Great Barrier Reef: Luxurious VIP Escape

8 Ratings

Cairns City

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This package ensures privacy and a tailored service for a peaceful getaway at the Great Barrier Reef. It delivers a luxurious and soothing experience in VIP fashion on our cutting-edge pontoon.

Duration: 6 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Reef Magic Pontoon - Experience breathtaking return helicopter flights to the Reef Magic pontoon. Depart at approximately 10:30 am and arrive around 10:50 am. Upon arrival, a host will welcome you and introduce you to the skipper and senior crew. You will be guided to a private VIP area on the pontoon, where you can enjoy morning tea, snacks, and…

What's Included

Glass bottom boat tour with VIP boarding
Access to changeroom facilities
Private snorkel tour with marine biologist
Scenic helicopter flights to and from the pontoon
Complimentary chilled champagne
Licensed English Guide
Private tour of the science lab led by the marine biologist
Morning tea, snacks and seafood platter and buffet menu
Private VIP area on the pontoon

What's Not Included

Any additional diving, this may impact your itinerary

Additional Information

Not wheelchair accessible

Location

Nautilus Aviation

Pier Point Road

Please check in to Nautilus Aviation across from The Salt House

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(8 Ratings)

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1 star

Yam_miam

Dec 16, 2025

Must do! - It was beautiful!! The boat ride to the pontoon (1h30) was very pleasant on the outer deck. The air conditioning was a little too cold inside for my taste. Arrived on the pontoon everything is set up very quickly. The staff is really friendly and takes the time to answer questions. The buffet is very good and suitable for everyone. The material provided; snorkel mask and fin is of very good quality. The suits are in a worse condition, but they do the job. The snorkling venue is absolutely beautiful with more or less deep reefs We also went around by helicopter: amazing! This view of the Great Barrier Reef is breathtaking! An experience not to be missed in Cairns!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ibo1980

Nov 16, 2025

Diving is better than snorkeling - Good fruits for buffet lunch, the tour had some interesting stuff for kids too but there is no way they can snorkel as the water is pretty salty, the coffee on the cruise needs improvement, overall it was a good experience however I think the schedule should be explained better and repeatedly to the guests as one time announcement is not enough to get it all accurately

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ashley_m

Sep 4, 2025

Amazing Day - Definitely the stand out experience of this trip and possibly my life. The helicopter ride allows you to see the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef and it is a site to behold. We were greeted by our marine biologist and she was a treasure. She made sure that we were comfortable and then showed us all the amenities of the pontoon. The day was incredible! If you don’t want to swim, there are many activities that allow you to observe the underwater world. If you want to snorkel or dive, it’s a dream experience. Our assigned marine biologist was extremely knowledgeable and shared so many details explaining the complexities of the life in the reef. The lunch was delicious. The ability to move about on our own pace and swim beyond the borders to see the turtle in the reef made the day top notch! The only feedback that I would offer to the tour operator is to include in the description that the check in for the tour needs to be 30-45 minutes before the published “start” time. We were planning to arrive at 10:30am but at 10am I received a phone asking to arrive as soon as possible. This was not clear in the meeting instructions provided. The rest of the day was the most amazing day ever. I’ll remember it forever.

Review provided by Viator

Vincentc3836

Jul 12, 2025

Appreciate to excellent crew members Jin + Diving team - I would like to recognise Jin, who is one of the crew members and the diving team. I accidentally drop the iphone with water proof bag right straight through the gap between wooden flooring. I helplessly witness my phone slowly sink. As it is closed to the end time (closed to 3pm) and diving team has called it a day, one of the crew members mentioned there is nothing the crew can do. Jin approached and mentioned he would talk to the diving team. I did ask whether possible to help take a look tomorrow. To my surprise, during the ferry back to Cairns, Jin took the mobile + bag to me and said the diving team help me retrieve. The phone includes lots of priceless photo and means a lot to me. Really appreciate Jin and the diving team! Although the weather/ sky was not good, the excellent hospitality / caring mindset did make my day!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Tourist817677

May 18, 2025

Amazing experience on my first time ever scuba diving - especially thanks to outstanding Sofia! - I gave myself a push and chose the option to go scuba diving for the first time in my life. As I had no experience whatsoever, I was grateful that the preliminary instructions on the boat were easy to follow even for not-so-quick-witted me. But my actual luck was that my instructor who accompanied me in the water was a super-patient, competent, and well-spirited young woman called Sofia. She guided me for well over 30 minutes through the breathtaking scenary under water, let me make a lot of stops so that I could adjust to the pressure in the ears, and pointing me me to all the beautiful fauna and flora, including a huge variety of fish species and even a water turtle. It was an experience of a lifetime, and I am so very grateful that was able to share it specifically with Sofia. At the end Sofia also gave me a certificate for my first time ever scuba diving. I can hardly recommend this experience enough. You won't regret it.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Phil

Jan 2, 2025

An unforgettable experience - We left Cairns around 9, and sailed for an hour and a half to the pontoon. During the trip we had hot tea or coffee and donuts. I am a certified diver and I signed up for a dive. The dive was shallow (10 meters), they had a deeper wall dive that I elected not to do. After the dive we were served a delicious lunch. In the afternoon I snorkeled and took a glass bottom boat ride. All included in the cost. The snorkeling was some of the best I’ve seen. The return trip was smooth sailing and we were served snacks. The staff were very helpful. If you are coming to Australia and are a certified driver this trip is a must.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Check Availability

From $1,077

up to 2 guests

1 - Adult