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Sunlover | Moore Reef Tour

The Sunlover Great Barrie Reef experience departs daily from Cairns. Our state-of-the art Moore Reef Marine Base is perfectly positioned and fully equipped so that any age or ability can fully experience the magic of the reef with its abundance of colourful coral, fascinating fish, turtles & more.

When you travel with Sunlover Reef Cruises you will have 4 hours on to explore the great barrier reef surrounding the Moore Reef Marine Base. There is plenty of time to take advantage of all of our free inclusions. The kids (or big kids!) will love the Sunlover Sunslide – the only water slide on the reef.

Instant Booking & Mobile Friendly Tickets
Check availability & book here to secure your spot on Sunlover
Sunlover Moore Reef Tour is frequently fully booked. Pre-booking is essential. Please do not turn up without a booking.

Features & Inclusions

• Sunlover Moore Reef Features & Inclusions
• 4 hours at the outer reef
• Tropical buffet lunch including fresh seafood, hot dishes, salads and tropical fruits
• All snorkelling equipment and expert instruction
• FREE Glass bottom boat tours
• FREE Semi-Submersible tours
• Free tea and coffee on boarding the vessel
• Marine naturalist presentation
• Kids Pool
• Underwater observatory
• Fish feeding presentation
• Afternoon tea
• Freshwater showers and change rooms
• Stinger Suit
• FREE WIFI

Your Day With Sunlover

08:30am – Check in Starts
09:30am – Check in closes
09:45am – Boarding closes
10:00am – Departs Cairns
11:30am – Arrive Moore Reef Marine Base
12:00pm – Tropical Buffet Lunch
04:00pm – Depart Moore Reef Marine Base
05:30pm – Arrive Cairns Marina

Sunlover Semi-Submersible Tour
From the dry comfort of your seat, experience the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef as you cruise over stunning hard and soft corals, past staggering drop offs and coral gardens at a depth of 8-10 metres underwater. The incredible water clarity at Moore Reef means you can spot an array of marine life, from angel fish and yellow tail fusiliers, to green sea turtles, spotted rays and even the occasional reef shark.

The tour is fully commentated by one of our passionate marine experts. Learn interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef and the coral and marine life that call Moore Reef their home.

The tour lasts 20 minutes and departs regularly during your four hours on the Moore Reef Marine Base.

Best of all, the semi-submersible Great Barrier Reef tour is included in your Moore Reef full day tour, so you can go on the tour as many times as you want for free!

Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef 
Due to the coral's proximity to our Marine Base, our Great Barrier Reef snorkelling is great for swimmers of all abilities. Haven't snorkelled before? Take a life vest and snorkel closely to the Marine Base. Guided Snorkel Safaris are also available for those who are not confident snorkelling on their own.

Our friendly team are also happy to teach you how to use your snorkel equipment and assist you in fitting your mask and fins.

All snorkel equipment is included in your reef trip, including snorkel, fins, mask and life vest. Lycra suits, wet suits and prescription masks are also available to hire.

When it comes to Great Barrier Reef snorkelling, it doesn't get much better than our Moore Reef snorkelling area! A whopping 300 square metres of pristine hard and soft corals which is home to hundreds of marine life species, the snorkel area offers the best the outer Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

Moore Reef offers crystal clear visibility and shallow depth of 1-4 metres so you can truly experience the splendor of the Great Barrier Reef while staying on the water's surface.

Glide along our snorkel area and explore intricate mosaics of colourful coral, including boulder corals, coral bommies and staghorn corals. The outer edge of our snorkel area features a breathtaking coral drop off, highlighting the sheer grandeur and size of the Great Barrier Reef.

At Moore Reef, your Great Barrier Reef snorkelling adventure is sure to be full of many animals on your Australian bucketlist, including clown fish (Nemo), green sea turtles and our resident giant Maori wrasse; "Wally". Dive in off our Moore Reef snorkel platform into dozens of colourful yellow tail fusiliers, spot giant clams and relax and listen to the sound of parrot fish crunch on coral within metres of you.

The Sunlover Sunslide
Our Moore Reef double-storey Marine Base is home to the only waterslide on the Great Barrier Reef.

Swirling 8 metres down from our sun deck, on a 30 metre spiral into the tropical ocean, this theme-park-style waterslide is a hit with big kids and little kids alike. Kids under 5 can enjoy it too when accompanied by an adult.

The Great Barrier Reef Waterslide is a complimentary so the children can slide as many times as they like.

Sunlover Glass Bottom Boat Experience
Glass bottom boat tours allow you to enjoy viewing the spectacular coral and marine life of the reef without even entering the ocean. This makes it perfect for non-swimmers or those who just want to view the Great Barrier Reef from a different perspective.

Glide across the Great Barrier Reef in our open-air glass bottom boat and see corals and fish in every shade of the spectrum through the large glass panels.

As the reef is only 0.5-3 metres under the glass, the tour offers a clear and close-up view of hard and soft corals, giant clams, anemones and more. Watch in awe as a variety of colourful tropical fish swim under the glass bottom boat, including yellow tail fusiliers, blue tailed garfish, butterfly fish and many more. You may even spot a green sea turtle or a white spotted reef shark!

