Best value · lowest cost per reef hourBest value per reef hourReef & Indigenous culture day
Cairns · 9 h · ★ 4.71 (899)5h
5 h in the water≈ A$46 per hour on the reef
From · per personA$230≈US$158 · per personCheck dates
Prices · 78 tours compared
Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price
Most people pay A$230–330 per person for a full day on the outer reef. Below: what you get at each price, and why one tour costs more than another. Here’s what you get at each price.
Island dayfromA$108Green Island, Fitzroy, Low Isles
Half-day outer reeffromA$1791.5–2 h in the water
Full-day outer reefA$217–A$394most A$230–329
Best value · lowest cost per reef hourBest value per reef hourThe short answer
A great barrier reef snorkel tour costs A$108–565 per person for a day trip. Most people book a full outer reef day for A$230–329; a half-day from A$179 and an island day from A$108 cost less, but you get less time on the reef for each dollar.A day trip costs A$108–565 per person. Most people book a full outer reef day for A$230–329; half-days start at A$179, island days at A$108.
Check dates and live prices ↓Source · GetYourGuide “from” prices for 78 tours · checked Oct 2026Key takeaways
- 1
Day trips cost A$108–565 per person; most full outer reef days are A$230–329.
- 2
Cheapest: island days from A$108. Cheapest outer reef from Cairns: A$230.
- 3
Price follows time on the reef: half-days give 1.5–2 h in the water, full days 4–6 h.
- 4
Same boat with a 10-minute scenic flight adds A$165.
- 5
Lunch, lycra suits and the reef tax are usually included; dives and transfers often aren’t.
What you get
What You Get at Each Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price
Four price levels. Each one buys a different kind of day — not just a nicer boat.
Under A$200Island day or half-day
1.5–2 hin the water on a half-daySnacksnot lunch
- Short ride — about 45 min to Green Island
- Snorkel off the beach, or 1.5–2 h at the outer reef on a half-day
- Snorkel gear included; snacks rather than lunch on half-days
Good for: A tight budget, young kids or only half a day free
A$230–290Standard outer reef day
4–6 hat the reef, 2 sitesLunchincluded
- 60–90 min by boat each way to the outer reef
- 4–6 h at the reef, usually 2 sites
- Lunch, snorkel gear and a lycra suit included
Good for: Most first-timers — this is what most people book
A$290–340More sites, a pontoon or Port Douglas
≈5 hat the reef, up to 3 sitesLunchincluded
- 3 reef sites in a day, or a pontoon with steps into calm water
- Agincourt Reef from Port Douglas, or the outer reef from Airlie Beach
- Same inclusions as a standard day, often a bigger lunch
Good for: More variety, non-swimmers in the group, or you’re staying in Port Douglas
A$375 and upScenic flight or a night on the reef
+ flightor 2–3 days on the reefLunchincluded
- A helicopter or seaplane view of the reef (A$409–565)
- Or 2–3 days on a reef boat with more time in the water (A$375–730)
- Usually small groups
Good for: A special occasion, or keen snorkellers and divers
Source · GetYourGuide “from” prices per person and each tour’s description · Oct 2026
Why prices differ
What Pushes a Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price Up
Six things that move the price — each with two real tours side by side.
01Island or outer reefThe outer reef is 60–90 min away by boat; Green Island is about 45 min, with snorkelling off the beach.
02Half day or full dayA half-day costs less, but gives 1.5–2 h in the water instead of 4–6 h.
03Number of reef sitesTwo sites is standard. A third site adds variety, not more hours.
04PontoonA floating platform moored at the reef: steps into calm water, a glass-bottom boat — easier for non-swimmers.
05Where you leave fromPort Douglas boats go to Agincourt Reef; there are fewer of them and prices start higher than in Cairns.
06A scenic flightSame boat, same reef — plus a 10-minute flight over it.
Small group isn’t always dearer: the Small-group reef day from Cairns is A$233 — less than most big-boat days.
Source · GetYourGuide “from” prices per person · Oct 2026
Cairns · AUD
All 46 Cairns tours Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price from Cairns
Cairns has the most tours and the widest spread — from an A$108 island ferry to a A$730 night on the reef.
