Which part of the Great Barrier Reef is best for you?

A quick and easy condensed table to show you which parts, islands and experiences in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are ideally suited to your budget, marital status, lifestyle and interests.

Blow the Budget

Qualia, Hamilton Island: Australia’s Number One high-end luxury resort $$$$$*
Lizard Island: Remote, secluded and indulgent $$$$$*
Peppers Bale @ Port Douglas: Tropical lushness with loads of space $$$$$

Singles

Port Douglas: For the those born before 1980, a load of options with good day and night activities$$-$$$$$
Long Island Resort: Stuffed with activities and stimulation, accom ranges from dorms to suites$-$$$
Airlie Beach: Anyone born after 1980 will have a ball $-$$$

Robinson Crusoe

Pumpkin Island: Four simple, well-equipped cabins, it’s the Robinson family in Australia $$$-$$$$$
Haggerstone Island: Even Tom Hanks would feel marooned$$$$$
Voyages @ Wilson Island: Resort Princess Crusoe, lavish but bare bones$$$$$*

Sailing/Yachting

Palm Islands: Undeveloped and pristine option for laidback sailing $$-$$$$$
Gloucester Island: Salty yachties have hoarded the spot for too long $-$$$
Hamilton Island & The Whitsundays: With the best infrastructure for sailing and most options for all tastes, it’s the risk-free option $-$$$

Romance

Orpheus Island: Private, with extravagant touches for couples $$$$$*
Bedarra Island:Exclusive and lush, the island has been drawing quiet A-listers for years $$$$$*
Peppers @ Palm Bay, Long Island: Beachfront villa with private day bed and hammock plus romantic options $$$$

Eco Friendly

Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Village: Treetop bungalows in forest canopy on a pristine island $$$
Bungalow Bay, Koala Village, Magnetic Island: A backpackers with a Koala sanctuary, volunteers help the critters out $
Lady Elliot Island: Amateur eco-warriors flock here for pristine waters and coral and to help in research $-$$

Family (kids under 12)

Hamilton Island: Purpose-built to cater to all tastes and ages, easily has the most to engage all types $$-$$$$$
Magnetic Island: A seaside spot that happens to be on an island, it’s grown to cater for all laidback clans$-$$$$
Heron Island: The under 12s will get an eye-popping education while mum and dad explore $$$

Camping

Hook Island: Campers spoilt for choice, some of the best snorkelling in the Whitsundays $
Keppel Islands: Seven islands, relatively pristine with varying levels of infrastructure $
Flinders Island: Remote and picturesque, not for novice campers $

Snorkelling & Diving

Low Isles, Port Douglas: For the novices, a great short trip minus the heavy seas, coral not as good as outer reefs but turtles guaranteed $
Lady Elliot Island: Best snorkelling on the reef for its colour$-$$
Flinders Reef: The secret is out, experienced reefers have kept it to themselves for too long $

Affordable

The Elandra, Mission Beach: Cool digs for a fraction of the older and less plush places in the area $-$$
Montes Resort, Cape Gloucester: Simple style accom that ranges from motel to suites $-$$$
Mantra 1 @ Bright Point, Magnetic Island: Brand new self-catering apartments with specials at even better rates $-$$

Peppers Bale @ Port DouglasTropical lushness with loads of space$$$$$

Singles

Port DouglasFor the those born before 1980, a load of options with good day and night activities$$-$$$$$Long Island ResortStuffed with activities and stimulation, accom ranges from dorms to suites$-$$$Airlie BeachAnyone born after 1980 will have a ball$-$$$

Robinson Crusoe

Pumpkin IslandFour simple, well-equipped cabins, it’s the Robinson family in Australia

Haggerstone IslandEven Tom Hanks would feel marooned$$$$$Voyages @ Wilson Island ResortPrincess Crusoe, lavish but bare bones$$$$$*

Sailing/Yachting

Palm IslandsUndeveloped and pristine option for laidback sailing$$-$$$$$Gloucester IslandSalty yachties have hoarded the spot for too long$-$$$Hamilton Island & The WhitsundaysWith the best infrastructure for sailing and most options for all tastes, it’s the risk-free option$-$$$

Romance

Orpheus IslandPrivate, with extravagant touches for couples

Bedarra IslandExclusive and lush, the island has been drawing quiet A-listers for years$$$$$*Peppers @ Palm Bay, Long IslandBeachfront villa with private day bed and hammock plus romantic options$$$$

Eco Friendly

Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness VillageTreetop bungalows in forest canopy on a pristine island$$$Bungalow Bay, Koala Village, Magnetic IslandA backpackers with a Koala sanctuary, volunteers help the critters out$Lady Elliot IslandAmateur eco-warriors flock here for pristine waters and coral and to help in research$-$$

Family (kids under 12)

Hamilton IslandPurpose-built to cater to all tastes and ages, easily has the most to engage all types $$-$$$$$ Magnetic IslandA seaside spot that happens to be on an island, it’s grown to cater for all laidback clans$-$$$$ Heron Island The under 12s will get an eye-popping education while mum and dad explore$$$

Camping

Hook IslandCampers spoilt for choice, some of the best snorkelling in the Whitsundays $Keppel IslandsSeven islands, relatively pristine with varying levels of infrastructure $ Flinders Island Remote and picturesque, not for novice campers $

Snorkelling & Diving

Low Isles, Port DouglasFor the novices, a great short trip minus the heavy seas, coral not as good as outer reefs but turtles guaranteed $ Lady Elliot IslandBest snorkelling on the reef for its colour$-$$ Flinders ReefThe secret is out, experienced reefers have kept it to themselves for too longN

Affordable

The Elandra, Mission Beach Cool digs for a fraction of the older and less plush places in the area$-$$ Montes Resort, Cape Gloucester Simple style accom that ranges from motel to suites$-$$$ Mantra 1 @ Bright Point, Magnetic IslandBrand new self-catering apartments with specials at even better rates $-$$

* All-inclusive packages, with some exceptions like alcohol and certain activities.