 3 Day Tours (4)
  • 7 Day Tours (12)
  • 10 Day Tours (17)
  • 2 Week Tours (17)
  • 3 Week Tours (17)
  • 4 Week Tours (6)
  • Spring 2024 (46)
  • Summer 2024 (54)
  • Fall / Autumn 2024 (63)
  • Winter 2024 / 2025 (55)
  • Spring 2025 (47)
  • Summer 2025 (18)
  • Fall / Autumn 2025 (24)
  • Winter 2025 / 2026 (13)
  • March 2024 (12)
  • April 2024 (35)
  • May 2024 (41)
  • June 2024 (46)
  • July 2024 (45)
  • August 2024 (49)
  • September 2024 (55)
  • October 2024 (56)
  • November 2024 (55)
  • December 2024 (41)
  • January 2025 (39)
  • February 2025 (45)
  • March 2025 (46)
  • April 2025 (25)
  • May 2025 (19)
  • June 2025 (17)
  • July 2025 (15)
  • August 2025 (17)
  • September 2025 (21)
  • October 2025 (21)

Other Regions in Australia

  • Western Australia (373)
  • Australian Outback (346)
  • East Australia (266)
  • Australia West Coast (145)
  • Queensland (139)
  • Tasmania (136)
  • Kimberley (121)
  • Australia Northern Territory (108)
  • South East Queensland (93)
  • Australia East Coast (87)
  • Kakadu National Park (64)
  • South Australia (62)
  • Red Centre (59)
  • Central Australia (58)
  • Uluru / Ayers Rock (48)
  • Victoria (39)

Travel Styles

  • Budget (10)
  • Singles and Solo (56)
  • For Couples (40)
  • Young Adults (12)
  • Seniors (38)

International Versions

  • Deutsch: Great Barrier Reef Rundreisen
  • Français: Circuits en Grande Barrière de corail
  • Español: Circuitos por Gran Barrera de Coral
  • Nederlands: Great Barrier Reef Rondreizen

THE 10 BEST Great Barrier Reef Tours & Excursions

Tours in great barrier reef.

  • Sightseeing Tours
  • Ports of Call Tours
  • Walking Tours
  • Up to 1 hour
  • 1 to 4 hours
  • 4 hours to 1 day
  • 5.0 of 5 bubbles
  • 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Likely to Sell Out
  • Special Offers
  • The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

best great barrier reef tour reddit

1. Silversonic Outer Great Barrier Reef Dive and Snorkel Cruise from Port Douglas

best great barrier reef tour reddit

2. Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout Full-Day Snorkeling Cruise

best great barrier reef tour reddit

3. Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas

best great barrier reef tour reddit

4. 1-Hour Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight

best great barrier reef tour reddit

5. K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

6. Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Premium Day Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

7. Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas

best great barrier reef tour reddit

8. Ocean Rafting Tour to Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout

best great barrier reef tour reddit

9. West Point Sunset Safari

best great barrier reef tour reddit

10. Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Day Tour - 2 Beaches 2 Lookouts 1 Snorkel Location

best great barrier reef tour reddit

11. Ocean Free Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise

best great barrier reef tour reddit

12. The Big Island Day Tour: Full day tour to Whitehaven Beach

best great barrier reef tour reddit

13. ABC Snorkel Charters Port Douglas Snorkelling max 12 passengers

best great barrier reef tour reddit

14. Whitsundays Guided Jet Ski Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

15. Skip the Line Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

best great barrier reef tour reddit

16. Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns

best great barrier reef tour reddit

17. Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

18. Remote Fraser Island Experience

best great barrier reef tour reddit

19. Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Port Douglas

best great barrier reef tour reddit

20. Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island Cruise from Airlie Beach

best great barrier reef tour reddit

21. 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

best great barrier reef tour reddit

22. The Airlie Hopper Sightseeing Bus.

best great barrier reef tour reddit

23. Full-Day Whitsunday Sail and Snorkel Adventure with Lunch

best great barrier reef tour reddit

24. K'gari (Fraser Island) Explorer 2-Day Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

25. Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns

best great barrier reef tour reddit

26. Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge - Full or Half Day Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

27. Half Day Low Isles Snorkelling Tour from Port Douglas

best great barrier reef tour reddit

28. Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld

best great barrier reef tour reddit

29. Dingos 3 Day K'Gari (Fraser Island) ​4WD Tag-Along Tour

best great barrier reef tour reddit

30. Camira Sailing Adventure through Whitsunday Islands

What travellers are saying.

