barrier reef tours from brisbane

great barrier reef tour from brisbane

DEPARTING BUNDABERG

Great Barrier Reef Tour from Brisbane

Experience the un-touched Southern Great Barrier Reef with Lady Musgrave Experience

When visiting Queensland, Australia – Brisbane is a destination for the senses to eat, drink, shop, play and stay.   When it comes to escaping the city and the crowds why not head to where the Great Barrier Reef starts – from Bundaberg , just a short 45 minute flight away with Qantas or Link Airways or 4 hour drive or train ride from Brisbane. Either as a holiday from Brisbane or as part of your extended travel plans, don’t miss the best experience on the Great Barrier Reef – Lady Musgrave Experience.

You don’t need to travel 1800 kilometres all the way up to Cairns or take an expensive plane flight to see the Great Barrier Reef from Brisbane. The best part of the Great Barrier Reef, is much closer and easier to access.

Lady Musgrave Experience – the best experience on the Great Barrier Reef departs from Bundaberg every day.   Just a short 45 min flight north of Brisbane and you reach the Southern Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The perfect distance for a few days away with family with friends, discovering a whole new part of Queensland.  

Discover Things to Do and places to stay in Bundaberg here. 

How To Get Here

Travel to Bundaberg

A 45 minute flight or 4 hour drive from Brisbane.

Length of stay

Lady Musgrave Experience departs from Bundaberg Port Marina at 7am and arrives back at the marina at 5pm daily. We recommend staying in Bundaberg accommodation the night before for early departure the next morning.

Accommodation options

Located 10kms from our departure point is Bargara – with an array of beaches, cafes and accommodation options.

Only 4 Hours From Brisbane

The Great Barrier Reef is only a short drive or flight from Brisbane.

Either as part of an extended trip on the Queensland coast or a few days away you must visit Lady Musgrave Island & Lagoon with Lady Musgrave Experience. Bundaberg is your first port of call & gateway to the Great Barrier Reef from Brisbane.

Join us on our luxurious 35 metre Catamaran the Reef Empress, as we take you to the most pristine coral reef and only navigable lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef to our new, world-class pontoon Lady Musgrave HQ.

Lady Musgrave Island, Lagoon and Reef is located just 22 nautical miles north of Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost island on the Great Barrier Reef.  

If you want to be mesmerised by the quality of the Great Barrier Reef then join us in the reef’s only navigable lagoon, swimming with turtles, snorkelling the amazing inner and outer reef coral walls surrounded by endless pristine corals and marine life. Snorkel or dive straight from our three-level pontoon or stay a while longer for a sleep on the reef experience in a Queen Glamping Bed or in our underwater observatory.

Fish species abound with hordes of colourful tropical fish all around you, as you glide across the many pristine reef species of Lady Musgrave Island, Reef & Lagoon.

For those that don’t want to get wet, but still want to discover ‘The Best Experience on the Great Barrier Reef’, it’s absolutely no problem. Our highly trained staff will take you on a guided tour of the lagoon reef in a glass bottom boat and a guided nature walk on Lady Musgrave Island.  

Our glass bottom boats have maximised the glass surface area so you can see plentiful marine life and beautiful coral features from the comfort of your seat on the glass bottom boat. Everything you see is untouched natural features of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Musgrave Lagoon crowds have been well managed over the years, limiting the potential impact of thousands of tourists in other reef destinations.  

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• Sustainability
• Things To Do In Bundaberg
• Accessibility

Great Barrier Reef

• What We Are Doing To Help The Reef
• Nature’s Calendar
• Turtle Season
• The Great 8
• Great Barrier Reef Fish
• Great Barrier Reef – Facts And Figures
• Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour
• Snorkelling
• Scuba Diving
• Whale Watching
• Swim With Turtles
• Glass Bottom Boat
• Guided Island Walks
• Schools and Education
• Junior Reef Keeper Program
• Reef Keeper Program
• Bird Watching

Contact Information

Lady Musgrave Experience acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and seas on which we work, play and live; the Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, and Bailai Peoples. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future; and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

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Great Barrier Reef Tours from Brisbane

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Are you visiting Brisbane and looking to visit the Great Barrier Reef? Then you’ve come to the right place! ReefFree have a selection of Great Barrier Reef tours departing from Brisbane.

