Cairns
It's no surprise that lots of tours out of Cairns focus on the Great Barrier Reef. Half-day snorkeling, diving, and fishing trips out of Cairns, most departing from the Reef Fleet Terminal, start from around A$100; full-day trips start from about A$200. Scuba dives and gear generally cost extra. Typically you'll pay an additional admin fee that includes the A$6 per person, per day Environmental Management Charge (EMC) or "reef tax," and you may also be hit with a Port Authority charge of around A$9 per person, per day.
Ask a few pertinent questions before booking diving tours: dive trips vary in size, and some cater specifically to, say, sightseers; others to experienced divers. If you're a beginner or Open Water diver, ensure that you book excursions that visit suitable dive sites, with certified staff on hand to assist you.
Cairns is also a great base for adventure activities and horse riding on the Atherton Tableland, ballooning over the Mareeba Valley, and day tours to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Daintree rain forest. The offices of adventure-tour companies, tourist offices and booking agents are concentrated around the Esplanade.
