Great Barrier Reef tours depart Cairns daily to the new outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon that has the Spaghetti Slide that everyone is talking about.
Experience the best fun Great Barrier Reef tour with a full day at the recently built Outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon, featuring the most exciting fun you will ever have on any Great Barrier Reef pontoon tour with our Spaghetti Slide. Departing daily from Cairns, this reef tour offers a range of activities for all ages and abilities, making it perfect for families, non-swimmers, and adventure seekers alike.
Experience the best of the Great Barrier Reef with a day full of adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable underwater exploration. Book your tour today for an extraordinary journey to one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders.
See all the pontoon Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns and Tropical North Queensland and our Great Barrier Reef and helicopter combo package tours.
Glass bottom boat tours are ideal for the non-swimmers and young families as they travel over the top of the reef systems giving you an aerial view of the coral formations and the colourful marine life.
Some of the marine life you can see from the glass bottom boat include the graceful green sea turtles swimming freely through the ocean or hiding on the bottom of the ocean floor in between the hard and soft corals, the giant black trevally darting through the ocean, and the colourful parrot fish munching away on the hard corals which they excrete to make sand.
The glass bottom boats tours run throughout the day for approximately 30 minutes so be sure to join on one for the day.
The semi-submersible submarine tours are a fantastic way to see the marine life as the guests all sit in the bottom concave of the vessel which has glass walls all around.
These underwater tours give you the perspective of a scuba diver without getting wet as you come eye to eye with hard and soft corals, turtles, the larger fish, gigantic clams and possibly Nemo the clown fish and his friends hiding amongst their homes in the anemone.
The semi-submersible submarine trips are complimentary and run throughout the day with approximate times of 30 minutes duration. The families and children just love them.
Activities for kids on the Great Barrier Reef: Water Slide, Children's swimming enclosure & Marine presentations
This Great Barrier Reef tour has really catered for everyone on their Great Barrier Reef day trip as they also have a children's swimming pool whereby the smaller reef fish can swim in and out and your children have the chance to feed the fish.
The crew on on this reef trip also have a marine naturalist presentation where you can learn a lot about the different types of coral and marine life that call Moore Reef their home and in general the Great Barrier Reef surrounds off Cairns.
The kids will love the new two-story theme park-quality waterslide where they will slip and slide through two spins before splashing down into the clear blue water of ocean.
The only water slide in Cairns where you land right into the Great Barrier Reef!
They also have the little goggles and swim gear that is perfectly designed to fit small faces and little bodies.
You will be your kids hero if you take them out to the Great Barrier Reef with this reef cruise day tour boat.
For those that love the water and the adventurous activities this is the place to try Seawalker Helmet diving (optional extra). Seawalker Helmet diving is a helmet that rests on your shoulders and you can experience the underwater world with no knowledge of swimming or diving necessary.
The crew on board will take you on a guided under water walk to experience the thrill of walking on the ocean floor and being able to see the fish swimming around you.
You will come face to face with an endless number of different fish as well as the star of Moore Reef, "Wally" the giant Maori Wrasse, that just loves a tummy rub and to have his photo taken with his new friends.
The Seawalker experience is like walking on the moon in a space helmet. You have fresh air coming into your helmet from above so no need for scuba tanks. It's so much fun.
Please be aware though a medical questionnaire is to be completed on board before the activity commences. Children need to be 12 years and over with no medical conditions.
Please note that all divers must complete a medical questionnaire/declaration on-board.
A history of asthma, heart conditions and/or other medical conditions or medications may prohibit scuba diving.
If medical is failed onboard no refund will be given for Seawalker or dive options. Guests are advised to review medical checklists/requirements with their booking agent prior to booking.
Please see the medical checklist here prior to booking to ensure you will pass once on-board.
Minimum age is 12 years and for guests aged between 12 and 17 inclusive, written permission is to be signed by a parent or guardian on the vessel prior to the activity.
See the Travel Tips for Helmet Diving and Scuba Diving
The reef trip caters for the complete thrill seekers and offers first time introductory scuba dives and certified scuba dives (optional extra).
If you have always wondered what it feels like to breathe underwater and swim with the vast array of marine life on the Great Barrier Reef then here is your chance to give it a try as the boats crew gives you the chance with an introductory scuba dive.
This is your opportunity for an experience of a lifetime and there is no need to be scared as the scuba instruction is conducted and escorted by the fully qualified scuba dive instructors and it will be one of the most memorable experiences of your reef trip.
For those scuba divers that already know the thrill of scuba diving and how fun it can be these reef cruises offers you a range of awesome locations on the Great barrier Reef, with full equipment and gear hire, and the professional instructors are there to guide you along the way.
As a certified scuba diver you will have a choice of different dive locations such as drift diving along the wall of Moore Reef where you will have the chance to see the bigger marine life such as reef sharks, rays and the amazing fan corals with many different coral formations and colours.
Cave diving between 2 reef bomies and coming up close and personal with Nemo and his friends, green sea turtles and Wally the giant Maori Wrasse.
