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[pngprincess]

We will be in Noosa (north of Brisbane) in Oct and want to see the Great Barrier Reef. We want to snorkel and maybe dive. Where is the best place to go to see the Reef? We have been recommended going to Whitsunday Islands and have looked at taking a 3day/3night cruise around there and out to the Reef. If we do this we will not have time to go up to Cairsn or Port Douglas. Would it be better to go up to Port Douglas and/or Cairsn? Of will a trip around the Whitsunday Islands be just as good. Looking for any advice. Thanks.

[sianeth]

Whitsundays are amazing in themselves, but they are not the best place to see the reef - the visibility was not the best when I was there aswell. If you go up to Cairns, take a 3 day liveaboard trip out to the Cod Hole - that is recommended to be the best place.

Nevertheless, if you do go out to the Whitsundays, I'm sure you will have an awesome time because its so beautiful. But if the reef is your main aim then go up to Cairns.

[pngprincess]

Whitsundays are amazing in themselves, but they are not the best place to see the reef - the visibility was not the best when I was there aswell. If you go up to Cairns, take a 3 day liveaboard trip out to the Cod Hole - that is recommended to be the best place.

Nevertheless, if you do go out to the Whitsundays, I'm sure you will have an awesome time because its so beautiful. But if the reef is your main aim then go up to Cairns.

Thanks - we have decided to go up to Cairns and do a Reef trip from there. Thanks.

[sianeth]

Cool - let us know how it goes!

[darrenstravels]

I've recently done dives in both the Whitsundays and Port Douglas (just north of Cairns) and I'd say go to Cairns.

You're closer to the reef, there are many, many tours available, and I found the prices to be slightly cheaper - I assume because of the increased competition.

I also found the visibility better up north than in the Whitsundays.