Betty

  • Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout Full-Day Snorkeling Cruise
  • 1-Hour Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight
  • K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour
  • Ocean Rafting Tour to Whitehaven Beach & Hill Inlet Lookout
  • Whitsundays Guided Jet Ski Tour
  • Kuranda Scenic Railway
  • Abc Snorkel Charters
  • Wavelength Reef Charters
  • Aquascene Magnetic Island
  • Blue Dive Port Douglas & Cairns
  • Ocean Rafting
  • Reef Sprinter
  • Keppel Explorer
  • Passions of Paradise Reef Tour
  • Prosail Whitsundays
  • Pilgrim Magnetic Island
  • Daintree Discovery Tours
  • Get Around Island Boat Tours & Hire
  • Cairns Canyoning

Zebedee Springs, The Kimberley, Western Australia © Tourism Australia

Australia Recommends 2024

Sydney, NSW © Tourism Australia

Come and Say G'day

Uluru, NT

G'day, the short film

Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Tourism Australia

Discover your Australia

Kangaroo Island, South Australia © Tourism Australia

Travel videos

Elysian Retreat, Whitsundays, QLD © Tourism Australia

Deals and offers

Jacarandas and Sydney Harbour at sunset, Sydney, NSW © Destination NSW

Australian Capital Territory

Bondi, Sydney, NSW © Georges Antoni and Ken Butti

New South Wales

West MacDonnell Ranges, NT © Tourism Australia

Northern Territory

Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, QLD © Tourism Australia

South Australia

Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, TAS © Pierre Destribats

Western Australia

Aerial shot of Emily Bay on Norfolk Island © Rose Evans (Norfolk Island Tourism)

External Territories

Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW ©  Daniel Tran

The Whitsundays

Kangaroo, Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, WA © Tourism Western Australia

Mornington Peninsula

Paddleboarding, Noosa, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Port Douglas

Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay, NSW © Destination NSW

Ningaloo Reef

Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Coast, QLD © Tourism Whitsundays

Airlie Beach

Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. © South Australian Tourism Commission

Kangaroo Island

The Basin, Rottnest Island, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia

Rottnest Island

Lake McKenzie, K’gari (Fraser Island), QLD © Tourism & Events Queensland

Hamilton Island

Lord Howe Island, NSW © Trevor King, Destination New South Wales

Lord Howe Island

Tiwi Design, Tiwi Islands © Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught

Tiwi Islands

Little penguins, Phillip Island Nature Park, VIC © Phillip Island Nature Park

Phillip Island

Bruny Island Paddle, Southern Sea Ventures, Bruny Island, Tasmania © Southern Sea Ventures

Bruny Island

Cape Naturaliste, near Dunsborough, WA © Tourism Western Australia

Margaret River

St Hugo Wines, Barossa Valley, SA © Tourism Australia

Barossa Valley

Grampians National Park, Victoria © Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria

The Grampians

Audrey Wilkinson, Hunter Valley, NSW © Audrey Wilkinson

Hunter Valley

Dominique Portet Winery, Yarra Valley, VIC © Tourism Australia

Yarra Valley

Sea turtle, Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef, QLD © Tourism & Events Queensland

McLaren Vale

Glass House Mountains, Sunshine Coast, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Glass House Mountains

Bubble Tents, Capertree, Mudgee Region, NSW © Australian Traveller

Alice Springs

Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia © Tourism Australia

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The Kimberley, WA © Tourism Australia

The Kimberley

The Arkaba Walk, Elder Camp, Flinders Ranges National Park, SA © Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission

Flinders Ranges

Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park, NT © Jarrad Seng, all rights reserved

Kakadu National Park

Eyre Peninsula, SA © David Edgar

Eyre Peninsula

Hamersley Gorge , Karijini National Park, WA © Tourism Western Australia

Karijini National Park

Monkey Mia, Shark Bay World Heritage Area, WA © Tourism Western Australia

Great Barrier Reef

Blue Mountains, NSW © Destination NSW

Blue Mountains

Cassowary in Daintree Rainforest, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

Daintree Rainforest

Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, VIC © Greg Snell, Tourism Australia

Great Ocean Road

Spicers Peak, Scenic Rim, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Purnululu National Park

Boat Shed, Lake Dove and Cradle Mountain, Cradle-Mountain Lake St Clare National Park, TAS © Adrian Cook

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park, NT © Tourism NT, Dan Moore

