Great Barrier Reef Holidays

June to December is the dry season - temperatures and humidity are more bearable during these months, water is calm and the opportunity to spot whales is at its greatest!

Jellyfish season is November to May, so we would recommend wearing a stinger suit when in the water. You can normally hire these onboard or from the resorts.

Cairns has the biggest airport north of Brisbane, and is a great place to start your Australia itinerary. It allows you to travel south, straight down the east coast without missing anything - this is an extremely popular route for backpackers and campervan holiday makers.

Cairns is a small tropical city, and people are often surprised to find that it doesn’t actually have any beaches of its own. It is well known for offering a range of adventure activities, including white water rafting, sky diving, bungee jumping and jetboating.

There is a palm tree lined esplanade which meanders alongside the harbour and has a water play park for kids. If you follow it all the way along, eventually you will get to the Marlin Marina, which is where you need to get to if you want to head out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns offers a huge selection of day trips or overnight liveaboard packages. You will also find diving schools here - PADI and open water courses are popular, and the liveaboard options are an immersive experience. 

Some of the day trips take travellers to man made pontoons which are fun - they often have waterslides, massage facilities and loads of activities to choose from. You can also opt to find Nemo in a semi submersible or glass bottomed boat.

The pontoons are a great option for family trips and most boat operators will happily accept children.

If you want a more natural experience, then you can choose to head further out to the fringing reef, and do some snorkelling or scuba diving with the schools of coral dwelling fish that call this more remote area home.

If you want to spend some time on a paradise island, then Fitzroy Island will fit the bill. Just 45 minutes from the mainland,  the gorgeous sandy island is almost completely surrounded by coral reef, making it ideal for snorkelling. Bushwalks and mountain tracks are plentiful, leading to the Light House, various lookouts and even a secret garden in the middle of a rainforest.

If you want a more off the beaten track reef experience, then head two hours north to Port Douglas. This area has a smaller ‘village’ type feel to it, and it is literally where the rainforest meets the ocean.The Daintree rainforest is nearby for some croc spotting and the Mossman Gorge is also worth a visit.

Port Douglas is actually closer to the outer reef than Cairns, which offers a quieter boating or snorkelling experience and an array of scuba diving courses to choose from, including residential PADI packages.

Want to visit one of the top ten beaches in the world? Whitehaven Beach encompasses the image that most people have of the Whitsundays, with its dazzling white sands, washed by the bluest Pacific.

Airlie Beach is home to the main launch pad to get there. The nearest airport is in Proserpine, about twenty minutes drive away. Airlie is a backpacker haven - it is basically one main street filled with hostels, surf shops and a buzzing bar and restaurant scene. Quite a few high end resorts have opened over the last few years if you are looking for something a little more upmarket, and there are also plenty of self catering options.

Airlie Beach is a must do on any East Coast Australia itinerary. Not least because it has a huge variety of day trips, on a huge variety of boats! Racing catamarans, tall ships with sails aloft, jet boat rafts and party yachts are just some of the options. Most will stop at Whitehaven for a picnic, or BBQ lunch. You can take a bushwalk and admire the sweeping reef views, or just chill out on the beach. Stand up paddle boards and cricket bats are usually available and make for a fun and relaxed afternoon. 

If you are travelling as a family, you will have less day trip options to choose from as many have a minimum age of 18. In this instance, I would recommend that you hit the islands instead!

Hamilton island and Daydream Island are the two most popular resort options in the Whitsundays. Hamilton Island even has its own airport! Both are car free, mostly covered in bushland (spot the koalas!)  and you can snorkel off the beach. Your biggest decision each day will be pool or ocean?

Lots of people don’t realise quite how far down the Queensland coast the Great Barrier reef stretches. If you aren’t heading to North Queensland, then you can still have an amazing reef experience from Brisbane and the surrounding areas.

Moreton Island is a mere 45 minute boat journey from Brisbane, and is home to a vast array of marine life and fifteen sunken vessels to explore. It is the second largest sand island in the world (second only to Fraser Island) and is well worth a visit. There are day trips, or you can stay at the Tangalooma Resort. Every evening a pod of wild dolphins visit and tourists are able to hand feed them under the watchful eye of the marine biologists. 

Heron Island is another option accessible via a short flight from Brisbane. It is a true coral cay, entirely made from sand and coral and other natural elements. This is one of the best places to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. It is amazing for bird watching and green sea turtles also nest on the beaches. The resort on the private island is high end, so if you want a really special reef experience, this is it. 

• Check out the Heart Reef from a helicopter or seaplane! This is the shot that everyone wants, and there won’t be any pesky people down there ruining your photo as the reef has protected status! You can get there via the Whitsundays.

• The infinity pool at the exclusive Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island is amazing. Unfortunately you need to be a paying guest to use it, but this is the quintessential view to make everyone back at home jealous!

• The view over Whitehaven Beach from Hill Inlet is found on many postcards! The walk itself is an easy bushwalk up to the wooden bridge network leading to different look out platforms - it is a swirl of white silica sand and aqua blue water. Breathtaking!

When visiting the reef, remember to be careful underfoot - don’t touch the coral or take any souvenirs. Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints!

You may need to fill in a medical form before SCUBA diving.

Some vaccinations may be required pending where you are going, when and what you’re doing. Standard and correct advice is to check with your GP before travelling as they’ll have the up to date information.

Of course, goes without saying we’d advise taking out travel insurance before travelling.

Why book with The Adventure People?

You may be thinking ‘why should I book with The Adventure People?’. Here are just some of the reasons we stand out:

The Best Value

Not only are our prices usually the best in the market but our leading service coupled with the financial protections we offer mean you won’t find better value anywhere else.

Your Dedicated Travel Expert

Our travel team is the best in the business and we’re not just saying that. The moment you make an enquiry we’ll pair you with your own dedicated expert who is on hand to answer your questions, look after your booking and make sure you have a fantastic time.

No Waiting Times

We only have one phone number with no automated services. When you contact us you’re straight through to a member of our team and a human! 

Financial Protection

We are ATOL certified, members of ABTA and run a Trust account for our packages ensuring you’re fully financially protected. 

Flexible Payments

We offer low deposits and monthly payment plans at no extra cost. 

Flights

We can add flights to any trip you book with us and we’re happy to help with Round The World tickets!

Accommodation

We work with wonderful accommodation providers and our team can quote almost any hotel in the world at the best prices.

Transfers & Extras

We can easily add airport transfers or extras to any booking. Our team will always quote the best possible price and be able to update your booking.