How to See the Great Barrier Reef on a Budget

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, your trip budget can be swallowed up fast!  Let’s dive into how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget!

Planning a trip to Australia can feel intimidating! When considering the Great Barrier Reef, we’ll review gateway cities and areas around them to explore. This way you can decide which area works best for you and stretches your budget well!

I will provide prices, but please note that prices will change depending on days of the week or time of the year. Also, I provide a luxury option per location, because you may want to splurge for a night or two, or maybe you’ll just win the lottery!

While it’s been some years since I visited the Great Barrier Reef, my sister lives in Australia and is exploring it now with her family. Some of the photos in this post she sent me are from their travels in Port Douglas, Cairns and the surrounding area as well as the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach.

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Overview of the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most iconic natural wonders on Earth, stretching over 1,400 miles along the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest coral reef system in the world at approximately 133,000 square miles, it is visible from space and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the name suggest, this is a barrier reef, not a fringe reef like you will find in Fiji. Barrier reefs are not accessible right off the beach. Rather they run parallel to shore separated by a large lagoon. In order to see the Great Barrier Reef, you will need to get on a boat or plane.

As we are discussing how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget, it’s worth noting that tours will need to be added to your itinerary at an extra cost. We will review some of the Australian cities that offer tours or ferries, so keep this in mind because they are compulsory to actually see the reef.

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.

Wet season from November to April may impact the water visibility, but the Great Barrier Reef is a year round destination. Another thing to consider are Australian school holidays if you want to avoid extra crowds.

Temperature Ranges

The Great Barrier Reef stretches north from Bundaberg. Cairns is the most common place in north Queensland to visit the Great Barrier Reef, but the Whitsundays are a popular spot for Whitehaven Beach and it also offers the Great Barrier Reef.

Summary of Average Temperatures:

Season	Cairns High (°F)	Cairns Low (°F)	Whitsundays High (°F)	Whitsundays Low (°F)
Summer	88°F – 91°F	72°F – 75°F	82°F – 86°F	72°F – 75°F
Autumn	84°F – 88°F	70°F – 74°F	77°F – 82°F	64°F – 68°F
Winter	74°F – 78°F	59°F – 63°F	70°F – 74°F	55°F – 59°F
Spring	79°F – 84°F	64°F – 70°F	75°F – 79°F	59°F – 64°F

 

Bundaberg | The Southern Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef begins in Bundaberg which is four hours North of Brisbane by car. While this is not a common choice for the Great Barrier Reef, it still offers access! Here you can take day trips to Lady Musgrave Island or drive another hour north to Seventeen Seventy for tours.

There are a few points of interest in this area and since it’s relatively close to Brisbane, you can save some money by driving or taking a bus if you’re solo!

Great Barrier Reef Tours from Bundaberg and Seventeen Seventy

From Bundaberg, there are tours to see the Great Barrier Reef with visits to Lady Musgrave Island.

$160 | From 1770 Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour

$170 | From Bundaberg: Barrier Reef and Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour

Where to Stay in Bundaberg

When figuring out how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget, the accommodations will typically play a key role!

Budget options for under 100 per night are plentiful here, which makes Bundaberg a great budget friendly spot. One of the most budget friendly stays is AAOK Riverdale Caravan Park.

$60+ | AAOK Riverdale Caravan Park

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! If you are a large group, this is very budget friendly!

Sleeps 12 | $400+ | OceanMist Holiday Home – beachfront property

If you are willing to splurge for unique experiences, there are a couple options to consider. For a unique glamping experience, 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!

Another option to consider with more room type options is Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. Both of these experiences require transfers and will need to be factored into your budget! For Lady Elliot there are flights available from Bundaberg for $425 AUD per person.

$700+ | Glamping | Wilson Island

$500+ | Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

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).

Whitsundays | The Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach

A popular vacation spot in Australia 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!

How Long to Stay

Visiting Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island is a great choice if you 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 to give you enough time to relax and see all this area has to offer.

Sailing the Whitsundays

While I have fond memories of sailing, that won’t be for everyone. Sailing can easily be romanticized, 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.

If my dose of reality did not deter you, the experience is one I remember fondly! It wasn’t always comfortable, but for only two nights it was worth it. I still remember being impressed by the night sky as I located the Southern Cross and I’ll never forget playing soccer (my favorite sport) on Whitehaven Beach.

