Scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef, private snorkelling tours, dedicated marine biologist talks and gourmet culinary offerings on the spacious Reef Magic pontoon are just some of the highlights of a new experience being launched by Reef Unlimited, owned by leading Australian adventure and leisure tourism company, Experience Co. (EXP).
Perfect for those on a tight time-schedule, families, couples and those looking for an elevated luxury experience on the Reef, the new half-day Reef Indulgence experience will allow guests to leave Cairns at 10.30am and arrive back at 3.45pm, in time for sundowners.
Showcasing the very best of Australia’s iconic national marine park, the new Reef Indulgence experience will begin with a 25-minute scenic helicopter flight from Cairns to Moore Reef with bird’s-eye views of sandy atolls, reef formations and coral cays.
After arriving at the $7m state-of-the-art Reef Magic pontoon, guests will be taken to their own exclusive area to relax and take in the stunning beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.
A dedicated Marine Biologist will lead guests on a private snorkelling exploration of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, abundant with marine life. Local Traditional Owners work closely with Reef Unlimited’s marine biologists to offer guests a narrative of Indigenous knowledge of sea country along with western science.
Back on the pontoon, guests will be able to enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the onboard marine science laboratory to learn more about reef research and conservation work being done onboard.
Experience Co. launched the state of the art, three-level marine science and tourism pontoon in April 2022 at Moore Reef, a large horseshoe-shaped reef system nearly 45km offshore from Cairns.
In between activities, a sundeck complete with sun loungers and extensive shaded retreat areas invites passengers to lie back and relax in comfort while admiring the views of the outer reef.
Also included in the new experience is priority boarding on the glass-bottom boat tour and the semi-submersible submarine if time permits. Scuba diving is also available at an additional cost.
Morning tea and lunch menus have been curated by Ochre – an adventurous modern Australian restaurant in Cairns – with a gourmet seafood platter for lunch featuring local highlights such as cooked tiger prawns with fresh lime wedges, freshly-shucked Pacific Oysters with lemon myrtle sweet chilli dipping sauce, cooked Moreton Bay Bugs with pickled ginger wasabi mayonnaise and smoked Atlantic salmon and wakame.
Alternatively, guests can choose a gourmet antipasto platter with delicacies including bocconcini, marinated green and Kalamata olives, spice roasted beetroot dip, Sopressa salami, Champagne leg ham and award-winning Gallo Dairy heritage cheddar and Baci brie from the Gallo family farm in Queensland.
Reef Indulgence guests will receive a bottle of Piper Heidsieck champagne to enjoy during the day. A fully stocked licenced bar is available for the purchase of additional drinks.
“We are delighted to be able to offer the very best of the Great Barrier Reef in our new Reef Indulgence experience. To see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef from the air is the only way you can truly appreciate the sheer scale and variety of this stunning natural landscape. To then be able to explore the underwater beauty with the expertise and guidance of a marine biologist will be an absolute privilege for many,” said John O’ Sullivan, CEO of Experience Co.
“We’ve been operating tours on the Great Barrier Reef for many years, but this latest experience really is the ultimate combination of luxury and indulgence with a greater knowledge for reef conservation,” O’Sullivan continued.
The six-hour Reef Indulgence experience costs AUD$1,499 per person, with a minimum of two passengers. The helicopter flights depart Nautilus Aviation in Cairns at 10.30am and arrives back at 3.45pm.
For more information visit www.reefmagic.com.au/reef-
