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
- Brisbane to Cairns - 7 Day Boutique Tour
- Brisbane to Daintree Rainforest - 9 Day Boutique Tour
- Whitsundays, Reef & Rainforest - 9 days
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
- Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
- Essential Australia Private Tour
- Brisbane to Cairns Discovery - 7 days
- Brisbane to Cairns Adventure
- North Queensland Adventure
- 9 Day Brisbane Tour – Daintree | Whitsundays | Great Barrier Reef
Brisbane to Cairns - 7 Day Boutique Tour
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Highly recommended! I was a solo 50+ traveller and Eion was a fantastic guide - knowledgable, organised, kind and funny!”
Sarah, traveled in October
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 Ages 18+ Operator Via Travel Australia From $4,790
15% Off- NZ$4,072You save $719
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
The coastal path from The Point Hotel Brisbane moves north through Airlie Beach's Mantra Club Croc to Mission Beach Resort, including Daintree rainforest before reaching Flynn Hotel Cairns.
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 Ages 12+ Operator Via Travel Australia From $6,827
15% Off- NZ$5,803You save $1,024
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 Ages 18+ Operator On The Go Tours From
15% Off- NZ$8,520
Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
18 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 Ages 18-35 Operator INTRO Travel From $4,399
15% Off- NZ$3,739You save $660
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 Ages 18-35 Operator INTRO Travel From $4,499
15% Off- NZ$3,824You save $675
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Firebird Tours From
15% Off- NZ$8,463
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 Ages 18+ Operator On The Go Tours From
15% Off- NZ$5,978
Duration 8 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, AthertonSee all destinations Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,060
15% Off- NZ$3,451You save $609
Duration 13 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, Lucinda, Mission Beach, TullySee all destinations Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $7,030
15% Off- NZ$5,976You save $1,055
Duration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, Kuranda, Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Autopia Tours From $6,827
10% Off- NZ$6,144You save $683
What people love about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
I had such an amazing experience! The organisation, trips and people were incredible. Met the best group of people who are now friends for life, Val our tour leader brought us all together so well and always kept us entertained and on schedule.
- 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.
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