…literally the biggest living thing on earth, spanning 2300km, with more than 600 types of coral.
If you haven’t made it to the Great Barrier Reef yet, it’s time to do so. It’s literally the biggest living thing on earth, spanning 2300km, with more than 600 types of coral. It’s larger than the Great Wall of China and is visible from space – so we can understand why it’s hard to know where to get started. It doesn’t matter if you want the chill life of soaking up the sun on golden beaches, or if you want to live it large with diving trips and helicopter tours – with such impressive stats, there’s no excuse to not affording a trip out to our country’s own gem. We’re here to help with a guide to your ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience.
If you’re clueless, don’t worry. There are plenty of tours, experiences and things to do to get up close and personal with the colourful coral that lies beneath the waves, from Airlie Beach to Cairns.
1. Explore the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns
There’s tons of things to do in Cairns, but perhaps its greatest boast is that it offers instant access to the Great Barrier Reef. It has a wide range of different tours, so whether you’re an experienced diver, have a head for heights or like your exploration travels a little more subdued, there’s a perfect way for you to take in the reef, directly from Cairns.
See the reef and the rainforest on a guided tour
Given the size of the Great Barrier Reef, it stands to reason that devoting a fair bit of time exploring it is a good idea. Signing up to a 4-day guided tour of both the area and the reef gives you a deeper insight into the vast natural wonder while demonstrating how interesting and varied the wider landscape is.
After enjoying a free day getting your bearings and settling into your hotel, day two sees you whisked out to the reef via a modern catamaran that drops anchor and allows you to either leap off and explore for yourself or head below deck for an underwater observatory view. The following days then take you to the Kuranda Rainforest and Kuranda Scenic Railway before giving you some time to digest everything you’ve seen as you get ready to head home.
Get a bird’s eye view with a hot air balloon ride
How about some sea and sky in one day? You may have never thought of taking a hot air balloon ride to see the Great Barrier Reef, but this is just one part of a very special tour that gives you an aerial view of the area before swooping down to a high-speed luxury catamaran with a glass bottom.
Your balloon ride will fly you effortlessly over the Atherton Tablelands, giving you a chance to gauge the scale of the reef. You’ll then be taken back to ground level for a boat ride like no other. Mooring at an exclusive platform on the edge of the Outer Reef, the catamaran is perfect for reef explorers of all types, with non-swimmers being invited to take advantage of the boat’s glass bottom, while confident swimmers and divers can jump into the water. You can explore at your leisure and in whichever way makes you more comfortable, before enjoying a tasty buffet lunch up on the sundeck.
From boat to beach: visit Nudey Beach on Fitzroy Island
It’s no secret that Australia’s beaches are among the best in the world and you can’t possibly visit Cairns without also heading to Nudey Beach, a stretch of sand that’s been voted best in the country. A one-day Fitzroy Island and Moore Reef tour gives you access to this pinnacle of beach life and the intriguing reef, all without breaking sweat. Perfect for travellers of all ages, too.
Leaving from Cairns Marina, you’ll head to Fitzroy Island, a national park covered with dense rainforests and coral beaches. Take an hour to explore, or just stretch out on Nudey Beach for a while, then board a boat that will take you to a pontoon at the Moore Reef. With a mini water park, underwater observatory and tasty catering on board, you’ll be able to dictate how you experience the reef for yourself. Most people like to leap in and swim among the coral and sea life, but the underwater viewing area on the pontoon is a fantastic way to see everything while staying dry.
Learn a new skill – become a certified scuba diver
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, there’s no better place in the world than in the Great Barrier Reef. After all, diving is one of the best ways to see this astonishing natural wonder, and having a PADI diving qualification comes in handy for future holidays, too.
You don’t need any experience at all to take part in a 5-Day Introduction to Scuba Diving Course, and you’ll receive tuition while exploring the reef itself. At the end of the course, you’ll be given a PADI Open Water Diver Certificate, allowing you to dive unaccompanied throughout the world. Swimming among the reef is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people, but if you invest in a diving qualification, you might find it prompts you to revisit. Either way, it’s a life skill that will take you to some incredible places.
Get your adrenaline pumping – skydive over the Great Barrier Reef
Are you one of those people who’s always looking for a unique experience or unusual way to see a tourist hotspot? A skydive over the Great Barrier Reef is the perfect answer! You may have already had snorkelling or diving sessions, but to see the whole area from a totally new perspective, few things are likely to beat leaping out of a plane and drinking in the view from the sky.
