Sail to the Great Barrier on our amazing Catamaran: Swim with thousands of fish, soak up the Aussie sun and explore vividly colourful reefs full of life!
We'll visit 2 incredble reefs with up to 4 hours in the water. You choose freely between snorkelling, diving, or just relaxing on our bownets. We also offer introductory diving.
Days
- 1 day
Group size
- Max 20
Start / finish
- Cairns / Cairns
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- A sailing catamaran out of Cairns, owner operated and capped at 20 passengers. There are bow nets to lie in between sites.
Meals
- A fresh fruit platter when you board, a tropical buffet lunch, and a glass of wine with cheese and fruit. Tea and coffee are complimentary.
Route
Included experiences
- Upolu Reef — a sheltered lagoon at the very edge of the outer reef
- Two reef sites, weather permitting, with plenty of time in the water at each
- A guided snorkel at the first site, with reef education from the crew
- Giant clams, turtles, sea stars and reef fish in warm, clear, protected water
- PADI scuba demonstrations for first timers and a skills update for certified divers
- Introductory or certified scuba dives — bookable on the day at extra cost
- All snorkel equipment and safety tuition, with help for less confident swimmers
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 129 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 129 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the friendly, professional and knowledgeable crew, the quality of the snorkelling and diving, and the food and drinks provided, which typically include lunch alongside snacks, fruit, cheese and wine or champagne. The feature mentioned most often is the small group size, capped at around 20 passengers, which reviewers say creates a personal, uncrowded experience with attentive, one-on-one guidance, particularly valued by nervous swimmers, first-time divers and those with additional needs. Many also highlight visiting two reef sites away from the larger boats and seeing marine life such as turtles, reef sharks, giant clams and abundant fish. The most common caveats concern the long and sometimes rough boat journey, with several suggesting motion sickness tablets and warm, changeable clothing, and occasional mentions of the boat's age or cleanliness. A few reviewers also reported issues with particular crew members, including instances of perceived rudeness or disrespectful behaviour towards passengers or colleagues.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“One of the best tours”
Great day on the reef. Friendly professional crew. Will do another trip with these guys for sure.
“Do it.”
Such an amazing day on the water, the smaller boat size means you get a more personal experience on the reef. The team of Michaela, Luke and Julian were super friendly and informative and made the trip amazing. The snorkelling, food, staff and vibes were all excellent!
“Amazing trip!”
Definitely would recommend. I’ve planned and done many activities around Queensland but I must say this tops everything!! Fortunately the weather was good and I got to the best experience of my life!! Please don’t back out when you are scared! The guys are amazing and they’ll literally be there to save you!! Just go and get that experience!!
“Amazing!”
Fantastic day at the reef. Love the smaller group size that allowed personalised support from the crew. Super friendly team.
“Recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing and beautiful experie”
Genuinely so much fun. I really enjoyed the relaxed feel of the tour- you could go in and out of the water as much as you would like which was nice. It was also great that the guide was there in the water with us, however we were allowed to venture off and explore the reef, not having to stick right next to him. I loved the amount of food options that we had for lunch and throughout the day. The boat was very nice as well- clean and lots of places to catch some rays.
“Gunnar C”
The small size of this boat made this trip so personable. The three crew members were professional and so friendly, particularly Luke who is a Cairns local. I have to say, the snorkeling was the best I've ever done in Cairns or Port. Incredible coral and so many different species of reef fish all together. It felt like magic. All open air, no aircon-you're on a catamaran! It really felt like our own chartered boat. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks guys. We'll be back!
“Excellent day trip to the reef!!”
Staff were friendly, fun, professional and safety conscious. Snorkelling was great, lunch was lovely, small group size - highly recommend!
“Fabulous Experience with Personalized Attention”
We booked a family dive/snorkel trip for my retirement-60th birthday trip. About 4 months before our trip my adult son with high functioning autism had a grand mal seizure (no prior history and it was incredibly scary) and received an Epilepsy diagnosis. He is a great swimmer and was really looking forward to the trip so with doctor clearance we contacted reef day trippers but were understandable apprehensive about the trip. The team could not have been more kind and professional. My son was given a life jacket, held onto a life ring and was given a customized reef tour that was the highlight of our trip. In addition, they were able to find my husbands original PADI certification and re-certify him and he and my other sons did an intro dive. A larger boat might be fancier and have more bells and whistles but we were given customized individual attention and they met the individualized needs of each person on the boat. There is an expression Go big or go home, but in this case going smaller is better. Thank you!
“Recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing and beautiful experie”
Genuinely so much fun. I really enjoyed the relaxed feel of the tour- you could go in and out of the water as much as you would like which was nice. It was also great that the guide was there in the water with us, however we were allowed to venture off and explore the reef, not having to stick right next to him. I loved the amount of food options that we had for lunch and throughout the day. The boat was very nice as well- clean and lots of places to catch some rays.
“The Great Barrier Reef on the Reef Day Tripper”
My wife and I went out with the Reef day tripper yesterday and had a fantastic day. The boat, the crew and reef location for snorkelling was a perfect day out. The lunch and snacks were great and to round the day off we had champagne, cheese, biscuits and fresh fruit. Luke our guide for the snorkelling was very patient especially with the the not so confident snorkelers in the water, he stayed with you,
The reef was beautiful and it was like being in a fish tank with all the fish. The skipper Mikyla and Jamie the other diver was amazing too.
“Highly recommend! You Will Enjoy This Tour!”
