Best of · AUSTRALIA ISLAND HOPPING TOURS

The 15 Best Island & Reef Cruises in Australia

38 tours  ·  from $34 a head

Whitsunday sand, Great Barrier Reef pontoons and the harbour islands off three cities. The 15 below cover what each day includes, how far offshore it goes and how rough that crossing gets.

From Perth: Rottnest Island Full-Day Bike and Ferry Trip - Starting at Hillarys Boat Harbour
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From Perth: Rottnest Island Full-Day Bike and Ferry Trip

1.From Perth: Rottnest Island Full-Day Bike and Ferry Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,548 reviews · 1 day · from $84Our pick

Take a 45-minute ferry from Hillarys Boat Harbour to car-free Rottnest Island, with a bike, helmet, and lock ready for your day. Ride to quiet bays, Wadjemup Lighthouse, or West End, spot quokkas, and add snorkel gear for $15. Optional hotel pickup is available on selected routes.

“Well organised, prompt. The bus driver was great at the start and end, as was everything in between.”

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From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise - Arriving at Green Island National Park
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From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise

2.Full-Day Green Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,584 reviews · 8 hours · from $77

Cruise from Cairns to Green Island National Park aboard a modern catamaran. Spend the day swimming, snorkeling, walking through the island, or choosing a glass-bottom boat or semi-submarine trip. English-speaking crew, reef views, optional buffet lunch, and a full eight hours give you room to set your own pace.

“it was a fantastic day to see the Great Barrier Reef. A once in a lifetime experience. We saw lots of wildlife and learned loads. The trip with the semi submersible and glass bottom boat as extras was very well coordinated and the schedule was never rushed. Theimch was delicious. Staff were friendly and informative. Would really recommend this to anyone visiting Cairns”

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Cairns: Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat - The Cairns departure and catamaran ride
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Cairns: Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat

3.Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,284 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $73

Take a 45-minute catamaran from Cairns to Green Island, a 6,000-year-old coral cay with rainforest, beaches, and reef wildlife. Choose shore snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat tour, then add pool time, a rainforest walk, crocodile viewing, or other activities.

“The Snorkeling at Green Island was fantastic. Best I’ve done. Water was so clear and the place near the jetty was teaming with fish and turtles. So easy to access off the beach. Highly recommend to future travelers to Queensland.”

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From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour - The ferry ride sets the pace for the day
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From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour

4.From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,246 reviews · 7 hours - 1 day · from $99

Take a SeaLink ferry from Perth or Fremantle to Rottnest Island, then tour its beaches, salt lakes, lighthouse, and quokka country by air-conditioned bus. Guides such as Leah, Barney, and Jason are known for lively commentary. You also get free time for lunch, photos, swimming, or a short walk.

“It’s was good from start to finish very welcoming and helpful, clear instructions and a good sense of humour.”

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Kangaroo Island Full Day Experience by Ferry Including Lunch - From Adelaide to Cape Jervis by coach
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Kangaroo Island Full Day Experience by Ferry Including Lunch

5.Kangaroo Island Full Day Experience by Ferry Including Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,202 reviews · 16 hours · from $267

Travel from Adelaide by coach and ferry to Kangaroo Island with guides such as Hamish, Jo, Will, and Scott. Visit Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch, and a wildlife sanctuary, with lunch included.

“Very nice Trip, very informative. Be Aware that the guides Change and you have to keep asking whether you are on the list for the specific tour”

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Brisbane: Moreton Island Return Ferry & Adventure Day Pass - Arriving at Tangalooma Island Resort
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Brisbane: Moreton Island Return Ferry & Adventure Day Pass

6.Brisbane: Moreton Island Return Ferry & Adventure Day Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,195 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $98

You’ll ferry from Brisbane’s Holt Street Wharf to Tangalooma Island Resort for a self-guided day of kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, and beach time. The pass includes equipment and resort access, but not meals, wetsuits, lockers, or guided wreck tours.

“We had thoroughly great day. We added quad biking to our days activities which was really good fun. The cost of the photos are very expensive!! We really enjoyed the day and would recommend a trip to the resort.”

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Moreton Island: Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise - Boarding at Rivergate Marina and the 75-minute crossing
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Moreton Island: Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise

7.Moreton Island: Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,039 reviews · 1 day · from $152

Spend a full day aboard the Spirit of Mulgumpin, a purpose-built catamaran, snorkeling the Tangalooma Wrecks, watching for dolphins, and relaxing on Moreton Island. Guides such as Emily, Jess, Georgia, and Nicole lead safe water sessions, while lunch, beach gear, and marine park fees are included.

“My highlight was snorkelling with the sea turtles and learning about the sealife, but I would have loved to hear more about the birdlife, some history in regards to Cook, the natives, Finnegan et al’s castaway story and the surrounding geography such as the Glasshouse Mountains, Flinders Peak etc. With that said, one of the lovely guides (who also drove the bus to/from the Gold Coast) offered to google answers to my questions unprompted, which was more and than I expected.”

