Great Barrier Reef Holidays

Photo by Tourism and Events Queensland

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Top Flight + Hotel Deals in Great Barrier Reef

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.
Hotel St. James

Hotel St. James

Manhattan
Save 100% on your flight
€971
per person
5 Nov - 11 Nov
found 1 day ago
Return flight included
Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK)
8.8/10 Excellent! (7,930 reviews)
Very clean room, staff was excellent and friendly, close to Times Square and lots of good places would definitely stay here again

Reviewed on 21 Sept 2026

Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square

Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square

Manhattan
€1,892
per person
3 Dec - 8 Dec
found 24 hours ago
Return flight included
Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK)
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,950 reviews)
Had a great experience at Rui. The room was clean, staff were so friendly and helpful. Check in and out was fast and efficient. Had a wonderful experience.

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2026

The William Hotel Midtown, New York

The William Hotel Midtown, New York

Manhattan
Save 100% on your flight
€1,244
per person
5 Nov - 11 Nov
found 1 day ago
Return flight included
Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK)
9.4/10 Exceptional! (232 reviews)
The staff are wonderful, helpful, and so kind!

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2026

Night Hotel Broadway

Night Hotel Broadway

Manhattan
Save 100% on your flight
€1,298
per person
3 Dec - 10 Dec
found 1 day ago
Return flight included
Shannon (SNN) to New York (JFK)
7.6/10 Good! (3,584 reviews)
Ink 48 Hotel

Ink 48 Hotel

Manhattan
Save 100% on your flight
€1,009
per person
5 Nov - 11 Nov
found 1 day ago
Return flight included
Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK)
8.4/10 Very good! (1,767 reviews)
The Ink48 now for several years is one of my/our go to places in NYC; the rooms are still attractively shaped, the renovated breakfast restaurant is stylish and the food from the menu tasty and reasonably priced with the evening roof top place still hip and menu interesting (the view in all directions is still beautiful). However the front desk has lost some of its a-tentativeness, we now have a routine to immediately ask for extra towels and washcloths at time of check-in. While the room bar is stacked, the selection of amnemities is poor (can’t get a hot cup of water for bedtime tea, no coffee machine, q-tips, extra toothbrush?). A real bummer this time was the waiting time to receive the car back from valet, 1h20 minutes… and we were not alone. A couple needed to return their rental to catch an EWR flight; hope they made it! We were to pickup someone arriving by train and arrived severely delayed! The present INK48 valet arrangement is not acceptable; be forewarned!

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2026

Where to stay in Great Barrier Reef

Find the best Great Barrier Reef areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Great Barrier Reef
A beach lined with tall palm trees and a clear blue sky.

Palm Cove

Relax on sandy beaches and swim in turquoise waters at a resort town between the Great Barrier Reef and the rain forests of tropical Far North Queensland.

Find hotels in Palm Cove
A waterfront with a wooden bridge, modern buildings, and lush greenery.

Cairns Central Business District

Cairns Central Business District is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Marlin Marina.

Find hotels in Cairns Central Business District
A beach with a person walking with a surfboard, a sandy shore, and calm sea.

Trinity Beach

Unwind on this tranquil stretch of golden beach, relax under the shade of swaying palm trees and explore Tropical North Queensland at your leisure.

Find hotels in Trinity Beach
A sunset over a calm pool with palm trees and a gazebo.

Cairns North

The beaches and abundant dining options are top of the list for many visitors to Cairns North. A stop by Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland or Cairns Mudflats might round out your trip.

Find hotels in Cairns North
A golf course with a clubhouse, a pond, and a forested hill in the background.

Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is known for its pristine beaches, and you can make a stop by Clifton Beach and Palm Cove Beach while in the area.

Find hotels in Clifton Beach

Things to do in Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is perfect for eco-friendly family holidays, offering a range of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy sailing tours, day trips, and reef tours, as well as exhilarating experiences like reef diving and snorkelling. Additionally, there's a shopping area and recreational facilities nearby, making it an ideal destination for both adventure and relaxation.

*Distances are measured in a straight line; actual driving distances may vary depending on the route.

