Compare Great Barrier Reef Day Tours From Cairns

Gabby Boucher

Updated Wed 13 Mar 2024

There are so many Great Barrier Reef day tours from Cairns that it can be hard to choose which one to book! We've created this guide to compare different Cairns reef tours so you know what to expect. Every tour offers something unique, from the reef sites visited to the fun add-ons to the number of people on board. Take your time choosing the perfect Cairns reef tour so you can have the best possible experience!

Great Barrier Reef Day Tours From Cairns

Which Great Barrier Reef tours have scuba diving?

All of the tours mentioned above offer intro or certified scuba diving, and most of them offer both. You can complete between 1 and 3 dives in one day, though the costs may vary. Make sure you read each tour page in depth to determine whether scuba diving is included or if it costs extra. Introductory dives include a lesson with an experienced instructor so you can feel safe and calm as you take your first breaths underwater! If you are a certified diver, make sure you bring your dive card to show to the staff on board. 

Which Great Barrier Reef tours have glass bottom boats?

Boat tours are a fun way to see the reef from a new perspective. Whether you want to see the reef without getting wet or you're just not a confident swimmer, these tours offer a fun extra activity on the reef. Cruise through the water on a glass bottom boat or a semi-sub and view the reef up close from the comfort of the vessel. Your guide will share interesting info about all the cool creatures and corals you see. 

• Ocean Freedom - Glass bottom boat tour included
• Reef Experience - Glass bottom boat tour included
• Evolution - Semi-submersible boat tour available for extra cost
• Seastar - Glass bottom boat tour included
• Great Adventures - Semi-submersible boat tour included
• Ocean Spirit - Semi-submersible coral viewing tour included
• Ocean Free - Glass bottom boat or semi-sub for extra cost
• Reef Magic - Glass bottom boat or semi-sub included
• Sunlover - Glass bottom boat or semi-sub included

Other types of Great Barrier Reef Tours

These are our top Great Barrier Reef day trips, but there are other ways to see the reef in Tropical North Queensland as well. You can spend multiple days on the reef with a liveaboard. Spend anywhere from 2 to 7 nights sleeping out on the reef and snorkelling or diving at a vast number of reef sites. 

Or you can visit a tropical island on the reef and combine snorkelling with bushwalking and beach lounging. Green Island and Fitzroy Island are the two most popular islands to visit on the Great Barrier Reef, as are the Frankland Islands. You can also book reef tours from Port Douglas, or book a scenic flight over the reef and the rainforest. 

Live chat with our local travel experts if you need any help choosing your Great Barrier Reef day tour from Cairns!