Great Barrier Reef Moore Reef And Fitzroy Island Premium Day Tour

We did the "Reef and Island tour". The boat left almost 20 mins late, arrived almost 30mins late at the reef pontoon and that time was never made up at any point on the tour. Everything was a rush, with limited time to experience what was highlighted or suggested on the website. We had to fork out an extra $120 to hire snorkel gear on Fitzroy Island despite paying $900 for the tour, and the website saying it included snorkel gear. In addition, the onboard photogrpaher was not on board. I emailed Sunlovers requesting a partial refund and they declined, using multiple conflicting reasons and denying that the boat was late at any point, despite me having categorical proof of this. Whilst there were some good elements of the tour I would stick to doing either a reef or Island tour rather than both at the same time. There was simply not enough time to enjoy it.

Unfortunately, our experience with Sunlover was disappointing from check-in through the end of the day. Check-in was confusing from the start. There were four lanes, and the signage directed guests with both the boat and helicopter experience—which we had—to lanes 1 or 2. I followed the instructions and went to lane 1. When we were called forward, the helicopter representative told us she couldn’t help us until after the Sunlover boat check-in and sent us to lines 3 or 4. We went back, waited again, and then the person at lane 1 called us back and sent us to the helicopter representative. Altogether, it took about 25 minutes just to get checked in. The ride to Moore Reef was extremely rough. My son and I were okay, but a large number of passengers were sick during the crossing. By the time we arrived, people looked exhausted and we were running late. That delay created a problem because we had both a scheduled helicopter flight and a guided snorkel experience. I immediately went to the helicopter desk to ask how the delay would affect our snorkel time and was told to come back in 10 minutes. I then went to the snorkel guide to ask what we should do and was told she was busy with her other group. Another Sunlover crew member told me he couldn’t help because the helicopter was operated by a different company. This was the most frustrating part of the experience. We purchased these activities as part of the same day excursion, yet no one seemed willing or able to coordinate them when Sunlover’s arrival was delayed. The helicopter representative told us we needed to do the helicopter flight first and that we could not receive a refund. The crew member taking us to the helicopter platform was actually very nice and said she would send word to the snorkel guide that we had been delayed. My husband also stayed behind specifically to tell the snorkel guide what was happening. He said she seemed annoyed when he explained it. The helicopter flight itself was amazing, and the pilot was excellent. Unfortunately, that is operated by a separate company. As soon as we returned, we rushed back to the snorkel guide. There were three of us who had paid for the guided snorkel experience, so we represented a significant portion of that group. We hurried to get our equipment on and got into the water. Once in the water, another participant apparently could not swim and needed substantial assistance. I asked the guide what the plan was and where we would be snorkeling. She explained that because of the wind and because she needed to stay with the guests who couldn’t swim, we couldn’t go very far. I was essentially told that I could go off on my own and that it didn’t matter because I wouldn’t receive a refund anyway. So that is what we did—we snorkeled on our own despite having paid for a guided snorkeling experience. When I got out of the water, another crew member asked how it went. I told her it had not gone well, and she was one of the few people who seemed genuinely concerned. She said she would let the senior guide know. Before leaving, I went to the Sunlover desk to explain what had happened and express my disappointment. Instead of feeling heard, I felt dismissed. I was told that I had booked through a third party and was handed a card and told to email the reservations manager. When I asked for the manager’s name, I wasn’t given one because apparently there are multiple managers. I understand that weather and rough seas are outside a tour operator’s control. I also understand that delays happen. What a company can control is how it responds when those things happen. We had paid for a helicopter experience and a guided snorkel experience, and when the boat arrived late and those activities conflicted, it felt as though we were repeatedly passed from one person to another. No one took ownership of coordinating the activities, and when I ultimately expressed my disappointment, I didn’t receive what I would consider a basic customer-service response: listening to the concern and acknowledging that the experience had not gone as expected. I don’t expect everything on a tour to be perfect. I do expect a tourism company to make a reasonable effort to accommodate guests when its schedule is disrupted and to treat an unhappy customer with some empathy. I gave Sunlover two stars because there were two crew members who were genuinely kind and helpful, and the helicopter pilot was fantastic—although he does not work for Sunlover. Based on our experience, I would not recommend Sunlover.

