Australia · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Australia

442 tours  ·  from $14

Half of this country only makes sense from the water. The 15 below run from a two-hour harbour loop to a full day on the outer reef, each priced and clear about how much swimming time you actually get.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns - First Reef Session: Saxon or Norman Reef
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Snorkeling & Diving Trips, Snorkeling & Diving Trips in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

1.Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,714 reviews · from $190Our pick

Sail from Cairns aboard Evolution to two Outer Reef sites, usually Saxon or Norman Reef and Hastings Reef. Snorkel with supplied gear, enjoy a barbecue lunch, and add an introductory scuba session or 10-minute helicopter flight. Marine staff including Indy, Phil, and Lourie help make the day approachable.

“Great experience with the operator. Went for scuba diving with family for the first time. Awesome. Highly recommended.”

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From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran - What the first reef stop is really like
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Sailing, Tour Reviews

From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

2.Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,567 reviews · 9 hours · from $190

Cruise from Cairns on Passions of Paradise’s fast catamaran to two outer reef sites. Snorkel with crew support, try an introductory or certified scuba session at extra cost, enjoy a chef-prepared buffet, and hear marine talks from guides such as Lily and David.

“Incredible and an amazing experience with Passions of Paradise. If you ever have to do Scuba or Snorkelling, highly recommend Passions of Paradise. Everything starting from crew, to instructors, to diving sites, to food, to snacks, to washrooms, to space and to top it all - the fabulous big catamaran, you will be in good and safe hands with them. Top notch quality team and they will ensure that you will the best time of your time at Great Barrier Reef. Much Thank You to Simon (legend-1) and Roberto (legend-2) who were my guides and instructors and their communication was always a huge help while diving. Always kept the customers…”

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Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise - Whitehaven Beach and its startling sand
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Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise

3.Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout Snorkeling Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,953 reviews · from $164Top rated

Spend about eight hours aboard Red Cat Adventures’ Thunder Cat, visiting Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout, and two reef snorkel sites. Crew members such as Hannah, Jet, Frankie, and Jared provide instruction, lunch, snacks, and gear. Pickup from selected Airlie Beach points is available.

“The weather was quite moody but we still had a lovely experience - visibility was decent in the reef and the beach/lookouts breathtaking. The music and bumpy ride made it a super fun experience as well.”

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Sydney: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Cruise - Red City Route: Sydney landmarks in one 90-minute loop
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Sydney: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Cruise

4.Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,697 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $51

Use a 24 or 48-hour Big Bus pass to see Sydney across two routes and 23 stops. Ride the city loop, head to Bondi Beach, and add a Captain Cook harbour cruise or panoramic night tour. Open-top views, eight audio languages, onboard Wi-Fi, and friendly stop staff make this a practical first look at Sydney.

“Easy to use and staff great! Evening tour fabulous hosted by Stephen whose knowledge was amazing and informative ( good sense of humour) Gill the driver was great and very friendly 👍 An all round great experience 👍👍”

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Airlie Beach: Whitehaven Full-Day Eco-Cruise with Buffet - Pickup from Airlie Beach and the morning start
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Airlie Beach: Whitehaven Full-Day Eco-Cruise with Buffet

5.Whitehaven Full-Day Eco-Cruise with Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,644 reviews · 8 hours · from $162

Spend eight hours with Red Cat Adventures cruising from Airlie Beach to two changing snorkel sites, Whitehaven Beach, and Hill Inlet Lookout. Expect a stable custom catamaran, guided reef time, stinger or wetsuit hire, homemade brownies, buffet lunch, and an upbeat English-speaking crew.

“overwhelming the natures beauty. l enjoy swimming at whiteheaven beach and snorkeling”

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Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran - Two reef stops chosen for the day
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Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran

6.Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,564 reviews · from $192

Spend about nine hours aboard Passions of Paradise’s 25-meter catamaran, visiting two Outer Reef sites selected for the day’s conditions. Snorkel with guides such as Simon or Harry, try introductory scuba from age 12, enjoy a buffet lunch, and hear a marine biologist explain the reef.

“The Passion Crew were accommodating, courteous and lots of fun to be around. Harry was very patient with me as inexperienced snorkler”

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Litchfield National Park and Jumping Crocodile Cruise - Magnetic termite mounds bring a touch of the strange
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Litchfield National Park and Jumping Crocodile Cruise

7.Litchfield National Park and Jumping Crocodile Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,119 reviews · from $172

Spend about 11 hours with Litchfield Escapes, pairing an early Adelaide River cruise with Litchfield’s Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, and termite mounds. Guides such as Dylan, Daz, Will, and Damo provide local stories, lunch, snacks, and return transport for groups capped at 24.

“Our guide, Will, was amazing! He drove the bus while telling good stories and a wide range of local knowledge the whole time; history, bush tucker, everything! Will also pointed out everything we needed to know. He had a great sense of humour and kept it fun but very safety conscious with the jumping crocs. It was very well organised, he's great at his job.”