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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive - Swimming beside a whale shark
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Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

8.Swim with Whale Sharks in the Ningaloo Reef: 3 Island Shark Dive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 919 reviews · from $444Top rated

Spend about eight hours on Ningaloo Reef with Three Islands Whale Shark Dive, following a spotter plane to find whale sharks. Expect several guided swims, reef snorkeling, meals, drinks, underwater photos, and a crew that may include Captain Sam, Molly, Isla, Seth, Fabs, or Monique.

“Finally finding a whale shark after 6 hours of waiting - the crew were really good and persisted and were happy to stay late”

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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour - Collecting your bike at the jetty
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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour

9.From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 805 reviews · 9 hours · from $87

Take the fast Rottnest Express ferry from Fremantle, collect a hire bike on arrival, and spend the day exploring Rottnest Island independently. Ride to beaches, bays, museums, and quokka spots, with time to swim, snorkel, picnic, and return on the same-day ferry.

“Fantastic place to visit. Although the ferry was completely full, once on the island the crowds thinned. It probably helped going clockwise and leaving the settlement/quokkas till last.”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity - Getting to the Reef Fleet terminal by 9:45 AM
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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity

10.Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 796 reviews · 8 hours · from $59Best value

Take Sunlover Reef Cruises from Cairns to Fitzroy Island for four-plus hours of beach time, snorkeling, and rainforest walks. Choose a picnic lunch, snorkel gear, or glass-bottom boat ride, then add guided kayaking, snorkeling, or a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre visit on the island.

“I enjoyed snorkeling at Fitzroy Island. Definitely recommend it and worth the money”

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2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar - Whitehaven Beach gets a proper three-hour visit
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2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar

11.2-Night Whitsunday Islands Sailing Adventure on Trimaran Avatar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 771 reviews · from $466

Spend two nights aboard Avatar, the Whitsundays’ only commercial sailing trimaran, with up to 26 passengers. Sail from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach and quiet reef spots, snorkel with turtles and fish, and enjoy meals, guiding, and onboard accommodation. Expect simple food and tight sleeping quarters.

“I will try to report the facts, without entering into personal judgment because only bad words will come out. I state, in 7 participants we interrupted halfway through the tour, due to safety and health risk problems as the extremely precarious Read moreAuto-translated”

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From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise - The check-in and transfer to the boat
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From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

12.From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $127

Spend three hours on a fast wilderness boat along Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula, with guides such as Tim, Damo, Andrew, and Hamish pointing out cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, seabirds, and seasonal whales. Covered tiered seating helps, but bring serious layers, gloves, and a warm hat.

“We loved this tour! It was so much fun, despite being super cold. We saw lots of seals and albatross. Would definitely do it again!”

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From Perth: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip - Rottnest is small, but not flat
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From Perth: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip

13.From Perth: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 627 reviews · 9 hours · from $118

Take the Rottnest Express from Perth to Rottnest Island, including a narrated Swan River cruise, then collect a bike and explore at your own pace. Ride to beaches such as the Basin, Parakeet Bay, and Little Armstrong Bay, with time for quokkas, swimming, and lunch.

“Really good day out well organised with bikes available. The island is not flat so the biking may prove a challenge for some as you rack up 18 miles if you do the full route around the island. Chance to see seals as well”

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Maria Island Cruise and Guided Walk Day Tour with Lunch and Drinks - Coastal cruising around Maria Island
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Maria Island Cruise and Guided Walk Day Tour with Lunch and Drinks

14.Maria Island Cruise and Guided Walk Day Tour with Lunch and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 617 reviews · from $211

Spend about eight hours exploring Maria Island by boat and on foot. Crews such as Michael, Ruby, Milly, and Tamsyn lead wildlife viewing, geology commentary, lunch, and a two-hour Darlington walk. Expect a small group, open-water conditions, and chances to see wombats, seals, dolphins, and albatross.

“Staffs were very friendly and organised which made the trip very enjoyable. We will definitely come back and join the tour again.”

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From Hobart/Adventure Bay: Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise - What the yellow boats are really like
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From Hobart/Adventure Bay: Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise

15.From Hobart/Adventure Bay: Bruny Island Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 601 reviews · 3 - 10 hours · from $127

Take a fast, open-air wilderness cruise from Hobart or Bruny Island with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys. Your guide searches for seals, dolphins, whales, albatrosses, and penguins among sea cliffs, caves, and The Friars. Choose a Hobart option for ferry crossings, a guided bus tour, and hotel drop-off.

“An amazing experience, our Tour reps, Josh and Jamie were outstanding, providing a 5 star level of care, very informative and extremely attentive, loved every second.”

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New in Australia Island Hopping Tours

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★ 4.6San Remo: Phillip Island Sunset CruiseFrom $5520 reviews
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★ 4.7From Hervey Bay: Half-Day K’gari Fraser Island Beach CruiseFrom $113307 reviews
★ 4.5Rottnest Island Round-Trip Ferry from PerthFrom $90346 reviews
★ 4.8Strahan: Gordon River Cruise with Lunch & Sarah Island WalkFrom $109382 reviews
★ 4.0Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from CairnsFrom $107386 reviews
★ 4.6From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bus Day TourFrom $112394 reviews
★ 4.8Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Sailing TourFrom $183398 reviews
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