Sleep on the Reef – 5 Great Barrier Reef Tours that offer a Sleepover

Nov 23

What’s better than visiting the Great Barrier Reef?

How about staying a few days on the Great Barrier Reef!

That’s right, ditch your accommodation on the mainland and tick the option to sleep on the reef. Here’s my definitive list of Reef Hot Spots near Cairns to spend a night……

1. Fitzroy Island

Probably the most accessible reef sleep straight out of Cairns that will suit any type of traveller. There’s the choice of BYO accommodation and camp in the National Park section OR go upmarket and stay overnight at the Fitzroy Island Resort.If you choose the camping option there’s running water, a camp kitchen, toilet and shower facilities and even access to a bar and restaurant if you are too pooped to fire up the camp oven.

**Fitzroy Island offers a resort as well as camping if you’d like to stay for the night**

Fitzroy Island resort itself offers a range of accommodation styles such as deluxe suites, self-contained apartments and cabins. Make sure you give their Facebook page a LIKE to keep up to date with their deals and giveaways.

You can pat a turtle & give generously to the Save our Turtle Fund at Fitzroy Island

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre - Fitzroy Island @adventuremumma 1.jpg

Imagine a sleep over at this spot on the Great Barrier Reef

HOT TIP: Don’t miss a visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and a climb to the top of the Fitzroy Island lookout (best place for a really special sunset or sunrise).

Check out this Blog Post to see what else is happening on Fitzroy Island > “Fitzroy Island – 6 reasons Families will love this tropical island.

For more info on the Fitzroy Island Resort Click HERE. The camping area is also managed by Fitzroy Island Resort.

2. Sunlover Pontoon

Want to lie beneath the stars on the Great Barrier Reef? Then this tour is a must. Not only do you get to spend two whole days literally plonked out on the Outer Barrier Reef near Cairns BUT you also get the pleasure of waving goodbye to a boatload of passengers and laying claim to the reef for your very own exclusive fun.

**Josh waving goodbye to all the day passengers**

With a maximum of 18 guests and a minimum of 2, your bed for the night is a luxury swag that is laid straight out upon the deck of the pontoon. It’s presents an awesome opportunity to fall asleep with the stars twinkling overhead and the sea gently lapping up against the pontoon’s sides.

The food is another highlight!

Can’t beat waking up on the reef!!

Sunlover by Starlight also provides you with all your meals, champagne (or a beverage of your choice) and access to the reef without the crowds.

HOT TIP: Don’t forget to check out their underwater observatory at night time – all sorts of interesting critters are attracted to the lights of the Sunlover pontoon.

Check this Blog out for a photo pictorial of our 48-hour reef visit with Sunlover - “41 Photos to kick your GBR Wanderlust into Overdrive”. And for more info on the Sunlover by Starlight Tour Click HERE.

3. Green Island

This is another reef destination that can be humming throughout the day with visitors, and yet you can virtually claim it as your own once the boats depart to the mainland.

The Green Island Resort offers luxury accommodation and a special area just for their resort clientele. When the island’s visitors have left there’s the option for fine dining at the water’s edge, peaceful island walks and an amazing array of underwater critters to discover that are literally within a stone’s throw from the beach.

It’s easy to spot turtles in the shallows around Green Island

It’s virtually deserted on the other side of Green Island

HOT TIP: Take a walk around the ‘whole’ island at dawn……you can guarantee your footsteps will be some of the first ones on the sand.

Check this Blog out and learn why Green Island is a great Family-friendly destination > “Green Island Cairns - Is this Turtle Heaven?”. For more info on the Green Island Resort Click HERE.

4. Russell Island (Frankland Island Group)

If you have a desire to claim a patch of the Great Barrier Reef all to yourself, both day and night, then you need to consider staying at Russell Island. Although there are basic camping facilities (bush toilets, camping areas and some picnic tables) you will need to bring everything with you, and this includes your own water.

**Come fully prepared if you’re camping on this island**

Russell Island is generally only available to people that can access the island via their own boat BUT you can organise with the Frankland Island Cruise and Dive Tour company to drop you off and pick you up a few days later, at a special rate of course. Although you won’t have the privilege of a bar or restaurant at this island, you will be able to catch your own from the surrounding reef and cook up something pretty special, due to this spot's GBRMPA zoning.

Fishing is allowed around Russell Island

You won’t find too many visitors at this spot on the Great Barrier Reef

Climb to the top of the rocky outcrop for this great view of Russell Island

You may get the odd ‘local’ visiting via their own boat but they generally like to head home at the end of the day. In fact, it’s not unusual to spend a whole week here without seeing another soul - it can be a real Robinson Crusoe experience.

**Not a bad spot to throw a tent up on Russell Island**

HOT TIP: There’s a quick 10-15 minute climb up a rocky outcrop on the northern end of Russell island that will give you fantastic views of the whole island and beyond.

For more info about camping on Russell Island Click HERE.

For Russell Island transfers contact Frankland Island Cruise & Dive.

Check this Blog out if you would just like to do a 'day trip' out to these islands > “Frankland Island Cruise & Dive – Great Barrier Reef Tours”.

5. Lizard Island

This island is on my Dream List of Must Do’s now that I have a family. Because Lizard Island is situated so far off the tropical coast (1-hour light airplane from Cairns) the island vegetation and surrounding coral is very different to what you’ll find near to land – Picture a sparse island landscape surrounded by an underwater bounty.

**Don’t miss exploring Lizard Island’s underwater world**

Camping is available on the island thanks to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife but the remoteness of the island puts many ‘budget’ campers off. You will need to hop on a light aircraft or make your own way up via a boat.

Lizard Island Image by IG @robinesrock — **Lizard Island Image by IG** **@robinesrock**

Most appealing is the Lizard Island Resort option for those who want to experience true luxury. If you have a family then you’ll have to wait until your child reaches 10 before you can take them with you. They do open the resort up to younger children at certain times of the year but you’ll need to confirm what dates these are.

HOT TIP: Relive Captain James Cook’s journey and survey the view from Cook’s Look. See if you can work out the route he used to navigate his ship Endeavour out of the surrounding shallow reefs and into the safety of the deep blue ocean.

For more info on the Lizard Island Resort click HERE. For more info on camping at Lizard Island click HERE.

Good Things to Know:

The best time to camp in Tropical North Queensland is during the dry season (April – October) - it's cooler at nights and there is less chance of (torrential) rain. However, you will find camping on the reef bearable over the humid season because of sea breezes.
During summer, or the wet season in Tropical North Queensland, beaches along the coastline put up swimming enclosures to protect people from Box Jellyfish. The good news is these particular jellyfish are coastal and are not found out on the Great Barrier Reef.
It is still advisable to wear stinger suits during summer on the Great Barrier Reef because there is a likelihood that a particular jellyfish, the Irukandji is present in the reef waters during this time.
For camping TIPS and a handy camping with kids checklist CLICK HERE.

Please Note: There are other options for a sleepover on the reef in this region BUT the list above offers the best family options and also ticks the box for good snorkelling around the surrounding reefs.

If you'd like to check out some coastal camping spots around Cairns check out this Blog > "Beach Camping Cairns - 5 Reasons to give it a Go PLUS some Hot Spots!

Have you had the opportunity to sleep on the reef yet? Which of these Great Barrier Reef Tours would be you choose and why?