Litchfield National Park

Saffire Signature Experiences, Freycinet Marine Oyster Farm, Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park, TAS © Tourism Tasmania

Aboriginal experiences

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC © Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria

Arts and culture

WOMADelaide 2019, Adelaide, SA Ⓒ Grant Hancock

Festivals and events

Detour Restaurant, Brisbane, QLD © @detourrestaurant and @dine.agency

Food and drink

Raging Thunder, Tully, QLD © Tourism Australia

Adventure and sports

Three Capes Track, Tasman National Park, TAS © Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

Walks and hikes

Great Ocean Road, VIC © Tourism Australia

Road trips and drives

Waterline Charters, Wessel Islands, NT © Aussie Fly Fisher

Beaches and islands

Nature's Window, Kalbarri National Park, WA © Tourism Australia

Nature and national parks

Wombat, Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh, NSW © Destination NSW

Eco-friendly travel

Group of friends participate in a body clay ritual at Peninsula Hot Springs © Peninsula Hot Springs

Health and wellness

The Dune Pavilion Deck with views of Uluru at Longitude 131 in the Northern Territory © Baillies Longitude 131

Family travel

Table Cape Tulip Farm, Wynyard, Tasmania © Tourism Australia

Family destinations

Hellfire Bay, Esperance, Western Australia © Tourism Australia

Family road trips

Merewether Baths, Newcastle, NSW © Destination NSW

Backpacking

Ellery Creek Big Hole, West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Salty Aura

Work and holiday

Sand Dune Adventures at Stockton Beach, Port Stephens, NSW © Tourism Australia

Beginner's guide

Man in a wheelchair looking up at the canopy of the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

Accessible travel

 Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney, NSW © Destination NSW

Planning tips

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Trip planner

Cape Tribulation, Tropical North Queensland, QLD © Tourism Australia

Australian budget guide

 Aerial of car driving through palm trees in Tropical North Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland / Sean Scott.

Itinerary planner

Kangaroo, Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA © Australia’s Golden Outback

Find a travel agent

Beach House on Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, NSW © Tourism Australia

Find accommodation

Indian Pacific, Lake Hart, SA © Andrew Gregory

Find transport

Snowy region, Jindabyne, NSW © DPIE-Murray Van Der Veer

Visitor information centres

Deals and travel packages

Sydney Airport, New South Wales © Sydney Airport

Visa and entry requirements FAQ

Passengers using SmartGate © Australian Border Force

Customs and biosecurity

Uluru, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT © Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino

Working Holiday Maker visas

Bronte Baths, Bronte Beach, Sydney, NSW © Tourism Australia

Facts about Australia

Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, SA © South Australian Tourism Commission

Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie

Great Barrier Reef, QLD © Georges Antoni / Tourism Australia

People and culture

Castle Hill, Townsville, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Health and safety FAQ

Sorrento Pier, VIC © Visit Victoria, Ewen Bell

Cities, states & territories

Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island © Tom Archer

Iconic places and attractions

  Wildflowers, near Hamelin Pool, WA © Tourism Western Australia

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Ringer Reef Winery, Bright, VIC © Visit Victoria

Seasonal travel

Human Progress Pride flag, Sydney, NSW © Daniel Boud

Events and festivals

Silverdale Olive Orchard, Coral Coast, WA © Australia's Coral Coast

School holidays

Sydney New Year's Eve, Sydney Harbour, NSW © Destination NSW

Public holidays

Sydney Harbour, Sydney, NSW © Destination NSW

How to get to Australia's most iconic cities

Gantheaume Point, Broome, WA © Tourism Australia

How long do I need for my trip to Australia?

Self-drive, Marrawah, TAS © Tourism Tasmania

How to travel around Australia

Car driving on road next to the ocean in Lagoons Beach Conservation Area © Pete Harmsen/Tourism Tasmania

Guide to driving in Australia

Maui Motorhome parked on the coastline in Tasmania © Tourism Australia

How to hire a car or campervan

Family strolling alongside Tilligerry Creek © Destination NSW

How to plan a family road trip

 Car drives along the Matilda Way in Outback Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

How to plan an outback road trip

wishlist

Guide to the Great Barrier Reef

  • Share Share on Facebook Share on Messenger Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Copy Link
  • Getting to the Great Barrier Reef
  • Best time to visit

Take a dip in The Great Barrier Reef and see why most of the world has added this Australian destination to their bucket list.

