Local Living Tours & Trips in Great Barrier Reef
Explore a wide diversity of local living tours through Great Barrier Reef. We have 13 adventures that vary from 7 days to 26 days. With the greatest number of departures in February, this is also the most popular time of the year.
10 best local living Great Barrier Reef tours
Compiled by

MelissaGreat Barrier Reef travel expert at TourRadar
- Classic Australia with Uluru & the Outback
- Australian Highlights (Intra Tour Air Tax Australian Highlights)
- Australia's Culture & Coastlines with Fiji
- Australian Highlights (5 destinations)
- Australia's Hidden Wonders (Base, 2026/2027, 10 Days)
- Highlights of Australia and New Zealand (With Internal Air)
- Tropical Queensland: Brisbane to Cairns (Small Group, 2026/2027)
- Australian Highlights (With Internal Air, 2026/2027)
- Diversity Australia with East Coast & Western Australia (21 nights, Perth-Brisabane)
- Diversity Australia, Kimberley & Pinnacles
Snorkel the coral gardens of the Outer Great Barrier Reef and swim with tropical fish in clear waters across this 1,250-mile UNESCO site, then attend a marine biologist talk on the catamaran about the 3,000 reefs here.
Duration 13 days Destinations Sydney, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Uluru Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Cosmos From
- US$4,189+$1,468 upfront costs
Learn traditional hunting and gathering skills in the Daintree Rainforest and meet Anangu artists at Walkatjara Art Uluru who explain Western Desert Art totems and spiritual land connections, then snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with expert marine guides.
Duration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay, Bondi, Blue Mountains, Sydney Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From $5,835
10% Off- US$5,252+$1,755 upfront costsYou save $584
Spend three nights in Cairns trying local restaurants and checking out spots beyond the tourist areas after your catamaran cruise to the Outer Reef, which stretches 1,250 miles. At Brisbane's Nyanda Waterhole Reserve, you'll try traditional bush tucker and learn from indigenous guides.
Duration 17 days Destinations Brisbane, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Nadi Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Globus From $6,379
8% Off- US$5,879+$1,386 upfront costsYou save $500
No departure dates availableDuration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Sydney, Bondi, Blue Mountains Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings Snorkel among 1,500+ fish species and six marine turtle varieties at the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef from a catamaran cruise. Check out Kuranda village's rainforest markets via historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, descending through ancient canopy on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Dine at Cairns' Salt House on Argentinian wood-fired seafood caught that morning from Coral Sea waters.
Duration 22 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Uluru, Cairns, Kuranda, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Bondi, Blue MountainsSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings From $10,535
10% Off- US$9,482+$6,075 upfront costsYou save $1,053
Visit Langmorn Station cattle property where the Creed family shares stories of outback living since 1873, then check out beef capital Rockhampton. See the Sarina Sugar Shed's heritage with hands-on tours of sugarcane production and sample regional specialties. Stay at an eco-resort in K'gari's ancient sand rainforest and snorkel the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef from a permanently moored pontoon at the outer reef.
No departure dates availableDuration 9 days Destinations Brisbane, Noosa, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, 75 Mile Beach, Rockhampton, Hamilton Island, Sarina, Airlie Beach, WhitsundaysSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings Cruise aboard a catamaran to the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef, where 1,500 fish species and 30 dolphin species inhabit the world's largest living organism spanning 2,300 kilometers. Snorkel among 3,000 mollusk species and six of the world's seven marine turtle species, or view the kaleidoscope of coral from an underwater observatory. Have a tropical buffet lunch onboard featuring fresh Queensland seafood before returning to Cairns' Esplanade, where you'll dine at Salt House with dishes prepared on their Argentinian wood-fired grill.
No departure dates availableDuration 13 days Destinations Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Sydney, Bondi, Blue Mountains Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator AAT Kings Duration 22 days Destinations Perth, Fremantle, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, Uluru, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, Atherton, Airlie BeachSee all destinations Age Range Ages 6+ Operated in Only: German Operator MEIERS WELTREISEN From
10% Off- US$10,379
Learn traditional stories and customs from indigenous guides on an Aboriginal culture tour at El Questro, then stay at places like Cooinda Lodge inside Kakadu National Park and El Questro Emma Gorge Resort where you can soak in natural Zebedee Springs.
Duration 26 days Destinations Perth, Fremantle, Nambung National Park, Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Sydney, Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns, Great Barrier ReefSee all destinations Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in Only: German Operator DERTOUR From
10% Off- US$13,553





















