The 15 Snorkeling Trips in Australia That Earn Their Price

1.Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat

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

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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2.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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3.Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 386 reviews · from $107

Travel 45 minutes from Cairns by fast catamaran to Green Island, a coral cay with rainforest, beaches, and reef life. Your day includes snorkelling gear, a glass-bottom boat ride, an island walk, pool access, and return transfers. Guided snorkelling is an optional extra.

“We are older guys, worried about can we manage the visit. Turn out we had good time got great barrier reef views on glass bottom boat , walk around, and swimming (warm water and smooth sand) on green island ,”

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4.Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 282 reviews · from $87

Take a fast catamaran from Cairns to 6,000-year-old Green Island, then choose beach snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat tour. You can also walk through the rainforest, use the island pool, and attend reef talks such as marine biologist Clarissa’s session.

“You don't actually get tickets online- you instead need to arrive 45 minutes prior to departure and join a massive queue to get physical tickets. So many people were confused by this and this seems really inefficient. They did have enough stRead more”

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5.Town of 1770: Lady Musgrave Island Snorkelling Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 243 reviews · 9 hours · from $198

From Seventeen Seventy, join 1770 Reef for a 9-hour Lady Musgrave Island trip aboard a power catamaran. Snorkel the protected lagoon, spot turtles and reef fish, join a guided island walk, and see coral from a glass-bottom boat. Crew member Bec is known for keeping the day lively.

“Best day ever. Would definitely recommend doing this activity. The crew were absolutely awesome.”

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6.Fitzroy Island Ferry, optional lunch, tours, snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 216 reviews · from $69Best value

Take Sunlover Reef Cruises from Cairns to Fitzroy Island for a self-guided day among coral beaches, rainforest tracks, and clear water. Choose transfers only, or add a picnic lunch, snorkel gear, and a glass-bottom boat ride. You set the pace, with about 4.5 hours ashore.

“The boat river over was great. The glass bottom boat tour was a little short--could have been longer. The lunch was great and Rain Forest was easily trailed out so that we could tour at our own pace.”

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7.2-Day Whitsunday Islands Sailing Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 215 reviews · 60 hours · from $488

Spend 60 hours aboard the fast trimaran Avatar, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and changing snorkel sites around the Whitsundays. Crew members such as Max, Meg, Hannah, and Riley vary by departure. Expect fresh meals, simple cabins, deck sleeping, and a friendly social mood.

“Incredible trip on Avatar! With so many options of boats and companies we hoped we booked the one right for us. Avatar is a great boat with space to lounge on the nets and the crew, Max, Kate and Lauren were so friendly, helpful and funny. They guided us through the snorkelling to ensure we saw some amazing reefs, fish and turtles. An amazing trip and will definitely be a highlight of our 8 month backpacking travel. A very chilled atmosphere, with incredible snorkelling spots and great advice from the crew. Meals were delicious and the soundtrack to the trip matched the moments perfectly. Could not recommend more highly! (Just…”

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8.Whitsunday Islands Sailing, SUP & Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 6 hours · from $162

Spend six hours aboard the air-conditioned 60-foot catamaran Wings III, sailing near Hook Island and Hayman Island. Swim, snorkel, paddle a SUP or clear-bottom kayak, and relax on deck with fresh morning tea and lunch. Crew members such as Mon, Mike, Maddy, and Sarah are known for calm, careful water guidance.

“Fabulous day out with Mike and Mon. Didn’t want to do the big overcrowded trips and this was prefect. Nothing was too much trouble, great lunch, snorkeling was fun. All I all we had a very relaxing day”

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9.Green Island, Snorkelling and Glass-Bottom Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 74 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $106

Take a 45-minute catamaran from Cairns to Green Island, a 6,000-year-old coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Your $106 package includes a glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling gear, a rainforest walk, and pool access. Add scuba, Seawalker, kayaking, or a helicopter flight if you want more action.

“I liked the Glass bottom boat. everything else was not worth the money. too many people in a tiny space.”

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10.Whitsunday Islands Sail, SUP & Snorkel Tour- Small group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $156Top rated

Spend six hours aboard Wings III, a 60ft air-conditioned sailing catamaran from Airlie Beach. Expect reef snorkeling near Hayman Island, SUPs, a clear-bottom kayak, Jacuzzi time, fresh morning tea and lunch, and a route shaped by the weather. Crew members may include Mon, Stew, or Maggie May.

“Wings is a professionally run activity. We had only 10 people on the boat which was a bonus, but even the 25 usual would be fine. It is a big cat. Excellent fruit and savoury platters soon after boarding, pod coffee and big tea selection. BriRead more”

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11.Rockingham: 3 Island Wildlife Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 3h 30m · from $176

Join Perth Wildlife Encounters from Rockingham for a 3.5-hour cruise around Penguin, Seal, and Bird Islands. You can snorkel with provided gear, watch dolphins and Australian sea lions, see nesting birds, and enjoy a grazing lunch. Guides such as Grace, Georgia, John, and Courtney have been praised for their care and clear wildlife talks.

“It was a lovely morning and we had a really good encounter with the sea lions. Our guides, Grace, Lara, Niamh and Georgia were very knowledgeable, professional and just lovely. They made sure everyone had a good time. Would highly recommend everyone to book this activity.”

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12.Fitzroy Island: Full-Day Ferry & Snorkel Safari Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 37 reviews · 10 hours · from $118

Take the 8:00 AM ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island, join the 10:00 AM guided snorkel safari, then spend five hours on your own with beaches, rainforest trails, and lunch options. English-speaking guide Elisa earns special praise for her helpful reef guidance.

“Enjoyed the snorkeling tour, staff were really helpful & pointed me in the right direction. The ferry could do with a bit of TLC but all good”

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13.Port Stephens: Port Stephens Island Snorkel Adventure Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 37 reviews · 3 hours · from $88

Spend three hours aboard Aquamarine Adventures’ 40-foot power cat Envision, racing from Nelson Bay to Cabbage Tree, Broughton, or Fingal Island. Guides such as Matt, Sophie, and Silke help you spot fish, rays, wobbegongs, turtles, and other marine life. You must be a competent swimmer, and the captain chooses the stop.

“Matt and Silke were amazing, it was so much fun!”

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14.Yeppoon: Great Keppel Island Fast Boat Snorkel & Lunch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 36 reviews · 6 hours · from $123

Ride The Kraken from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island for snorkeling, beaches, paddleboarding, wildlife spotting, and a cold buffet lunch. English-speaking guides such as Chris, Mia, Carl, Lauren, Terry, and Tom lead the day, with gear, water, and an inflatable pontoon included.

“The best.What a great day and would certainly do it again and recommend to anyone”

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15.Lady Enid Sailing to Hook Island Cultural Site & Snorkelling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · from $182

Spend eight hours aboard the 72-foot Lady Enid, an Australian classic yacht sailing from Airlie Beach to Nara Inlet and Hook Island. You’ll visit a Ngaro cultural site, enjoy lunch on board, snorkel for about 40 minutes, and return with sparkling wine and antipasto.

“We asked two different agents for a tour to visit Whitehaven beach and Hill Inlet lookout. They ensured us that the Lady Enid Sailing tour called “Langford Island+snorkeling” was going there so they made us pay for it. In fact, the section ‘what Read more”

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