Review: Great Barrier Reef Day Trip from Port Douglas
Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Port Douglas tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
There’s no shortage of ways to see the magnificent Great Barrier Reef off North Queensland’s coast.
However, if you’re like us and have small children in tow, it’s hard to beat the Great Barrier Reef Day Trip from Port Douglas to Agincourt Reef with Quicksilver Cruises. Here on the edge of the outer reef, Quicksilver has constructed a permanent floating platform — and it offers unparalleled access to the world of wonder below for all age groups.
We board their sleek catamaran at Port Douglas Marina for the 72-kilometre journey to Agincourt. The crew are friendly and efficient, and we get away right on time. Tea and coffee are offered during the cruise, along with information on the types of marine life we can expect to see on the reef. The panoramic views from the top deck of the vessel are really stunning.
Upon arrival at the platform, guests are free to do as much or as little as they like and most activities are included in the cruise price. The first and most popular option is snorkelling and there’s gear available in all sizes, including flippers, masks, wetsuits, and flotation devices. The platform has stairs leading down into the water, ensuring ease of access for all skill levels.
As we enter the water we’re literally transported to another world. Underwater digital cameras are available for hire, which is a really nice touch. We come face to face with fish of all shapes, sizes and colours, so these aren’t your typical selfies! The experience is truly amazing and worth capturing on film.
If you’ve always wanted to give scuba diving a go, this is your chance! For an extra charge, Quicksilver offers introductory dives with a qualified instructor. Divers must be aged over 12 and participate in a thirty-minute briefing. Some of our group opt to participate and they’re still raving about it!
There are also plenty of activities to keep non-swimmers engaged. Take a spin in the semi-submersible craft that operates from the platform — it’s a great way to see the reef from a diver’s point of view without actually getting wet. There’s also an underwater observatory, which offers a unique vantage of the fish feeding session.
Finally, for an extra charge, you can take to the skies over the reef in a helicopter. Ten-minute scenic flights are offered from the platform, and those with a decent camera can capture that perfect postcard moment!
Our appetites are well and truly whetted by the morning’s activities, and the crew serves up a sensational tropical buffet for lunch. Think fresh seafood, cold meats, crisp salads, and colourful fruit. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted prawns so good — and honestly — the only thing that stops me returning to the buffet a lot more times than I need to is that the kids want to go snorkelling again.
Every time you go back in the water there’s something new to see. We spend the afternoon covering every inch of the surrounding reef, before wrapping up with a cold beer from the bar.
Whether you’re travelling with kids, a group of friends, or as a couple, there’s something for everyone on this Great Barrier Reef Day Trip from Port Douglas. It’s a superb introduction to one of Australia’s most famous natural wonders.
The writer travelled as a guest of Quicksilver Cruises. You can book this tour here.
Browse our range of Port Douglas tours and experiences here.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Chris Bright is a freelance writer based in Melbourne with a passion for travel, food, music, and film. He’s travelled to South-East Asia, India, Japan, parts of Europe, and much of North America. Chris is willing to try anything once, whether it’s leaping from great heights or eating things that don’t look the least bit appetising. When it comes to travel, he loves nothing more than meeting new people and sharing a laugh over their local drink of choice.
