Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour

What an amazing experience!

My 16yo son and I had the most amazing day and one we will never forget! This is who you need to book with for the whole GBR experience. From the moment we arrived we felt at ease, not having done snorkelling before. The staff were friendly, warm, knowledgeable and full of smiles with some sense of humour thrown in. I wear prescription glasses and they had a whole crate full of an entire selection. The staff member showed such patience to ensure I found the right pair for maximum visibility. First stop at Michaelmas Cay was perfect to adjust to the equipment as the water is shallow. Delicious lunch on our way to Hastings Reef. This was surreal, in the middle of the ocean, not another vessel in sight, calm waters. The coral and sealife, colours and formations was just breathtaking and we were in awe of it's beauty. The guide has approx. 10 ppl in the group so it's reassuring they tow a buoy so you can never lose sight of them. A family owned business, providing the most exclusive spots, with a small group on board and great staff, means you fully appreciate the GBR for all it has to offer. Thank you!

What an incredible experience!

My 16yo son and I had the most amazing day and one that we will never forget! This is who you need to book with for the whole Great Barrier Reef experience. From the moment we arrived we felt at ease, not having ever done snorkelling before. The staff were friendly, warm, kind, knowledgeable and full of smiles with some sense of humour thrown in. I wear prescription glasses and when the staff member came out with a whole crate full of an entire selection of prescription goggles, I was so impressed! He showed great care and patience to ensure I found the right pair for maximum visibility to enjoy the experience at it's fullest. After introductions and safety briefings, we were offered tea/coffee and muffins whilst on our way to our first stop, Michaelmas Cay. On arrival we opted for the glass boat ride to the Cay and to see the coral and sealife for the first time through the glass was breathtaking. The guide provided a briefing on the way over and we learnt so much. Once at the Cay, it was a perfect spot to adjust to the equipment as the water is shallow, prior to heading to the next location. The staff take pics throughout the day, but you can ask at any time for a pic which is something to remember, and all the photos are then uploaded for free at the end of the day. Once done, we were back on the boat for lunch and it was delicious. Time to relax and off to the next stop, Hastings Reef. Now this was surreal. In the middle of the ocean, not another vessel to be seen. The coral and sealife was just incredible. The colours, formations and we were in awe of it's beauty. What was reassuring for us was that each guide only had approximately 10 people at a time and the guide tows a buoy so that you can never lose sight of them. You can also opt to roam on your own. When we got back on the boat, fruit and cake was served. In summary, a family owned business, providing the most exclusive spots, with only a small group on board and great staff, means you can fully appreciate the Reef for all it has to offer. Others on this tour had been snorkelling before with other tours with 150 to 200 people at a time and had negative experiences but could not fault this tour and nor could we. Thank you!

BEST boat to experience the Great Barrier Reef!!

One of the best days of my life! The boat is beautiful, the crew friendly, fun and experienced and the snorkeling was fabulous. Swimming to Michaelmas Cay, then walking around the each and bird sanctuary was surreal and the water is calmer so it was so relaxing and the coral and sea life was endless! With only a few dozen people on the whole boat and the personalized attention, it almost felt like a private charter. Don’t hesitate to book this experience. You will love it!

Fantastic

If this is your first snorkeling, Seastar is the company you want to go with. The crews are very amazing and caring. We learn a lot about the reef and the ocean. They serve morning and afternoon tea with muffin and cakes. Lunch is also delicious. Two sites for snorkeling is more than enjoyable.

Cannot put in to words how great it was

Seeing the reef and the fish. Crew knowledge and great personalities. Well organised and nothing was too much trouble.

Nature never fail to amaze me. The amazing crew made the experience even more memorable!

The reef and the birds were both amazing! The shark was definitely the highlight! Highly recommend this tour because the crew was so nice and professional. Enjoy the talk done by the marine biologist.

Fantastic day

Second time on Seastar. Fantastic time . Crew were unbelievable, friendly and knowledgeable. Took my 80 year old mum and she had a great time. Couldn’t recommend this cruise highly enough. It’s a must do.

excellent choice for snorkeling

It was a great experience...we were a family and two of us cannot swim but the crew never let us feel scared or unsafe...we all took the tablet but my daughter still got sea sick..the crew never got tired of supplying sea sickness bags...the lunch spread was delicious too..snorkeling experience was top notch..full marks to both the locations and full marks to the crew as well....they left on time and dropped us off on time....with smiles on their faces the whole day..snorkeling gear and equipment is of good quality..we cdnt try scuba diving as we were skydiving the very next morning but the instructions were helpful...overall the whole experience was very satisfactory and we are extremely happy...

