Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
4.5 stars on(8,440 reviews)- Choose from 22 Brisbane tours
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10 best Great Barrier Reef tours from Brisbane
Compiled by
MelissaBrisbane travel expert at TourRadar
- North Queensland Adventure (22 destinations)
- Brisbane to Daintree Rainforest - 9 Day Boutique Tour
- Brisbane to Cairns - 7 Day Boutique Tour
- Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
- Australian Vanlife: East Coast & Sunkissed Wonders (from Brisbane to Great Barrier Reef)
- Brisbane to Cairns Discovery - 7 days
- Essential Australia Private Tour
- Essential Brisbane to Cairns
- Australian Safari
- Great Sights of Australia with Fiji
Duration 13 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, TullySee all destinations Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $7,875
20% Off- NZ$6,300You save $1,575
Brisbane to Daintree Rainforest - 9 Day Boutique Tour
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very good overview of what Queensland can offer, spectacular views.”
Yves, traveled in July
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Atherton, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, Port Douglas, Mossman GorgeSee all destinations Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator Via Travel Australia From
20% Off- NZ$6,404
Brisbane to Cairns - 7 Day Boutique Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was my first tour in over 10 years and if I had known what an amazing job Jason, Tara, and the rest of the crew at Via does each and every day.”
leslie, traveled in March
Your route from The Point Brisbane includes flights to Airlie Beach, Great Barrier Reef marine life and Whitsundays Islands, finishing at Flynn Hotel Cairns after Atherton Tablelands' natural wonders.
Duration 7 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Atherton, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator Via Travel Australia From
20% Off- NZ$4,493
Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The tour was well organized and we were very informed on the areas visited.”
Shelley, traveled in March
The coastal passage from Brisbane's Lambert Street to Cairns' Crystalbrook Flynn features flight to Airlie Beach, boat transfers to reef sites, and Solar Whisper cruise on Daintree River, showcasing spots from Whitehaven Beach to Cape Tribulation.
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Mission Beach, Atherton, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Daintree National Park Age Range 18 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From
20% Off- NZ$7,705
Duration 15 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Noosa, Fraser Island, Lady Elliot Island, Rockhampton, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Whitsunday IslandsSee all destinations Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator journaway From $3,283
33% Off- NZ$2,214You save $1,070
The route from The Point Brisbane on Lambert Street weaves through Whitsundays and Mission Beach to the Great Barrier Reef region, concluding at Flynn Hotel in Cairns after touring Atherton Tablelands over 7 days.
Duration 7 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef Age Range 18 to 99 year olds Operator On The Go Tours From
33% Off- NZ$5,415
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operator Firebird Tours From
33% Off- NZ$7,713
Brisbane's Mount Coot-Tha marks the starting point through Noosa National Park and Airlie Beach. The route includes 2-night Whitsundays sailing adventure, Whitehaven Beach visits, finishing in Cairns after Mission Beach's tropical shores.
Duration 10 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $3,795
20% Off- NZ$3,036You save $759
The trail from Brisbane's Australia Zoo leads to Great Barrier Reef Country Region. Highlights include Cairns Aquarium's 71 exhibits, Outer Reef snorkeling and semi-submersible tours, plus evening visits to Cairns Night Markets.
Duration 21 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Phillip Island, LauncestonSee all destinations Age Range 5 to 80 year olds Operator Globus From
20% Off- NZ$14,203+$3,503 upfront costs
Your adventure from Brisbane includes Australia Zoo visits before heading north to Cairns for Great Barrier Reef activities, featuring city tours, wildlife experiences, and cultural immersion.
Duration 15 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Sydney, Nadi, Coral Coast Age Range 5 to 80 year olds Operator Globus From
20% Off- NZ$9,518+$2,338 upfront costs
What people love about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
Overall the tour was brilliant! It was so well organised and travel timetables usually matched up perfectly. Sometimes it was a bit annoying that we were waiting around to check in to hostels but when we asked at the desk the rooms were ready. It would have been better to be able to just check in straight away. I am also unsure if we needed to go to Mission Beach even though I did the skydive. There is very little there and another night in Brisbane/Noosa would have been much better.
Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
- Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays
The itinerary was amazing. I had the most fantastic time with an excellent group of people. The accommodation was basic but very good and added to the adventure. The distance that we covered and the number of brilliant activities included was just fab. I loved all of it - even when we had a long travel day. The only negative was that our tour guide didn't know the tour. In fact he had never been to that part of the Country before. That was disappointing. I was hoping to have a local guide who knew the itinerary, what we should take with us each day, what time we would have to leave each morning, how long it would take to get us to the next place etc. Ron didn't know any of this information. All of the other people involved in the trip were very professional, informative and friendly which in some ways made up for the lack of knowledge that Ron had. I really liked Ron as a person and in some ways I felt sorry for him as I felt it was possible that he had been dropped into the tour at the last minute, but for the money we had spent and the assurance we had been given from g-adventures website and reputation, the fact that we were with a guide who didn't even know the basic itinerary wasn't good enough.
I loved my tour with Kayla because she doesn’t make it feel like a tour guide-tourist relationship but more of a friendship! She was always down to have a good time and put her passengers first. Her knowledge about the areas were travelling in was also fab.
Brisbane to Cairns: 15 Day Dingo Adventure Tour
What our customers ask about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
How many stops are typically included between Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef?
The journey from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef includes 6-8 key destinations along Queensland's coast. Travelers can expect to visit coastal gems like Noosa with its national park then continue to K'gari (Fraser Island). The route leads north to Airlie Beach where boats depart for the Whitsunday Islands followed by stops at Mission Beach and Magnetic Island before reaching the reef access point of Cairns. A TourRadar traveler shared "Each stop from Brisbane was unique and offered something special - from Fraser Island's sand dunes to the Whitsundays' perfect beaches."
What is the typical length of tours from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef?
Most tours along Queensland's coast run between 7-20 days with 13 days being standard. The North Queensland Adventure route allows time to explore highlights like Noosa K'gari (Fraser Island) and the Whitsundays en route to the Great Barrier Reef. According to a TourRadar traveler "Such an enjoyable trip up the East Coast! Completely stress free and includes really fun once in a lifetime activities!"
What are the most common starting points for tours within Brisbane?
Tours depart from three central Brisbane locations: The Point Brisbane Hotel on Lambert Street BUNK Brisbane hostel in the downtown area and the Roma Street vicinity near Parklands. Most itineraries begin with an evening orientation walk taking in South Bank's beach area and the Brisbane River. A TourRadar traveler noted "The Point Brisbane Hotel was a perfect starting point with easy access to explore the city via the free CityHopper ferries."
What activities are included in the first day starting from Brisbane?
Day one begins with an evening welcome meeting at 5-6pm followed by a guided walk through Brisbane's key sites including South Bank the Botanic Gardens and riverfront areas. Groups typically gather for dinner at a local restaurant before exploring the energetic Fortitude Valley district. One TourRadar traveler noted "Our first evening in Brisbane was perfect - we had a great orientation tour followed by dinner where we got to know our group."
What is the best time of year to start a Great Barrier Reef tour from Brisbane?
The prime touring season runs March through November. June to August brings mild temperatures and minimal rain making it peak season. Spring and fall months (March-May and September-November) offer pleasant conditions with smaller crowds. A traveler's review states "We went in March and had perfect weather throughout the journey from Brisbane to Cairns making it ideal for both city exploring and reef activities."
What type of accommodation can I expect at the start of the tour in Brisbane?
Brisbane accommodations range from upscale hotels like The Point Brisbane and Next Hotel to social hostels such as BUNK Brisbane. Premium tours feature stays at boutique properties like the Crystalbrook Flynn while budget-conscious options provide shared rooms in backpacker venues. A TourRadar guest noted "The accommodation in Brisbane was great - less of a hostel and more of a resort with a pool and licensed cafe."
More about Brisbane
Brisbane to Cairns tours