Amazing experience! Paul and his team were great. It was like swimming in an aquarium. We saw white tipped reef sharks, starfish, rays and plenty of fish. The boat and service was really great. Highly recommend booking with this company.
“Wonderful”
Paul, Julian, and Luke were a great crew, and the small group was such a great, personal, and intimate way to share the reef with people! We had a fabulous time at both spots and really enjoyed the slow stroll out and into Cairns that gave us time to enjoy all the beautiful views and conversations!
“A great day out without the crowds”
A lovely personal experience on the reef with operators that truly care for and respect the reef. I saw more fish and live coral than I expected. I’m 62 and a good swimmer but found the current at this particular reef very strong so it was tiring trying to swim against it all the time.
“Best experience ever!”
Last weekend, I went on a last minute trip to Cairns for a re-set. Being out on the reef with these guys definitely allowed for a much needed detox. The last time I attempted to dive was in Mexico in 2016 and I panicked and couldn’t stay under. I explained all of this to the crew and when Julian took me down, he was incredibly calm and patient as I adjusted to once again being under water. I very nearly surfaced, but Julian re-assured me and we took it slow. He gave me the confidence to go on a second dive and I’m looking forward to diving more frequently after my 9 year hiatus! Thanks to you all!
“Wonderful Days at the Reef”
Real nice Tour, with cool spots and good food. Like it very much. My hole family was fascinated about the tour with a small group of tourists.
“Highly recommend!!!”
Great day with the Reefdaytripper team, they were welcoming, they took care of us and our well-being. I recommend this experience with this team because we are in a small group and the staff remains attentive to us. Thank you again for making us dream during this day.
“Wonderful trip”
Awesome time! Very friendly staff that provide a personable experience. Saw a LOT of amazing critters. Very nice for those who love soft corals. We also got to see a decent amount of very large hard coral colonies and some coral species I have yet to see here after having snorkeled out of cairns a few times before. If you are looking for a small group tour on the reef, these guys and gals are really great. 10/10 would go back with them
“Awesome day”
Great day in spite of rough waters. The crew was amazing, and the food was good. Very safety conciouse, boat was well equipped and gear was on good shape
“Perfect day!!”
Super fun time. Lots of time on the reef. The small group size was amazing as all the guides knew us by name. Also do the intro dive, it was so fun to get another perspective on the reef and I felt very safe despite never having scuba dived before! Would highly recommended
“Sail and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef”
Paul and the team really looked after us well and a great trip - intimate trip with a total of 20 guests, great snorkelling and highly recommended
“Amazing”
Beautiful experience, highly recommended! The crew was professional and super attentive. I will return one day in the future.
“Unforgettable reef adventure with great crew, minor hiccups”
The captain and female instructor were excellent and very professional. One of the male instructors was less personable and gave me the wrong wetsuit size twice without apologizing. The trip offers a lot to see, but the travel time to and from the reef felt quite long. I recommend bringing motion sickness tablets, as they aren’t available onboard. I appreciated the crew accommodating my request to bring my own lunch and keeping it cold. Despite the hiccups, it was an unforgettable experience, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do it.
“Do this trip!!”
Do not do another snorkeling event other than this one! Mikaela and Luke were the best! We were very lucky to have a small group which made it feel very special. 12/10 recommend.
“Fantastic Experience!”
Amazing experience! Michaela and team were great, very friendly and professional. Was a small group. It was like swimming in an aquarium. The boat and service was really great. Highly recommend booking with this company.
“What a Great Day ”
Great time on the reef with these guys! As a solo traveler I met a lot of other great people aboard. Since it's a bit of a slower season right now, there were only 10 of us on board! The staff knew us by name, the reef conditions were awesome, weather was great, and vibes were vibin'! Thanks to the Reef Daytripper team for making it a great day out there
“Fantastic Experience”
We had a wonderful day today. Perfect weather, perfect water and amazing crew. Thank you Skipper Paul and your 2 side kicks Julian and Luke for looking after us so well and making our day full of new memories. PS. We were very impressed with the boys. What a well oiled crew you have. Thank you again. We will be spreading the word for sure. So so highly recommend this team for helping create a day to remember. Roz
“Fantastic Experience!”
Crew were brilliant, a small size group meant it wasnt cahos in the water and the food provided was brilliant
“Great Day on the Reef”
We had a great snorkling trip. Friendly crew who explained things very well. The provided all we needed, including wetsuits and made it simple. We visited two areas saw lots of fish, a turtle, shark, coral...plenty of variety of marine life big and small.
The captain and 2 crew were very attentive to each person on board helping as much or as little as needed.
My wife and I would definitely recommend.
“Excellent”
Fantastic! I had a great day, the small group experience is ideal for discovering the Great Barrier Reef! We visited two different sites, saw among other things a whale and 2 turtles! Our guides as well as our captain were simply perfect! The meal and drinks included were good. I highly recommend!
“Fantastic Experience”
Reef Daytripper helped us to experience the beautiful Great Barrier Reef as it should be. A small boat which takes just 15 guests, but with plenty of space for everyone. Took us to excellent spots on the reef for snorkelling. Excellent personalised service by the crew, especially Luke, who took great care in providing for the special needs of one of our group members. Snorkelling equipment and wetsuits were all good quality and newish. Lunch was great. Excellent experience!!!
“ I really love everything here!!!”
I would definitely recommend this cruise for anyone looking for a good day out on the reef. As a solo traveller, (F, 32), the 20 person capacity was perfect to feel comfortable and relaxed, and have a chat. The staff went above and beyond to make the day memorable & a special shout out to scuba Luke for his hospitality. 10/10 would recommend
“Highly recommend!”
