Great Barrier Reef Sites Near Cairns

Discover the Great Barrier Reef sites you can experience from Cairns. The Great Barrier Reef is not one single reef, but an enormous living system made up of thousands of individual reefs, coral cays and marine habitats. Explore 12 remarkable reef and cay locations accessible from Cairns, from the coral gardens and dive sites of Norman, Flynn, Milln and Hastings reefs to the white sands of Upolu and Vlasoff cays and the protected seabird sanctuary of Michaelmas Cay.

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Breaking Patches

Discover Breaking Patches, a beautiful Great Barrier Reef location accessible from Cairns. Explore shallow coral gardens filled with colourful tropical fish, giant clams and diverse marine life while snorkelling or scuba diving in this remarkable natural reef environment.

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Hastings Reef

Discover Hastings Reef, a large Outer Great Barrier Reef location approximately 50 kilometres north-east of Cairns. Snorkel above shallow coral gardens or scuba dive among bommies, walls, ravines and swim-throughs while discovering tropical fish, turtles and remarkable marine life.

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Michaelmas Cay

Discover Michaelmas Cay, a beautiful coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef approximately 45 kilometres north-east of Cairns. Snorkel from the beach among colourful coral and tropical fish, look for giant clams and sea turtles, and experience one of the region's most important protected seabird habitats.

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Flynn Reef

Discover Flynn Reef from Cairns, a spectacular Outer Great Barrier Reef location known for colourful coral gardens, clear tropical water and abundant marine life. Snorkel over shallow coral or scuba dive among walls, bommies, overhangs and swim-throughs at one of Cairns' outstanding reef sites.

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Norman Reef

Discover Norman Reef, one of the Outer Great Barrier Reef sites accessible from Cairns. Explore shallow coral gardens, colourful reef fish and an impressive underwater landscape while snorkelling or scuba diving, with the chance to encounter sea turtles, giant clams, reef sharks and other marine life.

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Saxon Reef

Discover Saxon Reef near Cairns, an Outer Great Barrier Reef site with colourful coral bommies, tropical fish and fantastic snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities.

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Moore Reef

Discover Moore Reef, an Outer Great Barrier Reef site accessible from Cairns, where turquoise water surrounds colourful coral gardens and abundant marine life. Snorkel above the reef, try scuba diving or experience the underwater world from Sunlover's Moore Reef pontoon, with reef-viewing activities also available for non-swimmers

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Vlasoff Cay

Discover Vlasoff Cay, a spectacular white sand cay on the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns. Surrounded by turquoise water and coral reef, this remote tropical location can be seen from the air or experienced on selected helicopter landing tours, with opportunities for snorkelling and time on the sand.

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Milln Reef

Discover Milln Reef, an outstanding Great Barrier Reef location accessible from Cairns. Snorkel above colourful coral gardens or scuba dive among walls, bommies, pinnacles and swim-throughs at famous reef sites including Three Sisters and Whale Bommie.

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Thetford Reef

Discover Thetford Reef, a beautiful Great Barrier Reef location accessible from Cairns. Snorkel above colourful coral gardens or scuba dive among bommies, reef walls and abundant tropical marine life in the clear waters of this remarkable reef.

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Pellowe Reef

Discover Pellowe Reef, an isolated Outer Great Barrier Reef location accessible from Cairns. Explore spectacular coral formations, clear blue water and abundant tropical marine life while snorkelling or scuba diving at this remarkable reef.

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Upolu Cay

Discover Upolu Cay, a tiny sand cay surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns. Snorkel in the surrounding reef environment or experience this remarkable location from above on selected scenic helicopter adventures and cay landings.