30 unforgettable things to do on the Great Barrier Reef

1. The iconic Heart Reef is a beauty to take in from above. But on the Journey to the Heart adventure you’ll fly above it then land on a pontoon right beside the heart-shaped reef. For the next 90 minutes, enjoy this paradise all to yourself. While you can’t snorkel on the protected reef, a glass-bottom boat will take you for an exclusive ride around the heart. Spend the rest of your time snorkelling the nearby lagoon and sipping champagne on the luxurious pontoon.

2. Board a private helicopter to see the Great Barrier Reef from above and touch down for a picnic on a secluded sand cay. Nautilus Aviation lifts from Cairns and Port Douglas and whisks you away from the crowds to an exclusive beach where you can snorkel the off-shore reefs, indulge in a gourmet hamper and enjoy white sand as far as the eye can see.

3. Hop on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from Cairns for views out to the reef and a walk through ancient rainforest. Opt to fly over the Wet Tropics Rainforest in a glass-bottom gondola or join a Skyrail Ranger and learn the history of the plants, animals and evolution of the rainforest as you breathe in the fresh air and enjoy uninterrupted panoramic views in the open-air Canopy Glider.

4. Fly to Horn Island in the Torres Strait to get acquainted with the island’s pearl farming, WWII and cultural history. Known as Ngurupai in the local language, the island is a fusion of Melanesian and Australian Aboriginal cultures.

From the surface

5. Zip through the spectacular blue waters of the Whitsunday Islands with Ocean Rafting - not only will you get time on famous Whitehaven Beach and admire the views from Hill Inlet, there's time for snorkelling the Reef, too. Come during humpback whale migration and you'll have the chance to watch their majesty. Want to take the driver’s seat? Whitsunday Jetski Tours offers three different tours for adrenalin junkies – from marine life tours to exploring the waterways of South Molle and Daydream Islands or the Ultimate Island Trek, an epic jetski journey to the island oasis of Palm Bay Resort.

6. Go on a multi-day hiking adventure around Hinchinbrook Island and discover the remote beaches and waterfalls of the island’s famous Thorsborne Trail.

7. Visit the turtle rehabilitation centre on Fitzroy Island and learn about the journey of recovery that injured and sick turtles undergo prior to their release back into the ocean – it’s one of the most heart-warming things to do on the Great Barrier Reef. During your 45-minute tour, you’ll gain a better understanding of these beautiful creatures and the threats they face daily, along with tips on how you can help save them. The island's resort offers a range of activities so spend the day - or a few days - soaking up this special place.

8. Master the traditional way of spearfishing with the Kuku Yalanji People in the beach flats and mangrove swamps just 15 minutes north of Port Douglas with Walkabout Cultural Adventures. Learn how Indigenous culture uses the nature around them for medicine, and sample some bush tucker as you forage the land.

9. If you want the ultimate deserted island experience, head to Haggerstone Island. Book a beachfront villa to be among the handful of guests on the island at any time, or bring a group of up to 12 people and rent the entire island. With Great Barrier Reef beauty all to yourself, you'll be pampered with three gourmet meals a day, daily excursions onboard a 45ft jet boat and all the equipment you need to go fishing, kayaking, snorkelling, spearfishing, wakeboarding and jet skiing.

10. Or, round up your closest friends and family and bag an entire island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef for less than the cost of an average night’s stay in a penthouse. Pumpkin Island, off the coast of Yeppoon, is an eco-friendly oasis that spoils you with the natural beauty of the island and its surrounds. Life is simple here, so there’s no distractions preventing you from spending your days floating amongst turtles in a glass-bottom kayak, snorkelling fringing reef metres from the shore, foraging for oysters or island hopping around The Keppel Islands.

11. One of the best things to do on the Great Barrier Reef is an action-packed day trip to the Outer Reef, and if you’re in Port Douglas that’s with Quicksilver Cruises. Once you arrive at the Agincourt Reef pontoon, waste no time jumping straight into the water to swim with the fishes. Those with a thirst to learn about the species surrounding you should sign up for the optional marine biologist snorkelling tour. Not a strong swimmer? No worries. Board one of Quicksilver's semi-submersible boats from the pontoon instead for a peek at Agincourt Reef without the snorkel and mask. Glide one metre below the surface for a scuba diver’s view of the rich biodiversity that earned the Great Barrier Reef its World Heritage-listed status. This pontoon is also accessible for wheelchair and mobility device users.

