This family-friendly day out on the water offers two special tours, including visits to Whitehaven Beach and incredible snorkeling opportunities on the fringing coral reefs of the Whitsundays. If you’re considering going on a snorkeling tour of the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. Most tours will take you to the inner fringing reefs.
A full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise from Airlie Beach takes you to select moorings around Bait Reef, the closest of the outer reef locations. Depart from Airlie Beach on a comfortable catamaran and cruise past the Whitsundays with breathtaking views of the islands and tropical surroundings. Airlie Beach has daily snorkeling tours that depart daily, whether you’re here over a weekend or having a mid-week getaway.
Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket-list experience for many travelers, and there’s no better place to start than the inner fringing reefs located. Snorkel locations can include Luncheon Bay, Caves Cove, Blue Pearl Bay, and more. The price for this tour is $474, departing from Abell Point Marina, Airlie Beach.
The Whitsundays, the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, are known for its islands and sailing tours. Snorkeling and diving in the Whitsundays are great during low tide, with average visibility but no worse than what can be seen off the shore. Our snorkel tours are ideal for both first-time snorkelers and experienced snorkelers who want to learn more about what they’re looking at out on the reef.
📹 Exposing the Downsides of a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure from Airlie Beach
Hi Travellers and welcome to this weeks addition exposing the Downsides of a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure from Airlie …
Can you go snorkelling in Airlie Beach?
What can I expect on the snorkeling tour?. If you’re considering going on a snorkeling tour of the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach, you’re in for a really unforgettable experience. Most tours will take you to the inner fringing reefs, which are located just a short boat ride from the shore. Here’s what you can expect on your snorkeling tour:
A spectacular array of marine species calls the Great Barrier Reef’s inner bordering reefs home, making it one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Some of the species you’re likely to encounter include:
- Colorful fish: The reef is teeming with fish of all shapes and sizes, from tiny neon gobies to large, impressive humphead wrasses. Look out for schools of dazzling blue-green chromis, or the bright orange and white clownfish made famous by the movie Finding Nemo.
- Turtles: The loggerhead and green sea turtles are only two of the sea turtle species that call the Great Barrier Reef home. these gentle creatures can often be seen swimming slowly through the water or resting on the reef.
- Rays: Stingrays and eagle rays are a common sight on the Great Barrier Reef, gliding gracefully through the water with their distinctive wings.
Is it better to go to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or Airlie Beach?
The Whitsundays’ best coral reefs for diving and snorkelling are found on their outer reef systems, which are 105km from the Airlie Beach mainland. In comparison, Cairns’ outer reefs are just 50km from the mainland and are visited by more than 20 dive and snorkel tours daily. Shorter distances equals more reef time!
In Cairns there are more reef operators to cater to the greater demand. Why? Because everyone knows this is the best place to see the coral reefs. However, there will not be crowds and you will not compromise your experience. With over 50 registered dive and snorkel sites off Cairns, the boats disperse across the Coral Sea, taking their guests to different Great Barrier Reef locations. Read on for more information.
Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. The Cairns region is home to two World Heritage listed sites, the reef and the rainforest. Nowhere else on earth do two such sites exist side by side, making this destination truly a nature’s playground. Invariably, if you have seen documentaries on the Great Barrier Reef (including the BBC one released in 2012), the footage was taken on sections of the Great Barrier Reef visited by Cairns operators.
Are there turtles in Airlie Beach?
Join us for one of Airlie Beach’s most unique tours cruising the sea, meeting the local wildlife turtles and more. Take a cruise aboard our premium electric boat ‘Tallulah’ for an experience to remember. Join us for one of Airlie Beach’s most unique tours cruising the sea, meeting the local wildlife turtles and more.
Do whales go to Airlie Beach?
The Whitsunday Islands are known as a whale watching hot spot. Whales choose the warm calm, protected waters around Airlie Beach and the islands of the Whitsundays to give birth to their young each year. It’s not uncommon to see a brand new whale calf taking its first breaths and being taught how to swim by its mother.
Humpback whales are a common sighting in the Whitsundays, and sometimes pilot whales too. The Whitsundays has been known as a spot where Migaloo the white whale has been spotted on numerous occasions, and Chalkie the white whale was born here as well.
A whale is not a fish, it is a mammal. It breathes air.
Can you access the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach?
This is a convenient way to visit the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach without having to travel too far. You’ll also have time to visit the other highlights of the area, including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and a number of other islands with beaches and bushwalks.
Is The Great Barrier Reef Better In Cairns Or The Whitsundays?. Though you can visit the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach and Cairns, it is an easier day trip from Cairns. Most travellers visit Cairns for their trips to the reef because this fabulous city has a much shorter travel time to the reef than Airlie Beach. It’s only about an hour from Cairns to the Outer Reef, and there are an abundance of tour boats that depart daily.
The difference is that Airlie Beach’s Whitsunday Islands are a huge attraction as well, with sights like Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island drawing in travellers from all over the world. So when you book a tour from Airlie Beach, you can combine world-class tropical island views and activities with some snorkelling in the fringing reefs.Many Whitsunday Islands are within a one-hour boat ride from Airlie Beach, so you can still cut down on travel time.