Please note: You will need to be fit and have no medical conditions at all so please ensure you fill in the medical questionnaire correctly and honestly as it could save your life.
For a more spectacular perspective we also offer scenic helicopter flights around Moore Reef and also give the option of flying out to the pontoon from or returning to Cairns in a helicopter.
One may say they have seen and snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef however once you get above and see how large the reef actually is you will have a bird's eye view of this amazing natural wonder the Great Barrier Reef.
This exciting and breathtaking experience is beauty in its natural form as the Great Barrier Reef will unfold before your eyes and give you the chance to see the brilliant coral formations, groups of turtles, sharks and rays as you cruise approx. 500ft over the Great Barrier Reef and pass the coastline of Cairns.
The helicopter flights must be pre booked as this activity is very popular and you would not want to miss the opportunity to see this natural wonder from above.
This scenic flights are such a reasonable price for the once in a life time experience that you will have.
There is no better way to than to see the Great Barrier Reef from above and below the water and when you travel half way around the world to see one of Mother Nature's most amazing creations you certainly should not be worrying about a few extra dollars.
Note: Infant age 3 must pay for a seat
Cruise both ways
Cruise EX CAIRNS Reef Fleet Terminal
8.30 - 9.30am: Check In at Reef Fleet Terminal + boarding at the boat
9.45am: Boarding closes
10.00am: Boat departs Cairns Marina
11.15am-11.30am: Arrival at Moore Reef Pontoon
4.00pm: Departure from Moore Reef Pontoon
5.30pm: Arrival at Cairns Marina
Fly/Cruise
EX Nautilus Cairns City Heliport (Pier Point Rd)
11:30am - Check-in at Nautilus Aviation city Heliport (Pier Point Rd, Cairns) + safety briefing
12:00pm - Depart on helicopter
12:25pm - Arrive at Moore Reef
4.00pm: Departure from Moore Reef Pontoon
5.30pm: Arrival at Cairns Marina
Cruise/Fly
EX CAIRNS Reef Fleet Terminal
8.30 - 9.30am: Check In at Reef Fleet Terminal + boarding at the boat
9.45am: Boarding closes
10.00am: Boat departs Cairns Marina
11.15am-11.30am: Arrival at Moore Reef Pontoon
3:30pm - Depart Moore reef Pontoon
3:55pm - Return to Nautilus Aviation City Heliport (Pier Point Rd, Cairns)
Fly both ways
EX Nautilus Cairns City Heliport (Pier Point Rd)
11:30am - Check-In at Nautilus Aviation City Heliport (Pier Point Rd, Cairns) + safety briefing
12:00pm - Depart on helicopter
11:50am - Arrive at Moore Reef
3:30pm - Depart Moore Reef on helicopter
3:55pm - Return to Nautilus Aviation City Heliport (Pier Point Rd, Cairns)
With so much to see and do on the Great Barrier Reef it's important not to forget about the flavoursome lunch.
The buffet lunch is served on board the air conditioned catamaran where you can sit in the cool comfort or stay outside and breathe in the fresh air with the top decks shaded platform picnic tables and chairs.
Menu - Please note menu may change without notice
Bread Selection
Fresh Baked White High Top Rolls
Garlic and Herb Focaccia Bread
Served with butter portions
Local Endeavour Prawns with cocktail sauce and citrus wedges (GF/DF)
Salad Selection
Sweet & White Potato Salad - Dill and Shallots - Vegan Dijonaise (GF/Vegan)
Market Garden Salad - Tomato, Red Onion, Cucumber, Carrot and Sprouts (GF/Vegan)
Red & White Coleslaw - Carrot and red onion (GF/Vegan)
Cold Meat Selection
Chanpagne Leg Ham (GF/DF)
Sliced Australian Salami (GF/DF)
Hot Selection
Grass-Fed Beef Meatballs in Rich Tomato Sauce
Sri Lankan Chicken and Vegetable Coconut Curry (GF/DF)
Moroccan Vegetable Tagine with Apricots and Chickpea (GF/Vegan)
Steamed Jasmine Rice (GF/Vegan)
Spaghetti Pasta with Olive Oil (Vegan)
Tropical
Seasonal Tropical Fruit Platter with fresh Coconut shavings (GF/Vegan)
After spending 4 full hours at the Great Barrier Reef it is time to head back to reality with afternoon tea and a refreshing tropical fruit platter.
As you cruise back to Cairns an important thing to remember is to take a peek at the photos the crew took of you throughout the day and of the many activities you have tried on board the Great Barrier Reef cruise ship…a great way to show your friends what a wonderful holiday you had!!!
You will be amazed at the amount of photos the photographers have taken and at a reasonable cost these photos are an excellent memory of your trip to the Great Barrier Reef
You can also choose to combine your reef trip with a stop over at Fitzroy Island in the one day! Visit one of Cairns most popular islands for the day with a Sunlover Reef Cruise to Fitzroy Island.
See more Great Barrier Reef tours here.