Spanning over 2,300km (1,430mi) down Australia’s eastern coastline, The Great Barrier Reef offers an abundance of coastal experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. Swim amongst the stunning coral formations, giant clams, rare species of whales, and six of the world's seven marine turtle species. Not to mention the over 1,600 species of fish who call this aquatic wonderland home. Whether your style is scuba diving to the depths of the ocean or soaking up the sunshine on the soft sands on an island, see why The Great Barrier Reef is the perfect destination for your next getaway.

Access points to the Great Barrier Reef are scattered between the northernmost town of Cape York and the southernmost coastal town of Bundaberg. 

The five most popular airports leading to the reef are:

  • Cairns Airport (CNS) is located 5.5km (3.5mi) from  Cairns ; international and domestic arrivals.
  • Townsville Airport (TSV) is located 5km (3mi) from  Townsville ; domestic arrivals.
  • Proserpine Airport (PPP) is located 39km (24mi) from Airlie Beach ; domestic arrivals.
  • Bundaberg Regional Airport (BDB) is located 6km (3.7mi) from Bundaberg ; domestic arrivals.
  • Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) lands directly on Hamilton Island in Airlie Beach ; domestic arrivals.

Each airport offers pre-booked transfers, taxis, and car or buggy hire options.

Given the size of the reef, you'll find differences in climate depending on where you go. Generally speaking, however, May to October is a great time to visit the reef as the water is still warm enough for a swim and the underwater visibility is at its best. 

  • High season: Winter (June to August)
  • Low season: Summer (December to February)
  • Don’t miss: Turtle hatching (January - March)

Chris Hemsworth, Global Ambassador © 2017 Getty Images

"The Great Barrier Reef is one of those places you must visit, whether you love the water or just want to see one of the great wonders of the world." Chris Hemsworth, actor and Global Ambassador for Tourism Australia

Snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef, Wilson Island, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

Need Great Barrier Reef holiday inspiration?

Holiday destinations on the great barrier reef.

Riley Resort in Cairns City, Queensland © Tourism Australia

Whitsundays

Lady Elliot Island, Southern Great Barrier Reef, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Southern Great Barrier Reef

Castle Hill, Townsville, QLD © Tourism and Events Queensland

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Great barrier reef trips and itineraries.

Aerial view of beach, Port Douglas, Queensland © Tourism Australia

14-day Tropical North Queensland drive

Airlie Beach, QLD © Tourism Whitsundays

3 days in Airlie Beach

Family walking on the beach at Palm Cove © Tourism and Events Queensland

6-day family adventure around Cairns

Great barrier reef experiences.

Kangaroo, Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA © Australia’s Golden Outback

Planning your trip to Australia?

Discover australia.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays Islands, QLD © Jason Hill, Tourism & Events Queensland

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.  Find out more . By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

Indigenous symbol - Natural Beauty

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

  • International (English)
  • New Zealand (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • India (English)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Singapore (English)
  • Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • France (Français)
  • Italia (Italiano)
  • 中国大陆 (简体中文)

*Product Disclaimer:  Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.

VISITING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF – AUSTRALIA: A COMPLETE GUIDE

VISITING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF – AUSTRALIA: A COMPLETE GUIDE

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef – Australia. A complete guide with everything you need to know about visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

About the Great Barrier Reef

Situated in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef starts at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, stretching more than 2300km along Queensland’s coast right down to Bundaberg in the states south. It’s the worlds largest reef system, boasting around 3000 individual reefs and 900 islands. The Great Barrier Reef is roughly the same size as Italy, so large that it can be seen from outer space! It’s home to a diverse range of wildlife including more than 1500 species of fish, six of the world’s seven species of turtle and thirty species of whale, dolphin and porpoise, just to name a few. In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef

It’s safe to say that the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s great icons. Tourists flock from near and far to witness one of the seven wonders of the natural world . And so they should. A visit to the Great Barrier Reef is an unforgettable experience. As everyone is different, it is worth considering what kind of experience you want to have and then researching an option that will help meet your expectation. We know people who have visited the Great Barrier Reef and walked away disappointed. To be honest, we can understand why this happens. There are places along the reef that are great for fish life, others which are great for colourful corals and then there are sites which are better for spotting larger marine life like turtle and sharks.

Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef isn’t completely full of vibrant colourful corals like you see in travel brochures. Although these picture perfect scenes do exist, you won’t find them everywhere. So before you go ahead and book a trip to the reef, consider how much time you can spend on the reef, ask what you can expect to see and try to work out if this may satisfy your expectations. It may also be worth considering visiting different sections of the Great Barrier Reef, as they are all different!

Popular places to visit the Great Barrier Reef from

There are so many options available when planning a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. Gateways to some of the reefs most popular areas are located in prime tourist locations along Queensland’s coastline, making a reef visit easily accessible. Some of these spots include:

  • Cape Tribulation – Gateway to reef day trips
  • Cairns – Gateway to reef day/multi day boat trips and islands visits
  • Port Douglas – Gateway to reef day/multi day boat trips
  • Townsville – Gateway to reef day/multi day boat trips and island visits
  • Airlie Beach – Gateway to reef day/multi day boat trips, Whitsunday Islands visits & scenic flights
  • Hervey Bay – Gateway to reef day trips and island visits
  • Bundaberg – Gateway to reef day trips and island visits

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach

Best ways of visiting the Great Barrier Reef

There are several ways of visiting the Great Barrier Reef and there is for sure, an option for everyone:

1. Day trip by boat

Jumping on board a day trip is probably the most popular way of visiting the great Barrier Reef. Both dive and snorkel trips depart from destinations such as Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach and Townsville and are a great way to experience the reef. Tour operators frequent many different sites along the reef, with options to snorkel, dive or stay on board. There are multiple operators to choose from and itineraries vary as do prices. We recently booked a day trip from Cairns with Passions of Paradise and had a great day scuba diving out on the reef. A full day trip usually includes lunch, tea/coffee, fins/snorkel, stinger suit (during stinger season Nov-May) and full dive gear hire (if you’ve booked to dive).

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Hamilton Island

2. Overnight sailing trip

If you have a little more time, booking an overnight or multi night sailing trip is an even better way of visiting the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll stop at more sites, have more opportunities to swim, snorkel or dive and more time to soak it all up! The most popular place to book a sailing trip is from Airlie Beach. We indulged in a 2d/2nt sailing trip with Oz Sail back in August 2021. Despite blue skies on our departure morning, the weather gods turned on us, making the snorkelling and sailing conditions pretty average (and cold!) Some of the nicer parts of the reef were around Hook Island. But the tides and conditions often dictate each boats itinerary. Overall, there are some lovely parts of the reef to explore in this area and an overnight sailing trip is a great way of doing that!

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef on a multi day sailing trip

3. Live-aboard boat trip

Attention all Scuba Divers! By far the best way of visiting the Great Barrier Reef as an avid scuba diver is by joining a live-aboard. There are a few operators out of Cairns offering multi day trips, a spectacular way of immersing yourself in this underwater haven. We recently booked a 5 night Coral Sea & Cod Hole expedition with Mike Ball and all we can say is WOW. Exploring both the Osprey and Ribbon Reefs, we were treated to some of the Great Barrier Reefs premier dive sites, which were in pristine condition. The diversity of marine life living in these parts of the reef were incredible. With no other boats around, we had these sites all to ourselves, making our experience even more memorable. These trips aren’t cheap, but the experience was incredible and totally worth the money in our opinion.

Grey Shark on Osprey Reef, on the Great Barrier Reef

4. Visiting one of the Great Barrier Reefs many islands

Another great way of visiting the Great Barrier Reef is by heading out to one of the reefs many islands. It’s possible to do day trips to some of these islands, but for a more relaxed experience, we would recommend staying for a night or two. From some of the islands it’s possible to snorkel, dive, paddle board, swim or take a glass bottom boat tour. You may even be able to book a dive or snorkel trip during the day as well. To make life easy, below is a list of some of the islands resort where you can stay:

Snorkelling on Daydream Island whilst visiting the Great Barrier Reef

Don’t miss our blog post – Things to do on Daydream Island

5. Take a Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight

Most people visiting the Great Barrier Reef do so from the water. But there is one other way to see the reef which will totally blow your mind! Taking a scenic flight and seeing the reef from a birds eye view gives a totally new perspective of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Fly Australia operates amazing 70 minute flights over the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. It’s difficult to describe just how beautiful it is seeing the reef from above, so we highly recommend taking a flight to witness it for yourself. The flight circles around the famous Heart Reef a couple of times, allowing plenty of opportunity to get some snaps. We booked our fights through Book Me and were able to get a heavily reduced rate.

Tip – The optimal time to take a GBR scenic flight is during low tide as the reef is more visible when the water levels are lower.