I booked this trip by accident and i’m so glad I did. The trip was capped at 20 people which was perfect. We were comfortable, there was ample food amongst us and we weren’t swimming on top of one another. The crew were friendly, knowledgable and ensured we didn’t have to lift a finger. We were shown some amazing things along the reef. 10/10 recommend this trip.
“Personal and relaxing”
The crew did a great job answering all our questions and making sure everyone was happy; the skipper even helped me out with my leaky mask so that I could go scuba diving (which I highly recommend you do if you get the chance, especially first-timers)! The talk about the marine life was so informative and really interesting, with laminated sheets handed around so you could look at all the wildlife you were about to see on the reef. Saw so many different fish and corals, and the giant clams were especially awesome. We even had a swim-by from a substantially sized shark while we were all on the boat! Really nice, small group of people on this trip—got chatting with folks from all over. Excellent experience for a first visit to the reef.
“Family trip to Cairns!”
Our day was amazing with snorkeling the great barrier reef. We were the only people on the boat and the food, made vegan for us, was delicious!
“Fantastic Experience! this Is Unvelivable!!”
We are return customers and plan on sailing again with Reef Daytripper
“Diving and snorkelling”
Was totally awesome! Did snorkelling in the morning and scuba diving in the afternoon. With Mikayla at the wheel Luke and Sandie as the crew we were in great hands. I was a little freaking out at first Abt diving but Sandie patiently and expertly guided me thru the whole thing step by step giving me an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
“Fantastic”
Fantastic trip with a superb crew, can recommend it highly enough. If you are looking for a trip this is max 20 people so the crew can certainly give you lots of attention
“Professional but friendly crew, good boat, nice spot, an overall”
Very professional and relaxed crew. Good boat, good choice of reef location especially for beginners new to snorkelling or scuba diving. We were lucky with the weather too, not that this factors into the service as such. Plenty of snorkelling/swimming time, you never feel rushed.
“Great Crew”
Great staff, great personal experience, captain Paul was very well knowledgeable of the area stop to see a huge turtle.
“boat goes fast”
O yeah, some water, sails, bit of linen white shirts, Richard Gere in the 80s, mate. Cool wind, boat goes fast, yeah nah yeah nah yeah, you know how it is. Some good ol’ aussie old mate adventures, proper stuff. Could do it again maybe. Wind in the hair, vibes were there, but like, what’s the deal, is it fun. I reckon yeah. Why not, give it a crack.
“Highly recommend! You Will Enjoy This Tour!”
The Reef Daytripper was an unreal experience! From the boat to the crew everything was professional yet fun and enjoyable! Special mention to Mikaela who skippered the boat and was full of knowledge about the reef and made us all feel safe! Also Tomas who guided me one on one for my first scuba dive, so professional and constantly checking in! An amazing and unforgettable experience if you want to experience the reef without the crowds and enjoy something a little more intimate!
“This place Is Incredible!!!”
Absolutely brilliant! Had my first intro dive which was worth every penny, they really helped you through it and you saw so amazing parts of the reef, even saw a huge turtle. Having only 9 visitors on the boat and 4 staff just made it feel so personal and you really got to know them. So kind, chatty, knowledgable, and just brill!
“Reef Trip”
Fabulous day on the reef thanks to Bee & Julian, who couldn't have been more helpful. They took us to two different reefs with a delicious lunch in between. Thanks to Bee during her guided snorkel tours, we saw many things we'd otherwise have missed including a whitetip shark, green turtle and giant clam. Top tip - pack a warm jumper as the water is currently really cold and make sure you ride the nets on the journey back to shore!
“Perfection from start to finish!”
What an awesome trip to the Great Barrier Reef with an awesome crew! Lunch was simple but filling and you can go for seconds, cheese nuts n crackers pair with champagne !!! Cheers! You have it all! Plus it’s privately owned so you get better service because we are the select few not 100 patrons on board.
“Excellent for people who find this kind of thing particularly ch”
A great day, with members of the party one having sand issues and another deep water issues, Luke gave them a great tour on the safety ring. A second tour was too much for the deep water one but the boy with the sand issues went out on the second one without his mum. Amazing they only made it waste deep at Fitzroy island.
“Highly recommend!!!!!”
I was completely happy with everything. The team was very friendly, attentive, professional, and fun. They catered to all our needs and made sure we had a perfect day. The boat was cozy and there were the perfect amount of people to keep it relaxed. The food and drinks were great, and the reef experience with snorkelling and scuba diving was incredible.
“Highly recommend! You Will Enjoy This Tour!”
Definitely an experience that I would recommend without thinking about it. A crew of 10 in every way, very friendly and make you want to come back on board the next day. If you are looking for a quieter and less crowded experience this is the place for you. The rest of the fleets that leave from Cairns are the typical crowded boat where you don't have a minute to enjoy the great barrier reef by yourself, nothing to do with this boat. It only remains for me to thank each and every one of the crew for this day.
“Amazing Tour! Great Experience! ”
What an awesome way to spend a day! The team was prepared, knowledgeable and so much fun! All equipment (snorkel and diving) was well maintained and provided. And some easy breakfast snacks and lunch meals were provided throughout the day too....there was even champagne provided on the way back into Cairns to end off a wonderful day. I highly recommend the Reef Daytripper team. The group size is small and easier to access the reefs, joining in on a guided snorkel tour is enjoyable and you see so much reef life. And when you're tired you can just head back to the boat and rest catamaran style!! I also recommend the team themselves as they are professional but easygoing! I'll definitely be back! The experience was wonderful!
