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.

Great Barrier Reef Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Great Barrier Reef has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Great Barrier Reef is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Great Barrier Reef to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Great Barrier Reef Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Great Barrier Reef.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Great Barrier Reef attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

Things to do

Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld

Great Barrier Reef Adventure to Reefworld

CA $227
per traveller
92% of travellers recommend
Great Barrier Reef Adventure to Reefworld
Snorkel & Whitehaven Beach Eco Cruise, Lunch | From Airlie Beach

Snorkel & Whitehaven Beach Eco Cruise, Lunch | From Airlie Beach

CA $202
per adult
90% of travellers recommend
Snorkel & Whitehaven Beach Eco Cruise, Lunch | From Airlie Beach
Whitehaven Beach Half-Day Cruise

Whitehaven Beach Half-Day Cruise

CA $178
per adult
90% of travellers recommend
Whitehaven Beach Half-Day Cruise
Whitehaven Beach Big Island Day Tour

Whitehaven Beach Purely Whitehaven Day Tour

CA $264
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
Whitehaven Beach Purely Whitehaven Day Tour
Whitsundays Premium Private Charter - Axopar 37 'Cheeky'

Whitsundays Premium Private Charter - Axopar 37 'Cheeky'

CA $5,441
per traveller
Whitsundays Premium Private Charter - Axopar 37 'Cheeky'
Private Standard Charter Experience in Whitsundays

Private Standard Charter Experience in Whitsundays

CA $3,804
per traveller
Private Standard Charter Experience in Whitsundays
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Top places to visit

1. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is the tree-lined boardwalk along the foreshore in the city of Cairns. It overlooks the Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea on one side, and is lined with restaurants and gardens on the other. It has bike paths and walking trails, playgrounds, barbecues, exercise areas and a salt-water lagoon.
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A beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a swimming pool.

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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A coastal landscape with clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and green hills.

3. Magnetic Island National Park

Put on your walking shoes and head off to explore some of the 15 miles (24 kilometers) of walking tracks that meander through Magnetic Island National Park.
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A white sailboat on a turquoise sea with rocky shores and green vegetation.

4. 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 beach with palm trees and a calm sea.

5. 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.

6. 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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A marina with two sailboats docked, surrounded by greenery and a mountainous backdrop.

7. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

The Esplanade Lagoon is a water feature in Cairns where you can relax, cool off and socialise with other travellers. The lagoon is on the waterfront on the Cairns Esplanade and is surrounded by tropical gardens. Spend an entire day relaxing by the water, join a fitness class or cool off in the midday heat.
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A swimming pool with wind sculptures, a covered pavilion, palm trees, and a sunset sky.

8. 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, a large sailboat with a distinctive sail, and a building with a modern design in the background.

9. Four Mile Beach

Four Mile Beach is the main beach in Port Douglas and, as its name suggests, the sandy stretch runs for about four miles (6.5 kilometers). At the southern end of this pristine beach is a mangrove forest and the northern end features a hill with a lookout point, a great place to see the sunrise over the Coral Sea.
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A coastal landscape with a clear blue sea, a sandy beach, and lush green hills in the background.

What to do in Great Barrier Reef

Stay near popular Great Barrier Reef attractions

A beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a swimming pool.

Cairns Esplanade

9.2/10 (7,071 reviews)
Stroll along the boardwalk surrounded by palms tree and landscaped gardens and watch the sun set over the Coral Sea.
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