Great Barrier Reef Holidays

Photo by Tourism and Events Queensland

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Where to stay in Great Barrier Reef

Find the best Great Barrier Reef areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Great Barrier Reef
A beach lined with tall palm trees and a clear blue sky.

Palm Cove

Relax on sandy beaches and swim in turquoise waters at a resort town between the Great Barrier Reef and the rain forests of tropical Far North Queensland.

Find hotels in Palm Cove

Things to do in Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is an ideal destination for outdoor, eco-friendly family holidays, offering a range of activities. Visitors can enjoy sailing tours, day trips, and reef tours, as well as experience the thrill of reef diving and snorkelling excursions. Additionally, there are shopping areas, recreational spaces, and theatres nearby, ensuring a well-rounded experience for all who visit this stunning natural wonder.

*Distances are measured in a straight line; actual driving distances may vary depending on the route.

Best time to go to Great Barrier Reef

The best time to visit Great Barrier Reef depends on your weather preferences. The hottest average temperature around Great Barrier Reef is in January and February. February is mostly cloudy. The coolest average temperature around Great Barrier Reef is in June when weather is mostly sunny and rainfall is no rain.

calendarCalendar MonthtemperatureTemperaturerainPrecipitationmostlyCloudiness
January79.5°F (26.4°C)Frequent RainMostly Cloudy
February79.5°F (26.4°C)Moderate RainMostly Cloudy
March76.5°F (24.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
April72.3°F (22.4°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
May66.6°F (19.200000000000003°C)No RainMostly Sunny
June62.6°F (17.0°C)No RainMostly Sunny
July63.9°F (17.7°C)No RainMostly Sunny
August63.5°F (17.5°C)No RainSunny
September68.4°F (20.200000000000003°C)No RainMostly Sunny
October72.5°F (22.5°C)No RainMostly Sunny
November76.5°F (24.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
December78.3°F (25.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny

Tips to save on your trip to Great Barrier Reef

  • Combine your flights, hotels and car rentals on Expedia—bundling can result in significant savings.
  • Use the Price per traveler filter on Expedia to find a package deal that suits your budget.
  • Check the VIP Access properties filter to discover outstanding hotels with added member perks at select properties.

Top hotels in Great Barrier Reef

Airlie Beach Hotel

Airlie Beach Hotel

3.5 out of 5
Corner The Esplanade and Coconut Grove Airlie Beach QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is S$161 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
S$161
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"Convenient location but outdated rooms that didn't feel very clean."

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 2026

Airlie Beach Hotel
Reef View Hotel

Reef View Hotel

4 out of 5
12 Resort Drive Whitsundays QLD
The price is S$426 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
S$426
2 Aug - 3 Aug
includes taxes & fees
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Our room was spacious and spotlessly clean. The staff were helpful, efficient and very personable. Breakfast was well organised with a wide range of choice of foods. A suggestion is that a chalkboard listing starting times for paddle boardingKayaking and sail craft activities be displayed each morning ..."

Reviewed on 2 Jul, 2026

Reef View Hotel
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

5 out of 5
Pierpoint Road Cairns QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is S$299 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
S$299
2 Aug - 3 Aug
includes taxes & fees
9/10 Wonderful! (1,001 reviews)
"The plumbing needs replacing/updating. Water had no pressure, taps were hard to turned off to prevent dripping and drainage was really slow so we couldn’t have an enjoyable shower…Otherwise it’s a great place to stay especially the location."

Reviewed on 1 Jul, 2026

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
See all 5,102 properties in Great Barrier Reef
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Great Barrier Reef attractions

A poolside area with lounge chairs and umbrellas, palm trees, and a view of the ocean.

Daydream Island

7.8/10 (247 reviews)
Take off your watch because time runs differently on Daydream Island.
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* Savings based on package bookings compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings not available on all packages. Book Flight + Lodging, save up to 100% of flight price - Savings based on flight + lodging package prices as compared to the price of the same components available for booking separately before all discounts and rewards applied. Your bundled savings cover up to 100% of your flight. Savings vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and travel suppliers. Savings not available on all flight + lodging package bookings.