Great Barrier Reef Tours - Cairns

Everybody is different, and we all like different sorts of experiences. Thankfully, there are MANY Cairns and Port Douglas reef trips to choose from, and usually the greatest problem is choosing which boat tour to go on and visit the Great Barrier Reef in the way that suits you and your partner or family.

We have broken down all the Great Barrier Reef trips into an easy to read format, just click on the category you think might apply to you - to help choose the best Great Barrier Reef tour to suit you.

• Great Barrier Reef Trips for Non-Swimmers
• Great Barrier Reef Trips for Families with Children
• Day Trips with Introductory Diving (medical required)
• Liveaboard Dive Trips from Cairns 
• Attain a Scuba Dive Certificate
• Relaxing on a Cairns Tropical Island, Half Day / Full Day or Low Isles
• Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Tours
• Luxury Private Charter Boats 
• Scenic Helicopter Flights over the Great Barrier Reef Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tours
• Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tours
• Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef Accommodation Packages including Reef Trips

You have many options for a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. You can choose from:

• Half-day snorkel and scuba diving tours
• Full-day snorkelling and scuba diving tours
• Overnight scuba diving and snorkelling tours
• Multiple-night scuba dive and snorkel trips
• Luxury yacht charters

Deciding what Great Barrier Reef tour option to take depends on how keen you are to scuba dive the reef and also how much time you have to spend in Cairns or Port Douglas Queensland Australia.

If you are travelling from overseas to visit the Great Barrier Reef just make sure you allocate enough days to visit Cairns and all the other attractions in the region as there is so much to see and do. If the weather is not a good day for a reef trip then a day tour exploring the Atherton Tablelands could be the perfect alternative.

Great Barrier Reef Half Day And Full Day Tours

The half-day reef trip gives you the luxury of slotting a visit to another Cairns or Port Douglas sightseeing tour or attraction into your day for either the morning or afternoon.

The reef boat journey can take from 45 minutes to 90 minutes dependant on your island destination and that will give you around two hours of snorkelling and scuba diving adventure.

Day trips usually leave Cairns or Port Douglas at about 8am and return to Cairns at 5:30pm. This allows you more time to experience the reef without needing to check your watch and you will be back in your Cairns holiday accommodation in time for sundowner drinks.

All Great Barrier Reef trips from Cairns and Port Douglas include morning tea, buffet lunch and afternoon tea to suit all palletes. Some even offer tea and coffee and danish pastries and muffins when you first board the boat in the morning.

Take a look at one of the most popular half day reef trips from Port Douglas to Low Isles.

Children on the Great Barrier Reef

Children are fully catered for on most reef trips and some more than others. Snorkelling gear, down to the smallest sizes, is available for kids. Also, small floatation vests and pool noodles are on board for children to hold onto while swimming. Some of the larger boat pontoons also have safe swimming enclosures for the little ones to paddle around in safely whilst the parents take it in turns to snorkel and dive. The children's swimming enclosures are on pontoons located on the outer Barrier Reef from Cairns.

Some of these bigger pontoons have a kids club program during the school holidays so that the parents can go off together and enjoy a snorkel or dive. Here is some advice for families taking kids to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia from Cairns and the Whitsundays.

Take a look at the most popular family friendly tours from Airlie Beach and Cairns. 

Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef

Most people who scuba dive on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have never experienced anything like it before. If you are not a certified diver, introductory dives are available on most of the tour boats. You will need to complete a health questionnaire and participate in a short scuba diving theory lesson for an hour or so prior to taking your first leap into the amazing underwater world of the Cairns Great Barrier Reef.

Scuba Diving Areas Of The Great Barrier Reef

Places like Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Michaelmas Cay, Frankland Island, Moore Reef and Arlington Reef are in close proximity to Cairns and Port Douglas and are ideal for day trips. These locations have exotic reef life and extensive marine animal activity. They are great if you are visiting the reef for the first time. Green Island and Fitzroy Island have resorts and dining facilities, bathrooms, and Resort Accommodation.

For the purposes of visiting areas of the Great Barrier Reef, it is best to divide the reef into sections. The Inner Reef is most easily accessed on day trips and these reefs are close in proximity to the shore. Outer Reefs take longer to reach, as outlined below and are classed as the more pristine and colourful reefs.

