- Telephone
- Email
Reef Daytripper provides Cairns reef tours, visiting Upolu Reef on the Great Barrier Reef. Their vessel is a motor sail catamaran, which takes around 2 hours to get to the reef and provides you with 4.5 hours to swim, snorkel and explore the Great Barrier Reef. Weather permitting, they visit 2 different reef sites each day. All snorkelling equipment and instruction is provided in conjunction with the tour price, as is a guided snorkel tour, tea, coffee and lunch. Reef Daytripper prides itself on being a low numbers Cairns reef tour, taking just 20 guests each day with a crew of 4. The boat provides a comfortable ride to the reef, with sheltered undercover seating, sundeck seating and bow nets for relaxing.
Reef Daytripper also offers guests the opportunity to participate in certified scuba diving, or to try an introductory dive (no experience necessary). This is in addition to the tour price.
Cairns reef tour on a a motor sail catamaran. Up to 4.5 hours at 2 reef sites. Max 20 guests. Snorkel and dive.
Get a free underwater camera rental when you book tours 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.
Reef Daytripper is a locally owned and operated Cairns reef tour, which takes up to 20 guests each day to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel equipment and guided snorkel tours are included in the tour price, with the option to take a certified or introductory dive, during your time at the reef (additional cost). They provide you with around 4.5 hours at Upolu Reef, part of Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkelling on Reef Daytripper is done directly from the boat, with water access provided via two sets of stairs with ladders, located at the back of the boat. The snorkeling at Upolu Reef is great with lots of hard and soft corals and an abundance of marine life. All of your snorkelling equipment is provided and included in the tour price, as is a snorkelling demonstration on the way to the reef, and crew guided snorkel tours.
Please note that Reef Daytripper visits the outer Great Barrier Reef. All snorkelling is conducted in the open ocean, which may have waves or current, pending conditions on your day of travel. As such, this tour is recommended for those people who are confident swimmers with a reasonable level of fitness.
Guests on a Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour can try an introductory dive, with no prior experience necessary. Introductory scuba diving is in addition to the tour price, and the cost covers your diving equipment, instruction and dive guide. The minimum age to participate in an introductory dive is 12 years old. The dive will go no deeper than 12m.
Please note certain health conditions can prevent you from trying scuba diving, this includes but is not limited to: asthma, epilepsy, chronic sinus conditions and ear problems, heart disease and sugar diabetes. It is not advised to try scuba diving if you are pregnant.
The Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour also provides certified diving on Upolu Reef. All diving on Reef Daytripper is guided and in addition to the tour price. The dive cost covers all of your equipment, dive site briefings and dive guide. The friendly crew will provide all dive briefings on the way to the reef. If you are traveling with your dive ‘buddy’, you will be in a group together. If you are not, one will be allocated on the day. All of the Reef Daytripper reef sites are suitable for divers with Open Water certification and above. Water entry is giant stride from the back of the boat.
Please note, you will need to provide evidence of your certification to the Dive Crew. You are also required to complete a safety waiver, prior to dive (and snorkel) activities.
The Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour provides you with around 4.5 hours at the reef, with unlimited snorkelling. Check in is at the motor sail catamaran, which is moored at Cairns’ Marlin Marina, and starts at 7.30am for a 7.45am departure. The boat returns to Cairns in the afternoon, between 4.30pm and 4.45pm. Tea, coffee and lunch are provided and included, as is a glass of wine and cheese and crackers, for the return trip to Cairns. You should take a towel, sunglasses, hat, change of clothes and sunblock for the day, as well as cash or credit cards to make any additional food and beverage purchases.
Check in at the Reef Daytripper motor sail catamaran, which is moored at Cairns’ Marlin Marina. Tea and coffee are provided and included. The crew will issue you with any relevant dive and snorkel paperwork.
Reef Daytripper departs Cairns for Upolu Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef. During the just over 2 hour transfer, the crew will provide all relevant safety and equipment demonstrations, including the introductory dive briefing and certified dive briefing (for those participating in these optional extra activities). There is also plenty of time to just relax and enjoy the ride.
