2-Day Great Barrier Reef: Reefsleep Experience
Overview
Available languages
2 days
Mobile ticket
Experience the Great Barrier Reef for two days and one night. By day, enjoy all the activities on offer at Reefworld, a pontoon moored on one of the most spectacular areas of the Great Barrier Reef, including snorkeling, semi-sub rides and viewing parts of the world’s largest coral-reef system in an underwater chamber. Later, spend the night at Reefsleep—on the upper deck of the pontoon—to sleep under the stars, 40 nautical miles (74 km) from shore. Fall asleep under twinkling stars in a custom designed queen-size 'Reefbed'. Round-trip transport and most meals are included.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
It is recommended that you bring only one small bag per person with the things you will need for your overnight stay including, swimwear, towel, sunscreen, light jacket or sweater, money and/or credit card for on board purchases and camera
You will be required to complete a medical and dietary requirement form that will be sent to you on confirmation of the booking
Operates in all weather conditions. Swags can be zipped, are water-proof and can tolerate wet weather
A history of certain medical conditions may preclude a guest from SCUBA diving unless a current Diving Medical Certificate can be shown to the instructor.
All intending divers over the age of 55 years of age must produce a current Diving Medical Certificate. All divers are subject to a medical questionnaire on board the vessel before diving and their fitness to dive will be assessed by a diving instructor
Minimum age is 12 years
Please advise dietary requirements
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Travel from Port of Airlie, via Hamilton Island, to Hardy Reef
Accommodations
Deluxe Reefbed under the stars
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Cruise Whitsundays
Depart from Port of Airlie to travel out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Spend the day on Hardy Reef before cruising back to Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Hamilton Island Marina
Quick stop to drop off passengers
What‘s Included
Overnight accommodation in a Reefbed
Dinner
Breakfast
Underwater viewing chamber
Use of snorkeling equipment
Semi-submersible coral viewing with reef appreciation talk
Round-trip cruise
Optional activities including scuba diving, helicopter flights, massage (available to purchase on board)
Drinks (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Single Reefbed
2-Day Great Barrier Reef Reefsleep Experience in a single Reefbed (single share)
Double Reefbed
2-Day Great Barrier Reef Reefsleep Experience in a double Reefbed (twin share)
Reviews
197 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Choose the reef sleep over day trip
Carrie F,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unexpected joy at the whole experience. I was scheduled by a travel agent and had reservations about it due to numbers of guests, but in the end it was top tier. Being on the pontoon with only 20 people overnight and having access to the reef when the crowds left, made it a big hit. I have never dived so did a supported dive and for me this was iconic! First dive on the Great Barrier Reef. JJ and Rachel took great care of us. I think being lower on the reef was a more fulsome experience than snorkelling alone. Great food Chef Antoine. The gang was inclusive and welcoming. Also enjoyed the helicopter experience for the aerial perspective. Felt sad though for a friend who needed to pay double for weight reasons. You would think they could make exceptions!
Bucket list experience
TOM C,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The experience is amazing in every way including the food, the staff and being on The Great Barrier Reef. The only thing you can’t predict is the weather and unfortunately we had a tough first day with cloud and strong winds which made snorkelling a little more difficult, the next day was great and the helicopter trip over the reef was brilliant. Big shout out to Alba and Luke for looking after everyone so well
Making special memories
Amy A,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Unique experience, great service from the staff, helicopter tour was amazing, food exceeded expectations.
it is an amazing...
Don M,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00it is an amazing experience!! highlight of our trip! staff is amazing and did a great job of looking after us
DON’T MISS EXPERIENCE!
BrendaW438,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful experience! The beds are nice for lounging, comfortable for sleeping. A fantastic way to snorkel in the day and view the stars at night. Very relaxing and peaceful, and the food is top-notch. In fact, my rustic family was “tired” of fine dining by the end of this and just wanted burgers or pizza!
