Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
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10 best Great Barrier Reef tours from Brisbane
Compiled by
MelissaBrisbane travel expert at TourRadar
- Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
- Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
- Brisbane to Cairns Adventure
- North Queensland Adventure (22 destinations)
- Brisbane to Cairns Discovery - 7 days
- Essential Australia Private Tour
- Australian Vanlife: East Coast & Sunkissed Wonders (from Brisbane to Great Barrier Reef)
- Essential Brisbane to Cairns
- Australian Safari
Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Tour of a lifetime! So many great activities during the trip.”
lilian, traveled in October
The coastal journey from Brisbane's The Lagoon heads north to Great Barrier Reef highlights, featuring K'Gari's sand dunes, Whitsundays' 74 islands, and Magnetic Island's wildlife before Cairns.
Duration 20 days Destinations Brisbane, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator INTRO Travel From
- NZ$4,399
Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It's a very complete tour, it includes every trip you need to do to see the East Coast.”
Misele, traveled in November
The route spans 2,300km from Brisbane's Lagoon to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, featuring Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, Mission Beach's rainforest, and two outer reef snorkeling locations.
Duration 20 days Destinations Brisbane, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator INTRO Travel From
- NZ$4,299
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
- NZ$7,665
Duration 8 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, AthertonSee all destinations Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,225
25% Off- NZ$3,169You save $1,056
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
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
20% Off- NZ$4,765
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operator Firebird Tours From
20% Off- NZ$7,881
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 $2,389
12% Off- NZ$2,103You save $286
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
30% Off- NZ$2,657You save $1,138
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
30% Off- NZ$14,513+$3,579 upfront costs
What people love about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
I had the best time during my Aussie adventure, the 20 days were packed with activities and then with whichever optional activities too. Doing the intro tour you travel with a group which is a great way of making friends. Ultimately what shaped our experience was our amazing tour host Val, she was always attentive and organised, even there was days where there was no activities planned she would suggest things. The trip was a great success because of both the people and how great Val was, I’m so glad I did it.
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