You will get the most out of a Great Barrier Reef tour in Queensland as a family by picking one that is right for your children’s age and how they feel about swimming or being on a boat. The outer reef pontoon trips from either Port Douglas or Cairns are the all-round choice for most, but Green Island is a less strenuous affair for first-timers and the younger ones.
Let me be blunt, I am Emily Whitmore: go to Cairns if you want the family reef packages their operators put together, better value from the competition and more to choose from in terms of departures. Port Douglas is for those who prefer a day that starts a bit more polished, quicker getting to Agincourt Reef and an easier holiday rhythm. You may have been on Google wondering which is the best place for reef Cairns or Port Douglas, the truth is both are excellent, just for different families.
Quick Answer First
There is no question the Great Barrier Reef is fine for children, yet some tours are not for every child, something the brochures are wont to omit. A twelve-year-old intent on hours of snorkelling and a four-year-old with no patience for spray in the face require very different days.
What makes a good reef tour for kids is calm water access, toilets you can get to without trouble, shade, a lunch provided and a crew with an eye for keeping children safe on the reef. Non-swimmers will appreciate a semi-submersible or glass bottom boat. Don’t make it complicated if you have only a day; stick with a well-organised Green Island or outer reef pontoon outing.
Choose The Right Fit
Forget asking which operator has the fanciest setup. Put the question to yourself: what can my crew put up with before morning tea? I have seen a fine day on the reef unravel over matters of boat motion or lack of shade when nap times are disregarded.
Match The Tour To Ages
With toddlers and preschoolers you are better off with island trips and short transfers than an open-water crossing. Snorkelling should be viewed as an extra, not the raison d’être. What counts is the shallow water, sand, a place to get out of the wind or sun and having a toilet and snacks to hand.
For primary schoolers there are tours with plenty of family fare: a ride on the semi-sub, talks from marine biologists, guided snorkel and fish feeding where the rules allow. Teens and older kids will put in the time on a quality family snorkelling tour at the better reef sites.
Mobility
Boarding is an afterthought for many parents and grandparents. A pontoon reef tour is generally less of an ordeal once you are there since you are not in and out of small tenders all day and the decks are wider.
Should you have anyone with limited mobility, put in an inquiry ahead of time on pram storage, ladders, flotation and whether the walking surfaces are stable. It may seem like fussing until you are on a wet deck with fins, a day bag and a wriggly child underfoot, then it is common sense.
Seasickness
The ride is what gets you, not the snorkelling. An outer reef family tour in Queensland can be 60 to 90 minutes one way come what may with the weather and sea state. A catamaran will turn a child green even if he is flat as a pancake in the car.
Take your morning medicine in good time and of the right age, your GP or pharmacist will advise. Make for the fresh air outside and the horizon, don’t overdo a greasy breakfast and opt for a bigger vessel. If seasickness is in the family, stay away from rough days and think Green Island rather than the outer reef.
Cairns: Best Picks
In a practical sense Cairns is the workhorse for family reef tours. With its array of operators and departure times the logistics are straightforward, particularly for those in the city or on the northern beaches and the price can reflect the competition. From my own experience it is the place to be for a parent wanting some flexibility. There is a rule of thumb: should the weather change, a child come down with something or you have a mind to change your tour style, you will as a rule find more in the way of alternatives here than at the smaller departure points.
Sunlover Reef Cruises
A Moore Reef pontoon day from Cairns and you are likely to put in for Sunlover Reef Cruises; it is one of the better established operators. The variety is what families are after: there is Moore Reef pontoon, snorkelling, sun decks, seating in the shade, a glass bottom boat and a semi-submersible to boot. It is not as demanding on non-swimmers as a trip that is all about the snorkel.
It is well suited to a mixed group. Let Mum go for a snorkel, Nan can remain dry and a kid can look his fill at some giant clams in the semi-sub, and they have all had a good day of it. A case could be made for it being the best reef tour for kids since it does not make everyone conform to the same thing.
Great Adventures To Green Island
For an introduction to the reef for little ones, Great Adventures’ family tours to Green Island out of Cairns are hard to beat. The boat ride is not as long as on some outer reef excursions and you have the island as a safety valve so children are not crammed like sardines for the duration but can put in some walking.
Then there is the matter of expectation. Do not mistake Green Island for a pristine coral wall on the outer reef. It is lower stress and all about convenience and having a few things to do. With toddlers in tow the compromise is worth it.
Reef Magic Options
You will see Reef Magic on many a family’s shortlist, their set up tending towards broad appeal and comfort. When booking for your dates, take stock of what is included: guided snorkelling, flotation and child gear, lunch, any talks by a marine biologist.