Kind of dayPrice, per personCheapestTime on the reef
Island day10 tours
A$108 – A$289
10 tours · cheapest Fitzroy Island ferry day · A$108
island day island day Check dates
island day island day Check dates
Half-day outer reef3 tours
A$179 – A$195
3 tours · cheapest Half-day reef snorkel · A$179
1.5 h guided snorkel 1.5 h guided snorkel Check dates
1.5 h guided snorkel 1.5 h guided snorkel Check dates
Full-day outer reef12 tours
A$230 – A$325
12 tours · cheapest Reef & Indigenous culture day · A$230
5 h in the water 5 h in the water Check dates
5 h in the water 5 h in the water Check dates
Pontoon day4 tours
A$284 – A$312
4 tours · cheapest Moore Reef pontoon day · A$284
3 h at Moore Reef 3 h at Moore Reef Check dates
3 h at Moore Reef 3 h at Moore Reef Check dates
With a scenic flight4 tours
A$409 – A$516
4 tours · cheapest Snorkel + scenic flight · A$409
not stated not stated Check dates
not stated not stated Check dates
Overnight4 tours
A$375 – A$730
4 tours · cheapest 2-day reef & Fitzroy Island · A$375
2 days 2 days Check dates
2 days 2 days Check dates
Prices in Australian dollars (AUD), per person · 37 curated Cairns tours (4.0★+, 20+ reviews) · Source · GetYourGuide · Oct 2026
Other towns
Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price from Port Douglas, Airlie Beach and Other Towns
46 toursCairns46 toursfromA$108Outer reef:Outer reef: A$230–325 full outer reef dayMost choice, cheapest island daysCairns prices →
11 toursPort Douglas11 toursfromA$190Outer reef:Outer reef: A$319–329 to Agincourt ReefOuter reef closer to shore; Low Isles from A$190Port Douglas prices →
12 toursAirlie Beach12 toursfromA$239Outer reef:Outer reef: A$329–333 to the outer reefMost days mix Whitehaven Beach with fringing-reef snorkellingAirlie Beach prices →Cape Tribulation1 tour · Mackay Reef, 25-min ridefromA$217Southern reef4 tours · Great Keppel, Lady MusgravefromA$175Magnetic Island4 tours · Reef days from TownsvillefromA$189
Source · GetYourGuide “from” prices · Oct 2026
Included
What a Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price Includes
Usually in the price
- Snorkel gear and flotation
- Lycra or stinger suit (Nov–May)
- Lunch on full days
- A guided snorkel or reef talk
- Reef tax A$8.50 — on most tickets
+Often extra
- Intro or certified dive
- Hotel transfers
- Wetsuit or prescription mask hire
- Photos or camera hire
- Bar drinks
Every tour lists this under “Includes” on its page — eachEach of our tour reviews splits itthe “Includes” list into what’s in the ticket and what costs extra.
Source · GetYourGuide “Includes” for the six tours we review, GBRMPA (reef tax) · Oct 2026
Cheapest
The Cheapest Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price That’s Still Worth It
The lowest price in each kind of day among well-reviewed tours.
CHEAPEST REEF DAYFitzroy Island ferry day
Cairns · 10 h · island fringing reef, not the outer reef★ 4.71 (151)not stated
Island daysnorkel off the beach
From · per personA$108≈US$75 · per personCheck dates
CHEAPEST OUTER REEF FROM CAIRNSReef & Indigenous culture day
Cairns · 9 h · 2 sites with Indigenous rangers★ 4.71 (899)5h
5 h in the waterof a 9 h day
From · per personA$230≈US$158 · per personCheck dates
CHEAPEST GUIDED HALF-DAYHalf-day reef snorkel
Cairns · 4 h · max 27 guests★ 4.71 (2,009)1.5h
1.5 h guided snorkelof a 4 h trip
From · per personA$179≈US$124 · per personCheck dates
Source · GetYourGuide · Oct 2026 · rating 4.0★+ with 100+ reviews
FAQ
Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour Price FAQ
How much is a great barrier reef snorkel tour?
Day trips on GetYourGuide cost A$108–565 per person. Most full-day outer reef trips are A$230–329; half-days start at A$179 and island days at A$108.
How much does a great barrier reef snorkel tour cost from Cairns?
Island days from A$108, half-days A$179–195, full outer reef days A$230–325, pontoon days A$284–311.99 and days with a scenic flight from A$409.
What is the cheapest way to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef?
An island day — the Fitzroy Island ferry from A$108 or Green Island from A$110 — where you snorkel the fringing reef off the beach. The cheapest outer reef day is A$217 from Cape Tribulation, or A$230 from Cairns.
Is the reef tax included in the price?
The Environmental Management Charge is A$8.50 for a full day. Most operators include it in the ticket; the tour’s “Includes” list says which.
Are the prices per person?
Yes — these are the “from” prices per adult that GetYourGuide shows for each tour. The option you pick and the date can change it; the availability widget shows the exact price.
Why do outer reef days cost so differently?
Mostly time at the reef, the number of sites, a pontoon, and where you leave from. Two Cairns days with 5 h at the reef cost A$255 (2 reefs) and A$308 (3 sites).
Is a scenic flight worth the extra money?
On the same Superyacht day, adding a 10-minute scenic flight takes the price from A$255 to A$420 — A$165 for the view of the reef from the air.
Are prices in Australian or US dollars?
Tours are sold in Australian dollars. US dollar figures here are A$ × 0.69, rounded — your card may use a slightly different rate.
Live prices