Great Barrier Reef Cruise to Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
December 2024
2. Select participants
What you can expect
Enjoy a wonderful balance of Great Barrier Reef scenery and convenience with a tour from Cairns to an activity platform on the reef for several hours worth of fun in the sun and sea! On this Cairns to pontoon full-day trip departing at 9:30am, you'll have approximately four hours to explore the marine life and glorious coral of the Outer Great Barrier Reef from the Moore Reef pontoon without having to invest too much time or money that longer cruises require. Be amazed and inspired by the unsurpassed beauty and splendour of this underwater playground, then enjoy a tasty picnic lunch to refresh your senses.
Heading out and back to the platform, you'll travel in luxury onboard a modern and spacious air-conditioned catamaran, which departs daily from the Reef Fleet Terminal in the centre of Cairns. With all snorkelling equipment and necessary inclusions required, you'll have everything you'll need for a satisfying and memorable day exploring Australia's greatest natural wonder.
Location
What you need to know
- Luxury travel to the Outer Barrier Reef on-board an air-conditioned catamaran
- Informative presentation hosted by a marine naturalist
- Delicious buffet lunch
- Guided coral viewing from a glass bottom boat
- All snorkelling equipment
- Tea and coffee on boarding the vessel and prior to departure
- Environmental Management Charge
- Water slide at the pontoon
- Hotel transfers
- Hotel Transfers
- Certified and Introductory Diving
- Seawalker Platform Helmet Diving
- Guided Snorkel Tours
- Scenic Helicopter Flights
- Snorkelling the Outer Great Barrier Reef
- Unique Marine Life
- Coral viewing from Glass Bottom Boat
- Enjoy a delicious hot and cold buffet lunch
- Cruises depart Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal at 9.30am and return at 5.30pm. Check-in commences at 8am 1.5 hours prior to the departure time inside the Reef Fleet Terminal at the Sunlover Desk.
- Boarding passes must be collected from the Sunlover Desk prior to boarding
- 8:30-09:30 Check In at the Sunlover Cruises counter inside the Reef Terminal. (Boarding pass must be collected prior heading to the vessel)
- 09:45 Boarding closes
- 10:00 Departure from Cairns Marlin Marina
- 17:30 Arrival Cairns Marlin Marina
- Note seasonal / tide dependent departure times may apply
- Hat
- Sun protective clothing
- Towel
- Swimming costume
- Sunscreen SPF 30+
- Cash and Credit Card (safety deposit box on board)
- At check-in, it is advised that only one person from the group enter the terminal to check in
- Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
- Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
- Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
- For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
- Cruise vessel subject to change without notice
- Availability was accurate at the time of booking however, is subject to change due to circumstances out of our control
- We strongly suggest reconfirming your booking with the tour operator within 24 hours of making your booking and prior to making other travel arrangements
Recent reviews
Kelly Phillips
3 months ago
Highlight of our holiday in Cairns. Perfect day out.
The weather was amazing and it was an amazing day. Recommended sea sickness tablets for the boat ride to an from the pontoon. All our kids loved the day and had fun swimming with fish and turtles. Highly recommended this experience you won't regret it.
Sophie Hornidge
8 months ago
Wonderful day out for all ages. Just don’t try and do it all.
We loved this tour to Moore reef. We were 3 generations (75, 44 and 8 yrs) and all of us had a great day. We were planning to try and do all the activities offered - there are heaps- but to be honest the snorkelling was so good, I wish I hadn’t spent 20 mins doing the submarine. I could have snorkelled longer, there was so much to see. My 8 year old loved the snorkelling too and then after the semi sub (which even he wasn’t that enthused by having already snorkelled), went on the waterslide for the rest of the time. Lots of activities for non-swimmers but if you’re snorkelling - don’t worry about trying to fit that stuff in, just enjoy your own time on the water. Lunch was yummy and plenty of it. Just don’t be late because at 2:01 it had disappeared. An ice cream on the trip back was delicious and highly recommend (choc mint- yum!). Crew were friendly, and funny and gave helpful instructions. Top tip: take a sea sick tablet when you board if you even suspect you might get unwell on the water as we were about the only 3 not spewing or trying to sleep to avoid it. (We didn’t take tablets but we’re not prone to sea sickness). I also wish I’d bought along a pack of playing cards but luckily I’d packed some word puzzles that my son and I did together to help pass the time and keep him occupied so he wasn’t worrying about the motion. I nearly didn’t book this tour after reading the reviews but honestly so glad I did. It was a fantastic day out and I’d recommend it to anyone. (I’ve previously been on a different GBR tour which wasn’t as good). Oh, another thing- we’re glad we didn’t book the helicopter flight from the pontoon as you have to get out of your swimming gear and dry off for the 10-minute flight which eats into your time. We’re so glad we decided to book the helicopter separately as we get a 30-minute flight on a separate day, so again my #1 tip is not to try to pack everything into one tour if you have the time to do it another time.
Kai Huang
about 1 year ago
Short tour, but full with new impressions and lots of fun
If you do not have lots of time, we can fully recommend this half-day tour, because it takes you to Green Island, surrounded by reef. You can see colourful fish in the shallow water near to the beaches. There is also a beach with lifeguard and a resort where you can get something to eat. The boat trip from Cairns to Green Island can be rougher if the weather conditions are not ideal, but the staff always keep an eye on you. Perfect trip, thank you!