Can I visit the Great Barrier Reef from the Gold Coast?
A Lady Elliot Island day tour is the best way to visit the Great Barrier Reef from the gold coast. The trip includes flights, a glass bottom boat cruise and a guided snorkelling tour.
To skip the explanation and book a Lady Elliot Island day tour from the Gold Coast, head over here.
Visiting the Great Barrier Reef from the Gold Coast
If you want to visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast is not the ideal Queensland holiday destination. It is considerably further south than the Great Barrier Reef, and there are much better opportunities in the likes of Mackay, Airlie Beach, Mission Beach, Cairns or Port Douglas.
However, it is possible to visit the Great Barrier Reef from the Gold Coast. You will need to get on a plane, though.
Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay
The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.
- Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
- Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
- Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
- Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
- Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
- Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
- Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.
Lady Elliot Island day tours from the Gold Coast
The best way of visiting the Great Barrier Reef from the Gold Coast is on a Lady Elliot Island day tour. These day trips depart from the Gold Coast Airport early in the morning, and head to the southernmost island on the Great Barrier Reef.
There is plenty in Lady Elliot Island’s favour. You can have beach time for a start, and swim out to the reef from the beach.
The water around Lady Elliot Island is generally very clear, and it is one of the healthiest parts of the Great Barrier Reef system. This generally means high quality snorkelling. You’ll see plenty of coral and fish, with a decent chance of turtles and manta rays.
Find your ideal Great Barrier Reef tours by location
Great Barrier Reef tours run from numerous destinations along the Queensland coast. Different tours cater to different tastes – some make sure they go to the best snorkelling spots, others build in beach time and some throw in extra such as underwater observatories and glass bottom boat tours.
Use the following links to start picking the best Great Barrier Reef tour options where you’re going on holiday.
- The best Great Barrier Reef tours in… 1770 | Airlie Beach | Bundaberg | Cairns | Cape Tribulation | Mackay | Magnetic Island | Mission Beach | Palm Cove | Port Douglas | Townsville.
Inclusions on a Gold Coast Great Barrier Reef tour
The Lady Elliot Island tours from the Gold Coast throw in a few extras, however. Once on the island, there’s an orientation tour and a welcome drink. Later, there’s a hot and cold buffet lunch, with a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink.
Travellers on the tour get use of the island’s day guest facilities – showers and storage – plus all they need to go snorkelling. That means snorkel, mask, fins and a short wetsuit. You’ll also get towels, sunscreen and reef shoes.
Perhaps more importantly, however, there’s also a glass bottom boat tour and a guided snorkelling tour thrown in.
7 Gold Coast experiences worth booking in advance
- See waterfalls and natural wonders – on a full day Springbrook National Park tour.
- Be awed by massive migrating humpbacks – on a great value whale-watching cruise.
- Feast as you explore the Gold Coast waterways – on a dinner cruise.
- Kayak with dolphins and snorkel with hundred of sub-tropical fish – on the same tour.
- Enjoy high speed thrills along the waterways – on a jet boat adventure.
- Glide above the beautiful hinterland – on a serene hot air balloon flight.
- Taste the best Scenic Rim wines – on an indulgent Tamborine Mountain wine tour, with lunch.
Lady Elliot Island day tour price
The Lady Elliot Island day tour from the Gold Coast costs $708 per person. Bookings should be made online.
All prices are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change in the future.
Other things to do on the Gold Coast include surfing at the likes of Coolangatta Beach, North Kirra Beach and Rainbow Bay Beach, kayaking with dolphins and taking a hot air balloon flight over the hinterland.
More Queensland travel
Is it safe to swim at Ellis Beach in Cairns?
Are there any crocodiles in Bundaberg?
Are there crocodiles in Mission Beach on the Cassowary Coast?
Why do a one day Fraser Island tour with K’gari Explorer Tours?
What to see on the drive from Grafton to Brisbane.