Sunlover Reef Cruises is one of the best ways to experience some of the highlights of Cairns from the water all in one day. Their full day Reef and Island tour combines the Great Barrier Reef with a visit to Fitzroy Island, making it perfect if you’re short on time but still want to experience both the reef and tropical islands.

The first stop on the tour is Moore Reef, which takes around 1.5 hours to reach by boat from Cairns. Here, the boat docks at Sunlover’s custom floating pontoon right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, surrounded by coral gardens and marine life. You’ll have around 2.5 hours here to explore however you like.

You can snorkel straight off the pontoon amongst the coral and fish, or if you’d prefer to stay dry, there’s also a semi-submersible boat tour, glass-bottom boat, and underwater observatory included. They also offer a range of optional add ons including guided snorkel safaris with marine biologists, Seawalker helmet dives, beginner scuba diving experiences, and scenic helicopter flights over the reef.

After Moore Reef, the tour continues to Fitzroy Island where you’ll enjoy a buffet style lunch before having around 1.5 hours of free time to explore. This gives you enough time to walk over to the famous Nudey Beach, relax on the white sand, or go for another swim in the crystal clear water. Fitzroy Island is one of our favourite islands off the coast of Australia and definitely a highlight of the day.

The full day Reef and Island tour starts from around $337 per person. Sunlover Reef Cruises also offers other tour options if you only want to visit Moore Reef or Fitzroy Island separately. If you’re short on time in Cairns and want to pack as much in as possible, this tour is a really great option.