Water Sports in Cairns City & Inner Suburbs

Choosing a Day Out on the Water

Most of the water activity in the city and inner suburbs starts from two points: the Reef Fleet Terminal for reef boats and the Marlin Marina for fast craft on Trinity Inlet. A smaller group of operators is based in Parramatta Park and Westcourt, running reef, paddle and gorge trips.

The first decision is whether your group wants a full reef day, a short burst of speed, or a guided lesson.

How the inner-city water options compare:

Full reef days: Sunlover Reef Cruises (from $317 per person) and Reef Magic Cruises (from $325 per person) both head to pontoons on Moore Reef.
Sailing: Passions of Paradise takes a 25-metre catamaran to the outer reef, with whole-boat charters for up to 90, from $275 per person.
A half-day reef trip: Tusa Reef Tours, based in Parramatta Park, caps its boat at 60 guests, from $195 per person.
Short and fast: Cairns Jet Boats runs 35-minute spins and slides through Trinity Inlet from $95 per person, with up to 14 riders a boat.
Guided jet skis from Terra Marine Adventure Co and JetSki Cairns, and stand up paddleboarding with What'SUP Cairns.

Families with non-swimmers have options too: the reef pontoons carry semi-submersibles and underwater observatories.

Cairns City & Inner Suburbs Water Sports

Sunlover Reef Cruises routes groups of 10 or more through a groups team, and its larger catamarans carry up to 330 on a pontoon day.
Reef Magic Cruises charters fast catamarans that seat 90 for dinner or hold 250 for a standing function.
Passions of Paradise lets a Christmas party take the whole boat, play its own music and ask the crew for particular reefs.
In stinger season, ask whether stinger suits are supplied; Reef Magic lists lycra suits among its inclusions.

Marina, Parramatta Park and Westcourt alternatives

Terra Marine Adventure Co and JetSki Cairns both run guided jet ski tours from the Marlin Marina, with no licence needed.
JetSki Cairns takes private departures of up to 10 guests, and drivers must be at least 16.
Tusa Reef Tours offers private charters, either joining a scheduled trip together or taking the vessel exclusively.
From Westcourt, What'SUP Cairns runs paddleboard days and Cairns Canyoning runs guided gorge trips.

Common Questions Before You Paddle Out

Which operator suits a large corporate reef day?

Sunlover Reef Cruises carries up to 330 on its larger catamarans, and Reef Magic Cruises charters boats for 90 seated or 250 standing. Both quote groups individually.

Is there a shorter water activity than a full reef day?

Yes. Cairns Jet Boats rides last 35 minutes, and the jet ski operators run 30-minute and one-hour guided tours on Trinity Inlet.

Can children join a birthday on the water?

Many operators welcome kids. Jet boat riders must be at least 1.1 metres tall, and jet ski passengers at least 8.

How does Tusa Reef Tours differ from the pontoon boats?

It is a half-day trip with numbers capped at 60, snorkelling at a site picked on the day from Saxon and Hastings reefs.

Water Sports in Cairns City & Inner Suburbs

Compare Cairns City & Inner Suburbs Water Sports Operators