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 . 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 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 , 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 beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a swimming pool.

2. 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.

3. 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 beach with palm trees and a calm sea.

4. 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.

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, a large sailboat with a distinctive sail, and a building with a modern design in the background.

6. Port of Airlie

Boasting year-round warm weather, subtropical waters, shops, restaurants and accommodations, the Port of Airlie can be seen as a destination in itself, although most visitors come here to take a trip out to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
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A marina with two sailboats docked, surrounded by greenery and a mountainous backdrop.

7. 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 coastal landscape with a clear blue sea, a sandy beach, and lush green hills in the background.

8. Magnetic Island National Park

Put on your walking shoes and head off to explore some of the 15 miles (24 kilometers) of walking tracks that meander through Magnetic Island National Park.
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A white sailboat on a turquoise sea with rocky shores and green vegetation.

Recommended things to do in Great Barrier Reef

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What to do in Great Barrier Reef


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