8 Snorkeling Day Trips in Australia for Your Spare Day

1.Premium Snorkelling and Diving Reef Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,528 reviews · 8 hours · from $166Our pick

Join Divers Den aboard AquaQuest for an eight-hour Cairns reef trip to two outer reef sites at Norman, Saxon, or Hastings reefs. You get guided snorkelling, wetsuits, prescription masks, a tropical buffet, hot showers, and time to spot turtles, sharks, clownfish, rays, and Maori wrasse. Guides such as Vanessa and Mazie also support first-time scuba participants.

“This activity was absolutely brilliant. Once in a life time opportunity for people like me and my wife. We had the best day. The staff were absolutely great and extremely helpful. Plenty of staff on and off board making sure you are safe and cared for. Boat came with 4 toilets. Two in which had hot showers. Lunch was good too! Finally, the photographer was absolutely brilliant. We rented a go pro from him and managed to record around 1 hour 30 minutes of footage whilst diving. His professional pictures are absolutely amazing. Great day all around. Thank you!”

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2.Lady Musgrave Day Trip from Bundaberg Including Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 683 reviews · from $240Top rated

Join the Lady Musgrave Experience from Bundaberg Port Marina for a full day on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Expect a two-hour catamaran crossing, morning tea, reef talks, snorkeling, a glass-bottom boat tour, a guided island walk, buffet lunch, and warm showers. Crew members such as Danny, Georgia, Mandy, and Phil are known for making the marine life easy to understand.

“Seeing a Turtle and learning about the history of Lady Musgrave and about Turtles and laying season...”

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3.Moreton Island Day Trip (Kayak, Snorkel & Sandboard) frm Brisbane or Gold Coast

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 633 reviews · from $128

Spend a full day on Moreton Island with Australian Sunset Safaris, riding a 4WD to the Tangalooma Wrecks for snorkeling, transparent kayaking, and sandboarding. Guides such as Michelle, Ryan, Darcy, Will, and Jacob have helped make the activities friendly and well managed. Expect a long travel day, a beach picnic, and extra national park and ferry fees.

“A great day but the travelling time was long - bus about 45 min then 11/2 hr ferry. The activities were well organized, safe and a lot of fun. Highly recommend!”

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4.Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip with Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 422 reviews · 1 day · from $119Best value

Cruise 75 minutes from Brisbane to Tangalooma Island, use the resort pools and beach, then join a guided 90-minute wreck snorkel with about 30 to 35 minutes in the water. Equipment, wetsuit, lunch voucher, boat drink, and dolphin presentation are included. Guides may vary, with past standouts including Prea, Abby, Hugo, and Charlotte.

“It was amazing. The guided snorkelling was great saw lots of fish and swam in between the wrecks. Our guide Hugo was fabulous and very knowledgable about all the different fish and was sure to point it out. Equipment was great as well.”

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5.Airlie Beach: Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 156 reviews · 8 hours · from $211

Spend eight hours aboard Red Cat Adventures’ fast, air-conditioned catamaran, travelling from Airlie Beach toward the Outer Great Barrier Reef. You’ll receive snorkelling gear, safety guidance, snacks, and a buffet lunch, with two or more reef stops chosen according to weather and visibility. Jamie is one crew member praised for patient help in the water.

“Loved the experience of going to the great Barrier reef. When snorkeling the highlight was definitely seeing the Turtle Swimming so gracefully and so close. Lots of fish, a small reef shark, "Nemo" also on arrival we saw some Manta Rays as well also some lovely coloured corals. The team worked very hard to keep us all safe. The equipment we were issued was of good quality, and we were given a safety demo before going into the water. All was very well presented and made clear, we all had a dive number for safety as well. The only slight criticism was there were a lot of people in the…”

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6.Snorkelling and Diving Reef Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 8 hours · from $240

Join Divers Den from Cairns Marina for a 90-minute trip to two Outer Great Barrier Reef locations on Norman, Saxon, or Hastings Reef. You get up to four hours in the water, guided snorkelling, equipment, wet and stinger suits, morning tea, lunch, and hot showers. Scuba is available for beginners aged 12 and over who complete a medical declaration.

“Divers den the company we went with were amazing,really friendly staff and they knew what they were talking about.”

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7.Moreton Island Day-Trip to Scuba Dive and More

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 59 reviews · 9 hours · from $197

Spend nine hours traveling from Brisbane to Moreton Island by catamaran, then explore the Tangalooma Wrecks with either an introductory or certified scuba session. Your $197 ticket also includes snorkel gear, a kayak hour, stand-up paddleboard hire, land sports, pools, showers, and resort facilities. Food, drinks, and road transfers cost extra.

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8.Agnes/1770: Southern Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 9 hours · from $211

Spend nine hours aboard Yemalla from 1770 Marina, reaching lesser-visited Southern Great Barrier Reef sites with a maximum of 10 snorkelers. Master Reef Guides lead two 90-minute snorkels among coral walls, ledges, bommies, turtles, reef sharks, octopus, and colourful fish. Wetsuits, lunch, snacks, and equipment are included.

“We had a great relaxing day perfect weather, our guide for snorkeling was excellent and very attentive. Just all round wonderful and inspiring thank you.”

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