Folk are apt to think inclusions are a like-for-like affair between operators, which is not the case. The base fare of one may seem cheaper until you have put everything back in, whereas another “family package” has the return transfers and gear for the kids covered.
Best Picks From Port Douglas
Even before you put to sea from the marina, a family reef tour from Port Douglas has a more relaxed air. Being a compact holiday town it is no trouble to get around, none of the car park or city traffic you would put up with in Cairns and the attendant “why are we late?” type of thing.
Agincourt Reef is the traditional place to put out from and the quality of the reef is what draws people to Port Douglas, older children who want to do some real snorkelling rather than merely be on a boat.
Quicksilver Cruises
Those making plans in Port Douglas will compare Quicksilver Cruises first. The outer reef pontoon at Agincourt is well regarded for putting dry and wet options in one spot, as most groups require. A confident swimmer will find the location fine for a Great Barrier Reef experience while the glass bottom boat and semi-sub are there for the cautious kid or non-swimmer. Provided your children are of an age to enjoy proper time on the reef it is a sound choice.
Port Douglas For Older Kids
School aged and above will generally make better use of Port Douglas than a toddler. The day is not short but the reef makes up for it. If a child is eager for some clownfish and the right sort of reef-blue water, this is where Port Douglas justifies itself.
Should you be based in Cairns and put in the drive, be realistic with your time. It is 67 kilometres each way but with roadworks, the faff of check-in and holiday traffic you can be looking at a protracted morning. I would not attempt it with toddlers unless the family is run with military precision, mine is not.
Compare Tour Styles
A sensible way for families to avoid grief and expense. The “best” reef day is relative to whether your party is in the mood for coral, a bit of convenience or a beach day with some reef on the side without too much fuss.
| Tour Style | Best For | What to expect | Main Pros | Watch-Outs |
| Outer Reef Pontoon | Most families with different ages | You will have a longer boat ride to a stable base | Lunch, shade, snorkelling, semi-sub and glass bottom boat | Risk of seasickness in transit |
| Island Day Trip | First-timers, non-swimmers, toddlers | Transfer from Cairns is usually shorter | An easier day with the flexibility of an island, toilets, beach | Not as dramatic a reef as the outer |
| Boat-Only Reef Day | Older kids, those who can swim | More of the day is spent afloat | Good value and focused on the reef | Prams and naps are an issue |
| Liveaboard | For the keen diver or snorkeller, and for teens | It is a multi-day affair, physically taxing and you will be lugging gear | More time on the reef and superior conditions at dawn and dusk | Leave the young children at home though; it is not for them |
When you are down to a single day, an outer reef pontoon is the way to go provided your kids are of an early primary age and can stand the boat. But if they are very small, or there are non-swimmers in your party and you would prefer an easier introduction to the reef, make for Green Island.
What You Are Getting
Families like to think of a day on the reef as some seamless affair where everything has been taken care of. In fact it is rather fiddly. What is included from one operator to the next is not the same, nor is the hire gear. Read the fine print, that is what separates a good day from a bad one.
The Day’s Activities
You will find semi-submersible coral viewing, glass bottom boats, fish and marine biologist talks and plenty of scope for the children to have a snorkel in the areas set aside for them. A few tours put in some introductory guidance on the snorkel which is worth its weight in gold for a child unaccustomed to having a mask over his face in salt water.
Allow for the better part of the day once you add up boarding, lunch, transit and the return journey. On paper it is fine. In practice you will have a late-afternoon energy crash, salty hair and tired kids. Make dinner plans with that in mind. One does not want to be on the hunt for chips with a sunburnt spouse and two children past their bed time.
Facilities
Make sure there is shade, toilets, drinking water and room to change a baby. See if the wetsuit or stinger suit is part of the deal; in North Queensland it is no triviality to have to put one on. During stinger season it is basic planning to have the right clothing. The Australian Government’s marine stings health advice puts out health advice to the effect that dangerous jellyfish are a risk in some of our tropical waters, particularly in the north. Reputable operators will give you a safety briefing on this, and it is best to pay attention instead of making it an occasion to unwrap your snacks.
Seasons And Safety
There is no off-season for trips to the Queensland reef but wind, rain, heat and the like will alter your experience. It is not a theme park. Conditions dictate whether your child is content in a mask or prone to seasickness.
The prevailing wisdom is that calmer is better for children, though the ideal month is a matter of priority. The dry season and winter tend to be milder on the humidity and easier going for families; in the warmer months you will be more conscious of stinger precautions.