Cairns
January - December
Daily
90 minute cruise each way approx.
4 hours on pontoon approx.
Low, Medium, Disabled
Scuba Diving – minimum age 12
Weight: Up to 130 Kg / 287 Lb
Scuba Diving, Scuba Doo and Helmet Diving Restrictions
Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Hat, Sunscreen (SPF 30+) & protective clothing, Swimming costume & beach towel, Cash & credit card for onboard purchases
Reviewed on August 21, 2019
This tour was awesome. well organised in time and could not have asked for more.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Dear Shobha, thank you for your review of our Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour out to the pontoon at Moore Reef. We are glad you had a great day as we like to hear the guests feedback on the tours and attractions we have recommended for them when visiting Cairns. We hope to see you or some of your friends back in Cairns soon.
Reviewed on December 26, 2017
It was a once in a lifetime experience for us. We went snorkeling for 2 hours. But we missed the glass bottom tour and other attractions as the total time of stay there was very less. It was only 4 hours and it should be increased to atleast 6 hours. The crew were helpful. The lunch was nice. But there was no morning and evening snacks and that was kind of a disappointment. Overall experience was good but I found it expensive considering the services and food provided.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thank you for your review on your Great Barrier Reef tour Punit Most of the reef tour trips allow 4 hours out on the reef itself as the travel time each way is around 1.5 hours so that is 7 hours in the day already. The boats need to return to Cairns before it gets dark for safety. With regards to snacks as you board there is usually tea and coffee and biscuits and in the afternoon the same or with cheeses so maybe you did not see these in the galley? Sorry to hear you missed the glass bottom boat. It departs quite regularly during the day but sounds like you had so much fun snorkelling you missed it. We suggest to guests to do all the pontoon activities before snorkelling and diving to ensure you try all on offer. Hopefully you may be able to return to Cairns in the future and if you do please call us and we would love to recommend the perfect Cairns tours for you
Reviewed on October 01, 2017
We had an interesting day. We enjoyed the glass bottom boat and the submersible although my husband felt the glass in the submersible was not very clean and this impeded our view of the reef. I was frustrated when snorkelling as my mask continually fogged up and I was unable to swim continuously viewing the coral.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your feedback. We now have a brand new pontoon on Moore Reef with upgraded facilities and even more to see and do. The Tour Specialists are more than happy to point you in the right direction for your next Outer Reef experience.
Reviewed on August 20, 2017
The trip is generally good and we enjoyed the facilities provided on the Pontoon. That said, buffet food quality can be improved and guests should be informed prior that the submarine was not working. My wife and some other non-swimmer passengers we spoke to are disappointed that they can only enjoy glass-bottom boat as a result.I
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thank you for your review of your Great Barrier Reef Tour Eng and sorry to hear the semi-submersible submarine was not working on that day. They would have to bring out engineers or parts from Cairns to fix it no doubt. Good to hear they enjoyed the glass bottom boat and of course there are always lots of other things happening on the pontoon. Have passed on your comments about the buffet to the tour operator We look forward to welcoming you back to Cairns
All doors are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs
Embark and Disembark from the same level no steps~|~No motorised wheelchair access only manual foldiable wheelchairs
Embark and Disembark on the same level no steps
No motorised wheelchair access only manual foldiable wheelchairs
Acess to snorkel platform 5 steps
Access to Dive Platform 5 stairs
Access to Glass Bottom Boat 3 stairs
Access to underwater observatory 10 steps
Disabled toilet access troughout the day
information sheets are available
Disabled toilets are available throughout the day
Access pontoon on same level
5 steps to dive platform~|~5 steps to snorkel platform~|~Access to dive and snorkel platform will require the assistance of a carer or travel companion~|~3 steps to the glass bottom boat
Access from the quay to the boat at same level no steps
This tour is not suitable for all non-mobile passenegers~|~All Passengers must be able to transfer from the pontoon to the transfer boat and onto the Heli pontoon unassisted~|~All Passengers must be able to enter and exit the helicopter unassisted
Information Sheets available for the hard of hearing
Disabled toilet facilities are available throughout the day
10 Steps down to the underwater observatory
same level access from the Quay to the boat
Wheelchair access around the pontoon
Live touch tank presentaion is wheelchair accessable
Disabled toilets are available throughout the day
5 steps to the snorkeling platform
5 steps to the snorkeling platform~|~5 steps to diving platform
Same level access from Quay to boat
Buoyancy vests available
Life Jackets available
Information sheets available for hard of hearing
Semi-Submersible Tours all have a steep decline to enter the vessel . It is not recommended, however this will depend on the severity of immobility
Access to snorkel platform 5 steps
Acces to dive platform 5 steps
Access to Glass Bottom Boat 3 Steps
Access to Underwaterobservatory 10 steps
Acess to under water observatory 10 steps
Disabled toilets available throughout the day
Information sheet available for the hard of hearing
All cancellations must be in writing.
We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.
In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.
Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.
Operators policy:
au$285.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$165.00
Family: au$735.00
Tour Code: 114