The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders, stretching along the Queensland coastline. This guide explains the best ways to visit, where to stay and snorkel, and how to reach key departure points for reef tours.
Overview of the Great Barrier Reef
Taken as a statistics barrage, the Great Barrier Reef is simply overwhelming. It’s 1,430 miles long, made up of 2,900 individual reefs, with 600 continental islands and 300 coral cays.
Ten percent of the world’s fish species can be found there, as well as 600 types of hard and soft coral and 133 varieties of sharks and rays. It is an almost incomprehensibly vast underwater ecosystem and, as a visitor, you will only ever get snapshots of a few choice segments. Fortunately, there are several of those.
Where to find the best reef experiences
The Reef runs up the north-east coast of Australia, along most of the state of Queensland. As a rule of thumb, the further north you go, the closer the Reef is to the coastline – although the most northerly chunk of Queensland is very remote and sees very few visitors.
The aquatic wonderland tends to be more vibrant, colourful and diverse on the outer reef than the inner reef, so being able to get to the outer reef quicker is a distinct advantage.
Best Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns and Port Douglas
Most reef day cruises leave from either the city of Cairns or the resort town of Port Douglas an hour north. Some aim for smaller, more intimate experiences, such as the Wavelength cruise from Port Douglas, which has a maximum of 48 passengers on board.
It flits around between several reef sites to offer the best experience according to conditions and wildlife sightings on the day. Others take bigger, faster vessels and pull up at floating pontoons with considerable infrastructure. The Quicksilver catamaran goes from Port Douglas to Agincourt Reef on the outer reef as quickly as possible, then offers an underwater observatory and coral viewing in a mini-submarine while there.
Staying on islands along the reef
It is possible to stay on several islands along the reef system, most of which are in the Whitsundays group, 385 miles south of Cairns. Options here range from ultra-basic camping on Hook Island and Whitsunday Island to the super-lavish resorts at Qualia and Hayman Island. Hamilton Island is the one with the infrastructure, numerous activity options and airport.
If the aim is to go snorkelling straight from the beach, however, there tends to be better quality coral viewing from Lady Elliot Island at the southern end of the reef.
When to visit the Great Barrier Reef
In November, coral spawning season gets underway. It turns the sea into what looks like a giant underwater snowstorm, and becomes a feeding frenzy for marine life.
Otherwise, aim for between April and October, when there are less rain and fewer marine stingers.
Essential visitor information for the Great Barrier Reef
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where do most Great Barrier Reef tours depart from? | The main departure points are Cairns and Port Douglas in Queensland, both offering numerous day cruises and tour options. |
| How much do Great Barrier Reef tours cost? | Day tours start at approximately $207 per person for snorkelling trips, rising to around $265 for outer reef or diving experiences. Prices vary by operator and inclusions. |
| What are the best times to visit the Great Barrier Reef? | The reef can be visited year-round, but conditions are calmest between June and October, before the tropical wet season begins. |
| Is there parking at Cairns and Port Douglas marinas? | Yes, both Cairns Marlin Marina and Port Douglas Reef Marina have paid parking options close to the cruise departure points. |
| Do you need to book Great Barrier Reef tours in advance? | Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly during school holidays and peak season (June to October). |
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More Queensland travel
Other Queensland travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Should you visit Eumundi Markets on Wednesday or Saturday?
- A guide to walking in Bunya Mountains National Park.
- A guide to Cairns for first-time visitors.
- Wildlife encounters on the journey up to Cape Tribulation.
- Planning a visit to the Jindalba Boardwalk near Cape Tribulation.
