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Great Barrier Reef Family Day Trips & Cruises
Great Barrier Reef Snorkellers
There are three main different types of Great Barrier Reef day tours;
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. Tours To Go work directly with the
tour companies, so your booking is received and confirmed with the tour
operators the moment you place your booking.
send
us an email 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.
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 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 snorkelling 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 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 Great Barrier Reef trip, and is suitable for all
ages of children.
Family Price:
$158.00 (2 adults + 2 children)
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-14yrs, children under 4 travel free
Includes:
Reef & snorkel presentation en route, fish feeding display
and complimentary tea or coffee on boarding and FREE choice of the use
of snorkelling gear for the day or a glass bottom boat tour.
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.
Family Price:
$330.00 (2 adults + 2 children)
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-14yrs, children under 4 travel free
Includes:
Hotel pickup, return cruise from Port Douglas, morning & afternoon
tea, reef presentation, smorgasbord lunch, snorkelling equipment, glass
bottom boat, guided beach walk and snorkelling tours.
Outer Great Barrier Reef
Most Outer Great Barrier Reef tour companies visit two or more reef locations and all activity is on the boat, or under the water. Because Outer 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 snorkelling 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.
Family Price:
$280.00 (2 adults + 2 children)
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-12yrs, children under 4 travel free
Includes:
Free morning tea and coffee, 2 different reef locations, 5 hours on
the reef, certified and introductory diving brief, all snorkeling equipment
(fins, mask, snorkel), diving equipment (tanks, mask, fins), snorkeling
demonstration, semi-submersible tour, Aussie BBQ lunch, wine and cheese
and live entertainment
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.
Adult Price:
$130.00
Child Price:
$80.00
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-14yrs, children under 4 travel free
Includes:
Hotel pickup from Cairns or Beaches, buffet lunch, morning tea and coffee, quality snorkel equipment including wetsuits, guided snorkel tour, GST.
Great Barrier Reef Pontoons
Pontoons are a moored platform providing a stable structure for visitors on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Families love Great Barrier Reef pontoons because they're roomy, great for kids and offer fantastic snorkelling 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
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.
Family Price:
$441.50 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-14yrs, children under 4 travel free
Includes:
Hot & cold buffet lunch with seafood, afternoon tea, introductory snorkelling demo, glass bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, marine touch tank, reef ecology presentation, fully enclosed children's wading pool, snorkelling equipment.
Reef Magic — Marine World Pontoon
Reef Magic's Marine World pontoon is a new and modern 2 storey pontoon
with many facilities on Moore Reef including children's swimming enclosure,
fresh water showers, underwater observatory and a sundeck. Only 1½
hours travel time to the pontoon, with a full 5 hours on the Great Barrier
Reef families will love the smaller visitor numbers of only 140 passengers
on this Great Barrier Reef pontoon.
Hailed as the most affordable outer Barrier Reef pontoon cruise, Marine
World is a winner with families of mixed age children, especially where
the older ones might like to try an introductory dive.
Family Price:
$350.00 (2 Adults + 2 Children)
Child Policy:
Children are aged 4-14yrs, children under 4 travel free. Introductory scuba diving minimum age is 12 years.
Includes:
Snorkelling equipment and instruction, floatation devices to assist with snorkelling, informative reef presentation, underwater observatory, coral viewing vessel tours, hot and cold tropical smorgasbord lunch including fresh prawns, morning and afternoon tea.