• Lady Elliot Island is a beautiful 90 minute scenic flight away from Brisbane. The island is world famous for being the home of the majestic manta rays which you can experience on a snorkeling or glass bottom boat tour.
• Lady Musgrave Island is a coral cay island with a protected lagoon making it ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Spot turtles and manta rays on this island too!
• Moreton Island is not part of the Great Barrier Reef but is the ideal day trip from Brisbane where you can snorkel and kayak around the famous Tangalooma shipwrecks.

Your trip of a lifetime is just a click away. Find, compare and book your Great Barrier Reef tour from Brisbane now!

2 Day/1 Night Sunset Safaris Moreton Island Tour from Brisbane

Snorkel & kayak the stunning Tangalooma Shipwrecks and discover Moreton Island on this two day tour.

Group Size: 50 ppl max

Adults from $ 399

1 Day Sunset Safaris Moreton Island Tour from Brisbane

Visit the iconic Moreton Island, explore and snorkel Tangalooma ship wrecks, participate in exhilarating adventure sports and feast on a… more

Adults from $ 219

3 Day/2 Night Sunset Safaris Lady Musgrave Island Tour from Brisbane

Explore the beautiful Lady Musgrave Island, Swim and See Turtles and See a Crocodile Feeding!

Group Size: 36 ppl max

Adults from $ 639

2 Day/1 Night Lady Elliot Island Package from Brisbane

Enjoy a 2-day/1-night trip to Lady Elliot Island in the Great Barrier Reef, see the reef from above a scenic flight ride, snorkel over… more

Group Size: 13 ppl max

Adults from $ 955

1 Day Lady Elliot Island Tour from Brisbane

Enjoy the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience with a scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island, a glass-bottomed boat tour, a snorkelling… more

Adults from $ 959

3 Day/2 Night Lady Elliot Island Package from Brisbane

Spend 2 nights on this tropical oasis departing from Brisbane!

Adults from $ 1140

5 Day/4 Night Fraser Island and Great Barrier Reef Tour from Brisbane

See the best of the Great Barrier Reef & the best of Fraser in a 5 Day Tour!

Adults from $ 1169

4 Day/3 Night Lady Elliot Island Package from Brisbane

Escape to beautiful Lady Elliot and enjoy 4 days in paradise!

Adults from $ 1325

5 Day/4 Night Lady Elliot Island Package from Brisbane

Escape to beautiful Lady Elliot and enjoy 5 days in paradise!

Adults from $ 1510

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Great Barrier Reef Tours & Vacations

The Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction

It's one of the world's seven natural wonders. It's home to over 1,600 types of fish, 30 species of whale and dolphin, and 215 varieties of birds. And it's  the planet's largest coral reef system . In fact, it's so big that astronauts have seen it from space. After dry land adventures along  Queensland 's  East Coast , hit the water with professional marine biologists to explore this fascinating underwater world. Look out for clownfish peeking out of anemones, inquisitive Maori wrasse gliding below or turtles munching on seagrass.

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Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure

Brisbane to Cairns Adventure

Great Barrier Reef travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

How to get to the Great Barrier Reef

Most of our East Coast trips begin in Sydney,  Cairns  or Brisbane. Some of the most popular launching pads for the Great Barrier Reef are  Airlie Beach , Townsville and  Port Douglas .

These destinations are all serviced by commercial airlines. It's also possible to drive to one of the towns near the Great Barrier Reef and access the wonders of the underwater world on a small group tour.

How do I get around the Great Barrier Reef?

If you plan on visiting the reef on a day trip, try to allow at least two days to visit the Great Barrier Reef. This will give you some flexibility if the weather isn’t good on the day you originally planned to visit the reef. The other option is to join a Whitsunday Islands Explorer tour and spend several days on a live-aboard yacht exploring the Great Barrier Reef. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef get warmer the further north you go.

When is the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef?

