What to do in Great Barrier Reef

Activities, attractions and tours

Two scuba divers exploring a vibrant coral reef with various colorful corals and marine life.
A coral reef with various coral formations and clear turquoise water.
An aerial view of a coral reef with clear turquoise waters and sandy bottom.
A fish with yellow and orange stripes swimming near a coral reef.
An aerial view of a coral reef system with clear turquoise waters and visible coral formations.

Places to Visit in Great Barrier Reef

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Great Barrier Reef, Australia - New Zealand and the South Pacific while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Great Barrier Reef attractions from , making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Great Barrier Reef tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Great Barrier Reef. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

Activities


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Top places to visit

1. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is a focal point for the city’s social life. With restaurants and gardens on one side, and overlooking the Trinity Inlet and Coral Sea on the other, this area celebrates the best of Cairns. Along the tree-lined walkway you’ll find playgrounds, barbecue sites, dedicated exercise areas and also a salt-water lagoon.
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A large public swimming pool with people swimming and playing, surrounded by buildings and mountains in the background.

2. Palm Cove Beach

Experience the stunning beaches, resorts and scenery where the rainforest hugs the shores of the Great Barrier Reef at Palm Cove Beach. Swim or sunbathe beneath the warm Tropical North Queensland sun. Explore the waters on a kayak or sailboat and take in the views of forested hills rising up behind the beach’s string of swaying palm trees.
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A sandy beach with palm trees and ocean waves.

3. Whitehaven Beach

Subtropical Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is the most famous beach in Queensland and consistently ranks high among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Stroll along the beach, dive in for a swim and let the beauty of the beach rub off on you.
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A coastal landscape with clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and green hills.

4. Cairns Marlin Marina

The Cairns Marlin Marina is where all your Great Barrier Reef adventures start, with tour boats coming and going throughout the day. Enjoy shopping, entertainment and dining along the waterfront promenade.
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A marina with several sailboats docked at the pier.

5. Four Mile Beach

Four Mile Beach is the central beach in Port Douglas. At the northern end there is a small hill with a lookout, a prime place to watch the sunrise over the Coral Sea, and at the southern end is a mangrove forest.
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A tropical beach with clear turquoise waters, a sandy shore, and lush greenery.

6. Hamilton Island Marina

The Hamilton Island Marina is a convenient place to launch your voyage into the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands or stopover for a relaxing stay in a waterfront villa. With spacious berths for yachts and super yachts, the marina is fitted out with state-of-the-art facilities and professional boat care specialists. Alternatively, jump on board one of the passenger ferries or charter tours that depart from the Hamilton Island Marina to explore Airlie Beach, Whitehaven Beach, the Great Barrier Reef or the Whitsunday Islands.
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A marina with numerous yachts docked, surrounded by water and greenery.

7. Airlie Beach Lagoon

Airlie Beach Lagoon is a safe and relaxing swimming spot in the heart of the township, where you can play and swim in the clear waters and enjoy the pretty tropical surroundings. Known affectionately to visitors and locals as “the lagoon,” this sheltered man-made pool has been a favored meeting place since 2001 and combines elements of a natural lagoon to create an enticing and secure environment to unwind.
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A large, clear swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and a beach.

Recommended things to do in Great Barrier Reef

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What to do in Great Barrier Reef


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