Great Barrier Reef Aerial View

What are the differences between our Great Barrier Reef Tours?

Whether you are after a cheap and cheerful day tour that gets you to the Great Barrier Reef, or a fully inclusive luxury day out, we have the tour for you!

A day out on the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket list item for most travellers to Australia, but what a perfect day out on the reef involves is different for everyone. So, here’s a rundown on all our Great Barrier Reef tours to help you decide which is the best tour for you.

All tours include snorkelling equipment and tuition, lunch and reef taxes*, but the boat style and inclusions such as dives differ from tour to tour. You can read about the basic differences between each tour below, but be sure to get in touch if you have any specific questions about any of the tours.

  • 1 Day Great Barrier Reef Tour

    Features: travel on a monohull boat to the outer Great Barrier Reef and enjoy the day snorkelling at two outer reef sites, with dive and glass-bottom boat upgrades available on the day.

    Why book this tour: it’s cheap! On this no-frills option we travel on an older, slower boat which means we don’t have as much time to snorkel as on our other tours. But you will still enjoy three hours snorkelling at two different reef sites and you won’t find another day tour to the Great Barrier Reef at a lower price. This is the best tour for travellers who want to see the reef without breaking the bank.

  • 1 Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise Deluxe

    Features: travel on a premium catamaran to two outer reef sites with stacks of inclusions.

    Why book this tour: for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, select this tour to include a beginner or certified dive, guided snorkel tour and a glass-bottom boat tour. The tour also includes Cairns accommodation transfers, delicious hot breakfast on board and much more. At the end of the day, sit back with a glass of wine and a light snack as we cruise back on the state-of-the-art catamaran. If you are after an even more exclusive experience, upgrade to the Top Deck Club for reserved seating in the Captain’s lounge and a dedicated valet service for the whole day.

  • Great Barrier Reef Premium Snorkelling Tour

    Features: explore two outer reef sites onboard a luxury sailing catamaran with dive upgrades available.

    Why book this tour: this is the tour for travellers who want to explore the reef in style. Your journey to the outer reef is onboard a sleek catamaran, where you can relax on the netted trampoline or the stylish deck and enjoy the feeling of gliding over the water under sail.

  • Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure

    Features: travel onboard a comfortable catamaran to spend the day enjoying the multitude of entertainment options on the Moore Reef activity platform.

    Why book this tour: for the incredible amount of activities on the outer reef pontoon. Included in the tour price is access to the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat tour, semi-submersible boat tour, fish feeding presentations, touch tank presentation, water slide, kids pool and much more! It’s the perfect tour for families or travellers who are nervous about spending the whole day on a boat.

  • Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Tours

    Features: stay the night on the reef and explore several reef sites with our 2-day and 3-day liveaboard tours.

    Why book this tour: if one day on the reef is not enough, sleepover on our comfortable liveaboard boat for more time snorkelling and exploring this magical underwater world. Dive upgrades are available, all meals are provided and there’s a bar onboard for drinks to sip as you admire the sun sink behind the horizon.

    Still can’t decide which tour is best for you? Our reservations team is happy to answer any questions about the tours, so get in touch!

    *reef taxes are not included in the liveaboard tours, which are $15 per person per day.

Related article: How much does it cost to visit the Great Barrier Reef?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.

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