Local Living Tours & Trips in Great Barrier Reef

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.

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.

Visit Aboriginal communities at Wujal Wujal near the Bloomfield River and Thursday Island, capital of Torres Strait Islands. Stay overnight at Bramwell Station, Australia's northernmost cattle outpost, getting a taste of genuine outback hospitality. Grab a cold beer at the well-known Lion's Den Hotel in historic Coen and see traditional mining life with optional Weipa bauxite tours.

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.

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.

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.

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.