Cairns and Port Douglas, Australia · 41 trips compared
Fast boats take you from Cairns and Port Douglas to the outer reef, to sandy islands and to floating platforms in the middle of the sea. We compared 41 trips, so you can see which one fits your day.
This is the trip with the most reviews of all 41 trips we compared.
The short answer · updated November 14, 2026
The most booked trip to the Great Barrier Reef is “Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns” with 3,976 reviews, a rating of 4.7 and a price from $190. The best rated trip is “Half Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Tour” with 4.9 out of 5. The cheapest well-rated trip is “Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience” from $124. Prices start at $75 per adult, and half of all 41 trips cost between $144 and $220. Most trips last between 5 h and 9 h. The best months to go are June to October.
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Our picks for 2027
We chose these trips from the numbers alone: reviews, rating, price and length. No operator paid to be on this list.
Most booked
from $190 per person · ★ 4.7 from 3,976 reviews · 8.5 h
3,976 guests have reviewed this trip, more than any other trip on this page. They rate it 4.7 out of 5.
See dates and pricesBest rated
from $144 per person · ★ 4.9 from 409 reviews · 5 h
Guests give it 4.9 out of 5 in 409 reviews. No other trip with at least 300 reviews is rated higher.
See dates and pricesBest value
from $124 per person · ★ 4.8 from 554 reviews · 4 h
At $124 per adult, this is the cheapest trip with at least 100 reviews and a rating of 4.5 or more.
See dates and pricesShort trip
from $172 per person · ★ 4.9 from 876 reviews · 0.7 h
It lasts 0.7 h and is the most booked of the trips that take three hours or less.
See dates and pricesSmall group
from $200 per person · ★ 4.9 from 687 reviews · 9 h
The operator sells it as a small-group trip, so there are fewer people in the water. It has the most reviews of the small-group trips.
See dates and pricesBest months
June to October lies outside the marine stinger season, which the Queensland Government gives as November to May. The numbers show the average temperature of the sea in each month.
A snorkeler in a full-body suit floats above corals on the Great Barrier Reef.
Your day on the reef
Most trips from Cairns go to the outer reef, where the water is clearest and the corals are close to the surface. Some boats tie up at a floating platform with a glass-bottom boat, a semi-submarine and a shaded deck, which is good for families.
If you prefer a beach, a shorter trip to Green Island or Fitzroy Island gives you sand under your feet and a reef right off the shore. From Port Douglas, sailing boats go to the Low Isles, two small islands with a lighthouse.
Further south, the Whitsunday Islands combine the reef with Whitehaven Beach.
Facts
Every fact comes from an official or published source. You find the sources on our page about how we compare.
Kinds of trips
We sorted all trips to the Great Barrier Reef by what they offer. The big number shows how many trips of each kind you can book. One trip can belong to more than one kind.
From $75. Booked most often: Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran.
From $75. Booked most often: Green Island Day Trip from Cairns.
From $172. Booked most often: 40-Minute Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight from Cairns.
From $76. Booked most often: Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience.
All trips
The table is sorted by the number of reviews. More reviews mean that more guests have been on this trip. Prices are per adult unless the trip is private.
