Best tours on the Great Barrier Reef

Ready, set, reef time? There’s really nothing more exciting! But when it comes to planning, the excitement can fizzle.

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for almost 2,500 kilometres and is made up of some 900 islands. To say there’s a lot to choose from would be an understatement. Whether you want to save on lunch and pack your own, find options for non-swimmers or sign up for something high-end that includes a scenic flight. This article will give you the ultimate run down on booking the best tours the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

The Tropical North Queensland town of Port Douglas is a holiday destination like no other. From this postcard-looking place, you can easily access the Great Barrier Reef, including pontoons, islands and outer fringes where things get vibrant. Here are our favourite reef tours leaving from Port Douglas…

Want a six-hour tour that’s hassle-free and leisurely? This one ticks the boxes. Cruise on an air-conditioned catamaran and stay put on the Quicksilver Port Douglas Pontoon, leaving you plenty of time to make the most of it. Including lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea, all you need to do is show up and have fun. From the semi-submersible tour to the underwater observatory and snorkelling, there are so many ways to admire the coral playground at the pontoon. Got questions? Your professional marine biologists should have the answers! Littlies under four travel free.

For something a little more fast-paced that lets you see more than one spot, you need this three-reef combo. With a great list of inclusions, including 5 hours of reef time across three reefs, accommodation transfers, snorkelling and diving equipment, plus morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, this tour is an easy day on the reef. Still want more? It’s topped with an informative talk by a marine biologist, a coral-viewing semi-submersible vessel and an underwater observatory. Let’s go!

Premium reef experience calling your name? This is it. Onboard the elegant Sailaway VII yacht you’ll cruise to Mackay and Undine Coral Cays, enjoying two reefs and a total of 4.5 hours of reef time. Choose to swim and snorkel with a marine biologist who can take you straight to the best coral gardens and point out all the cute creatures of the sea. Not keen on getting wet or have kids who don’t swim? The glass bottom boat ride will give you the full reef experience without the fuss. This one includes morning tea, afternoon tea and an impressive buffet lunch, along with coach transfers from selected Port Douglas accommodation spots. Yep, little ones under four are free on this trip, too!

A place that seems completely dedicated to fun, it’s no surprise that Cairns has great reef cruises on offer. From a 30-metre ocean slide to a Dreamtime cruise with traditional dance and didgeridoo performances. You can’t go wrong with Cairns as your launchpad to the Great Barrier Reef.

At a cute 0.15 km2 in size, visiting Green Island feels a bit like being in a movie (the kind where someone washes up on a tiny slice of paradise and lives happily ever after in a grass skirt eating fish straight from the sea). It’s so nice, you’ll probably want to spend a whole day here. Which is exactly what you get to do with this tour. For 7 hours, you can roam the island, make use of the available snorkelling equipment, take a glass-bottom boat adventure or sign up for an optional extra like scuba diving. Thankfully, you won’t actually need to catch your own lunch. There are a couple of places to eat on the island hidden between the trees. Kids 0-3 travel free.

Get your clan ready for a great day on the Great Adventures Pontoon. Found on the outer fringes of the reef, this is a spot where the sea is clear, the coral is vibrant and the marine life is totally dynamic. Small people 0 to 3 travel free and you’ll get 3 hours to enjoy the reef, along with free snorkel gear to use, a semi-submersible vehicle to cruise around in and an underwater observatory to enjoy. Did we mention the free buffet lunch and snacks? Winning!

Want to see everything without blowing the bank? This one-day tour is top value, giving two hours on Green Island and three hours on the Outer Reef Platform rolled into one great ticket. Within the price, you’ll get access to a great range of equipment to make the most of the reef, along with a hot and cold buffet lunch to keep you fuelled. Additional activities can be tacked on, like the Scuba Doo underwater scooter, guided snorkel tours and scuba diving. You guessed it, ankle biters under four can climb aboard for free.

With a 30-metre slide on this pontoon spiralling from the sun deck straight into the ocean, this is surely the ultimate kid’s day on the reef. Included in this tour is a picnic-style buffet lunch, a glass-bottom boat ride and all your snorkelling equipment. Once on the pontoon, you’ll have four hours to play around and make the most of your time in paradise. Worried little kids under four won’t make the most of the slide? No worries at all. You won’t be paying a cent for them to do this tour.

The boulder-covered beaches of Fitzroy Island are a treat for tired eyes. This tour offers a bit of everything for groups with varied needs. Maybe Grandma’s coming along and won’t like 7-hours on a pontoon. But the teen kids still want a whole lot of snorkelling and a glass-bottom boat ride. Activities and options are plenty when you pull up on Fitzroy. Just don’t miss Nudey Beach, which looks just like a postcard but isn’t a nudist beach! 0-3? Yep, they travel free!

Excited by the idea of Green Island but need something wallet-friendly? This is your answer, as you can choose from either snorkelling or the glass bottom boat instead of having both included. Under four is free and you’ll be cruising from Cairns in a luxury catamaran. Get that emoji with the sunglasses ready!

Any reef trip will be something you remember forever, but this one is extra spesh. Hosted by Indigenous Sea Rangers, this is the only reef tour that includes a cultural experience with Dreamtime stories, traditional dance and didgeridoo performances. Meaning you’ll be honouring this region and its ancestors while enjoying the reef. This cruise comes complete with five hours on the Outer Reef, all your snorkelling equipment and complimentary morning tea, afternoon tea and a buffet lunch. You’re onto a winner.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, this is the reef experience you need. Go all out and take a cruise and scenic flight bundled into one easy package. This trip will see you enjoying five hours on the reef with a 10-minute scenic flight, barbecue lunch and all snorkelling equipment included—not to mention a glass of wine and cheese platter. Take it up a notch with other add-on activities like a scuba dive. Luxury, incoming!