There are only two seasons along the reef – the dry season (winter) from May to October and the wet season (summer) from November to April. The temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year with average highs of 86°F and lows of 69.8°F.

May through October is considered to be the best time to experience the reef as rainfall is low and water visibility is high. You may also see whales during their annual migration from the Antarctic.

If you're visiting between October and May, it's advisable to wear a stinger suit to protect yourself from possible jellyfish stings.

What do I pack for the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef tends to be a casual place so you can leave your fancy clothes at home. Even if you're staying at a high-end resort, smart casual clothes are all you will need. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are a must, even in winter, as the sun reflects off the water and white sand. Bring essentials such as basic medications with you won't find any shops when you're out exploring the reef. 

What is the internet access like on the Great Barrier Reef?

In short, pretty much non-existent unless you're near one of the major tourist hubs such as Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays or on the mainland at a town like Airlie Beach.

Is there cell phone coverage on the Great Barrier Reef?

Unless you're near one of the major tourist spots, it's unlikely you will be able to get a cell phone signal. 

Are Intrepid trips accessible for travellers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel widely  accessible , regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

UPDATE - Important Information Coronavirus Travel Update -->

Good News, Lockdown ended. We are accepting bookings for the school holidays.

Currently we are only running Moreton Island Tours

Currently We are only running the Moreton Island Get Wrecked 1 Day Tour

The Cape Moreton Scenic Day Tour and Moreton Island 2 Day Get Wrecked Explorer Tour are temporarily suspended until further updates. We are currently working on new exciting products and will keep you updated on the progress of this new project!

Moreton Island Get Wrecked 1 Day Tour is running EVERY DAY (Friday 18th Sept – Monday 5 Oct.)

IMPORTANT UDPATES: 3 DAY BRISBANE LOCKDOWN The QLD Chief Health Officer has orderd a snap 3 day lockdown of the Greater Brisbane area, commencing at 5pm AEST Mon 29 March 2021 restricting all non-essential travel. All guests who hold bookings arriving between Mon 29 Mar & Thu 1 Apr are required to postpone & reschedule your visit (dates may change as the situation evolves). As we are currently experiencing high call volumes, we would respectfully like to ask guests not to call us. If you had planned travel between 29 Mar - 1 Apr 2021, please click here for more information.

Great Barrier Reef

Great barrier reef 3-day tour.

Great Barrier Reef TOUR CODE : GBR3

Starting from $ 589.00 all inclusive

Hiring of NON-GUIDED equipment is only available on Moreton Island and would not be available for Online booking from 15th Dec 2021 – 31st Jan 2022.-->

Sunset Safaris has long been recognised as having the BEST value tours to Fraser Island by tour agents and customers alike. And now with our FREE Cooloola Tour and FREE HOTEL UPGRADE added to your adventure, Sunset Safaris offers far superior value for money compared to any other multi day tour to Fraser Island. Sunset Safaris offers you Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, LUXURY 4WD go anywhere vehicles, the most sought after locations on Fraser Island, the BEST tourGuides from Gold Coast and Brisbane, and all at Budget prices. 

Conditions of Booking

Sunset Safaris makes every effort to include ALL activities and destinations listed. However due to weather unpredictability, some activities are subject to Tides and weather conditions, and Sunset Safaris cannot be held liable due to these factors. Due to the extreme weather and oceanic conditions of the Great Barrier Reef, it should be noted that the Itinerary can occasionally be affected due to cases of tidal issues and other operational issue unique to the Great Barrier Reef, and while every effort and care is taken, Sunset Safaris takes no responsibility for such factors affecting tour activities. We do not encourage customers to rely heavily on return times due to traffic and the factors mentioned above, and Sunset Safaris takes no responsibility for the missing of flights and bus connections if customers choose to book connections and flights close to the normal return times. By continuing to proceed with making a booking on this website, you indicate that you agree to not hold Sunset Safaris responsible due to the above conditions should they occur, and that you accept the inherent risk of these operational anomalies as outlined above. 