Where Families Go Wrong
The sun is the main culprit. The glare coming off the water is something else, even when it is overcast. Put on the rashies and a hat that is not going to end up in next week, reapply your sunscreen and do not count on the boat’s shade being everywhere all day.
Then there is the matter of children’s stamina. From the outside snorkelling appears placid but between the fins and the excitement and the salt water they will be done in in no time. Let them have a rest and some flotation support, do not press them to have another go.
Not For All
A bare-bones snorkel trip or liveaboard is not the place for a beginner or anyone who does not take to the motion of a boat. If you have toddlers, you might reconsider a reef day with several swims and little time to dry off.
An anxious child in deep water calls for a tour with real dry-viewing options. There is all the difference in the world between a cursory glass bottom boat ride and a tour where half the family can have a proper day without so much as a snorkel.
Do Not Break The Bank
I will not put a figure on it as costs are dependent on the season, inclusions and where you depart. An island trip is usually less of a headache and at times cheaper for a family than an outer reef pontoon day which has the infrastructure and activities to show for the price.
But look at the total spend. Factor in parking, hotel transfers, a stinger suit, seasickness medication of the prescription variety, any food you may wish to upgrade and the lure of an underwater photo. A cheap fare can become dear in short order. Make an early booking for the winter peak and school holidays, particularly where child gear or return coach transfers are in order.
Do not be content with the base fare when making comparisons; look at what is fully included, be it lunch, a stinger suit, snorkel equipment, flotation aids, transfers or a dry-viewing ride.
Logistically it is simpler to make a Cairns departure if you have no car while in town than to put in a drive to Port Douglas before dawn. On the other hand, those of us putting in several nights in Port Douglas will find local departures more sensible than to retrace one’s steps to Cairns.
Inquire as to whether any of the operators in Cairns or Port Douglas have a family reef package to put on the table. Blackout dates and how they define a child’s age should be verified regardless.
My Practical Family Shortlist
Were I to put pen to paper for a friend’s booking tomorrow I would make no fuss about it. Green Island family tours from Cairns for the toddlers and any who are not keen swimmers. A pontoon day from either Port Douglas or Cairns with good dry-viewing for a mixed-age group that wants to hit the mark all round. Then there is Quicksilver Cruises out of Port Douglas for the older set after top notch reef quality; Sunlover Reef Cruises in Cairns is a fine way to go for some variety.
You can get reef experiences in the Whitsundays but for a no-nonsense Great Barrier Reef family tour with minimal mucking about, Queensland has it covered from Cairns and Port Douglas. As Emily Whitmore would say, do not book the most trying tour your family might just endure, book one they will have a proper time with.
- Outer reef pontoon (school age) or Green Island (toddlers): best for a day
- Glass bottom boat and semi-submersible: for non-swimmers
- Agincourt Reef from Port Douglas: for quality
- Where you are staying: for easy logistics
FAQ
One hears these from parents again and again, often in the midst of shoe-putting-on duties. Understandable. You do not want to put your money down on a dud for a reef day.
The Great Barrier Reef With Kids: What Is The Best Way?
A pontoon day trip is the answer for most, having both the option to snorkel and to view things from dry land. It is flexible for the non-swimmer or a child running out of steam and does not tie up the day to a single pursuit.
Which Tour Company Is Best For The Great Barrier Reef?
You will not find an operator that is best for all. In Port Douglas Quicksilver Cruises is a strong pick for Agincourt Reef and its facilities; in Cairns Sunlover Reef Cruises is much in vogue for Moore Reef. Great Adventures for a family tour of Green Island, or Reef Magic for those wanting inclusions across the board.
When To Visit?
That is a matter of how you take the heat and humidity and stinger precautions. Some like the physical ease of the drier, cooler season, though conditions can be different from one week to the next and the operators are on hand all year.
Is It Suitable For Children?
It is, so long as you are discerning with the tour. An island or pontoon outing is far more family friendly than a liveaboard or a protracted day of nothing but reef snorkelling which is better left to the confident ones.
Does One Have To Be A Strong Swimmer?
Not at all. Flotation and dry options are part of the deal on many a family tour. Pick something that does not hinge on in-water confidence.
To Sum Up
For a rule of thumb: Cairns for the range and convenience, Port Douglas for the outer reef and a more leisurely start. Let the style of tour be dictated by the member of the family with the least confidence and not the most adventurous, that will see you through.
Book with clear eyes and you will find Queensland puts on a fine family reef day. Put aside the fluff, be croc-wise on the sun and stingers and have regard for the weather. Select a tour with enough give and take and you will be back with some good photos and salty hair, none of you in need of a day of recuperation in the hotel.
