The purest way to see The Great Barrier Reef is to find a well-organised snorkelling trip, take a deep breath and get up close and personal with one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
For anyone with an ounce of travelling spirit in their blood, The Great barrier Reef has to be on the destination bucket list somewhere. Spanning over 2,4000km down Australia’s eastern coastline, this collection of coral formations, turtles, whales and 1,600 species of fish, as well as even the Southern Hemisphere’s only submerged art gallery, is fascinating, fragile and unforgettable. It can be tempting to buy some cheap goggles and budgie smugglers from the dollar store and try to check it out yourself, but one of the purest (and best value for money) ways of seeing the reef is on a well-organised snorkelling tour. Here are the best snorkelling tours to get the most out of The Great Barrier Reef:
Outer Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise & Transfer
Undoubtedly one of the best snorkelling trips out there, this 7.5 hour tour takes in three different reef sites at the pristine Opal or Agincourt Reefs in one day. Good quality gear is all part of the package, including prescription diving masks, wetsuits and flotation devices if needed, and in-between dives tea, coffee and a buffet is provided. The whole idea is to get even beginners acquainted with the reef and its diverse inhabitants – don’t be surprised to see clownfish, giant clams, stingrays, Maori wrasse, codfishes, and colorful parrotfish as you navigate the reef. It’s extremely well organised, with briefings and information throughout the day, the only issue for the more cash-strapped backpacker is probably the price – almost 200 bucks buys a lot of instant noodles at the hostel. From € 174.49.
Book at Getyourguide
Cape Tribulation Ocean Safari Tour
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
For something a bit more wallet friendly this ocean safari from Cape Tribulation packs a lot into half a day. There are only two dive sites as part of the tour, found at Mackay Reef, but it’s still a lot of reef exploring and for some will be enough considering the cost saving over a full day. There is an eco slant so the skipper will be explaining about conservation of The Great Barrier Reef and the coastal rainforest of the Daintree – two world heritage areas side by side. Good value and a perfect toe-in for discovering the reef. The 700hp vessel, based on a rescue craft, is a lot of fun too. From € 111.10.
Book at Getyourguide
Sunlover Reef Cruises Cairns Great Barrier Reef Experience
This tour is a little bit different in that the destination is the Moore Reef Pontoon on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, which is not only surrounded by fish but even has a water slide. OK, so maybe this isn’t the one to take the marine biology society for the annual get-together but it is very good for people who either don’t want to be on a boat all day, or just want to have a bit of extra fun. The air-conditioned catamaran that heads there has a glass bottom for observing the marine life, there’s an enclosed ocean pool and sundeck on the pontoon, and all sorts of other goodies aimed at families with children with a short attention span (ie all of them). You can also add on a certified diving, Seawalker Helmet dive, guided snorkel safari or even a scenic helicopter flight. From €162.81.
Book at Viator
Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
Boujee and budget don’t normally end up in the same sentence, but this nine-hour catamaran tour seems to nail both. It’s less than 150 bucks but one of the most pleasant ways to see the reef, setting sail, rather than chugging away with a motor, for the outer Barrier Reef. An onboard marine expert will explain the underwater eco-system and an experienced crew will run through snorkeling techniques during the journey. Then all you have to do is to sunbathe or chill on the upper sun deck or the netted deck trampoline at the bow of the boat, before heading to either Flynn and Milne reef or further north at Norman and Hastings reefs. There’s even a fresh tropical buffet lunch prepared onboard. Pretensions of being a millionaire optional. From € 144.91.
Book at Getyourguide
Whitsundays: Ocean Rafting Fly Raft Tour with Snorkeling
You’re probably thinking: this is all well and good, but where’s my aeroplane ride and bushwalk to go with the snorkelling trip? This tour has you covered. It kicks off with a 60-minute scenic flight in a light aircraft flight over many of the 74 Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including famous Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. The following a high-adrenaline speed boat ride (did we mention that bit?) there is a bushwalk for withering travellers to Hill Inlet Lookout at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach. It culminates with snorkelling for over an hour at Border Island, Dumbell Island or one of the guide’s secret snorkel spots. From € 284.98.
Book at Getyourguide