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1. Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas

2. Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise

3. Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge and Daintree Rainforest Day Tour

4. Silversonic Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas

5. Whitsundays Whitehaven Beach Tour: Beaches, Lookouts and Snorkel

6. K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour

7. Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas

8. 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise

9. ABC Snorkel Charters Port Douglas Snorkelling max 12 passengers

10. 1-Hour Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight

11. Ocean Rafting: Whitehaven Beach, Snorkelling & Hill Inlet Lookout

12. Fitzroy Island Day Tour from Cairns

13. Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge: Full or Half Day Tour

14. Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Port Douglas

15. Whitsundays Guided Jet Ski Tour

16. Snorkelling and Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns

17. The Big Island Day Tour: Full day tour to Whitehaven Beach

18. Ocean Free Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise

19. Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour

20. Cedar Creek Falls-50' Diner

21. Great Barrier Reef Full Day Adventure

22. Small Group Full Day Daintree Rainforest Tour from Port Douglas

23. From Port Douglas Tour including Kuranda, Skyrail & Scenic Train

24. Camira Sailing Adventure through Whitsunday Islands

25. Remote Fraser Island Experience

26. Sunset Sailing Cruise from Port Douglas

27. Aquascene Magnetic Island Discovery Tour

28. Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island Cruise from Airlie Beach

29. 2 1/4 hr Low Isles Reef Sprinter Snorkelling Tour

30. Half Day Low Isles Snorkelling Tour from Port Douglas

What travelers are saying.

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Great Barrier Reef Tours & Trips

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94 Great Barrier Reef tour packages with 279 reviews

East Coast Explorer: 5 Week | ULTIMATE

"Had a boss time travelling the east coast for 5 weeks stopped at some amazing places and done some sick activities." Michael, traveled in November 2023

• €35 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays

"The trip was great. Overall was great." Tida, traveled in December 2019

10-Day Australia Starter Package

Oz East Coast Adventure 28 Days

"Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef was one of my favourite parts of the tour. I was so scared but Shannon was so supportive and helpful." Sally, traveled in April 2024

• Sightseeing

Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days

"I found the itinerary for the tour was perfectly tailored to all the stops and I got to do lots of things I wouldn't have been able to do outside of a tour setting." Ollie, traveled in March 2024

Cairns & Port Douglas All-Inclusive 7 Days Touring Package

"Everything was great organized and I enjoyed the round trip very much." Heike, traveled in July 2023

Best of Australia

"Saw amazing places, met great people, experienced a few adventures and conquered some of my fears!" Malgorzata, traveled in January 2017

Australia: North Queensland Adventure (Sailing, 9 Days)

"Mark was excellent 5/5 to him." Curran, traveled in December 2022

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Australia: North Queensland Adventure (9 Days)

Brisbane to Cairns Adventure

What people love about great barrier reef tours.

Had the best 5 weeks of my life traveling the east coast with ultimate travel, our tour guide Zoe was amazing and always happy to help us with anything and had the most fun I couldn’t recommend enough made so many amazing friends and memories to last a lifetime , Zoe your were amazing x

The trip was great. However, I didn’t like the hostel in Airlie Beach. It was the worst one in this trip. Overall was great

I have had the best time on the east coast Australia tour. I have done some amazing things and met some amazing friends. Our group leader Molly was Awsome and made the trip even better. Thank you for an amazing time and experience. I would 100% recommend it to anyone looking to see some of the best bits of oz with the best people

Top operators

"I really liked the itinerary, it was varied with some active days like the hike to Hells gate and back. Other days we could do our own thing which was great. Most of the hostels were to be expected, however the one in Airlie Beach was awfully dirty and lacking basic things such as lockers and safes. Apart from that, I enjoyed the trip!

G Adventures is an expert in:

"Guide was great, both of them!

