- Eco Conscious
- All ages
Sail on this Eco catamaran to two amazing reef locations at the Great Barrier Reef. Spend some time in the water and enjoy a buffet lunch while soaking up the sun.
The Great Barrier Reef, Natural Wonder
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and it is easy to see why. This world heritage listed marvel is home to around 10% of the world’s fish species and other marine life such as turtles, whales, and manta rays. This extensive and unique ecosystem is the largest living structure on the planet. With over 2500 reefs, it is large enough to be seen from space.
From Cairns, there are many different tours to go explore the reef. Some tours will suit different people depending on swimming ability and activities you wish to do. We have explained the main differences for you below. Browse our Great Barrier Reef & Island tours to find the right reef trip for you.
Tours from Cairns
Outer Great Barrier Reef Options
After departing Cairns, it will take roughly 1.5 – 2 hours to reach the Great Barrier Reef. There are a wide range of reef trips available to you.
To make the most of it, you need to find the trip that fits you & your group best.
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A pontoon is a stationary large platform that stays on the outer reef. Pontoon trips are great options for families or for those who are not strong swimmers. While snorkel gear will be included for the day, these excursions commonly also offer underwater viewing areas, scuba diving, helmet diving, glass bottom and/or semi-submarine boat tours. You will be sure to get the chance to see some remarkable marine life regardless of swimming ability.
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On an outer reef trip, you will typically visit 2 x different reef sites on your day trip. Out of the multiple possibilities available to each company, the 2 locations are determined the morning of travel. This gives the crew a chance to pick the best location based on the most updated weather conditions. Sailing boats will generally sail in the afternoon on the way home, based on wind of course!
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If you have a few days to explore, why not sleep out on the reef and see the natural wonder in new light. Liveaboards are a great way to visit multiple reef locations in a short period of time. You will also have opportunities to do activities not possible on a day trip, such as night diving.
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Boats offer both snorkelling and diving on their tours. If you have a dive license, you can buddy up with others for a certified dive. Otherwise if you are new to diving they have 1 dive instructor to a maximum of 4 beginner divers (intro dive) and they will show you how to use the dive gear, how to clear your mask, what to do before taking you for a dive around the reef.
Interested in becoming a certified diver or wanting to advance your skills? Cairns offers everything from beginner to professional level diving certification programs.
Some pre-existing medical conditions and medications can prevent you from being able to participate in diving. Be sure to check out the Australian physical/medical requirements to be able to dive. **LINK TO DIVE MEDICAL**
Islands around Cairns
For those that prefer not to be on a boat all day, islands are a great option as they offer land, independence, and flexibility. Each trip is roughly a 45 min boat ride each way from jetty to island.
Whilst the islands surrounding Cairns are not considered to be part of the Great Barrier Reef, they do have a fringing reef surrounding the island and you can choose to snorkel, dive, or take a glass-bottom boat tour.
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Straight off the shores of Fitzroy Island you can enjoy snorkelling, diving, paddle boarding, and many other activities. If you have the time, Fitzroy Island Resort offers accommodation so you can explore the island over multiple days.
Foxy’s Bar and Grill is available for lunch or a cocktail overlooking the turquoise waters. With multiple walking paths, you can genuinely appreciate the lush natural beauty of the national park. Fitzroy is also home of Nudey Beach which was voted number 1 beach in Australia in 2018.
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Starting with a calm water cruise down the Mulgrave River, followed by a short sea journey, you will find yourself on Normanby Island which is one of the several island that make up the Frankland islands. This is a great place to unwind, relax on the beach, or enjoy a guided island walk or guided snorkel with a marine biologist. As there are no facilities on this island, you will need to pre-organize lunch with the operator or you are welcome to bring your own picnic.
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Smaller in size, Green Island is more structurally built up, offering the Green Island Resort, Emerald Restaurant, and the Marineland Crocodile Park. This family owned & operated park showcases crocodiles big and small, primitive tribal artwork from the Melanesian Region, beautiful reef aquariums and more. The walking paths on the island are covered by decking and easily accessible. You can experience snorkelling, scuba diving, sea walker, glass bottom boat or semi-submersible boat tours during your day on the island.
Coral Nurture Project
It goes without saying that the Great Barrier Reef is a wonder worth protecting. Due to global warming, cyclones, and other factors both environmental and from visiting humans, the reef is currently under threat. Although quite resilient, these beautiful reefs need assistance to rebuild.
Wonderful organizations such as Reef Restoration Foundation are working hard to do help save the Great Barrier Reef. Starting in 2017, the foundation have built a coral nursery off Fitzroy Island to grow coral trees until there are mature enough to place back on outer reefs. Here broken coral pieces have a chance to regrow and regain strength to survive. Once at a level of maturity, the corals are planted on a nearby damaged reef where they will continue to grow.
If you want to learn more about how you could become a coral crusader with ***LINK TO REEF RESTORATION FOUDATION***
Eradicating the Crown of Thornes
Outside factors are not the only things threatening the health of the reef. The magnificent corals are under attack from the Crown of Thornes starfish. Responsible for large portions of the coral loss over the years, the Crown of Thornes eat the coral without giving time for it to regenerate. These starfish are incredibly tough, durable and multiple by the millions.
Due to their unyielding nature, the only solution is to remove from the salt water or poison these adversaries. The COTS program has been working off the coast of Cairns since 2012 and culled over 600,000 Crown of Thornes from over 80 reefs. If you would like more information on the COTS program visit ***CITIZENS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF***