Great Barrier Reef Family Day Trips & Cruises
There are three main different types of Cairns Great Barrier Reef day tours;
- Coral Cays & Islands - Great for younger kids
- Outer Reefs - Teenagers will love this option
- Pontoons - Perfect for families of mixed aged children
Great Barrier Reef Snorkellers
It's often difficult to keep the whole family happy on holiday, so this collection of Cairns family-friendly tours will assist you to find something suitable for your family, no matter how big your family, or how small your children.
You should book ahead for all tours when coming to Cairns, as they frequently book out - especially during school holidays. We have provided instant booking links to enable you to book your family tours through a secure internet connection. We work directly with the tour companies, so your booking is received and confirmed with the tour operators the moment you place your booking.
If you have any questions about any of the Cairns Great Barrier Reef trips on this page, or have some specific requests for your family, please Contact Us explaining what you're after (including the number of family members and the ages of your children) and we help you choose the best reef trip for your family.
Family Great Barrier Reef Tours Departing From Cairns
| Tour Companies | Adult Price | Child Price | Family Price | Tour Overview | Tour Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver Family Tour | $197 | $98.50 | $492.50 | Morning and Afternoon Tea, Reef Presentation by Marine Biologist, Hot and Cold Tropical Smorgasbord Lunch with seafood, All Snorkeling Equipment, Life Guard, Underwater Observatory, Semi - Submersible Tour, Fish Feeding Presentation, Australia’s most awarded reef cruise company!, includes return Transfer | Book Online More Info |
| Green Island Family Sailing Tour | $119 | $75 | $349 | Sail to Green Island on a 16M Schooner, 35 Passenger Max, Hands on Sailing, Morning and Afternoon Tea, 4.5 Hours on Green Island Reef, Hot and Cold Smorgasbord Lunch, Fish Feeding, All Snorkeling Equipment, return Transfers extra, glass of wine on return trip | Book Online More Info |
Family Great Barrier Reef Tours Departing From Cairns Northern Beaches
| Tour Companies | Adult Price | Child Price | Family Price | Tour Overview | Tour Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver Family Tour | $197 | $98.50 | $492.50 | Morning and Afternoon Tea, Reef Presentation by Marine Biologist, Hot and Cold Tropical Smorgasbord Lunch with seafood, All Snorkeling Equipment, Life Guard, Underwater Observatory, Semi - Submersible Tour, Fish Feeding Presentation, Australia’s most awarded reef cruise company!, includes return Transfer | Book Online More Info |
| Green Island Family Sailing Tour | $119 | $75 | $349 | Sail to Green Island on a 16M Schooner, 35 Passenger Max, Hands on Sailing, Morning and Afternoon Tea, 4.5 Hours on Green Island Reef, Hot and Cold Smorgasbord Lunch, Fish Feeding, All Snorkeling Equipment, return Transfers extra, glass of wine on return trip | Book Online More Info |
Family Great Barrier Reef Tours Departing From Port Douglas
| Tour Companies | Adult Price | Child Price | Family Price | Tour Overview | Tour Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver Family Tour | $197 | $98.50 | $492.50 | Morning and Afternoon Tea, Reef Presentation by Marine Biologist, Hot and Cold Tropical Smorgasbord Lunch with seafood, All Snorkeling Equipment, Life Guard, Underwater Observatory, Semi - Submersible Tour, Fish Feeding Presentation, Australia’s most awarded reef cruise company!, includes return Transfer | Book Online More Info |
| Aristocat Family Whale of a Tour | $165 | $120 | $495 | Whale Encounters (April to September) Aristocat is one of only 11 boats in the world with an access licence allowing you to swim with the docile Minke Whale, Morning and Afternoon Tea, Reef Presentation by underwater guides, Hot and Cold Tropical Buffet Lunch, All Snorkeling Equipment, Lycra Suits, Prescription Masks, includes return Transfer
Our Favourite |
Book Online More Info |
| Sailaway Family Low Isles Tour | $165 | $105 | $486 | Sail to Low Isles on Spacious Catamaran, Snorkeling Gear, Glass Bottom Boat, Tropical Buffet Lunch with Prawns (Shrimp in the U.S.A.), Island Heritage Walk, Guided Snorkeling Tour with Marine Naturalist | Book Online More Info |
Great Barrier Reef Coral Cays & Islands
Green Island from the Air
These are the best options for people with younger children (under 12) or for families where all members don't want to swim. Most Cairns Great Barrier Reef 'islands' proximate to Cairns are actually coral cays, which means the sand is actually very fine coral.
All islands and cays offer excellent snorkeling directly from the beach with a large variety of fish and coral to be seen.
You can expect all islands and cays to have ample facilities for children, lots of sand to play with and in some cases an abundance of extra activities and attractions.
Green Island - Big Cat Cruises
A large, spacious catamaran with a luxurious air-conditioned cabin, the Big Cat and her crew will give you a day on the Cairns Great Barrier Reef to remember. The Big Cat departs Cairns for Green Island daily at 9am remains there for five and a half hours on the island.
Passengers have the full day on Green Island to take part in the many activities or simply relax on the beach. The Big Cat to Green Island is a very affordable Cairns Great Barrier Reef trip, and is suitable for all ages of children.
| Tour Name | Family Price | Tour Inclusions | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cat Green Island - Cairns Great Barrier Reef | $183.00 | Catamaran transfers to Green Island - 5 hours on Green Island - Choice of Snorkeling Gear or Glass Bottom Boat tour ($10 extra to do both) - Snorkeling demonstration & reef presentation en route to Green Island - Fish feeding display - Tea/coffee on morning boarding - Island rainforest boardwalks | Book Online More Info |
Low Isles - Quicksilver's Wavedancer
Wavedancer is a 30m luxury sailing catamaran with an air-conditioned lounge and licensed bar, families love the spacious sundeck under the sails. Wavedancer departs for Low Isles from Port Douglas at 9:30am, and transfers can be arranged from Cairns and Palm Cove. Children of all ages will enjoy Low Isles.
| Tour Name | Family Price | Tour Inclusions | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksilver Wavedancer - Low Isles Cairns | $315.00 | Morning and afternoon teas on board, Informative reef presentation by Marine Biologist, Tropical smorgasbord lunch, All snorkeling equipment provided, Qualified snorkeling safety officers on hand, Glass bottom boat coral viewing, Marine Biologist guided beach walk, Guided snorkeling tours with Marine Biologist. | Book Online More Info |
Outer Great Barrier Reef
Most Outer Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour companies visit two or more reef locations and all activity is on the boat, or under the water. Because Outer Cairns Great Barrier Reef trips do not visit dry land during the day, these trips are generally unsuitable for children under 12. Families with older children however will love the Outer Reef as the snorkeling is fantastic and the variety of marine life is unsurpassed.
Families report the big advantage to Outer Great Barrier Reef trips are the low passenger numbers on board, and the personalised service. Smaller boats mean more attention from staff and people come away from these trips feeling like they've had the time of their life.
Osprey V - Down Under Dive
Down Under Dive's reef vessel, Osprey V, is a undoubtedly the fastest and most affordable day trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Osprey V visits 2 different reef locations each day making it an ideal trip for families with older children who are good swimmers.
The boat features a generous sundeck with plenty of room to spread out, and a completely air-conditioned cabin. Osprey V are the only Outer Reef tour company to offer a semi-submersible glass bottom boat tour.
| Tour Name | Family Price | Tour Inclusions | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down Under Dive - Osprey V | $300.00 | FREE Semi-Submersible Tour, FREE guided snorkeling tours, FREE scuba diving lesson so you can try it first, FREE tea, coffee and biscuits, complimentary glass of wine and cheese, fruit platter Delicious Aussie BBQ lunch including steak, sausages, vegetarian, tropical salads and pastas | Book Online More Info |
Tusa Dive
Tusa Dive is a very special Outer Great Barrier Reef trip as it only takes 28 people to the reef. Each day Tusa travels to two exotic reef locations based on the Captain's decision from Tusa Dive's range of 21 moorings. Tusa Dive is a quality reef experience and suitable for experienced snorkellers and especially popular with divers. This Great Barrier Reef trip is suitable for families who all want to swim and visit the most pristine areas of the reef without the crowds.
| Tour Name | Adult Price | Child Price | Tour Inclusions | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tusa Dive - Cairns Great Barrier Reef | $145.00 | $90.00 | Fresh, healthy, and tasty buffet style lunch, Morning and afternoon tea, Quality snorkeling equipment, Quality scuba equipment & dive computers, Wetsuit and / or lycra skins, Prescription masks if required, Free Guided snorkel tour, Free Reef Interpretation Presentation, Free Digital Photography Presentation | Book Online More Info |
Great Barrier Reef Pontoons
Pontoons are a moored platform providing a stable structure for visitors on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Families love Cairns Great Barrier Reef pontoons because they're roomy, great for kids and offer fantastic snorkeling and diving options. Pontoon day trips are ideal for families of mixed age children, or where some family members do not want to swim (or can't swim!) and others are strong swimmers and want to spend all day in the water.
All pontoons have an underwater observatory built into the structure, which is a little like being in an aquarium but seeing the fish and coral in their natural habitat. The younger children will love the reef submerged pools and parents will love that they're fully enclosed and safe. All reef pontoons also have lots of extra features and tours to keep you busy like semi-submersible glass bottom boat tours, buffet lunch, introductory diving, helicopter joy flights and many more.
Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon
Stationed at Moore Reef, Sunlover Cruises is a great reef trip for families with young children as Sunlover offers a unique marine touch tank, as well as a large fully enclosed child's wading pool. Sunlover Cruises luxury catamaran travels to the Moore Reef pontoon daily, however if you want a real treat consider the helicopter transfers to the pontoon over the Cairns Great Barrier Reef.
A great trip for the whole family where some children (or parents) want to view quality outer reef, but also have young children.
| Tour Name | Family Rate | Tour Inclusions | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunlover Pontoon - Cairns Great Barrier Reef | $350.00 | Hot and cold buffet lunch with seafood, afternoon tea, free introductory snorkeling demonstration provided by a qualified instructor, glass bottom boat and semi-submersible coral viewing tours, touch some of the reef’s unique marine creatures in the marine touch tank, onboard reef ecology presentation by marine naturalist, children can enjoy the safety of the fully enclosed children’s wading pool, all snorkeling equipment provided. | Book Online More Info |