Intrepid Travel is an expert in:

"Our 5-week tour was a blend of extraordinary experiences and some significant drawbacks. We encountered amazing sights, but the journey was marred by inconsistent accommodation quality. A critical issue from the onset was the tour's overbooking, leading to a larger group size than comfortable, making travel with 30 people for an extended period a challenge. Our guide, Kate, deserves credit for her efforts to manage the group dynamics and itinerary issues, though the results were mixed. Despite her best attempts, the experience fluctuated between delightful and disappointing. Reflecting on the journey, I believe individuals could organize a similar trip on their own. The tour's components, such as bus travel, accommodations, and activities, are accessible for independent arrangement. It's worth noting that the tour seemed tailored for those in their early 20s, which might not align with everyone's preferences or expectations. The tour included options for additional activities, which, despite not always being communicated clearly, did not lead to significant issues beyond setting unexpected expectations in some instances. Standout moments included flying over the Great Barrier Reef and sailing in the Whitsundays—truly spectacular experiences that can be booked independently. However, even these highlights couldn't fully offset the discomfort of some nights spent in subpar hostels lacking in cleanliness and air conditioning. I'm not typically hard to please, having traveled extensively, but one particularly bad night—which could have been mitigated with a simple heads-up from our guide—prompted me to arrange my own accommodations subsequently. Furthermore, an attempt to "upgrade to a single room" resulted in being excessively charged, surpassing the cost found on booking platforms. To conclude, if I were to consider traveling with Ultimate again, I'd opt for a shorter excursion, perhaps 3-4 weeks. The tour's itinerary, especially in the earlier stages, included several destinations that, in hindsight, did not justify the time spent.

Ultimate Travel is an expert in:

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Great Barrier Reef Day Tour from Brisbane

Highlights & inclusions, select travellers & date, what you can expect.

Visit one of the most beautiful islands in Australia - Lady Elliot Island - off the coast of QLD with an epic day trip to explore the Southern Great Barrier Reef! This Lady Elliot Island day trip package from Brisbane includes everything you'll need to get to Lady Elliot. Return scenic air flights to the island offer stunning views of the reef and Australia's eastern coastline from high above; something that's truly unmatchable in terms of visual splendour.

Upon arriving on the island, you'll have five hours to explore both Lady Elliot and the reef itself, with activities such as snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours, guided reef walks and island orientation walks all on offer. How you wish to enjoy your time in this wonderful Great Barrier Reef environment is entirely up to you. Take some time out to sit back and enjoy the delicious lunch in these lovely surrounds, then take advantage of the guest facilities on the island to freshen up, take an afternoon Island Tour or perhaps hand-feed some fish in the expansive lagoon.

Tours depart around 6.30 am and will return around 4.30 pm. However you choose to spend your time, you're guaranteed a comprehensive and enjoyable Great Barrier Reef experience with this package - so treat yourself to a picture-perfect escape and book your Lady Elliot Island day trip from Brisbane today!

What you need to know

• Hotel transfers (inner-city hotels only)
• Return scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island
• Orientation tour/welcome drink
• Glass bottom boat/guided snorkel tour
• Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel & fins) and short wetsuit
• Hot & cold buffet lunch including prawns, beer, wine and soft drink
• Towels, sunscreen and reef walking shoes provided
• Use of day guest facilities (storage and shower facilities)
• Fully guided tour
• Additional activities (eg diving) on the island
• 6.30am - Arrive at your departure point (Redcliffe Airport)
• 7.15am - Flight departs from Redcliffe
• 8.45am - Arrive at Lady Elliot Island
• 8.45 – 2.30pm - Orientation Tour, Welcome drink, Glass Bottom Boat / Guided Snorkelling Tour, Buffet Lunch with beer, wine and soft drinks, Fish Feeding in the lagoon pool
• 2.30pm - Flight departs Lady Elliot Island
• 4.00pm - Arrive at Redcliffe Airport
• Flights depart at 7.15am. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure (7am)
• Departs Lady Elliot Island at 2.30pm
• Return back to Redcliffe Airport at approximately 4pm
• Approx. 90 minute flight. Flight duration may vary depending on weather, aircraft type and possible transit stop
• Does not operate on Christmas Day 25th December
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Conditions:
• Cost based on 2 or more passengers travelling. Single surcharge of $100 applies.
• Cannot be combined with other packages or specials
• Child age is 3-12 years inclusive Please note:
• One light backpack only on all flights to/from Lady Elliot Island
• Please note day guests are only permitted to 4kg of baggage per person
• Items must be carried on the lap or put in the baggage compartment as there is no overhead lockers and there is no storage facilities under the seats
• All activities are subject to weather and tide conditions
• Travel insurance is recommended
• Please provide each passenger's name in the booking note
• Must call to confirm availability prior to booking
• Flights are subject to change and may include transit stops
• Flight times vary depending on weather, aircraft type and possible transit stops
• Includes fuel levy of $45 per person
• Change your booking up to 48 hours before the start time of your experience
• Changes are not permitted within 48 hours of your experience
• Late arrivals or no-shows may result in you forfeiting your experience
• Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
• Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
• Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
• Availability was accurate at the time of booking however, is subject to change due to circumstances out of our control
• For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
• We strongly suggest reconfirming your booking with the tour operator within 24 hours of making your booking and prior to making other travel arrangements

