• Discover an amazing array of birdlife on Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef
• Great for families and beginner snorkellers and introductory scuba divers.
• With the amazing array of birdlife and sea life and the pristine surroundings at Michaelmas Cay, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Snap yourself on the pristine beach or snorkelling with a friendly green sea turtle. 
• Snorkel in the calm, shallow waters off the beach at Michaelmas Cay
• Stay dry and view the spectacular fringing reef and diverse marine life from a glass bottom boat
• Family Deal - Save $130 based on 2 adults & 2 children

Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef is a small, low-lying sandy island surrounded by a spectacular fringing reef. Your tour to this beautiful sandy island from Cairns includes a range of family-friendly and adventure-filled activities: snorkel, dive, take a glass bottom boat tour.

What to Expect

Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef

Discover the beauty of Michaelmas Cay, a small sandy island surrounded by a stunning fringing reef on the Great Barrier Reef. Departing from Cairns, this reef tour offers a range of family-friendly and adventure-filled activities, including snorkelling, diving, and glass-bottom boat tours.

Features and Highlights

Luxury Sailing to the Great Barrier Reef

• Join us for a luxurious sailing tour from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Whether you want to be active or simply relax, this reef tour provides the perfect balance for all preferences.

Snorkelling in Calm Waters

• Ideal for families and first-time snorkellers, the calm, shallow waters of Michaelmas Cay offer easy access to vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. Snorkel straight off the beach and explore the reef, known for its abundance of giant clams and colourful fish.

Glass Bottom Boat Tours

• Experience the underwater world without getting wet on a glass bottom boat tour. This 30-minute tour provides a fish-eye view of the coral reef, making it perfect for non-swimmers and those who prefer to stay dry.

Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef

• For those looking to try scuba diving, this tour offers introductory dives in the shallow, calm waters of Michaelmas Cay. No experience is necessary, and a thorough briefing and practice exercises will prepare you for your dive adventure, guided by an experienced instructor. For those that are certified divers we recommend these Cairns reef tours.

Michaelmas Cay - A Natural Paradise

Location and Description

• Michaelmas Cay is located on the western tip of Michaelmas Reef, 43km northeast of Cairns. This small, vegetated sand island is surrounded by a spectacular fringing reef, making it a prime spot for snorkelling and introductory diving.

Bird Sanctuary and Marine Life

• Declared a national park in 1975, Michaelmas Cay is a significant bird sanctuary, home to over 23 species of seabirds. During the summer nesting and breeding season, up to 20,000 birds can be observed. The reef is also rich with marine life, including green sea turtles, giant clams, and hundreds of species of tropical reef fish.

Snorkelling Experience

• Enjoy the ease of snorkelling straight off the beach into the calm, shallow waters. The reef surrounding the Cay is abundant with colourful coral formations and varied marine life. All snorkelling equipment is provided, and a briefing will ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable time in the water. For an extra cost, you can join a guided snorkelling tour with a marine biologist to learn more about the reef.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

• For non-swimmers, the glass bottom boat tour offers a comfortable way to view the Great Barrier Reef. This 30-minute tour provides an excellent opportunity to see pristine coral, colourful fish, giant clams, and maybe even a sea turtle.

Introductory Scuba Diving

• The shallow, calm waters off Michaelmas Cay are perfect for first-time scuba divers. With no prior experience required, you’ll receive a briefing and practice basic skills before exploring the stunning coral formations and marine life. An experienced dive instructor will be by your side throughout the dive.

Additional Information

Return Transfers

• All return transfers will depart Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal at 5:30 PM. Ocean Spirit and Silverswift passengers may need to wait for up to an hour for their return bus. Reservations staff will contact passengers the day before travel to provide updates on transfer locations and times.

Book Your Cairns Snorkelling Tour Adventure

• Experience the wonder of Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef with our luxury sailing tour from Cairns. Whether you're snorkelling, diving, or enjoying a glass bottom boat tour, this trip offers a memorable adventure for everyone. Book now and explore the natural beauty and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.

For more options, see our range of Great Barrier Reef tours for non-swimmers and other dive and snorkel tours.

If you are an experienced scuba diver we suggest you look at these Cairns Reef trips.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef on our blog.

Cairns Reef Tour - Michaelmas Cay

Michaelmas Cay is a small, vegetated sand island surrounded by a spectacular fringing reef.

It is located on the western tip of Michaelmas Reef 43km north-east of Cairns.

Heaven for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts

Declared a national park in 1975, Michaelmas Cay is an important bird sanctuary and home to over 23 species of seabirds.

At the height of nesting and breeding season (during summer months) up to 20,000 birds have been observed. 

The Cay is also rich with a myriad of sea life including green sea turtles (which occasionally nest there), molluscs and hundreds of species of tropical reef fish including Humphead Maori Wrasse.

The reef surrounding the Cay is known for its abundance of giant clams.

Snorkelling off Michaelmas Cay

Families and first-timers will love the easy access of snorkelling straight off the beach into the calm, shallow waters of Michaelmas Cay.

The reef surrounding the Cay is rich with colourful and varied marine life and coral formations. 

All your snorkelling equipment will be provided and a briefing will be given by your guide on how to use your equipment as well as tips on how to snorkel, to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable time in the water. 

If you would like to learn more about the Reef, for an extra cost you can join a guided snorkel tour with a marine biologist. 

