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Great Barrier ReefFamily-friendly activities

Our most recommended Great Barrier Reef Family-friendly activities

From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise

1. From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise

Climb aboard a modern catamaran to sail into Green Island National Park on a beach and snorkeling cruise from Cairns. Discover a hidden gem in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and explore its coral reefs with snorkeling gear. Choose to enjoy a buffet lunch and go on a semi-submarine tour. Make your way to the harbor to meet your friendly crew for the day and climb onto your catamaran. Relax in the sun as you set sail towards the Great Barrier Reef. Experience picturesque views of the ocean as you arrive at Green Island National Park. Stroll around the island and explore its tranquil beaches. Find a stop to relax and go for a dip in the ocean. Get access to snorkeling gear and take a peek into the region's thriving marine life. You can also opt to go on a semi-submarine or a glass-bottom boat tour to discover the colorful coral reef and fish in comfort.

Museum Of Underwater Art & Great Barrier Reef Day Trip

2. Museum Of Underwater Art & Great Barrier Reef Day Trip

Begin your journey from the Townsville Breakwater Marina, or from Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island. Please advise at booking your departure from Townsville or Magnetic Island! Sail to the Central Section of the Great Barrier Reef on a custom-built day vessel. First, visit the Museum of Underwater Art (MoUA) located offshore on the John Brewer Reef. Surrounded by the beautiful and colorful coral reefs, explore this underwater site which is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Learn more about conservation, restoration, and education about the issues affecting the reefs, with a strong emphasis placed on indigenous culture and history. See The Coral Greenhouse, the first submerged building design by artist Jason deCaires Taylor and the most recent addition, the Ocean Sentinel submerged in only 2 to 7m of water for a perfect snorkel trail. After exploring the MoUA, explore other sections of the reef with dives ranging from a depth of 1 to 20 meters suitable for snorkelers, beginner, and experienced divers. See schools of baitfish as well as an abundance of colorful reef fish including Parrotfish, Maori wrasse, Clownfish, Angelfish. Keep a lookout for turtles, stingrays, White Tip Reef Sharks, and Black Tip Reef Sharks which can often be spotted. Discover how the Great Barrier Reef is managed and what work is being done to protect it. With a friendly crew, learn more about how you protect the reef and its creatures for future generations to come. After the dives, be returned by boat to Nelly Bay, or Townsville Breakwater Marina.

From Cairns: Green Island Half-Day Morning Cruise

3. From Cairns: Green Island Half-Day Morning Cruise

Discover the lush rainforest of Green Island on this half-day tour and encounter some of the many marine animals that call the island home. Climb aboard the modern, air-conditioned 24-meter catamaran "Reef Rocket" to cruise over to this idyllic part of the Great Barrier Reef, and enjoy a full-day reef tour just 45-minutes from Cairns. Snorkel and dive among the reef fish and coral gardens, or stay dry on a spectacular semi-submersible submarine or glass-bottom boat to discover the underwater life in comfort. Alternatively, simply laze on the white sandy beach and soak up the sun.

From Airlie Beach: Cruise and ReefWorld Pontoon Experience

4. From Airlie Beach: Cruise and ReefWorld Pontoon Experience

Explore the serene water and colorful underwater life at the Great Barrier Reef by a pontoon. You will encounter many species of fish, and corals while enjoying water activities like snorkeling and swimming. Depart from Airlie Beach, and cruise through the Whitsundays on a high-speed, luxury vessel. Enjoy morning tea as you pass by deserted islands, secluded bays, and beaches en route to the outer Great Barrier Reef. The vessel features spacious lounges, full air-conditioning, huge outside view decks, and a duo of bars that will gladly serve you your favorite refreshment, including both alcohol and soft drinks. Arrive at the permanently-moored, spacious, and innovative pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef. The water quality and diverse marine life are unrivaled. Meet hundreds of fish species and admire a variety of hard and soft coral. See unbelievable snorkeling and diving (at an extra cost on the day). Spend the time as you please: Make use of the undercover seating and tables, sun decks to top up your tan, freshwater showers, and changing rooms. Visit the underwater chamber if you prefer to see the underwater world below without getting wet. Take a ride on a semi-submersible boat. Indulge in a delicious tropical-style buffet lunch and purchase drinks from the bar as you please. Finally, return to Airlie after a beautiful day.

