• Many species of sea life are frequent visitors on this luxury sail and snorkel tour, such as Green and Hawksbill turtles, which are often quite large. There’s also the chance of spotting whales (seasonal), dolphins and reef sharks.
• Your luxury yacht for the day is a custom built 25 metre French designed catamaran and she sails smoothly to the outer Great Barrier Reef where we have exclusive access to the Coral Cays of Mackay and Undine Reef
• On our luxury reef trip from Port Douglas you can partake in a guided snorkel tour, enjoy a glass bottom boat tour, enjoy delicious morning and afternoon tea and a really special lunch with all the trimmings.  
• Our Port Douglas outer reef trip caters to only a maximum of 45 guests on our luxury catamaran.
• Family Deal - Save $107 based on 2 adults & 2 children

Explore Great Barrier Reef coral cays on a luxury catamaran, visit and snorkel at Mackay or Undine Coral Cays. Full day reef trip departing from Port Douglas daily with a maximum of only 45 guests.

What to Expect

Luxury Catamaran Snorkelling Tour in Port Douglas

Explore the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef coral cays on a luxury catamaran, visiting the stunning Mackay or Undine Coral Cays. This full-day reef trip departs daily from Port Douglas, with a maximum of only 45 guests, ensuring an intimate and serene sailing experience.

Escape the crowds on this small group luxury snorkelling tour to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy the pristine waters, vibrant marine life, and beautiful coral gardens with the guidance of a marine biologist. This Port Douglas snorkelling tour includes a variety of activities such as glass-bottom boat tours, guided reef interpretation tours and individual snorkelling, all in a relaxed, environmentally friendly setting.

Features and Highlights

Exclusive Reef Access

• Departure: Begin your Port Douglas snorkelling tour from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina.
• Luxury Catamaran: Sail aboard a 25-meter custom-built yacht designed for comfort and luxury.
• Mackay or Undine Coral Cays: Enjoy exclusive access to these stunning reef sites, far from other tourist boats.

Snorkelling and Marine Exploration

• Snorkelling: Dive into the clear, warm waters and explore vast coral gardens. See turtles, giant clams, and a wide variety of beautiful fish and coral as you snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
• Guided Snorkelling Tour: Led by a marine biologist, this tour includes reef interpretation, snorkelling gear, and in-water assistance.
• Glass-Bottom Boat: View the underwater world without getting wet, perfect for close-up views of marine life.

Relaxation and Comfort

• Spacious Decks: Relax on the spacious upper deck, sunbathe, and enjoy the passing scenery.
• Fresh Local Produce: Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch, morning tea, and afternoon tea with local produce sourced from Tropical North Queensland.
• First-Class Sailing: Experience the reef in an environmentally friendly way, with luxury sailing all the way.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Tour Itinerary

Departure from Port Douglas

• 7:30 am: Check-in at the yacht charter office at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina.
• 7:45 am: Board the luxury yacht at Berth D6. Enjoy tea, coffee, muffins, and pastries on arrival, followed by a welcome and safety briefing.
• 8:00 am: Depart Port Douglas and set sail towards Mackay Cay Outer Barrier Reef. Listen to a reef interpretation talk by a marine biologist and master reef guide.

Reef Activities

• 10:15 am: Arrive at Mackay Coral Cay and moor at the protected site. Receive a snorkel safety briefing and equipment distribution.
• Nature Activities:
  • Snorkel over the coral gardens.
  • Participate in a guided snorkel tour by a marine biologist.
  • Explore the coral cay.
  • Relax and swim.
  • Enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour.
• 12:45 pm: Lunch is served on board. Move to the second reef site and continue snorkelling and other activities.

Return to Port Douglas

• 2:15 pm: Afternoon tea with coffee, cakes, and a fresh fruit platter.
• 2:30 pm: Set sail back to Port Douglas.
• 5:00 pm: Arrive at Port Douglas. Complimentary coach transfer to your Port Douglas accommodation.

Additional Information

• Inclusions:

  • 4½ hours at Mackay or Undine Coral Cays.
  • Guided snorkelling tour with a marine biologist.
  • Glass-bottom boat and reef interpretation talk.
  • Freshly brewed tea or coffee on arrival.
  • Alfresco gourmet buffet lunch.
  • Morning and afternoon teas with pastries and fresh fruit.
  • All snorkelling gear and tuition, optical masks, seasonal Lycra suits, wetsuits, and flotation devices.
  • Complimentary coach transfers from your Port Douglas accommodation.
  • Mandatory carbon offsetting contribution of $20 per person.

