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Planning a family holiday to Cairns? Experiencing the Great Barrier Reef is often one of the highlights of an Australian holiday, and choosing the right reef tour can make all the difference.
Every family is different. Some have adventurous teenagers eager to snorkel every minute, while others are travelling with younger children experiencing the reef for the very first time.
At Cairns Premier Reef & Island Tours, we’ve spent over 30 years helping families discover the Great Barrier Reef in a way that creates lifelong memories, not rushed experiences.
We hope this guide helps you choose the reef experience that best suits your family’s interests, confidence and sense of adventure.
Families usually tell us they’re looking for:
There is no single “best” Great Barrier Reef tour. Some families love larger vessels with pontoons and plenty of activities, while others prefer a smaller, more personalised experience where the reef itself becomes the focus. The key is finding the experience that best suits your family.
If you and your kids are looking for a little family adventure and are happy to be onboard a vessel all day, we may have the right ingredients for your perfect family reef experience. We want to create special family moments that remain with your family for a lifetime.
One of the biggest differences between reef tours isn’t actually the reef. Its beauty can be found throughout the Great Barrier Reef. The real difference is the experience onboard, from the moment you step aboard until the moment you return to Cairns.
On both our tours, Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom, we offer a very high crew-to-guest ratio. Our service for guests of all ages includes:
Parents often tell us that having patient crew nearby gives them confidence to relax and enjoy the day, knowing help is always available if needed.
We believe that to be truly healthy and happy, we need to be connected to nature. In the increasingly technological world we live in, nature plays an important role in maintaining human connection and happiness.
We believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a positive experience in nature, creating lifelong memories and inspiring a lasting appreciation for the Great Barrier Reef and our natural world.
Our crew love sharing fascinating facts about coral, turtles, clownfish, giant clams and friendly, shy reef sharks. We also love inquisitive questions from guests of all ages.
Every family is different. Some families prefer our sailing experience aboard Ocean Free, while others want to maximise their time exploring the Outer Great Barrier Reef aboard Ocean Freedom.
Ocean Free is ideal for smaller groups and adventurous families wanting a more personalised day combining sailing, reef snorkelling and time on Green Island.
To enjoy this tour, parents and children need to be comfortable on a sailing vessel and have good mobility and stability when moving around. There is no room for strollers or pushchairs, so unless you are an experienced sailing family, this may not be the best option for small children.
For older children and teenagers wanting a little adventure, as well as family time on Green Island’s beach, this can be a great day of sailing, reef exploration and island fun.
Many families tell us their children remember the sailing just as much as the snorkelling, making Ocean Free a unique combination of adventure, reef and island time.
All snorkelling takes place directly from the vessel. We are the only operator with a mooring on the actual reef. The vessel sits approximately one kilometre off Green Island. After lunch onboard, guests can travel by tender to the beach for one or two hours.
Ocean Free is a 16-metre, open-air sailing schooner with a shaded aft section and a toilet in the forecabin. There are no air-conditioned areas, but there is plenty of fresh, salty air. Access to the toilet and entry and exit from the water require the use of ladders or steps.
Ocean Freedom is ideal for families wanting to maximise their time exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
Ocean Freedom is a fast and stylish 20-metre motor catamaran offering a full-day Outer Reef experience with exceptional time in the water and a highly personalised approach.
Ocean Freedom offers families a relaxed, unhurried day with plenty of time to snorkel, ask questions, discover marine life and enjoy being together on the reef.
Families should be aware that this is a full-day Outer Reef tour. All activities take place from the vessel, with no opportunity to go ashore or visit a pontoon.
The three-level vessel offers sunny and shaded areas, one air-conditioned saloon and two toilets.
The best tour for your family is the one that most closely suits your family’s preferred style of travel and reef experience.
Every family is different, which is why we take the time to understand what you’re looking for.
Whether your children are first-time snorkellers, confident young adventurers or somewhere in between, we’re always happy to offer friendly, honest advice to help you choose the experience that best suits your family.
Our goal is simple: to help create a Great Barrier Reef experience your family will remember for years to come.
