This World Heritage Site can be seen from outer space and is the largest structure of living organisms in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. It is named the state icon of Queensland and no trip to Australia is complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has a reputation for being the most pristine reef in the world, so if you’d like to see vast marine biodiversity in an unspoiled environment, the Great Barrier Reef is the place to go.

The tropical city of Cairns, sitting on the coast of Far North Queensland, is the closest mainland jumping-off point to the Great Barrier Reef, and tours from Cairns to the reef are famous, offering a perfect choice for those who wish to visit the reefs on their visit to Australia. Cairns offers a large variety of reef tours, and cruises as well as luxurious outings to the reef that cater to you whether you are a snorkeler, scuba diver, experienced, or visiting for the first time.

Sunlover Reef Cruises

Sunlover has been offering cruises to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns since 1991. They currently have a full-day outer reef tour out at Moore Reef. This tour is designed for people of all ages, especially families with children, Moore Reef is about 40 km outwards of Cairns and is known for its abundant marine biodiversity and is fringed with beautiful corals. Upon reaching there, a multi-level pontoon is set up for you to enjoy hours of fun. Sunlover provides services of marine biologists, dive instructors, qualified lifeguards, and cruise attendants thus assuring a wholesome experience for you.

The Marine Base at Moore Reef has been designed to provide a wide array of activities for everyone to enjoy. A waterslide that launches you directly into the turquoise reef waters is a must for everyone, while the sun deck provides a place to relax with stunning views of the reef. Sunlover Sunslide is the only water theme park on the reef and a great choice for children to enjoy their time on the reef. The reef tour gives 4 hours of enjoyment at Moore Reef, where you will be able to take part in snorkeling, glass-bottomed boat tours, semi-submersible tours, fish feedings, an enclosed pool safe for the kids, and even an underwater observatory. In case you’d like more adventure, a guided snorkel tour, Seawater helmet dive, scuba dives or a scenic helicopter flight can be added to your existing itinerary.

A hold and cold buffet lunch is included in this tour, so you can enjoy the freshest local seafood as well as a tropical buffet lunch including fresh seafood, hot dishes, salads, and tropical fruits, while you experience the charm of the reef.

Included features of the Great barrier reef tour

Snorkelling & equipment, lycra suit, semi-submersible & glass bottom boat tours, underwater observatory, touch tank & fish feeding presentations, waterslide, enclosed ocean pool, gourmet tropical inspired lunch

Boarding point: This tour depart from Cairns Marina

Timings: Daily

8.00 am Check in opens - 9.00 am Check in closes
9.30 am Depart Cairns Marina
11.30 am-3.30pm Moore Reef pontoon
5.30 pm Arrive Cairns Marina

Time spent on pontoon: 4 hours

Price: Adult: Rs.13,680/-, Child: Rs.8,186/-, Family (2 Adults & 2 Children): Rs.35,162/-

Reef Magic Cruises

This is a day trip cruise from Cairns to Reef Magic activity pontoon on the Outer Barrier Reef where you spend 5 hours. Onboard a fast catamaran, you can enjoy private access to a spectacularly breathtaking reef location with Reef Magic Cruises.

The destinations chosen by Reef Magic Cruises are known for their pristine majesty, high quality coral gardens, crystal clear waters and offer unsurpassable views of this underwater world, as well as the most diverse marine life you will find on the Reef.

As part of Reef Magic Cruises, you will be able to enjoy a guided snorkel safari tour with a marine biologist, scuba diving or sea trek helmet diving as well as glass bottom boat rides, an underwater observatory and semi-submersible reef viewers. So you can enjoy the Reef however you like.

Reef Magic Cruises are perfect for those who wish to relax and experience the reef’s beauty.

Boarding Point: Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns Marina

Timings and itinerary:

8.15-8.45 am - Boarding, 9 am - departure, 9.15 am - morning or afternoon tea with glass bottom or semi-submersible boat tours, 10.30 am - Reach Reef Magic pontoon, 12 pm - tropical lunch, 3.30 pm - depart from island, 5 pm - arrive at Cairns.

Time spent on pontoon: 5 hours

Prices: Adult: From Rs.15,328/-, Child (4-14 years): From Rs.7,636/-, Family (2 Adults and 2 Children): Rs.38,294/-

Pro Dive Cairns

For obvious reasons, scuba diving is a favorite activity for visitors to the Reef. Whether you’re new to diving or have years of experience, Pro Dive Cairns gives you the chance to have a personalized experience with highly qualified dive instructors and access to 19 exclusive Outer Reef dive sites including 4 magnificent reefs: Flynn, Thetford, Milln, and Pellowe Reefs.

Tours from Pro Dive Cairns are available for various periods, from comprehensive day trips to 5-day Learn to Dive Open Water Certification courses. Pro Dive Cairns offers you a safe and unique way to see this spectacular sight.

Also, they offer live-aboard dive trips and snorkel/diving day trips. The liveaboard dive trip is a 3-day, 2-night stay at one of three Scubapro dive boats that have twin or double air-conditioned cabins, catered meals, and WiFi with dedicated staff. This adventure offers up to 11 dives including 2-night dives and snorkeling opportunities.

Before the trip: Visit Pro Dive’s retail shop at the corner of Grafton and Shields streets (the shop is open from 12 pm to 6 pm

Boarding point with accommodation transfers: Cairns City or Northern Beaches

Timings: All days except Monday and Tuesday, departure: 6 am

Price: Rs. 52,000/- per person (extra purchases on board to be paid at the completion of the trip)

Fitzroy Island

Located only 45 minutes via a fast-cat ferry from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a favourite tourist destination for a variety of reasons, one of which being that it is surrounded by the gorgeous coral gardens and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.

Sunlover provides multiple ferry transfers between Cairns and Fitzroy Island aboard the air-conditioned catamaran Sundancer.
Fitzroy Island is a fantastic destination that is great for either a day trip or for a longer stay. A National Park covers 97% of the island, and along with Australia’s Best Beach, Nudey beach (crowned in 2018), and access to the fabulous Reef, offers visitors a huge variety of activities.
You can enjoy nature walks, the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, the resort’s amazing facilities, and of course, many different water-based activities. Food options include Foxy’s Bar that is open daily for lunch or drinks.

Enjoy the reef via sea kayaking tours, stand up paddle boarding, scuba diving, snorkelling and glass bottomed boat tours. While you can go for a day trip, we recommend that you stay awhile as Fitzroy Island is a very budget friendly destination, with a huge variety of accommodation available, from camping to bungalows to penthouse suites.
Sunlover provides a combined 2 day tour of the reefs with Fitzroy Island and a look at the outer reefs on the Moore Reef Pontoon.

Fitzroy Island tours by Sunlover

Tour options: full day, starting morning or afternoon

Timings:

Full day and morning tour: Departure time: 8.45 am, Arrive at island: 9.30 am

Afternoon: Departure time: 11.45 am, Arrive at island: 12.30 pm

Full day and afternoon: Start back at 4 pm, arrive at Cairns at 4.45 pm

Morning: Start back at 1 pm, arrive at Cairns at 1.45 pm

Price for ferry: Adult: Rs.4,800/-, Child: Rs.2,600/-, Family (2 ad and 2 ch): Rs.12,500/-

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