12. Want a reef pontoon experience that lasts a little longer? Feel the magic of the Reef by night on Cruise Whitsundays’ Reefsleep. Spend your day snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, then, after the day-trippers have all headed home, the pontoon and the reef are exclusively yours. Sip champagne at sunset, enjoy an al fresco evening meal on the deck, then lay under the stars in your Reefbed. If you want to amp up the luxury, head below deck to stay in one of the two Reef Suites. As you fall asleep in Australia’s first underwater accommodation, your floor-to-ceiling windows provide a front row seat to the world of the Great Barrier Reef. And if you think it’s spectacular at night, wait until you wake up in the morning. This is just one of the many ways to sleep on the Reef. 

13. Set up camp or settle into a lodge at Cape Tribulation and wake up to the Great Barrier Reef on your doorstep and the Daintree Rainforest in your backyard. The only beachfront camp with power in the Daintree, at Cape Trib Camping you can roll straight out of your tent or campervan and practically have the palm-tree lined beach all to yourself. Head to Emmagen Creek for a morning dip, and when it's time for a reef adventure, book a fast boat tour with Ocean Safari.

14. Luxury meets science at Orpheus Island Lodge. Settle in for a five-star experience but be sure to take a tour of the research station, and peer over the shoulder of visiting scientists studying the Great Barrier Reef. The educational eco-tour takes you behind the scenes of the research facilities that are dedicated to studying the 1,100 known species of fish and 340 of the 350 known species of reef coral that live in the waters around Orpheus.

15. Charter a yacht and sail your way around the 74 islands that make up The Whitsundays – no billionaire bank balance or boat licence required. Stop off at deserted beaches and bays perfect for snorkelling, moore at Hamilton Island’s Marina for supplies and a great meal, and spend every evening sailing directly into the sunset. It doesn’t get much better!

16. Explore the Great Barrier Reef from Mackay with Wildcat. This day trip will cruise you off-the-beaten-track to some truly hidden spots, and depending on the day you'll get beach time and snorkelling at destinations like Cockermouth, Brampton, Keswick, St Bees, and Scawfell islands. 

17. If you prefer to leave the navigating in the hands of a capable skipper, sail in style on one of Sailaway Port Douglas’s luxury catamarans. With access to the Mackay and Undine Coral Cays, a full day tour out to these reef-wrapped islands will show you the best of the Great Barrier Reef without any crowds. Between snorkelling, a glass bottom boat ride, chatting to the on-board marine biologist (and helping out with research yourself) you’ll be treated to a tropical buffet lunch and morning and afternoon tea, coffee and cake.

18. Take your pick of 17 pristine beaches and a range of accommodation options on Great Keppel Island – 30 minutes by ferry from Yeppoon's Rosslyn Bay. Spend your days snorkelling, watching the horizon for humpback whales migrating through Keppel Bay (between April and November), catching your dinner near Putney’s Beach, or hiking the island’s most challenging bush track from Fisherman’s Beach to the lighthouse on Bald Rock Point. Or, join the experienced crew of Freedom Fast Cats as they show you the best offshore snorkelling spots and unspoilt beaches of the Keppel Islands.

19. Take to the waters of Magnetic Island on tour with Aquascene. Discover secluded beaches and bays, snorkel fringing coral reefs and meet some local wildlife, above and below the water. There's a Master Reef Guide on hand to translate the underwater world and help you learn as you explore.

20. Traverse the rugged peaks, forests and grasslands of the Ngaro Sea Trail from Whitsunday Island to South Molle and Hook Island by foot and kayak. For over 9,000 years, the Whitsundays has been home to the Ngaro people. Along the trail at the Ngaro Cultural Site in Nara Inlet, you can gain a better insight into Ngaro life and culture. While it’s possible to DIY this trail if you have the right gear and experience, it’s better done with a local guide, such as a multi-day kayak/camp adventure with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking.

