The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s most prized and visited natural destination.

The marine park stretches over 2000 km (1200 miles) almost parallel to the Queensland coast, from the coastal town of Bundaberg, up past Port Douglas.

The Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive coral reef system in the world. 

It is considered to be one of the world’s greatest destinations for diving, sailing and other outdoor activities, including fishing, swimming and kayaking.

 

Getting There:

  • By Air: The main gateway to The Great Barrier Reef is Cairns airport.

    • International visitors fly non stop into Sydney or Brisbane as their point of entry, then connect to Cairns.

    • Flight time: Sydney —> Cairns (3) hrs; from Brisbane —> Cairns, 2.5 hrs.

  • Within Australia, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia provide regular flights from various cities.

    • Service is available into many towns along the Great Barrier coast; i.e. Proserpine, Mackay, Townsville, Bundaberg, Gladstone and others.

  • If you’re looking to drive between Sydney and Cairns, be aware it is a 27-hour drive along the Gregory Highway. The distance is 2,419 km (1,512 miles).

  • Car rental is your best option in getting around.

The best time to visit:

  • The peak season is from June to early October. During this period, temperatures are in the low 60s to mid-80s, and rainfall is uncommon, which means clearer waters and better diving conditions.

What to bring:

  • Pack, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, loose comfortable clothing, walking shoes.

  • Travel Adaptor - Type I

Other things to know:

 
 
 

Driving times:

SOUTHERN REEF ISLANDS:

Bundeberg to Gladstone: 2 hrs. 15 min

Gladstone to Rockhampton: 1 hr. 15 min.

Rockhampton to MacKay: 4 hrs.

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS:

MacKay to Airlie Beach: 2 hrs.

Airlie Beach to Shute Harbor: 15 min.

Shute Harbor to Townsville 4 hrs.

TROPICAL NORTH ISLANDS:

Townsville to Cairns: 4 hrs. 15 min.

Cairns to Port Douglas: 1 hr.

 

Northern Great Barrier Reef

 

Townsville - offers excellent day trips, close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and is not overwhelmed by tourism.

Cairns - renowned as the gateway to the tropical North.

  • Cairns offers an ideal location close to Port Douglas, Palm Cove, Mission Beach and the Daintree Rainforest.

    • Cairns ranks in Australia's top five holiday destinations for international visitors and offers plenty of things to do in Cairns.

Cairns Highlights: 3 or 4 days.

  • Best beaches in Cairns.

  • Stroll the Cairns Esplanade. It is a tree-lined boardwalk lined with restaurants and gardens along the foreshore overlooking the coral sea. The Esplanade has bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, barbecues, exercise areas and a salt-water lagoon.

  • Tours from Cairns.

  • Fitzroy Island - it’s a 45-minute ferry ride departing from the Cairns Reef Terminal (harbor).

    • Fitzroy Island, the closet island to Cairn is described as a unspoiled tropical paradise, where you can hike along designated trails through the rainforest. Fitzroy is also home to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and beautiful beaches.

    • Those visitors looking to stay overnight, we recommend the Fitzroy Island resort. <activities>

    • Getting there: Fitzroy Flyer.

  • Green Island - also a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns, is one of the most popular day trips. <Tours>

    • The coral cay is encircled by golden sandy beaches, but it’s the snorkeling around the fringing coral reef that’s the biggest draw.

    • Visitors looking to stay overnight, we recommend the Green Island resort. <activities>

  • Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - is a wildlife sanctuary and ecotourism park located between Cairns and Port Douglas. <location>

    • The wildlife collection now features koalas, wombats, alligators, komodo dragons, predatory birds, exotic snakes and reptiles.

    • It is the largest wildlife attraction in Northern Australia.

  • Palm Cove - a 30 minute drive north of Cairns, the pleasant village is nestled between the Coral Sea and the rainforest.

Port Douglas - a world class destination just over one (1) hour from Cairns.

  • Port Douglas - is brimming with natural beauty and adventure. <video>

    • The town’s location is a easy reach to the Great Barrier Reef, the remarkable Daintree Rainforest and to the palm fringed shores of Four Mile Beach.

  • The coastline drive from Cairns to Port Douglas is magnificent. This small town offers visitors everything they need from small shops and good restaurants, a four-mile beach, to stunning scenery.

Port Douglas Highlights: 3 or 4 days.

  • Daily Island Tours:

    • Low Isles is located 15 km off the coast and offers island tours and snorkeling straight off the beach. Low Isles is dominated by 15 species of soft corals. Colorful blue, green and purple parrotfish are a common sight as well as angelfish, damselfish, clownfish.

