If you’ve ever typed “Great Barrier Reef tours” into Google and immediately had heart palpitations from the thousands of search results that swim onto the page, you’re not alone. With so many tours to choose from, it’s easy to panic and lucky-dip your decision. But instead of losing yourself in the big blue of the interweb, we’ve brought you the Great Barrier Reef tours making waves in Port Douglas. Whether you’re a keen adventurer of the underwater world or prefer to observe from afar, see the Great Barrier Reef your way, with less crowds and more exclusive experiences.
Tip: Peak visitor season is June - November, so for a more secluded experience book between December and May for a summer out at sea.
Don’t have much time up your sleeve but you still want to get out to the reef? Pick up the pace with Reef Sprinter. These guys know you’d rather spend more time exploring the reef than getting to and from it, which is why their speedboat travels at 80km/h (40 knots) and gets you to Low Isles in as little as 15 minutes. The whole experience takes just over two hours, making it the quickest Great Barrier Reef trip in Queensland. You still get an hour and a half of snorkelling over spectacular coral teeming with marine life, so you don’t have to sacrifice too much of your time on the reef.
Completely immerse yourself in the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef with a diving tour that takes you into the depths of the Coral Sea. Calypso and Silversonic both offer expertly guided snorkelling and scuba diving experiences, allowing you to glide across vibrant coral gardens or venture deeper beneath the surface after a professional briefing. These full-day tours visit three carefully selected sites on Agincourt Reef, St Crispin’s and Opal Reef, giving guests the flexibility to snorkel or dive at each location while maximising time in the water.
For those new to diving, Calypso, Poseidon and Silversonic all provide supportive, beginner-friendly day trips aboard purpose-built reef vessels designed for comfort and ease. With access to outer reef moorings at oustanding reef sites, experiences remain relaxed and uncrowded throughout the year. Detailed briefings are provided on the journey out, and guests are accompanied by qualified dive professionals at all times beneath the surface. During the winter months, select trips also offer the rare opportunity to swim with the Dwarf Minke Whale, making for an unforgettable reef encounter.
Blue Dive offers privately guided dive tours in Port Douglas. Diving from the same outer reef locations, guests can access sought-after sites of the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs, including Barracuda Bommie, The Nursery, Helms Deep and Turtle Bay.
If you’ve seen Sharknado too many times and can’t bring yourself to dip your toes into open waters, you can still experience the reef. Quicksilver’s Great Barrier Reef tour offers an underwater experience minus the water, in their semi-submersible boat and Underwater Observatory. While others snorkel or dive, you can descend into the sea and explore the underwater oasis of the reef from the comforts of a dry seat (with dry hair, too, we might add). With fewer people on board, there’s no chance of people crowding your view as you smoosh your face against the windows and watch turtles, fish and coral float by.
If you’d rather stick to a tour above sea level and are more about the Insta-worthy views, spend sunset on the water with Sailaway. Gliding through Dickson Inlet and across the Coral Sea, all you need to do is sip champagne as you watch the sun sink into the mountains of the Daintree Rainforest. Who said you had to be underwater to enjoy the reef?
For arguably the best view of the reef, skip the boat and head straight to the sky on a Nautilus Aviation helicopter. From 30-minute reef or rainforest flyovers to a one-hour Reef and Rainforest Scenic package or a once in a lifetime Undine Cay Getaway, discover the blue hues of the reef without the goggles, snorkel mask or even getting wet.
And for the best of both worlds, Nautilus Aviation have teamed up with Quicksilver Cruises to offer a fly and cruise option that gives you time to snorkel the outer reef and see it from above.
You don’t need a high-roller helicopter budget to see the Great Barrier Reef. Memories of swimming with the fishies can be made for less than $200 with a Great Barrier Reef tour from Ocean Safari. A quick 25-minute ride is all that takes to arrive at the vibrant marine environment of Mackay and Undine Reef. All your snorkelling gear is included in the price, which also includes two hours of exploring, snorkelling instructions, reef presentations, as well as courtesy transfers and the boat rides.
Note: What you save in money you sacrifice in exclusivity - maximum numbers fly up to the 25 mark with this tour, meaning you’ll have a few boat buddies for this trip.
Got the cash? Splurge on an exclusive trip to the reef for you and seven of your closest friends on a privately chartered yacht. The M.Y. Flying Fish is a luxurious, classic white motor yacht packed with Insta-worthy potential and a casual helipad for late arriving guests. Accommodating up to eight guests, you can chart your own course and stop to snorkel the reef at your leisure.
If you’re after something slightly less rock star but still packing those exclusivity vibes, Indigo Port Douglas offers private charters for snorkelling day trips to Low Isles. With a maximum of 12 passengers, you won’t be bumping heads while exploring and you also have the freedom to wander the island when you need a break from the water.
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Tourism Port Douglas Daintree acknowledges the custodianship of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef by the local Kuku Yalanji and Yirraganydji people whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect our natural assets for future generations, and we pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging.
