The Great Barrier Reef Australia

When you think of Australia, I’m sure kangaroos, deadly snakes, maybe the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef all come to mind! With Australia being so large and the reef stretching along a large portion of Queensland, I am reviewing three of the easiest spots to see the Great Barrier Reef that won’t include excessive hours of driving.

You may also like | How to Plan a Trip to Australia

Before you dive in, I want to be transparent: this article includes affiliate links. This simply means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Rest assured, the article includes my genuine advice and it won’t cost you anything extra. Your support is greatly appreciated. Happy reading!

Best Time to Visit the Great Barrier Reef

So let’s start with the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Winter is dry season from June to August and considered the most pleasant time. Generally though any time between May and October is good. Just try to avoid going during wet season from November to April as the water visibility is said to not be great. Another thing to consider are Australian school holidays if you want to avoid extra crowds.

Bundaberg

The Great Barrier Reef begins in Bundaberg, Australia and is the closest point to Brisbane. Bundaberg is four hours North of Brisbane by car. Here you can take day trips to Lady Musgrave Island or drive another hour north to 1770.

Where to Stay in Bundaberg

Budget options for under 100 per night are plentiful here. One of the most budget friendly options is AAOK Riverdale Caravan Park which has rooms for under 60 per night!

If you are a large group or just want plenty of space with an ocean view, this home is about 20 minutes from Bundaberg. This 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home sleeps 12 and the price is worth the view alone! OceanMist Holiday Home – beachfront property!

There are not many luxury options in this area, but for a unique glamping experience with a luxury price tag, check out Wilson Island. It is shared bathrooms, but you will be in the Great Barrier Reef on a private island so it might be worth it!

How to Get to Bundaberg

From Brisbane you can take a bus and the early, non refundable price is worth it especially if you are traveling solo. However, the flexible ticket would cost about the same as renting a car for two days. In this case, renting a car takes less time and gives you more freedom. Flying is an option, but if you are going to fly somewhere, I’d suggest going further north, which we will talk about next, and those destinations would also be cheaper for flights.

So this option is great if you are flying into Brisbane and don’t want to take another flight. If you rent a car, you can make a road trip of it and extend your rental car period so you can visit places along the way like Australia zoo, Glass House Mountains, and K’gari (Fraser Island).

Great Barrier Reef Tours from Bundaberg and 1770

From 1770 Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour

From Bundaberg: Barrier Reef & Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour 


Whitsundays

A popular vacation spot are the Whitsundays. While a lot of people would come here for the Whitsundays and Whitehaven Beach, they are technically part of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia! I have fond memories of sailing the Whitsundays and would absolutely recommend visiting. Since we had just seen the Great Barrier Reef when we were in Cairns, we did not sail with the reef in mind, but other options might provide a great experience that will highlight the reef better than the our two night sail! Visiting Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island might be a great choice if you also want to see both the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef! So if you do come here for both, plan to be here for 3 to 5 days.

While I have fond memories of sailing, that won’t be for everyone. Sailing can easily be romanticized (this is not a Yacht), but it’s basically camping on a boat. The one small bathroom is shared, showers are limited, bunks are small and might even be shared depending on the size of your group. If this does not sound appealing to you, then focus on day trips and stay overnight on land.

Where to Stay in the Whitsundays

For budget accommodation, you will find decent options in Airlie Beach for under 100 per night. Magnums Airlie Beach has a double bed room, with shared bathroom for $70 per night.

For mid-range prices, the options are endless at both Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach. Palm Bungalows on Hamilton Island or Now Coral Sea Resort are just two examples. And of course, if you want more family friendly home rental space, there are so many available options like this one that sleeps 10 on Hamilton Island (Cooinda Gardens 5, Beautiful Apartment on Hamilton Island).

For Luxury check out Qualia on Hamilton Island which is an adults only resort with two outdoor swimming pools and killer views!

How to Get to the Whitsundays

Getting to the Whitsundays is easiest by plane. Driving from Brisbane will take 12 hours and from Cairns it’s 7 hours. However, the good news of a popular tourist spot, is the flights tend to be fairly cheap! You can fly directly to Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island! There are non-stop flights from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne making this an easy to access destination.

Great Barrier Reef Tours from The Whitsundays

Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld

1-Hour Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight

3 Day Whitsundays Sailing and Diving Adventure: Kiana

2 Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

Cairns

Cairns is probably the most popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s where my cousins, sister and I took a day trip of snorkeling to the reef. You will have your pick of options here and you can also add on Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.

Where to Stay in Cairns.

If you’re on a budget, Cairns will have plenty of options. The Village Cairns – Hostel has decent reviews and starts at $38 per night. Or NRMA Cairns Holiday Park has rooms for $54 a night with no ensuite bathroom for $76 a night with a bathroom.

There are plenty of really good mid-range options. Check out the Sea Change Beachfront Apartments. They have great reviews and look absolutely dreamy with prices under $300 per night! Or head further up north to Port Douglas for the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort. A great choice for golfers or those just wanting to relax.

For luxury, Lizard Island Resort delivers! It sits on its very own island and you get here with a scenic charter flight from Cairns. From this stunning luxury, eco resort smack dab in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, you can do a scuba diving tour to popular dive sites or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef by simply stepping off the beach. If you want a luxurious and exclusive experience in the Great Barrier Reef, this is it.

How to Get to Cairns

Getting to Cairns is easy by plane and there will be plenty of direct flights available. Unless you are in Australia for months and road tripping the East Coast, driving will not be worth it. Since Cairns is such a popular destination, direct flights in and out of here are plentiful, making it an easy and budget friendly choice. Even flying to Indonesia or Papua New Guinea is easy from here!

Great Barrier Reef Tours from Cairns and Port Douglas

Day Trips from Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

40-Minute Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight from Cairns

Multi-Day Trips from Cairns

5-Day Best of Cairns with Daintree, Kuranda, and Great Barrier Reef

2 Day Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

Port Douglas Tours

ABC Snorkel Charters Port Douglas Snorkeling max 12 passengers

Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

LiveAboards

If you are interested in SCUBA diving and are good with staying on a boat, then consider LiveAboards. There are options that are shorter and more budget friendly or some that head out further on the reef.

If you are not certified, then consider doing so while in Cairns! What better place to learn that the Great Barrier Reef. It’s important to note, that you cannot fly or experience high elevation for 24 hours after your last dive! You will learn that in the course, but it’s worth noting as you will need to plan for an extra day once the course is complete.

4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course – Learn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef