Cairns Glass Bottom Boat Information

Glass bottom boat tours were invented on Cairns' Great Barrier Reef! First launched back in the early 1900s on Green Island, glass bottom boat tours revolutionised visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Prior to glass bottom boat tours, visitors would take a square glass box and float it on top of the water, looking down at the corals beneath.

GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOURS FROM CAIRNS:

Lady enjoying the water-slide at Moore Reef.

Sunlover Reef Cruises

The only pontoon in Cairns with a waterslide! Great day tour for people of all ages. Visit Outer Reef Pontoon at Moore Reef, with lots of inclusions: all snorkel gear, glass bottom boat and semi-sub tours, underwater observatory. Enjoy magnificent snorkeling.
Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise at Sunset.

Spirit of Cairns – Buffet Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a beautiful dinner on the Cairns waterfront! Discover the elegance of a tropical night aboard the Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise. Glide across calm waters, indulge in a gourmet buffet of fresh local cuisine! Stunning sunsets!
Reef Magic Outer Reef Scuba Diving

Reef Magic Cruises

The newest pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy up to 5 hours at the reef. This is an Outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon with fabulous coral gardens. Meet Wally! Lots of inclusions: snorkelling, glass bottom boat, semi-sub, underwater observatory and more. Modern State-of-The-Art Platform!
Quicksilver Cruises Boat from Port Douglas

Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises

Save 15% on Quicksilver. A smooth comfortable ride on the wave piercing catamaran. Quicksilver Cruises provides the only Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Semi-Submarines, Underwater Observatory, Snorkeling & Diving the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs!

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Or try the form below, we have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.

With the advent of glass bottom boat tours, visitors could explore the Great Barrier Reef, gliding over the reef and looking down on the corals and marine life. Cairns glass bottom boat tours are available with most reef, pontoon and island experiences. It is always included in the ticket price and accompanied by an informative reef presentation.

Glass bottom boat tours are suitable for people of all ages and nationalities. Kids and non-swimmers will enjoy this unique, completely safe way of seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkellers and divers will benefit from the educational talks, learning more about what they have or will see on their own, unguided reef exploration.

Cairns glass bottom boat tours generally last between 20 and 30 minutes and are available on trips to Green Island, Fitzroy Island, the Frankland Islands Group, all outer reef pontoons and most outer reef boat trips, including Reef Experience and Ocean Freedom, to name just a few.

The newest Cairns Glass Bottom Boat belongs to Reef Magic Cruises, who purchased a $150,000 Manta glass-bottom boat in mid 2010. Seating up to 40 guests, the Manta glass bottom boat has 16 panoramic viewing windows and is permanently located at the Reef Magic Cruises Marine World pontoon. A 30-minute tour with a marine biologist is included in their day tour price.

Please see the table below, we have collated and displayed every glass-bottom boat tour that visits the Great Barrier Reef from both Cairns and Port Douglas. (Note: We also mention the small township of Port Douglas as it is only a 45-minute drive north of the city of Cairns). In the table below you can read the name of the company that operates a glass-bottom boat tour and also the current price, they charge in Australian dollars.

Cairns Glass Bottom Boat Tour Table:

Company Name: Glass Bottom Boat: Cost:
Sunlover Cruises Yes $295.00
Reef Magic Cruises Yes $299.00
Great Adventures Yes $299.00
Reef Experience No $260.00
Ocean Freedom Yes $279.00
Green Island Yes $122.00
Passions of Paradise No $269.00
Evolution Dive No $265.00
Reef Day Tripper No $220.00
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel No $296.00
Quicksilver Cruises Port Douglas Yes $325.00
Silversonic Port Douglas No $315.00

Please note: We are not affiliated with any of the boats. We are Cairns locals, trying to help visitors have the best time they can, on the amazing Great Barrier Reef. This website is funded and built by us: we make commission from your tour bookings. We hope the information is of some assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more advice.

Lady enjoying the water-slide at Moore Reef.

Sunlover Reef Cruises

The only pontoon in Cairns with a waterslide! Great day tour for people of all ages. Visit Outer Reef Pontoon at Moore Reef, with lots of inclusions: all snorkel gear, glass bottom boat and semi-sub tours, underwater observatory. Enjoy magnificent snorkeling.
Reef Magic Outer Reef Scuba Diving

Reef Magic Cruises

The newest pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy up to 5 hours at the reef. This is an Outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon with fabulous coral gardens. Meet Wally! Lots of inclusions: snorkelling, glass bottom boat, semi-sub, underwater observatory and more. Modern State-of-The-Art Platform!
Great Adventures Outer Reef Pontoon Cairns Australia

Great Adventures: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef

This is the only Cairns day tour to combine time on beautiful Green Island and a visit to the outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Best of both worlds. Suitable for snorkellers and scuba divers.
Great Adventures Day Boat

Great Adventures: Outer Great Barrier Reef Pontoon

Perfect for cruise ship passengers Depart Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal 10:30am return to Cairns 5:30pm. Enjoy beautiful snorkeling and diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Semi-submarines, underwater observatory, buffet lunch and all snorkel gear!
Quicksilver Cruises Boat from Port Douglas

Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises

Save 15% on Quicksilver. A smooth comfortable ride on the wave piercing catamaran. Quicksilver Cruises provides the only Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Semi-Submarines, Underwater Observatory, Snorkeling & Diving the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs!
Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise at Sunset.

Spirit of Cairns – Buffet Dinner Cruise

Enjoy a beautiful dinner on the Cairns waterfront! Discover the elegance of a tropical night aboard the Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise. Glide across calm waters, indulge in a gourmet buffet of fresh local cuisine! Stunning sunsets!
Sunlover boat docking at Moore Reef pontoon.

Moore Reef & Fitzroy Island Full Day Reef Tour

Reef + Island Tour! Visit Moore Reef Pontoon enjoy waterslides, snorkeling, semi-submarines, glass bottom boats and underwater observatory. Enjoy an afternoon at Fitzroy Island, buffet lunch and snorkeling! All in the same day!

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Cairns Reef Information

Click the links below to find out more.

Do you need help choosing a trip?

Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.

Special

FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*

Cairns Underwater Camera Hire Service

Spend over $550.00 AUD on your Great Barrier Reef tour with us and receive the latest Digital Underwater Camera Hire. Take amazing High-Resolution images and 1080 HD Video. Only when you book online thru our website. 

Not available for any tours to the Islands as fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!

You need to come into our shop located on the Cairns Esplanade the day before departure to pick up the camera before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Camera Card and drop the camera off back at our shop before 5:30pm.

 

Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.