Special Features

• Environmental Commitment: The tour operator is recognized as an Eco Climate Action Leader Advanced and Ecotourism Certified, committed to customer satisfaction and environmental conservation.
• Local Produce: Enjoy tasty and nutritious meals made from local produce.
• Reef Exploration Options: Choose from relaxing on the deck, snorkelling with a marine biologist, or viewing marine life from the glass-bottom boat.

Experience the Great Barrier Reef in a unique and luxurious way. Book your Port Douglas luxury snorkelling tour today and enjoy a full day of adventure, relaxation, and unparalleled natural beauty.

See all Great Barrier Reef tours from Port Douglas.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef on our blog.

Port Douglas Luxury Reef Trip Itinerary

Departure Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina - Port Douglas

7.30am

• Check in to Yacht charter office at the marina

7.45am

• Board the luxury yacht – Berth D6
• Tea & Coffee with Muffins and pastries on arrival
• Welcome & Safety briefing

8.00am

• Depart Port Douglas. Set sail.
• Sailing to Mackay Cay Outer Barrier Reef
• Reef Interpretation Talk by Marine Biologist and Master Reef Guide

10.15am

• Arrive at protected mooring at Mackay Coral Cay – 1st Reef site
• Snorkel safety briefing, distribution of snorkel equipment
• Nature Activities commence:
• Snorkel over the coral gardens
• Guided Snorkel Tour by Marine Biologist
• Transfer to the coral cay for exploring
• Relax and swim
• Glass Bottom Boat tour

12.45pm

• Serve Tropical Buffet Lunch on board
• Move to 2nd reef site
• After lunch, Nature Activities resume
• Continue free time snorkelling

2.15pm

• Afternoon Tea & Coffee, cakes and fresh fruit platter

2.30pm

• Depart Mackay Cay. Set sail to Port Douglas
• Relax on board

5.00pm

• Arrive Port Douglas
• Coach transfer to Port Douglas accommodation
• Pickups from Palm Cove now available every Friday and Monday only.
• Palm Cove bus times: Departs Palm Cove at 7.00am and return departs Port Douglas at 5.15pm
• Exact pickup times from various hotels will be advised at the time of booking.

Luxury Reef Trip Port Dougla - Sample Menu

***Morning Tea***

Daintree Tea & Coffee
Freshly baked Muffins
Fresh fruit
Watermelon, Honeydew melon, Rockmelon, Pineapple & Oranges

***Buffet lunch***
Cold Meats & Seafood

Medium Rare Peppered Roast Beef slices
Sliced Italian Herb Chicken breast
Tiger Prawns w/ Lemon & Cocktail sauce

Salads

New potato salad w/ chopped eggs, spring onions & a sour cream & Parmesan mayo
Mixed Leaf Salad w/ tomato, capsicum, cucumber & a balsamic & virgin olive oil dressing
Asian noodle Salad

Bread

Freshly baked assorted bread rolls w/ butter portions

Condiments

Pesto Mayo, Mustard, Sweet Chilli, Chutney

***Afternoon tea***

Daintree Tea & Coffee
Honey Nougat slice
Fresh fruit
Watermelon, Honeydew melon, Rockmelon, Pineapple & Oranges

Prepared daily by On Deck Catering

Port Douglas Luxury Snorkel Tour Inclusions

• 4 ½ hours at stunning Mackay or Undine Coral Cays
• Guided snorkelling tour with marine biologist
• Glass bottom boat and reef interpretation talk
• Freshly brewed Tropical North Queensland tea or coffee on arrival
• Alfresco gourmet buffet lunch
• Morning and afternoon teas with muffins, pastries, cakes and fresh fruit platter
• First class luxury sailing
• All snorkelling gear and tuition, optical masks, seasonal lycra suits, wetsuits and flotation devices
• Complimentary coach transfers from your Port Douglas accommodation
• Mandatory carbon offsetting contribution $20 per person
• Caters to only a maximum of 45 guests

Environmentally friendly, luxury Great Barrier Reef Tour

Experience the reef in a special private and relaxed atmosphere with only a small number of other guests on our luxury 25 metre custom built yacht.

Your Great Barrier Reef tour involves a full day sailing adventure kicking off from Crystalbrook Super Yacht Marina in Port Douglas.

Away from crowds, enjoy the serenity and warm water of the Outer Great Barrier Reef on this luxury catamaran.