Cairns: Full-Day Glass Bottom Boat or Snorkel Tour

5. Cairns: Full-Day Glass Bottom Boat or Snorkel Tour

Climb aboard a catamaran cruise on a day trip from Cairns. Get a fish-eye view of Green Islands' reef from a glass-bottom boat. Explore the marine life with the snorkeling gear provided. Take a guided boardwalk stroll in the rainforest. Upgrade your experience with a lunch and submarine tour. Climb aboard a modern, air-conditioned catamaran to cruise over to this idyllic part of the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a full-day reef tour, just a few minutes away from Cairns. Snorkel and dive among the reef fish and coral gardens or laze on the white sandy beach and soak up the sun. Walk across the secluded island rainforest on a guided boardwalk stroll. Additionally, choose between a spectacular semi-submersible submarine tour or a glass-bottom boat tour to make the most of your adventure on the water. Book an option with lunch included and forget about packing your own food.

Airlie Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

6. Airlie Beach: Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

See the wonders of the Whitsundays without getting in the water. Cruise around the best coral reefs around Airlie Beach with your family or friends on a tour that is suitable for all ages.  Enjoy a photo opportunity stop at Lions Lookout prior to your departure. Marvel at the views over the harbor and the stunning Whitsunday Islands and add a charming portrait to your holiday photo collection. Then, venture out on a glass-bottom boat that is fully shaded from the sun. Discover breathtaking coral worlds and marine wildlife such as turtles, rays, and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. Explore the valuable ecosystem that lives within the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Get up close and personal with a spectrum of vibrant hard and soft coral and underwater critters as you cruise through the idyllic islands. Listen to funny and informative commentary about the reef from your guide.

Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Water Activities

7. Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Water Activities

Sail to the Great Barrier Reef on a catamaran from Cairns. Explore the reef in the way that suits you with snorkeling, diving, or admire it from inside a glass-bottom boat. Then, enjoy a buffet lunch. Depart directly from Cairns on a fast, stable catamaran providing a smoother ride and reduced travel time, leaving more of your day to experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef.  The new all-weather platform caters to all activity levels. Snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon, join a marine biologist on a guided snorkel safari or scuba dive (no experience necessary). You can also select the option to try a Helmet Dive for an experience without getting your hair wet. If simply relaxing and soaking up the tropical warmth is more your style then take time out the spacious sundeck. 

From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Activity Platform

8. From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Activity Platform

Explore the heart of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park on this day trip from Cairns. Journey on a semi-submarine catamaran that's perfect for all ages, swimmers and non-swimmers alike, with a range of onboard and water activities. Travel to a spacious activity platform moored at a site on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Spend 3 hours enjoying the activities and facilities of the platform and discover the marine biodiversity of the reef is at its most extreme. Snorkel amongst vibrant coral gardens that are home to extraordinary marine life and rainbow-colored tropical fish. Enjoy easy access to the water from the snorkel platforms. You might even meet Wally, the most friendly fish in the reef. If you choose to stay dry, discover the reef from the underwater observatory. Enjoy the comfort of the air-conditioned semi-submarine with expert commentary.

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What people are saying about Great Barrier Reef

The experience was really good. Big boat with plenty of space takes you out to the pontoon. The boat first stops at either Hamilton Island or Daydream Island to let passangers off and then carries on to the pontoon. The trip is about 2.5 hours one way. You have about 4-5 hours on the pontoon. Cash bar onboard and buffet snack and lunch provided which was adequate. Once at the pontoon you are provided with a stinger suit, mask and snorkel for snorkelling. You can pay extra on the day to do diving which we opted for. It was a little bit rushed to gear up as we were the first group to dive that day but the facilities are great and their "moon pool" (a staircase onto a platform) makes it super easy to get ready and comfortable before decending. The dive masters were fantastic, knowledgeable and caring and adhered to all safety protocols and were extremely professional. Recommend you bring your own fins for snorkelling as they are not provided. Unfortunately here are no lockers.

Incredible day. You definitely get your moneys worth. Once we got on the trip we were asked if we wanted to do the snorkelling safari as well and we are SO glad we did that on top as you get taken out deeper and get an i depth tour of the reef. and the reef is incredible. so recommend doing that too once on the trip! Thanks for the best day

It was a great day. The crew were so helpful. It was everything they said it would be. Morning tea/coffee with cake was delicious. Lunch was good too. The semi submersible was an easy way to see the coral. I recommend the guided snorkeling which was extra. You can always snorkel on your own but the guide is helpful.

Freddie was amazing- we did the snorkel safari ran by her Freddie and she was so knowledgeable and fun! Thank you for making our day!

Such a lovely day out. Amazing crew and experience :)