10 Downsides of a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour Exposed!
Today’s post is based on an eye-opening topic, discussing what may challenge your perception of a Great Barrier Reef pontoon adventure. More specifically, the large boat tours leaving Airlie Beach, Cairns & Port Douglas that visit the Outer areas of the Reef.
Below, I will discuss the hidden truths and expose the downsides of embarking on such an expedition. In the end, it helps you decide if it’s right for you and weigh up the positives against them.
As a local to Queensland, I’ve visited all three of these pontoons a multitude of times. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous natural wonders on Earth. But, like any adventure, there are always aspects that remain concealed from the glossy brochures and Instagram posts.
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Exposing the Downsides of a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure
There are 3 Great Barrier Reef Pontoons available along the Queensland Coast. This includes Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach. Overall, the Pontoon Tours can be a wonderful way to experience the coral formations and underwater species.
➡ Compare prices for Outer Reef Tours HERE with GYG
But, certain conditions can make or break your enjoyment, and I hope knowing what to expect, or the downsides, will help you decide to book. The Outer Reef Pontoon tours might NOT be one of the best places for you to snorkel the GBR.
But, their are options to finding other amazing snorkelling sites in Queensland to replace it. So, let’s get these topics covered!
➡ Budget, Travel times & Time on Reef
1. They aren’t budget-friendly!
I think the cost is one of the biggest factors when deciding to book a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure.
In total, Cairns, Airlie Beach and Port Douglas, all range in price from $250 to $300AUD per person, so a family of four can be a considerable expense and cost more than $1000AUD for one day.
Not only that, but there are also guides walking around trying to sell you added luxuries items like helicopter flights or diving trips. Obviously, these can add another couple of hundred dollars, on top of the already expensive trip.
Are they worth the cost? Well, maybe!
➡ Compare prices for Outer Reef Tours HERE with GYG
The boat travels a long way to get to the outer reef pontoon, which adds up to roughly 10 to 11 hours for the day. Lunch is generally provided, along with Stinger Suits, snorkel gear, underwater viewing chambers and sometimes access to a Semi-Submarine.
I find all this comparable to other Australia Tours, but I think it’s the time at the reef that can be debatable on worthiness.
2. Long Travel Times
The fact that all these Great Barrier Reef pontoon trips in Cairns, Airlie Beach & Port Douglas take anything from 2 to 3 hours ONE WAY (4 to 6 hours return) is enough for me to hesitate booking. Especially now that I have the knowledge of what else I can see and the other options available.
This lengthy time is heightened when you have kids to entertain or looking for something to do yourself. There is limited phone service, so entertainment is mainly contained to card games, colouring books or talking.
Although, I do see coral reef videos playing, teaching you about the reef, preservation and the fish life you could encounter.
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3. Limited time on the Reef
So we already know the entire Pontoon day trip tour will take 10 to 11 hours!
However, after the travel time, you’ll only spend about 3 to 4 hours on the Pontoon itself for Lunch, changing clothes, Snorkelling, underwater viewing Chamber, Semi-Submarine rides, Helicopter Flights and Diving.
I’m here to tell you now – You will not fit everything in, especially when it comes to the Flights or Diving.
This is where you’ll need to prioritise what you want to see the most and see how the day pans out. Also know that weather and tourist numbers will affect your time schedule, so this is something you won’t be able to plan for.
Tip: NEVER book Diving or Flights on these Pontoon Adventures. They are overpriced for what you get, take too much time and low quality compared to personalised experiences from other tour companies.
Note: Given the choice between the “Outer Reef Vs the Inner Reef”, there are more times and circumstances I would choose the Inner Reef First! This is based on Time, Budget, convenience and better suited for younger children.
➡ Coral Quality, Seasickness, Kids
4. Outer Reef Coral isn’t always better!
Most tourists think they need to get to the Outer Reef to see the best Coral and Fish. I’m here to say, that after I’ve done hundreds of dives and snorkels in Queensland’s Inner and Outer Reef – This is definitely not the case.
➡ Compare prices for Outer Reef Tours HERE with GYG
I’m afraid your misconceptions have come from hundreds of photos and advertising campaigns printed over the years. Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef Pontoon tour is NOT where you’re going to find the best colours.
However, it’s still a living reef ecosystem, and you will see some colour patches around, as well as plenty of common fish species.
But unfortunately, I find the reef has very much deteriorated over the years from over-tourism and having more than 200 people visiting the same 20-metre square snorkelling area everyday.
Is it worth seeing? Yes it can be, for the novice or beginner snorkellers who don’t have much to compare against. But, I find there are better areas on the inner reef or the southern Great Barrier Reef like Lady Musgrave Island or Lady Elliot Island.
Is this good tour if you have environmental concerns? My answer would have to be “NO”. However, while they all talk about preservation, I’m not sure I’ve found too many tour operators along the Queensland Coast that’s very environmentally friendly.
Although, I’m happy to be proved wrong!
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5. Seasickness
I have never been on one of these Outer Reef tours where someone hasn’t been affected by Seasickness. I, for one, am prone to it as well, but I know to start my medications the night before and always take more before the boat starts.
I see so many people thinking it’s never going to happen to them and know that it’s already too late once you start to feel ill. Therefore, since getting off the boat is your only cure, prevention is always better!
Unfortunately, this brings to one of the worse tour experiences of my life on a Pontoon trip from Airlie Beach, causing more than half the people on board to fall sick under extreme weather.
To tell you the truth, I don’t do well in these circumstances and try to escape the crowds by sitting outside in the fresh air.
However, on this occasion, I was yelled at by management and forced to sit inside. To my disgust, this was beside 4 people throwing up in sick bags and a baby throwing up on itself and all over the floor.
