The 11 Best Cairns Boat Tours

1.Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,714 reviews · from $190Our pick

Sail from Cairns aboard Evolution to two outer reef sites, usually Saxon or Norman Reef and Hastings Reef. Snorkel with supplied gear, add an introductory or certified scuba session, or book a 10-minute helicopter flight. Crew members such as Indy and Phil explain the sea life, while lunch, snacks, and a return glass of wine are included.

“The staff was great to work with! The day was such a fun experience for someone who had never been snorkeling before. You could snorkel as much as you wanted. Would highly recommend !”

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2.Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,567 reviews · 9 hours · from $190

From Cairns, sail aboard Passions of Paradise to two outer reef sites chosen from Flynn, Milln, Norman, or Hastings reefs. Snorkel with turtles, giant clams, parrotfish, and clownfish, join a guided eco tour, or try an introductory scuba session. The day includes equipment, wetsuits or sunsuits, morning tea, and a chef-prepared buffet lunch.

“Amazing trip! The crew were so lovely and encouraging. They made me feel at ease when nervous as snorkelling for the first time. A bonus was they had prescription snorkel googles which were amazing. And being paired with a crew buddy was extra comforting. Callan was my crew buddy and was so friendly and helpful. (Sorry if I’ve spelt his name wrong)”

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3.Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,564 reviews · from $192Top rated

Spend about nine hours aboard Passions of Paradise’s 25-meter catamaran, visiting two Outer Great Barrier Reef sites selected for the day’s conditions. Snorkel with guides, try an introductory scuba session, enjoy a hot and cold buffet, and hear a marine presentation. Guides such as Simon, Parker, Harry, and Andi are praised for calm, personal help in the water.

“I thought it was going to be a smaller catamaran with less people and more attention. The trip to the reef was worth it, though. The staffer is very friendly, but the boat is very crowded. If you don't mind the crowds and the non personalized service, it is a good trip. The sales were broken, so we were unable to sail.Which really is a highlight”

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4.Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,895 reviews · from $181

Spend about six hours at Upolu Cay and the Wonder Wall aboard a 65-foot catamaran. You can snorkel with a marine naturalist, join a glass-bottom boat tour, or add certified or introductory scuba. Expect guided water time, reef safety support, seafood lunch, and snacks.

“All the crew were professional, fun, and super friendly. I can’t swim at all, and it was my first time swimming in the ocean too, so I was honestly really nervous at first. But the crew looked after me so well, and it ended up being such an amazinRead more”

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5.Outer and Coral Cay Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,467 reviews · 9 hours - 1 day · from $183

Set out from Cairns on Ocean Freedom’s fast 20-metre catamaran for six hours at Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay. You’ll snorkel Wonder Wall and the Aquarium, join guided drift snorkelling and glass-bottom boat trips, and choose certified or introductory scuba sessions. The crew includes instructors such as Ollie, Paul, and Tori, with lunch, snacks, and gear included.

“Food was sooo good! boat was spacious and cool. Dive instructors were lovely!!”

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6.Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,003 reviews · 8h 30m · from $279

Spend about 8.5 hours aboard the 35-meter Evolution from Cairns, visiting Saxon and Hastings reefs for snorkeling or optional scuba. Your day includes equipment, a BBQ lunch, and a 10-minute helicopter flight over Hastings Reef. Expect friendly multilingual crew, strong safety support, and possible rough seas.

“Everything was amazing, the staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was excellent.”

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7.Great Barrier Reef Premium Diving Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 792 reviews · 9 hours · from $127

From Cairns Marlin Marina, spend five hours in the water at two outer reef sites with Reef Magic and Dreamtime Dive. Snorkel among coral gardens, turtles, rays, sharks, and schooling fish, then choose an introductory or certified scuba session. Guides share Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay, and Yirrganydji stories, with tea and buffet lunch included.

“Amazing day, the boat was comfortable, and the crew was knowledgeable. Good safety briefings and there were eyes on the people in the water at all times, so it felt very safe and well organised. Food was nothing to write home about, but that's not the main attraction for this experience anyways. There was a school group onboard, but they were mostly well behaved.”

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8.Green Island Half-Day Morning Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 417 reviews · 4 hours · from $77

Take the air-conditioned Reef Rocket catamaran from Cairns to Green Island in about 45 minutes. You get roughly two hours on the island for snorkeling, a glass-bottom boat tour, beach time, or a swim, with gear and a safety demonstration included. It is a compact, friendly introduction to the Great Barrier Reef.

“We liked everything from the smooth seamless boarding to the trilling ride to the island, my first time snorkeling so needed a quiet shallow area of the beach to get my confidence up, it was worth it, the water was crystal clear and depth was neck high at the most, lots of fishes, turtles and pickers if coral”

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9.Half-Day Afternoon Cruise to Green Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 403 reviews · 4 hours · from $77

Take a catamaran from Cairns to Green Island, a 600-year-old coral cay with white beaches and rainforest. You will have about 2 hours and 15 minutes on the island, with a choice of snorkel equipment or a glass-bottom boat tour. Bring swimwear and a towel, and expect a lively but compact afternoon on the reef.

“Enjoyable afternoon did the glass bottom boat tour driver gave an informative description of the reef. Would recommend the visit.”

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10.Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 398 reviews · 9 hours · from $183

Spend nine hours aboard a 16-meter schooner with a small group of up to 25 people. You will snorkel an exclusive reef site, join a marine naturalist, enjoy a generous lunch, visit Green Island, and sail back to Cairns with fruit, cheese, cake, and wine. Optional scuba sessions are available.

“Amazing! Would really recommend this tour! We got some sailing done (no engine), the guides / crew were super friendly and knowledgeable! Good snacks and many places to relax on the boat. It’s not a very big boat so there is plenty of space in the water (and on the boat) and the crew helps you out snorkelling and points out all the amazing fish!”

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11.Kuranda: Riverboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 263 reviews · 45 min · from $21Best value

Join Kuranda Riverboat Tours for a calm 45-minute cruise on the Barron River. An English-speaking guide such as Warren, Gary, or Andrew points out turtles, fish, birds, rainforest plants, and freshwater crocodiles. Crocs are wild, so sightings are never certain. The boat leaves from the jetty below Kuranda Railway Station.

“The guide was excellent- gave us such a lot of information about the rainforest and river. He really made the tour.”

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