$377 | Airlie Beach: 2-Night Whitsundays Overnight Sailing Trip

$381 | 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

Where to Stay in the Whitsundays

When considering how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget in this area, you will have the best luck in Airlie Beach. They have plenty of options for under 100 per night. Magnums Airlie Beach has a double bed room, with shared bathroom for $70 per night.

$70+ | Magnums Airlie Beach

For mid-range prices, the options are endless at both Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach. Now Coral Sea Resort is just one example on Hamilton Island.

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).

$250+ | Palm Bungalows on Hamilton Island

$175+ | Now Coral Sea Resort

Sleeps 10 | $550+ | Cooinda Gardens 5, Beautiful Apartment on Hamilton Island

If you wanted to splurge on accommodation, check out Qualia on Hamilton Island which is an adults only resort with two outdoor swimming pools and killer views!

$1,500+ | Qualia on Hamilton Island

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 from most of Australia’s big cities! There are non-stop flights from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne making this an easy to access destination.

Great Barrier Reef Tours from The Whitsundays

Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is possible from many different vantage points since this area has become such a popular destination!

Snorkel | $203 | Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld

Scenic Flight | $190 | 1-Hour Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight

Day Boat Tour | $168 | Airlie Beach: Outer Barrier Reef Snorkeling Day Trip

Multi-Day Tours

Sailing in this area allows you to experience both the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef!

Scuba Diving | $608 | 3 Day Whitsundays Sailing and Diving Adventure: Kiana

Snorkel and Sail | $318 | 2 Night Whitsundays Sailing Cruise incl. Whitehaven Beach & Great Barrier Reef

Attractions Near the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach

Overall, the Whitsundays are quite extensive, so those islands and the Great Barrier Reef are the reason to come here! However, there are a couple sites that mix things up nicely!

$95 | Airlie Beach: Segway Rainforest Discovery Tour

$94 | Airlie Beach: Cedar Creek Falls and Northerlies Beach Day Trip

Townsville | Magnetic Island

Townsville is another popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Similar to Cairns and Airlie Beach, Townsville offers a range of accommodation options making it budget friendly!

Where to Stay in Townsville

Townsville just might offer the most well reviewed budget friendly stays. Consider Beach House Motel which has great reviews, especially for it’s low price point. Another good budget option under $100 with great reviews is Cascade Motel In Townsville.

$70+ | Beach House Motel

$70+ | Cascade Motel In Townsville

The mid-range won’t set you back much either and could still be considered budget friendly! Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville has great reviews with prices starting around $125 per night. Another good one to consider is Quest Townsville on Eyre, which offers studio to three bedroom apartments.

$125+ | Grand Hotel and Apartments Townsville

$130+ | Quest Townsville on Eyre

For Luxury, you have to head a little north to Orpheus Island Lodge. A paradise with return customers suggest it’s worth the price if you feel like a splurge for a night or two.

$1,000+ | Orpheus Island Lodge

Magnetic Island

A short, twenty minute ferry ride away from Townsville is Magnetic Island. You can visit for the day or stay overnight in a hotel. As this island is inhabited, hotel options are plentiful and budget friendly!

This island is perfect if you want to experience the Great Barrier Reef as a fringe reef!

Also, my sister told me you can take your car on the ferry to Magnetic Island as well! However, she warned that some insurance policies don’t allow it, so be sure to check with your insurance and the rental company if in doubt!

$97 | Tropical Palms Resort and 4WD Hire

$100 | Grand Mercure Apartments Magnetic Island

How to Get to Townsville

Flying is the easiest and best option for a trip that’s under a month. It’s reachable by car, but flying is the best option. Since it is a popular destination, you can get nonstop flights from every major Australian city.

Attractions Near Townsville

When considering how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget, Townsville is a top contender.

However, one disadvantage to Townsville is that most of the attractions here revolve around the Great Barrier Reef and the ocean. It has the least amount of variety overall.

Of course, the budget friendly Magnetic Island is a big draw and it’s affordability really adds to the value of exploring the reef here!

$222 | Townsville and Magnetic Island: MOUA and Great Barrier Reef Trip

Cairns and Port Douglas | Most Popular

Cairns (pronounced as Cans) is arguably 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, Mossman Gorge, and the Daintree Rainforest.

