Sunlover Reef Cruises — Attraction in Cairns City

Incredible family day out in paradise! Travelled with husband and 5 & 7 year olds who had never snorkelled previously, but they can swim well. We were treated beautifully by every single staff member, nothing was too much trouble, the crew were outstanding in the way they engaged with our children! *Tip- At the Terminal in the morning where you check in, there is a shop which sells $1 (One dollar) 'motion travel' tablets. Tip- bring a couple of underwater cameras (you can pick them up at Kmart for about $12) Tip - on any boat, always bring salted chips/fruit to nibble on for your kids/yourself during the 2 hour boat ride each way to the Reef so as to avoid motion sickness. Also keep your eyes up and on the horizon, sit 'front facing' and sit near the back of the boat where there's not so much motion. Avoid fumes if sitting outside.

I was a little worried about going with Sunlover after reading some negative reviews. However our day, every process was nothing short of terrific and a job well done - shout out to 'Troy' who was terrific with the kids and the rest of the crew and duty/lifeguards!! And those on 'slide duty'..! Thanks our kids loved you!!

The English Gentlemen crew member who gave us the onboard safety demo was spot on with all his sound advice, dramatic and funny which helped to grab your attention. The English demonstrator went through every single process, including what to do, stinger suits, flippers, float vests, where to get help from, all the different activities you could do and most importantly- when/where food is available!

After the 2 hour boat ride to your destination, you will arrive at a huge pontoon with waterslide and lots of tables and chairs to park your bags at. Allow a good 30 minutes to suit up with two kids/husband in stinger suits/masks/vests and flippers.

There were other things to do which you could pay for, but we had more than enough things to do and could have stayed all day just snorkelling. Weather was beautiful and ocean was warm, the wind came only after lunch which was still fine to snorkel in.

Our 7 year old was a natural with the snorkelling and spent most of her time doing this, but also alternated between snorkelling and that amazing slide. Our 5 year old didn't like snorkelling once the gear was all on, he spent the rest of his time on the slide- the lifeguards were fantastic and he had a ball!! When snorkelling I could lift my head up and see where he was at all times (even though my husband and I took turns in minding the kids)

When you Swim out more than 10 metres from the pontoon and that's where it gets amazing, pretty coral colours, loads of fish, a huge turtle today and a very large fish (which myself and 7 year old were photographed touching!) Sealife is amazing with aqua, purple, yellow, black and gold, blue and green fish. Creation at its finest!

Loved the free glassbottom boat tour, live touch and feel ocean creatures , semi submarine, feeding fish and downstairs viewing ocean window panels! Plenty to do even if you don't wish to swim.

Food was good, chicken and mushroom pasta, curries, salads, potatoe salads, rice, heaps of prawns, fresh fruit, sliced ham and beef, mini chicken drum sticks to name a few. Everything refilled as it was demolished. Water, tea and coffee free at the bar.

Photographs taken by the 'snorkelling water photographer' while you're in the water snorkelling, can be viewed at the lunch area on the way home and purchased. We got one with a huge fish that my little one and I were patting in the water as it swam by us - what a photograph! This experience changed the way she viewed ocean life forever.

I will say the weather often helps or hinders your day- we were fortunate enough to have quite good weather. We didn't book this until the night before, due to flooding/bad weather in the area.

Thanks Sunlover crew for a sensational memory filled family day, these memories will last forever. We are saving up to go again with the Grandparents!! Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef is definitely a 'Bucket...

Avoid Sunlover Great Barrier Reef Tour – A Disappointing Experience

I’m giving this tour a star, and that’s solely for the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, the overall experience was chaotic, poorly organized, and incredibly uncomfortable. The only highlight was the moment my partner and I enjoyed snorkeling and witnessing the underwater scenery.