Best time to go to Great Barrier Reef

The best time to visit Great Barrier Reef depends on your weather preferences. The hottest average temperature around Great Barrier Reef is in January and February. February is mostly cloudy. The coolest average temperature around Great Barrier Reef is in June when weather is mostly sunny and rainfall is no rain.

calendarCalendar MonthtemperatureTemperaturerainPrecipitationmostlyCloudiness
January79.5°F (26.4°C)Frequent RainMostly Cloudy
February79.5°F (26.4°C)Moderate RainMostly Cloudy
March76.5°F (24.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
April72.3°F (22.4°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
May66.6°F (19.200000000000003°C)No RainMostly Sunny
June62.6°F (17.0°C)No RainMostly Sunny
July63.9°F (17.7°C)No RainMostly Sunny
August63.5°F (17.5°C)No RainSunny
September68.4°F (20.200000000000003°C)No RainMostly Sunny
October72.5°F (22.5°C)No RainMostly Sunny
November76.5°F (24.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny
December78.3°F (25.700000000000003°C)Light RainMostly Sunny

Tips to save on your trip to Great Barrier Reef

  • Combine your flights, hotels and car rentals on Expedia—bundling can result in significant savings.
  • Use the Price per traveler filter on Expedia to find a package deal that suits your budget.
  • Check the VIP Access properties filter to discover outstanding hotels with added member perks at select properties.

Top hotels in Great Barrier Reef

Pacific Hotel Cairns

Pacific Hotel Cairns

Corner Esplanade And Spence Street Cairns QLD
€142
12 Oct - 13 Oct
includes taxes & fees
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
"Great location, was able to park onsite. Loved having an ice machine and other vending options in the lobby. Staff were helpful. Would stay again!"

Reviewed on 18 Sept 2026

Pacific Hotel Cairns
Airlie Beach Hotel

Airlie Beach Hotel

Corner The Esplanade and Coconut Grove Airlie Beach QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
€129
18 Oct - 19 Oct
includes taxes & fees
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Staff was quick, supportive, and property was clean. Location was right off the main drag and a quick walk to Journey Beyond tours."

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2026

Airlie Beach Hotel
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

Pierpoint Road Cairns QLD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
€205
10 Oct - 11 Oct
includes taxes & fees
9/10 Wonderful! (1,030 reviews)
"Everyone was super nice and the rooms were very clean and nice"

Reviewed on 19 Sept 2026

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
See all 4,913 properties in Great Barrier Reef
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Stay near popular Great Barrier Reef attractions

A beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a swimming pool.

Cairns Esplanade

9.2/10 (7,071 reviews)
Stroll along the boardwalk surrounded by palms tree and landscaped gardens and watch the sun set over the Coral Sea.
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A pier extending into the ocean at sunset.

Palm Cove Beach

9.0/10 (4,218 reviews)
Located in between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, this palm tree-lined beach is an idyllic spot to take it easy or begin an adventure.
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A marina with numerous boats docked, a large cruise ship, and a cityscape with buildings and mountains in the background.

Cairns Marlin Marina

8.8/10 (3,149 reviews)
Enjoy views of the harbour and and unwind with al-fresco dining, entertainment and shopping beside the bay.
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A coastal landscape with clear turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and green hills.

Whitehaven Beach

9.6/10 (822 reviews)
Stroll along this famous beach on Whitsunday Island to experience its dazzling white sands and gently lapping waters in different hues of blue and green.
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A train carriage with red seats and windows.
Photo by Caz and Craig @yTravelBlog

Cairns Central Shopping Centre

8.6/10 (5,059 reviews)
During your visit to Tropical North Waterfront, you can do some window-shopping at Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Discover the spectacular coral reefs in this walkable area or enjoy its local tours.
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A marina with several sailboats docked, surrounded by a forested landscape and hills in the background.

Macrossan Street

9.2/10 (1,937 reviews)
During your visit to Port Douglas, you can find the perfect gifts to bring home at Macrossan Street. Amble around the area's waterfront or seek out the local tours.
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A marina with two sailboats docked, surrounded by greenery and a mountainous backdrop.

Port of Airlie

9.0/10 (1,391 reviews)
This sun-kissed marina is your gateway to the world-famous Whitsunday Islands. Sail or drive here to shop or dine with views over the glistering turquoise waters.
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Daintree Rainforest

9.4/10 (647 reviews)
Explore the great outdoors at Daintree Rainforest, a lovely green space in Diwan. Wander the rainforest and riverfront while you're in the area.
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* Savings based on package bookings compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings not available on all packages.