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Day Trips from Great Barrier Reef

Day Trips from Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Queensland, Australia Travel Guide

Nearby Destinations

Explore convenient island and mainland destinations, perfect for a short journey from Cairns.

Every location offers an unique set of activities, from underwater adventures to rainforest explorations.

Green Island

  • Accessible from Cairns, via a 45-minute ferry ride.
  • Operators like Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises offer regular services.
  • Enjoy snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, rainforest walks. Consider Seawalker Helmet diving.
  • Time Required: A half-half-day or full-day-day trip.

Natural Escapes

Explore the stunning natural landscapes beyond the reef.

Daintree National Park

Organized tours are very much recommended for convenience and local knowledge. Self-drive is an option but crossing the Daintree River by ferry incurs a fee.

Getting There & Activities

  • Accessible from The port Douglas (30 mins to Mossman Gorge), Cairns (2-2.A five-hour duration to Daintree Ferry).
  • Guided tours for ease, or self-drive with ferry crossing.
  • Enjoy a Daintree River cruise, rainforest boardwalks (Dubuji, Marrdja), Cape Tribulation Beach.

Atherton Tablelands

Self-drive is a great method to explore various points of interest. Escorted tours are also available.

What to See & Do

  • Accessible from Cairns, a 1-1.5 hour drive.
  • Self-drive for flexibility, organized tours available.
  • Drive the waterfalls circuit, visit crater lakes for swimming, try platypus spotting, explore farms.

Other Natural Wonders

Fitzroy Island

  • Snorkel at Nudey Beach and Welcome Bay.
  • Hike the Summit Track for panoramic views.
  • Going kayaking or paddleboarding opportunities.
  • Visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

Josephine Falls

  • Accessible from Cairns, a 1.5-hour drive south.
  • Self-drive is the common method.
  • Swim in swimming holes and enjoy the rock that is natural slide.
  • Time Required: A half-day trip.

Time & Travel

  • Green Island:Half or Full Day
  • Fitzroy Island:Half or Full Day
  • Kuranda:Full Day
  • Port Douglas:Full Day
  • Daintree National Park:Full Day
  • Atherton Tablelands:Full Day
  • Josephine Falls:Half Day
  • Mossman Gorge Centre:A Half-day

Booking Your Adventures

For seamless exploration, consider booking your outings and excursions in advance. Browse day trips on GetYourGuide.

Cultural Excursions

Discover the rich cultural heritage beyond the natural wonders.

Mossman Gorge Centre

Swim in the pristine river (in specified zones). Explore rainforest walks.

Cooktown

Visit the James Cook Museum. Views from Grassy Hill Lookout. Explore the historic town.

Mossman Gorge Insights

Accessible from Port Douglas (20-minute drive) and Cairns (1.5-hour drive).

Activities & Time

  • Swim in pristine river (designated areas).
  • Explore rainforest walks.
  • Half-day trip duration.

Cooktown Adventures

Accessible from Cairns (4-5 hour drive via sealed road, or 3-4 hours via 4WD-only Bloomfield Track).

What to do & Stay

  • Visit James Cook Museum.
  • Enjoy panoramic views from Grassy Hill Lookout.
  • Full-day trip (long drive) or overnight stay recommended.

Travel Distances

Cairns to Port Douglas:1 hr scenic drive
Cairns to Daintree Ferry:2-2.5 hrs
A Gateway to the great barrier reef and daintree rainforest to Mossman Gorge:THIRTY minutes
Cairns to Atherton Tablelands:1-1.5 hrs
Cairns to Josephine Falls:1.FIVE hours
Cairns to Cooktown:4-5 hrs (sealed road)

Extend Your Exploration

  • Whitsunday Islands: Plan 2-3 days, fly into Proserpine (PPP) or Hamilton Island (HTI).
  • Activities: Sailing, Whitehaven Beach, snorkeling/diving in The south of GBR.
  • Townsville & Magnetic Island: Allow 2-THREE days for bushwalking, beaches, koalas.
  • Outback Queensland (Chillagoe, Undara): 2-3 days for limestone caves, lava tubes.
  • Connections: Flights/bus/train from Cairns.

Multi-Day Extensions

Extend your journey to discover more of Queensland's diverse landscapes.

Whitsunday Islands

Plan 2-3 days. Fly into Proserpine (PPP) or Hamilton Island (HTI) airports. Stay in Airlie Beach or at an island resort.

Activities & Connections

  • Sailing through the islands.
  • Visit Whitehaven Beach.
  • Snorkel or dive in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Direct flights from Cairns to PPP or HTI.

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Allocate 2-3 days. Magnetic Island offers excellent bushwalking, tranquil beaches, and unique wildlife, including wild koalas.

Getting There & Activities

  • Travel by flight, train, or bus from Cairns to Townsville.
  • Short ferry ride connects Townsville to Magnetic Island.
  • Bushwalking trails, secluded beaches, wild koalas.

Outback Queensland

Plan for 2-3 days. Discover ancient limestone caves at Chillagoe and the longest lava tubes globally at Undara. Discover pioneering history.

Explore & Connect

  • Explore limestone grottos and lava tubes.
  • Discover pioneering history.
  • Drive from Cairns (some areas require a capable vehicle). Limited organized tours.

Multi-Day Excursion Highlights

Tailor your extended trip to include these diverse experiences.

Travel Options

  • Whitsunday Islands: Sailing & Whitehaven Beach.
  • Magnetic Island: Koala spotting & bushwalks.
  • Outback Queensland: Caves & lava tubes.

Extended Trip Ideas

Discover the diverse experiences available.

Southern Reef Discovery

Sailing adventures and stunning beaches await in the Whitsundays.

Island Nature Retreat

Encounter unique wildlife and tranquil bays on Magnetic Island.

Outback Geological Wonders

Journey inland to find ancient caverns and lava tubes.

Deep Dive into Culture

Extend your cultural exploration with multi-day tours into local areas.

Great Barrier Reef Statistics

Find out more about the sheer size and natural wonders.

Facts

1

World Heritage

The Gbr is the world's largest coral reef system, an UNESCO World Heritage site.

2

Marine Life

Home to thousands of species of marine life, including 1,500 types of fish and ALSO four00 types of coral.

3

Vast Area

Stretching over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) along the Queensland coast.

Quick Facts

  • Larger than the Great Wall of China.
  • The only living thing visible from space.
  • Composed of over 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands.
  • Supports a billion-dollar tourism industry.
  • Useful for global sea life diversity.
  • Vulnerable to climate change.

Important to Know

  • Protected by the Gbr Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
  • Best explored via ethical tour companies.
  • Stinger season (Nov-May) requires protective suits.
  • Protection from the sun is essential.
  • Current details on reef health is available.
  • Consider ecotourism options.

Reef Wonders

Coral Diversity

Over 400 types of hard and soft corals thrive.

Fish Species

Over 1,500 species of fish inhabit the reef.

Island Ecosystems

Hundreds of islands offer unique habitats.

Responsible Exploration

Respect the natural environment and choose eco-certified tours. Your actions help protect this global treasure.
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