Great Barrier Reef tours
 

Traveling to Cairns from Sydney for a two night three day trip. Want to do the GBR tour , Kuranda sky rail. WE aren't snorkle or dive people. Can anyone suggest tours ? Are there other things we should see? Are there any half day tours rather than leaving at 7Am and returning 7Pm as I have seen?

I think the following excerpt from my trip report will help you:

We decided on the Quicksilver, the largest boat sailing from the Port Douglas Marina to the Outer Reef. (It held more than 300 passengers.) We chose it because it takes you to a large pontoon that’s stationed by the reef. From the pontoon we’d be able to take a semi-submersible glass-sided vessel to tour the reef—or view it from an underwater observation deck—without actually getting wet. (We’re not divers or snorkelers.)

It was sunny and the sea was calm; the 90 minute ride to the reef was mostly smooth and pleasant, but most of the time we saw nothing but water. Upon transferring to the pontoon, a very nice buffet lunch was served. The quality and variety of foods were impressive—but I prefer my prawns without their heads attached .

The $199 (AUD) pp fare included coffee, tea and cookies in the morning; the buffet lunch; and coffee, tea, cheese & crackers, and fruit in the afternoon. Also included were snorkeling equipment; and unlimited rides on the semi-sub.

Wet suits to keep you warm in the water; lycra body suits (for protection against stingers—which were not a problem this time of year); and guided snorkeling and diving tours were available for an additional cost -- and were pushed heavily.

From the surface, the reef looked like no big deal and I thought the day was going to be a waste of time—but at least I’d be able to say I’d visited the GBR. Then we went in the semi-submersible boat and everything changed. The thirty minute ride was incredible, phenomenal; amazing; and beyond my wildest expectations. A magnificent underwater world awaited just below the surface. The varieties, colors, and shapes of the coral were mind boggling—and the fish were incredible. There were hundreds – if not thousands of fish – in every imaginable shape, size, and color. I was blown away.

I’ve never felt comfortable being up close & personal with fish so I didn’t think I’d want to snorkel. But getting a glimpse of what was below the water made me want to see it all—so on came the snorkel and mask. It was fantastic! The fish are used to being fed so they surround the snorkelers. It was mostly beautiful—but when I came face to face with an ENORMOUS Maori Wrasse (probably weighing much more than me—and much uglier) I decided to enjoy the wildlife from the observation area. It was an amazing day I’ll never forget. By the way … the Port Douglas Marina is absolutely beautiful and has some nice shops and restaurants.

Agree with songdoc, you will need a semi submersible if you really don't intend to snorkel (lots say they won't and end up doing so - its very easy and crew is on hand to assist with beginners).

You won't need to travel as far as Port Douglas,there's plenty of boats with semis out of Cairns, Reef Magic is one (leaves Cairns wharf at 9.00am and returns at 5.00pm), pontoon is moored on excellent reef site for snorkelling and diving. Wally, the resident enormous Maori Wrasse and his friends are regular visitors to the pontoon, huge fishes and extremely tame. www.reefmagiccruises.com

If a pontoon doesn't appeal, Ocean Spirit (motor/sailing catamaran)to Michaelmas Cay has a semisub and snorkelling off a sand beach, rather than from the side of pontoon. Michaelmas Cay is also a renowned bird sanctuary, with literally thousands of sea birds. www.oceanspirit.com.au

The only half day reef trip out of Cairns is to Green Island, (morning and afternoon trips). Its a lovely little rainforested coral cay island, but you will see more marine life on the reefs which are further from mainland. If you do decide on Green Island, use Big Cat rather than Great Adventures, Big Cat also has a semi-sub.

Kuranda Train/Skyrail is easy from Cairns, your hotel tour desk will have info about times and will be able to arrange transfers.

Thanks so much for the info.heard a lot about Quicksilver but do not know about Ocean Spirit or Reef MAgic. Will check them out. Can you go on Quicksilver from Cairns.