What is the best month to visit Airlie Beach?
Clear skies, comfortable temperatures, no stingers and fewer crowds mean that September, October and November are the absolute ideal months to visit Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.
If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit the Whitsunday beautifulregion, you’ve come to the right place. Wings Sailing are the leading experts in all things Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Islands to explore the beautiful region like a local. Operating and providing adventure and holidaytours across the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef and AirlieBeach. With20 plus years experience travelling this luxuriously beautiful part of Queensland meansthat we are well acquainted with the best time to visit the Whitsundays and what you can expect fromeach season.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Whitsunday Region?. The Whitsundays is a North Queensland Paradise, just off Australia’s east coast. Thesubtropical weather of the Whitsundays means that many months of the year provide exceptionalweather to go swimming, hiking, sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving in tropical warm waters.
An essential element to consider when deciding the best time to visit the Whitsundays isthe weather. Located on the same tropical latitude as Honolulu and Mauritius, the Whitsunday region experiences comparable heat and offers that an equivalent never-ending-summer feel. TheWhitsundays has an average daily temperate of 27.5 degrees; featuring a pleasant watertemperature of 25 degrees throughout majority of the year.
Why is Airlie Beach so popular?
What Are The Best Tours From Airlie Beach?. Airlie Beach is known for its abundance of tours that transport travelers out to the Great Barrier Reef and the picturesque islands of the Whitsundays. If you’ve always dreamed of scuba diving amongst colorful coral reefs and exotic marine life, a Great Barrier Reef tour is the way to go. Or if you’re more interested in sipping cocktails by the pool and lounging on white-sand beaches, maybe a day trip to Hamilton Island is for you! Or if you’re after those jaw-dropping Instagram shots, a trip to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet lookout should be in your Airlie Beach itinerary.
There are so many amazing tours you can book from Airlie Beach. From helicopter tours over the famous Heart Reef, to fun multi-day sailing tours for backpackers, to reef tours where you can actually sleep out on the ocean, your options are endless. To help you narrow it down, here is a quick overview of the best tours from Airlie Beach.
Day Tours. Day trips are quick and affordable ways to see the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef from Airlie Beach. One of the most popular options is a day trip to Whitehaven Beach! See the sparkling, white silica sand, swim in the swirling turquoise waters, and soak in the views from Hill Inlet Lookout. Whitehaven Beach is a must-do in the Whitsundays, and day tours like Whitsunday Bullet, Camira, Ocean Rafting, and Thundercat are local favorites.
Where is best for snorkelling?
9 Best Places to Snorkel in the WorldBaa Atoll, Maldives. Why it’s special: Swim with manta rays, whale sharks and sea turtles in a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. … Maui, Hawaii. … Koh Tao, Thailand. … Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. … Great Barrier Reef, Australia. … Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia. … Bora Bora, French Polynesia. … Punta Mita, Mexico.
There are few better ways to escape the daily grind than by snorkelling – effortlessly floating through tranquil waters, a kaleidoscope of vibrant fish and mesmerising sea creatures all around.
With up to 80 percent of all earthly life located in the seas, there’s no shortage of remarkable creatures to encounter. And memorable aquatic adventures can be had near shore with a mask, fins and snorkel. Snorkellers can experience the intense natural beauty of the underwater world without heavy equipment or time-consuming certification – which means no matter what your level of experience, the ocean’s beauty is within reach.
To help you make plans to swim with sea turtles or mingle with manta rays, we reveal our top nine places to snorkel in the world.
Are there dolphins at Airlie Beach?
The most common dolphins to be seen all year round in the Whitsundays is the easily recognizable Bottle nose Dolphin. These intelligent animals are playful, family oriented animals that never fail to delight the young and old alike. At night you can even witness feeding as dolphins have a sweet tooth for squid and its quite common to see mother and baby feeding around your boat where the food is lit up by the boats lights. Although it is unlikely to see one jump through a hoop while balancing a beach ball on his nose!
The Bottle nose Dolphin is dark grey at the top near the dorsal fin to a very light gray and almost white at the underside, making it hard to see both from above and below when swimming.
The Bottlenose Dolphin is commonly known for its friendly character and curiosity towards humans. It is not unheard of for a dolphin to come up and investigate divers in the water.
Can tourists swim in the Great Barrier Reef?
A: It is safe to swim all year round in Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsvilleand the Great Barrier Reef but it is highly recommended that you wear a lycra suit when entering the water in the warmer months of November-April.
We also recommend you put on sun screen when you go to the beach and mosquito repellent and long socks when you go into the Daintree Rainforest and other nature walks and outback bushland tours in Australia. It’s all about being prepared for “Mother Natures” elements at varying times of the year.
These lovely full body lycra suits are provided on every Great Barrier Reef tour that visitsthe islandsand local reefs. The lycra suits are to protectboth physically and mentally and to give you the confidenceof protection so you can really enjoy yourself in the reef environment. Some Great Barrier Reef boat tour operators charge around $7.00 to hire the suit so they can cover their cleaning and maintenance costs.
