Home > Shute Harbour > 2-Day Great Barrier Reef Reefsleep Experience
USD $378.00
2-Day Great Barrier Reef Reefsleep Experience
Shute Harbour, Australia
Experience the Great Barrier Reef for two days and one night. By day, enjoy all the activities on offer at Reefworld, a pontoon moored on one of the most spectacular areas of the Great Barrier Reef, including snorkeling, semi-sub rides and viewing parts of the world’s largest coral-reef system in an underwater chamber. Later, spend the night at Reefsleep—on the upper deck of the pontoon—to sleep under the stars, 40 nautical miles (74 km) from shore. Fall asleep under twinkling stars in a swag (tent). Round-trip transport and most meals are included. It’s the only place in Australia where you can sleep on the Great Barrier Reef!
Day 1: Whitsundays or Hamilton islands – Great Barrier Reef (L, D) Your 2-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef begins when you baord the high-speed catamaran from the Port of Airlie, Daydream Island or Hamilton Island. Cruise through the Whitsundays to Reefworld, arriving around 11am. The innovative pontoon features a waterslide, an interactive underwater viewing chamber, a semisubmersible and a spacious sun deck.
Snorkel around the colorful corals and marine life at the region’s acclaimed Great Barrier Reef site. The underwater wonderland will blow you away with its otherworldly neon hues and swirling schools of fish. For an in-depth experience, new and experienced scuba divers can go out with fully certified instructors (own expense). Refuel with a buffet lunch prepared by an award-winning restaurant from Airlie Beach, as well as an afternoon tea. Other refreshments are available at your own expense.
Throughout the day, you can lounge in the sun, check out the marine life from an underwater observatory. To learn more about the fragile ecosystem, don’t miss presentations by reef experts. If you want to splurge, purchase a helicopter ride or massage.
Around 3pm, bid farewell to day-trippers. Only 18 passengers are allowed to stay on the boat, ensuring a tranquil overnight stay in a remote part of the reef. It’s the only place in Australia where you can sleep on the Great Barrier Reef!
After a day exploring the reef, head to the Reefsleep upper deck to unwind with a glass of wine (own expense) at sunset. Then, chat with fellow guests about your day over a gourmet barbecue, or opt for a more private setting in an underwater observatory! Underwater floodlights spotlight the marine life’s nighttime activities.
Not all the action is below the surface. You can sprawl out on a lounge chair to see bright stars speckled across sky. When you’re ready to retire, snuggle up in your swag—a tent equipped with a mattress and bedding. Overnight: Reefsleep in a swag
Day 2: Great Barrier Reef – Whitsundays and Hamilton islands (B, L) Wake up slowly, and then enjoy unobstructed views of the glassy water over a hearty breakfast. Once you are all packed up, head back down to the Reefworld pontoon before the day-cruise guests show up at 11am. The same activities will be available as the day before, giving you another chance to do your favorite things or try something new. Around 3pm, you’ll be transported back to the Port of Airlie or Daydream or Hamilton island.
Our experience was amazing. We were a small group that stayed out overnight and the opportunities to snorkel on the reef were fantastic. We met some great people and developed new friendships. The staff were great and very accommodating. I really cannot say enough good things about the staff who stayed out of the reef with us. I highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Chris H, November 2017
Whitsunday Cruises were magnificent. They took care of everyone of different abilities to give them a great experience in snorkelling on the reef, with a really generous staff ratio, all very friendly and attentive, and all the equipment you could need. They made sure there was something of interest all the time including trips on the semi-submersible through the day to see less accessible areas of the reef at close hand. The sleepover on the reef was likewise superb, including the sunset, moonrise and sunrise, and the extra time in the water to snorkel or dive. The staff were magnificent, the food excellent and plentiful, the facilities comfortable and of high quality including hot showers!.
Review by: Global Traveler, November 2017
A totally unique experience. In addition to doing everything the daytrippers could do snorkeling, scuba diving, semi-submersible tour, helicopter flight, we got to have the pontoon to ourselves after they left in the afternoon. Then we had more opportunity to snorkel and enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, including a feast in the underwater observatory since it was too windy for us to dine outside. It worked out great--we enjoyed watching the fish as we ate, and the fish enjoyed watching us. Then we got to sleep in our swags, which were nice and cozy. Our host Georgie was awesome. She really took care of us and made sure we were enjoying ourselves and never hungry since she was constantly feeding us. : Our Reefsleep group really bonded too. Overall, this was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had traveling. I can't speak highly enough about it!
Review by: graziellaragus, March 2017
one of the best things I did in Australia!_br/_ To have the place only for a maximum 10 person during the evening, night and next morning is fabulous.
Review by: Cara H, January 2017
Fantastic, would recommend to anyone! The overnight experience was out of this world!
Review by: laurel, December 2016
I am so glad that I did this! It was an amazing trip and well worth the money. Our Reefsleep host Jennifer was great, very friendly and cooks an awesome breakfast! The swag was pretty comfortable, and it was so nice to sleep on the top deck.
Review by: Carly H, February 2016
An amazing experience, well organised, a must do if you are in the Whitsundays!
Review by: Kyle M, January 2016
This tour was excellent and the chance to experience the reef with very few other people around was well worth it!
Review by: chalf2011, November 2015
It was a great night on the roof. The personnel was very helpful. Also the dinner was quite enjoyable. Especially the time when the day tourists had left was great, having time to enjoy snorkelling in quiet and having the reef almost to yourself.
Review by: Rebecca M, August 2015
Absolutely amazing experience - the only way to see the reef. You get the entire area of the reef to yourself and get to see the wildlife in the morning hours when they are most active and vibrant. The staff was incredible and made the trip even better.
Review by: Shane R, August 2015
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story! Firstly, the good part the Barrier Reef is amazing and the experience after the day-trippers had departed is definitely the way to go.
Review by: caoimhe23, March 2015
Absolutely brilliant trip. Would recommend the 2day tour for sure. Brilliant staff. loevly food. There was beautiful views. Snorkelling and scuba dive were highlights!
Review by: Denise D, December 2012
A once in a lifetime experience. What seemed a bit indulgent price wise was worth every cent. The diving and experiences with the day trippers is first rate but when the big cat leaves the serenity is awesome.
Review by: Richard C, July 2010
We were looked after very well. The crew onboard were friendly, helpful and professional. A night on the Great Barrier Reef is something we will always look back on and be grateful we did it!
Review by: Richard C, March 2007
We were looked after very well. The crew onboard were friendly, helpful and professional. A night on the Great Barrier Reef is something we will always look back on and be grateful we did it!
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