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River Cruise - Following the Dickson Inlet into crocodile country
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

River Cruise

8.River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,980 reviews · from $37

Spend about 90 minutes aboard Lady Douglas with skipper-led commentary through Dickson Inlet, the marina, and Port Douglas waterfront. Look for saltwater crocodiles, birds, crabs, mudskippers, and shipwrecks, then enjoy a drink and snack box while learning about local history.

“A pleasant cruise with an informative crew. Information delivered with a bit of dry humour. we didn't see any crocodiles as the weather wasn't appropriate, but it was still interesting.”

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Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise - Moving to the Wonder Wall
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, VIP

Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

9.Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,895 reviews · from $181

From Cairns, you’ll spend about six hours at Upolu Cay and the Wonder Wall aboard a 65-foot catamaran. Marine guides lead snorkeling, glass-bottom viewing, and optional scuba sessions, with reef gear, wetsuits, lunch, snacks, and in-water help included.

“The fabulous crew hosted a fun outing, ensuring we saw sea life (turtles, clown fish, giant clams, and even a sting ray) and were kept safe the entire day. From kids to adults and first time snorklers to experienced divers - everyone enjoyed themselves onboard the Ocean Freedom!”

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Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise - Downstream toward Docklands and Southbank
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Melbourne: 2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

10.2-Hour City Highlights River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,804 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Cruise Melbourne’s Yarra River for two hours, traveling upstream and downstream past Docklands, Southbank, the MCG, Olympic Park, Herring Island, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. GPS-triggered English commentary guides you, while indoor seats and an open back deck give you comfort and photo views.

“A really enjoyable way to see Melbourne from a different angle is the Yarra River cruise. Drifting through the heart of the city gives you a great mix of skyline, sporting precincts, green spaces and riverside architecture — it’s surprisingly calming compared to the bustle on land. I’d strongly recommend opting for the two-hour tour, as the one-hour option felt a little rushed. With more time on the water, you can properly relax, take in the views, and enjoy the commentary without constantly feeling like the return is just around the corner. There’s a bar onboard too — simple but perfectly functional — and enjoying a cold beer while cruising…”

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Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise - The 40-minute run toward the whales
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Sydney: Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

11.Whale Watching Adventure Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,790 reviews · 2h 45m · from $63

Cruise from Circular Quay into Sydney’s open waters aboard a spacious catamaran for 2 hours and 45 minutes of humpback whale watching. Your English-speaking guide shares whale facts while you watch from broad decks, with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, toilets, and a licensed bar onboard.

“Great fun, knowledgeable guides and we saw lots of whales and dolphins. Would 100% do it again!”

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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise - One hour on the Daintree River
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences in Cairns

Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

12.Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,663 reviews · from $25Best value

Cruise the Daintree River near the ferry on Solar Whisper, a quiet solar-electric boat carrying up to 24 people. Your guide, often Mark or Dave, points out named crocodiles, birds, frogs, snakes, crabs, and fish, with tea and coffee included.

“Made a last minute booking for family to spend an afternoon in Port Douglas. The trip was just as described, perfect relaxing ride around the Daintree River. Even though it was in warm November and we were warned that the crocs may bRead more”

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Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise - Kings Tableland offers the quieter mountain view
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Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise

13.Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,585 reviews · from $68

Spend about 10 hours exploring Sydney Zoo, Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls or Leura Cascades, Leura, Katoomba, Scenic World, and the Three Sisters. Guide-driver Bruce or Les may lead the small coach, while optional zoo and Scenic World tickets cost extra. Return by Sydney ferry to Circular Quay.

“Les(OZtrail) was great and gave detailed info of different places, history and some biology lessons. It was fun but weather was a spoil sport as we couldnt see much of blue mountain. Cascade was great. Plan your trip when it doesnt rain to avoid dissappointment.”

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From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise - Leaving Cairns from Marlin Wharf
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From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise

14.Full-Day Green Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,584 reviews · 8 hours · from $77

Take a modern catamaran from Cairns to Green Island National Park for a flexible reef day. Snorkel from shore, relax on the beach, or choose a glass-bottom boat and semi-submarine tour. Guides such as Zack, Kate, and Andrea help make the day friendly, practical, and fun.

“it was a fantastic day to see the Great Barrier Reef. A once in a lifetime experience. We saw lots of wildlife and learned loads. The trip with the semi submersible and glass bottom boat as extras was very well coordinated and the schedule was never rushed. Theimch was delicious. Staff were friendly and informative. Would really recommend this to anyone visiting Cairns”

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Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan - Hells Gates and the mouth of Macquarie Harbour
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Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan

15.Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,577 reviews · from $111

Spend six hours aboard Spirit of the Wild, a hybrid catamaran with electric motors for quiet cruising on the Gordon River. See Hells Gates, walk historic Sarah Island with a guide, enjoy a chef-prepared buffet lunch and return to Strahan with local produce tastings.

“Just to relax and enjoy your day everything is taken care off. The staff are wounder. Just remember to enjoy the Wounders of the Gorden River”

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Great Barrier Reef Tours72Whitsundays Sailing Trips41Harbour Cruises54Sunset Cruises33Snorkeling & Diving Trips70Snorkeling59Canoes & Kayaks62Sailing50
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