The Ultimate Dive Trips in the World - Scuba Diving The Coral Sea And The Cod Hole

The Far Northern Reefs and Coral Sea reefs are reserved for overnight liveaboard scuba diving trips or longer expedition type dive adventures where remote and unusual coral reef formations are located. These Coral Sea and Cod Hole overnight scuba diving livaboard boats are really designed to cater for the more experienced adventurous scuba diver as you dive in locations that you may experience some tidal drag and as you are not familiar with the surroundings you may lose your way if you are not so good on using your underwater diving equipment just yet.

However once you do become a certified scuba diver the Coral Sea and the world famous Cod Hole are places that you definitely need to tick off on your dive adventure list as the Cod Hole in the coral sea is classed as one of the most magical scuba diving locations in the world. Here you will meet with some amazing fish called Potatoe Cod. These Potato Cod are monsterous in size but super friendly and always on the lookout for a pat and a nibble of any food offerings, and it is the place for the world famous shark feeding frenzy dive!

The reef systems in the northern Coral Sea are world class and are visited regularly by researchers from the world over. The northern Coral Sea reef sytems are also the birthing nurseries for migrating Humpback Whales and the Dwarfe Minke Whales and it the only place in the world where you can swim with the inquisitive Dwarf Minke whales during the months of June & July from Cairns.

Scuba Dive With Sharks Amazing Liveaboard Coral Sea Scuba Diving Trips

Now this is serious scuba diving stuff amazing marine life encounters! 1000 metre vertical walls on the continental shelf with 40 metre (120+ft) visibility are common. This is where the Great Barrier Reef meets the depths of the Pacific Ocean and you meet sharks, so Grey Whalers, White Tips, Silver Tip Whalers, and circling scalloped hammerhead sharks patrol for food. Schools of Barracuda and large Dogtooth Tuna are always nearby.

This is where you can also go scuba diving with hundreds of hungry sharks and watch them from the oceans floor as they fight for their share of the food in the buckets above.

Scuba Diving with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef is not for the faint hearted but it is probably one of the biggest buzzes you will ever have in your scuba diving adventures. Scuba Diving in the Coral Sea is deep and can quite often have roaring currents. Trips are usually 3 to 5 days in length and include the world famous Ribbon reefs as well.

Read about our Dive with Sharks liveaboard reef trips here 1.) Coral Sea 7 Nights - 26 Dives 2.) Fly Dive Cod Hole 3 Nights - 12 Dives 3.) Fly Dive Coral Sea 4 Nights - 14 Dives  

Other Ways To See The Great Barrier Reef

If you don't feel like you want to scuba dive and strap a tank of air to your back and turn into a human fish, a snorkel and mask can give you just as good a view of the coral reef systems and the fish that call it home. From the waters surface you can still view incredible coral reef structures and marine animals. Some of the most spectacular animals and corals are found in the first metre of water. It's also much cheaper to snorkel as your snorkel equipment is included in the reef tours ticket price along with all of your meals!

If you don't want to get wet but still want to see the coral reef and it's marine life then you have the option of viewing the reef from the comfort of glass-bottom boats, helicopter or fixed wing scenic flights, semi-submersible submarines and underwater observatories from the pontoons on the outer barrier reef. These facilities provide a wonderful clear view of the reef while keeping you dry.

Safety on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Snorkelling and scuba diving on the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef is a very safe activity for all the family. The tropical waters are warm, calm and shallow and lack surf like other locations in Australia due to the barrier that the coral reefs provide. Only certified tour operators and trained guides who are proficient in first aid and safety regulations specified by the Queensland Government can take you on a reef trip. However, there are a few guidelines, tips and hints you should follow to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable snorkelling trip, whether it is just for a day or for an overnight trip.

Always wear sunscreen with a high SPF rating. Believe it or not, the sun is the most dangerous part of a reef trip on the Coral Sea. You're bound to see other fried visitors glowing red after a day on the reef, and you don't want that to happen to you and spoil the reest of your holiday. This is very important because intense tropical sunrays will target you from the sky and also from their reflection off the clear blue water. Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you are in the water.