Recent reviews

Airport staff✅ Flight ✅ LEI ✅ LEI staff ✅ Snorkeling ✅ Booking website was difficult but worth the persistence .

Met by bright and bubbly staff at airport. Amazing scenic flight up the GC coastline, across Brisbane airport, with a quick stop at one of Qld biggest airports -Redcliffe (lol), along the Sunshine Coast, over Fraser Island and eventually arriving at LEI. Fabulous staff at LEI especially our greeters, the dive shop and crew on the glass bottom boat. The boat crew were full of enthusiasm with intense awareness of safety of guests at all times.. Loved the snorkelling with lots of brightly coloured fish, healthy coral, a couple of turtles and small sharks. Our flight back was memorable too! LEI is a ver happy haven for all the birds. Will have to return during manta ray season: 😃 Definition worth it and highly recommend this tour. Thanks

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Moreton island dolphin and tangalooma wrecks snorkelling tour including lunch, gold coast hot air balloon flight with bonus photo package, gold coast hot air balloon flight with breakfast and free photo.

• Email us at [email protected]
• Help code: D2B-1BF9
• This experience is supplied by Lady Elliot Island Day Tour with flights Brisbane

Sustainability

Our promise.

• We are committed to sustainability
• We have an approved Science Based Target
• We use third party verified standards

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We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.

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7-Day Great Barrier Reef

Fun with a capital F is what you can expect on a Carnival Cruise. With the largest fleet at sea Carnival offers sailings perfect for the whole family.

Fun in the sun meets the land down under for an unforgettable family vacation filled with amazing onboard entertainment, delicious food and breathtaking views on an Australia and New Zealand cruise with Carnival Cruise Line.

Brisbane with its lazy subtropical aura is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most popular cruise destinations.

• Carnival Luminosa - Passenger Capacity: 2,876 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2009 Last Refurbished: 2022

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Carnival Luminosa

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Brisbane, Australia

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Brisbane, Australia , Airlie Beach , Cairns, Australia , Port Douglas, Australia , Willis Island

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7-Day Great Barrier Reef sailing on the Carnival Luminosa

Departure dates: nov 2024 - mar 2026, stateroom prices for nov. 10, 2024.

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Carnival reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel. Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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Brisbane, Queensland

Guide to Brisbane

Aboriginal name : Meeanjin (pronounced Mee-an-jin) 

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• Getting to Brisbane
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Queensland’s sunny capital offers up laidback charm and urban energy with a dash of adventure.

Brisbane is a city that lives up to its sunny potential with a strong focus on the outdoors – think al fresco dining, picnics by the river, islands just off the coast and national parks. Add to this a dynamic cultural precinct, abundant wildlife and easy access to nearby icons like the Gold Coast and Great Barrier Reef, and you’ve got a destination you can’t say no to.

The traditional name for Brisbane is Meeanjin, meaning ‘the place of the blue water lilies.’ Brisbane was founded upon the homelands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, whose Country stretches north from Elimbah Creek, south to the Logan River and inland as far as Moggill. Discover Brisbane's thriving First Nations culture with a range of unforgettable tours and experiences .

• Traditional name for Central Brisbane: Meeanjin (pronounced Mee-an-jin) 
• Indigenous Peoples: Turrbal and Yuggera peoples
• Traditional languages: Yugara
• How to say g’day in Yugara: Gurumba bigi

Getting to Brisbane is easy with both domestic and international flights arriving directly into Brisbane Airport. 