Glass Bottom Boat Tour - Coral Viewing Tour

If you prefer to stay dry as a non-swimmer, you can view the Great Barrier Reef from the comfort of a glass bottom boat.

On this 30-minute tour, you'll cruise quietly over the water's surface and have a fish-eye view of the Reef and its inhabitants. 

View pristine coral, colourful fish, giant clams and maybe even a sea turtle as you cruise through this amazing underwater world. 

Introduction to scuba diving (optional activity – not included in tour price)

The shallow, calm waters off Michaelmas Cay offer a perfect environment for first-time scuba divers.

No experience is necessary and you’ll have an experienced dive instructor by your side throughout the dive.

After a briefing and some basic skills practice, you’ll be ready to commence your dive adventure amongst the stunning coral formations and colourful fish.

At the completion of your first scuba dive, you’ll receive a certificate of recognition and wonderful memories to last a lifetime of your Great Barrier Reef tour in Cairns.

See a range of Great Barrier Reef tours for Non-swimmers here and other dive and snorkel tours here. 

Accommodation Return Transfers

Please note: All return transfers will depart Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal 17.30pm. Ocean Sprit and Silverswift passengers will need to wait for up to 1 hour for their return bus.

Reservations staff will be contacting all passengers with transfers the day prior to travel to update them on locations and times if it will be a Taxi etc and also advise the OS and SWS pax of the delay with the return time.

Please see below timetables:

Pick up time@ 06:40
MANTRA AMPHORA (49-63 Williams Esplanade Palm Cove)
PARADISE ON THE BEACH RESORT (119-121 Williams Esplanade Palm Cove)
PEPPER'S BEACH CLUB & SPA PALM COVE (123 Williams Esplanade)
PULLMAN PALM COVE SEA TEMPLE RESORT & SPA
REEF HOUSE (99 Williams Esplanade Palm Cove)
REEF RETREAT (10-14 Harpa Street Palm Cove)
SANCTUARY PALM COVE (6 Cedar Road)

Pick up time @ 06:45
MANGO LAGOON (81-85 Cedar Road Palm Cove)

Pick up time @ 07:00
CNR Moore & Trinity St Bus Stop

Pick up time @ 07:30
CAIRNS SHERIDAN (295 Sheridan Street)
THE LAKES CAIRNS RESORT & SPA (2 Greenslopes Street)
PALM ROYALE HOTEL (7-11 Chester Court)
CAIRNS COCONUT HOLIDAY RESORT (23-51 Anderson Road)
HOLIDAY INN CAIRNS HARBOURSIDE (209-217 The Esplanade)
CAIRNS COLONIAL CLUB (18-26 Cannon Street)
QUEEN'S COURT (167-171 Sheridan Street)
RYDGES ESPLANADE RESORT (Bus Area - Esplanade Side)

Pick up time @ 07:35
181 ESPLANADE P/Up Lake Street Side (181 Esplanade)
BAY VILLAGE (Cnr Lake & Gatton Streets)
CORAL TREE INN (162-172 Grafton Street)
TROPICAL HERITAGE CAIRNS (8 Minnie Street)
CAIRNS PLAZA HOTEL (145 Esplanade)

Pick up time @ 07:40
RILEY (p/u from DOUBLETREE BY HILTON - Abbott St side)
WYNDHAM RAMADA( (p/u from DOUBLETREE BY HILTON - Abbott St side)
IBIS STYLES CAIRNS (p/u DOUBLETREE BY HILTON)
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON (121-123 Esplanade)

Pick up time @ 07:45
BAILEY CRYSTALBROOK COLLECTION (163 Abbott St)
FLYNN BY CRYSTALBROOK (p/u Abbott Street entrance near Night Markets)
MANTRA TRILOGY (p/u Abbott Street entrance near Night Markets)
NOVOTEL CAIRNS OASIS RESORT (122 Lake Street)
THE BENSON HOTEL (Cnr Grafton & Spence)
GILLIGANS - P/up The Benson (50 Grafton St)

Pick up time @ 07:50
PARK REGIS CITY QUAYS APARTMENTS (2-4 Lake Street)

Pick up time @ 08:00
SOUTHERN CROSS ATRIUM APARTMENTS (3-11 Water Street)
YHA CAIRNS CENTRAL (20-26 McLeod Street)

See all Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns.

And to learn all about the best things ot do onthe Great Barrier Reef take a look at our Blog. 

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

0730: Check-in at Ocean Spirit’s counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal for boarding passes. 08:00: Boarding commences. Vessel departs 08:30.

Pickup Locations

• Cairns
• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove

• Please note: All return transfers will depart Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal 17.30pm. Ocean Sprit and Silverswift passengers will need to wait for up to 1 hour for their return bus.
• Our Reservations staff will be contacting all passengers with transfers the day prior to travel to update them on locations and times.

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Michaelmas Cay

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Does not operate on Christmas Day

Duration

8.5 hours (approx)

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Beverages & Snacks available onboard
• Souvenirs
• Introductory Scuba Diving (Recommend to pre-book)
• Coach Transfers from accommodation

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

Restrictions

Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Eco Certifications

• Camera,Towel, Swimmers, Hat, Comfortable shoes
• Sunscreen (SPF 30 +), Sunglasses
• Cash/Credit Card for onboard purchases.

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child Fare 4-14 years inclusive