Sunlover Reef Cruises Cairns Great Barrier Reef Experience
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Travel by air-conditioned catamaran from Cairns Marina to our Moore Reef Pontoon located on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, perfectly positioned and equipped for you to explore this reef that is teeming with colourful coral and fascinating fish.
Spend 4 hours exploring the reef by taking advantage of the free inclusions such as glass bottom boat tours, all snorkelling equipment, underwater observatory, fish feeding presentation, an enclosed ocean pool for kids and buffet lunch.
The pontoon also features an upper sundeck to relax in the sun and look out over the turquoise waters in between activities. This is where you'll find the waterslide - the only theme park waterslide on the reef!
Dial up the adventure and add on optional extras like include Introductory or Certified diving, Seawalker Helmet dive, Guided Snorkel Tour or even a Scenic helicopter flight.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 12 years for SCUBA diving and Seawalker Helmet dive
Please ensure you bring your dive certification for Certified SCUBA dives
All dives are subject to an on board medical checklist, please contact us for more information.
What To Expect
Great Barrier Reef
Sunlover's pontoon at Moore Reef on the Outer Great Barrier Reef is teeming with colourful coral and abundant marine life in every colour of the rainbow.
Options
Family Deal
2 Adults, 2 kids: When selecting 2 adults, 2 kids, the 2nd child travels free!
Reef Tour
What‘s Included
Underwater observatory and ocean enclosed pool
Environmental Management Charge (EMC)
Great Barrier Reef and fish feeding presentations by our marine experts
Glass bottom boat tour
Snorkeling equipment
Sunlover waterslide and spacious sun deck
Fresh water showers and change rooms
While the vessel is stationary
Buffet. Please advise of any Nut or Seafood Allergies (separate meal prepared)
Additional cost: Wetsuit and prescription snorkel mask
Additional cost: food & drink from the bar
Additional cost: Guided Snorkel Tour, Intro or Certified Diving, Seawalker Helmet Dive, Heli Filghts
Additional cost: professional photos or camera hire
Additional cost: Secure lockers
Additional Cost: Hotel Transfers can be added directly with Sunlover
$10/adult, $5/child, payable directly to Sunlover prior to travel
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
864 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Beautiful experiences about on this tour🙏
pw220456,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fantastic way to take someone who had never been to Cairns before or seen the reef and experience the natural beauty of this Paradice. Indigenous Tour Guide Tim David took us on a wonderful glass bottom boat experience and immersed us in his culture. Tim sat with us on the trip back for over an hour explaining his connection to land and family. The Helicopter extra was a must if you can afford it.
Great day out at GBR
Annie,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience and chance to see the GBR. Sea conditions was a bit rough heading out (highly recommend taking travel sickness tablets!) Once at the Pontoon, conditions were much more stable. Great range of activities to choose from for swimmers and non-swimmers. Glass bottom boat wasnt working though. Food was decent and plentiful. Not too crowded when we went so plenty of room on the pontoon.
Great staff, very fun,...
Leo B,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great staff, very fun, had a great time. Would like to try one of their other trips if I visit Cairns again.
Amazing day!! Highly recommend.
TLCJ07,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day!! A bit anxious to start with regarding the snorkeling but the staff were amazing!! Saw some amazing sea life including a turtle! Would highly recommend.
A “Must Do”!
Norman F,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Didn’t know what to expect - you take a large boat with about 200 other folks to a “island” platform next to a reef. You can snorkel right over the reef and see lots of fish and coral. Additionally, you can take a “submarine” if you don’t want to get into the water but you can’t really get much of the experience from that. You may get seasick during the 1.5 - 2 hr trip to the platform (many did, and they were passing out nausea bags). Opt for the lowest level if you tend to get seasick. We took a helicopter back from the platform. Book that option early or opt for a private helicopter flight, but that will set you back quite a bit. Very enjoyable trip - glad we did it!
A bucket list experienced ruined
787margarete,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I’d rate them a 1 out of 5 "Warning to international travelers and independent bookings: Sunlover Reef Cruises packs their public departures with massive, chaotic school field trips without warning paying guests. I traveled 10,000 miles for a bucket-list experience, only to have the pontoon and buffet overrun by unruly children throwing food overboard. Worse, when the crew explicitly promised to put me on a quiet 2:00 PM glass-bottom boat departure to remedy the chaos, they broke their promise at the last second and loaded the boat with rowdy kids anyway. Management (Amy Davis) completely dismissed the complaint, calling the nightmare a 'lively atmosphere' and hiding behind generic corporate text. Entirely unprofessional. If you want a peaceful, premium reef experience, book with a smaller, more reputable operator."
Amazing reef - what a day
Sunshine02892011268,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent an incredible day at Moore reef with Sunlover cruises. The reef is vibrant and filled with different corals and fish everywhere. Life vests are compulsory and a life guard is on duty so I, as a very poor swimmer, felt completely safe and snorkelled for hours. The lunch was lovely with enough food for everyone. We will definitely be doing this tour again, it was amazing
Amazing staff (Chelsea)
N6757RBgracew,May 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went with my fiance to book a reef trip cruise back in Jan and we were overwhelmed by the stunning scenery and the beauty of Australia. I did a full day snorkeling and what blew me away was the hospitality of the crew helping handle sick people and food. A young attendant really stuck out to me I believe she said her name was Chelsea. She was bubbly and kind she showed lots of compassion and love for her job. She was chatty and warm to everyone made me and my fiance feel welcome and at ease all day. Boat faciality's were good it was a comfortable ride snorkeling was amazing and water was beautiful. However boat staff really topped off the trip and Chelsea was so amazing!
Great Underwater, Not So Great On Top Of It.
Sarah R,May 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The wind over the water made the trip rocky and uncomfortable. We both got sick. But that wasn't anyone's fault. The crew was very nice, very professional. We felt safe and well cared for. The lunch was ok. One of us didn't eat because of being sick, but that wasn't anyone's fault, either. The snorkeling was amazing. Beautiful location for it. Even with the weather not cooperating, we are glad we went.
Caring Guided Snorkel Tour
T675IYmichaeld,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00My immediate reaction on seeing the pontoon on arriving at the reef was that it was like something out of Mad Max. But it was fine. Things were a bit rushed as we left Cairns late and the result was that we didn't really have time for lunch as we had a guided snorkel tour booked with Erica for 1.30, lunch finished at 2 and we had things we wanted to do before our tour. But all the staff worked extremely hard and were very friendly and Erica took my wife and I out alone as we are extremely poor swimmers at sea and she was very patient, kind and helpful while constantly telling us what we were seeing. So 100% for her. Thank you Erica! But the glass bottomed boat didn't show much and neither did the semi submersible. So a Very Good, although the crew were outstanding. A good day out.
Related Experiences
Operated by Sunlover Reef Cruises