Great Barrier Reef tours from three departure towns
Most Great Barrier Reef tours are boat day trips to a pontoon or a reef site on the outer reef. The three main departure points are Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach. Each town reaches a different reef, so the town you leave from decides where you snorkel.
Cairns trips go to Moore Reef. Port Douglas trips go to Agincourt Reef. From Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or Daydream Island, day trips go to Hardy Reef. The prices on this page come from 2026 tariffs. They change with the season and the date, so treat them as a guide and not as a final price.
Our picks: Great Barrier Reef day trips
Our take: take the catamaran day if you want a full snorkel day at the outer reef, and the 30-minute flight if you only want to see the reef from above. The rigid inflatable combines Whitehaven Beach with an inner reef snorkel, while Green Island and Low Isles are shorter island days on the inner reef.
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.
Reef day cruise by catamaran with guided snorkelling
- Snorkel gear and guided tours
- Lunch, morning and afternoon tea
- Prescription masks
A snorkel-only day on the outer reef with a marine life talk on board. Scuba diving is not offered on this trip.
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Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet by rigid inflatable, with reef snorkel
- Hill Inlet lookout walk
- Inner reef snorkel with gear
- Beach lunch
A rigid inflatable boat to Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet lookout, plus a snorkel on the inner reef. On Queensland public holidays a surcharge of AUD 20 per adult is paid at check-in.
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Low Isles by glass-bottom boat with guided snorkel
- Glass-bottom boat both ways
- Guided snorkel tour
- Muffins, fruit, tea and coffee
Low Isles is an inner reef island close to Port Douglas, not the outer reef. The 4-hour trip includes a guided snorkel and a lycra suit.
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Scenic flight over the outer edges of the reef
- Window seat
- Pilot commentary
- Headsets
A 30-minute fixed-wing flight from Cairns along the outer edges of the reef, with a window seat for every passenger.
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Green Island cruise with glass-bottom boat or snorkel option
- Up to 7 hours ashore
- Marine biologist talk
- Island pool and day facilities
Green Island lies on the inner reef, not the outer reef. You pick cruise only, glass-bottom boat or snorkel gear; dives cost extra.
Check availability →Great Barrier Reef day trips and tours
Pontoon trips, snorkeling and dive tours, sailing days and scenic flights from Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach, with live prices and availability.
Great Barrier Reef day trip: three examples compared
One pontoon day trip from each departure town, with 2026 prices.
| Departure | Reef | Times | Adult | Child | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | Moore Reef | Leaves 10:15, back 17:30 | A$317 | A$177 (ages 4–15) | A$816 |
| Port Douglas | Agincourt Reef | Boarding 9:30, leaves 10:00, 3.5 hours at the reef | A$338 | A$179 (ages 4–14) | A$864 |
| Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or Daydream Island | Hardy Reef | About 4 hours at the pontoon | From A$295 | From A$145 (ages 4–14) | From A$809 |
The family price is for the whole ticket, not per person. The Cairns price includes the fuel surcharge. The Port Douglas price includes the reef fee, and children under 4 go free, but further operating surcharges are possible. The Hardy Reef trip also offers seniors from A$269, free travel for ages 0 to 3 without a meal, and the reef fee, stinger suits, a semi-submersible and food in the price. Its fare is dynamic, so the "from" price is the lowest one.
For most visitors the right choice is the trip that leaves from the town where you sleep. It saves a long transfer, and the adult prices sit in the same range. If you want a longer stay at the reef, compare the hours on the pontoon first.
Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns
The most common starting point.
The Moore Reef trip listed above leaves from the Reef Fleet Terminal at 1 Spence Street in Cairns. The boat ride takes about 90 minutes each way, and the day covers snorkeling gear, underwater viewing and lunch. Optional dives cost extra: an introductory dive costs A$149 from age 12, and a dive for certified divers also costs A$149. Bring your certification card if you dive.
Cairns is also the base for the Green Island ferry and for flights. See the Cairns page for the town and the Green Island page for a shorter boat trip.
What to check before you book a day trip
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Outer reef or inshore reef
The reef has inshore fringing reefs, mid-shelf reefs and outer reefs. "Inner reef" is not one quality or safety class. Look for the exact reef the trip visits and how long you spend there.
The reef fee
It is collected by the tour operator and passed on. Some prices include it, others show it separately. For trips longer than a day with the same operator it applies for the first 3 days only, up to A$25.50. Children under 4 who travel free pay no reef fee.
Extras and surcharges
Look for card surcharges, fuel levies and transfers. The Hardy Reef example adds 1.42 percent for Visa and Mastercard, and a coach from Airlie Beach costs A$13 for adults and A$7 for children, booked at least 12 hours ahead. Other card types have their own surcharges.
Stingers and sun
Box jellyfish and Irukandji can be life-threatening. The higher-risk season runs from about November to May, but they can occur at other times. Wear a full-body lycra or wetsuit. Do not snorkel alone, and use sunscreen and protective clothing.
Snorkeling safety →Weather and availability
Bad weather can change or cancel a trip, and a price does not show free seats on your day. Check the date, the departure point and what is included before you pay.
Best time to visit →Plan the rest of your reef trip
Other ways to see the reef, and where to base yourself.
Snorkeling the reef
Rules for protecting the coral and staying safe in the water.
Diving and courses
Introductory dives, certified dives and a three-day liveaboard.
Pontoons, sailing and liveaboards
Which type of boat trip suits you.
Scenic flights
Plane, seaplane and helicopter flights, including Heart Reef.
Where to stay
Which base fits which departure point.
Port Douglas
Agincourt Reef, Low Isles and the Daintree.
Great Barrier Reef tours: frequently asked questions
How much does a Great Barrier Reef tour cost?
The three outer reef day trips above cost adults A$295 to A$338 and children A$145 to A$179 in 2026. Optional dives, card fees and surcharges can add to that.
Which town should I leave from?
Choose the town where you stay. Cairns goes to Moore Reef, Port Douglas to Agincourt Reef and Airlie Beach to Hardy Reef. The trips differ in the time at the reef, so compare those hours, not only the price.
Are equipment and lunch included?
The Cairns example includes snorkel gear, underwater viewing and lunch. The Hardy Reef example includes stinger suits, a semi-submersible and food. Check each offer, because inclusions differ by operator.
Do I pay a reef fee on top?
Often it is already in the price. The Port Douglas and Hardy Reef examples include it. The standard rate is A$8.50 for a full day and A$4.25 for under 3 hours, and rates of A$9.00 and A$4.50 are announced from 1 April 2027.
Can children go on a reef tour?
Yes. The examples price children from age 4 and let younger ones travel free. On the Hardy Reef trip, ages 0 to 3 travel free without a meal. The age ranges differ by trip.
Is this an official tour site?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not the Marine Park Authority, a tourism board or a tour operator.