Frequently Asked Questions - Great Barrier Reef Tours

The Great Barrier Barrier Reef is the most visited place when it comes to tourism in Cairns. Visitors have the reef tour at the top of their list of things to do in Cairns. It is definitely a “must do” when visiting Far North Queensland.

When tourists start searching for a reef tour they realise that there are so many tour options, boats and reef locations. I am sure that a million questions should pop into their heads.

Tourism Cairns has put together a list of the most common questions people ask us. I believe the information below will help other visitors.

1) What reef tour should I do?

This has to be the most asked question and we understand why. Cairns offers so many different types of reef tours so It is expected people to be a bit confused.

To be honest, it is also difficult for us agents to pick the best tour for the client because it all depends on what experience the client would like to have. So let us show you the main difference between the tours to the reef.

Pontoon - The pontoon is a floating platform located in the middle of the reef. The pontoon is great because it gives visitors a chance to get off the boat and walk around a spacious platform. The platform offers tables, chairs, and also a sundeck with reclining chairs to sunbake which is a plus when you are spending all day in the middle of the ocean. The pontoon also has an underwater observatory and many activities departing from them during the day, such as glass bottom boat tours, semi submersible tours, scuba diving, helmet diving, snorkelling safari and much more. So you can see all the advantages about the pontoon. This option is great for families with small kids, elderly people, people with disability or mobility impaired.

On the other hand, what is not too positive about the pontoons is that the boats that travel to the platform are large, being able to carry around 300 to 400 people. Travellers don't feel crowded because the boats and the pontoon are very spacious. But If you would like to travel in a small group, I guess this is not the best option for you. Also travelling to a pontoon travellers get to see one reef location only. Other boats travel to 2 or 3 different reef locations in a day.

Small vessels - Small boats are great for people who don't mind spending all day on the boat and would like to explore the reef as much as possible. These types of vessels offer visiting 2 or 3 locations in a day and their main activities are snorkelling and diving. Most vessels don't offer glass bottom boats or semi-submersible like the pontoon, so to be able to see the reef travellers have to get in the water.

What are the negatives? I guess not having the spacious platform with chairs and the sundeck, and all the extra activities that come with the pontoon. So I guess it all depends on what is more important for each visitor.

2) What reef location is the best?

This is an interesting question because when people ask this question they are trying to tell us that we need to take them to the best reef site in the region.

The answer is that all locations are pretty good. Some boats have permits to travel to 2 or 3 reef sites but some other tour operators have permits to travel to many different reef sites around Cairns region so every morning the captain checks what locations will have the best weather conditions, with the best visibility of the water. In this case clients are definitely getting to travel to the best locations for the day.

3)Where should I go to board the boat?

All boats in Cairns depart from the Marlin Marina which is located in the city next to the lagoon. Some tour operators request clients to first check in at the Reef Terminal (1 Spence Street) but some other tour operators ask clients to make their way directly to the vessel. Most boats are located on A finger which is the main finger.

4)Should I also dive or snorkel only?

If you have the option to do a scuba dive then you should definitely do it. The scuba dive gives you the opportunity to explore the reef a bit further. Staying longer underwater and close to marine life, it will give you a great and unique experience.

5)What is the difference between travelling to an island and to the outer reef?

That is correct. The islands such as Green Island and Fitzroy Island are part of the Great Barrier Reef but they are what is called the inner reef. The inner reef is closer to the mainland and they are usually made of soft coral and smaller fish. The outer reef is considered more superior in quality and provides better visibility of the water with better and prettier corals and fish.

So our recommendation is to travel to the outer reef first and then travel to one of the islands as a second opportunity to explore the reef.

I hope we have helped with the above information. But for any further questions please feel free to contact us through our email address below, or visit our website.

Email address: info@tourismcairns.com

Website address: Tourism Cairns