Experience The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia With a Twist

Among the world’s best natural wonders, a vibrant and beautiful marine life, and every tourist’s dream dive – put all of it together, and you have the Great Barrier Reef. About 3 million tourists across the world visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site every year. The Reef is easily accessible from Cairns in the tropical north of Queensland, Townsville, Airlie Beach & Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Hayman Island in the Whitsundays & Bundaberg in Southern Queensland.

Stretched across 2,300 km off the Queensland coastline, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem – the Great Barrier Reef is made up of 900 islands, 3,000 individual reefs, 5,000 species of mollusc, and other sundry sea creatures.

A state icon of Queensland it finds itself among the seven natural wonders of the world. A tourist magnet in the Cairns region it draws in not only the PADI certified divers looking forward to some of the world’s best diving spots but families, honeymooners and just about anyone who wants to experience the Great Barrier Reef.

How to reach the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

The northernmost city in Queensland and the gateway to Great Barrier Reef, Cairns has daily flights from Singapore on SilkAir. Singapore Airlines connects from all metros in India to Singapore.

Cairns airport offers a slew of transport options like car hire, taxis, shuttle bus, or ride booking.

-Book a car hire located on-site or at the counter in the arrival hall of Terminal 1 which is the international terminal. Choose from Europcar, Avis, Budget or Hertz.

-Get a taxi from Cairns Airport to Cairns city. Each taxi rank is connected to the Cairns taxi booking call centre for your assistance. Or book a ride at the dedicated pick-up zone located at the east end of the terminal.

-The airport shuttle is also available and backpackers can benefit from the discounted rates for service between Cairns Airport to the Cairns city centre priced at $10 onwards.

-The ones who want to travel through public transport can take a bus from the airport called Airport Connect linking the Cairns airport with Translink public transport service.

Once in Cairns, get in touch with any travel operator offering Great Barrier Reef tours who will take you to your chosen precinct. Another famous departure point for the reef is Port Douglas, 70 km north of Cairns. Usually, the reef boats take about 90 minutes depending on how far your island or Pontoon is from the Great Barrier Reef location.

What to experience

Here is how you can plan a vacation on the Great Barrier Reef basis the experiences you would like to strike off in and around the paradise. Choose a tour that suits you the best and brace up for the great adventure at the reef. Here we list a few unique things to indulge in at the Great Barrier Reef.

Get ready to snorkel around

Snorkelling is among the top attractions in the Great Barrier Reef. The vivid multi-hued corals, exotic marine life and placid waters offer you clear views of these rare underwater beauties. And the best part about snorkelling is that anyone can go for it including people with basic swimming skills. Do read up the guidelines on fins and mask before you take your first plunge.

Here are the popular Reef operators that offer day trips to the Islands and the Outer Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns

Sleep on the Reef by booking a tour with Sunlover Reef Cruises which departs Cairns at 9.30 am and reaches Moore Reef by 11.30 am. The two-day tour includes a sun deck, sun slide, ocean enclosed kid’s pool, underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat tour, guided snorkel safari, fish feeding presentation, barbecue dinner and of course stargazing. Wake up the next morning and enjoy the sunrise at the Reef along with a scrumptious breakfast onboard.

Sleep on the reef

Ever wished to sleep on a reef? If yes, then your wish can come true courtesy Sunlover Reef Cruises leaving from Cairns. Book yourself an overnight Great Barrier Reef sleep and spend the most cherished night under the stars. Reach the Moore Reef in an air-conditioned catamaran and wake up to the sunrise at the Great Barrier Reef at the multi-level, one-of-a-kind activity Marine Base at the Moore Reef. Live the most luxurious experience on the Great Barrier Reef with gourmet spread, personal hosts to exclusive tours including private guided snorkel safari, private glass-bottom boat tour and the Great Barrier Reef presentation by a Marine expert and more.

Green Island – Great Barrier Reef Tours & Cruises

Green Island Great Barrier Reef Tours & Cruises are one of the best operators in Cairns offering fun activities for the entire family. Hop on to the locally owned and operated Big Cat – a 35-metre catamaran on a full-day or a half-day tour. A few offerings in the Cairns Reef tours are snorkelling, swimming, diving, watching the reef from a glass-bottomed boat, viewing coral from a semi-submarine and exploring the Island National Park. Book in advance the two full-day 5-hour long Reef tours departing at 9 am and 11 am including buffet lunch.
Snuba Dive and Snuba Doo

Among the not-to-miss things while in Cairns is to visit Green Island. Take a cruise to Green Island, 45 minutes from Cairns in the comfy catamaran, Big Cat which leaves Cairns thrice a day for the stunning coral cay – Green Island frequented for a swim, snorkel and scuba dive. For the ones who don’t like a splash can admire the reef from either a glass-bottom boat or a semi-submarine. A perfect haunt for families and large groups Big Cat Green Island cruises have several Green Island tours. Apart from this the Big Cat also offers Snuba Dive and Snuba Doo – the safest and the most fun way to explore the underwater and a must-try for families.

Snuba Dive

A hybrid between scuba diving and snorkelling – Snuba Dive doesn’t need divers to be well-trained or hold certificates which makes it a preferred choice for beginners and acts as a stepping stone to scuba diving. No prior experience in diving is required for this and can be done by anyone between the age of 12 to 80. The first-timers undergo a 30-minute training before the dive.

Snuba Doo

The family that dives together, stays together. And Snuba Doo allows just that. While you snuba dive in the shallow waters, your kids can float on the surface wrapped up safely in the buoyancy vest. Explore up to 3 metres under the water without gearing up with heavy equipment. The air tanks remain on the surface while you breathe through a regular scuba mouthpiece. Snuba Doo power snorkelling is the best for people who don’t want to go too deep in the waters and is allowed for kids aged 6 and more.

Downunder Cruise and Dive

Board the luxurious vessel Evolution for a tour to the Outer Great Barrier Reef and explore its treasures while you are pampered onboard with live music, a buffet spread and a complimentary glass of wine. The tour offers snorkelling, introductory scuba diving and even semi-submarine coral viewing. The boat leaves Cairns daily at 8.15 am, hop on and soaks in the sun. Board a 10-minute helicopter ride from the pontoon in Hastings Reef.

From Port Douglas

An hour drive from Cairns, Port Douglas is home to two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Here you can tour to the Outer Reef of the Great Barrier Reef. Choose from the below tour operators offering the same.

Quicksilver Reef Tours

Whether it’s snorkelling, diving or a non-water activity like semi-submersible, Quicksilver’s wave-piercing catamaran gives you the best ride in all weather conditions while cruising to the Outer Reef. Experience Agincourt Reef – the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and watch the fish in Quicksilver’s underwater observatory. You can also choose to fly over the reef in a helicopter.

So which Great Barrier Reef experience would you pick? Book a holiday to Queensland and gear up for the adventure of a lifetime.