Not only a market leader in reef tours, this Great Barrier Reef tour operator is committed to customer satisfaction and the environment, and is recognised as an Eco Climate Action Leader Advanced as well as being Ecotourism Certified.

This five star snorkel cruise allows you to relax and enjoy the reef in an environmentally friendly fashion – sailing all the way.

Port Douglas - Local produce & quality catering

You’ll be treated to tasty local produce on this full day reef cruise.

All products are sourced from local producers.

The mouth-watering tropical buffet lunch includes prawns while afternoon tea is accompanied by a freshly cut fruit platter.

As well as being delicious, your Great Barrier Reef tour adventure will be nutritious

Port Douglas - Explore the reef: multiple options

Whether for adventure or relaxing, this luxury Great Barrier Reef sailing tour offers a great choice of ways in which to experience the reef.

Relax and enjoy views from the deck or through the clear window of the glass bottom boat.

For close-ups, snorkel with an experienced and qualified marine biologist who will guide you on your snorkelling tour.

As well as many beautiful fish and corals, at Mackay Cay you can get close to turtles and giant clams, a fabulous experience!

A reef interpretation as well as all instruction and in-water assistance is included, along with snorkelling gear and equipment.

See more snorkel tours from Port Douglas and the Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Port Douglas

Departure Time

8:00am to 5.00pm

Departure Instructions

• 7:30am check in at the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf Street, Port Douglas
• 7:45am boarding - tea & coffee with muffins & pastries on arrival

Pickup Locations

• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove
• Port Douglas

• Courtesy coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Mackay Coral Cay
• Undine Coral Cay

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

9 hours
4.5 hours on the reef

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Champagne Celebration: Champagne Celebration Celebrating a special occasion with family & friends? Treat yourself to a chilled bottle of French Champagne, Moët & Chandon (750mL). A perfect way to enjoy a memorable moment sailing over the Coral Sea. Served to you onboard the luxury catamaran with ice bucket and champagne flutes.
• Digital Underwater Camera Hire

Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

Restrictions

Must be able to swim and have good mobility

Additional Information

• Trips subject to weather conditions. All information is correct at time of publication. The tour operator reserves the right to change any information without notice
• We offer adventure travel and associated activities, involving an element of risk and although every effort is made to safeguard our clients you are responsible for your personal loss or injury.
• We are a Non Smoking vessel.
• SNORKELLING ACTIVITY
• To participate in the activity of snorkelling, you must be confident in the water with the capacity to swim unassisted. If you are a poor swimmer, you may not be suitable to snorkel in the open water. Not all passengers will be suitable to snorkel, and our experienced crew have the discretion to advise against snorkelling if deemed not suitable for the activity. This is for the safety of the passenger
• Please be advised snorkelling can be a strenuous physical activity, even in calm water and that older people are at an increased risk of death and/or injury due to a higher incidence of medical conditions made worse by physical exertion, such as heart disease and stroke. All passengers intending to snorkel will be asked to complete our Medical Declaration for Snorkelling form.
• Our experienced crew will discuss any issues relating to medical conditions and swimming ability. Sailaway reserves the right to decline any passenger from participating in snorkelling if we are concerned about your health condition and/or swimming ability. This is for your own safety, please listen to the advice of our experienced snorkel guides to ensure the safety of our guests. There are other coral viewing activities available for you to enjoy such as the glass bottom boat as well as the island heritage walk and visit to the sand cay.
• PASSENGER MOBILITY
• Our Sailaway vessels are luxury sailing catamarans and we offer a pure sailing experience. This means the vessels travel in open seas and will move around whilst under sail. The decks of the vessels are multi levels and can be slippery when wet.
• Passengers must have good mobility to safely move around the vessels, step onto the glass bottom boats and get in and out of the water via the ladders on the back of the vessels. Our tours are not suitable for older guests with mobility issues. Unfortunately, we do not offer wheelchair access due to the layout of the decks and saloon areas.
• Our tours are adventure experiences for active travellers. Please choose your tour carefully to ensure it is suitable for your experience, age and physical health.
• Sailaway Skipper and assisting crew reserves the right to decline any passenger from participating in snorkelling if we are concerned about the health condition and/or swimming ability of a passenger for the safety and well-being of all guests onboard.

Eco Certifications

• Your reef trip ticket
• Beach towel
• Swimwear
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Camera (charged)
• Sunglasses
• Cash, Visa or Mastercard for EMC and additional purchases

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child Fare 4-12 years inclusive
• Children under 4 years of age travel free of charge.