Ariel view of Heart Reef whilst visiting the Great Barrier Reef

The best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is situated within Queensland’s tropics and visiting is possible year round. The region generally has a wet season – November to March and dry season – April to October. The best time to visit is during the dry season with the best months (weather wise) being June-October. During these months, the temperatures are cooler and there’s less chance of rain. This creates ideal conditions and water visibility for snorkelling and scuba diving. The dry season is also the peak season (school holidays June/July), bringing more tourists to the reef and higher prices. April/May and November can often produce good conditions to visit the reef and are generally less busy.

Rainfall during the wet season can be high with February/March typically being the wettest months. The wet season is also cyclone season! Storms and strong winds occur more frequently which can result in water conditions and visibility being compromised. The temperatures are higher durning theses months and the humidity for some can be unbearable, particularly in the northern areas!

Weather aside, there are optimal times of visiting the Great Barrier Reef for certain Marine life experiences:

best great barrier reef tour reddit

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a must when visiting Australia! There are so many wonderful areas of the reef to explore and a plethora of marine life to see. So whether it be chilling on a sun lounger and sipping a cocktail on a tropical island, snorkelling in the Whitsundays or diving on the Ribbon Reefs, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has something for everyone.

Like this post? Then pin it for later

Planning a trip to Queensland? Check out our blogs to help you plan the perfect trip!

Quick guide to the 1770 Butterfly Walk

Kayaking the Noosa Everglades – Great Sandy National Park

Blackdown Tableland National Park: A complete guide

Magnetic Island’s hikes and walks

Hiking Carnarvon Gorge and Battleship Spur

Walks & wildlife of Carnarvon Gorge

Best things to do on Fraser Island

Things to do on Daydream Island

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 Yes, sign me up to your newsletter!

Instagram @alittleofftrack

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:52 pm (Paris)

  • Environment

Global warming: Australia's Great Barrier Reef is experiencing 'mass bleaching' event

This is the seventh such episode in 26 years, a frequency that's alarming scientists. In all, 98% of its 3,000 reefs have been impacted, home to some 1,500 species of fish.

By  Isabelle Dellerba   (Sydney (Australia) correspondent)

Time to 2 min.

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Messenger
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share by email
  • Share on Linkedin

Subscribers only

A diver observes the coral bleaching at Southern Great Barrier Reef, Keppel Islands, Australia, March 5, 2024.

Unsurprisingly, the Great Barrier Reef is facing the worst-case scenario. Not only has climate change triggered a deleterious cycle, but it is also accelerating. On Friday, March 8, the Australian authorities announced that, for the seventh time in 26 years, a process of "mass bleaching" was affecting the world's largest living structure, located off the northeast coast of the island continent. This marks the fifth occurrence in eight years.

According to aerial surveys conducted over 300 reefs covering two-thirds of the marine park, the damages appear to be significant. "The problem with the current episode is its extent. It seems to be affecting the whole of the Great Barrier Reef, including the southern part, which has been affected less often and where the reefs, in relatively good condition, are home to a high proportion of endemic species," explained Andrew Baird, a marine ecology researcher at James Cook University, who fears that this new bleaching event will prove to be "of unprecedented proportions." Studies are underway to determine its exact extent and depth. Its severity will also depend on the evolution of ocean temperatures over the coming weeks.

Bleaching is a phenomenon of coral decline caused by rising surface water temperatures, resulting in the expulsion of symbiotic algae that give coral its vibrant color. If water stress diminishes quickly, marine organisms can recover. Otherwise, they begin to die off. Some are more resilient than others.

Unprecedented levels of thermal stress

Since the first major episode in 1998, the ecosystem covering about the size of Italy has been affected in 2002 and then, at an accelerated frequency from 2016, with massive bleaching events in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, and now 2024. In total, 98% of its 3,000 individual reefs have been impacted – home to some 1,500 species of fish.

"The higher the frequency of episodes, the less time corals have to recover, and the more fragile they become," explained Baird. "This frequency is likely to become annual in the decades to come. And obviously, the Great Barrier Reef, as we know it, would not survive such pressure," added the scientist. In the Townsville area, where he's based, he has already noticed a change in species composition, with more underwater grasses and fewer massive coral colonies.

