CAIRNS

First and foremost, you’ve got the mind-blowing Great Barrier Reef—the world’s largest coral reef, and trust us, it’s just as beautiful as it is massive. The marina in Cairns is packed with dive companies and boats ready to take you out to the reef. Short on time or not feeling a full-on dive course? No worries. You can easily book a day trip where you get all the basics onboard the boat on your way out, and then do some easy, guided dives with an instructor.

The Great Barrier Reef stretches along the Queensland coast for a whopping 2,600 km, but Cairns is one of the few places where the reef is close enough to the coast that getting out there is a breeze. That’s exactly why Cairns is such a massive hotspot—and when it comes to adventure, you can pretty much check off everything on your bucket list here!

Do yourself a favor and do a bit of research beforehand to compare prices and deals from different crew and operators. That way, you're all set for the perfect dive experience when you finally touch down in Cairns. If scuba diving isn't really your thing, there are tons of options for just snorkeling at the surface instead! Either way, you're going to experience the most insane underwater world the second you jump off the boat and clear your mask—and the world above water might actually feel a bit boring afterwards...! Yeah, the Great Barrier Reef is truly one of a kind, and it’s definitely earned its spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list.