You’ll jump out at 15,000 feet, strapped to an experienced instructor. Although you’ll feel there’s loads of time to take in the views, you’ll only be airborne for 5-7 minutes. If you’re a seasoned adrenaline junkie, make sure your GoPro is charged and ready to go.
2. Experience the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach / Whitsundays
Having gained fame as a backpackers’ dream destination, Airlie Beach tempts plenty of Aussies to Queensland every year – and its chilled vibe and good-times feel makes it a welcoming destination.
There are numerous tours that leave from Airlie Beach to explore both the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands, covering a diverse range of activities and interests. From scuba-diving and exploring the islands to fishing and skydiving, you can try your hand at almost anything here.
Explore the Whitsundays first
They say, “but first, coffee”. Well, if you can consider the Whitsundays as nature’s greatest cappuccino, it definitely rings true (I mean, look at it). If you’ve never been to the Whitsundays, you might have only ever seen it before on Getaway in your parent’s living room. All our international friends have been here, so why haven’t you?
The Whitsunday archipelago is a collection of 74 islands that are paradise on earth. Surrounded by blue waters and punctuated with some of the finest beaches you’ll ever see on your travels, these little slices of heaven give you not only somewhere beautiful to spend a few hours, but also access to the reef.
Splitting your time between beach days, island hopping and swimming will give you a more laid-back and self-governed experience of the area, though you will always have the option of booking activities if you want to take advantage of the local guides’ knowledge and expertise.
Take a flight and a cruise over the Great Barrier Reef
Make the most of your time by taking a day tour of the skies and the land. Like any art piece, you’ll want to see it both up close and afar – it’s a totally different experience when it comes to the beauty of theWhitsundays and Great Barrier Reef .
The Scenic Flight and Cruise Day Tour departs from Airlie Beach and gets things started with a flight in a light aircraft, where everybody gets a window seat to take in the views. You’ll also be able to do some beach spotting if you’re looking for somewhere new to lay your towel for a few hours. Back on the ground, you’ll be whisked to your cruise vessel that takes you to Whitehaven Beach, a stunning stretch of sand that offers plenty to do. If you prefer to stay on dry land, guided walks are also on offer, but to see the Great Barrier Reef a little more closely, you can get out on the waters on a paddleboard or grab some snorkelling equipment and dive in.
Skydiving in Airlie Beach: jump in, feet first
Similar to the Cairns skydiving opportunity, you can soar up to 15,000 feet above the ground in a light aircraft, having departed from Airlie Beach. You will be strapped to the chest of an experienced skydiving instructor, and will benefit from not only the unique views of the Great Barrier Reef but also the beautiful Whitsundays.
Skydiving above Airlie Beach won’t take a huge amount of time, as you’ll freefall for 60 seconds before gently descending for a further six minutes (on average), landing close to Airlie Beach itself. You’ll land in the ideal location for grabbing a bite to eat, once your stomach has returned to normal!
She’s a beauty… see humpback whales to green sea turtles
Before heading to the Great Barrier Reef, a little homework can be helpful as it’ll give you a better idea of what to look out for as you snorkel and dive around the precious coral formations.
A breeding ground for humpback whales, the reef is also home to the endangered, slow-moving dugong (also known as a sea cow) and magnificent Green sea turtles, not to mention countless varieties of other marine life and fish, including clownfish and groupers. It will be a day well spent if you stretch out on a beach in the Whitsundays, or on Airlie Beach itself, to read up on some of the sea creatures you might discover. Remember to charge your underwater camera, too!
3. Take advantage of transfers between Airlie Beach & Cairns
To see as much of the Great Barrier Reef as possible, we highly recommend booking a transfer offered by Greyhound tours to maximise your trip. Given there are 74 islands in total, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible island-hopping and exploring – it’s so much easier when you don’t have to worry about how to get around!
Plush reclining seats, USB charging ports and onboard WiFi ensure you’ll have a comfy trip, whether you’d like to catch up on some Z’s, gaze out to the coast or update all your mates back home on your trip.
See the Great Barrier Reef your way
Even if you had a lifetime to explore the Great Barrier Reef, it’s unlikely you’d see it all, but signing up to some guided tours, experiences and activities will get you started. Tour operators have made the reef accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility, age and interests. This beauty is literally within reach for anyone. From skydiving above to snorkelling within, see the reef your way!
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