In the summer of 2022, scientists were also alarmed to find that the structure was experiencing bleaching for the first time in a La Niña year, a climatic phenomenon usually characterized by abnormally low water temperatures on the southern coasts. On July 4, 2023, when the World Meteorological Organization announced the return of El Niño – synonymous with rising temperatures in the antipodes – they warned that the Great Barrier Reef was heading for a period of very high risk, something which materialized over the summer in unprecedented levels of thermal stress in the Central and Southern regions.

You have 30.73% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.

Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil.

Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois

Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil.

Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil.

Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur, téléphone ou tablette).

Comment ne plus voir ce message ?

En cliquant sur «  Continuer à lire ici  » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte.

Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici ?

Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil. Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte.

Y a-t-il d’autres limites ?

Non. Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez, mais en les utilisant à des moments différents.

Vous ignorez qui est l’autre personne ?

Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe .

Lecture restreinte

Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article

Pour plus d’informations, merci de contacter notre service commercial.

Get unlimited access to Le Monde in English €2.49/month, cancel anytime

IMAGES

  1. Great Barrier Reef Tours

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

  2. Great Barrier Reef Tours

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

  3. 7 Epic Ways to Experience the Best of the Great Barrier Reef

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

  4. A Beginner's Guide To Australia's Best Great Barrier Reef Tours

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

  5. Travel guide to the Great Barrier Reef

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

  6. Editor Picks: The best Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns

    best great barrier reef tour reddit

COMMENTS

  1. Any recommendations for the best ways to experience the great barrier reef?

    Quicksilver are the biggest operator in town and have a platform out on the reef they ferry you to and from. As for wanting to experience Aus, really depends on what you're into and how far you want to go. Here is a super short list and I'll post some more if you share some more of your plans. Qld (gbr aside) Place. Noosa Heads.

  2. Best options for Snorkeling the GBR? : r/Cairns

    Obviously this is no replacement for the reef, but it gives you a better appreciation for just how special the reef is. It's also a great way to learn about the reef with talks, info cards, people who'll answer questions, etc. And while the actual reef doesn't always have great lighting or clear water, the aquarium is perfect. I wouldn't miss it.

  3. THE 10 BEST Great Barrier Reef Tours & Excursions

    3.0 of 5 bubbles. & up. 2.0 of 5 bubbles. & up. Top Great Barrier Reef Tours: See reviews and photos of tours in Great Barrier Reef, Australia on Tripadvisor.

  4. Liveaboard Tours of the Great Barrier Reef: The Best Way to Experience

    Spirit of Freedom. This company gets impressive reviews and is one of the highest-rated liveaboard tours. Spirit of Freedom is for those who want a more luxurious experience, so do expect a higher price. They also offer a tour focused on swimming with whales! They book liveaboard tours for 3, 4, and 7 nights.

  5. How to choose the right Great Barrier Reef tour to suit you

    Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is an experience on most visitors' must-do lists. Snorkelling tours are available on most day-trip boats, and most include equipment and lunch. Just pack a camera, reef-safe sunscreen and towel for an experience of a lifetime. If diving the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket list item you're itching to tick off ...

  6. STATE OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 2024 REPORT : r/climateskeptics

    43K subscribers in the climateskeptics community. Questioning climate related environmentalism.

  7. 5 of the Best Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Tours

    Undoubtedly one of the best snorkelling trips out there, this 7.5 hour tour takes in three different reef sites at the pristine Opal or Agincourt Reefs in one day. Good quality gear is all part of the package, including prescription diving masks, wetsuits and flotation devices if needed, and in-between dives tea, coffee and a buffet is provided.

  8. How to Visit Australia's Great Barrier Reef: The Ultimate Guide

    Day 2 - 4: Two day liveaboard reef tour. Starting early you'll meet your boat on the wharf and head out a couple of hours to a nice spot on the reef. You'll eat and sleep on the boat for two nights, and snorkel/dive depending on your experience and preference several times a day. Day 4-5: Daintree Rainforest.

  9. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef: 11 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to

    Learn about the best places to visit in this tropical paradise with our list of the top things to do at the Great Barrier Reef. 1. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Moorish idol fish in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 to protect the reef's fragile ecosystems.

  10. best company?

    Snorkelling for a non-swimmer - best company? - Great Barrier Reef Forum. South Pacific ; Australia ; Queensland ; Great Barrier Reef ; Great Barrier Reef Travel Forum; ... Best place to stay and best time to go. Jan 17, 2024; Best tours on the GBR considerin 3 full days Cairns/P.D Jan 06, 2024; Best GBR tours for snorkelling ex cairns Jan 03 ...