• Avoid sitting out in the sun during the middle of the day.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Do not swim or snorkel straight after you have eaten or if you have consumed alcohol.
• Follow all instructions from the boats crew aboard the reef boat.
• Swim in the designated areas only. Usually this is marked by buoys and rope, but use common sense and stay close to other people.
• If you are in trouble then raise one arm, and wait for assistance.

Also if you do get sea water in your mouth and you cannot blow it out the top of your snorkel gear then make sure you lift your head out of the water and empty your snorkel and start again. The reef boat crew are always on hand to assist first time snorkellers so do not be afraid to ask for help when needed.

Warning: Don't touch the coral reefs as they are protected and you may face a huge fine or even a jail term if found deliberately destroying or stealing pieces of coral from Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

If an emergency does occur, you are in good hands. Queensland's air-sea rescue services are among the most extensive and advanced in the world. Diver recovery systems, decompression chambers and dive medicine expertise can be accessed in any emergency from most points of the reef.

Read about Irikanji and Jelly fish and Marine Stinger Safety.

What to wear when visiting the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef

Not much.

For a day trip, your clothing can include shorts, T-shirt, swimsuit and hat. Essentials are sunscreen and sunglasses. If you are visiting an island or sand coral cay, bring some sandals or reef shoes.

For overnight livaboard reef trips, you'll also need to bring a warm shirt for the evening. Other than that, don't worry! You're in tropical paradise! Of course, you can't forget your camera so you can capture your magical moments at Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Try a reloadable underwater camera while your snorkeling or scuba diving and get some close ups of the fish!

Once you have seen Australia's Great Barrier Reef you can tick that off your bucket list and then start planning for you next amazing journey to another one of the world's famous icons.  Ensure to ask us about creating a Great Barrier Reef package to suit you on your Cairns holiday.

The Great Barrier Reef is also important for cultural reasons. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups of the coastal areas of northeast Australia maintain a strong spiritual connection with the ecosystem. Some examples can be found on Lizard Island and Hinchinbrook Island where there are spectacular galleries of indigenous rock art paintings in caves and cantilevered rock walls.

There are also about 30 shipwrecks of historic importance on the Great Barrier Reef. The hazards of navigation on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, which were experienced by the very first explorers in the region, resulted in the construction of many lighthouses along the east coast of Australia and on outlying tropical islands and waterway entrances. Some of these lighthouses have particular historical importance such as the lighthouse at Lady Elliott Island, built in 1866 and still operating today. This light house was the first of many lighthouses to be built using a timber structure which was then clad with cast iron to protect it from the tropical weather.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been described as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and there is little wonder why.

As a World Heritage Listed area, the 2600km plus stretch of coral reef is home to more species of plants and animals than any other area of this size in the world. The combination of glorious tropical weather, unspoilt Daintree Cape Tribulation rainforest, long white beaches, and warm blue water sets a scene for a tropical holiday in paradise. (Be aware though, during the green season from December to March, you may encounter tropical downpours at night with the bonus of waking up to beautiful sunny days just perfect for the reef with no trade winds around normally at this time of year unless you encounter a tropical low!) Australia's Great Barrier Reef is also reputed to have the cleanest and clearest body of water in the world.

The Great Barrier Reef is literally brimming with wildlife:

• Dugongs, Turtles, Dolphins, Humpback and Dwarfe Minke Whales
• More than 1500 species of tropical fish
• 4000 types of mollusc
• More than 200 species of bird life, and a lot that migrate annually from around the world.

You're likely to see marine creatures like:

• Moray eels
• Coral Trout
• Anemones
• Shrimp
• Star fish
• Sea cucumbers
• Sea whips
• Giant clams
• Potato Cod Fish (grouper)
• White tipped and Black tipped reef sharks (harmless to humans)
• Barracuda
• Lion fish
• Puffer fish
• Turtles
• Dugong
• Humpback and Dwarfe Minke Whales
• Dolphins

The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland Australia consists of more than 3000 reefs with 400 types of coral. Among the coral are 618 pristine tropical islands and 300 coral cays that look just the same in real life as they do in the holiday brochures at a tour desk or travel agency. The coral sand cays can be completely un-vegetated and disappear underwater at high tides. Others can be slightly vegetated and support a huge array of bird life, while some have trees and animals.