Arrive at Upolu Reef. Reef activities commence. You can enjoy unlimited snorkelling and guided snorkel tours. The optional extra activities are the introductory and certified scuba diving, with times advised for these. Lunch is provided on the boat and includes a range of salads, breads and cold meats. Guests are welcome to be in and out of the water as much as they like, during their time at the reef.
Pending conditions on the day, Reef Daytripper may visit 1 or 2 reef sites.
The crew conduct a headcount and once everyone is accounted for, Reef Daytripper commences its return journey to Cairns. Afternoon tea is served, including a complimentary glass of wine and cheese and crackers. Additional beverages and snacks can be purchased on the boat, at additional cost to you.
Reef Daytripper arrives back into Cairns’ Marlin Marina (between 4.30pm and 4.45pm).
The Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour includes.
The Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour visits Upolu Reef, on the Great Barrier Reef, which is around 30km offshore from Cairns. Travel time on their motor sail catamaran is just over 2 hours each way, and they provide around 4.5 hours at the reef.
The snorkelling on Reef Daytripper is pretty good. The coral cover at Upolu Reef is excellent and a combination of hard and soft corals. There is abundant marine life, from reef sharks and rays, to bumphead parrotfish, a range of anemonefish (nemo), butterflyfish, angelfish and more. Snorkelling is done directly from the boat and all equipment is provided and included. You can also join a crew-guided snorkel tour for no additional cost. Please note all of the Reef Daytripper snorkel sites are open water sites, so you should be confident at swimming in the ocean – where waves and currents are sometimes present – and of reasonable fitness.
Yes, you can scuba dive on the Reef Daytripper Cairns reef tour. They provide introductory scuba diving (no prior experience necessary) and certified scuba diving. All scuba diving on Reef Daytripper is in addition to the tour price, and includes your dive equipment, site briefings and dive guide. You can do at least 1 dive, with the possible option for more, pending the tour group on your day of travel. Please note: some health conditions will preclude you from diving, such as asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions, sinus and ear infections and more. Scuba diving while pregnant is not recommended. Certified divers will need to provide proof of certification. All briefings will be provided on the boat, on the way to the reef.
You can do at least 1 dive on the Reef Daytripper Cairns Reef tour, with the possible option for more, pending the passengers and demand, on your day of travel.
The diving at Upolu Reef is excellent. There’s wall diving with an abundance of corals and marine life, awaiting your discovery. All diving is giant stride entry off the back of the boat and Reef Daytripper strives to offer their divers a relaxed dive pace.
No, we don’t think the Reef Daytripper Cairns Reef tour is suitable for non-swimmers. This is a dive / snorkel boat. It does not have a glass bottom boat or semi-submersible, so the only way to ‘see the reef’ on Reef Daytripper is to get in the water and swim / snorkel / dive.
No, Reef Daytripper does not have a glass bottom boat.
It depends on the age of your kids. If your kids are confident swimmers, who can swim and snorkel in the open ocean – when there might be waves and currents from time to time – then yes, the Reef Daytripper Cairns Reef tour is suitable for them. However, if your kids are infants or young children that cannot swim in the open ocean, then you should consider an island or pontoon tour.
Yes, the Reef Daytripper Cairns Reef tour is family friendly, as long as your children are old enough to be able to swim / snorkel in the open ocean. The crew are attentive and helpful to all members of the family. However, if your kids are infants or young children that cannot swim in the open ocean, then you should consider an island or pontoon tour.
Lunch on Reef Daytripper is good. It’s a cold buffet with a range of salads, breads and cold meats. Tea and coffee are provided in the morning, and on the return journey you’ll enjoy a complimentary glass of wine with cheese and crackers. Additional drinks (soft drinks etc) can be purchased at the bar, at additional cost.
© I Love Cairns 2026