Highly recommended

What a great relaxing day out on this smaller family run boat. All the staff extremely cheerful helpful with informative talks about the reef while under way. Greated with coffee /tea / muffins on arrival and on to the outer reef were we had a couple of hours snorkelling and a glass bottom boat ride again more information on the reef before a great lunch ( plenty and more if you wished ) then on to the second reef which was in a little deeper water so a little more diverse. Another 2 hours spent here as well with afternoon tea cake and fruit plater perfect snack after been in the water. All equipment provided wetsuits were used as the water was a cooler 27c all of which were sanitised after use. Fantastic day out guys I highly recommend you. Thank for a great day out.

Best GBR Tour

The crew was super helpful and knowledgeable. Marine biologists conducted the snorkel tour and you could tell they knew the reef spots like the back of their hand. It was a small group on a large boat which was fantastic. Big crew and impressive lunch and snacks as well. Definitely recommend booking!

Amazing experience

This was an extraordinary once in a lifetime adventure! So glad we did it with Seastar. The staff were so friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and having a good experience. Lunch was delicious! They also took amazing photos of the beautiful underwater creatures we got to see first hand.

The snorkelling was amazing, isn’t the staffs fault it was very rocky/sea sick!

The staff were nice, the food was okay, the boat was fine, but it was extremely rocky (I don’t know why) and I felt very panicky, me and partner felt we were going to pass out/vomit. The snorkelling made up for it, was absolutely awesome!! Loved snorkelling in the open ocean, with no island in sight, very exciting. Loved the snorkelling.

Great Barrier Reef

The whole experience was great from the warm welcome the assistance for some of as who where nervous. The lovely lunch and also the way everything was explained. Would totally recommend this group also being a local family business

Best Snorkeling in Cairns

The crew was AMAZING!! They were very friendly and knowledgeable. We took the glass bottom boat at the first stop where we learned all about the coral. We saw large fish and giant clams. Then we went on the snorkeling guided tour. The water was beautiful and the tour was very helpful. The next stop was another section of the reef where we got to see larger fish up close. Our guide allowed me to hold onto the life ring which I appreciated because the water was a bit choppy that day. There were muffins, tea, coffee and water available throughout the trip. We got a yummy lunch mid way through followed by fresh fruit and cake. This was an awesome trip and I’d highly recommend it!!

Amazing experience

Such a great day and an amazing experience! The crew were lovely and the small size of the boat was amazing, we had 23 people compared to the 70+ that lots of other trips have. It was genuinely a magical experience and I'd absolutely recommend it with SeaStar

Great Day for our whole family

We had a fantastic fun day. We were a family of 6 adults including an 81 yr old grandmother. We all went snorkelling even Nan who had never snorkeled before. Great crew who were always there to assist with anything needed. Been on other tours but this was the best by far. I would totally recommend them to anyone. Thank guys for a fantastic day.

This trip worth every penny!!

We had a truly amazing, quality experience with Seastar. We went to 2 snorkeling trips during our stay at Cairns and this was significantly better than a bigger (but also cheaper) day trip. The whole day was just simply perfect!! And a major plus, it didn't feel touristy at all! There is enough time to snorkel in both places and the reefs are absolutely breathtaking. And the fantastic crew just makes this experience even better. They are all very kind and attentive. The information they shared with us about the reef and its habitat were really informative. You could feel that these guys love their job and the reef. Thank you for the amazing day!

Gorgeous reefs with tons of fish

What I loved about this tour was that it was a small group (around 36 people) which made the experience more personable. I met a lot of people on the tour and had a great time. The skipper (Chris) and his crew (Anne, Hugo, Roman, Merlin, Rowie, and Tim) were very friendly and made me feel safe and comfortable. Unfortunately we had a bit of a windy day so the swells were larger than I would have liked and the boat was rocking pretty hard. What was great was that the crew had seasick tablets for purchase and checked on the guests frequently. I don't get seasick but some other people did. The reefs were gorgeous and I saw a ton of fish as well as some turtles. We were provided with stinger suits (for jellyfish) so you dont need to bring your own or buy a wetsuit. They also had the option to go on a dive and some people took advantage of that which was super cool. The provided lunch was tasty and filling. My Go Pro footage was accidentally set to timelapse so it was pretty useless. Luckily, the crew were taking photos with underwater cameras and we were given a card with a QR code to download them. This tour was awesome and totally worth it. Highly recommend.

