For our upcoming OZ vacation we want to snorkel at least twice on the Great Barrier Reef and plan to stay in Cairns or Port Douglas so we can also do side trips on land.

Questions are:
Where to stay - Cairns or Port Douglas?
Which tour boat to use? Our travel agent has recommended Quicksilver, but I hear they take out very large numbers of passengers.
Which area of the reef to go to for excellent snorkeling - which my dictate the tour boat used.
Will we need to wear stinger suits in mid-November when snorkeling on the reef? If so, do all the boats provide them?
In addition to a boat trip out to the reef to snorkel off a pontoon, would you recommend either a day snorkel trip to an island or to stay on an island for a few days, and if so which one? Is there anything near the Cairns/Port Douglas area?
Lizard Island looks beautiful but very pricey. Heron Island seems more affordable but there are costs to getting there.

Thanks!

Thanks for your advice.

1. I've been to GBR 5 times (June - Aug time frame) and always stayed in Port Douglas. I like PD because: 1) it's a small town and we can walk from our hotel into town and all around, 2) it's got Four Mile Beach, but you'll have to swim in the netted area in November; and 3) it's close to both the reef and the rainforest, so there are many different things to do in the area. Of course, others prefer a bigger town like Cairns because there's more nightlife, etc. It just depends on what you like.
2. I've been on different boats out of PD, but on every visit, we always go out on Wavelength for one of our snorkeling trips. Wavelength is a snorkel-only boat that takes a maximum of 30 passengers. They get rave reviews on sites like Trip Advisor.
3. There's a good explanation of the various reef conditions on the Wavelength website. (Look at FAQs)
4. I would definitely wear a stinger suit in November. I'm sure all of the boats out to the reef have them. (Wavelength provides them free of charge.)
5. If you want to do a lot of snorkeling, you might want to consider a liveaboard boat. I have never done this because we never snorkel more than twice when we visit PD--there's so many other things to do. But I had a friend who was traveling with a scuba diver and they spent 2 nights/3 days on a liveaboard and she said it was great. There are islands close to both Cairns and Port Douglas, but they are not on the Outer Reef, so the snorkeling is not as spectacular.

Cairns is fine, no real reason to go to Port Douglas unless you want to do the drive which is very nice. Otherwise just extra money for the same thing. You can go to reef from Cairns for $140 plus a $20 taxi plus room. That is with Passions of Paradise which has received more tourism awards than any other operator that goes to the great barrier reef.

From Port Douglas the Quicksilver is $205 plus it cost about $35 per person to get there, that is $140 return for 2.

So for two people from Cairns going on the best operator it is $250 cheaper than going cattle class!

So you can stay in a lovely room with a harbour view at thE Shangi La with your savings rather than a run down resort room in a dying town.

If you waat to see rainforets go up the hills, stunning rainforest plus a 500% better chance of seeing wildife than along the coast..plus it is cooler. Try Cedar Park lodge, thay have kangaroo babies orhpan care and release into wild. Some choose not to leave!

Fitzroy Island has some rainforest, a resort and some snorkel. Also Green island but coral a bit dead. I think some areas are ok but nobody tells you where. Not like you can swim around the whole island looking for it.

Not sure about the "run down resort room in a dying town" but if you want to see the wildlife then a trip up to the Tablelands is more easily accomplished from one of the northern beaches and many of the reef companies will do a free or minimal charge pick up from there. Also you a right on the beach with few to contend with and a good choice of restaurants to which you can walk. Or more importantly form which one can walk home.

Hi Guys, Pop down to The Whitsundays.Island accommodation is less expensive and if you want budget accommodation you can stay on South Molle Island,Check out our website at:-
http:/www.queenslandarmchairguide.com/whitsundays.html or
http:.//www.queensslandarmchairguide.com/airliebeach.html
for all the info you need.

Thanks for the info, and keep those suggestions coming.

What about Heron Island?

Or somewhere in the Whitsunday islands?

Is there an island in the Great Barrier Reef where we can stay and snorkel right off the island? Heron, Hamilton, Dunk, or where?

Heron, yes, Hamilton and Dunk, no. Other true coral cay with accommodation is Lady Elliot at the southernmost tip of Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island, yes, but its very expensive.

Green Island out of Cairns has a resort, but the coral there has seen better days.