Great Barrier Reef cruises: pontoon, sail or liveaboard
There is no single Great Barrier Reef cruise. A pontoon day trip takes you to a platform moored at the outer reef. A sailing day goes to an island and its surrounding reef. A liveaboard sleeps on the water and spends the nights at the reef, which is a different trip from a day catamaran or an excursion pontoon.
The examples here are from 2026 tariffs. Do not take the day-trip prices as a guide to a liveaboard, and check what each boat actually includes before you book.
Our picks: Great Barrier Reef cruises
Our take: from Port Douglas the Agincourt Reef trip goes to the outer reef with a guided snorkel. From Cairns the pontoon day adds a semi-submarine and an underwater observatory, and the overnight trip suits anyone who wants to stay on the water. Diving costs extra on the overnight trip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Overnight snorkelling trip on a reef boat
- Snorkelling with briefing
- All meals on board
- Hot showers
Two to three days on the water with snorkelling, meals and an evening fish-watching session. Diving, guided dives and Nitrox cost extra.
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Agincourt Reef day trip with guided snorkel
- Guided snorkel at third site
- Buffet lunch
- Prescription masks
A return trip to Agincourt Reef on the outer reef, with a guided snorkel at the third reef site and lifeguards in the water.
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Outer reef pontoon day with semi-submarine
- Unlimited snorkelling
- Semi-submarine and glass-bottom boat
- Buffet lunch on the pontoon
A day at an outer reef pontoon with unlimited snorkelling and an underwater observatory. Diving and the helicopter flight are add-ons, and the helicopter option adds an AUD 11 fuel surcharge per person at check-in.
Check availability →Great Barrier Reef cruises and boat trips
Pontoon days, sailing trips and dive boats from Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach, with live prices and availability.
Three types of boat trip compared
Examples from 2026. Each row is one trip, not a market range.
| Type | Example | Length | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontoon day trip | Moore Reef from Cairns, with snorkeling, underwater viewing and lunch | About 90 minutes each way, leaves 10:15, back 17:30 | A$317 |
| Pontoon day trip | Agincourt Reef from Port Douglas, with snorkeling, dive options and dry viewing | Leaves 10:00, 3.5 hours at the reef | A$338 |
| Pontoon day trip | Hardy Reef from Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or Daydream Island | About 4 hours at the pontoon | From A$295 |
| Sailing and island day | Low Isles from Port Douglas | Day trip | A$276 (ages 15 and over) |
| Liveaboard | Outer reef with night and morning dives | 3 days, 2 nights, up to 11 dives | Varies by trip |
The Low Isles child price is A$148 for ages 4 to 14, the family price is A$710 for the whole ticket, and younger children go free. GST and the reef fee are included, but further surcharges are possible. Do not estimate a liveaboard price from the day-trip fares above.
For most first-time visitors a pontoon day trip is the simplest way to reach the outer reef: it has a fixed base, a set time on site and options to stay dry. Choose the sailing day if you would rather spend the day on an island, and the liveaboard only if you dive.
Great Barrier Reef glass-bottom boat and other dry options
Seeing the coral without getting wet.
A pontoon at Moore Reef has a glass-bottom boat, a semi-submersible and an underwater observatory. Not every boat or tariff includes all three, so check what your trip includes. The Hardy Reef example includes a semi-submersible in the price, and the Agincourt Reef pontoon offers dry viewing next to snorkeling and dive options.
These options help if someone in your group does not want to get in the water. They also let you see the reef when you are not ready to snorkel. For snorkeling itself, read the rules in our snorkeling guide. Flights are a separate way to see the coral from above: some tours also run a glass-bottom boat around Heart Reef, as described on the scenic flights page.
Liveaboards: sleeping at the reef
For divers who want night and morning dives.
The trip
The liveaboard example lasts 3 days and 2 nights with up to 11 dives, including night and morning dives. A liveaboard stays at the reef overnight, which sets it apart from a day catamaran and an excursion pontoon.
What divers need
Certified divers must bring a certification card. The operator recommends waiting 24 hours before you fly after the trip. See the diving page for introductory dives and courses.
Transfers
Transfers from the city center are included in the example, while transfers from the Northern Beaches cost extra. That is a practical reason to compare where to stay before you book.
Before you book a cruise
Points that change the price or the plan.
The reef fee
The environmental management charge is A$8.50 for a full day of at least 3 hours in the Marine Park and A$4.25 for less. Some trips include it, so check whether it is in the price.
Stingers
The higher-risk season runs from about November to May, but stingers can occur at other times. Some trips include stinger suits in the price, as the Hardy Reef example does, so confirm this for your boat.
Best time to visit →Weather
Rough weather can change a sailing day or a pontoon trip, and a price does not show free seats on your day.
More ways to plan the trip
Where the boats go, and what else to see.
Great Barrier Reef tours
Three pontoon day trips compared by town, time and price.
Diving and courses
Introductory dives, certified dives and liveaboard dive trips.
Port Douglas
Agincourt Reef, Low Isles and the Daintree.
The Whitsundays
Islands, sailing and Airlie Beach.
Cairns
Where the Moore Reef trip starts.
Scenic flights
See the reef from the air instead of the water.
Great Barrier Reef cruises: frequently asked questions
Which Great Barrier Reef cruise should I choose?
It depends on what you want. For most first-time visitors a pontoon day trip is the simplest choice. A sailing day suits an island visit, and a liveaboard suits divers who want night and morning dives.
How much does a pontoon cruise cost?
In three examples adult prices run from A$295 to A$338 in 2026. The Low Isles sailing day costs A$276 for ages 15 and over. Do not guess a liveaboard price from these day fares.
Does a pontoon have a glass-bottom boat?
The Moore Reef pontoon has a glass-bottom boat, a semi-submersible and an underwater observatory. Not every boat category includes all three, so check your trip.
Do I need to be a certified diver for a liveaboard?
The example liveaboard asks certified divers to bring a certification card. It offers up to 11 dives over 3 days and 2 nights. Check the requirements of the trip you choose.
Can I fly after a liveaboard?
The operator recommends a 24-hour break from flying after the trip. Plan your onward flight with that in mind.
Is this an official cruise site?
No. This is an independent travel guide and not a tour operator or a tourism board.