“Just perfect!”
Good trip, the boat crew are friendly, organised and very experienced and you feel in very good hands. I would advise wearing swimmers and taking a change of clothes and a towel as you get very wet on the boat!
“Fantastic Tour! Great day!”
Definitely an experience that I would recommend without thinking about it. A crew of 10 in every way, very friendly and make you want to come back on board the next day. If you are looking for a quieter and less crowded experience this is the place for you. The rest of the fleets that leave from Cairns are the typical crowded boat where you don't have a minute to enjoy the great barrier reef by yourself, nothing to do with this boat. It only remains for me to thank each and every one of the crew for this day.
“Fantastic Tour! `”
Really nice experience! We traveled in a small group, which gave us more space for snorkeling. The team was super friendly. Big thanks to Luke for showing us the best spots on the reef!
“Fantastic Tour! Lovely Day!”
This was by far the best snorkeling experience of my life. To see sharks, giant clam shells, beautiful fish and coral - was incredible. However, the staff only added to my wonderful experience. Truly worth going.
“Fantastic Tour!”
My wife and I had an amazing trip today to the Great Barrier Reef it was a very small group with only 6 passengers and 3 crew. The crew Sophie, Luke, and captain Makayla were incredibly helpful, kind, accommodating, insightful, and accommodating. They allowed me to sign up for an intro-dive last minute while we were underway and I had a 1 on 1 lesson for my first ever dive with Sophie, she worked with me and guided me even though I had some issues quite a bit were brought on by fear and by the end of it even though she basically dragged me through the water on a tour through the reef because I was still struggling to orientate myself, it turned out to be a ton of fun!
“Fantastic Tour! Lovely Day!”
Fun trip! Prescription snorkel masks and stinger suits were provided. Small group sizes. On the day of our tour the weather was a little choppy, but the crew were very patient and caring, allowing those who were nervous to hang on to a life ring attached by rope to the guide. Saw lots of fish, giant clams, and a turtle! However, it was clear that some of the crew disliked another crew member, and were treating her quite disrespectfully in front of the passengers. Also, though warning us to not touch the coral, the guide led us over some very shallow parts of the reef, making contact inevitable.
“Amazing Tour! Great Experience!”
Amazing experience, crew 100%. Really nice snorkeling tour and the provided good quality food and snacks. I would 100% recommended also for the « small group » excursion concept.
“Great Experience!!!”
Excellent excursion!! Instructor Julian a genius explaining everything to dive. He gave me a lot of security, and speaking Spanish was a great help. Everyone in the crew very friendly, rich food and the dream landscape, being few people makes everything simpler and faster, we were 11 tourists. Super recommended!
“Amazing Tour! Great Experience!”
A lovely day on the reef with brs diving. Small group on a smaller boat which meant that there was an opportunity to get to know the group. It created a familiar atmosphere on board. The crew was both knowledgeable and informative about what to expect about the activity.
“Amazing Tour! Great Experience!”
This is exactly the trip you should go on if either a first- timer or someone who has snorkeled since a child. The crew is friendly and knowledgeable. Despite being 66 years old with no previous experience, I felt very secure. The scenery is spectacular and you can either swim around on your own or latch on to a life ring for your tour. Thank you so much!
“Amazing Tour! Great Experience!”
The trip was an interesting experience with the snorkeling being the real highlight. The crew were helpful. The food could have been better and handing out cheese and fruit into the hand could have been better organized. Overall hygiene on board is a bit of concern!!
“Great experience”
Great experience travelling 2hrs out to sea while motoring and under sail to dive on a colorful reef with plenty of marine life.
“magical experience”
Would recommend to everybody!! Loved every second was a magical experience. Crew were brilliant as was the atmosphere. Crew were also very knowledgable on areas of the reef with great wildlife. Loved it.
“awesome”
What an awesome trip! sure ill go back!
“The best day!”
Hey we had a lovely time with captain mikhaila, dive instructor Luke and Julian.
“Fun day to see great barrier reef”
A fun way to explore great barrier reef. We used a catamaran boat, the crews were super helpful and informative. Luke and Thomas as our diving/snorkling master guided us very well.
The lunch and snack/fruits which were provided are delicious enough for us who were hungry from activity
“enjoyable”
The Reef Daytripper was an unreal experience! From the boat to the crew everything was professional yet fun and enjoyable! Special mention to Mikaela who skippered the boat and was full of knowledge about the reef and made us all feel safe! Also Tomas who guided me one on one for my first scuba dive, so professional and constantly checking in! An amazing and unforgettable experience if you want to experience the reef without the crowds and enjoy something a little more intimate!
“Great experience!!”
This trip was so much fun! Two snorkeling spots with plenty of wildlife and delicious food at lunch. The crew was extremely kind, and always gave clear, easy to understand instructions, which made the whole day enjoyable. Would recommend this trip with the Reef Daytripper crew to everyone!
“Great tour”
Booked with Reef Daytripper based on other reviews. As a group of 4, we had an excellent day visiting the outer reef. The boat is a catamaran and there were 17 in the group on the day we went, hence it felt perfect in terms of numbers. Diving costs (140aud for 2 dives we felt were good value). Crew were very professional and friendly, safety is taken very seriously (important for us when diving). The diving & snorkelling on the reef was excellent, we visited 2 reefs and were surprised how healthy the coral appeared and the abundance of marine life. Unfortunately for us we didn’t see our favourite underwater fish - sharks and manta rays - maybe next time! We would highly recommend this operator.
