What to do in Great Barrier Reef

Activities, attractions and tours

Great Barrier Reef showing scuba diving, marine life and coral
Great Barrier Reef which includes colorful reefs and general coastal views
Great Barrier Reef showing coral and general coastal views
Great Barrier Reef which includes marine life
Great Barrier Reef showing general coastal views and coral

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 NZ$183, 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 10 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.


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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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Cairns Esplanade which includes a luxury hotel or resort, a pool and swimming

2. 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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Whitehaven Beach which includes landscape views, general coastal views and a beach

3. 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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Palm Cove Beach featuring a beach, tropical scenes and general coastal views

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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Cairns Marlin Marina showing a sunset and a bay or harbor

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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Four Mile Beach which includes tropical scenes, landscape views and general coastal views

6. 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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Airlie Beach Lagoon which includes a pool, tropical scenes and swimming

7. Port of Airlie

Boasting year-round warm weather, subtropical waters, shops, restaurants and accommodations, the Port of Airlie can be seen as a destination in itself, although most visitors come here to take a trip out to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
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Port of Airlie which includes a bay or harbour

What to do in Great Barrier Reef


Discover the most popular places to visit in Great Barrier Reef

Explore areas of Great Barrier Reef

Palm Cove showing a beach, a garden and tropical scenes

Palm Cove

Relax and rejuvenate at this beachside village, known as Queensland’s spa capital and enjoy the tropical north in style.

Palm Cove
Cairns which includes a city

Cairns Central Business District

4.5/5(1,478 area reviews)

Cairns Central Business District is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Marlin Marina.

Cairns Central Business District
Trinity Beach featuring tropical scenes, landscape views and surfing

Trinity Beach

Unwind on this tranquil stretch of golden beach, relax under the shade of swaying palm trees and explore Tropical North Queensland at your leisure.

Trinity Beach
The Cairns Lagoon at sunrise in Tropical North Queensland

Cairns North

Pristine beaches and ample dining options are well-reviewed features of Cairns North. Make a stop by top sights like Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland while you're exploring the area.

Cairns North
Yorkeys Knob showing tranquil scenes and mountains

Yorkeys Knob

Yorkeys Knob is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Yorkeys Knob Beach and Half Moon Bay Golf Course.

Yorkeys Knob
Queens Gardens showing a park and forests

North Ward

North Ward is known for its beaches, and you can plan a trip to Strand Waterpark and The Strand Beach while you're in town.

North Ward

 

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