Tour package was canceled "due to weather" and substituted a single day to just the reef/pontoon with a small credit. Just not the same thing. There was no semi-submersible sub, and there was little to see or do. Skip this tour, especially if they cancel the Fitzroy Island component - not worth the extreme cost for a couple hours on the pontoon.

We booked the Moore Reef tour we explicitly told staff we were unable to snorkel. We only wanted to see the reef via the semi-submersible and glass-bottom boats. We were told we had to buy a full-day tour to Moore Reef to do this as the boats only sailed from the reef. The actual experience looked nothing like the brochures or photos shown to us on the computer screen. The semi-submersible was a total waste of time. We went on it twice and saw absolutely nothing except the fish at the end they feed right next to the pontoon. No reef at all. There were no staff in this part of the boat to monitor what we might or might not see By the time we queued up and ate our lunch, there was only enough time to go on the glass-bottom boat once. The glass-bottom boat ride lasted approximately 20 minutes. I emailed the company about seeing nothing on the semi-submersible. They blamed "nature and changing conditions," which is a poor excuse given the reef was perfectly visible from the glass-bottom boat at the same time. When I replied to point this out, they completely ignored me. They have our money now, so they clearly don't care. We had one chance to see the Great Barrier Reef and this was it! We are so so disappointed. Do not buy a full-day tour if you just want to see the reef without swimming. It is a very expensive for a lunch you have to queue for and just 20 minutes of reef viewing. Sunlover should offer a reduced price for non-swimmers, using different coloured wristbands to distinguish guests. It would be incredibly easy to implement, rather than charging full price for amenities we cannot use. The staff were lovely but had no answers for us when we said we were disappointed.

This cruise was just perfect for our family, two of us were swimmers and two weren’t and it catered for everyone. Reef pontoon with the glass bottom boat tour, and the submarine for non swimmers was brilliant. We had an added bonus of seeing turtles too. Lunch at Fitzroy island was so good with an amazing view, and then the island experience was also beautiful. We had people suggest this outer reef tour would be awful in bad weather , however the morning reef session blowing 15-20 knots was still good swimming. The Sunlovers boat crew were all very friendly, very attentive and thoughtful, helping all passengers the entire day. Epic day , totally worth it , even if weather isn’t perfect. Cheers

The staff were friendly enthusiastic and knew their jobs. Jimmy who was in charge of the glass bottom boat was a informative and personable The conditions of the catamaran and pontoon were run down, dirty, stank inside and in dire need of some TLC. The semi submersible boat was also filthy and smelly inside and the viewing windows were so dirty that the reef viewing was severely compromised. Lunch was substandard. Haven’t had such small washed out prawns anywhere else in NQ. The buffet was supposed to be open for a couple of hours but one half of it was closed after an hour creating long waits. They had totally closed the buffet long before it should have been. The hygiene was of the full body Lycra suits was shameful, let’s face it no one was going to shuck out of one of those things for a pee when snorkelling. There was a large bucket of water for everyone to rinse the suits then they were just hung up for the next person to use. How do you fancy using a snorkel what hasn’t been properly disinfected? No Thanks

We took our time to choose and had high hopes that we had picked the right trip for us. To be fair the weather conditions contributed greatly to our experience.We paid ,337 dollars each so not a cheap option. On check in we we were informed due to high winds the "semi sub" would not be available as a I am not a strong swimmer this was something I was looking forward to . We asked if there was a part refund for this , there was not ,however at the same time we were told of a fuel surcharge of 10 dollars each !! We were informed this is a separate rate. On boarding I mentioned the lack of semi sub and was told the glass bottom boat (included) is equally as good. The crew were helpful and informative There was weather warnings of high winds and choppy seas, this was so, fellows passengers were unwell some vomitting. Given the conditions mooring the catamaran to pontoon was tricky. Those wishing to snorkel in the reef did so. We were then informed the high winds would prevent us from boarding the glass bottom boat. Another disappointment !! even a staff member commented they had not experienced it quite so rough. After our time at the reef we headed for Fitzroy. A adequate lunch was provided. We get a glass bottom boat trip at Fitzroy, however I felt this was a poor substitute for the one I hoped for at the barrier. A smoother cruise back to Cairns was welcome . I am aware that in the booking conditions it states cancellation due to weather does not always occur. Given two of the included activities were cancelled at the Reef maybe this should have happened this time ?? As I wrote before I cannot fault the crew. We left disappointed and 694 dollars worse off not value for money.