So, do I dare ask: Do you believe the trip is worth it now?
Obviously, the vile smell wanders throughout the enclosed areas of the boat, which then starts up the “sympathy sickness” (meaning – People who get sick by smelling others get sick).
As far as I was concerned, if it was too “Unsafe” for people to sit in the outside areas, then this tour from Airlie Beach should have been cancelled.
In the end, this experience with management and the fact the tour ran in these conditions will probably stop me from booking it again. However, with so many other options to see the reef from Airlie Beach, you can avoid circumstances like this.
6. Small Children Are Scared!
The one difference between the Outer Reef and the Inner Reef areas I notice is the “depth of water”. While this can be great for running the Semi-Submarine and Diving tours, I constantly see children intimidated and scared and not spending much time in the water.
If this was your one chance in your lifetime to see the Great Barrier Reef, is it worth paying $300 for your child to spend less than 10 minutes in the water?
➡ Compare prices for Outer Reef Tours HERE with GYG
Obviously, this is going to vary depending on:
- your child’s experience in the water
- being ok with treading water
- having used a mask & snorkel before
- or swam in deep waters previously.
Children are required to wear a life jacket, but I’ve still lost count of the number of times I’ve seen small kids give up so quickly from seeing the underwater world for the first time.
Alternatively, there are other Great Barrier Reef locations with shallow snorkelling sites in fringing reefs, plus easy beach entries like:
➡ Weather, Crowds, Stingers & Non-Snorkellers
7. Weather Changes
The weather can make or break any tour experience, and the Pontoon trips are no different. I’ve visited on a bright sunny day and it’s still been a horrible time to venture out there.
Therefore, If you have some flexibility with your travel date, then I recommend looking into the following:
- Cloud Cover is less than 50%
- Mid to Low Tide when yu’re out there
- Swells are small
- And the wind/Gust is less than 25 Kilometres per hour
While this isn’t a hard or fast rule, it is a rough guide on how to make the most out of your trip. Know that the Tour provider will only cancel the trip and issue a refund when it’s “unsafe to travel”. Unfortunately, this means they will still travel on a horrible weather day, when you’ll enjoy it less.
So, what are the downsides to a bad weather day?
- The boat takes even longer to get to the outer reef and shortens your time on the Pontoon.
- The snorkelling area is reduced for safety and you’ll bump into more people when snorkelling.
- It’s harder to tread water, catch your breath or talk to your buddy on top of the water, when the swell and waves are crashing into your face.
- Novice swimmers may be forced to wear a life jacket, and it will be harder to see creatures in a higher tide.
- Visibility in the water is reduced and can be cloudy or murky, making it harder to see any underwater creatures.
As mentioned above, I encountered less-than-ideal weather on my last Pontoon trip out from Airlie Beach. I felt like the tour should have been cancelled and refunded, but instead, my experience was seriously diminished and will have me thinking twice before booking again.
8. Trips can be Crowded
I normally travel out of school holidays, low seasons and during the week, which does limit the crowds. However, at the best of times, you will still have anything from 100 to 400 people on this one boat and doing the same Outer Reef pontoon adventure.
Crowded boats mean longer lines to be served lunch, getting your stinger suits and gear sorted, bumping into people snorkelling and waiting around for the Semi-Submarine Rides. You don’t get to choose times for helicopter flights and even the introductory briefings for diving will take longer with bigger groups.
Add onto that, with international tourists who understand very little English, these tours can be chaotic with guides explaining safety guidelines, over and over again.
If you get very little time on the Pontoon in the first place – Do you really want to waste that time sitting around waiting?
9. Marine Stingers
While all three pontoon experiences in Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach are in North Queensland, NONE of them will escape potential marine Stingers.
But, this doesn’t have to ruin your trip and all of them provide one of those sexy Lycra Stinger Suits.
Deadly stingers like Box Jellyfish and Irukandji are more common over the Australian Summer period between November and May each year. Although, protections are in place all year round and you’ll be required to wear suits in winter as well.
While this is a downside, it won’t stop you from visiting the reef or being able to get in the water. There will also be lifeguards available to provide first aid if issues arise.
But, more importantly, please listen to your guides and follow all their instructions when it comes to water safety. Or you can read up more about the:
- Jelly Fish season in Airlie Beach
- Or alternatively, the stinger Season in Port Douglas.
10. You don’t see much unless you get in the water
Most of the people who book these Great Barrier Reef tours will either be snorkelling or diving. But, there are the small few that either can’t swim, or don’t want to get in the water.
These pontoon tours allow for both the Semi-Submarine rides and an Underwater viewing chamber. Which is obviously a great option for those that aren’t swimming, but I don’t find them worth it AT ALL!
You could be lucky to see a turtle or reef shark swimming in the distance on the semi-submarine ride. But overall, the glass is not colour-corrected, and everything blends in shades of blue.
I can’t say I’ve sat in the underwater chamber for too long. But the most I’ve seen is schools of small fish, or the first-time divers entering the water. Plus the crowds of people make it very humid and smelly in there!
Overall, In either area, you will NOT see colourful coral and have to be really lucky to see any of the cool underwater creatures.
Wrap up & Read more!
So, is the trip worth it after reading these downsides of a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon tour? I think overall, the weather can play a huge factor here. Plus, if you have some flexibility with time, then please book on a good day.
I know plenty of people that think pontoon tours are fantastic from:
and there are occasions where I would agree and definitely worth doing. However, the point of this post is knowing what to expect and help you make an informed decision for your group!
Apart from that, you can click here for my other Queensland articles and help research the rest of your trip.