Yes, for $20 return Quicksilver picks up in Cairns for Port Douglas. It also charges more than Reef Magic (and can take around 400 passengers, Reef Magic take about half that even when full). Quicksilver with Cairns transfers is AU$224.50pp which includes $5.50 environmental levy; Reef Magic is AU$180 which includes levy, if you're staying in Cairns city no transfer needed, Reef Magic leaves from Marlin Marina, easily walkable from city centre locations.

Forgot to mention - Ocean Spirit to Michaelmas Cay (not its trip to Upolu Cay), charges $189 pp including environmental levy with complimentary transfers to Marlin Marina from Cairns and its northern beaches.

Thanks so much for your help. Husband cannot go swimming (doctors orders)anymore because of his ears so we do want a good tour and going on the submersible sounds great.

Pat, can I ask why you recommend Big Cat over Great Adventures? Is it simply that BC has a semi-sub and GA doesn't, or are there other factors too? I'm currently trying to decide between the two. I'm considering a whole day Green Island trip as unlikely to want to snorkel/swim and thought the combined island/pontoon trip was expensive and the pontoon may get boring for 3 hours without getting in the water.

speckles, there's not much difference between the two, except that Big Cat has the semi - both companies use the same wharf at Green Island and both transport a lot of passengers in motor catamarans. Its just that if you don't want to snorkel, the semi is far better for viewing corals and marine life than the glass bottom boats which both provide. If you take the island/pontoon trip with GA, there is a semi at their pontoon site.

If you do decide to snorkel a good trip to Green Island is with Ocean Free, its a sail boat which takes only a maximum of 38 passengers. It moors at Pinnacle Reef off Green Island for snorkelling, and has a tender to take you over to the island. www.oceanfree.com.au

Thanks Pat

Hi,

I highly recommend a trip to Green Island. Its a small island that takes you only 30 minutes roughly to walk around. You can explore along the shore, walk through the bush, or stay aboard the boat and eat the beautiful food on offer!

The best part is the journey back to Cairns - one of the staff gets out his guitar and sings popular songs whilst the sun sets in the background..all the way back to shore. Amazing and something that has stuck in my head almost 12 years on!

Thanks so much. I have one question though. Does Reef Magic and Ocean Spirit go to the same area that Quicksilver goest to?

njislander, Reef Magic has its pontoon at Moore Reef, out of Cairns. Ocean Spirit is also out of Cairns and goes to Michaelmas Cay - no pontoon as you snorkel from the beach of the cay - Quicksilver's pontoon is moored at Agincourt Reef out of Port Douglas. As mentioned above, Quicksilver provides coach transfers between Cairns and Port Douglas, about an hour's drive, maybe longer depending on how many pickups enroute. These three separate reef sites all have semi-submersibles owned by the respective operator, there is another Ocean Spirit trip to Upolu Cay which doesn't supply a semi.

Green Land?? Sorry, Sandra, you'll see a lot better marine life and coral on outer reef, than Green Island. A pleasant little place, but lets not get too carried away.


A better island trip from Cairns in my opinion are Frankland Islands which are nowhere near as highly visited as Green, often locally described as "Green Island 40 years ago" www.franklandislands.com - no shops, cafes,resort, no inground swimming pool.

Another option I would suggest is a day trip to Lizard Island. Very expensive, but worth every penny. It's such a magical place.

Are there semi submersibles off of Lizard island or is it just a place to visit.

No semi-subs off Lizard Island, but excellent snorkelling in its lagoon. Snorkelling day trip available with Daintree Air out of Cairns, its pricey.

Now I'm totally confused. Which day trip has the best snorkeling with the semi submersible? We snorkel some but would like to see a reef or island also but don't want to pay for Lizard Island. Will be in Cairns for 2 nights. Is it possible to go to Daintree on your own with local transportation? Don't think we have time for a day trip there if we do the all day reef also.