“Solo”
Crew were very welcoming and personal. A perfect snorkeling trip for a solo, middle aged traveler. 5 star. Would do it again!
“Great Day Out”
Perfect day. Small group (only 17 people) plus 3 crew. Safety was excellent. Friendly service. Visited 2 outer reef spots. Have snorkelled a lot and wasn't disappointed. We were lucky with the weather. Snacks on arrival and in the arvo. Lunch was simple but fresh. Can buy alcohol on board but cannot enter the water after drinking. Would definitely recommend
“Great barrier reef trip”
Our trip to the Great Barrier Reef was good. The staff were helpful when asked, but more interested in talking to the younger females on board rather than the other passengers.
We were a bit disappointed with the barrier reef snorkelling as was very similar to Fiji/Rarotonga/Samoa.
“Great experience”
We had a lovely day on the Reef Daytripper. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable. The snorkeling was a ton of fun and we saw some beautiful fish, coral, turtles, and a small nurse shark. My only recommendation would be to have them post the pickup point is on Finger D in the marina since that was a little unclear from the webpage instructions.
“Amazing!! 10/10!”
If you're looking for a fun and caring service, you've found it! They are very attentive to every detail, since the boarding until we left the boat. The fact the tour can hold up to 20 people makes a huge difference as well. Everything was perfect and the Great Barrier Reef was wonderful (the snorkeling instructor also goes with you through the barrier reef pointing the sea animals like turtles, dolphins, sharks etc). The crew is very friendly too. I was travelling solo and they made me feel very welcomed, always talking to me and making the whole tour way more fun. I highly recommend it!
“Great tour”
Highly recommended!!
“Great once in a lifetime experience!”
Took our motion sickness pills as we got on the boat. The boat ride was rough and the waves were crazy high, bit it was an adventure. We got to see whales up close even before we started snorkeling! The water was rough but as soon as you looked under the water it was a whole different, beautiful scene. There were so many fish of all colors and sizes, the reef was so alive. We saw a green sea turtle and floated right next to it as it surfaced. Soup after was perfect because it was cold and breezy. Lunch was great!
“enjoyed”
i enjoyed the whole experience. Great people, great snorkelling, great crew, great day.
“Small Group and Heaps of Fun - Highly Recommend”
Absolutely incredible reef tour. Small group makes it authentic and fun. Guides were fantastic and we were given heaps of snorkel time. Bonus: we saw three turtles!
“Fantastic experience”
Fantastic experience, great guides, yummy food. The small number of people made it comfortable. We could ask questions and chat. Lovely day!
“great experience!”
Great trip! Nice boat, small numbers, crew were great. Lots of time in the water in 2 separate places. Highly recommend!
“The guided snorkel and personal interaction made a WORLD of diff”
We chose a smaller Owner/Operator and are so glad we did. It was a smaller group (15) and we had two guides in the water with us helping. As my wife and daughter are a bit worried about the sea, our guides Tuey and Julian were amazing. Tuey made sure we found Nemo the clown fish as well! We also saw many many other fish. But the big advantage was how comfortable they made my wife and daughter in the ocean. It made the whole snorkel amazing.
“Best small group snorkeling”
Crew was super helpful and informative, and the snorkeling was excellent. Dive instructor was very patient with my son, who ended up having an amazing first dive. What sets this apart is probably that the group was less than 20 people. The other boats all seemed to have several hundred people.
“Fantastic day out”
Amazing day out. Great boat, fantastic crew, great food. Even though the weather made for rough seas and I normally get sea sick- the captain steered in such a way that I didn’t get sick at all. Very informative with the snorkeling. Definitely do the snorkeling tour
“Don’t miss it!”
This was by far the best trip. Staff had plenty of time to help anyone else but needed it. It really did feel personal. There was heaps of food. Thanks everyone.
“Amazing day!”
Loved it! The snorkeling and scuba Diving was so good and the crew was amazing. Loved that it was a small group. I would 100% recommend!
“A great day, with a crew who enjoy their jobs.”
A great day out. I enjoyed the snorkelling. My wife has never snorkelled before and doesn’t like putting her head in the water, although she is a good swimmer. She was happy just to sit on the boat. The skipper gently encouraged her along with one of the scuba instructed, to give it a try. She is so glad that she did, thank you for that.
“Day well spent”
Most amazing experience. These guys were amazing. The best Crew we could have asked for. They were friendly, professional and always looking after everyone. Very impressive. We managed to see pretty much every fish in Nemo including turtles and a reef shark. Thanks again guys you all rock. If you want to have a unforgettable experience go with these guys.
“Family Fun at the Great Barrier Reef”
What an awesome trip. I loved the intimacy of the smaller tour. Much more personal attention. The crew and the diving and snorkeling guides were great. Overall, a memorable experience.
“Green Island Ferry & Snorkelling Reef Safari”
Took the Big Green Cat over to Green Island and went on the Glass Bottom boat… a must! Also upgraded to the Reef Safari which was snorkelling further out on the reef via a boat with a guide from a Marine Biologist, Glenn - fantastic and would do this every day if I could - saw so much and snorkelled for over an hour in a small group. WOW
Green Island itself is rather tired and would benefit with an update of facilities, and investment
“Perfection”
Hands down the best snorkelling trip I have been on. The reef is full of life which mirrors the crew onboard. All of the staff were excellent, great humour and expert knowledge. I didn’t scuba dive, but have done once before. The safety briefing for the dive was so comprehensive I wish I had these instructors for my previous one! A particular highlight was the small group (max20) compared to larger trips (120). This made the experience much more personal, each crew member made genuine conversations with us onboard. Thanks to everyone for the brilliant day out, would recommend to anyone coming to Cairns. Slán go fóill, we will be back!