21. Explore the diversity of the Great Barrier Reef by road tripping the Great Tropical Drive. The drive is made up of some 26 different routes, so leave yourself at least 12 days to experience as much as possible. On this adventure you can meet the Reef, but you'll also have options to explore the world's oldest surviving tropical rainforest, one of the world’s oldest and best preserved lava tube systems, and some of Australia's most magnificent waterfalls. 

22. Test your water endurance during the annual Hamilton Island Ocean Swim. There are few places more picture-perfect for a 2km or 750m ocean swim. Taking place in November each year, the weather and water temperature doesn’t get much better either. It's one of the many events held across the Great Barrier Reef each year. 

23. Watch turtle hatchlings burst out of their nests and hurl themselves down to the oncoming waves under the moonlight at Mon Repos in Bundaberg. Between January and March, the ranger-guided Mon Repos Turtle Encounter gives you the unique opportunity to witness hundreds of baby turtles begin their dangerous journey out into the big wide ocean.

24. Coral Expeditions’ immersive expedition cruise is one of the most incredible things to do on the Great Barrier Reef. Recognised as Australia’s longest-established and most awarded expedition cruise operator, the unique voyages take you to explore hidden corners, uninhabited sand cays, small islands and pristine reef systems. With an itinerary that’s as educational as it is adventurous, you’ll learn a lot and find freedom and solitude amid this iconic seascape.

From under the water

25. Take the plunge and learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Dive schools can be found all along Queensland’s coastline, but Divers Den in Cairns is among the best. Once you've got the skills down, you can start exploring the famous Queensland dive sites that rank among the best in the world.

26. Follow in David Attenborough’s footsteps and scuba dive the three islands which inspired his Great Barrier Reef documentary: Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island. Not far from the shores of each of these coral cays lies colourful reefs overflowing with marine life, including manta rays, turtles and whales. Heron Island Resort and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort both offer dive courses, discovery dives and certified dives from their dive shops, while Lady Musgrave Experience is your ticket to an incredible day of discovery around the island’s lagoon (along with the option to sleep on the pontoon overnight). All islands offer incredible experiences for divers and snorkellers alike. 

27. Get to know the Reef through the lens of science, sustainability and sea country with an Indigenous led tour. Dreamtime Dive + Snorkel offers day cruises to two Reef locations, while Reef Magic Cruises offers a pontoon experience from Moore Reef, departing Cairns. Other great Cairns-based operators included Silverswift and Down Under Cruise and Dive, both offering full-day Outer Reef excursions with five-hours of reef time from on board a luxury catamaran. 

28. Experience untouched regions of the Great Barrier Reef on a liveaboard dive trip, where you eat, sleep and scuba from your boat. One of the most life-changing experiences is to dive with the world’s largest green turtle population on the reefs around Raine Island near the tip of Queensland with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. Every year, between 40,000 and 100,000 green turtles lay their eggs in the sands of the uninhabited island. Remote and rarely visited, the surrounding reefs provide some of the most untouched and spectacular diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, hop ona liveaboard expedition from Cairns to the Ribbon Reefs during June and July and for the rare opportunity come face-to-face with dwarf minke whales.

29. Swim with giant manta rays in the waters surrounding Lady Elliot Island (here’s a snapshot of what to expect). Over 700 individual manta rays are known to be living in the surrounding waters of this ecologically sustainable coral cay. Visit for the day or stay a while at the island’s only resort, which offers glamping and cabin-style accommodation and a digital detox as you immerse yourself in the island’s natural beauty, both above and below the water. 

30. As if the incredible diversity of marine life wasn't reason enough to visit the Great Barrier Reef, why not explore the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA), located off the coast of Townsville. The museum – which gained a brand new exhibition dubbed Ocean Sentinels in 2023 – honours connection between Indigenous culture and the reef through a series of art installations created by the world’s leading underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Prefer wreck diving? The SS Yongala is a fascinating shipwreck teeming with marine life – and one of the world’s most intriguing maritime mysteries ready to be discovered on an exhilarating excursion with Yongala Dive. 

Inspired to book a Great Barrier Reef holiday? Start planning here.