Great Barrier Reef day trips: how to choose a tour

Great Barrier Reef day trips all sell the same dream, but the boats, the crowds and the time in the water differ a lot. Pick on four things: boat size, hours on the reef, what the ticket includes, and how the operator looks after the reef. This guide shows how to compare them from Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays.

How big the reef is and where people go

The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a World Heritage area in 1981. The Marine Park covers about 345,400 square kilometres. That is far too big to see in a day, so tours go to a handful of reefs within reach of the coast.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says about 1.6 million tourists visit the Marine Park each year. About 85 percent of them go to the waters off Cairns and the Whitsundays. Together those areas make up less than 10 percent of the park. In other words, the busy parts are small, and the quiet parts are far away.

Port Douglas sits north of Cairns. Its boats head out to reefs in the same northern part of the park, so the same questions apply there too.

Sources for this section: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia 2003.

The four things to compare

Most brochures list the same highlights. These four points tell the tours apart.

• Boat size. A big vessel with a platform or pontoon is steady and has space for many people. A smaller boat carries fewer passengers, so there is less queuing for the water and the guide can speak to everyone. Ask how many passengers the boat takes, not just the size of the boat.
• Time on the reef. Ask for the hours of the whole day, and the hours you spend at the reef itself. A fast boat can cut the ride and give you longer in the water. A slow boat may leave you with only a couple of hours.
• What is included. Check for lunch, snorkel gear, wetsuits or stinger suits, and a guided snorkel or talk. Ask about extras such as introductory dives, glass-bottom boats and transfers from your hotel.
• How many reef stops. One stop gives you longer in one place. Two stops let you see different parts of the reef but cut the time at each.

Sources for this section: our own checklist, drawn from the permit rules described below.

Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays

Each starting point suits a different kind of trip.

These are general patterns, not rules. Each operator publishes its own itinerary, so read the details before you pay. Weather and tides change plans too, and a good operator will tell you how it handles a rough day.

Sources for this section: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia 2003 (for the busy areas); the rest is our own general guidance.

Who is allowed to run a reef tour

You do not need to be an expert to pick a safe operator, because the rules start before you book. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority was set up under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. Its policy sets out how it gives permissions to run tourist programs inside the Marine Park.

The Authority has a policy on how it gives out these permissions. It talks about minimum standards, a deed of agreement, and longer permissions for operators that hold a certification once approved schemes are running. The 2003 policy also says the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators had raised concern about permissions that sit unused in the Cairns and Whitsunday planning areas, which are the busiest parts of the park.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in January 2003 that there were about 730 permitted tourism operators and about 1,500 permitted vessels and aircraft in 2003. Around 60 percent were actively operating. So a permit is a good sign, and it is something you can ask to see. Ask the operator if it holds a permit for the reef it is taking you to.

Sources for this section: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Current policy on managing tourism permissions; Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia 2003.

Questions to ask before you book

1. How many passengers does the boat carry on my day?
2. How long will we be at the reef, from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave?
3. Is lunch, gear and a guided snorkel included, and what costs extra?
4. Do you hold a permission from the Marine Park Authority for this reef?
5. What happens if the weather is bad? Is there a refund or a change of date?
6. Is there a crew member with first aid training on board, and how many watch the water?

Write the answers down for two or three tours and compare them side by side. The cheapest ticket is not always the best value, and the dearest is not always the best day. A tour that gives you more hours in the water for a little more money is often the better buy.

Sources for this section: our own checklist.

Simple tips for the day

• Book a few days ahead in busy school holiday weeks, and book earlier for small boats.
• Take a hat, sunscreen and a towel. Ask the operator before you pack anything else.
• If you get seasick, ask about medication and take it before the boat leaves. A bigger, steadier boat can help.
• Do not touch or stand on the coral, and do not take anything from the reef. Your guide will explain the rules.
• Tell the crew about any health condition before you get in the water. This is general information, not medical advice.

A good day on the reef is about planning. Choose the boat, the hours and the inclusions that suit you, then check that the operator is permitted. That small amount of homework matters more than the brand on the brochure.

Sources for this section: our own checklist; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Current policy on managing tourism permissions.

Sources

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia 2003, Great Barrier Reef tourism: abs.gov.au
2. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Current policy on managing tourism permissions (2003): gbrmpa.gov.au
3. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, as made: legislation.gov.au