| Trip | Length | Rating | From, per adult | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8.5 h | 4.73,976 reviews | $190 | See dates and prices |
| Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by CatamaranCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.92,710 reviews | $190 | See dates and prices |
| Ocean Freedom: Great Barrier Reef Stylish Snorkel, Dive Reef TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.82,058 reviews | $154 | See dates and prices |
| Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.81,476 reviews | $220 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8.5 h | 4.61,360 reviews | $171 | See dates and prices |
| Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7.5 h | 4.91,094 reviews | $193 | See dates and prices |
| Green Island Day Trip from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.1969 reviews | $84 | See dates and prices |
| Ocean Safari Great Barrier Reef Experience in Cape TribulationCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 4.5 h | 4.9950 reviews | $150 | See dates and prices |
| Sunlover Great Barrier Reef Day Trip to Moore Reef PontoonCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.3885 reviews | $212 | See dates and prices |
| 40-Minute Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 0.7 h | 4.9876 reviews | $172 | See dates and prices |
| Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.6871 reviews | $225 | See dates and prices |
| Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.6864 reviews | $234 | See dates and prices |
| Fitzroy Island Day Tour from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7.5 h | 4.2712 reviews | $75 | See dates and prices |
| Ocean Free: Small Group Great Barrier Reef & Green Island TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.9687 reviews | $200 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef Full Day AdventureCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 10 h | 4.2604 reviews | $227 | See dates and prices |
| Full Day Low Isles Sailing & Snorkelling Cruise from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7.5 h | 4.8587 reviews | $227 | See dates and prices |
| Silversonic 3 Outer Barrier Reef Sites in 1 Day from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 10 h | 4.8558 reviews | $193 | See dates and prices |
| Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling ExperienceCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 4 h | 4.8554 reviews | $124 | See dates and prices |
| Premium Half-Day Outer Reef Snokel TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 6 h | 4.7554 reviews | $135 | See dates and prices |
| Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.9477 reviews | $230 | See dates and prices |
| All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier ReefCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.7459 reviews | $180 | See dates and prices |
| Silverswift 3 Great Barrier Reef Sites in 1 Day from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 10 h | 4.6455 reviews | $213 | See dates and prices |
| Cairns Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.8427 reviews | $167 | See dates and prices |
| Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 5–9 h | 4.2412 reviews | $108 | See dates and prices |
| Half Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 5 h | 4.9409 reviews | $144 | See dates and prices |
| Afternoon Low Isles Snorkelling & Sunset Sail from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 5.5 h | 4.8370 reviews | $227 | See dates and prices |
| Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 3–12 h | 4.1341 reviews | $75 | See dates and prices |
| Green Island Reef Cruise - Half-Day Trip from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 4 h | 4.1275 reviews | $76 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef 40 Minute Scenic Flight from Cairns - Reef HopperCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 0.7 h | 4.8266 reviews | $200 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef with Cultural Guides-Dreamtime Dive & SnorkelCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 4.9184 reviews | $176 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef & Michaelmas Cay Sailing Cruise from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8.5 h | 4.5176 reviews | $199 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef Activity Platform with Snorkeling from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7 h | 4.3140 reviews | $216 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef Small Group Snorkelling AdventureCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7 h | 4.9126 reviews | $161 | See dates and prices |
| Poseidon Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8 h | 4.6114 reviews | $227 | See dates and prices |
| Green Island Seawalker & Snorkel or Glass Bottom Boat from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 5–9 h | 4.198 reviews | $200 | See dates and prices |
| Sunlover: Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns by Fast CatamaranCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 3–6 h | 4.285 reviews | $75 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef or Rainforest Scenic Flights from Port DouglasCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 0.5–1 h | 4.974 reviews | $336 | See dates and prices |
| Great Barrier Reef Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island Premium Day TourCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 9 h | 3.951 reviews | $233 | See dates and prices |
| Fitzroy and Green Island From Cairns: Great Barrier ReefCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 8.5 h | 3.817 reviews | $135 | See dates and prices |
| Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Full-Day Tour from CairnsCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 10 h | 4.89 reviews | $237 | See dates and prices |
| Fitzroy Island Day Trip 11am to 5pm Ferry INC Snorkel EquipmentCairns and Port Douglas, Australia | 7 h | 4.08 reviews | $96 | See dates and prices |
Australia · Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef is made of almost 3,000 single reefs. On a scenic flight from Cairns you see how they lie in the sea like turquoise islands.
What you may see: Green sea turtle, Maori wrasse, Giant clam, Clownfish, Reef shark.
Questions
It depends on what you need. “Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns” is booked most often (3,976 reviews, 4.7 out of 5). “Half Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Tour” has the best rating. “Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience” is the cheapest well-rated trip at $124.
Prices for the 41 trips we compared start at $75 per adult. Half of all trips cost between $144 and $220. Private boats cost more, because you pay for the whole boat.
The best months are June to October. June to October lies outside the marine stinger season, which the Queensland Government gives as November to May.
Yes. Boats from Cairns go to the outer reef every day. The outer reef lies about 25 to 60 km (16 to 37 miles) off the coast, and most boats need 60 to 90 minutes to get there. Green Island and Fitzroy Island are closer, and you can snorkel there right from the beach.
A full-day trip to the outer reef with a floating platform is a good start. You can snorkel from the platform and also look at the corals from a glass-bottom boat or a semi-submarine without getting wet.
Cairns has the most boats and the widest choice of prices. Port Douglas is about an hour further north, and its boats reach the reefs around the Low Isles and the Agincourt Reefs.
Yes. Most boats lend you a life vest or a floating noodle, and many have a glass-bottom boat or a semi-submarine. A trip to Green Island also works well, because you can walk into the water from the beach.
More reefs