  11. 10 ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef

    Where: tour departs from Cairns Great Barrier Reef Submarines lets visitors explore the beauty of the reef in a three-person mini-submarine, just 45 minutes on a fast catamaran from Cairns.Taking a mini-sub ride is less hassle than suiting up for a snorkel or dive. Two guests just jump in the mini-sub with the guide and then launch straight from the beach.

  12. The Best Great Barrier Reef Tours

    The tour: Quicksilver Cruises Outer Reef Cruise Best for: Families, snorkellers and non-swimmers Region: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef A diverse itinerary is the way to please the whole family, and Quicksilver Cruises' range of activities for scuba divers, snorkellers and non-swimmers will ensure everyone has no trouble filling up their day on the floating pontoon at Agincourt Reef.

  13. State Of The Great Barrier Reef 2024

    State Of The Great Barrier Reef 2024 | The Australian Environment foundation (AEF), which is a farmer friendly conservation group, has issued a new report entitled "State of the Great Barrier Reef 2024." | the report shows that the reef is in excellent condition with record amounts of coral.

  14. Complete Guide to the Great Barrier Reef

    Complete Guide to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral system, stretching for 1500 miles along Australia's northeast coast. It's a bucket list destination for snorkeling and scuba diving, dotted with more than 900 white-sand islands where you'll find the country's best beach resorts.

  15. 10 Best Great Barrier Reef Tours & Trips 2024/2025

    Browse 135 tours from the best tour operators in Great Barrier Reef with 273 reviews visiting places like Cairns and Great Barrier Reef. Compare & book now! Deals of the Week St. Patrick's Day Up to 50% OFF. Deals end: 18 Mar, 2024. 0. Destinations. Destinations. Adventure Styles ...

  16. THE 10 BEST Great Barrier Reef Tours & Excursions

    Tours in Great Barrier Reef. Mar 15, 2024 - Find & Book the top-rated and best-reviewed tours in Great Barrier Reef for 2024. From prices and availability to reviews and photos, Tripadvisor has everything you need to create that perfect itinerary for your trip to Great Barrier Reef.

  17. How To Visit The Great Barrier Reef & Best Places To See It From

    By far our personal favourite Great Barrier Reef tour has been an outer reef boat tour from Cairns to Moore Reef. These tours incorporate all the best activities and a variety of ways to experience the reef, along with lunch and onboard facilities. There is also the option to add on optional extras such as scuba dive.

  18. Travel guide to the Great Barrier Reef

    Spanning over 2,300km (1,430mi) down Australia's eastern coastline, The Great Barrier Reef offers an abundance of coastal experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. Swim amongst the stunning coral formations, giant clams, rare species of whales, and six of the world's seven marine turtle species. Not to mention the over 1,600 species of ...

  19. The Best Liveaboards in the Great Barrier Reef

    The Great Barrier Reef in Australia boasts one of the richest marine environments in the world, with more than 1500 species of fish and 360 species of hard coral.In the outer reefs, you may encounter six different species of sea turtles and several shark species, such as grey reef sharks, whale sharks, silky sharks, and even hammerheads or tiger sharks.

  20. VISITING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

    About the Great Barrier Reef. Situated in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef starts at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, stretching more than 2300km along Queensland's coast right down to Bundaberg in the states south. It's the worlds largest reef system, boasting around 3000 individual reefs and 900 islands.

  21. Great Vid on Great Barrier Reef Fish

    65K subscribers in the Fish community. This subreddit is dedicated to the 33,600 species of fish from all across our planet and primarily focuses on…

  22. 'An Underwater Bushfire': Major Coral Bleaching Event in ...

    Colombia's first-ever left-wing President Gustavo Petro warned that the West's exploitative economic model is bringing back fascism, and neocolonial elites treat the peoples of the Global South as "disposable, like the children of Gaza".

  23. English longbow finish ? : r/Archery

    Varnish is a top barrier layer, oil and water will not penetrate. If you remove the varnish you will need to continually oil it periodically, keep it out of moist environments, and watch it during humidity changes so it doesn't change shape.

  24. Global warming: Australia's Great Barrier Reef is experiencing 'mass

    A diver observes the coral bleaching at Southern Great Barrier Reef, Keppel Islands, Australia, March 5, 2024. AIMS/RENATA FERRARI / VIA REUTERS Unsurprisingly, the Great Barrier Reef is facing ...