5 reasons to visit the Great Barrier Reef

June 26, 2023 • By Maryanne Jacques

Are you a passionate traveller seeking awe-inspiring adventures? If so, the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns should be on your travel radar. Spread over 2300 kilometres, this marine marvel promises a multitude of extraordinary sights. In this blog, we will discuss five compelling reasons why this UNESCO World Heritage Site deserves a place on your travel itinerary.

Great Barrier Reef Tours — Cairns Discovery Tours

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Great Barrier Reef

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Article by:

Maryanne Jacques

Director, Cairns Discovery Tours

Maryanne Jacques is the Director of Cairns Discovery Tours and your local connection to Tropical North Queensland. With more than 40 years of experience in the tourism industry, she brings deep local knowledge and a genuine passion for showcasing the very best the region has to offer.

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26 Jun → 27 Jun

Cairns Port

Fri, 8:00 AM

Sat, 4:00 PM

Carnival Adventure

28 Jun 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

9:00 AM

5:30 PM

Carnival Splendor

7 Jul → 8 Jul

Cairns Port

Tue, 9:30 AM

Wed, 5:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

29 Jul 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

5:30 PM

Carnival Encounter

15 Aug 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Adventure

8 Sep 2026, Tue

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

13 Sep 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Splendor

29 Sep → 30 Sep

Cairns Port

Tue, 9:30 AM

Wed, 6:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

28 Oct 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

5:30 PM

Carnival Encounter

30 Oct 2026, Fri

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

5:00 PM

Crown Princess

7 Nov 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Costa Serena

8 Nov 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Riviera

14 Nov 2026, Sat

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:30 AM

8:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

15 Nov 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Viking Venus

20 Nov 2026, Fri

Yorkeys Knob Port

7:00 AM

6:00 PM

Royal Princess

23 Nov → 24 Nov

Cairns Port

Mon, 9:00 AM

Tue, 7:00 PM

Noordam

26 Nov 2026, Thu

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Riviera

26 Nov 2026, Thu

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

9:00 PM

Celebrity Solstice

27 Nov → 28 Nov

Cairns Port

Fri, 8:00 AM

Sat, 6:00 PM

Azamara Pursuit

28 Nov 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

11:00 PM

Silver Moon

29 Nov 2026, Sun

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

Royal Princess

5 Dec 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

9:00 AM

7:00 PM

Grand Princess

6 Dec → 7 Dec

Yorkeys Knob Port

Sun, 9:00 AM

Mon, 6:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

9 Dec → 10 Dec

Cairns Port

Wed, 7:00 AM

Thu, 3:00 PM

Riviera

10 Dec 2026, Thu

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

12 Dec 2026, Sat

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

7:00 PM

Seven Seas Navigator

16 Dec 2026, Wed

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

20 Dec 2026, Sun

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

9:30 PM

Riviera

1 Jan 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

12 Jan 2027, Tue

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

10:00 PM

Silver Moon

17 Jan → 18 Jan

Cairns Port

Sun, 8:00 AM

Mon, 6:00 PM

Westerdam

18 Jan 2027, Mon

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Luminosa

19 Jan 2027, Tue

Yorkeys Knob Port

9:00 AM

6:00 PM

Quantum of the Seas

3 Feb 2027, Wed

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

4 Feb 2027, Thu

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

6:00 PM

Costa Deliziosa

12 Feb → 13 Feb

Yorkeys Knob Port

Fri, 8:00 AM

Sat, 5:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

21 Feb → 22 Feb

Cairns Port

Sun, 8:00 AM

Mon, 9:00 PM

Crown Princess

2 Mar 2027, Tue

Cairns Port

9:00 AM

6:00 PM

Queen Victoria

4 Mar 2027, Thu

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Grand Princess

5 Mar 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:00 PM

Carnival Splendor

7 Mar → 8 Mar

Yorkeys Knob Port

Sun, 9:00 AM

Mon, 5:00 PM

Celebrity Edge

9 Mar 2027, Tue

Yorkeys Knob Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Quantum of the Seas