I genuinely had the BEST time! The whole experience was flawless from start to finish. The staff were fun and attentive; there were so many activities on offer (and plenty of time to do them too!) and it was such a fun way to experience the GBR and Fitzroy Island. Thank you so much to the crew for such a fun and memorable day!

We’ve booked this tour with one way helicopter flight. The experience, aside from the helicopter travel was nice. Staff members were helpful and informative, timings were good, equipment at the reef was ok as well As an experienced traveller I can say that the helicopter experience was worst I have tried. And I have flown on similar tours in many places from South America to New Zealand. Firstly, the logistics. If I am paying triple the price of the ticket why do I need to go to one part of town to get the ticket and then go to another part of town (airport) to start my journey? Ticket itself was not checked anywhere by the way. Couldn’t the tour management provide tickets for people who are paying so much in the airport, so that travellers will not spend so much time going from one place to another? Secondly, timing. We were asked to collect tickets at the pier on the city centre at 8:15. Drive from the city centre to the airport is 15 mins. The flight itself was about 15 mins. And we were at the pontoon only at 10:15. So we spent 1,5 hours waiting for the flight. Thirdly, the helicopter. We were in the one with 2 persons, including pilot in front, while 3 were at the back. The fact that not everybody got a window seat was concerning (everywhere I travelled each participant got a seat next to a window, everyone are paying for the views at the first place!). As you can understand I was sitting in the middle at the back and I was not able not only to leave my legs straight, but to slide down the seat so my head can be held straight. The comfort was compared to the long haul flight on the last row of Ryanair. Lastly I assume that arriving by helicopter means that we should arrive earlier than everyone. But we were the last ones, so we barely had time to do snorkelling. Overall - experience is good, but fly helicopter with another company and at another day.

It was everything we hoped it would be and more. The snorkeling at the reef was amazing, glass bottom boat too. Well organised with wetsuits, masks, flippers. Nice area to relax in afterwards. Not overcrowded. Helpful crew. Refreshments available. Fitzroy island was beautiful. Time to explore, snorkel and sunbathe. Trip included excellent buffet lunch. Back at 4.30pm, everything on time.

Getting to Moore Reef was very turbulent. I have been on boats and ships before and never got sea sick except today getting to Moore reef it was so bad many people were sick the crew could not keep up distributing sick bags. I strongly suggest if you are going to tske this cruise especially in July. DO NOT HAVE BREAKFAST. Take some sea sickness medication an hour before boarding. Even if you think you don't get sea sick trust me the chances are very high that you will. On the whole the crew was doing everything to help but could not do very much apart from handing out sick bags. Fitzroy Island wasn't much and the resort was not that good. We were not staying at the resort on Fitzroy Island but they didnt even allow us to have water. They ssid guests only. Disappointing. The buffet lunch they provided was not the best either not that you would want to eat after being sick travelling their . The crew were doing a great job. I wich you could provide some Aboriginal Cultural information after all we are visiting sacred territory where First Bation people live for thousands of years.

Great day on reef and wonderful Fitzroy Nudie beach was beautiful We should have rented snorkeling gear

This is a must do activity when staying in Cairns. I took my family here for the day and it was an absolute blast. Although the trip to the reef can be nauseating, the staff were incredibly very friendly and always happy to help throughout the journey. Snorkeling was a fantastic, new experience for all of us and the reef was full of life with a wide variety of corals, fishes and other sea creatures. I highly recommend both the introductory scuba dive and the helmet dive. The diving instructors, Aiden and Diego, clearly explained all the safety procedures in an encouraging way that calmed our nerves. They were especially helpful for first-time divers, giving us extra time to adjust to the cold water and the heavy diving suits (which felt weightless once submerged). The photos they took were awesome keepsakes, capturing the vivid and unforgettable experience our family shared in this underwater adventure. The island that they took us to was also a great way to take a break from the large waves. The complimentary lunch was delicious, with an all you can eat buffet that we couldn't get enough of. Unfortunately, it was raining while we were on the island, so we weren't able to explore much, but there were also some scenic lookouts to enjoy. 10/10, would recommend to anyone who has the time and is comfortable with getting really, really close to fishes, corals and maybe even a turtle too.

