2-Day Pontoon, Buffet Lunch

Reef Magic & Dreamtime Dive spread the Great Barrier Reef over two days from Cairns: a pontoon day on the outer reef, then a second day on Fitzroy Island. From A$460 per person. Rated 3.9 from 11 reviews, so feedback is thin.

Overview

This two day package pairs a full day at an outer reef pontoon with a full day on Fitzroy Island, departing from Cairns. Day one goes to the Reef Magic pontoon, a large all-weather platform moored on the Great Barrier Reef with capacity for 450 guests, though numbers are held to a maximum of 250. You get five hours at the reef, with a semi-submarine tour, a glass bottom boat tour and all snorkelling equipment included, plus a hot and cold buffet lunch. Extra activities on the pontoon, such as intro or certified diving, guided snorkel safaris and Sea Trek helmet diving, are payable separately.

Day two is the Fitzroy Island leg. A fast catamaran runs along the coastline rather than out into open ocean, and the crossing takes about 45 minutes. The island is a protected National Park, once part of the mainland, with walking tracks through rainforest, heathland and open forest to Nudey Beach and the Summit. A glass bottom boat tour, snorkel gear, return island transfers and a packed picnic lunch are included on this day.

The trip suits travellers who want both reef and island in one booking and who are happy to make their own way to Marlin Marina each morning. Hotel pickup is not included, and the two days are booked consecutively, with day two set automatically after the date you choose.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Marlin MarinaDay one starts at berth MW10 at Marlin Marina in Cairns. There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the terminal.
2. Cruise to the reef pontoonTravel out to the Reef Magic pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. One reviewer described this leg as roughly two hours on open sea, so plan ahead if you are prone to motion sickness.
3. Five hours at the pontoonSpend five hours at the reef with a semi-submarine tour, a glass bottom boat tour and snorkelling in the sheltered coral lagoon included. A hot and cold buffet lunch is included on day one. Diving, guided snorkel safaris and helmet diving are optional extras.
4. Return to CairnsCruise back to Cairns at the end of day one.
5. Catamaran to Fitzroy IslandDay two departs from A finger berth 6 at Marlin Marina. The fast catamaran hugs the coastline and the crossing takes about 45 minutes.
6. Full day on Fitzroy IslandExplore the National Park tracks to Nudey Beach or the Summit, snorkel, and take the included glass bottom boat tour. A packed picnic lunch is provided, and return island transfers are included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this tour goes for you, from sea conditions to what the days actually involve.

• Seasickness planning. One reviewer flagged the outbound crossing to the pontoon as roughly two hours on open sea, which was rough for anyone prone to motion sickness. The Fitzroy catamaran stays along the coastline instead. Bring motion sickness remedies if the open ocean worries you.
• Water confidence. The pontoon suits beginners, with corals and fish visible from the platform before you even swim, and an easy water entry point. That said, one reviewer noted that non-swimmers have limited options beyond the semi-submarine, glass bottom boat and underwater observatory.
• Nudey Beach walk. Reaching Nudey Beach on foot involves about 15 minutes over difficult rocks, up and down, according to a reviewer. Wear proper footwear rather than thongs. The reward is white sand and a long stretch of coastline.
• Lunch logistics. Day one includes a hot and cold buffet lunch on the pontoon. Day two is a packed picnic lunch on the island, and one reviewer found day two arrangements, including lunch, unclear compared with the well-run first day.
• Staff and briefings. Reviewers consistently describe staff as friendly, informative and fantastic across both days. Briefings on the pontoon are said to be clear and thorough. The weaker point raised was communication on the island, where one traveller felt less looked after.
• Booking the dates. Day one is the reef pontoon on the date you select, and the Fitzroy Island day is automatically set for the following day. If you need to move the second day, you have to call the operator to change it.

Common issues. No hotel pickup is included, so you need to get yourself to Marlin Marina both mornings, at different berths for each day. Diving, guided snorkel tours and other premium activities on the pontoon cost extra, as the listing states under exclusions. One reviewer said the open sea crossing to the pontoon was unpleasant for motion sickness, and another felt let down by the organisation of the Fitzroy day, particularly around lunch, compared with the polished first day. The Nudey Beach track involves rocky ground that is not flagged in the listing itself.

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