“Great choice - book now!”
Brilliant tour. Great crew, incredible coral, and relaxed happy holiday vibes. You won’t find better. We’ll be back!!
“Excellent trip to the Great Barrier Reef!”
Excellent boattrip with a small number of guests (max 20) and 4 crew-members. The crew-members did an amazing job giving us a wonderfull day at the reef with guided snorkle tours and guided scuba diving. The service was high, and the catering onboard was really nice. We did the tour with our 2 kids (8 and 13 years of age), and we can definitely recommend it.
“A great, affordable sailing excursion with friends!”
An absolute blast of an excursion. The weather was a little uncooperative, but we had no problem sailing out and back. Overall great food, drink, and snorkeling service. Worth it!
“Great reef experience”
I picked this tour given the smaller numbers, and glad I did.
There were 8 of us in total on the day, making it a more intimate experience.
I found the crew to be friendly and answered any questions that we had.
On both reef sights we visited, a crew member came out to snorkel with us and pointed out things of interest, we have otherwise missed. We were lucky enough to see some large rays, lots on fish and I even spotted a reef shark swim past.
My 14 year old daughter did a dive for the first time and had an instructor to herself, due to low interest in diving. She was very well looked after and absolutely loved the experience, stating it is the highlight of her holiday.
If you want to beat the crowds and travel at a more leisurely pace, this is definitely a tour to consider!
“Get away from crowds, and sail with Day Tripper”
Great crew, small group and fun experience.
The reef was beautiful, and we would go back again for sure. Food was good and crew was very knowledgeable.
“ Had a great day, thank you!”
We chose this day trip as you can avoid all the commercial crowds (as it’s a max of 20 people) and they take you to a different reef and not to the touristy one. Also we chose them because it’s the most eco friendly reef tour operating in the region and that was important to us. Friendly crew, safe, and experienced. Safety was their number one priority. They have dive/snorkel instructors that will go out with you snorkelling and show you all the wonderful wildlife there on the guided snorkel tours (or you can swim by yourself). We saw nemo, lots of colourful fish, giant clams, starfish, and a 2.5m reef shark, which swam away. Felt completely safe for the whole thing with instructor. Very nice lunch with veg and meat options. It was pouring down with rain in Cairns, but was super sunny and clear out in the reef so don’t let that put you off. Also was able to get some amazing shots with the drone. (Need permission from skipper) overall I would recommend this family run tour company to friends and family.
“Don’t miss it!”
Beautiful day in the barrier reef, amazing guide for snorkeling all around the corals and reef wildlife (an Australian guy)
Small group so even better and compared to the other companies they make a good price.
Only negative note is an Argentinian guy that was part of the crew who has been a little too much sarcastic and treated us a bit disrespectfully (didn’t like that).
All the rest was good.
Even good food during the lunch stop
“Comprehensive tour!”
Amazing day trip with reef daytripper. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Kit provided was spot on and the reef we went to was so quiet away from other boats. Highly recommend.
“Very satisfying”
I went on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef with this company with a group of friends. The behavior of the staff, especially the instructors, was very friendly and professional. The boat - catamaran was older, not completely clean and smelled in the areas around the entrance to the toilet. The biggest problem on the ship was its captain. It was about a young lady, basically a teenager around twenty-five years old, who behaved arrogantly and contemptuously from the beginning. After the first dive, he accused his wife of touching a turtle in the sea, which was not true, and the instructor, who swam 0.5 m from her, could easily testify, it did not happen. We got into a heated argument when I accused her of unprofessionalism and lying. However, I did not receive the requested apology until the end of the cruise. My wife, who used to dive actively, was prevented from entering the sea again. My wife and I are 65 years old. We have traveled to many places in the world, we do not consider ourselves to be quarrelsome, rather very tolerant people, but this experience spoiled the whole first week of our first residence in Australia. Unfortunately, due to this fact, we do not recommend this company, presented by this pseudo captain, for a trip by sea.
“Pick this reef trip!”
We took this reef trip yesterday after my boyfriends sister in law found it online.
It’s one of the best value trips we found and had less than 20 people on board with 5 members of staff. Needless to say the service and support was amazing.
The trip takes a bit longer than other trips however the boat was very comfortable and had plenty of space so actually made the experience.
The lunch was very tasty and we got one wine, cheese, fruit, tea and coffee included which is great value.
My boyfriend and I did two certified dives after over a year and a half without diving but Seamus and Harriet put us at ease and we had a guide to ourself for each dive we did. Both clearly very experienced. Paul the skipper also helped us in and out of our equipment and gave us lots of diving advice. Also helped us fill in our logbooks.
Can’t recommend reef day tripper more.
“Best trip for Great Barrier Reef”
Best trip of our life, most helpful people I have ever met in the world, everything was perfect, the crew, the location, the food, the equipment and most of all the scuba dive. Personalised attention for both Snorkelling and scuba diving, helped my mother and daughter who dint know how to swim.