Are there stingers at Airlie Beach?
The chances of being stung by a marine stinger in the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach are scarce, with hundreds of thousands of people entering the waters each year with few incidents. Nonetheless, taking preventive measures allows locals and visitors to enjoy the water at all times of the year. Following the necessary safety precautions and being aware of the conditions, visitors can have a safe and enjoyable experience in the Whitsundays during the Stinger Season.
Chances of Being Stung in the Whitsundays. Being stung during the Whitsundays stinger season is rare most years, with hundreds of thousands of people entering the waters every year and few incidents.
Preventive measures such as wearing a stinger suit and carrying vinegar can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Is it safe to swim in the ocean at Airlie Beach?
Can I swim at Airlie Beach? If you’re planning a trip to Airlie Beach, you might be wondering if it’s safe to swim. The short answer is yes — but only if you’re aware of the risks, follow local advice and observe warning signs.
One of the most popular swimming spots is the Airlie Beach Lagoon on the oceanfront. This large swimming pool is filled with chlorinated saltwater and is patrolled by lifeguards. There are designated swimming lanes, shallow areas to relax and a children’s pool. There are also grassy picnic areas, barbeques and changing room facilities (all free to use).
You can also swim at Boathaven Beach near the Port of Airlie Marina and Canonvale Beach, which is 3km west of the town. Currently, lifeguards don’t patrol these beaches, but there are stinger nets to protect you from jellyfish. It’s recommended to swim only in the designated areas to stay safe.
Stinger season is from November to May, when large populations of box and Irukandji jellyfish arrive with the warmer weather. Getting stung by one of these guys can be extremely painful or even deadly. The local council created the Airlie Beach Lagoon for this reason – it’s free from stingers and is the safest place to swim.
📹 GREAT BARRIER REEF: How to Get to GREAT BARRIER REEF from Airlie Beach & Hamilton Island Hill Inlet
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching …
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This has been my experience too. The best snorkeling I have done is on fringing reefs. I can recommend Magnetic Island from Townsville. Jump on the island bus to Arthur bay. It’s so easy and protected. If you stay a few days you can go to the snorkel trails at Nellie and Geoffrey bays and snorkel at Florence just around from Arthur. I rate Great Keppel – you need to walk about 30 mins to the reef. Another good place is just off the mainland at Bowen-Rose Bay is my favourite. Go on a low tide. Bowen also has Horseshoe and Murray Bays. Now you won’t get the iridescent purples and pinks of some outer reefs but the healthy coral is typically brown and green. All the places I’ve mentioned have giant clams, plating and staghorn corals and great sealife in terms of turtles,fish and reef sharks. I honestly can’t see myself bothering with another outer reef trip. I also liked the day trip to lady Musgrave although sea sickness tablets are recommended. Heron and lady Elliott islands if you want to stay at least 4 days are also amazing. Around the headland at Bowen or around lady Elliot, Heron island and even great Keppel islands you will have snorkel spots even if the wind ruins one of them. For instance, at Great Keppel Island Monkey beach was being battered by wind but shelving beach (a bit closer to where you arrive/depart from) is slightly more orientated to the west and was totally calm and clear. The winds were 35km/hr. Not to mention as foot traffic it costs in the vicinity of $40-55 return boat trip to Keppel and Magnetic island.
I did this a few years ago when I was working on Hamilton Island it was good, but a long time on the boat heading to the reef. I did the helicopter tour to the heart reef which was extra but an awesome reef to see! It was a windy day in the 2nd half of the trip and there was a heap of passengers sea sick, which made the trip home interesting haha
Thanks for the great article, Chris! Wow, 3 hours (!) on the ocean each way? That sounds tedious. We are currently staying in Port Douglas and did a snorkel tour to the Agincourt Reef, which was a 90-minute boat ride each way, and we thought that was long! The reef was amazing, however. I’m used to snorkeling in Hawaii, where you just park the car and walk into the water from the shore, which is a lot easier, but the corals aren’t as healthy as we saw on the Agincourt reef.
Call me clueless!! I’ve snorkeled on Maui, Cozumel, Florida Keys but had no idea Great Barrier Reef boat tours go to a stationary pontoon? Is this the norm for all tour boats in the area? Great article! First time seeing your YouTube website, If I’m going all the way to Australia and the GBR… I’m booking a snorkeling excursion regardless of possible drawbacks. 😁
I went with Fantasea cruises back in 2002and they took us out to the outer reef with really bad weather and they wouldn’t refund my money . We were warned by the employees of the accomodation we stayed at not to go with them because they are bad operators . I wish they told us why ? I returned to the Whitsundays and saw some lovely coral there .
We went today. The weather was bad, although we didn’t see anyone throw up, but the waves made snorkeling with the kids impossible. The Reef near the pontoon wasn’t very colourful and we saw no turtles or large fish. I’m a good swimmer so was out there for over an hour. After dealing with the kids, getting changed both ends and eating something, had no extra time to wander the pontoon. The submersible was a waste of time, through the glass all the Coral looked white and we saw no fish.