The worst experience I ever had. There were more people than the seats, I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND ANYONE TO AVOID THIS SHIP!!!!

This was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I’ve snorkeled all over the world and the snorkeling at Moore Reef is the best I’ve ever seen. Turtles, more varieties of fish than possible, giant clams, anemones… I spent the whole time in the water. Besides that, staff on boat were so friendly, gear was satisfactory and fresh water showers available. Fitzroy island was beautiful (walk to Nudey Beach- not a nudist beach) and the buffet lunch was amazing (no French fries/chicken tenders) with lovely cooked beef, chicken and barramundi, plus great vegetarian options. Ship was large enough that seasickness wasn’t a problem. I would do this trip again and again and again. My favorite part of my Australia trip.

Very capable, cordial and super-efficient staff, great gear, once in a lifetime experience, unforgettable.

This was a really nice way to have a snorkel at the reef plus some time on Fitzroy island. The team was very professional, counting passengers multiple times for safety and ensuring everyone had a good experience in the water. The pontoon was quite large and very stable even for someone who's prone to seasickness like me. They kept to the schedule 100%. Fitzroy island was not as interesting as I had hoped-- not a tour issue-- "just" a tropical island to rest on the beach or take a short hike.

We booked the helicopter option which was quite expensive. Our allocated flight time was right in the middle of our time at the reef, so no snorkeling before, and not informed of the times the other activities left, so hanging around for our then delayed time slot, this meant very limited snorkeling after the helicopter. So unless you get the first ride, avoid the helicopter, and crew, please ensure you let people know the times before getting on the pontoon. Lunch was fine at Fitzroy, but snorkeling gear is expensive to hire for the hour you have, maybe supply it for those who spent hundreds on the helicopter given the limited time on the reef?

There wasn’t afternoon tea and morning tea. Also they haven’t provide us time schedule. There wasn’t no time for experienced sub-marine and glass bottom boat. I only got sea-walk which is I payd extra $149 each person.

This was a great excursion! At first I was worried that we would not see any fish because we did not do the additional snorkel tour but we saw a ton of sea life! When we got to Fitzroy island, we were one of the first in line at lunch so there was a variety of delicious food to choose from. I hiked (because it’s not a walk) to nudey beach and it was well worth it. The only complaint (and it’s not to do with the tour) is that there isn’t anywhere to actually sit on the beaches, so just be prepared for that. If you have water shoes, bring them for the beach.

Thanks to the entire sunlover team. You guys are very professional and helpful and really made our trip! Joelle and Cora took such a good care of the kids who were a bit under the weather.

I really enjoyed the trip. The reef was so beautiful, spending 2 hours there just doesn't feel enough. Kudos to Joelle for helping me and my partner enter the water for the seawalking experience. My wife couldn't have done that without you. The island is very beautiful too. Recommended 10/10

Very well organised. Staff were very attentive & helpful. Got to see giant clam,turtles and even sharks.

Great day out. Perfect weather, would recommend . We saw sharks, sea turtles. Absolutely amazing. Loved the slide was an added bonus

Its worth the money that you pay. Beautiful customer service from the staff onboard the ferry. Delicious lunch and location.