Do it - you won’t regret it.
lovetotravel1989,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent one night in a Glamping Tent on New Years Day. On the transfer out to the Reef, the reef sleep & reef suites have reserved seating on the top level. They serve morning tea on board and lunch on board once you arrive. Once the day trippers had gone home, we snorkelled as the water was basically glass it was perfect. We saw so much marine life! We did a guided snorkel tour with James (nice guy, even if he is a bit sour about England losing the Ashes haha). Canapés and dinner were at 6pm and it was great. My only complaint is that the steak was rare and sirloin cut - basically impossible to cut and undercooked for my tastes. Dessert was so good. Unfortunately it was very windy and rainy, so we didn’t have the top of our bed open at night but it was nice to be snuggled under in the tent whilst the wind was howling. Breakfast the next morning was lovely and so was morning tea. Lunch was served on the boat due to the weather, but it was still a chef lunch. I had chicken and my husband had snapper and he said it was delicious. We made friends with a beautiful American couple which was a highlight. Absolutely worth every cent. We’re local so we will be back, next time in the underwater suite I think!
Once in a lifetime Christmas experience!!!
Luckyglick55,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Christmas morning this year was off the charts AMAZING!! We slept on a floating platform on the Great Barrier Reef!!!! How's that for unique??!! Early on Christmas Eve, we took a 3 hour ferry to the Reef World platform. Then we did a helicopter tour of the Hardy Reef of the Great Barrier Reef including the famous Heart Reef. This was our first helicopter ride and it was definitely one for the books. The beauty was incredible. My wife even spotted a manta ray from the sky! Then we did a underwater viewing boat and saw George the Giant Queensland Grouper. He's about 10 feet long and over 600lbs!! He's gentle and likes looking at the tourists. After all the day pass people left, we snorkeled with the few others who were staying overnight. Wow, the marine life on the reef are HUGE. The damsel fishes were the size of serving platters and there were many different fish that were as big as us!!! And the colors of the coral were so diverse and beautiful. We also saw beautiful blue coral and a blue starfish! Amazing stayed out for more than 2 hours! AND a 5 foot black tip reef shark swam right by her!! Overnight we slept on a tent bed on the top of the platform. Then at sunrise we were able to see the top of the reef during low tide!! We got another chance to snorkel before the day guests arrived. Amazing was able to point out giant clams, which are so so beautiful. We had no idea the different colors clams could be inside the shells. We had wonderful meals and the staff was so wonderful. They even made really great meals for the vegan, vegetarian and glucose intolerant in the overnight group. The others guests were so great. From Finland, Germany, Italy, France, California. A WNBA player and her boyfriend. A guy who came to Australia from Canada years ago on a sports visa for curling then decided to become a resident and is now a barrister in Brisbane. Less than 20 people were overnight guests. Before time to leave, Amazing snorkeled one last time and was rewarded with an octopus sighting! She even got to watch it swim!! Definitely one of the best Christmas experiences ever! (And Amazing decorated the underwater viewing window and gave her extra decorations to the staff who decorated the rest of the platform)
Great experience!
MHN61,Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience this was. With a small group of people we spend the night at the Great Barrier Reef. Something to definitely do when you have the chance. Great food and drinks on board. Perfectly cared for by the crew. A lot of snorkeling and a snorkeling trip with instructor done. Also highly recommended. The only downside was the 1st lunch on the boat (which is also for the daytrippers).
Great Barrier Reef snorkeling
B9534SJmartyb,Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Well organized and well run experience. Staff is helpful and communicates frequently. Snorkeling was amazing. Food was great.
Once in a lifetime experience that is a MUST DO!
H3539BUpetras,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The Reefsleep experience was absolutely breathtaking! The host team, lead by the AMAZING Amy, made us feel special and took such great care of all of us. The snorkel/dive team, particularly Treagan and James, were phenomenal. I had my first dive and Treagan made it so easy, that I was able to truly enjoy the sights of the reef and all the beautiful fish. We enjoyed a helicopter ride, a semi-sub (glass bottom) ride, and lots of incredible meals, by Chef Antoine. The accommodations were perfect to rest and stargaze. There is no doubt we highly recommend this experience.
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Operated by Cruise Whitsundays