Great Barrier Reef Tours from Melbourne
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10 best Great Barrier Reef tours from Melbourne
Compiled by
MelissaMelbourne travel expert at TourRadar
- Australian Highlights (With Internal Air, 2025/2026)
- AUSTRALIA – 12 Days Melbourne Uluru Cairns Sydney
- Contrasts of Australia (With Internal Air, 9 Days)
- East Coast Australia: 7 Week | ULTIMATE
- Australia and New Zealand Panorama
- Australian Highlights
- Australian Highlights (With Internal Air, 2027/2028)
- Australian Highlights (With Internal Air, 2026/2027)
- Highlights of Australia and New Zealand (With Internal Air, 2027/2028) (23 destinations)
- Highlights of Australia
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Bondi, Blue Mountains, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From $9,810
10% Off- NZ$8,829+$2,905 upfront costsYou save $981
Your Australian adventure starts at Melbourne's Phillip Island, where you'll witness penguin parades and meet koalas. The route takes you to sacred Uluru, then to the Great Barrier Reef region, featuring Daintree Rainforest and premium reef sites across Northern Queensland.
Duration 12 days Destinations Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns, Sydney Age Range Ages 8+ Operator Bucket List Group Travel LLC From
10% Off- NZ$8,384
Melbourne serves as your starting point before flying to the Great Barrier Reef region via Cairns. A reef cruise from Cairns offers snorkeling or semi-submersible options, with internal flights and private transfers between destinations.
Duration 9 days Destinations Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From $7,065
10% Off- NZ$6,359+$1,705 upfront costsYou save $706
Duration 50 days Destinations Melbourne, Sydney, Bondi Beach, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie BeachSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Ultimate Travel From $8,573
10% Off- NZ$7,748You save $824
Begin in Melbourne with city walks exploring Victorian facades, then fly to Cairns for Great Barrier Reef adventures. Journey through rainforest sanctuaries and wildlife experiences before continuing to coastal Sydney and onward to New Zealand.
Duration 15 days Destinations Melbourne, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Queenstown, Auckland, Rotorua Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From $11,020
10% Off- NZ$9,918+$3,345 upfront costsYou save $1,102
Australian Highlights
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Accommodations were fantastic. Didn't care much for tour bus, but this is a Trafalgar group tour so it was expected.”
Alodie, traveled in November
Journey begins in Melbourne at The General Assembly, traveling through the Red Centre before reaching the Great Barrier Reef. Experience Cairns' tropical atmosphere and reef adventures before concluding the 3,700km journey in Sydney.
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From
10% Off- NZ$10,240+$2,970 upfront costs
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Uluru, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From
10% Off- NZ$10,015+$3,395 upfront costs
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Sydney, Bondi, Blue Mountains Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From
10% Off- NZ$9,535+$3,090 upfront costs
Duration 22 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Uluru, Cairns, Kuranda, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Bondi, Blue MountainsSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From
10% Off- NZ$17,335+$10,170 upfront costs
Highlights of Australia
21 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Pleasant Experience, interesting sightseeing activities, well-organized.”
Pacifico, traveled in February
The route stretches from Melbourne's Flinders St Station through Alice Springs to the Great Barrier Reef, spanning 2,000 coastal miles. Cairns' tropical atmosphere leads to final reef experiences and eco-adventures.
Duration 12 days Destinations Melbourne, Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cosmos From
10% Off- NZ$5,930+$2,618 upfront costs
What people love about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Melbourne
- Australian Highlights
Amazing experience in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. It was our first tour and Trafalgar exceeded our expectations!
Nellie was an amazing tour guide and I had the best time ever! Great trip! The only thing I would Recommend is booking restaurants with more of a vegetarian variety but everything was great! My favourite part was swimming the Great Barrier Reef I was nervous but Nellie took me out and showed me and stayed with me until I was comfortable! Thank you for such a great experience!
Contrasts of Australia
It was a great tour and offered some great options for the optional tours. Love that it touched all the highlights of Australia.
Highlights of Australia
What our customers ask about Great Barrier Reef Tours from Melbourne
What's the typical length of tours from Melbourne to the Great Barrier Reef?
Most tours from Melbourne to the Great Barrier Reef run between 9 and 15 days. These packages generally start with 2-3 days exploring Melbourne's highlights such as Flinders Street Station before flying north. Previous travelers praise the balanced pace that allows time for both urban discovery and reef experiences. Hotels like the Crowne Plaza Melbourne and Citadines on Bourke serve as convenient starting points in the city center.
What are the main activities included in the first few days starting in Melbourne?
The first days in Melbourne focus on walkable city exploration through historic laneways filled with street art and significant buildings like Federation Square. Groups often begin with a welcome dinner at restaurants such as The General Assembly which sits along South Wharf with river views. Days are spent visiting Queen Victoria Market and the Royal Botanic Gardens while nights are spent at central hotels like the Crowne Plaza Melbourne.
What's the best time of year to start a Great Barrier Reef tour from Melbourne?
October through March brings comfortable temperatures of 20-25°C (68-77°F) to Melbourne. These months align with Queensland's dry season (April-November) when reef visibility peaks. Though tours operate year-round hotel rates at properties like the Crowne Plaza Melbourne and airfares increase during the peak summer season from December through February. Previous travelers recommend October for reliable weather in both destinations.
How do you get from Melbourne to the Great Barrier Reef area?
The journey involves a 3-hour flight from Melbourne to Cairns, usually included in tour packages from companies like AAT Kings and Trafalgar. After landing in Cairns travelers typically check into waterfront properties like the Hilton Cairns or Park Regis City Quays. From there high-speed boats transport groups out to the reef daily.
What are the common gathering points in Melbourne to start these tours?
Tour groups commonly meet at central Melbourne hotels including the Crowne Plaza on the Yarra River Citadines on Bourke or Crown Metropol in Southbank. Welcome briefings take place at these properties followed by group dinners at venues like The General Assembly on South Wharf. The central locations make for easy access from airport transfers.
What's the recommended budget for a Melbourne to Great Barrier Reef tour?
Plan on spending between USD 4000-8000 per person for 9-15 day tours. Premium operators like AAT Kings and Trafalgar average USD 500 daily covering hotels such as Crowne Plaza Melbourne and Park Regis Cairns internal flights most meals and guided activities. While prices reflect the premium experience travelers consistently note the comprehensive inclusions justify the investment.
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