Green Island, only 45 minutes from Cairns aboard a fast ferry, and is a prime example of a wooded island cay. This Cairns island was naturally built up with coral over thousands of years. Birds from the mainland transported seeds to the cay, which eventually culminated in a beautiful tropical island that now supports a holiday resort and guest facilities and a marine park that has monsterous salt water crocodiles and rescued green sea turtles on display for tourists to enjoy whilst enjoying a day on Green Island snorkelling and scuba diving.

When you snorkel or scuba dive up close to the myriad of corals on the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef, you'll notice the intricate design and tiny features which make them so remarkable. Tiny coral polyps - jelly blobs covered with tentacles - are minuscule creatures that combine together to form colonies. Each polyp lives inside a shell of aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate which forms the hard shell of the coral. The polyps connect together to form elaborate forests of brilliantly coloured coral in all the shapes you can imagine. Some look like brains thus their name brain coral, some like deer antlers, some like dinner plates, and some reef coral looks like noodles.

Minute algae create the colour of the coral. Some corals are slow growing and can take hundreds of years to develop as big as a basketball. Others are faster growing.

The corals variation in shapes and colours between the hard and soft corals makes an amazing spectacle. One visitor said:-

"I'm convinced that Walt Disney designed the reef - it's almost too perfect. There were so many things to see that I got sensory overload on every scuba dive."

Cairns Inner Coral Reefs

These coral reefs are accessible by day boats and offer safe scuba diving in shallow waters. Due to the regular flow of water due to strong tides between the mainland and reef, whip and fan formations are common. Small colourful fish are also plentiful in these shallow waters.

Between coral bommies, stingrays are abundant and even the odd Dugong has been spotted feeding on the sea grasses. Birds are plentiful because of the islands and sand cays around that they can use a s resting place or nesting place. These sites are recommended for easy going first time casual introductory divers.

Cairns Outer Coral Reefs

Coral reefs on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef offer bigger variation in species, plus underwater canyons and gorges cutting mazes through the coral. The water in this area can also be clearer than shallow water on the inner reefs.

These outer Barrier Reef sites are recommended for all scuba divers. Experienced scuba divers will appreciate the wide range of corals and marine life, while inexperienced divers will be treated to a truly remarkable dive trip that will set a foundation for future exotic dives and encourage them to attain their certified diving certificate.

Cairns Far Northern Coral Reefs

The Far Northern Reefs include the Ribbon Reef system. This is a series of coral reefs stretching out like a multi-coloured ribbon to the north where the famous Cod Hole is located. Here, a family of friendly Potato Cod live with huge schools of fish and Hump Headed Maori Wrasse. Scuba divers swim among these enormous fish and 2m wide giant clams surrounded by hard and soft corals.

Manta Rays, the huge elegant rays, glide past making a shadow on the reef.

During night scuba dives, sleeping green turtles and a variety of sleeping reef fish can be seen.

An overnight or liveaboard trip to these reefs can be from overnight to around 4 to 5 days in length or even longer if you are really a keen scuba diver.  Ensure to ask about our reef packages!

Cairns Tours and Attractions For Disabled Visitors

Cairns tour operators are very well equipped  to cater for guests that may have any mobility and or handicapped issues and we have a dedicated page for you to read and take a look at all the wonderful tours and attractions you can participate in to ensure your holiday in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland is one for you to remember forever. Follow this link Here for Tours and Attractions

Cairns Accommodation for Disabled Visitors

Cairns Holiday Specialists have a complete list of all of the available hotels and resorts in the greater Cairns region that can cater for wheelchair bound guests or those that may have mobility issues of varying degrees.

Please have a look at the Cairns Accommodation Guide and click the box to search for disabled accommodation

Cairns Tropical North Queensland has glorious warm weather and sunshine most of the year. However, sometimes it is more humid than you may be used to and in the green season from December to March you may just get a welcoming soaking now and again with tropical downpours.

The most popular time of year to visit Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is from May to December and this is classed as the peak season so obviously hotel costs and airline costs are more expensive than other times of the year. At this time of year the temperature is a just perfect for everyone and there is less chance of rain than other times of the year.

Needless to say, Cairns and Port Douglas is the tropical destination you were yearning for so the suns rays are strong and the air is warm. Make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen at all times while outdoors in the sunshine.