I'm looking for help deciding on where to take my family to snorkel on the reef. We can visit the reef from wither Airlie Beach or Bundaberg. I can see there are quite a few different options and I'm finding it hard to decide.
I will have our 10 year old and 12 year old with us as well as our older children. I'd love for them to be able to see the most vibrant, colourful reef as possible.
Has anyone snorkelled from either of these places? If so, what was the reef like and the tour? I'm particularly interested in hearing people's opinion on:
Lady Musgrave
Hardy Reef (Cruise Whitsundays does this tour)
Bait Reef (Explore does this trip to the outer reef)
Hook Island, Blue Pearl Bay, and Langford Beach
Thanks in advance.
Lyn :)
Rob Driver said
06:15 PM Oct 9, 2019
If you are in Airlie Beach and do not want to pay exorbitant fees to go all the way out to the reef you may consider Bowen off the beaches.
Our son and his wife and kids visited there last year and they said that Hoerseshoe Bay snorkelling was as good as going out to the reef as far as viewing reef life is concerned.
In any case the area gets great reports for snorkelling.
It is not a big drive from Airlie, about 80 kms from memory and what you save on the boat trip would buy you and family a great lunch at the cafe in Horseshoe Bay.
Regards
Angie
Full Van said
10:16 PM Oct 9, 2019
bentaxlebabe wrote:
If you are in Airlie Beach and do not want to pay exorbitant fees to go all the way out to the reef you may consider Bowen off the beaches.
Our son and his wife and kids visited there last year and they said that Hoerseshoe Bay snorkelling was as good as going out to the reef as far as viewing reef life is concerned. In any case the area gets great reports for snorkelling.
It is not a big drive from Airlie, about 80 kms from memory and what you save on the boat trip would buy you and family a great lunch at the cafe in Horseshoe Bay.
Regards
Angie
Hi Angie,
That's great to know, thank-you. We're passing through Bowen on our way from Townsville to Airlie Beach, so that fits in well.
Thanks again,
Lyn
Knight said
10:41 AM Oct 10, 2019
Full Van wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
If you are in Airlie Beach and do not want to pay exorbitant fees to go all the way out to the reef you may consider Bowen off the beaches.
Our son and his wife and kids visited there last year and they said that Hoerseshoe Bay snorkelling was as good as going out to the reef as far as viewing reef life is concerned. In any case the area gets great reports for snorkelling.
It is not a big drive from Airlie, about 80 kms from memory and what you save on the boat trip would buy you and family a great lunch at the cafe in Horseshoe Bay.
Regards
Angie
Hi Angie,
That's great to know, thank-you. We're passing through Bowen on our way from Townsville to Airlie Beach, so that fits in well.
Thanks again,
Lyn
It's quite safe, the dreaded by certain groups Adani Mine is 300 kilometres inland.
wink!
Bobdown said
12:42 PM Oct 10, 2019
Ningaloo Reef off Exmouth............only 100 m offshore, you can swim there. Try Turquoise Bay.
Go WA.......LOL
Valkie said
12:27 PM Oct 11, 2019
I would suggest in the water.
Its definitely more interesting
HunnyBunny said
12:41 PM Oct 13, 2019
I snorkeled off Airlie Beach & Port Douglas. I thought Airlie Beach was the best of those two places.
Sarge9 said
02:10 PM Oct 13, 2019
Have to say one of the best places we found was Lady Elliott Island. Don't usually go to the added expense such trip involve but very well worth the flight cost, lunch included. We will stay the night next time for much longer snorkeling. We flew fom Bundaberg, left the van at the airport no drama.
Sarge.
LLD said
05:01 PM Oct 14, 2019
Make sure you have something to protect your back from the sun. The most horrific dose of sunburn I've ever had was from snorkelling.
Phill of Townsville said
09:19 AM Oct 17, 2019
Try Dingo Beach ( Nelly Beach).. Absolutely perfect.. Put the van in Hideaway Bay CP. Short 1 hr drive from Airle. MAGICAL. Cheers Phillip
Hylife said
07:14 PM Oct 19, 2019
As an avid SCUBA diver and snorkeler I can tell you that 99% of all the coral surrounding 15 kilometres or so of Airlie Beach was wiped out by cyclone Debbie in March 2017.
It will take many years to get back to even a fraction of what it once was.
Was diving all around there in September this year and there is still only perhaps 10% live coral and only maybe a third of the fish. Everything still looks like Bikini atoll (nuke test site).
If you want to snorkel make sure the trip is to the outer Great Barrier Reef.
My advice is to consider another departure location such as Mission Beach which is very close to the outer reef.
agent13 said
10:03 PM Oct 19, 2019
I have been to Lady Musgrave, Heron(twice) and Lady Elliot (twice) and I think Lady Elliot is my choice for seeing the reef. In my experience it has the best scuba diving and snorkeling. You can fly from Bundy to the island so there is no sea sickness to deal with. The island is not over the top touristy like many reef locations, no crowds. The food is excellent too.
Hi Everyone!
I'm looking for help deciding on where to take my family to snorkel on the reef. We can visit the reef from wither Airlie Beach or Bundaberg. I can see there are quite a few different options and I'm finding it hard to decide.
I will have our 10 year old and 12 year old with us as well as our older children. I'd love for them to be able to see the most vibrant, colourful reef as possible.
Has anyone snorkelled from either of these places? If so, what was the reef like and the tour? I'm particularly interested in hearing people's opinion on:
Lady Musgrave
Hardy Reef (Cruise Whitsundays does this tour)
Bait Reef (Explore does this trip to the outer reef)
Hook Island, Blue Pearl Bay, and Langford Beach
Thanks in advance.
Lyn :)
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Our son and his wife and kids visited there last year and they said that Hoerseshoe Bay snorkelling was as good as going out to the reef as far as viewing reef life is concerned.
In any case the area gets great reports for snorkelling.
It is not a big drive from Airlie, about 80 kms from memory and what you save on the boat trip would buy you and family a great lunch at the cafe in Horseshoe Bay.
Regards
Angie
Hi Angie,
That's great to know, thank-you. We're passing through Bowen on our way from Townsville to Airlie Beach, so that fits in well.
Thanks again,
Lyn
It's quite safe, the dreaded by certain groups Adani Mine is 300 kilometres inland.
wink!
Ningaloo Reef off Exmouth............only 100 m offshore, you can swim there. Try Turquoise Bay.
Go WA.......LOL
I would suggest in the water.
Its definitely more interesting
Sarge.
As an avid SCUBA diver and snorkeler I can tell you that 99% of all the coral surrounding 15 kilometres or so of Airlie Beach was wiped out by cyclone Debbie in March 2017.
It will take many years to get back to even a fraction of what it once was.
Was diving all around there in September this year and there is still only perhaps 10% live coral and only maybe a third of the fish. Everything still looks like Bikini atoll (nuke test site).
If you want to snorkel make sure the trip is to the outer Great Barrier Reef.
My advice is to consider another departure location such as Mission Beach which is very close to the outer reef.
I have been to Lady Musgrave, Heron(twice) and Lady Elliot (twice) and I think Lady Elliot is my choice for seeing the reef. In my experience it has the best scuba diving and snorkeling. You can fly from Bundy to the island so there is no sea sickness to deal with. The island is not over the top touristy like many reef locations, no crowds. The food is excellent too.