Top Queensland On the Water - page 7

Get your adrenaline pumping on a Cairns jet boat ride. As you zoom across the waters of Trinity Inlet, hang on tight while the experienced boat captain performs spins and other maneuvers to make sure you stay cool in the splashing water. Admire landmarks from the boat, and keep your eyes open for marine life—you may get lucky and spot a crocodile. It’s a great way to spend 35 minutes in Queensland’s tropical heat.

Make the most of your time at the Great Barrier Reef by joining a two-day snorkeling tour. You’ll spend your days snorkeling among tropical fish, coral, and maybe even turtles. At night you’ll sleep on a boat in a shared cabin, some without windows, and can enjoy the peace of the reef after other tourists have left. Participate in the included “Fish After Dark” experience if you like.

Search for whales during this 8-hour wildlife-watching tour from Hervey Bay. Aboard a fully equipped catamaran that can accommodate up to 24 guests, sail out to Fraser Island's Platypus Bay. Climb on to the submerged platform to view whales in the water at a safe distance, and use the boat's hydrophone to hear their songs. Tea and a buffet lunch included.

Combine a thrilling jet boat ride with a scenic helicopter flight for a fun and comprehensive experience of the Gold Coast. Start with a jet boat ride that includes power slides, 360-degree spins, and other high-speed tricks. Your helicopter flight takes you soaring over the Gold Coast with panoramic views of the ocean and beaches. Enjoy views that most visitors miss, and still have time for other activities later.

Experience the best of both worlds! Start your day with a birds-eye view of Cairns, Green Island, and the Great Barrier Reef on a Reef Hopper flight, before departing on a full day adventure cruise to Green Island with Big Cat on board Reef Rocket.

Join this group tour from Townsville or Magnetic Island and explore the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) and the Great Barrier Reef by scuba diving or snorkeling. You’ll receive briefings above water from your guides, and then you’ll be able to explore MOUA and all of its history. This is located on the John Brewer Reef, which is also rich in indigenous culture that your guides will tell you all about.

Explore Northern Queensland’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed Kuranda Rainforest on a full-day tour from Cairns. Take in the highlights of the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park with a thrilling Army Duck tour, followed by a guided tour of the Koala and Wildlife Park. Learn more about Kuranda’s unique Aboriginal heritage at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, complete with traditional dancing, didgeridoo music, and spear-throwing demonstrations. Return transfers from Cairns hotels are included.

Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green Island, with plenty of time to snorkel or tour the reef on a glass-bottom boat or view coral from a semi-submersible submarine.

Experience rappelling, swimming under waterfalls, walking through old, vibrant rainforest while jumping off rocks into the deep fresh crystal clear water... Super friendly, qualified crew ensure your day is fun filled and ultra safe so your can enjoy the rest of your holidays, & tell of your adventures.

Most Great Barrier Reef trips are day tours, so seeing the reef after the crowds leave means finding somewhere to stay out on the water. Spend the night in an underwater suite at Hardy Reef, reached by cruise through the Whitsunday Islands. Snorkel, dive, or add a helicopter flight by day, then enjoy a sunset dinner before taking in reef views through the windows.

Don't miss the chance to learn how to surf when you're in Noosa during this 2-hour small-group lesson. Whether you're a beginner or advanced surfer, you'll enjoy a structured class with a low student to instructor ratio and follow a specially designed 1-2-3 teaching method that results in most students standing on the board during their first lesson.

Get into a kayak for an amazing guided trip from Rainbow beach, but first get into a 4WD zipping up the sand to the Great Sandy National Park where you get to the kayak starting point, Double Island Point. Your experience is all planned out for you, so you just need to enjoy the ride, and keep an eye out for Bottlenose dolphins, Humpback whales, turtles and rays!

Experience the beautiful Daintree River on a cruise at dawn. Enjoy a small-group tour with ample wildlife viewing—crocodiles, snakes, kingfishers, flycatchers, herons and other animals are often observed. Learn about the the river’s ecosystem from an informative local guide and visit otherwise inaccessible corners of the Daintree in a small but comfortable vessel.

During your visit to the Gold Coast, learn the basics of surfing with a 2-hour beginning surfing lesson at Main Beach. With gentle waves it is an ideal place to learn to surf, and your lesson includes use of all necessary equipment. Your guide ensures a safe and fun introduction to surfing.

Feel the thrill of catching a wave at one of Australia's most famous surf hotspots when you sign up for this 2-hour beginner surf lesson at The Spit in Surfers Paradise. Master the basics under the guidance of an expert instructor, and have fun in the process. Changing rooms, safe storage areas, and outdoor showers are also available to you.

You’ll probably see some turtles, and you will see some amazing sea life when you snorkel around Cook Island on this small group tour. You’ll hop on a boat for a short ride out to the island, where you’ll have around four hours to look for stingrays, wobbegongs, leopard sharks, and so much more. Photos will be available of your adventure, too.

Climb aboard the only commercial sailing trimaran (3-hulled boat) in the Whitsunday Islands for an unforgettable 2-night voyage through the islands that lie between Queensland's coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Check off multiple stops—including remote locations few travelers get to visit—and drop anchor to visit pristine beaches and snorkel among vibrant marine life.

Check an item off your bucket list by snorkeling or scuba diving on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On this tour from either Townsville or Magnetic Island, you’ll take a custom-built boat with a professional crew to the central section of the reef, home to stingrays, sea turtles, reef sharks, reef fish, and more. Lunch, soft drinks, and equipment are included. You have three options when booking: snorkeling, two certified dives, or an introductory dive with an experienced instructor.

Be as active or as relaxed as you like with access to the Whitehaven Beach Club. After arriving on a cruise from Airlie Beach, you can choose how you want to spend your time at Whitehaven Beach. Find a spot to relax in the sun or the shade, swim in the clear turquoise sea, or grab a paddleboard for some more active fun.

Sail out to sea on a 3600 series 36 ft. cougar catamaran and learn how to catch some of the most famous deep sea fish off the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy a stable, comfortable experience captained by a crew of professionals—ideal for inexperienced or nervous sailors. A covered deck makes sure you’re safe from the sun in the heat of the day, and full bathroom facilities are available on deck.

Start your day off right with a kayaking and snorkeling tour to Wavebreak Island from Biggera Waters, south of the Gold Coast. Paddle at a leisurely pace, while keeping an eye out for wildlife such as stingrays and seabirds. Head to a secluded island for a snorkel break, where you can spot loads of tropical fish. Visit a secluded beach and enjoy a picnic breakfast to refuel before heading back.

Double Island Point is one of the best places in Australia to surf, and this half-day tour from Noosa is ideal for surfers of all levels. Follow the Great Beach Drive to the island by 4WD, and enjoy magnificent views of uncrowded point break waves that you can ride for hundreds of feet, even as a beginner. Need more guidance? Upgrade to add a group or private surf lesson.

Enjoy the thrills, splashes, and spins of a jet boat ride on the Gold Coast Broadwater from Surfers Paradise. Zip through the scenic waterway, passing landmarks such as Southport Yacht Club, the Versace Hotel, and SeaWorld. Hang on as your expert captain takes your high-speed vessel through a series of high-octane tricks that are tons of fun. Includes the use of lifejackets, to keep you safe.

Get your adrenaline pumping in the Gold Coast as you participate in an exciting parasail and jetboat tour. Join a small group and gear up for your tandem parasailing activity where you soar upwards of 400 feet (122 meters) in the air over Gold Coast’s Broadwater. Then, zip around the blue waters in a jetboat where you can experience 360-degree spins, fishtailing, and more.