The Great Barrier Reef is one of the sparkling gems of Australian travel, a marvellous underwater network of tropical marine life ducking and weaving through vibrant coral.

which is the best Great Barrier Reef tour

This is where divers and snorkellers come to experience playful fish, tranquil turtles, docile dugongs and silvery sharks all making their home in the world’s largest coral reef system.

For lovers of all things breathtakingly natural, it is an experience not to be missed, and so here are some of the best tours you can take so that you too can marvel at this otherworldly natural wonder.

  • 1 Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise Deluxe

    Price: $205

    Best for: everyone! This tour is packed with inclusions including one scuba dive, glass-bottom boat tour and central Cairns accommodation transfers, making it our best value Great Barrier Reef tour.

    Highlights: This action-packed one day tour is perfect for people who want to see the key highlights of this awe-inspiring wonder from all angles. You will be taken to two impressive reef sites where you will snorkel and even dive (beginners welcome and well looked after!) amongst the stunning biodiversity that calls the reef home. Follow this with an extraordinary glass-bottom boat tour and you have one of the best Great Barrier Reef tours on this massive coral stretch!

  • Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Reef Adventure

    Price: $225

    Best for: families or travellers who are nervous about a whole day on a boat.

    Highlights: Spend the day on our activity platform on the Moore Reef where an incredible array of ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef await you! Besides snorkelling, this tour includes access to the underwater observatory, glass-bottom boat tour, semi-submersible boat tour, fish feeding presentations, touch tank presentation, water slide, kids pool and much more!

  • Great Barrier Reef Premium Snorkelling Tour

    Price: $189

    Best for: those who like to travel in style.

    Highlights: Your journey to the outer reef is onboard a sleek catamaran, where you can relax on the netted trampoline or the stylish deck and enjoy the feeling of gliding over the water under sail. Snorkel to your heart’s content or upgrade to a beginner or certified dive and explore the coral and sealife deep under the water!

  • 2 or 3 Day Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Tours

    Price: $490 / $690

    Best for: travellers that want more time on the reef than one dayHighlights: Ever wanted to live out your very own Life Aquatic fantasy? Well, this is the way to do it! In between snorkels or dives at the Reef’s surreal sites, you will be able to relax on a luxury catamaran, complete with on-board chef and a fully licenced bar. Relax with a drink in hand and gaze at the stunning night sky, all the while knowing the incredible underwater world awaits you the next day – it’s pure joy for the senses! This tour caters to snorkellers, beginners and experienced divers alike, with our certified trainers teaching newcomers the ropes.

Related article: Best Places to see the Great Barrier Reef

Explore the Great Barrier Reef Tours from Cairns

Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward began with a passion for travel and turned it into a thriving tourism business. He co-founded Sightseeing Tours Australia after starting out as a tour guide in Melbourne. Cameron delights in helping visitors get the most from their trip to Australia. Whether he's leading tours or writing about his favourite places, Cameron loves sharing his local insight with fellow travellers.

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