Two day Great Barrier Reef and Outback Experience tour package explores the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and Discover the Australian Outback on your trip to Chillagoe
Explore the best of Queensland with our Reef and Outback Experience. This two-day tour combines the Great Barrier Reef’s stunning beauty with the Queensland Outback’s rugged charm, offering a unique and unforgettable journey.
Day One: Discover the Great Barrier Reef
Your adventure begins with an exhilarating day on the Great Barrier Reef. With Reef Experience, the only “fully inclusive” Great Barrier Reef tour departing from Cairns, you’ll enjoy a hassle-free day with exciting activities. Start your day with inner-city bus transfers, BBQ bacon and egg rolls, fruit platters, and your choice of coffee or tea.
Board the fast catamaran “Reef Experience” for a 90-minute journey to two pristine outer Great Barrier Reef locations. Here, you can snorkel to your heart’s content, with expert help available if you’re not a confident swimmer. The tour includes a certified or introductory dive, delicious food, pickup from your Cairns City accommodation and all necessary reef levies. Imagine the spectacular underwater world and marvel at the vibrant marine life and coral formations.
Day Two: Explore the Chillagoe Caves and the Outback
On the second day, venture west over the Great Dividing Range to the Queensland Outback and the Chillagoe Caves. Travel 215 kilometres (about a 3-hour drive) from Cairns to reach the northern end of the Atherton Tablelands, crossing into the Western watershed.
Begin your outback adventure with a stop at the Skybury Plantation for morning tea and a cruise. Continue through the wetlands’ back blocks, spotting wallabies, emus, and other wildlife before crossing the Great Divide.
As you enter the Australian Outback, travel through historic towns and rolling hills rich in minerals, eventually arriving in the Chillagoe area. Explore the towering limestone karsts and delve into the history of the region’s copper smelters. Enjoy lunch at a unique outback pub before embarking on a guided tour of the Chillagoe Caves.
After exploring the caves, begin your return journey to Cairns, reflecting on the diverse and fascinating landscapes you’ve experienced.
Customisable Tour Order
You can choose your reef and outback experience in order. When booking, mention your preference in the note section.
Important Details
Duration: 2 days
Inclusions: All activities and meals as described (excluding accommodation)
What to Bring: Comfortable clothing, swimwear, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure!
Book Your Adventure Today
Experience the best of Queensland with our Reef and Outback Experience. Whether snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef or exploring the ancient Chillagoe Caves, this tour promises a memorable adventure. Book now and prepare for an unforgettable journey!
Changing your booking: Please give us at least 24 hours' notice to change your date or details.
Cancelling: Cancel more than 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours of departure are not refunded.
How to cancel or change: Email [email protected] or call us on +61 7 4037 2700. Our team is here 7am to 9pm (Cairns time), every day.
If you miss the boat: There is no refund if you don't arrive by the departure time. The boat can't wait, even for delays outside your control such as flights.
If we cancel: If we have to cancel your trip, for example because of weather or safety, you choose: reschedule, credit, or a full refund.
Your Reef Day Tour is operated by GBR Tours Pty Ltd (Reef Experience).
Check-in: 7:30am at Berth 8, Finger A, Marlin Jetty, Marlin Marina, Cairns. The boat departs at 8:00am.
Terms and Conditions:
Children’s prices are from 4 to 11 years of age. If booking as a certified diver, adult rates apply.
To keep everyone’s booking safe, please bring the card used for payment and matching photo ID when you check in. Booking for someone else or buying a gift? Just tell us in the Message box when you book and we will look after it with you.
Open-Dated Ticket: In certain cases, Open-Dated tickets may be issued. These tickets are valid indefinitely but are non-refundable. Any fare increase must be paid at the time of rebooking. Once a customer accepts an Open-Dated ticket, the cancellation policy applicable to the original booking date will remain in effect.
Schedules, vessels, dive locations, and itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, with full consideration for your safety and enjoyment. We reserve the right to adjust tours, schedules, prices, and itineraries at any time without notice. We are not liable for any changes, cancellations, or delays, and we accept no responsibility for any loss, additional expenses, or out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result, whether caused directly or indirectly.
Neither this site nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for your costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, any loss, any damage, delays, deaths or personal injury.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance that covers personal injury and the events, including but not limited to your cancellation for any reason and the cancellation or alteration to the scheduled itinerary for reasons involving weather or passenger, crew or vessel safety. Please read your insurance policy's wording carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. Please be aware that all travel insurance companies do not cover scuba diving and other in-water activities. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical expenses, or other expenses are the passenger's financial responsibility.
