Great Barrier Reef
The largest living structure on the planet, ninety minutes by boat from the wharf.
Duration
8 hrs – 10 hrs
Best time
June to October
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
The Great Barrier Reef stretches two thousand three hundred kilometres and is made up of nearly three thousand separate reefs: the largest living structure on the planet, visible from space.
It has been through several mass bleaching events since 2016, driven by warming water: condition varies enormously between reefs, and the outer reefs, further out and deeper, are in better shape than the inshore ones. So the choice of operator and destination matters more than the date.
Getting there
Departures from the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns. An hour and a half to two hours by boat to the outer reefs, less to the inshore ones.
What the price covers
paid boat trip, plus a per-person daily environmental charge; rates depend on the operator
What to bring
- Wetsuit
- Reef shoes
- Sunscreen
Rules on site
From November to May, irukandji and box jellyfish make a full stinger suit compulsory, provided by the operators — it is not optional. The marine park environmental charge is added to the advertised price, and non-biodegradable sunscreen is banned.