    • Mackay Coral Cay is a spectacular remote outer reef coral cay in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. Great for snorkeling.

  • Four Mile Beach - this is the premier beach of Port Douglas. From the main Port Douglas district, you can walk to the beach in under 5 minutes and then continue to walk along the sandy beach for hours. 4-Mile Beach begins at the northern rocky headland - great for kids to explore.

  • Daintree National Park - this rainforest park is located 100 km north of Cairns. Itself boasts an incredibly biodiverse landscape with a large concentration of animal and plant species that can't be found anywhere else in the world. It is also one of the oldest rainforests on the planet.

    • The spectacular Daintree region begins with the Wet Tropics rainforest of Mossman Gorge, an one (1) drive north of Cairns, reaching through beautiful valleys and across the Daintree River to the ancient rainforests of the Cape Tribulation section of Daintree National Park.

    • Learn about the Daintree ferry. The vehicle ferry is the only way to cross the Daintree River and drive to the Cape Tribulaton region.

      • Located one (1) hour northwest of Port Douglas. <route>

    • <Tours> from Port Douglas to Daintree.

 

  • Port Douglas is highly rated as one of Australia's and the world's premier sports fishing and game fishing holiday destinations.

    Light and heavy game tackle fishing and reef fishing opportunities include Blue and Black Marlin, Sailfish, Mackerel, Wahoo, Giant Trevally, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Dogtooth Tuna, Coral Trout, Red Emperor and Sea Perch.

  • Go on a glass-bottom boat. It is a good option for non-swimmers, those with disability or small children wanting to spot the colorful creatures and coral below.

    Cairns, Mission Beach and Port Douglas all have dedicated glass-bottom boat tours, as do many of the island resorts.

  • <Daintree Tours and Attractions>

    <Daintree accommodations>

  • Stinger Season runs from late October through May.

    Stinger Season refers to an influx of jellyfish species around the Great Barrier Reef. Tthey come to this area because of the warm, tropical waters. Since there is a rise in the jellyfish population, there is also a slightly elevated risk of visitors getting stung.

    The Cairns Jellyfish are plentiful during this time, but people have snorkelled with these animals for decades with little to no incidents. Certain species of jellyfish can give very painful, and even fatal stings, reports of a killer jellyfish sting is a rare occurrence. This infrequency is due in part to the safety barriers that go up to separate beachgoers and the jellyfish, and partly due to people being respectful and mindful of other creatures that are sharing the water.

    If you do get stung on tour, the tour company will take you to the proper medical authorities.

    Additionally, some tour companies offer everyone a range of protective lycra/wetsuits that typically cover part of your hands, neck, and come with a hood. If you choose to take this suit and listen to the tour guides, you can reduce your chances of a sting.

  • Climate for the Port Douglas Region

    Winter:

    A proven hotspot for all Australian tourists with the southern states escaping the Australian Winter. The end of May until the beginning of August is winter in Australia. But not in Port Douglas. The humidity is relatively dry, rainfall is very rare and the day time temperature is around 25°C dropping to 16°C at night. Water temperature is around 25.

    Summer:

    September through March are our are our tropical summer months with impeccable blues sky days and barmy nights up until until December. In December we usually experience the first of our summer rains during the nights. This releases much of the heat and humidity leading up until this time and is a welcome relief to many locals and tourists alike.

    Summer is a very popular time for the North European and Northern American visitors escaping their freezing winters.

    From January to March the region experience many rain filled nights and majestic sun shower days with most visitors taking the time to go to the rivers and waterholes to experience a true tropical rainforest experience. Visitor also flock to the reef where the days are usually still in full sun due to the coastal weather patterns.

    The reef is at its best in these month with zero winds and the clearest visibility experienced over the entire year.

  • Port Douglas to Cairns Airport: 72 km, 50 min.

    Port Douglas to Cairns city center: 80 km, 1-hr.

    Port Douglas to Daintree Village: 55 km, 45 min.

    Port Douglas to Daintree Ferry: 60 km, 40 min.

    Port Douglas to Cape Trib.: 85 km, 1h 45m

    Port Douglas to Mossman Gorge: 20 km, 15m

    Port Douglas to Julaten: 35 km, 30m

 

Map

Driving time between Cairns and Port Douglas is 1 hr.

 

Visit Cape Tribulation National Park - here the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.

  • You can visit the long, sandy beaches and bays, observe crocodiles along the rivers, or hike along boardwalks.