Extremely disappointing. Not wanting to snorkel we booked a trip that contained both a glass bottomed boat and semi submersible thinking this would give us a good experience of the reef. When we got there the semi submersible part was cancelled for 'planned maintenance' but no one mentioned this when we picked up our tickets the day before. The glass bottomed boat tour turned out to be a 20 min trip over a small area of dull, poorly inhabited reef that bore no resemblance to the images in their marketing material. There was no attempt to compensate for the loss of a major part of our tour and we were left on the pontoon for 1 1/2 hrs with nothing to do. The lunch on a nearby island was okay but we came to experience the Great Barrier Reef and we absolutely did not. These trips are expensive and we set out excited about witnessing one of the worlds great natural wonders but the reality was shockingly poor. We returned feeling angry, disillusioned and totally ripped off. I'll be contacting the operator for a full refund.

Great trip professional crew orginize I recomend for all families viator is the best travel with !!!

Worst trip ever. No morning or afternoon tea only lunch. Buffet on Fitzroy island it was horrid. As we weren’t one of the first to buffet no fruit all gone not restocked. Cold meats hadn’t been long out of freezer still icy. Rest of the buffet mainly scraps. Lucky to get a couple os prawns. No butter for bread rolls -melted.

Overall experience was fantastic love the crew really thumbs up. pontoon was fabulous lots of activities, Lovely island but the food was not that great 👍🏿

We loved this cruise Sunlover staff were very helpful, they help my wife do the helicopter ride as a last minute addition. The cruise was very comfortable and well managed. Doing both places in the same day was a great experience. Just ensure that you have enough stock of essentials with you including towels, sea sickness tablets, instant coffee / noodles etc as these are very pricey (understandably) on the cruise. Also, there is no WiFi on board.

We had a good time at this tour. The team was very friendly and helpful. They even arranged for a last minute helicopter ride for my wife. They don’t have WiFi onboard the cruise and also you should come well stocked and prepared as everything onboard is priced at a premium (understandably so).

Young team who know can teach 200 plus people how to snorkel and take them to an area where there is abundant coral and fish. Awe inspiring snorkelling.

A wonderful experience indeed. The only issue is that the submissable activity was cancelled on our trip and that was the activity I was looking forward to do. Otherwise glass bottom boat was amazing.

The damage to the reef around the pontoon was terrible. They should be charged. Where you could snorkel was bleached out. Outside side snorkeling area reef was perfect. Go figure?

Fantastic day out on the reef. This was on our bucket list and this tour did not disappoint. The Sunlovers team were fantastic, the snorkelling fabulous with plenty of fish and coral to see. I'm so happy we booked it. Definitely worth the money. Thanks for a great day.

Amazing Day at the Great Barrier Reef – Thanks to the Wonderful Sunlover Team! My wife and I had an absolutely unforgettable experience with Sunlover Reef Cruises, and we’re so glad we chose them for our Great Barrier Reef adventure! From the moment we stepped onboard, we felt welcomed and well looked after. A special thank you to Leo and Andrea, who were incredibly kind, patient, and helpful throughout the whole trip. I had never snorkeled before and was honestly a bit nervous, but both Leo and Andrea took the time to guide me, explain everything clearly, and support me through the experience. Because of their encouragement, I was able to try snorkeling for the first time – and it was amazing! I’m so glad I gave it a go. The reef itself was absolutely stunning – vibrant coral, colorful fish, and crystal-clear waters. The pontoon was well-equipped, clean, and safe, with plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing and soaking in the views. The semi-submarine and glass-bottom boat were also a great way to explore the reef without getting wet. The entire Sunlover team was outstanding – friendly, professional, and truly passionate about what they do. You can tell they love sharing the beauty of the reef with their guests. Everything was very well organized, from the safety briefings to the lunch (which was delicious!), and even the return journey was smooth and comfortable. This was truly one of the highlights of our trip, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re visiting Cairns and want to explore the Great Barrier Reef, I highly recommend Sunlover Reef Cruises – especially if you’re new to snorkeling or just want a fun, safe, and memorable adventure. Big thanks again to Leo, Andrea, and the entire crew – you made our day truly special!

The windows on the semi submersable were not clean with the result the coral could not be seen to its full potential. The glass bottom boat trip was much better. The young man providing the commentary was well versed in the cycles of the reef. Lunch was very good although Limited time to eat it. We were basically ushered out in the politest way.

