What to do in Great Barrier Reef

Activities, attractions and tours

Two scuba divers exploring a vibrant coral reef with various colorful corals and marine life.
A coral reef with various coral formations and clear turquoise water.
An aerial view of a coral reef with clear turquoise waters and sandy bottom.
A fish with yellow and orange stripes swimming near a coral reef.
An aerial view of a coral reef system with clear turquoise waters and visible coral formations.

Great Barrier Reef Tourist Attractions & Activities

If you’re searching for an exciting holiday, count on Expedia.com.au to help you find interesting attractions, enlightening experiences, and tons of other fun things to do in Great Barrier Reef AU$124. From first-rate tours to incredible deals on sightseeing trips – our extensive selection of local things to do and places to visit is just a few clicks away.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling alone, alongside your main squeeze, or with your favourite friends or family members, Expedia has the inside scoop on what to see and do while in this corner of the world. And our search tool makes it simple to score the best deals around. So regardless of if you are on a tight budget or prefer to spare no expense, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for by browsing over 12 activities in Great Barrier Reef, Australia - New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The intuitive booking system here on Expedia.com.au makes planning your holiday easier—and more affordable—than ever before. And not only can you discover all the best Great Barrier Reef attractions from AU$124, but you can also book flights, hire cars, and reserve hotel rooms all in just a few moments. A world of wonder awaits you and your travelling companions. Count on Expedia.com.au to help you plan the holiday of your dreams, and you’ll have the time of your life.

Activities


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Top places to visit

1. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is the tree-lined boardwalk along the foreshore in the city of Cairns. It overlooks the Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea on one side, and is lined with restaurants and gardens on the other. It has bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, barbecues, exercise areas and a salt-water lagoon.
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A large public swimming pool with people swimming and playing, surrounded by buildings and mountains in the background.

2. Palm Cove Beach

Experience the stunning beaches, resorts and scenery where the rainforest hugs the shores of the Great Barrier Reef at Palm Cove Beach. Swim or sunbathe beneath the warm Tropical North Queensland sun. Explore the waters on a kayak or sailboat and take in the views of forested hills rising up behind the beach’s string of swaying palm trees.
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A sandy beach with palm trees and ocean waves.

3. Cairns Marlin Marina

The Cairns Marlin Marina is where all your Great Barrier Reef adventures start, with tour boats coming and going throughout the day. Enjoy shopping, entertainment and dining along the waterfront promenade.
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A marina with several sailboats docked at the pier.

4. Whitehaven Beach

Subtropical Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is the most famous beach in Queensland and consistently ranks high among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Stroll along the beach, dive in for a swim and let the beauty of the beach rub off on you.
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A coastal landscape with clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and green hills.

5. Hamilton Island Marina

The Hamilton Island Marina is a convenient place to launch your voyage into the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands or stopover for a relaxing stay in a waterfront villa. With spacious berths for yachts and super yachts, the marina is fitted out with state-of-the-art facilities and professional boat care specialists. Alternatively, jump on board one of the passenger ferries or charter tours that depart from the Hamilton Island Marina to explore Airlie Beach, Whitehaven Beach, the Great Barrier Reef or the Whitsunday Islands.
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A marina with numerous yachts docked, surrounded by water and greenery.

6. Four Mile Beach

The main shoreline in Port Douglas, Four Mile Beach, does as the name suggests, stretch approximately 7 kilometres (4 miles) long. A mangrove forest is at the southern end and a hill with a lookout and great views from which to watch the sunrise over the Coral Sea is in the north.
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A tropical beach with clear turquoise waters, a sandy shore, and lush greenery.

7. Catseye Beach

Catseye Beach is a perfect crescent of sand overlooking the royal-blue reefs and forested mountains of Whitsunday Island, making it a popular backdrop for weddings. Regarded as one of Hamilton Island’s premier beach destinations, Catseye Beach is a convenient and scenic spot to spend the day soaking up the sun’s rays or exploring the magnificent shoreline. Swim in the shallows, paddle along the coastline in a kayak, skipper a catamaran or grab your snorkel and mask and discover the picturesque shores of Catseye Beach.
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A beach with clear turquoise water, people sunbathing, and sailboats with colorful sails.

What to do in Great Barrier Reef


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