Here are the main issues we encountered: Disorganized Dining Arrangements Near lunchtime, the crew cleared the first deck and asked all passengers to move their belongings to the second deck, announcing that the first deck would serve as the dining area. After struggling to find seats on the crowded second deck, we realized the buffet was actually set up on a smaller, semi-open boat outside. This left passengers with two frustrating options: a) Eat on the damp, semi-open boat in the rain, or b) Brave the rain twice—once to collect the food and again to return to the main boat. The purpose of clearing the first deck remains unclear, as it only created inconvenience, discomfort, and soggy, unappetizing food. Poor Communication and Scheduling There was no clear or consistent communication about the schedule or activities. For example, the lunch period, originally planned for 12:30–14:00, was delayed to 13:00–14:00 due to slow preparation. By that time, some passengers were already changing into wet suits for snorkeling or being rushed by staff to join a 12:30 diving session. How were they supposed to manage lunch? The activity timetable was only displayed on a small whiteboard on the outdoor boat, which many passengers, including us, didn’t notice at first. Activities began without any announcements or notifications, leaving passengers to figure things out and queue up on their own. Many missed the activities they had paid for simply due to the lack of proper guidance. Rude and Disrespectful Staff The crew’s treatment of passengers—many of whom were Chinese—was appalling. I witnessed multiple instances of crew members being outright rude to elderly Chinese tourists. Their tone and expressions were disrespectful in the English-speaking context, and they failed to show basic patience toward those struggling to understand their instructions. On one occasion, I saw an elderly woman being loudly “shushed” by a staff member. Such behavior was humiliating and heartbreaking to witness, especially since many older passengers were traveling with family to enjoy the Chinese New Year. Instead, they endured seasickness, rough weather, and poor treatment from the crew. If this company has no interest in accommodating Chinese guests, perhaps we should spend our money with other operators who value our business. Limited Hot Drinks After snorkeling in the cold, rainy weather, the hot tea and coffee provided on board were a welcome sight—until they weren’t. By the time we had changed out of our wet suits and made our way to the drinks station, a crew member abruptly began packing everything away. Some passengers behind us didn’t even get the chance to grab a drink. If the hot drinks are only available for a limited time, this should be clearly communicated via signage or announcements. On a cold, rainy day, denying passengers a simple cup of tea or coffee after snorkeling felt unnecessarily harsh. Additional Notes and Warnings • Changing Facilities: The outdoor boat had only 2–3 small changing booths, and the main boat had limited restroom space for changing. Ladies, it’s best to wear your swimwear underneath your clothes to save time and hassle. • Terrible Food: The meals provided were almost inedible. Make sure to eat a big breakfast beforehand. • Seasickness: If the weather is bad, take motion sickness medication at least 30 minutes in advance. Don’t take chances.

If you’re considering this tour, think twice. The Great Barrier Reef is breathtaking, but there are other companies offering much better...

We really enjoyed our time at the Moore Reef. The staff were friendly and excellent, and the entire family enjoyed ourselves.

Some expectations should probably be set:

Book your tickets probably 1-2 days before your planned trip. This way, you can be sure that there isn't a tropical storm at the reef. Check BoM's satellite images

This is one of the bigger companies going to the reef. There are a LOT of people, including tour groups. If you want a more romantic, private tour, this isn't for you. That being said, there was plenty of staff on board and plenty to do. The pontoon is huge and there are tons of space and snorkeling area for people.

We booked our additions during the boat ride, which I recommend, again, so that you can accommodate for weather.

The Guided snorkel tour is recommended as you go beyond the allowed snorkel area. This brings you to the shallower areas which had more vibrant corals.

Sea walker is good if you want good photographs underwater. The photos when you are snorkeling are not flattering. With the sea walker, you are more stable, and the pictures turned out amazing.

The boat ride takes 2 hours. Yes, 2 hours. This includes a drop off at Fritzoy island. However, once we reached the pontoon, there was an additional 15 minute of wait time for the staff to get the pontoon setup. This is fine, but could have been communicated better. The boat (with plenty of young kids) were about to mutiny after the long boat ride.

Alcohol can be brought onboard, but if you are planning to go underwater (Sea walker/scuba), you will be asked not to drink. Prices are expensive but not outrageous. ($9 for a can of beer)

Everything you need to snorkel is provided, but I will recommend bringing a towel, as those are not provided. You will be wet, and without a towel, you will be dripping trying to get dry.

The boat reaches the reef at noon, so there is a lot of people queueing for lunch. A theme on this boat is don't be the first one and join queues. Rather, I will recommend going straight into the water or join one of the boat rides. Lunch is provided till 2pm, and once we were done with our activities at 1:30, there was still plenty of food available.

Multiple life guards are constantly on watch, so we felt really safe. The enclosed kids swimming pool was an excellent spot for our 4 year old, while our 8 year old enjoyed the water slide and went snorkeling with me.

In summary, this is great for families. A bit more communication to set expectations will be welcomed. Expect crowds, but you will still have plenty of fun and space...