• Brisbane Airport (BNE) is 17km (10mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals 
• Hire cars, ride shares and a shuttle service are available from both airports

Once you’ve arrived, Brisbane is an easy city to get around. The city has a great range of options for public transport, including trains, buses and even river ferries. It's also an easy city to drive and walk around. Learn more about  getting around Brisbane .

As would be expected from the capital of the Sunshine State, Brisbane really comes into its own in summer as sunseekers flock here for the idyllic weather . In summer, temperatures and humidity can rise, so locals head to the coast. The benefit of Brisbane’s subtropical climate is that winter is very mild with lots of blue skies and moderate temperatures. In fact, Brisbane boasts an average of 261 days of sunshine per year. 

• High season: Spring and summer (November to February)
• Low season: Winter (June to August)
• Don’t miss: Brisbane’s calendar of events and festivals

Brisbane provides many accessible options for exploring the city. You'll find a range of  accessible accommodation , wheelchair-friendly experiences  and activities for travellers with sensory sensitivities . 

• Arrival: Brisbane Airport provides special assistance for people with disabilities – including hidden disabilities – throughout the airport journey.
• Getting around: The TransLink website provides information on city trains, while Brisbane City Council buses have low floors and ramps. All CityCat river ferries and most ferry terminals are also fully accessible.
• Accessible experience highlights: Exceptional staff are on hand to help wheelchair users and people with disabilities revel in the views from the Wheel of Brisbane . People travelling with mobility aids can also embark on a Brisbane Whale Watching cruise to spot the migrating ocean giants.
• Helpful resources: Changing Places is a great resource for those needing highly accessible bathrooms. For ideas on things to do, check out this accessible travel guide .

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We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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How to have an eco-friendly holiday on the Great Barrier Reef

We all want to do our part to future-proof the planet but we don’t always know where to start. Here, travel writer Jessica Wynne Lockhart hops on board Coral Expeditions’ annual Citizen Science Cruise to do her bit.

As the sun set over Queensland’s coastline, I stood on the sun deck of the 72-passenger Coral Discoverer and waved goodbye.

In the distance, the Sunshine Coast’s Glass House Mountains drifted past, their silhouettes dark against the orange-pink simmer—a perfect colour match for the aperol spritz I sipped.

With the bon voyage cocktail cool in my hand, it was easy to forget that the trip I was embarking on from Brisbane to Cairns wasn’t just another pleasure cruise. As a passenger on Coral Expeditions’ annual Citizen Science Cruise, I’d be spending the next 10 days learning about coral science, observing reef restoration, and helping to monitor the health of the reef at snorkel and dive sites along the way.

READ MORE: How to preserve the Great Barrier Reef for future generations

Citizen science — which refers to when the general public makes observations or helps collect data for use by scientists, often submitted through apps — is far from a new concept.

However, it’s only been in the last decade that it’s been more widely embraced by tour operators, who are increasingly recognising the potential of travellers to help conduct research at scale. This is particularly true for expedition cruise companies like Coral Expeditions, which frequent waters that may be inaccessible to researchers due to funding constraints or resource limitations.

These citizen science programmes also give travellers greater insight and understanding into the natural world around them.

At our first stop outside Bundaberg, for example, we’re given an insider tour of Monsoon Aquatics. The aquaculture facility is currently conducting research to determine how corals spawn — and what species might be most heat tolerant as global water temperatures rise.

“We still don’t know so much about coral; we don’t know how old they have to be before they spawn or even how long certain coral live for,” explains our guide, Megan Combe.

Combe leads us between the rows of water tanks, each containing neon-coloured coral fragments. Their vivid colours are the result of the blue lights above and zooxanthellae algae within their polyps, which help them to photosynthesize.

These are the same algae that coral expel when they’re stressed, resulting in bleaching. But bleached coral is not dead coral. As Combe begins to feed coral from a dropper—their tentacles emerging and their mouths opening—she points out one fragment that’s less colourful than the rest.

“It was bleached, but you can see it’s already recovering,” she says.

