Wavedancer Low Isles Great Barrier Reef Sailing Cruise from Palm Cove

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Situated nine miles (15 kilometers) north-east of Port Douglas, Low Isles is a coral cay surrounded by 55 acres of reef in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The sandy beach and clear, calm lagoon waters are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Low Isles is well-known for its population of green turtles, keep an eye on the surface as they regularly pop up for air. Occasionally dugongs can be seen grazing on sea grass and large rays may glide by. During the cruise, a Marine Biologist will conduct an informative talk on the fish and corals and provide details on the activities available throughout the day. The 30-meter luxury sailing catamaran offers the excitement of big ship sailing combined with the ultimate in comfort. Relax in the luxurious air-conditioned lounge with fully licensed bar, or soak up the sun under the sails on the expansive deck. On arrival a shuttle will take you from the boat to the island, or you can dive straight in and swim to the beach! Join an organized snorkel tour led by a marine biologist, or take to the water independently and explore at your leisure. Snorkeling equipment is provided and the friendly crew are on hand to assist.You don't have to get wet to enjoy a day at Low Isles. You can join a glass bottom boat tour over the soft coral gardens that surround Low Isles. Your guide will point out giant clams, a variety of fish and corals, and of course be on the lookout for turtles. On land you may like to join a guided beach walk around the small island. Learn about the flora and fauna of the island along with the history of Low Isles as an important place of marine research. We recommend you book this reef trip on your first full available day. You then have the opportunity to be flexible and change your travel date if you wish. Your booking can be changed at no additional cost directly with the operator once you are in Cairns. Prebook and secure your booking, but relax in knowing you can make amendments at no charge.

   4 hAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 25 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 4Fun day out enjoying the reef

  Enjoyed this experience with family and we all had a great day. Unfortunately we arrived at low tide so visibility was poorer than expected, but they’re the breaks! Still fun and saw turtles and plenty of colourful fish

  LyndyloolooSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 4The crew and everyone...

  The crew and everyone involved were great. I recommend doing the snorkeling with the marine biologist

  Peter_TOctober 2025via Viator

• 5So Friendly , lovely staff & experience

  Great day in the low isles cruise , we saw green turtle , reef sharks & colourful fish, staff were so friendly though & great service . They all went out of their way to be sure we were safe , it was my friend’s first time snorkelling and they saved her when she panicked . Reassuring to know they were there & we were very happy . Highly recommend, highlight was the trip home…Hugh waves but singing ( a staff member brought out his guitar ) & drinking completely sparkling was an experience we won’t forget !

  shelagh hOctober 2025via Tripadvisor

• 3Very disappointing reef experience

  The service and food were very good but the reef experience was extremely disappointing as the coral was bleached and very few fish were seen. I think the situation of the coal should be known before booking not after I had booked and paid for 8overseas guests excited to see our barrier reef. Very disappointing and embarrassing I was sent an email about the reef situation after I had booked and paid … never again

  Guide587299October 2025via Tripadvisor

• 5Amazing

  Even if the weather was not with us entirely, the day was a pure bliss. Went on board of the Wavedancer catamaran on route for the Low Isles day trip. The crew was amazing and very knowledgeable. The food on board was amazing and we had more than enough for a second serve. All equipment for a day snorkeling, with an amazing Marine biologist on board (Glen). He is taking you on a journey to discover and understand the area. So much to learn. The snorkeling was a bit blurry by the recent weather, but it is nature and we cannot do anything about it. The coral was still a pure bliss and all the fishes were very colourful. No turtle this time but again nature is always giving you what she can. Glen also took us on a tour of the island, showing us the lemon shark attacking the fishes along the beach, telling us about the beautiful story of the island and how it works with its 2 ile keepers. He also showed us the nest of the island bird and explained to us a bit about History and the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef. What an amazing story teller, and he has so many things to tell you. We finished with a complementary glass of bubble and afternoon tea on our way back. Will definitely come back when the weather is nicer and give us more visibility. But I 100 recommend this cruise ! From the pick up at the hotel, to the boarding pass, the boarding, the cruise and the return, it was an amazing day! Thank you guys!

  Fanny_BApril 2025via Viator

• 5Amazing

  The excursion I wanted to take was sold out so plan B ….which we discovered should have been plan A all along. We really enjoyed this excursion. The crew was amazing and the views were too!! We also had entertainment on the way back in! One of the guys played his guitar and sang to us on the way back. If we ever get back there we will do this again! But being a 22 hour flight I’m not sure when we will do it again.

  GrandTour575907March 2025via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Palm Cove

• Its from-price is 39% above the median of the 37 experiences we list in Palm Cove.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 17 of 37.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Palm Cove

Palm Cove is a small beachside village north of Cairns, where old paperbark trees shade a long Coral Sea beach below rainforest-covered ranges.

Palm Cove lies on the Captain Cook Highway a short drive north of Cairns, one of a string of Northern Beaches facing the Coral Sea. The Esplanade runs behind the sand beneath tall paperbark trees, lined with low-rise resorts, restaurants and a short jetty that people stroll out on at sunrise. Behind the village, rainforest-covered ranges rise inland.

Top-ranked sights in Palm Cove: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.

See all 37 experiences in Palm Cove