Mackay Reef & Cay is known to be one of the best snorkel spots on the Great Barrier Reef, and I couldn’t agree more! The reef here is incredibly vibrant, with pristine white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and thriving coral gardens that feel like an underwater paradise. Being able to snorkel straight from the sand into the fringing coral reefs make it such an unreal experience.

The marine life was also out of this world. We lost count of how many turtles we swam alongside! From colourful reef fish hiding in the corals to majestic eagle rays gliding past and even spotting a small reef shark, it was a dream snorkeling experience. Visiting Mackay Reef is an absolute bucket list experience!

You can only get here by boat which takes about 30 minutes from the mainland. There are a variety of tour companies and charters available. We did the half day tour with Ocean Safari which included a stop at Mackay Cay. The half day tours are $200 per person and include a visit to two reefs along with all snorkelling equipment. Morning tours start at 7:30am and returns at 12:30pm while the afternoon tour starts at 11:30 and returns at 4:30pm.