“Slice of paradise”
Friendly crew on a small vessel where you can enjoy lying out in the sun to the beautiful reefs. Perfect place to do a dive, even if you aren't certified. Lunch was delicious and filling and on the way back there was a good fruit platter. During the snorkelling one of the crew comes with you and points out interesting fish and tells you about the reef.
“Bucket list experience.”
Great experience, staff were friendly and provided a unique experience. Small group size meant that there was enough staff to guide while in the water and small numbers meant you had freedom and space to explore in the knowledge that you were accounted for. Plenty of wildlife to spot, stingrays, barracuda, clown fish, corals, an array of marine fish (some large triggers and angels were my personal highlight). Highly recommended, will try to come back one day.
“What a fabulous day!”
My partner and I had a wonderful day with Captain Paul and his crew. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who were able to point out all the great things to see on the reef whilst snorkelling, as well as have a chat on the trip out/back. The reef was fantastic, we saw all kinds of fish, giant clams, a barracuda, a turtle and even a shark! Smaller boat with only 18 guests so it felt nice and personalised - not crammed with people! Great lunch provided as well as wine and cheese on the journey back to shore. And to top it all off, perfect weather! Highly recommend.
“Magical day”
I would highly recommend this day trip. The small group was definitely an advantage. Food was great and plenty for every one. The captain and crew were lovely adding that personal touch. It helps that the weather was perfect so that made the day magical.
“Highly recommended”
We had a really great day with two beautiful snorkeling sites at the Upolu Reef. The group size was perfect. The crew was amazing and very helpful on pointing out some highlights while snorkeling. Would definitely recommend!!!
“Fun Adventure”
A great fun adventure on a small boat - so much more personal than on a giant boat with hundreds of others. Really enjoyed the trip and the small crew and crowd, and the lovely snorkelling site. Attentive, professional and friendly.
“Great day out”
We had a lovely day out, and the boat and crew were great. Cheese and wine on the way home. Good value through Bookme.
We were just disappointed by the reef itself when snorkelling, as we were hoping that going out to the outer reef would mean we would see the brightly coloured coral that is hard to come by these days, but that wasn't the case. Lots of fish to see, and a few other interesting things, but not really anything that we haven't seen before. However, my husband did a dive at the second site and said it was way better than the snorkelling, much more like what he remembered the reef to be like when he was younger.
Also if you get cold easily like me (we went in August) you may want to consider renting a full length wetsuit on shore as they offered us shorties to hire. I didn't do the second snorkel site as it took me too long to warm up again after the first site. I did however get to see the resident barracuda by dunking my head in the water from the boat steps, and many of the snorkellers missed out on that barracuda, so all was not lost!
We also saw some whales breaching way out on the horizon, so if you are lucky you might get to see some closer up.
“Excellent”
Well organised, very professional and very helpful and knowledgeable crew Lovely trip out although a bit rough and wet at times but that added to the adventure Only suggestion is to do safety briefing before engine starts as it was hard to hear
“A fantastic way to see the Barrier Reef”
Paul and his team at Reef Daytripper provided a great day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was great experiencing the reef on a smaller boat which gave plenty of room to explore and the opportunity to meet some great fellow travellers. Would highly recommend.
“A Fantastic day out”
We had an incredible day out in the ocean, under the sun, snorkelling and sailing. Very good value for money. High recommend
“Fun day snorkelling on the reef in a small group!”
Great small tour boat heading out to the great barrier reef for a day of snorkelling and scuba diving. Makes it more relaxing than the big tour boats.
Friendly crew, and very personal service, especially for inexperienced snorkelers, the crew come with you into the water as a guide and help you along to identify sea creatures and coral. They were very knowledgeable and passionate about the reef and marine environment.
Since it was a sailboat catamaran, we sailed back on the return journey as it was a windy afternoon.
“Best Snorkeling Trip!!”
I thoroughly recommend the Reef Day Tripper!! I have been on a large boat that went to the outer pontoon and would 100% recommend these guys over the other. I am a very inexperienced snorkeler and the staff (who are in the water at all times with the group) are great teachers, helpful and always there if you need any help. I had the best snorkelong experience ever and just relaxed (for once) and enjoyed the sights on the reef because I felt so safe. They supplied a lovely lunch, all equipment and being in a small group was the best!! Paul and his staff were fantastic!!
“Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef”
The crew were helpful and attentive from the minute we got onto the boat.
They were organised and informative and there was lots of interaction with our small group (this made it a more personalised tour - as opposed to the large cattle truck tours available)
Plenty of coral and beautiful coloured fish to see, even turtles on their reef locations.
I cannot thank the guys enough.
Would definitely go to the Reef with them again.
“Had a really relax and fun day”
I was really happy that I had chosen Reef Day Tripper, instead of the bigger boats. Staff was really friendly and helpful and it felt like they had time for everyone, because it was only a small group. They gave a lot information about the reef, fish etc. 2 staff members went into the water with a float, so you could hold yourself if your not a confident swimmer. We had plenty of time to snorkel or dive. Good food too, also for vegetarians or vegans.
Great experience!
“Amazing experience!”
Awesome spots in the reef, small groups and therefore personalised. Friendly crew and incredible sailing experience. One of my best adventures in Cairns! :)
“Excellent”
We went on the trip on Friday. We only had five people on board so it felt like a private charter. Great snorkeling. Very friendly & helpful staff. Good food. So much better than a big boat with 100 people on board. We highly recommend this trip.
“Such a great company!”
