Cairns Overnight Reef Tours - Everything You Need To Know!

Cairns Overnight Reef Tours Sleep on the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns overnight reef tours let you sleep on the Great Barrier Reef. This maximises your time and experience. There are overnight options available for all types of travellers including families, couples, friends travelling together and those exploring on their own. You can stay on board a boat or choose a tropical island destination. Trip duration starts from 2 days / 1 night to extended stays, with tours suitable for non-swimmers, snorkellers and certified divers. We’ll dive into the details below and are pleased to provide our personal recommendations for the best Cairns overnight reef tours.

Get a free underwater camera rental when you book tours departing Cairns through us valued at over $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro underwater camera to use for the duration of your tours. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Get in touch with us to claim this deal today.

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Overnight Reef Tours Staying On A Boat

There are 3 overnight tours where you can sleep on the Great Barrier Reef, from Cairns. All these tours are suitable for snorkellers, certified divers and those wanting to try an introductory dive (no experience necessary). The most expensive is OceanQuest which takes a maximum of 48 passengers, staying in twin and double cabins which are all air-conditioned and have private ensuite with shower and toilet. Coral Sea Dreaming is next and takes a maximum of 12 guests on a 16m sailing boat. Guests stay in cabins with 1 bunk and shared bathroom facilities. Finally, there’s Rum Runner which is your budget option. It takes a maximum of 16 guests, all accommodated in bunks with shared bathroom facilities. They describe their boat as being ‘the equivalent of a multi-share hostel, just on water’. All these operators visit multiple sites on Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef during your overnight tour. Accommodation and meals are included in the tour price. Check availability below. If you can’t decide, get in touch with us for personalised advice.

OceanQuest Cairns Liveaboard

From 1 night to 4 nights. Twin, double & quad share cabins. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels. Daily departures.

2 Days / 1 Night · From $730 pp Departs 7:30 am

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Coral Sea Dreaming Cairns Liveaboard

Overnight Cairns Great Barrier Reef tour. Double and quad share cabins & bunk. Suitable for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels.

2 Days / 1 Night · From $669 pp Departs 8:00 am

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Rum Runner Overnight Reef Trip

Rum Runner has the cheapest overnight Cairns reef tours. Suits snorkelers and divers chasing good reef, compromising on boat luxuries.

2 Days / 1 Night · From $440 pp Departs 7:00 am

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You Don’t Have To Be A Diver To Stay Overnight On The Reef

The liveaboard boats featured on this page all visit Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef, which is the same destination as the day boats, but you stay longer and see more. OceanQuest, Coral Sea Dreaming and Rum Runner cater to snorkellers and divers, with sites chosen to suit the needs of all guests. Fitzroy Island is suitable for everyone. You have unlimited water time and can snorkel off the beach or book a guided snorkel tour. You can also enjoy the resort facilities and swimming pool. By choosing an overnight reef tour over a day tour, you’ll have significantly more time in the water and get to enjoy sunrise and sunset over the Coral Sea, which is amazing. You’ll also have the chance to visit more reef sites, extending your exploration of the Great Barrier Reef.

What Is It Like Staying Overnight On The Great Barrier Reef?

Staying overnight on the Great Barrier Reef is fabulous. It turns a hectic day tour into a more relaxed pace, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy all that’s around you. Sunset at sea or on an island is awesome, watching the colours change as night descends. At sea there’s no light pollution, so the stars overhead are amazing. Sleeping on OceanQuest is similar to sleeping in a hotel, with shared rooms. Confines are a little bit closer with less privacy and comfort on Coral Sea Dreaming and Rum Runner. If you choose Fitzroy Island as your overnight destination, you are staying at the resort. Waking up and having the entire day dedicated to the Great Barrier Reef, a big win with early morning water sessions allowing you to see some different marine life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you sleep on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

Yes, you can sleep on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. There are a few different liveaboard boat options, catering to different budgets. If staying on a boat doesn’t sound amazing to you, then pick Fitzroy Island for your overnight option. Stay 1 night or more.

What is the best overnight reef tour from Cairns?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this. As above, there’s 3 boats that provide overnight reef tours from Cairns and/or you can stay at Fitzroy Island. They key is to pick the best option to suit your interests, travelling party and budget. We can help you decide, contact us for personalised advice.

Can non-divers stay on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard boat?

Yes, non-divers can stay on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard boat. OceanQuest, Coral Sea Dreaming and Rum Runner are all suitable for snorkellers. Pro Dive Cairns is more a dive boat and the other boats that head north are not suitable for snorkellers.

Is an overnight reef tour, better than 2 day tours?

Absolutely yes, an overnight reef tour is better than 2 day tours. By staying overnight you are giving yourself the time and place to enjoy sunrise and sunset at sea, visit multiple Great Barrier Reef sites, all at a relaxed pace.

Are overnight Great Barrier Reef tours suitable for children?

Short answer is yes. Overnight Great Barrier Reef tours are suitable for children. There was one operator that was very family friendly, providing port-a-cots and high chairs for babies and infants; unfortunately they are no longer running. We have taken our son on OceanQuest for overnight tours and also stayed at Fitzroy Island many times. Important to note that none of the liveaboard boats have child pricing, so you will be paying full fare for your child. If you are picking a liveaboard overnight option on a boat, we highly recommend that your child/ren are comfortable at swimming in the open ocean where waves and current may be present. If you have younger children, then the island will be a better choice for you.

Do overnight reef boats have private cabins?

Some overnight reef boats have private cabins. OceanQuest has 18 twin cabins, 4 double cabins and 1 quad share room, all of which have private ensuites. Coral Sea Dreaming has 3 double cabins and 1 quad share cabin, plus a set of bunks which are not in a room. Cabins are allocated on first in best dressed basis. Rum Runner has an open-plan lower deck interior, which has the accommodation, saloon, galley and bathrooms.

Is a Cairns overnight reef tour, better than a day trip?

Yes, a Cairns overnight reef tour is better than a day trip. The overnight tours are less rushed and provide the opportunity to really optimise your time and experience on the Great Barrier Reef. They are more expensive than day tours, but when you factor in accommodation and meals, they are affordable. If we were visiting Cairns and trying to choose between a day trip or overnight trip, we’d choose overnight every time.

Cairns Overnight Reef Tours What You Need To Know

The first thing you need to know is that we highly recommend Cairns overnight reef tours, as the best way to maximise your Great Barrier Reef experience. These tours are suitable for snorkellers and certified divers, solo travellers, friends travelling together, families and multi-generational family groups. The second thing you need to know is that the liveaboard boats do fill up fast, so it is best to book these as soon as you have your holiday dates confirmed. Finally, if you book through us and your tours are valued at more than $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro underwater camera so you can capture your reef memories forever.

Cairns Overnight Reef Tours Sleep on the Great Barrier Reef

Overnight Reef Tours Staying On A Boat

OceanQuest Cairns Liveaboard

Coral Sea Dreaming Cairns Liveaboard

Rum Runner Overnight Reef Trip

You Don’t Have To Be A Diver To Stay Overnight On The Reef

What Is It Like Staying Overnight On The Great Barrier Reef?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you sleep on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

What is the best overnight reef tour from Cairns?

Can non-divers stay on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard boat?

Is an overnight reef tour, better than 2 day tours?

Are overnight Great Barrier Reef tours suitable for children?

Do overnight reef boats have private cabins?

Is a Cairns overnight reef tour, better than a day trip?

Cairns Overnight Reef Tours What You Need To Know

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