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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.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
Tips Before You Book:
✓ How many guests are onboard?
✓ Is there enough crew to assist children and first-time snorkellers?
✓ Is snorkelling equipment included?
✓ Are flotation devices available?
✓ Is there a glass bottom boat?
✓ How much time is actually spent at the reef?
✓ Is food included?
✓ Are you and your children comfortable spending the day on a boat?
✓ Would you prefer open-air sailing or an air-conditioned vessel?
✓ Will the crew assist first-time snorkellers?
What Makes a Great family Reef Experience?
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 your kids are happy to be on board a vessel all day we may have the right ingredients for your perfect family reef experience! We want to create those special family moments that remain with the 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.
Small Groups Make a Big Difference
On both our tours Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom we offer a very high crew to guest ratio . Our service for all our guests regardless of age is :
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.
Immersing in all that is the reef and nature
We believe that to be truly healthy and happy one must be connected to nature. With this ever increasing technological world we live in, nature indeed holds the key to maintaining that 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 , sharks (friendly, shy reef sharks) – we love inquisitive questions from all – it keeps the crew on their toes!!
Choosing the Right Boat
Every family is different.
Some families prefer our sailing experience aboard Ocean Free, perfect for smaller groups and adventurous families wanting a more personalised day.
What makes Ocean Free Family experience unique:
To enjoy this tour, parents and children need to be comfortable on a sailing vessel and have good mobility and stability to move around. There is no room for strollers or pushchair so unless an experienced sailing family this would not perhaps be the best option for small children. For older kids and teenagers wanting a little adventure and also some family time on Green island beach – this could be a great family day of sailing, reef 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 off the vessel (we are the only operator to have a mooring on the actual reef). The vessel sits about 1 Km off Green Island . After lunch onboard guests can jump into the tender across to the beach for 1 or 2 hours.
Is Ocean Free vessel suitable for my family ?
Ocean Free is a 16m sailing schooner and all open air with a shaded aft section with the toilet in the forecabin. There are no air conditioned areas but plenty of fresh salty air! The toilet and entry / exit into the water are via ladders and step ladder.
What makes Ocean Freedom Family experience unique?
Perfect for families wanting to maximise their time exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
Ocean Freedom is a 20M fast and stylish motor CAT offers a full-day outer reef experience with exceptional time in the water and a highly personalised approach.
Ideal for guests who:
What makes this experience unique:
Ocean Freedom offers families the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, unhurried day with plenty of time to snorkel, ask questions, discover marine life and simply enjoy being together on the reef.
For this tour families need to know that this is a full day tour out on the reef and all activities from the vessel with no opportunity to be on land or a pontoon. This is a 3 tiered vessel offering sun areas / shaded areas and one air-conditioned aloon and has 2 toilets.
So the best tour for the family is essentially the one that best suits your family’s style.
Still not Sure Which Tour Is Right for Your Family?
Every family is different, and that’s exactly 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.
📞 Phone: +61 7 4052 1111
✉️ Email: info@oceanfree.com.au