The 15 Best Sailing and Yacht Snorkel Trips in Australia

1.Full-Day Whitsunday Sail and Snorkel Adventure with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 653 reviews · from $142Our pick

From Coral Sea Marina, you’ll sail aboard Tongarra to Langford Island for beach time, snorkeling, banana boat rides, lunch, and sunset views. The crew, including guides such as Cooper, Nat, Charlotte, Jarrod, and Patrick, keeps the day social and relaxed. Snorkel gear and stinger suits are supplied, but fins are not.

“Thank you for taking me further to see the beautiful corals. Thank you for all the assistance and care.”

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2.Airlie Beach: Providence Whitehaven Day Sail with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 640 reviews · 9 hours - 1 day · from $137Best value

Spend nine hours aboard the 62-foot Providence, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, walking to Hill Inlet Lookout, and snorkeling a fringing Great Barrier Reef site. You can help raise the sails, bring your own lunch, and enjoy a small-group day with an English-speaking crew.

“Amazing day, Whitehaven Beach was stunning! 🤩 We were looked after very well by our crew. We saw dolphins, turtles, stingrays and amazing fish snorkelling on the reef. Just how we wanted to spend the day rather than fast boat to Whitehaven - perfect! Shame very little wind so not much sailing ☺️”

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3.Full Day Low Isles Sailing & Snorkelling Cruise from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 565 reviews · from $243

Sailaway takes you from Port Douglas to Low Isles aboard a 33-passenger catamaran. Snorkel with a marine biologist, ride the EV Discovery glass-bottom boat, walk to the 1878 lighthouse, and enjoy buffet lunch, morning tea, and afternoon tea during a relaxed 7.5-hour reef day.

“Lots of free time to snorkel, beautiful reef, super friendly and helpful crew! Included a relaxing ride out to Low Island and a little walk around the island where we got some history about the national park!”

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4.Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 436 reviews · from $243

Set sail from Port Douglas at 7:30 am for Mackay Cay and the northern Great Barrier Reef. You’ll snorkel with a marine biologist, view coral from a glass-bottom boat, visit a coral cay, and enjoy a buffet lunch aboard Sailaway’s comfortable catamaran. Guides such as Barry help identify fish, turtles, and giant clams.

“Had a great time snorkeling for the 1st time!! The crew was awesome! They made sure everyone had a great time & stayed safe. Didn’t have time to ask Isaac if he was single though :D”

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5.Afternoon Low Isles Snorkelling & Sunset Sail from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 354 reviews · from $243

Sailaway takes adults and teens 13 and over from Port Douglas to the Low Isles on a small catamaran limited to 33 people. Snorkel with a marine guide, use the glass-bottom boat, or relax ashore, then enjoy afternoon tea and sunset sailing back.

“Absolutely fantastic! Sailing on the catamaran was the most amazing experience and the folks that looked after us, Liam (skipper) Lauren, she was was so full of information, Erin, hospitality plus and a snorkelling legend, ensured we had the most amazing experience of our lives! We will never forget this trip!”

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6.Airlie Beach: 2-Day Whitsunday Islands Sailing Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 215 reviews · 60 hours · from $488

Spend about 60 hours aboard Avatar, OzSail’s fast trimaran, with snorkeling, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, sunset sailing, fresh meals, and star-filled nights. The crew, including skippers such as Max, changes by departure. Expect a social, active trip with basic boat cabins.

“Fantastic experience exploring the Whitsundays! We had a stellar time at Whitehaven beach, snorkeling and being on the sailboat with the amazing crew! Shout-out to Dave on the crew for making the trip heaps of fun!”

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7.Providence Whitehaven Beach Sailing and Snorkeling Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 214 reviews · from $142

Spend about nine hours aboard the 62-foot Providence V, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and a Whitsunday snorkeling site. You can help raise the sails, try the wheel, swim with reef fish, and enjoy onboard tea, coffee, and lunch arrangements.