At each stop over the next week, we, too, are drip-fed, our minds opening and hungry for knowledge. At Lady Elliot Island, we meet a manta ray researcher. At Daydream Island, where we get a chance to hand-feed stingrays and learn from on-staff marine biologists about how they’re perfecting their coral planting programme through trial-and-error — research that has implications for restoration elsewhere on the reef. And at each snorkel site we visit, we’re invited to submit our observations to apps, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Eye on the Reef.

However, critics are increasingly concerned that the proliferation of these programmes is nothing more than “public relations citizen science”, as researchers from York University and the University of Hawaii phrased it in Social Studies of Science in 2021.

Part of the problem? Even though assessment tools — like the waterproof rapid monitoring surveys that we’re handed on our first day — are designed for laypeople, the average person is prone to biases and deviations from standard procedures. Research shows that citizen scientists are more likely to record significant sightings (like sharks) while ignoring the seemingly mundane (yet another parrotfish). The result is gaps, redundancies, and a vast ocean of data, much of it potentially unusable.

I have my own doubts. But I’m reminded of my purpose when I speak to one of my fellow passengers, a woman in her late 80s, about climate change.

“We look at our great grandchildren and wonder: What kind of a future is there for them?” she says.

There’s no future without more research. Even if the data we’re collecting as tourists isn’t usable, our presence is helping to make the work of the ship’s master reef guides — who are trained to collect data — possible.

The simple fact is that scientists would never be able to complete the amount of surveying necessary to properly assess the 2300km-long reef’s health without help, due to its sheer scale. That’s where tourism comes in.

In an April 2024 statement, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority credited tourism operators for doing the “heavy lifting” with monitoring in the latest mass bleaching event. They conducted over 15,000 reef health surveys, including submitting 65,000 images, which helped create an accurate snapshot of the reef’s health.

Citizen science may have its faults, but when we disembark in Cairns, I feel more knowledgeable and empowered. When it comes to the Great Barrier Reef, the only chance for its future is to foster this culture of hope — not one of helplessness.

How to get involved

Coral Expeditions’ next 10-day Citizen Science Cruise will be setting sail from Brisbane in March 2025. It’s just one of the many expedition cruise lines — including the newly B Corp-certified Aurora Expeditions — to offer a participatory science component on board, with passengers doing everything from counting penguins to taking water samples.

However, you don’t need to be aboard a cruise to get involved in citizen science efforts on the Great Barrier Reef. Here are three ways that any traveller can give back on their next visit to tropical north Queensland:

Report your sightings to Eye on the Reef

Before you head out on your next snorkel sesh, download the Eye on the Reef app. Developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the free program allows anyone out on the water to report sightings in real-time, including of coral-hungry Crown of Thorns starfish. The data is then used by the authority to inform its management decisions and actions, contributing to the long-term protection of the reef.

Become a marine biologist for a day

Apps like Eye on the Reef and iNaturalist are designed for the average person to use, without any training required. However, if you’re looking for further insight into how to interpret what’s happening under the water’s surface, then sign up for a guided snorkel or dive. Daily tours departing from Cairns and Port Douglas from the reef typically have trained marine biologists on board, and many tour operators are now offering citizen science excursions. In April, Passions of Paradise launched its Eco Reef Tour, with departures daily starting from A$410. On the full-day small group tour, you’ll assist master reef guides as they survey reef health and monitor the more than 9000 pieces of coral that have been planted by the tour operator at the Hastings Reef.

Learn about a living coral reef biobank

If you’re not a confident swimmer or snorkeller, you can witness the majesty and diversity of the Great Barrier Reef at the Cairns Aquarium. However, down a back hallway and behind the tanks is where you’ll find something truly extraordinary: the Forever Reef Project. This is where researchers analyse and house 179 of 400 species of coral from the Great Barrier Reef — some collected by Coral Expeditions on a previous Citizen Science Cruise — to help ensure coral biodiversity for future generations. Backstage access is available daily at 11.30am on the 30-minute Coral Conservation Tour.

coralexpeditions.com/au/destinations/great-barrier-reef/citizen-science-on-the-great-barrier-reef-brisbane-to-cairns-10-nights