The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Experience taking photographs or video recordings during the course of this activity/tour. The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Experience receiving and using images of the passenger from third parties and using these images for marketing and promoting its services.
Please inform us of any special requirements 48 hours before your travel date, such as dietary requirements, allergies, mobility and disability issues. This can be done in the ‘Booking Message’ section of your online reservation or by contacting our friendly reservations team.
Scuba Diving – Important Information:
All Certified Divers must present a valid Certification Card. Failure to present a Certification Card may result in the customer being unable to participate in scuba diving. They can enjoy snorkelling activities instead. No refunds would be offered.
The minimum age for Introductory Diving is 12 years old. The minimum age for certified diving and Open Water Courses is 10 years old. All junior divers must either be accompanied by a certified parent or guardian or must dive with a dive professional at an additional charge. If the diver is under the age of 18 years, parental or guardian consent is required for that diver to undertake a dive. The parent or guardian should sign the medical declaration as witness.
Upon arriving at our vessel and before commencing any dive activities, all passengers must complete our liability forms. All information provided must be strictly accurate. If during the tour, it becomes apparent that a form has been incorrectly completed, either by omission or false statement, we reserve the right to prevent any customer from undertaking any scuba diving or snorkelling activities while on board our vessel. Any decision made in this regard will be at the absolute discretion of the Dive Crew aboard the vessel.
The dangers and risks associated with scuba diving in an open ocean environment under variable conditions apply to our tours. We reserve the right to prevent any customer from participating in scuba diving if we determine that they are physically or medically unsuitable to do so or if it is in the best interests of our crew or other scuba divers. Our crew are trained professionals, and it is up to their sole discretion who they take diving and/or snorkelling. No refunds would apply.
Please remember you must allow 24 hours from your last dive before flying.
Medical Conditions & Medications:
Queensland, Australia has some of the strictest scuba diving rules in the world but also the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules, including medical, as is the law.
All passengers participating in any Scuba activities must complete a
Medical Questionnaire
. If you’ve answered yes to any questions or take any prescribed medication, you will need further medical clearance. This must be arranged prior to your day of departure.
Medication: DO NOT presume that by taking medication is controlling your medical conditions, and you should be fine to scuba dive, as it is the medication that can be the problem when scuba diving. Particularly prescribed medication may require a medical clearance.
The medical certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the scuba dive. The certificate must state that the person is medically fit to dive.
No refunds are given for uncompleted dives due to medical conditions and/or prescribed medications or changes of mind.
Peak Season Surcharge - To be paid onboard on the day of travel:
➢ A Surcharge of $100 per person applies to 25 December 2025 & 2026 – Christmas Day
➢ A Surcharge of $50 per person applies to the following days:
• 26 December 2025 – Boxing Day
• 3, 4, 5 & 6 April 2026 – Easter Weekend
• 26 December 2026 – Boxing Day
• 26, 27, 28 & 29 March 2027 - Easter Weekend
A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to re-schedule or alter all or part of a reservation.
Any changes made to the booking (date, names, etc.) will incur a $20 administration fee.
We are required to notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during standard business hours (9 am-5 pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider. All cancellation requests must be in writing and sent via email to: [email protected]. Any emails received outside of these hours will be considered received the following day. Please be aware that cancellation attempts made through online chat or phone will not be processed.
Cancellation fees are as follows:
20% cancellation fee 24 hours or more before departure
100% cancellation fee within 24 hours before departure and for "No Show"
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to arrive at a scheduled tour departure time. Tour departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstances - including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather, etc.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation, and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities.
Terms And Conditions
This website acts as a booking agent only for the tours advertised herein. Although we endeavour to provide accurate information, we are not liable for inaccurate information concerning services.
• Neither this site, nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for your costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, loss of damage, delay or personal injury.
• All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical or other expenses are the financial responsibility of that passenger.
• Please inform us of any special requirements prior to your date of travel; such as dietary requirements, allergies, mobility and disability issues. This can be done by contacting our friendly reservations team.
Spend the day snorkelling and scuba diving on the Outer Great Barrier Reef aboard Reef Experience. Enjoy an all-inclusive reef day from Cairns with snorkelling equipment, meals and reef activities included.
Departs
Chillagoe Caves Australian Outback Tour
Outback and Chillagoe Caves Tour
Travel through historic towns and visit a coffee plantation before you reach the towering limestone karsts around Chillagoe Township Visit the remains of the oncemighty