We book with the owner over the phone. He recommended a good day for us to go given the wind/weather. I told him we had a kid that was a less than confident swimmer. The crew made sure he still had a great time, while allowing us time to explore on our own as well. Just an all around great experience. Small boat and less people make this company better than may others in the area.
“Incredible Experience with a Great Crew”
This was such an awesome tour. Great spots to visit and a really relaxing day on a beautiful boat. The crew was fantastic, and the whole experience was great. Couldn't recommend it enough.
“Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience”
Here we go: if you enjoy Diesel engines, being next to 350 people, mass tourism, and long, crowded bus rides, then Reef Daytripper is NOT for you!!
However, if you enjoy sailing, low-impact tourism, and warm, friendly and sincere conversations, and up-close and personal attention--and a chance to see the Great Barrier Reef with 20 (as opposed to 350) people, then sign up now for Reef Daytripper!
Will remember this trip with our daughter til the day I die, and she will pass on these stories to her grandchildren some day.
Amazing experience!
5-star crew!
“Excellent first time trip to GBR”
The crew was excellent - explained everything well and went in water with us and acted as guides. It was so nice being a small group on the catamaran. The lunch was well laid out and delicious with some wine fruit and cheese on the way home. It was truly a great day. I read someone’s reviews about taking gravol - I would do that next time before the trip as it can get wavy but felt very safe. Would do it again.
“BEST DAY TRIP IN CAIRNS”
Hands down the best day trip out to the reef I have experienced, they make the trip personalised by no more than 20 people on the boat, friendly staff and are amazing with non English speakers. Greeted with coffee and biscuits to follow on with an amazing lunch to them end the day off with fruit and cheese platters.
They take you to other parts of the reef that bigger boats cannot access and they have a person take you snorkeling and supervising the whole time but still give you freedom for a free acvitity. I chose to do the scuba dive (this is my 3rd dive) and felt safe and secure and was shown the most amazing places at the reef. Snorkeling was amazing, seen turtles, sharks, nemos and many other amazing fish! Would 100% recommend this tour to family’s, solo travellers, teenagers as they accommodate to all kinds and still makes the day so fun.. thanks again for the best day!
“Great Crew and definitely a great spot”
My partner and I decided to book a small tour to get away from the large crowds and were glad we came across this one.
We booked through Travstar and they confirmed our booking quite quickly. We arrived at the wharf and were greeted by the friendly crew and offered tea and coffee.
The catamaran had heaps of room for the amount of people on board and they also had a toilet. We arrived at Uplou Reef and saw Turtles, Reef Sharks and and a few clown fish families. This tour was one of our highlights compared to the bigger tours. The food ordered by the crew was sooo nice a few vego options like a Mediterranean pasta salad and sweet potato pasta and they also prepared sandwiches for the vegetarians. For the meat eaters there were chicken drumstick and cold meats. On the way home for afternoon tea We had cheese (Camembert, Blue Cheese and Tasty) , crackers and fresh fruit. Fresh water was provided on the boat. Definitely a must pick tour!
“Fantastic experience”
This was our second time on the Day Reeftripper. Only 15 passengers on board so plenty of room and great staff. We had mixed weather but the reef didn’t disappoint. Would recommend for anyone wanting a more intimate experience but be prepared to get wet and take plenty of sunscreen!
“Enjoyable day”
We have an enjoyable day on this boat. Only 15 people on board; for us this was a bonus. Staff were helpful and knowledgeable. Thanks for a great day
“Fantastic Crew!”
I just got off the boat from a great trip. This trip was made even better by the fantastic staff. The Captain and crew were 5 stars.
“A tick off our bucket list”
We booked this trip, and we were not disappointed only takes 20 on this catamaran Fabulous helpful crew,very friendly and could not do enough to help very good instructions ,on the use of snorkel’s ect. Excellent lunch
“Terrific small group day on the reef”
Reef Day Tripper was a terrific small group experience all round, great staff, comfortable catamaran, delectable lunch, and we were only fourteen tourists to four staff (they limit groups to twenty). We spent almost four hours at two diving/snorkelling sites on the Upolu Reef with reserved mooring for this company (meaning no crowds). One snorkelling instructor per four participants guaranteed that each individual felt safe, informed, and assisted in whatever way necessary to enjoy the day. One novice diver expressed great appreciation for the personal assistance she received in a brief moment of panic; her instructor was immediatey at hand to guide her safely through the remainder of the dive. Great, congenial crew from Australia, Finnland, France and the US, and we enjoyed getting to know the others from around the world over morning coffee or tea, during travel time at sea, over a delectable lunch of coldcuts, grilled chicken legs, pasta salad, mixed green salad. By the time we completed the afternoon snorkeling or diving, the groups coalesced into one large, friendly party over a glass of wine with lots of hydrating fresh fruit and cheeses. It is well worth the price for an all-day outing including coffee, lunch, late afternoon refreshments, and instruction. Only the recommended wet suits were an additional cost of $8 AUD. Highly recommend.
“Snorkeling and scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef”
Had an amazing day on the water with the reef daytripper crew. Coffee, lunch and wine and cheese plus snorkeling (and the option of scuba) the great barrier reef with a small group is definitely worth it. We tried scuba for the first time and we were not disappointed with the experience. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a really great day on the reef and definitely would do it again!
“Awesome trip to the Barrier Reef”
I would do it again with the same outfit. Biggest benefit is that it is small group and very personal attention. Crew very friendly and knowledgeable.
“Awesome day on the reff”
Having a small group gives the feeling that you have the reef all to yourself can't recommend this day on the reef enough