12 Mar 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

9:30 PM

Riviera

13 Mar 2027, Sat

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

7:00 PM

Grand Princess

15 Mar → 20 Mar

Cairns Port

Mon, 8:00 AM

Sat, 6:00 PM

Viking Orion

17 Mar 2027, Wed

Cairns Port

9:30 AM

6:30 PM

Carnival Luminosa

21 Mar 2027, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Viking Venus

21 Mar → 25 Mar

Cairns Port

Sun, 10:00 AM

Thu, 6:00 PM

Crystal Serenity

5 Apr 2027, Mon

Yorkeys Knob Port

7:00 AM

5:00 PM

Celebrity Solstice

9 Apr 2027, Fri

Cairns Port

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Carnival Encounter

11 Apr 2027, Sun

Cairns Port

8:00 AM

6:00 PM

Seabourn Quest

Special Deal

2 Daintree Rainforest overnight tour from Cairns

Experience the best of Tropical North Queensland on this immersive 2 day journey into the World Heritage–listed Daintree Rainforest.

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2 Day Daintree Rainforest Tour

$331.00 Single shared bathroom | $507.00 Single ensuite | $373.00 Twin/Double ensuite

7:00 am

7:00 pm

Mossman River rainforest scenery on Daintree tour from Cairns

Adult $269|Aust Pensioner $259
Child $209 (4-14yrs only)
not suitable for children under 4yrs
Departs Daily 7.00am

Discover the Daintree Rainforest in Comfort – Small Group Touring (Max 14 Guests)
Travel along the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef Drive to explore Mossman Gorge, enjoy a restaurant lunch at the Daintree Tea House, 1 hour cruise on the Daintree River and visit Cape Tribulation Beach—where the rainforest meets the sea. With scenic stops at Rex Lookout, Flagstaff Hill Port Douglas, and a sweet treat option at the Daintree Ice Cream Company, this full-day tour offers an immersive nature experience in air-conditioned comfort. A full day exploring our spectacular natural backyard.

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1 Day Daintree – Cape Tribulation Rainforest Tour

Adult $269.00 | Aust Pensioner $259.00 | Child $209.00 (4-14yrs only)

7:00 am

6:00 pm

Waterfall and Rainforest Tour Cairns, Australia

Adult $189|Child 2-11yrs $149|Family 2A+2C $527
Departs daily 7.30am – 5.30pm

On the Waterfalls and Wanderer tour you will travel south as you discover nature and the beauty of north Queensland’s most iconic waterfalls. This is a MUST-SEE for anyone wanting to experience pristine rainforest, cascading waterfalls, stunning panoramas of Queensland’s highest peaks and maybe a glimpse of rare and unique native wildlife. This fun tour is ideal for the young and the young at heart, looking to see the best of the Atherton Tablelands and waterfalls.

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Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour

Adult $189.00 | Child 2-11yrs $149.00 | Family 2A+2C $527.00

7:30 am

5:30 pm

Special Deal

Discover the best of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Overnight in the world’s oldest living Rainforest and explore the untouched Great Barrier Reef from Cape Tribulation.

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2 Day Daintree Rainforest & Great Barrier Reef Tour from Cairns

$556.00 Single shared bathroom | $732.00 Single ensuite | $598.00 Twin/Double ensuite

7:00 am

7:00 pm

River tubing adventure in rainforest near Cairns

2 Departure times, 7am or 1.15pm – Your Cairns Tubing Rainforest tour will take you along some of Cairns’ most beautiful rainforest rivers. You’ll glide over gentle white-water rapids, cool off in fresh rainforest water, and soak up the stunning natural surroundings at every turn. So much fun, especially during our summer months October- March

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Cairns Rainforest Tubing Tour

Adult $119.00 includes River Levy | Child $85.00 5-11yrs | Family 2A+2C $353.00 | Shoe Hire $5.00

7:00 am

12:00 pm

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns with Pure Snorkelling

Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour
Adult $209 |Child 6-14yrs $159
Family 2A+2C $670
Depart Cairns Daily 12 noon – 5.00pm

Cairns newest & fastest purpose built vessel to the Outer Barrier Reef. Only 40 snorkelers per trip. Join our expert snorkel team, made up of Master Reef Guides and Marine naturalists, on a crowd-free adventure with over 2 hours of snorkelling time. Get ready to discover the Great Barrier Reef.

