Location: Maritime Terminal, Port of Airlie, Airlie Beach

While all of the islands of the Whitsundays are spectacular in their own way, the region wouldn't be what it is without all the watery goodness that makes it possible.

As one of Australia's true worldwide phenomena and one of Earth's true “natural wonders”, the Great Barrier Reef is – along with #1 on this list below – one of the two core reasons that most people choose to visit the Whitsundays in the first place.

Fringing reefs around islands are all well and good and offer convenience in their own way, however in order to experience the reef at its most pure and unadulterated form a trip to its outer reaches is necessary.

As the largest and most experienced cruise operator in the Whitsundays region, Cruise Whitsundays provide a proven and comfortable method for getting there, with a pair of reef pontoons moored at Hardy (ReefWorld) and Knuckle Reefs operating as floating “activity platforms”.

These pontoons serve as fully-fledged bases of operation with the luxury of being surrounded by pure reef – it's an interesting contrast of environments as all the conveniences you'll need such as seating, tables, shade and showers are here coexisting right alongside a true natural showcase, but it's both convenient and it works.

Once you've arrived, the range of things to see and do here is amazing regardless of if you're a non-swimmer or a more seasoned snorkeller.

As a starting point, the pontoons come equipped with underwater viewing chambers that make for a great taste of things to come and the ability to stare directly into the life-filled waters (it's even possible to dine here – likely to be a place for a meal unlike you've ever had before).

The next logical step is then the semi-submersible rides that take you out into the water and are ideal for those who aren't confident in the water, and also great for kids - who will literally be able to “find Nemo” here as the waters are renowned for their populations of Clownfish.

"As one of Australia's true worldwide phenomena and one of Earth's true “natural wonders”, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the core reasons that most people choose to visit the Whitsundays in the first place."

Those looking to actually hit the water will be able to take part in some of the best snorkelling that the accessible parts of the Great Barrier Reef have to offer, and the setups here off the pontoon are great for those who aren't expert swimmers – the snorkelling section utilises a rope system providing hand-holds in the water and floating rest stops that prevent you from needing to permanently swim or tread water.

There is a section of the snorkelling area at the pontoon's rear where the staff do the fish feeding, which allows for some amazing viewing as hundreds of fish flock to get a bite to eat.

Thousands of colourful fish of all sizes can be seen nestled amongst the coral here, and given that the majority of them tend to congregate near the surface, you won't need to go scuba diving to get a varied and impressive dose of marine life – reef favourites such as angelfish, surgeonfish, starfish and much more are all staples here.

Cruises out to the reef platforms are conducted via large reef catamarans that make for an optimal balance of size/space and speed, with the trip out itself being quite spectacular.

Given the length of the journey to the Outer Reef (expect around a 2.5 hour one-way trip from the departure point at Airlie Beach) however, the trip can sometimes be a bumpy ride over open ocean, and seasickness can sometimes be a factor – it's thus advisable to ensure you bring along anti-seasick pills for the ride.

All equipment such as snorkelling gear, wetsuits and life jackets are provided, while lunches are also included as part of the deal in buffet form consisting of fresh meats and salads, which makes for a good excuse to take a break and recharge for more marine fun in the afternoon.

It's highly recommended to bring along an underwater camera – they are available for increasingly cheap prices nowadays, particularly if you purchase a disposable one – to grab some snapshots while you're snorkelling.

In all, while it requires an increased combination of time investment and money over some simple island snorkelling, if you're looking to get the most out of your reef experience an Outer Reef trip is more than worth it.

The top things to do in The Whitsundays

The top things to do in The Whitsundays

Top experiences

Whitehaven Beach Northern Exposure Tour

Whitsundays and Whitehaven Beach Half Day Cruise

Full Day Whitsundays Speedboat Tour

Whitehaven Beach Half Day Afternoon Cruise

Great Barrier Reef Cruise to Hardy Reef Pontoon

Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island Tour with Lunch

Condor 3 Day 2 Night Whitsundays Sailing Adventure

Falls to Paradise

Popular categories

Reef & Island Cruises

Activities

Cruises

Tours

Transport

Great Barrier Reef Cruises & Tours

School holidays

Flying

Explore Whitsundays experiences

Whitehaven Beach Half Day Afternoon Cruise

Great Barrier Reef Cruise to Hardy Reef Pontoon

Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island Tour with Lunch

Whitsundays and Whitehaven Beach Half Day Cruise

Full Day Whitsundays Speedboat Tour

Whitehaven Beach Northern Exposure Tour

Condor 3 Day 2 Night Whitsundays Sailing Adventure

Falls to Paradise

Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour

3 Days & 2 Nights Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Hammer

Whitehaven Beach Southern Lights Tour

Whitehaven Beach Big Island Day Tour

Other things to do in Whitsundays