• Half Day Reef Tour with 2.5 hours on the Reef - Morning or Afternoon Tour
• Includes guided snorkel tour, island walk & glass bottom boat tour.
• Visit Low Isles, only 30 minutes from Port Douglas.

After a short 30 minute ride from the Port Douglas Reef Marina to the aqua-blue waters of Low Isles, you can explore the tropical Low Island along its white-sand paths through the trees and/or jump off the boat to view the underwater world filled with colourful fish and coral gardens up close.

Half Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour to Low Isles from Port Douglas

Departing Port Douglas at 7:30am for the morning tour and 1:15pm for the afternoon Great Barrier Reef tour, this half day snorkel trip on a fast boat is the perfect way to see the reef and be back in Port Douglas in just a few hours, with a glass-bottom boat tour included.

Choose from a half day morning tour or a half day afternoon tour.

Arriving at Low Isles approximately half an hour after departure, you will be the first to the island (for the morning tour) and with just 23 guests on board you can enjoy the serenity of the calm blue surroundings without the crowds.

The morning half-day Great Barrier Reef tour includes being the first to the island and being able to access the island to explore on foot so keep this in mind when choosing the morning or afternoon tour.

Once at Low Isles you can access the beach* to explore the island (only on morning tour), following the white sandy paths through the lush green vegetation, or stay on the boat to get your snorkel gear on and jump in the water to check out the plentiful marine life that calls the island home.  Enjoy a guided snorkel tour, island walk or stay dry on the glass bottom boat.

Access to the water is made very easy by the rear platform on the boat, or you can enter from the beach, with only a short swim to the coral as the reef hugs close to the island. Non-swimmers can take advantage of the flotation equipment which is available on this half-day tour.

Spot thousands of different types of colourful fish hiding in the coral gardens, turtles cruising through the water, and a variety of different sea birds that breed and nest on the island.

Dolphins are also spotted quite regularly on the journey to and from the island, and during the winter months you might be lucky enough to spot some whales as they make their migratory journey up the east coast of Australia along the Great Barrier Reef.

After a few hours enjoying Low Isles both above and below the water, jump back on board for the journey home to Port Douglas. The morning tour will have you back on land at 11:30am and the afternoon tour returns at 5:15pm.

*It may not always be possible to access the beach due to adverse weather conditions.

Destination Low Island, part of Low Isles

Low Island is a beautiful tropical island just like you’d see in the movies, that is covered in lush green vegetation and is home to a variety of sea birds who breed and nest on the island.

Low Island lies roughly 8 nautical miles from Port Douglas, and is home to beautiful colourful coral gardens and a myriad of sea and bird life. Low Isles consists of two islands; Low Island and the much larger Woody Island. Low Island was named by Captain Cook as he passed through the area in 1770, describing it rather lazily as a ‘small low island’.

Low Island is home to a lighthouse first built in 1878 which has since become a base for important scientific research on the Great Barrier Reef, and adds to the picturesque romance of the island with the iconic red and white structure rising from the green vegetation.

Snorkelling at Low Isles Reef on the Half Day Tour

Roughly 600m to the South East of Low Island lies Woody Island, with the sheltered lagoon between the two islands offering perfect snorkelling conditions in the calm water.

You can jump straight off the brand new boat or wade in from the beach to explore the reef where you’ll see a variety of colourful hard and soft corals, big and small fish, turtles, sea cucumbers and other sea life hiding in the nooks and crannies between the coral.

A guided snorkel tour is also included, so you can join an experienced guide who can point out all the different interesting things to see on the reef at Low Isles. No experience is needed!

All snorkelling gear is supplied for you on this half day Great Barrier Reef tour, as well as full body sun suits and flotation devices.

Glass Bottom Boat

If you’d prefer to stay dry and still check out the reef and sea life, there is a glass bottom boat tour included on this half day tour to Low Isles.

Look through the big glass panels on the bottom of the boat down into the clear blue water, where you can spot colourful coral, fish and even a turtle. Your boat skipper is an experienced guide who will take you over the best spots and point out the different life forms swimming beneath the boat in the clear blue water.

Fast Boat To Low Isles

The boat used for this Great Barrier Reef tour was introduced in 2016, offering the latest safety, comfort and technology to make your trip out to the reef as smooth as possible. The 12m motor catamaran can carry up to 28 people, but is limited to 23 on this tour to provide a more relaxed and less crowded atmosphere on the boat. The boat is nice and fast and will have you to Low Isles in around 30 minutes from Port Douglas.

See more island tours on the Great Barrier Reef and more half day tours.

Great Barrier Reef Half Day - Morning Tour

07:15am - Guests make their own way to check in Shop at The Reef Marina before being directed to their vessel. Once on board the vessel, you will be asked to remove your shoes and place them either in an allocated shoe container or in your own bags.
07:30am - Welcome on board (outline of the tour announced and safety briefing conducted by the crew), vessel departs Reef Marina.
08:00am - Arrive at Low Isles. Guests are fitted with a mask, snorkel and fins. These are kept with the guests for the morning. Guests receive a snorkel briefing then take the glass bottom boat to the island. From there, guests can snorkel, explore the island, join a guided snorkel tour or relax on the beach.
11:00am - All guests back on board and start travelling back to Port Douglas.
11:30am - Arrive at The Reef Marina

 

Great Barrier Reef Half Day - Afternoon Tour

1:00pm - Guests make their own way to check in Shop at The Reef Marina before being directed to their vessel. Once on board the vessel, you will be asked to remove your shoes and place them either in an allocated shoe container or in your own bags.
1:15pm - Welcome on board (outline of the tour announced and safety briefing conducted by the crew), vessel departs Reef Marina.
1:45pm - Arrive at Low Isles. Guests are fitted with a mask and snorkel and fins. These are kept with the guests for the afternoon. Guests receive a snorkel briefing then take the glass bottom boat to the island. From there, guests can snorkel, explore the island, join a guided snorkel tour or relax on the beach.
4:45pm - All guests back on board and start travelling back to Port Douglas.
5:15pm - Arrive at The Reef Marina

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Port Douglas

Departure Time

• Morning Trip: boarding at 7:15am, departs at 7:30am returns 11:30am
• Afternoon Trip: boarding at 1:00pm, departs 1:15pm, returns 5:15pm

Departure Instructions

Please check in at least 30 minutes before boarding time at Port Douglas Marina.

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Low Isles

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

During the off season, our Low Isles tours may be reduced to one departure per day. Due to some weather conditions, it may not be possible to access the island. Please contact us for more information.

Duration

2.5 hours (approx) at Low Isles

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Underwater camera hire
• Onboard purchases: soft drinks, bottled water and chocolate bars
• Merchandise
• Morning tea for infants ($5)

Fitness Level Required

Low

Additional Information

• Languages offered: all safety equipment is offered in many different languages. Interpreters are available upon request, at a fee, for groups
• Please note: a credit card surcharge will apply to credit card payments at the prevailing rate for any onboard purchases
• Please note: no responsibility will be accepted for loss of personal items while on board. Guests are urged not to bring valuable items.
• With fluctuations in world oil prices, it may be necessary to apply a fuel surcharge to the ticket price. In such cases, the levy will be collected on departure
• During the off season, our Low Isles tours may be reduced to one departure per day. 
• Due to some weather conditions, it may not be possible to access the island. Please contact us for more information.

Eco Certifications

• Swimwear, towel, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Change of clothes - showers are available on board
• Cash for soft drinks (sorry, no credit card facilities on board)

Child price applies to children 4 to 14