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Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour

Adult $209.00 | Child 6-14yrs $159.00 | Family 2A+2C $670.00

12:00 pm

5:00 pm

Special Deal

Ferry leaving Green Island Great Barrier Reef

Departs daily 8.30am – 5.30pm
Fuel Levy $10.00 Adult $5.00 Child payable at check in day of travel

Enjoy the best of both worlds with this complete Reef and Island tour. Fast 45-minute catamaran ride to Green Island to enjoy 2 hours on this iconic coral cay. Continue your day adventure to Great Adventures spacious activity platform. Spend 3 hours discovering the wonders of the reef, with plenty of time to snorkel, relax, and take in one of the world’s most extraordinary natural treasures.

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Green Island & Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour from Cairns

Adult $312.00 | Child $172.00 (4-14yrs) | Family 2A+2C $805.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child. Fuel Levy payable at check-in on the day of travel.

8:30 am

5:30 pm

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over tropical rainforest near Cairns

Departs Daily 10.30am – 5.45pm
Discover Kuranda with Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway. Glide above the rainforest in comfortable six-person gondolas and explore Kuranda in your own time. Enjoy the 1.5 hour journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a historic railroad that travels through the breathtaking World Heritage Listed Wet Tropics Rainforest.

Please read inclusions & itinerary for changes during Skyrail upgrade 20th July – 26 October 2026

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Kuranda Day Tour from Cairns with hotel transfers

Adult $210.00 | Child 4-14yrs $110.00 | Family 2A+2C $557.50 | Gold Class upgrade $67.00 per person

10:30 am

5:45 pm

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Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.

🗓️ Flexible Cancellations

Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.

💳 Book Now, Pay Later

Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure. Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.

🌴 Local Since 1995

For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.

👩‍🏫 Expert Local Guides

Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.

We arranged 3 day tours from Cairns with Cairns Discovery tours, one to Fitzroy Island, one to Green Island and one to Kuranda . From the initial telephone contact to the conclusion of the tours, Maryanne was so helpful and professional. Booking and payment was easy, follow up information meant we knew exactly where to meet and what we would expect to see and do, when and where to check in on the day . I can thoroughly recommend booking with Cairns Discovery Tours.

Cairns Discovery Tours were amazing. I had very specific requirements for booking tours, due to the group we were travelling with. They made the process so easy. Their recommendations were spot on and then they took care of all our bookings, including updating me on any "deals" that companies had. If you are travelling to Cairns, I would highly recommend contacting Cairns Discovery Tours to sort your holiday!

I had the pleasure of booking my recent trip through Cairns Discovery Tours in Cairns and I must say it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. From the very beginning, Maryanne and team were extremely easy to work with. Their communication was clear, prompt, and effective, which gave me confidence that everything was being handled smoothly. No matter how many questions we had, they responded with patience and helpful details. Since we were completely new to Cairns, their recommendations were invaluable. Another highlight was the deal they worked out for us. They managed to customize the itinerary in a way that was both budget-friendly and full of experiences. Overall, I highly recommend Cairns Discovery Tours to anyone planning a trip to Cairns. They are professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely care about making your journey memorable. I would definitely choose them again for my future travels. Thanks once again Maryanne and Taam!

Easy to book online and and contact if need be. Well organised would recommend using this company to book tours through.

Like to thank Mary Ann for organising our two trips had to get a partial refund on one of the trips due to weather which was an easy process. Would definitely book through Cairns Discovery Tours again

Marianne set up great tours and was very responsive with any questions. Highly recommended,