The very best place to launch off to the Great Barrier Reef is Cairns – tropical North Queensland’s ultra fun town.

This is because there are countless catamarans jetting out from the town to the plethora of stunning offshore reefs on a near-daily basis, ensuring you are never short of options for viewing some of the reef’s most spectacular dive sites!

Let’s take a look at some of those otherworldly underwater extraordinaires below:

Green Island

Green Island is one of the most mesmerising sites in the whole Great Barrier Reef, and it’s made even better by the fact it’s just a cheeky 45 minute catamaran from Cairns!

This ancient island has looong played host to some of the reef’s most diverse coral and sea species, and what’s even more exciting is the fact that it’s also home to an inland tropical rainforest where innumerable bird species hang out in the lush tropical flora.

Michaelmas Cay

This super small island provides grand opportunities to marvel upon some of the most impressive reef sea life. Despite being a tiny 50m wide, Michaelmas Cay is where you will find some seriously awesome species, including plenty of giant clams that reside just offshore.

Milln Reef

Milln Reef is the ultimate beginner’s reef, as it boasts high visibility and super calm waters that are perfect for any skill level. What’s more, it’s a great place to learn a few things about reef life without requiring much prior knowledge, as friendly sea turtles and parrotfish cruise around right offshore…

Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island can easily be a holiday in its own right, as it’s home to some of the most fabulous beaches and tropical hiking trails in all of Australia! But this can only mean it also plays host to some spectacular diving opportunities, with plenty of stunning coral reefs easily experienced just by stepping offshore a few metres.

So, as you can see, seeing the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns is not only doable – it’s possibly the very best way to do it altogether!

Related article: Is Cairns a good place for a holiday?

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