What Is The Difference Between Cairns And Port Douglas Reef Trips?
The Great Barrier Reef is spectacular from both Cairns and Port Douglas, though each destination offers something slightly different. Cairns is a much bigger city and tourist hub, meaning there are lots more Great Barrier Reef boat tours departing the city every day. Port Douglas is about an hour north of Cairns and has fewer Great Barrier Reef tours. But what Port Douglas lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality!
Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns and Port Douglas are both incredible, it just depends on what type of atmosphere you're looking for. Let's compare the two!
Is the Great Barrier Reef better from Port Douglas or Cairns?
The Great Barrier Reef is amazing from both Cairns and Port Douglas. It's the variety of reef tours and vibe of the destination that varies slightly between the two. Each reef site, whether closer to Cairns or Port Douglas, is part of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Each unique site is special in its own way, and will be completely different from any other reef!
Every reef site in Queensland has its own variety of animal and plant life that is dependent on the type of coral, its formation, currents, shape, depth and other various factors. Whether choosing a trip from Port Douglas or Cairns, you will get to see the beauty and marvel of the marine park and its inhabitants.
What reef sites do you visit on a Great Barrier Reef boat tour?
Every trip to the Great Barrier Reef from both Cairns and Port Douglas will choose the reef site on the day based on the weather and conditions. The crew onboard are very knowledgeable about the area and will select the snorkel or dive site that offers the best conditions. So it's hard to know exactly which reef site your Great Barrier Reef boat tour will visit on any given day.
However, reef sites you may visit from Cairns include Norman Reef, Hastings Reef, Michaelmas Reef, Milln Reef, or Moore Reef. Cairns Great Barrier Reef boat tours often visit the fringing reefs around Green Island or Fitzroy Island as well. Reefs you may visit from Port Douglas include Agincourt Reef, Opal Reef, South Opal or Low Isles.
Is it better to scuba dive from Cairns or Port Douglas?
Most experts would consider Cairns to be better for scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, particularly for advanced divers. There are more overnight liveaboards in Cairns for those who want an extended reef trip. There is also a greater variety of advanced dive courses for experienced scuba divers hoping to enhance their skills.
Cairns is also closer to the Outer Reef, which is where most of the impressive dive sites are. That's not to say you can't find some amazing scuba diving in Port Douglas! Silversonic is one of the absolute best Great Barrier Reef boat tours in Port Douglas, where you get to scuba dive or snorkel at 3 gorgeous reef sites.
But if you're a passionate scuba diver and you want an epic liveaboard or an advanced dive course, Cairns is the better option.
Port Douglas vs. Cairns
Because the Great Barrier Reef boat tours will be incredible from both locations, many travellers base their reef trips on the cities themselves. Cairns is a bigger city with more nightlife, events, and attractions. Port Douglas is a smaller city that has a more relaxed vibe. Port Douglas is also closer to the Daintree Rainforest, another gorgeous destination in Tropical North Queensland. Both Cairns and Port Douglas are popular for backpackers, families, couples, and all types of travellers. So choose which location suits you better and then book a Great Barrier Reef trip from there.
What Is The Difference Between Cairns And Port Douglas Reef Trips?
So the main difference between Cairns and Port Douglas for Great Barrier Reef trips is that Cairns has more tour options for advanced divers on the Outer Reef and Port Douglas has a more relaxed atmosphere for travellers.
Besides the location, there isn’t much of a difference in reef trips and all follow a similar itinerary. There are small differences between each trip, such as departure and return times, food options and amenities, which you will find reflected in the price, rather than which departure location you choose. You really can't go wrong with any Great Barrier Reef tour in Australia!