Outstanding day with an Outstanding Crew!

A day of beautiful waters, beautiful reef and sea life, beautiful people and beautiful memories. Somehow, with my intentions set on snorkelling throughout the day, I ended up partaking in the Discover Scuba Diving group, lead by Merlijn (the magnificent, at calming my nerves as a first timer). It was without doubt the best impromptu decision I've ever made and will never forget - absolutely recommend. The crew were outstanding and so attentive, safety conscious. personable, helpful and all smiles. The food was delicious and plentiful, and served as always, with a smile. I would do this experience again in a heartbeat and thoroughly recommend.

An incredible day snorkelling the GBR with Seastar!!!

Amazing day on the reef with Seastar!!! Awesome crew, beautiful red snorkliling, and a yummy lunch! Highly recommended

Awesome reef trip!

Really amazing day trip, I’m glad I went with this boat, the staff were so enthusiastic and friendly throughout the day, and caring to those of us who felt seasick. The snorkel spots we visited were beautiful and I enjoyed the guide pointing out things as we went.

Great way to explore the outer barrier reef

This tour is a must do! We got to snorkel and explore two beautiful reefs. We swam with turtles, found Nemo and also saw a shark amongst many beautiful corals and fish. The staff were very friendly and helpful!

Wow ! Amazing !

Amazing experience. Definitely worth going. Once in a life time experience. Staff are super friendly. They used their underwater camera and we got pictures.

Great snorkeling experience

The crew was very friendly and helpful. They shared a lot of information about the reef. They also were skilled in their jobs making sure individuals got their questions answered and had their needs met. I felt safe snorkeling in the water at all times. The meal and snacks served were delicious.

Really nice activity to discover the reef

The best experience in Cairns, really nice and supportive crew. Tim was really nice to us in the cristal boat tour, and Roman was also such a nice Dive instructor, also food was really nice. I totally recommend it.

My second time and just as good as the first

I love everything about Seastar so much that this was my second trip since 2016 its the staff which makes this trip so special they are fun, happy and very knowledgeable and not pushy to get you to do extra activities. The staff are really interested in talking to you and what to know about you I honestly would love to just go out and have a drink and a good yarn with them all. The food was lovely bbq chicken wings, hot vegetable bake etc. The day I went visibility was not the best but myself and everyone else as on our day there was only 8 of us due to bad weather enjoyed the trip. It was worth every penny as we went on a different boat that was packed out and no interaction at all with the staff Thanx Seastar for a great day

SeaStar is the best

Always choose a boat with limited guests like SeaStar. They are always checking up on you - from seasickness to safety in the water and if course ensuring one has a great experience while snorkeling

Exciting day in the water

The crew were so friendly and made for a great day. Lunch looked beautiful husband liked it I was little sea sick so couldn’t eat. The water temp was beautiful.

The 2 reefs locations are...

The 2 reefs locations are great picks. Beautiful colorful corals and fish. The staff are so nice to help kids and non-swimmers like me to enjoy the reefs. Highly recommend.

Great trip - beautiful reefs and fish, nice staff

The vessel is smaller than I thought but the staff is so kind and helpful. The trip is perfect if you travel with kids or weak swimmers as they had the guide with a float ring and robe for you to hold on. The 2 reefs locations are beautiful and I saw lots of colourful coral and fish. Highly recommend

AMAZING DAY ! 10/10

Amazing! Use this tour company! The guides were all really friendly and knowledgeable, high standard of equipment, food was great, boat was comfy! The best day ever! Thank you so much!

Great trip to see the Great Barrier Reef

We loved this tour! The staff was over-the-top kind, helpful, and fun. The reef was breathtaking. The food was also very good. They also took photos throughout the day and provided a link for us to access over 100 photos! All-around great trip in a relatively small group setting.

Beautiful day at the reef

Everything about the trip was perfect, the staff were friendly, efficient and relaxed. Everything felt safe. Instructions were really clear, food was good and the boat was good. At the first island we did the glass bottom boat, then guided snorkel tour. I held onto the guides rubber ring which is perfect if you’re new to snorkelling or not used to being in the ocean. Then after a nice lunch the boat goes to the outer reef where you can go with the guide again or just a few metres from the boat you can snorkel and see lots of fish, you can also swim further away within the marked area too. We had stinger suits which were comfortable and meant no hassle with suntan lotion, many people chose an optional life jacket/float too. I used everything available as a newbie! As a first time snorkeler and someone who doesn’t swim in the ocean I was nervous about the kit, the trip and being in the ocean! I’ve come back with a big smile after snorkelling on my own at the second stop. I saw turtles, reef shark, clam and lots and lots of fish.

