Great Barrier Reef and Fitzroy Island Boat Tour

About This Experience

This combination day comes from Sunlover Reef Cruises and pairs two very different parts of the reef: an outer reef pontoon in the morning and a rainforest island in the afternoon. It leaves from the Reef Fleet Terminal on the Cairns waterfront on an air-conditioned catamaran, and the full loop takes about nine hours.

The first leg is about 1.5 hours out to Sunlover's pontoon at Moore Reef. You then have around two hours at the reef, and the listing puts it at up to 2.5 hours. Snorkel gear, a Lycra suit and a life jacket are provided, a marine naturalist talks about the reef, and the glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible both run from the pontoon. The underwater observatory, a waterslide off the pontoon and an enclosed ocean pool for toddlers are all included, which is why families like this one.

Around midday the catamaran makes the 45-minute run to Fitzroy Island. Lunch is a tropical buffet at Zephyrs, the resort restaurant looking over Welcome Bay, and it takes about an hour. That leaves roughly two hours to swim at the beach, follow one of the self-guided national park walks or sit in the shade. No snorkel gear is supplied on the island, so bring your own mask if you want another look underwater. The trip back to Cairns takes about 50 minutes.

It suits first-time visitors and families who want the outer reef without committing a whole day to the water, and anyone who finds a full pontoon day too long. Nervous snorkellers can add the guided snorkel tour, and reviewers mention crew who look after first-timers well. The trade-off is that you spend less time on the reef itself than on a dedicated outer reef day.

Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and comfortable shoes for the island paths. Drinks at the pontoon bar and any island extras such as the kayak tour or the turtle rehabilitation centre are paid separately. On windy days the crossing can be rough, and the crew brief passengers about conditions before departure.

Highlights

• Snorkel at Sunlover's Moore Reef pontoon on the outer reef
• Ride the glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible to see coral without getting wet
• Slide into the water from the pontoon waterslide
• Hear about the reef from a marine naturalist at the pontoon
• Buffet lunch at Zephyrs overlooking Welcome Bay on Fitzroy Island
• About two hours to swim or walk the national park trails on Fitzroy

What's Included

• ✓ Return cruise on an air-conditioned catamaran
• ✓ Snorkel gear with Lycra suit and life jacket at Moore Reef
• ✓ Glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible tours
• ✓ Waterslide, underwater observatory and enclosed toddler pool at the pontoon
• ✓ Tropical buffet lunch on Fitzroy Island
• ✓ Access to Fitzroy Island's self-guided national park walks and beaches

Not Included

• Guided snorkel tour or Seawalker at the reef
• Extra food and drinks, including the pontoon bar
• Fitzroy Island extras such as the kayak tour, guided nature walk or turtle rehabilitation centre visit
• Snorkel gear on Fitzroy Island

What to Bring

• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Hat and sunglasses
• Comfortable shoes for the island walks
• Camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• Hotel transfers are not part of this listing, so plan to make your own way to the Reef Fleet Terminal.
• Snorkel gear is only provided at Moore Reef. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you want to swim over coral at Fitzroy.
• Reef time is about two hours, shorter than on a full pontoon day, because the afternoon is spent on the island.
• Sea conditions vary. On rough days the ride out can be bumpy, so take seasickness tablets early if you are prone.
• Marine life sightings are never guaranteed, and visibility changes with the weather.
• Drones are not allowed.

Meeting Point

Check in with Sunlover Reef Cruises on the bottom floor of the Reef Fleet Terminal on the Cairns waterfront.