  • Suggestion: Plan to spend one (1) overnigh at the park. A day trip to Cape Tribulation would be difficult considering what the park has to offer.

  • Read more - download the visitor guide.

  • Tours: Jungle Tours and Tropical Horizons Tours.

  • <Where to stay> at Cape Tribulation Park.

  • Located 2 hours one way, north of Port Douglas. <route>

 
 
 
 
 

Central

Great Barrier Reef

 

Southern

Great Barrier Reef

 

Central Great Barrier Reef

  • The central Great Barrier Reef area is a popular destination for tourists because of its access to Cairns and Port Douglas.

  • The Central Itinerary spans from MacKay to Townsville.

  • MacKay region:

  • Airlie Beach:

    • Hamilton Island is the most well-known island in the Whitsundays, and is the largest inhabited island out of the 74 Whitsunday islands. It has its own commercial airport, restaurants and adjoining island with a fully functioning golf course. It is located about 27 km away from Airlie Beach and is accessible from the mainland by passenger ferry or by flying direct onto the island.

    • Hayman Island is the be-all, end-all of the Whitsundays. Definitely, the most expensive and exclusive way to see the islands.

    • Hook Island is one of the lesser known of the top five Whitsunday Islands. Famous for its diverse and beautiful fringing reefs, offers spectacular natural surroundings and excellent snorkelling and diving sites.

    • Daydream Island is located only 5 km off the mainland, and is known for being family-friendly with a day spa and outdoor aquarium. It's ideal for day trips with a 30-minute transfer by passenger ferry and is great for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and sailing hobie cats. It also has different types of accommodation and packages, perfect for an easy weekend escape.

    • Whitsunday Island is the biggest island in the Whitsunday Island group and is home to the famous Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout. It is visited by millions of tourists every year to see the beach and the lookout and enjoy the silky silica sands. It is easily one of the most famous beaches in the world, and ranks in the top 3 places visited in Australia.

      • Note: the island does not have a resort or any amenities aside from toilets.

      • <flight route>

Southern Great Barrier Reef

  • The southern marine park, consist of the base cities of Bundeberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton and its idyllic islands of Great Keppel, Pumpkin, Wilson, Heron, Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot. A lifetime travel experience.

  • The Southern Itinerary spans from Bundeburg north ending at the town of MacKay.

  • Bundaberg:—the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. A four (4) hour drive north of Brisbane.

  • Gladstone:— is the jumping-off point for some of the best island adventures on the coastline.

    • Heron Island - a great place for snorkeling and diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

      • Getting there: The Heron Islander is a two-hour cruise from Gladstone. Book in advance.

    • Wilson Island - an adults only island. This small and unique coral cay is a untainted and untouched getaway with safari-style tented accommodation.

  • Rockhampton region:

    • Pumpkin Island — one of the best-kept secrets nestled in the Southern Great Barrier Reef,

    • Great Keppel Island — is the largest in the Keppel Group.

      • Check out video about the island.

      • It’s a great place to snorkel. The best beaches for snorkeling are Shelving Beach, Clam Bay and Monkey Point .

      • Depart from the Yeppoon’s Keppel Bay Marina.

        • It’s a 30-minute ferry ride.

Air Tours:

Tour operators available around the Great Barrier Reef include GBR Helicopters, Air Whitsunday, GSL Aviation and Hamilton Island Air.

  • GBR Helicopters offers scenic flights from Cairns and Port Douglas,

  • Air Whitsunday or GSL Aviation (near Airlie beach) offers trips to the Whitsunday Islands.

  • For visitors staying on Hamilton Island, there's Hamilton Island Air, tours depart from the island's Great Barrier Reef Airport. 

  • Tour lengths and prices vary by company but can range from 10-minute scenic flights to half-day excursions with island stopovers and boat cruises. Tours generally cost between $119 and $699 Australian dollars per person. Before booking your air expedition, consult with your hotel's concierge – they may offer their own packages at a reduced price.

 

WHAT WILL THE TRIP COST ?

Search for your hotel.

 

Climate Guide

  • Historical weather data.

  • Winter, or the 'Dry' season, begins in May and ends in October offering sunshine, fresh breezes and low humidity.

  • Summer, or the 'Wet' season, extends from November to April and refreshes the region with tropical downpours of an afternoon and occasional dramatic electrical storms.

  • The best time of year to visit is in winter (between June and October). This is considered the most popular time to visit with crystal clear skies, cool breezes and perfect scuba-diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Monthly ocean water temperature.

  • Sunrise/Sunset times.