Bucket list day on the Great Barrier Reef

We had an amazing time snorkeling with Seastar! The crew were all very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed a guided glass bottom boat tour at the first stop (included) and guided snorkeling tours at both stops (included). Our snorkel guide, Hugo, was amazing with our 4 year old daughter. He pulled a life ring over the reef for her to hold on to and frequently stopped to help her adjust her mask. (She also had on a life vest.) He remained patient and friendly throughout and still managed to point out awesome fish and coral. The food was quite good. Coffee and muffins in the morning and fruit and cake in the afternoon. Lunch was chicken wings, cold cuts, hot and cold salads, and bread - our three kids found plenty that they liked (which is very impressive). Water was available all day and I think you could purchase other beverages. The whole operation was very smooth. They provided stinger suits, masks and fins (even a prescription mask for our son who wears glasses). They had high quality life vests for kids and adults as well as pool noodles. There were also very capable guides in the water and on the boat making sure all were safe. We didn't scuba dive but it looked like they were well equipped and the prices for dives seemed very reasonable (first dive 85 second dive 45 - cheaper if already certified). Everything was very well-organized and seamless. This tour is kept to a smaller group of people which also makes things work well and feel more comfortable. The crew even took our pictures through the day and later posted them where we could download them. We would HIGHLY recommend using Seastar for a memorable and wonderful experience - they thought of everything!

An unforgettable day

We had an amazing time snorkeling with Seastar! The crew were all very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed a guided glass bottom boat tour at the first stop (included) and guided snorkeling tours at both stops (included). Our snorkel guide, Hugo, was amazing with our 4 year old daughter. He pulled a life ring over the reef for her to hold on to and frequently stopped to help her adjust her mask. (She also had on a life vest.) He remained patient and friendly throughout and still managed to point out awesome fish and coral. The food was quite good. Coffee and muffins in the morning and fruit and cake in the afternoon. Lunch was chicken wings, cold cuts, hot and cold salads, and bread - our three kids found plenty that they liked (which is very impressive). Water was available all day and I think you could purchase other beverages. The whole operation was very smooth. They provided stinger suits, masks and fins (even a prescription mask for our son who wears glasses). They had high quality life vests for kids and adults as well as pool noodles. There were also very capable guides in the water and on the boat making sure all were safe. We didn't scuba dive but it looked like they were well equipped and the prices for dives seemed very reasonable (first dive 85 second dive 45 - cheaper if already certified). Everything was very well-organized and seamless. This tour is kept to a smaller group of people which also makes things work well and feel more comfortable. The crew even took our pictures through the day and later posted them where we could download them. We would HIGHLY recommend using Seastar for a memorable and wonderful experience - they thought of everything!

Best snorkel trip ever

The trip was fantastic. Now after we did a few others of the same sort at different places along the QDL coastline I can say that with confidence. This snorkel experience was by far the best. Best organized, many very friendly and helpful hands, nice boat and great sknorkel locations. Absolute must do in Cairns.

We were lucky we got good weather.

This was well worth the money. The snorkelling was great and staff were very helpful. The lunch was good. It’s worth spending a bit and getting the attention from staff. They are very safe.

Safety Is Their Priority

The Seastar crew really takes safety seriously. You are given a number corresponding to your name when you get on board. That number will keep track of your stinger suit and you. You are checked off to make sure you are accounted for quite frequently. Very impressive! The crew were fabulous, making everyone at easy for the day. Rowie was great, she made you feel at ease for any apprehension you were exhibiting. Just about took you under her wing LOL!!! The 2 stops for snorkeling or diving were great. The glass bottom boat tour was excellent but for some sea sickness came over them. Truth be told I did get queasy, The seas were a bit rough, so some people were feeling the effects. Lots of Lemonade going around to settle the stomach. Great to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef just wish the seas weren't so rough, but that is nature at its finest. And my fear of box jellyfish were alleviated since I did not see any, of course I was covered head to toe with that wonderful fashion statement stinger suit!!!

Wonderful, Amazing, Out of This World Experience

I had an amazing experience at the great barrier reefs. This immersive experience was only made possible by a bunch of enthusiastic kids of Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour. This was a lifetime experience for me and my husband.

Wow, and the best staff..

One of the main reasons we visited the Cairns area was to experience a snorkel trip out to the reef. Booking on SeaStar was the right choice. A great day overall, just enough help and guidance where we needed it and the freedom and time to take in the experience. SeaStar is one of the best and last family owned reef excursions, give them your business, you will not be disappointed..

