How Far Is The Great Barrier Reef From The Shore?
From Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, it's only a short boat ride that ranges from 20 minutes to 90 minutes depending on your destination. Cairns is one of the closest cities to the Great Barrier Reef in all of Australia! So for divers, snorkellers, marine life enthusiasts, or anyone hoping to tick the Great Barrier Reef off their bucket list, Cairns is the perfect place to book your reef trip!
How far is the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?
For those who have never dived into the Great Barrier Reef, its whereabouts can be a little confusing. As a huge and delightful 2,300 kilometre long formation consisting of clusters of 2900 reefs, 900 islands and numerable sand cays, the reef is located between 15 kilometres and 150 kilometres offshore, depending on the land points.
One of the first questions visitors want to know the answer to is ‘How far is the Great Barrier Reef from the shore?’. Due to its incredible expanse and the varying different reefs, there is no simple, overarching way to answer this question - there are 101 different answers depending on where you begin and whereabouts in the reef you’re looking to explore. Here are some helpful pointers on how long it should take you to get to the Great Barrier Reef depending on where you leave from, as well as an inside scoop into how to best explore the different areas of the reef.
Here are some of the most popular Great Barrier Reef day tours from Cairns!
Travelling from Cairns to the Outer Reef
Outer Reefs (Norman, Moore, Thetford, Milln and Flynn Reefs)
How long it takes to get there:
For a modern and fully-sized catamaran to travel from Cairns to the Outer Reef, you should expect the travel time to be around 90 minutes one way. Please note this can change due to various circumstances including the weather and your vessel.
How to explore the Outer Reef:
The Outer Reefs of the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is an absolute sight for sore eyes. These patch reefs make up most of the sites for tour operators around the region, due to its isolation from the mainland which brings with it incredible clarity and peace. There’s also an abundance of marine biodiversity in the Outer Reefs, which means you’re bound to rub shoulders with a school of colourful fish. The depth of the Outer Reef gives way to the deeper water pelagic and reef sharks, which is something you can’t enjoy in the more shallow reefs.
There’s a myriad of ways to enjoy the Outer Reef: from scuba diving to snorkelling, take your pick! The average dive site in the Outer Reef is 15 metres, making it the perfect diving site for any skill level.
Trips to the Outer Reef greatly differ depending on which operator you choose to go with. Some of the renowned diving sites include Norman and Saxon Reefs, and Thetford and Briggs Reef. The Outer Reef is also great for families - some operators make use of large and permanent pontoons, which provide a safe, secure and accessible way to enjoy the reef or take a dive.
Travelling from Cairns to the Mid Reefs
Mid Reefs (Arlington, Saxon, Hastings, Upolo, Pinnacle Reefs & Michaelmas Cay)
How long it takes to get there:
Located halfway between the coastline and the Continental Shelf edge, getting to the Mid Reefs should take approximately 70 minutes. It’s very dependent on your vessel though - travelling via a sailing catamaran can take almost two hours!
How to explore the Mid Reefs:
Exploring the Mid Reefs is pretty similar to exploring the Outer Reefs: pick a vessel and jump on board! You can opt to scuba dive, snorkel or swim in the deep blue - just make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a beautiful display of marine life!
Travelling from Cairns to Islands on the Reef
Includes Fitzroy Island and Green Island
How long it takes to get there:
Most vessels take around 45 minutes to get to both Fitzroy Island and Green Island, but some can take 30 and some can take 60. For those who want to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef but don't want a long boat ride to the Outer Reef, the islands are a great alternative.
How to explore Fitzroy Island and Green Island:
There are so many incredible activities to do on and around Fitzroy Island and Green Island. Begin with the obvious, and explore the extravagant fringe reef surrounding the island for an incredible glimpse into the world below. You’re bound to spot green turtles, clown fish and maybe even whales between July and September! The coral surrounding the islands is also spectacular, boasting an abundance of colours and textures.
If you’re short on time, heading to Fitzroy Island or Green Island is one of the best ways to get an all-round incredible reef and island experience! You can opt to swim, snorkel or dive around the island, but there’s also an abundance of other options to choose. Hire a kayak, jump on board a glass bottom boat or zoom around in your boat or yacht!
Is it better to see the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or Port Douglas?
Cairns is closer to the Outer Reef than Port Douglas, but Port Douglas offers lots of uncrowded reef tours to less touristy reef sites. So both are amazing for visiting the Great Barrier Reef! But it depends on what you are looking for.
Port Douglas is an hour north of Cairns. It's a smaller city and has fewer options in terms of boat tours to the reef and private charters. But that means the tours may be less crowded, and the reef sites may be less crowded as well.
Cairns, being a larger city and a tourist hub, has a huge variety of Great Barrier Reef and island tours. You have more options and a slightly shorter boat ride to the Outer Reef. It's up to you where you choose to visit the reef, and both are fabulous.