Enjoy a full commentary from one of our marine experts as they educate you on the Great Barrier Reef and the various inhabitants that you spot during the tour.

The tour lasts 20 minutes and departs regularly throughout the duration of your time at the reef Marine Base. Best of all it is a free inclusion in your day at the reef and you can take unlimited rides!

Fish Feeding Presentation
Watch an array of fish swarm the waters beneath you during a fish feeding presentation conducted by our marine naturalists.

The presentation occurs towards the end of your time at the reef and is included free as part of your day tour experience. During the presentation our marine expert sprinkles approved fish food into the water. From your vantage point on the Marine Base you can watch the feeding frenzy and spot colourful fish such as yellow tail fusiliers, blue tailed garfish, giant trevally and angel fish.

Our marine expert will tell you all about the the fish you are seeing and answer any curious questions you may have.

Underwater Observatory
The Sunlover Underwater Observatory entry is included as part of your day tour and is open for the duration of your time at the reef.

From the ground floor of the Marine Base, descend a set of stairs and find yourself in the world's most impressive natural 'fish tank'.

Take advantage of the theatre-style seating to relax in the darkened room and watch the fish swim by. Get lost in an underwater world and spot yellow tail fusiliers, red bass, giant trevally, 7 barbed butterfly fish, angelfish, goatfish and more!

Make sure you head to the underwater observatory during the fish feeding presentation. Our marine experts also provide a scheduled talk for a more in depth experience.

Kids Pool
Our ocean enclosed and shallow kids' pools at Moore Reef is a fantastic option for young children wanting to experience the Great Barrier Reef in a safe environment.

Plus, our resident yellow tail fusiliers often like to pop in and take a swim with the children!

The pools are located next to the snorkel platform and lifeguard tower, and are open for the duration of your time on our Great Barrier Reef Marine Bases.

Sunlover Sun Deck
Relax, rejuvenate and unwind on the upper level sundeck at our Moore Reef Marine Base. It is the perfect place to chill out and soak up some tropical rays with a cool drink. Lie back on a sun lounger or giant bean bag, in between snorkelling and all the other activities available during your 4 hours on Moore Reef.

The sun deck offers the best vantage point to take spectacular photos of the blue skies, azure waters and brilliant reef. We even have a Great Barrier Reef selfie wall so you can share your amazing reef experience with envious friends and family. 

Tropical Buffet Lunch
Keep your energy levels up to make the most of all the activities on offer at Moore Reef with our Tropical buffet lunch that is included as part of your day.

Our standard buffet includes selections for most dietary requirements. (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten & Lactose Free).
Please advise of any passengers travelling with Nut Allergies – a separate meal shall be prepared for these passengers to avoid any traces of nuts that may be found the dressings / spices used on the regular dishes.

Served from midday - 1.30pm on the lower level of the boat.
If you have any food allergies please notify us at least 48 hours prior so we can ensure we can accommodate your requirements.

Departures: 
Make your way to the Reef Fleet Terminal on 1 Spence Street, Cairns. 
Check-in starts from 8.30am and closes at 9.30am for a 10am departure.
Arrives back in Cairns at 5:30pm.

What to Bring
What to Bring on the Sunlover Reef Tour
Simply pack a bag as if you were going to the beach for the day.

• Hat & sunscreen 
• Sun protective clothing, like a t-shirt or rash vest
• Swimming costume
• Beach towel
• Camera

About the Sunlover Moore Reef Marine Base
Our double-storey Moore Reef Marine Base is anchored at Moore Reef, 47km off Cairns. The base has been custom designed so all ages and abilities can explore and enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.  

The base is 50 metres long with a capacity of up to 400 people, and was recently refurbished and enhanced to now feature a large upper-level sundeck, which is the perfect spot to relax in the tropical sunshine, and prime position to look out over the turquoise waters and mosiac of the reef. The sundeck is also where the Sunlover Sunslide starts on its 30 metre spiral descent into the tropical waters.  

On the lower level, there is plentiful seating in the shade. The boat docks alongside the base and gangplanks provide seamless access between base and air-conditioned boat.

Moore Reef Marine Base features:

• Fully powered
• WIFI and cellphone coverage (dependent on conditions and provider)
• Air-conditioned 60 tiered-seat underwater observatory that can also be used for presentations
• Built in SCUBA dive station, with all equipment & diving platform
• Two snorkel platforms
• Plentiful tables and seating
• Glass bottom boat
• Change-rooms
• Fresh water outdoor showers
• Ocean enclosed children’s pool
• Sunlover Sunslide - only waterslide on the reef
• Two levels - shaded lower level and upper level sundeck
• Scenic helicopter pad

Departures:
Make your way to the Reef Fleet Terminal on 1 Spence Street, Cairns.
Check-in starts from 8.30am and closes at 9.30am for a 10am departure.
Arrives back in Cairns at 5:30pm.