Small group. Nice seats. Great marine biologist. Fantastic meal. Lots of activity choices. Helicopter ride was amazing. Outstanding Captain. Fitzroy Island was gorgeous. I highly recommend this excursion

As advertised - no surprises. Weather plays a big role in Summer with thunderstorms in Jan and Feb in this area. We were lucky and had an uneventful day. Prepare for the heat and humidity for sure. Only issue - vegetarian options missing other than salad, fruit and bread at the Fitzroy island buffet.

I would give it a C- overall. Would have been an A+ but one of their (female) staff told me I could go back to the boat after lunch to access my gear (sunscreen, sun hat, water), up unril about 2, and when I went there at 1:15, I had to take a long step to reach the boat. It was not normal for them to have such ooor access to the boat imo, yet none of them were in sight so I did what I was promised I could do, access my things on the boat. Some guy who was the biggest talker of the crew, by name of Morgan, made a big scene to me in front of the crew inside the ship, saying how dangerous it was for me to get on the ship w/o a proper gangway. Well, him/them making it less safe than ideal was their negligence, not mine. That was a huge blemish in the experience. He/they should have known better. He seemed over his head, and was trying to blame someone else for his/their negligence.quite gauche and unprofessional. All the other staff were pleasant, professional, and safe w their clients all day, in my observations anyway.

Not enough time at the pontoon. As soon as you get there and do the glass bottom boat and underwater scuba experience you have half an hour left to snorkel. Then onto Fitzroy island and lunch. Very busy and not the best buffet. Three salads, some rice, lamb and pork. Then the Fitzroy Island staff kick you out of the dining area and you have to go and sit in the sun because the bar they direct you to is full. Nudey beach is worth the walk. Stunning! Do the full day reef experience. It would be much better.

Dtaff extremely friendly and helpful. Fantastic set up at the pontoon which caters for all levels of experience in the water. Great family day out

Great trip! Well organised, friendly helpful staff and lots to see and do at your own pace. The pontoon was brilliant, clean spacious and lots to take part in including the glass bottom boat, the slide, the semi sub and then of course swimming in the reef. All of the crew were knowledgeable and Ezzy in particular was great, and helped us feel at ease after some nerves about swimming in the reef. The lunch on Fitzroy island was lovely, only issue was long queues, food running out and not enough seating… some of our party had to eat their food on their laps and some shared a table with other couples. The island was beautiful, there was a nice walk to Nudey beach, beautiful views and plenty to see in the sea. Overall we had a great day and are so pleased who chose this trip as our first experience to the Great Barrier Reef! Would also like to mention Alex, who was great! Friendly, helpful and a credit to your team :) Thank you to everyone onboard who made the trip a great one :)

We did the Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island tour, absolutely the best in Cairns for the boat, staff, amenities and experience. We did the guided snorkel tour as an extra and it was brilliant…highly recommend and will definitely do this again!

Abi the snorkeling instructor was great, both of us had a great time snorkeling. My partner is always scared of sea, but she did it, all the credit goes to Abi.

Having fun with fishes and turtles 🐢 The corals 🪸 were beautiful. Fishes really can come close to you and you can have a great photo taking.

Full day Moore reef tour. The pontoon just makes for a relaxing day with plenty of room to move around, sit and chill or do all the other free activities on offer like snorkelling , glass bottom boat, under water observatory, water side into the ocean, fish feeding and the live touch tanks. Great place for little kids with the metal cage for them to swim in, so allowing a the fish to come through. Plenty of stinker suits it fit all shapes and sizes even the cuddliest of us 😍. I would definately recommend this. Lunch was simple but tasty with fresh prawns on offer. Lunch was served for 2hrs so still plenty of time for activities and eating when you're ready.

Overall a well managed and professional cruise and knowledgeable trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Plenty of time (4hours) to enjoy the reef and snorkel or scuba or helicopter or ocean walk. Entirely up to you how active and involved you want to be. Crew are very friendly and always there to help you have an enjoyable day.

This time I brought my family to the Great Barrier Reef diving, the staff on the sun lover ship Ray led the diving talk very detailed and rich, the attitude is also kind and friendly, this experience is very satisfying.