“Bella l’esperienza della barca a vela e di veleggiare con il vento. Poca organizzazione nello snorkelling”

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8.Lady Enid Sailing and Snorkeling Day Trip including Whitehaven Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · from $204

Spend 9 to 11 hours aboard the timber yacht Lady Enid, sailing from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and an island reef. The small group includes snorkeling, lunch, afternoon tea, fruit, and sparkling wine. Crew members such as Pete, Jasmine, Chris, David, Andrew, and Jeremy have been praised for attentive service.

“Excellent day, very pleasant owner and staff..Can not fault the day. Recommended.”

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9.Ocean Spirit Sail to Michaelmas Cay Snorkel or Dive, from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 170 reviews · from $197

Spend about eight and a half hours aboard Ocean Spirit, sailing from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay for beach snorkeling, a semi-submersible reef tour, marine biology talks, and a seafood buffet. The cay’s bird colony, shallow coral gardens, and optional guided snorkeling make this a flexible Great Barrier Reef day.

“Frustrated at chech In. Ocean Spirit hadn't been updated by Viator that we moved the reservation 1 day ahead. Ocean Spirit was very accommodating . Snorkeling for 2 was made available. Everything going forward was outstanding!”

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10.Airlie Beach: Whitsunday Islands Sailing, SUP & Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 6 hours · from $162

Join Wings Sailing Charters aboard the air-conditioned 60-foot Wings III for a six-hour sail near Hook Island and Hayman Island. You’ll snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, and relax on deck, with fresh morning tea and lunch included. Crew members such as Maddy, Mike, Mon, and Sarah are known for calm, careful water support.

“This was an excellent trip! The team were fun & professional. Great range of activities to suit everyone. Would recommend this trip”

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11.Whitsunday Islands Sail, SUP & Snorkel Tour- Small group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $156

Spend six hours aboard Wings III, a 60-foot air-conditioned sailing catamaran from Airlie Beach. You can snorkel near Hayman Island, paddle a SUP, use a clear-bottom kayak, swim, or relax on deck. Crew members including Mon, Mike, Stew, and Maggie May are associated with the charter.

“Our day was spectacular. The staff were all lovely. We were worried we would get sick or get back late to miss our cruise ship but all worked out perfectly. Would do it again and again.”

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12.Coral Sea Dreaming Overnight Dive, Snorkel and Sail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · from $472

Join Captain Justin, Marina, Chad, and the Coral Sea Dreaming crew for a small-group overnight trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel, sail, or add certified or introductory scuba sessions, with meals, gear, instruction, and time at two reef sites.

“I met Captain Justin on TikTok a few months back and he said come out and have a go on the boat! So as our travel plans allowed it, we came to Cairns and booked Sea Coral Dreaming and were blown away! People always big things up Read more”

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13.British Defender 3D2N Whitsunday Snorkelling Sailing Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $530

Sail from Airlie Beach aboard British Defender for two nights among the Whitsunday Islands. Snorkel, visit Whitehaven Beach and island lookouts, enjoy meals cooked onboard, and join in a ropeswing stop. The skipper changes the route for wind, tides, waves, and weather.

“Had an awesome experience. Zak, Senna and Maik were an AWESOME crew that took great care of us. They ensured we had a great experience, even with some rainy weather. We had so much fun. Can’t wait to go back!!”

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14.Lady Enid Sailing to Hook Island Cultural Site & Snorkelling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · from $182

Spend eight adults-only hours aboard the classic 72-foot yacht Lady Enid. Sail to Nara Inlet, walk to the Ngaro Cultural Site, snorkel Hook Island for about 40 minutes, and enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, antipasto, and Australian sparkling wine.

“We asked two different agents for a tour to visit Whitehaven beach and Hill Inlet lookout. They ensured us that the Lady Enid Sailing tour called “Langford Island+snorkeling” was going there so they made us pay for it. In fact, the section ‘what Read more”

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15.From Airlie Beach: Hook Island Cultural Tour, Sail & Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 10 reviews · 8 hours · from $180

Join an adults-only day aboard Lady Enid, a classic Australian-built timber yacht. You will visit the Ngaro Cultural Site at Nara Inlet, enjoy lunch on board, snorkel Hook Island reef for about 40 minutes, and return with sparkling wine and antipasto.

“Equipage tres sympathique et professionnel Journée tres agréable et parfaitement dans nos attentes”

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