Beautiful spot on the reef, great crew

Amazing crew and amazing spot on the reef. I did three different reef tours and this one went to the best reef location. The coral was so vibrant and colorful, and we saw loads of marine life including turtles and reef sharks. The waters were a bit rough on the ride out (can't control the weather!), but the crew did a great job giving us a heads up and making sure those who are prone to seasickness had access to medicine. Overall I highly recommend this tour.

Seastar - Great GBR tour experience in March

The crew are the best. They are very friendly and helpful. They look after you and make sure that you enjoy the Great Barrier Reef tour. They take your pictures too that you can download from their website. They are on the smaller side which we love. During our tour there were only 13 customers with around 7 or 8 crews. The tour was very organized. They start with briefing and some tea/coffee/bread. Then you stop at an island or sand strip where there are a lot of birds. You can take a picture there then start snorkeling towards the boat with 2 crew members as guides. We opted to do the glass boat towards the island and our driver was very knowledgeable about the reef. Do not skip this, we saw 2 turtles while on the boat, Then we have lunch. Lunch is buffet style except for the hot food, which they serve for safety. After everybody got their share, we are invited to get more food as there are a lot left. Then off we go to the next site where see the wall of corals and different kind of fishes. We have guides who help us navigating the corals as they show us around. They also dive to point to some unusual stuff, like Nemo or making the giant clam close. They also bring a floater and they can pull you if you get tired. There are a lot to see on the second site. After snorkeling on the second site and before we start going back to the port, they offered coffee /tea and snack. Summary: Best crew who are very helpful and knowledgeable . Boat is clean and good for the amount of people in the tour. Light breakfast, Lunch and snacks are good and more than enough for us and the crew. The 2 sites we went to are great locations, both worth the time for us. Reservation is easy and they reply quickly online. Facilities and equipment are clean and nice. Suit and masks are right size for us. We needed to wear suit due to stinger season. They post all pictures on their FB account so you can download them, of course, with your permission. Overall it was a great experience provided by the best crew backed up by a good family owned company. Will definitely try with them again when we get back. Highly recommended.

Great snorkeling tour in Cairns.

Snorkeling at Hawkins Reef. It was truly magical. Like swimming in an aquarium. Equipment was top notch and we were really looked after.

Reef snorkle

The crew on this boat were outstanding. The were personable and helped all passengers to have a great experience. The number of passengers is smaller that other boats which makes the experience much better.

Best Reef boat ever

Best tour ever! Captain Archie was so special in how see saw to my needs and everyone else too. The crew were all terrific and knowledge and shared with us lots of interesting facts. The food was very good and lots of it during the whole trip. Glass bottom boat was the best I’d seen for all the coral and fish we saw. One of the best parts for me was all the pictures the crew took and that we could see on their Facebook page. Not being able to take pictures myself this was the icing on the cake. One last thing I liked that there were only about 24 passengers and 8 crew. Thanks to all of them for the best boat tour ever.

Spectacular

Spectacular! Crew was amazing. Very informative, super friendly and catered to every skill level. Great service on the boat with fabulous food. Highly recommend!

Fun and Knowledgeable Crew

The staff of the Seastar makes your day an incredible experience! They are so helpful, and provide such detailed information about the reef and marine life. With six different countries represented the crew is truly international. We saw everything we wanted, a turtle, fish, reef and more.

Amazing day on the Great Barrier Reef

We had the most beautiful day on Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef today, thanks to the wonderful Seastar Cruise Crew. They are very knowledgeable and highly professional from start to finnish. Both snorkel/dive sites are exceptionally beautiful.

An unforgettable day

Great day The crew is fantastic, so dynamic and very attentive to everybody's needs. They help a lot so that you feel comfortable. The food on board was good ( you are very hungry after your dip !). We saw a lot of marine life ( a turtle, a stingray...) and got a lot of infos on them by the young guy who stayed with us during snorkeling.

Great Reef Cruise!

The snorkel sites were amazing. The crew go out of their way to make you comfortable and ensure you get the most of your time on the reef. The crew is exceptional! Thank you Rowie and all! We did not have great weather, but the winds were light resulting in fairly calm seas. There were mixed showers and sunlight, but the rain was not an issue. Keep in mind the prescription dive masks are for nearsighted prescriptions only. The water adds some magnification for farsighted people and I heard the dive shops in Cairns may offer mask rental for farsighted prescriptions.