Where is the best place to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef stretches across an epic 2,300 km stretch of vibrant coral and stunning marine life.

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

Because the reef covers such a gigantic stretch of coastline, it’s only natural you might be asking: where exactly is the best place to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

We’ve got the answers for you.

  • Port Douglas & the Low Isles

    Port Douglas isn’t only one of the best places to experience the otherworldly beauty of the Great Barrier Reef – it’s also an incredible holiday town in its own right. But we are here for the snorkelling: Port Douglas is located a short hop from the Low Isles, a gorgeous stretch of hard coral inhabited by a local population of sea turtles. Not only this, but the Low Isles are home to some of the reef’s most diverse tropical fish and the almost-alien giant clam – truly a spectacular sight to behold.

  • Green Island

    A quick 45 minute catamaran ride from Cairns finds you at Green Island: a natural masterpiece of ancient tropical splendour. Not only is this stunning coral cay home to a wealth of vibrant coral species, but the island itself plays host to the Great Barrier Reef’s only rainforest, housing 120 diverse tropical plant species. Green Island’s beach is also lifeguard-patrolled, making it a safe and comfortable place for parents to take their kids on early snorkelling experiences!

  • Michaelmas Cay

    Michaelmas Cay is a tiny island located off the coast of Cairns. What makes this 50m-wide and 360m-long island so special is its abundance of those unique giant clams in all their multicoloured beauty! What’s more, the island plays host to 23 different species of seabirds, who migrate to the island at different stages of the year.

  • Milln Reef

    Milln Reef is an amazing spot for multiple reasons: its calm waters are perfect for snorkellers from beginner to advanced, it has a great level of visibility and is perfect for night snorkelling. Milln Reef is also a diver’s paradise, with excellent wall dives offering views of sleeping parrot fish, barracudas and turtles, not to mention a healthy turtle population!

Take your pick!

As you can see, there is no one spot to best enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, as it is full of astoundingly beautiful places to enjoy a good snorkel session.

Related article: Top 5 Things to Do in the Great Barrier Reef