The 5 Best Great Barrier Reef Tours

The Great Barrier Reef covers more than 344,000 square kilometres. It’s home to picturesque beaches, fascinating history, dense vegetation, and a diverse aquatic ecosystem. When choosing from the long list of Great Barrier Reef tours, you’ll want to make sure you pick a well-designed trip that will pack as much beauty and adventure into the day as possible.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

This is such a fantastic option if you’re looking at Great Barrier Reef tours that we dedicated a whole blog post to it, which you can check out here.

During this 8 and a half hour tour, you’ll board a superyacht with air-conditioned lounges and head towards the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout the day, you’ll have 5 hours of reef time at two different stunning locations. Scuba equipment, snorkelling equipment, and instruction are included.

A BBQ lunch will be prepared for you on board which includes fresh seafood, steak, and salads. This diving and snorkelling tour of the Great Barrier Reef is a great option for adventure-seekers who want to get up close and personal with the beautiful marine life of the reef.

Full-Day Cruise Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef

This is a family-friendly full-day cruise of Frankland Islands; an uninhabited island with dense vegetation and white-sand beaches. You’ll feel like you’re on your own private island since only one tour operator visits Frankland Islands.

After the 30-minute boat ride to the island, you will have about 4 and a half hours to explore and relax any way you’d like. Snorkelling equipment is provided and your experienced guide will teach you and your family everything you need to know; so it’s perfect for first-timers! Since you’ll be snorkelling off the beach instead of off a boat, it’s a great option for children or people who aren’t completely confident in the water.

This snorkelling tour to Frankland Islands includes a buffet lunch, and morning and afternoon tea. Paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent.

Great Keppel Island Leekes Creek Guided Kayak Tour

Leekes Creek is a sheltered inlet on Great Keppel Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. The crystal-clear saltwater creek runs parallel to the Island’s beach and is the perfect spot for a kayaking adventure.

On this kayaking tour of the peaceful Leekes Creek, you’ll take a 30-minute ferry ride to the island and then hop in your kayak. During your slow paddle down the creek, your experienced guide will tell you all about the local history. After that, you’ll go on a historic guided walk which includes a heritage-listed homestead and shearing shed.

Great Keppel Island Tour (5-IN-1) Islands, Beaches, Reef, Snorkelling and Lunch

This is one of the best Great Barrier Reef tours for packing as much fun into a one-day trip as possible.

For this small-group tour, you’ll head out on a boat for a scenic tour of the Great Keppel Island where you’ll be taken to secluded areas no other tourists can access on a day tour. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to snorkel, swim, and relax in beautiful locations.

Lunch, snorkelling equipment, and bathyscopes are provided.

Lady Musgrave Day Trip from Bundaberg

Lady Musgrave Island is a breathtakingly beautiful coral cay in the southern Great Barrier Reef. The 35-acre cay is surrounded by 3000 acres of living reef.

On this luxury catamaran cruise to Lady Musgrave Island, you’ll see the marine life beneath your glass bottom boat. You’ll hear a presentation on the reef by a marine biologist and then head to the lagoon for a tour, snorkelling, and a guided walk on the island.

Snorkelling equipment is included. You’ll also receive morning tea, a lunch buffet using fresh local produce, and an afternoon tea. So, if you’re looking to explore the reef in style, this is the tour for you.