Escape to the Great Barrier Reef: 4 incredible destinations only 5 hours from Brisbane

Time from Brisbane: 4 hours

Picture a crystal clear lagoon lapping at the shores of a white-sand island fringed with a patchwork of colourful coral. Chances are you’re most likely thinking Hawaii, the Maldives or Cairns, right? Wrong. We’re describing Lady Musgrave Island. You’ll find this patch of paradise just a 4-hour drive north of Brisbane off the coast of Bundaberg. Or if you’ve got a little more time in the day, you can access the island from 1770 too.

Visit for a day trip or stay overnight aboard Lady Musgrave Experience’s luxury pontoon. Here you can sleep in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef and dive right out of bed on the reef for a sunrise snorkel. The team at Lady Musgrave Experience are advanced eco-certified, so you know you’re doing good for the reef by visiting. While visiting the island there’s so many activities to enjoy. Your day trip comes with a guided island tour, snorkelling (most likely with turtles), a guided glass bottom boat tour and morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Booking a dive or two on Lady Musgrave will bring you face-to-face with diverse corals, turtles, sharks and manta rays. To make the most of your trip book in winter to soundtrack your time in the water with the whalesong of migrating humpback whales.

A trip to Lady Musgrave is suitable for the whole family and perfect for couples looking for a truly unique night away.

Heron Island

Time from Brisbane: Less than 6 hours

Heron Island is what it must feel like to live inside a David Attenborough documentary. When you first plant your feet on the island’s coral shores it’s almost certain you’ll spot an eagle ray leaping from the aquamarine water to greet you, or the resident lemon shark cruising on by under the jetty. But don’t just take our word for it, take David Attenborough’s. Afterall, Heron Island is one of his favourite places on earth and all within a short drive from Brisbane.

You’ll find Heron Island just off the coast of Gladstone, less than a 6 hour drive from Brisbane. The island is wrapped in ribbons of turquoise water so clear you can see coral bommies, turtles, rays and sharks from the shore. A snorkel is included in your stay so be sure to wake up for the obligatory sunrise snorkel out to the shipwreck before hitting the buffet breakfast. Word to the wise: try to plan your trip during turtle hatching or nesting season to see the beautiful turtle life cycle. If you time your sunset walk around the island right, you might just see a clutch of turtle babes make their first dash to the sea.

Heron Island is perfect for families or couples with a bumper-to-bumper activity schedule. Catch an educational reef talk, join a guided snorkel, go for a turtle walk to spot hatchlings or watch a mama turtle nesting, spend an evening star gazing or just relax at the spa. You’re on island-time now. 

Flinders Reef

Time from Brisbane: Just over 1 hour

This is technically not the Great Barrier Reef, but Flinders Reef is absolutely worth a visit and it’s so close to Brisbane. The reef is Moreton Bay Marine Park’s (and Brisbane’s) only true coral reef. You’ll find it tucked beneath the crystalline waters of Moreton Island, or a short boat from the shores of the Sunshine Coast.

As for what’s below the water, think towering coral pinnacles, metres and metres of ancient coral walls, wobbegongs and eels peeking out of coral hidey holes, colourful, schooling fish, and a whole crew of turtles who are smitten with the cleaning station here. Fun fact: you’ll find the highest number of coral species of any subtropical reef system along Australia’s east coast right here, just off Brisbane’s coast. The marine life and diversity here is truly spectacular; you are forgiven if you need to remind yourself mid-snorkel that you’re in Brisbane, not Cairns. 

If you’re a diver, Sunreef Mooloolaba do day trips out to the reef which includes two dives. For snorkelling, Subsurface Scuba offer day tours as well.

Lady Elliot Island

Time from Brisbane: 0, 1 or 3 hours

Zero hours? 1 hour? 3 hours? Yes. It’s all true: you can take a tour from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef in less time than you’ll spend trying to find a park at a shopping centre.. Lady Elliot Island offers day trips to the reef from Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Hervey Bay via their fleet of aircraft, meaning you also score an insanely cool scenic flight.

You’ll be surprised by how much you can fit into a day trip to the reef from Brisbane. You can experience the natural wonders of the world from the air, sea and the land before you’ve even sat down for lunch. Your day trip here includes return flights from your chosen port (Brisbane, Gold Coast or Hervey Bay), a glass bottom boat and guided snorkel tour with a Master Reef Guide, a delicious buffet lunch and an afternoon of either snorkelling just a few steps from the buffet or join in on the island’s packed activity calendar.

But why Lady Elliot? Thousands of Manta Rays call the island home year-round, especially in the winter months. The island is also powered entirely by solar power and the crystal waters that lap at the island are brimming with sea life.

Ready to leave now? Find a Great Barrier Reef deal here.