This is an easy area to visit if you’re wondering how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget. You’ll find accommodations at all price points, plenty of day tours to the reef, and it’s easy to find direct flights here.

Port Douglas

Head a bit further north of Cairns and you’ll find Port Douglas. This is a quieter option to Cairns and it also offers some nicer accommodations.

There are plenty of tours from here as well. My sister and family were just in Port Douglas to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree, and Mossman Gorge.

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 private rooms. Or NRMA Cairns Holiday Park has rooms cheaper with no ensuite bathroom or a bit more with a bathroom.

$50+ | NRMA Cairns Holiday Park

$60+ | The Village Cairns – Hostel

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.

$200+ Sea Change Beachfront Apartments

$230+ Sea Change Beachfront Apartments

For luxury, Lizard Island Resort over 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.

$1,000+ | Lizard Island Resort

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 like I did, 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

Day Trips from Cairns

$158 | Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

$144 | Cairns: Outer Edges of The Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight

$113 | From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Half-Day Snorkeling Tour

Multi-Day Trips from Cairns

$920 | 5-Day Best of Cairns with Daintree, Kuranda, and Great Barrier Reef

$270 | 2 Day Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

Great Barrier Reef Tours Port Douglas

$144 | Port Douglas: Low Isles Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkeling Tour

$390 | ABC Snorkel Charters Port Douglas Snorkeling max 12 passengers

$200 | Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

Fitzroy Island | Fringing Reef

If you want to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, but don’t want to be on a boat all day, then consider Fitzroy Island. You can take a ferry and once on the island you can enjoy the Great Barrier Reef as a fringing reef! Simply step off the beach into the water and you’ll be exploring the reef.

There are restaurants, tours, and Fitzroy Island Resort if you wanted stay overnight on the island as well. The round trip ferry ride costs $99 AUD, and you can add on tours such as a glass bottom boat tour ($119 AUD) or a snorkel tour ($169 AUD).

$110+ | Fitzroy Island Resort

Other Popular Attractions Near Cairns and Port Douglas

Of course, if you’re on a budget you want to get bang for your buck! Head to Cairns if you want to see the Daintree Rainforest, fancy a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway (my sister’s photos of this look amazing), or want to explore Cape Tribulation.

From Cairns

$185 | Cairns: Best of the Kuranda Rainforest Full-Day Tour and Lunch

$144 | From Cairns: Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation 4WD Tour

From Port Douglas

$132 | From Port Douglas: Kuranda Tour with Skyrail and Scenic Train

$144 | Port Douglas: Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Tour

LiveAboards | Scuba Diving Trips

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 than 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

Camping

When wondering how to see the Great Barrier Reef on a budget, camping may have come to mind. There are plenty of places to camp if you prefer that option!

There are islands sprinkled throughout the Great Barrier Reef, so the options are plentiful. The Whitsundays themselves have multiple options or you can camp at Lady Musgrave Island down near Bundaberg.

You will need a camping permit and if you don’t take your own gear, you’ll need to rent that as well! Some campsites you’ll need to be completely self sufficient so be sure to keep that in mind!

Feature	Cairns	Townsville	Whitsundays	Bundaberg
Reef Access	Easy, variety of tours, most common city for the reef	Reef access via day trips and Magnetic Island	Great reef and beach combo	Tours to Lady Musgrave Island and surrounding area
Accommodation Cost	Budget to luxury, diverse options	Budget-friendly stays, even on Magnetic Island	Affordable in Airlie, higher on the island	Budget-friendly options
Nearby Attractions	Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Kuranda Scenic Railway	Magnetic Island, Castle Hill	Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef, rainforest	Bundaberg Rum, Turtle Conservation, K’gari Island
Tour Options	Snorkeling, diving, scenic flights, glass bottom boats, Liveaboards	Magnetic Island snorkeling, diving, reef cruises	Sailing, snorkeling, diving	Reef tours, turtle watching, distillery tours
Best For	Anyone from budget travelers, families, adventurers, and luxury	Budget travelers, those looking for a more laid-back experience	Luxury, beach lovers, sailing enthusiasts, and budget travelers	Budget-conscious travelers seeking quiet, relaxed experiences
Flight Access	Easy, direct flights from major cities	Direct flights from major cities	Direct flights from major cities	Flight access, but easy drive from Brisbane