Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
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10 best Great Barrier Reef tours from Brisbane
Compiled by
MelissaBrisbane travel expert at TourRadar
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
- Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
- Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
- Brisbane to Cairns Adventure
- North Queensland Adventure (22 destinations)
- Brisbane to Cairns Discovery - 7 days
- Essential Australia Private Tour
- Australian Vanlife: East Coast & Sunkissed Wonders (from Brisbane to Great Barrier Reef)
- Essential Brisbane to Cairns
- Australian Safari
Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Such an enjoyable trip up the East Coast! Completely stress free and includes really fun once in a lifetime activities!!”
Natalie, traveled in December
The route spans 2,300km from Brisbane's Lagoon to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, featuring Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Mission Beach's rainforest, and two outer reef snorkeling locations.
Duration 20 days Destinations Brisbane, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator INTRO Travel From
- NZ$4,599
Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I found the itinerary for the tour was perfectly tailored to all the stops and I got to do lots of things I wouldn't have been able to do outside of a tour setting.”
Ollie, traveled in March
The coastal journey from Brisbane's The Lagoon heads north to Great Barrier Reef highlights, featuring K'Gari's sand dunes, Whitsundays' 74 islands, and Magnetic Island's wildlife before Cairns.
Duration 20 days Destinations Brisbane, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator INTRO Travel From
- NZ$4,699
Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The tour was well organized and we were very informed on the areas visited.”
Shelley, traveled in March
The coastal passage from Brisbane's Lambert Street to Cairns' Crystalbrook Flynn features flight to Airlie Beach, boat transfers to reef sites, and Solar Whisper cruise on Daintree River, showcasing spots from Whitehaven Beach to Cape Tribulation.
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Mission Beach, Atherton, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Daintree National Park Age Range 18 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From
- NZ$7,655
Duration 8 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, AthertonSee all destinations Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,225
15% Off- NZ$3,591You save $634
Duration 13 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, TullySee all destinations Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $7,160
10% Off- NZ$6,444You save $716
The route from The Point Brisbane on Lambert Street weaves through Whitsundays and Mission Beach to the Great Barrier Reef region, concluding at Flynn Hotel in Cairns after touring Atherton Tablelands over 7 days.
Duration 7 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef Age Range 18 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From
10% Off- NZ$4,755
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operator Firebird Tours From
10% Off- NZ$7,840
Duration 15 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Noosa, Fraser Island, Lady Elliot Island, Rockhampton, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Whitsunday IslandsSee all destinations Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator journaway From $2,338
11% Off- NZ$2,072You save $266
Brisbane's Mount Coot-Tha marks the starting point through Noosa National Park and Airlie Beach. The route includes 2-night Whitsundays sailing adventure, Whitehaven Beach visits, finishing in Cairns after Mission Beach's tropical shores.
Duration 10 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,795
30% Off- NZ$2,657You save $1,138
The trail from Brisbane's Australia Zoo leads to Great Barrier Reef Country Region. Highlights include Cairns Aquarium's 71 exhibits, Outer Reef snorkeling and semi-submersible tours, plus evening visits to Cairns Night Markets.
Duration 21 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Phillip Island, LauncestonSee all destinations Age Range 5 to 80 year olds Operator Globus From
30% Off- NZ$14,437+$3,560 upfront costs
What people love about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
I had such an amazing experience! The organisation, trips and people were incredible. Met the best group of people who are now friends for life, Val our tour leader brought us all together so well and always kept us entertained and on schedule.
- Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays
My tour finished 10 days ago now and I'm still having withdrawal symptoms!! It was the first time I'd ever travelled with a group and I wouldn't hesitate to go on another tour with G - I absolutely loved it. I was with an amazing group and Karly our CEO was an absolute legend. We were very lucky with the weather - our visits to Noosa, Fraser Island (especially Lake Mackenzie), and Airlie beach were just amazing and as for sailing round the Whitsundays - well, that was perfect!! Many of us stayed on in Cairns for a couple of days after the tour finished - we dragged the tour out for as long as we could! The hostels were fine (and that's coming from someone who had never stayed in a hostel before!), the whole tour was exceptionally well organised and the transport was great too (I even have fond memories of the overnight train despite having ZERO sleep!) For anyone going on this tour (and especially if you have Karly as your guide!), I am very jealous!
- Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
I absolutely loved my tour up the east coast of Australia with my group leader Shannon, I had a very highly enjoyable three weeks and got to appreciate an awful lot of incredible experiences and trips. I found the itinerary for the tour was perfectly tailored to all the stops and I got to do lots of things I wouldn't have been able to do outside of a tour setting and things I wouldn't have thought to do, all enhanced by the group setting and nature of being on an organised tour. I found I had sufficient information at the beginning of the tour to join, although I would have liked to know in advance of the day before that I was joining an existing tour where a large group of people had already had 8 days to get to know each other, as that was a very confronting and slightly stressful realisation. I also found that the information provided and support for the tour itself, in terms of the organisation through a group leader, was well managed and effective. My leader, Shannon, was absolutely outstanding and went more than above and beyond for every individual on the tour from the moment it started until well after it had finished, she is a credit to Intro and exceptionally capable in her role. I would recommend the experience overall in a a heart beat as a direct result of the work she put in and the atmosphere she cultivated, as well as the support and care she provided throughout; she deserves recognition and a raise.
What our customers ask about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
How many stops are typically included between Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef?
The journey from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef includes 6-8 key destinations along Queensland's coast. Travelers can expect to visit coastal gems like Noosa with its national park then continue to K'gari (Fraser Island). The route leads north to Airlie Beach where boats depart for the Whitsunday Islands followed by stops at Mission Beach and Magnetic Island before reaching the reef access point of Cairns. A TourRadar traveler shared "Each stop from Brisbane was unique and offered something special - from Fraser Island's sand dunes to the Whitsundays' perfect beaches."
What is the typical length of tours from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef?
Most tours along Queensland's coast run between 7-20 days with 13 days being standard. The North Queensland Adventure route allows time to explore highlights like Noosa K'gari (Fraser Island) and the Whitsundays en route to the Great Barrier Reef. According to a TourRadar traveler "Such an enjoyable trip up the East Coast! Completely stress free and includes really fun once in a lifetime activities!"
What are the most common starting points for tours within Brisbane?
Tours depart from three central Brisbane locations: The Point Brisbane Hotel on Lambert Street BUNK Brisbane hostel in the downtown area and the Roma Street vicinity near Parklands. Most itineraries begin with an evening orientation walk taking in South Bank's beach area and the Brisbane River. A TourRadar traveler noted "The Point Brisbane Hotel was a perfect starting point with easy access to explore the city via the free CityHopper ferries."
What activities are included in the first day starting from Brisbane?
Day one begins with an evening welcome meeting at 5-6pm followed by a guided walk through Brisbane's key sites including South Bank the Botanic Gardens and riverfront areas. Groups typically gather for dinner at a local restaurant before exploring the energetic Fortitude Valley district. One TourRadar traveler noted "Our first evening in Brisbane was perfect - we had a great orientation tour followed by dinner where we got to know our group."
What is the best time of year to start a Great Barrier Reef tour from Brisbane?
The prime touring season runs March through November. June to August brings mild temperatures and minimal rain making it peak season. Spring and fall months (March-May and September-November) offer pleasant conditions with smaller crowds. A traveler's review states "We went in March and had perfect weather throughout the journey from Brisbane to Cairns making it ideal for both city exploring and reef activities."
What type of accommodation can I expect at the start of the tour in Brisbane?
Brisbane accommodations range from upscale hotels like The Point Brisbane and Next Hotel to social hostels such as BUNK Brisbane. Premium tours feature stays at boutique properties like the Crystalbrook Flynn while budget-conscious options provide shared rooms in backpacker venues. A TourRadar guest noted "The accommodation in Brisbane was great - less of a hostel and more of a resort with a pool and licensed cafe."
More about Brisbane
Brisbane to Cairns tours